But who will put out the fires?

April

The times really are a changing. In this economy, it’s not just that old jobs are disappearing—whole professions vanishing like smoke—but new jobs are being created too.

The Wall Street Journal reports today that there are now more bloggers than firemen in the United States. Also, more bloggers than bartenders or CEOs. The journal reports that there are 20 million bloggers in the country today, though only 1.7 million of them make any money at all and far fewer—only 452,000—actually make their living through blogging.

The truth is that for less than $100 anyone can become a blogger and have the privilege of sitting in front of a computer screen all day, writing about the subject that most interests them. Some hit the jackpot and develop huge readerships that lure advertisers and generate pay. Most don’t, but presumably they like what they are doing.

Blogging has been recently glamorized in the movie State of Play, which pits a scruffy old-time print journalist against a cool, young blogger. Each of them are investigating to get to the heart of a great story. Hmm, it’s Hollywood. Which one do you think will win. I know which side I’m on.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 21st, 2009 at 10:15 am by Debra West. | Email This Post

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