Here’s some coverage from our friends in the Philippine mainstream media. The Philippine Daily Inquirer has published an article about the Blog Herald’s recent sale.
FILIPINO professional bloggers Abe Olandres and J. Angelo Racoma are set to take over the Blog Herald now that it is under new management, INQ7.net learned.
Asked about their plans, Racoma said they intend to make Blog Herald more like a ‘mainstream news and information website on professional blogging … He also disclosed plans of expanding its regional content for the Americas, Asia, Europe, and other regions.
With news like these, it’s inevitable that some people start getting concerned about the offshoring of high-profile online real estate such as the Blog Herald. However, should geography really matter?
I would say no.
I thought the ‘net was supposed to be the great equalizer, and that it shouldn’t really matter whether you’re in the States or in the Arctic (wait, do they have connectivity at the North pole?).
Still, there is the issue of language and, more importantly, culture. But we’re all netizens, aren’t we? And as such, our views and abilities should transcend race and culture.
Would the voice of the Blog Herald change, now that perspectives are coming from the other side of the world? Perhaps yes. But that’s normal in any circumstance where a publication changes hands.
And even though the new set of editors are Filipino, I wouldn’t worry about dominance from any specific nationality or culture. The Blog Herald has an international audience, after all, and we intend to keep it that way. We’re working on getting more contributors and columnists on board–and these will be from around the world.
Update: Added link to Inquirer article.