One of my new favorite blogs to visit, The Bad Pitch Blog, is unique, entertaining and helpful. As a student studying public relations, it is incredibly helpful to encounter examples of professionals in media relations screwing up. This gives us the unique opportunity to learn from their mistakes.
A recent post I enjoyed from this site was titled, "The REAL Difference Between Journalists & Bloggers." The author explains that the biggest difference between the two professions is passion. The argument the post makes is that a journalist that receives a steady income is driven by both the passion to be a watchdog for the public (hopefully), and by his or her paycheck.
The blogger on the other hand, is almost always someone who is posting in his or her spare time. This means that at the end of the work day, after running errands and putting the kids to bed, he or she still wanders over to the computer and comes up with something to post into the bloggesphere.
Why do they do it? As the author explains, it is passion for the subject. No matter what you're blogging about, if you don't really care it shows.
Overall, I agree that someone who blogs without a paycheck is obviously passionate about their chosen subject. I would however interject that I have personally encountered many journalism students and professionals alike that are very passionate about their responsibility and profession. Many of these people are incredibly intelligent and could be making the big bucks in a different career, but choose journalism because they are passionate about it.
Like the author explained, passion is the difference between a job and a career.
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I'm glad you've discovered "The Bad Pitch Blog." It's a veritable "how not to do it."
ReplyDeletePassion makes the difference not only in whether or not you're a professional but also in whether you're so-so or great.
I completely agree with the author of the blog, however I also agree with you, Lynn. It is true that it would seem that bloggers do have more passion in what they do, however it is also true that you have to be passionate about writing in order to be a journalist as well. They may get a paycheck for what they do, but how long would they continue to receive a paycheck if it showed that they didn't care about what they do and what they are writing about?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that being passionate will make a difference between a career and a job. I have always aspired to making the big bucks but I also aspire to be happy. I know that if I am passionate about something even if normally there are not big bucks involved. The opportunity to make the bigger bucks comes from the drive and hard work I will have because I am so passionate about what I am doing.... Good post
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