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Thursday, January 06, 2005

Why do we all become anonymous?

Tessa Wegert has a new article on video blogs up at ClickZ Network.

Vlogs: Richer Rich Media?

She writes:
In 2005, a new type of blog may emerge on center stage, marrying blogs with online video. It's called the video blog, or "vlog."

Anyone who ever studied English surely knows the expression, "Show, don't tell," commonly used to encourage students to better illustrate their essay points. When it comes to vlogs, I doubt a more appropriate mantra could be found. Vlogs are exactly what you think they are. Instead of using text and the occasional graphic image to express opinions, rant, and share information, some bloggers now opt for video as their online medium of choice.

In a recent BusinessWeek article, the author tracks a number of current vlogs, including one belonging to a film editor, another run by a video producer, even one by a common citizen who assumed the role of Web journalist by shooting and uploading amateur video news reports.

All the above video bloggers belong to a Yahoo Group devoted to video blogging. A TV station employee formed the group last June.
What I want to know is why we all become anonymous in her article, when in the BusinessWeek article that she references, we all are named and given links?

It could have looked like this:

Ryanne Hodson, a film editor, another run by Chris Weagel, a video producer, even one by Steve Garfield, a common citizen

Common citizen?

a Yahoo! Group devoted to video blogging.

Jay Dedman, a TV station employee

I wrote her and her editor an email to ask.

Tessa writes back:
Hi Steve,
Thanks for your message. Since I link to the article in the column, I didn't think it necessary to repeat everything Business Week had already written. The purpose of the piece wasn't to rehash, but to offer a new and different point of view.

I think what you're doing is great.
Cheers,
Tessa Wegert
Cool, I get it.