When I was a Media Studies undergrad in the late 90s, I vividly remember assembling clip packets. These were photocopied bundles of my best written work that were shipped off to print media. The goal was to get paid assignments or a full-time job.
Years later, as I made the transition from print media to digital media, physical clip packets evolved into e-mails and links. Not only was it a time saver, but I saved money on envelopes and postage too.
Through the years I picked up more blogging gigs and the world was grand. Who needed newspapers and magazines anyway. The writing seemed to be on the wall: Print was a dying relic, the future of the Web bright. That still might be the case. But suddenly I have the urge to take a step “backwards” and concentrate on scoring more print gigs. Hmmm.
One reason might be purely ego-driven. The printed word, whether on life support or not, gets greater respect in the court of public opinion – even when it comes to young folks. I know this because I will often “sell” myself in different ways to gauge people’s reaction. For example, if I walk into a party and say I’m a blogger for BlogHerald vs. saying I am regularly published in the hometown paper, the latter generates greater interest. Little do they realize that the blogs I write for are far more read than the print stuff.
Another reason that print is still king is that A LOT of people do not understand blogging. Despite the medium growing by leaps and bounds in recent history, many people still write off blogging as drivel about what you ate for lunch.
Finally, bloggers themselves look down on their own medium. Just look at how bloggers flaunt their print work and the story tells itself. They are proud about their blogging accomplishments — beaming over print contributions. These same bloggers also understand that anyone can blog. There are factors that might dictate a bloggers’ success that has nothing to do with their talent/skill level.
The times are a ‘changin, annd as of this moment, print is still held in higher regard than blogging when it comes to most people. What do you think?
Here I am years later preparing an old school clip packet. Go figure!
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