This just in from Chris Lynch, our sports editor from his site,A Large Regular
"Independent Websites"Well, I'm impressed. So much so that I am not only going to become an "independant website," I'm also bringing back my self-designation as "The Official Weblog of the Internet © ."
I want to change the way we talk. I would like to see the words "Independent Website" used in more formal settings or in discussions instead of the word "blog."
Recently I started contributing as Sports Editor for the American Digest. Now the American Digest is in the top 200 sites in the TTLB Ecosystem but saying "it's one of the top 200 blogs on the Internet" just doesn't sound as impressive as saying "it's one of the top 200 independent websites on the Internet."
I know this is like calling a garbageman a sanitation engineer but it works. I have friends who are journalists and trust me if I say that I now write for one of the top 200 independent websites on the Internet - they are impressed. However biased and ignorant it is on their part - they still hold their noses when the word "blog" is mentioned....
Of course, if you think this means I'm getting out of my pajamas, you'd be dead wrong. I might, however, start wearing a tie.
Posted by Vanderleun at December 20, 2004 10:07 AM | TrackBackPerhaps the scope of this discussion should be expanded. I don't find that “independent website” contributes much. I think it's far too vague to be useful. It doesn't distinguish between blogs and the thousands or millions of non-blog websites that are just as independent as blogs are. Further, a lot of blogs aren't independent.
If we're looking for a more formal designation than blog, how about Internet journal?
Posted by: Dave Schuler at December 20, 2004 10:23 AMI admit that my aim here is purely selfish. I'm thinking about press passes. I think that Sports Information Directors (SID's) and PR folk at major college and pro programs would be impressed enough with the credentials of "one of the top 200 independent websites on the Internet" to actually give me passes to games and events.
Why should some podunk little paper get game credentials over a site with upwards of 2,000 page views per day?
I hope I at least get credit for my honesty.
I think the word 'news' has been denigrated to
the point that blog will soon be. How about ...
'infosite"
Hmmm. Sounds nice. But are you implying there are websites of the opposite character (NCB - not necessarily blogs): "Dependent Website". That does not necessarily have to mean "corporate". What about "Synophancy Websites" or "Party Line Websites"?
Posted by: Iam at December 20, 2004 12:25 PMThe word "Independent" is a word of much utility.
I'm not part of the MSM - I'm Independent.
I'm not part of legacy journalism - I'm part of an Independent website.
I'm not affiliated with any corporation or political party - I'm independent.
The word Independent can mean many things to many people but almost everyone interprets the word in a positive fashion.
Can you truly have "freedom" of the press if the press (or the Internet) is not Independent?
I am beginning to understand why Herbie the Dentist craved to be IN-DEE-PEN-DENT.
I sort of like 'Independent Internet Journal', but that could also be ""independent journals on the Internet". American Digest would certainly qualify (as would Mr. Sullivan's cut-and-paste), but W*nkette would not.
Posted by: P.A. Breault at December 20, 2004 1:13 PM"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper N.B.: Comments are moderated to combat spam and may not appear immediately. Comments that exceed the obscenity or stupidity limits will be either edited or expunged.