Bloggers and illegal immigrant
Bloggers - Me, me - I am one. Immigrant - Me again, me. Yes, I am an immigrant.
Are you illegal immigrant? No, but let me hear it!
George Borjas, professor of Economics and Social Policy at Harvard University compares bloggers to illegal Immigrants
It doesn’t cost all that much to become a citizen journalist: a computer and your own time is about all it takes for you to start reporting your view of the world to whoever wants to read it.
The laws of supply and demand suggest that the rewards to being a Journalist would drop because anyone can now start reporting news and opinionating a la Paul Krugman or Maureen Dowd. It’s as if the Journalistic profession has received its own influx of illegal immigrants–increasing competition, lowering rewards, and creating havoc along the way.
It seems to me he used illegal just to be on the safe side, he actually meant immigrants, legal and illegal included!
I don’t believe blogging is a threat to journalism, its surely bringing back the quality factor and the sense of telling truth to common people. It offers a healthy competition. Famous bloggers are also good writers who would have made great journalists if they wanted to, others (like me) are only sharing opinions. Blog world has opened a platform where you can be held responsible for the facts you state, this is where I can question a Harvard professor without being intimidated by him. As Thomas Friedman suggested - the world is flat - it will be easier if you believe him!
Similar argument has been played by professional photographers and graphic artists and soon enough we will see other professionals joining the league - real estate agents, tax brokers, used car salesman. Bottom line is - better be great at what you do, good only means you are replaceable!
Here is Andrew Leonard’s take at Salon on Borjas’ post
December 19th, 2007 at 9:45 am
Awesome blog!!
I was very intrigued by the comparison made by Dr. Borjas.
I agree with you. Blogging to me is a means of expressing my ideas and understanding someone else’s perspective. I don’t think I am necessarily threatening the foundation of good writers.
I love your punch line.
December 20th, 2007 at 9:55 am
Thanks Moli! To a certain extend I did like the thought of Borjas’ comparison - being able to stand next to a journalist :) .. and in some ways he is actually right, atleast for the segment of news where you don’t need a press pass to cover something, bloggers are indeed doing a great and sometimes better job!
your comment ‘awesome blog’, was it for the post or the new design?
December 23rd, 2007 at 9:05 am
Very nice blog, C2. Good or bad, as long as you can find a way to do what you want, do it. You aren’t shoving heart stopping oils down someone’s body for $1.