So magazine vet Simon Dumenco is saying that blogs are just writing and that he underlying creative/media function remains exactly the same.
While some of what he says is true from a structural POV, from a cultural one it’s bunk.
Blogging more closely resembles conversation, not writing. It’s dialogue, while most writing tends to be more monologue in nature. People don’t converse with books or magazines on the same scale that they can with bloggers – oops I forgot that Simon says “writers.”
If blogging were just writing, it would not have had the same impact on Simon’s career.
If blogging is just writing, every big company would be rushing to have them. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Yes, it’s slowly happening, but not that quickly.
If blogging is just writing I wouldn’t be here engaging in a dialogue with Scott Baradell, telling him he’s right and I was wrong. I would just publish, rather than discuss.
If blogging is just writing we wouldn’t respond to our what people say in comments. I am personally trying to get better at that.
If blogging is just writing, it would be considered unnnnacccccceptable too spelll words incorrectly.
If blogging is just writing then podcasting wouldn’t be a big deal, right?
If blogging is just writing then, PostSecret or GapingVoid wouldn’t exist.
If blogging is just writing, you wouldn’t be able to stop by here and tell me I am full of it.
If blogging is just writing, links would have no impact on one’s Google ranking.
If blogging is just writing, this post would be finished already because you’d be bored by now. Maybe on second thought he’s right – blogging is just writing. Bah.
Steve Rubel is a PR strategist with nearly 16 years of public relations, marketing, journalism and communications experience. He currently serves as a Senior Vice President with Edelman, the largest independent global PR firm.
He authors the Micro Persuasion weblog, which tracks how blogs and participatory journalism are changing the public relations practice.
