Bloggers on blogging etc

G’day from sunny Coolum, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. I’m here with about 70 other journalists and 80-ish other IT vendor, analyst and PR types at MediaConnect’s annual Kickstart conference.

Just attended a session about blogging, and its interface with media, journalism and marketing. One of Filtered’s favourite topics, of course. On the panel was Charles Wright (who, by the way was the first editor of the AFR’s Information section), Darren Rowse (Australia’s favourite self-employed blogger) and Phil Sim (conference host, and the man you can blame for Squash).

The target audience for this discussion was marketing and PR types, who’s carefully controlled world of massaged communications has been turned on its ear by the blogosphere.

Given time was short, and much of the time was focussed on the basics of the experiences of Wright, Rowse and Sim, we didn’t get too deep into the sharp end of the disruptive stick.

But there were a few nice quotes:

Wright on the decision to close the Razor blog (Fairfax’s flat-fee payment wasn’t enough to justify the 3-4 hrs spent on it each day), and start a paid subscription service. The blogosphere “is extremely loyal, unbelievably loyal.”

“People started to pay me $50. One person started to pay me $100, plus $10 per month,”
“We’re reinventing economic laws, and the laws of commerce here,”

Rowse on that vexed question of fact-checking and relying on your readers to do it for you: “The light of truth does tend to shine through, I don’t know how it does.”

Rowse on how he stumbled into blogging with a personal travel site: “No one looked at the photos, but there were lots of hits to my digital camera review.”

Rowse on the launch of B5 media with two other business partners:  “I will meet my partners for the first time later this year.”

Sim on advice to the PRs: “Bloggers don’t want a conduit. It’s all about direct conversations.”
“I would encourage you to get your executives blogging.”

“To me the blog is this one great social networking tool.”