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Are You Just Another Dumb Blogger? @FoxNews Might Think So!

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Zac Johnson Fox News

Have you ever stopped and thought about what people outside of the blogging world might think about you and what you are doing online? As bloggers ourselves we understand that power and influence that we have online, and some of us have even built profitable brands and businesses out of what we have accomplished online. However it’s important to remember that we are just a speck of sand compared to the outside world who is used to working for the man and running 9 to 5 jobs.

So the question is…

What do NON bloggers and internet users think of bloggers?

It’s an interesting question to ask ourselves. When is the last time you ask someone what they did for a job? In most cases you probably have an idea of what their do and maybe even how their day to day operations take place. Now flip sides and think about all the time someone asked what you do, then you go on to talk about blogging and internet marketing… most times they will have no idea what you are talking about.

P.S. please wait a few seconds to pass the silly ads!

Last week I had the privileged of speaking at BlogWorld in New York City. This was the fifth time I’ve spoke at BlogWorld and it’s definitely one of my favorite events to attend. It’s more than just blogging, and it also brings in a whole new world of attendees and speakers together. I was also fortunate enough to catch up with Fox News on the exhibit floor and do an interview with them, which aired earlier this week on The O’Reilly Factor on Fox News network.

Fox News went on to interview a few attendees and exhibitors at the event, then they put together a fun little sketch for the show. Instead of focusing on the benefits of what BlogWorld has accomplished over the years, and the potential in making a side income and business through internet marketing and blogging, they decided to “spin” the story in a slightly different direction.

While being interviewed I was asked a multitude of questions, everything from blogging, to making money online, how technology will influence us in the future and of course politics. I know I have legitimate answers to all of my questions, and I’m sure others did as well, however Fox News made a spin out of it that bloggers were more of the basement dwelling people who have no knowledge of the world around them.

Going back to our original question… as a blogger what experiences have you had with talking to people outside of the internet world and getting their reactions to what they believe blogging and internet marketing really is?

It was awesome to be interviewed by Fox News and get exposure on national television again, and I truly appreciate it! I really would have just liked to see blogging and BlogWorld placed in a better light. If you feel the same way, be sure to visit the Fox News web site and watch the full video, then shoot Bill O’Reilly an email at oreilly@foxnews.com and let him know they missed out on a great opportunity to make a positive and influential story for their audience, instead of just a humorous segment that will be forgotten by the average viewer.

About

Zac Johnson is a online marketer with 15 years of experience and also a blogger at BloggingTips.com and ZacJohnson.com, as well as the author of Blogging Tips: Confessions of a Six Figure Blogger on Amazon.com.

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{ 32 Responses }

  1. Mark says:
    I didn't think that the story/video was that bad. As a blogger, I rather enjoyed it. I like it when stories are presented in a fun an humorous way. Of course, there is always the flip side: Fox recognizes bloggers as a real force to be reckoned with, so they downplay their importance by shining a light on them that has a slightly "ah those silly bloggers" spin to it...from the "no spin" zone itself. Old, old, old tactic...used by "old" guys struggling to retain power and influence. Mark
  2. James says:
    Agreed, we reap the benefits… it just would have been a good content piece for everyone else. Great article though
  3. Shawn Collins says:
    The segments from Jesse Watters are light and goofy - that's his shtick. Don't assume any media are doing you a favor when you give them access. Find out who they are and how they report in advance.
    • Ivin says:
      I agree with you Shawn. I saw this video before, and especially when it came to talking to Zac, it seems like he was taking the P#@@ out of him - like he's a loser or something. Little do they know blogging is the skill to have for the future and it's bloggers and geeky tech people run to when something need to happen fast... Hate it when they do that :(
  4. Tina says:
    Too bad for Bill! He's missing the big picture here. Then again, not everyone sees the value of those different than themselves. That's a shame because there is a big world out there and bloggers are taking it by storm. Remember the phrase "video killed the radio store" Bill, it could be that bloggers kill the old school media platform ...
  5. Theatre Virgin says:
    Hi Zac - thank you so much for this post - interesting ideas and completely concur with your sentiments. I have emailed Bill O’Reilly now and hope others do also! Keep up the great work.
    • Zac Johnson says:
      Excellent, it would be great to see them mention something on the BlogWorld show or user feedback they have been getting from these posts.
  6. Gary says:
    Maybe it's just because I'm in the UK but I didn't think it was funny at all. The reporter just came across as a bit smug, poorly researched and thought that casting the interviewee as "geeks" would be funny.
    • Zac Johnson says:
      A big mix among the people's results... some find it funny, others hate it!
  7. Steve says:
    I like that the guys and gals were joking along with Waters although I think Zac shouldn't have given a better ideal of how much he makes, it would have given the profession more credibility.
    • Zac Johnson says:
      I actually did, but they cut it out... as with many other questions I answered for them.
  8. Carol says:
    Would you expect anything else from Fox News? Mantra for so called 'news' networks like Fox News: get a story, then spin it so the viewers 1. get really scared 2. laugh at someone or something 3. hate someone or something 4. vote Republican 5. learn nothing about anything 6. envy someone or lust after some 'thing' Take your pick - getting you to vote Republican and scaring people (mostly about Democrats running the country) are the most popular spin techniques. Laughing at other people so you can feel good about yourself is a close second (third?)
    • Keith says:
      We could replace "Fox News" with "MSNBC" and "Republican" with "Democrat" and the same would be true, hopefully you aren't that naive Carol. If we can't laugh at ourselves, who can we laugh at? Loosen up a bit....
    • Linda says:
      Good morning, Zac, I think Carol hits it on the head with # 5 - this report totally missed the the educative value of blogs. Guess this was another thing that got edited!
  9. Lewis LaLanne says:
    I say let them laugh. I laugh my way to my 20 foot commute. I laugh my way to a break whenever I want one. I laugh my way to having a boss I'm absolutely in love with. I laugh my way to farting as loud as I want to, whenever I want to. I laugh my way going to being ready for work in zero minutes. And most importantly, I laugh my way to the bank. I'm not all that concerned about what people think I do. I don't care to put on a show for anyone and try to make myself sound important. So, I tell people I sit around the house all day eating cheetos in my underwear while playing around on my computer. This a default answer for 99% of clueless public who asks. And when I'm talking with someone that I know "gets it" and can appreciate it, and they ask, then I give them the real opening answer - I'm a marketer.
    • Zac Johnson says:
      Agreed, we reap the benefits... it just would have been a good content piece for everyone else :)
  10. Daneka says:
    This is ridiculous. Not only are they completely oblivious to how much they don't know, but the O'Reilly audience is certainly made up of millions of ordinary people who read or keep a blog of their own and could have learned something about making money or running a business. I can appreciate a humorous view of things from The Daily Show because they also recognize their own BS, but O'Reilly is just an old bully.
    • Zac Johnson says:
      Definitely. I'm sure a lot of people could have found it useful if they actually provided some substance and credit the people in the video and shown their urls.
  11. Tor Constantino says:
    I was a broadcast reporter for 10+ years and I\'ve been a PR guy for the past 13 years since - relatively new to blogging. The FOX piece was playful with no malicious intent at all. It was an adequate (albeit dated by the bevy of 1980 movie references) mashup - nothing more. The \"spin\" did not try to minimize the blogosphere or those of us in it. Bloggers should not fall into the trap of taking ourselves too seriously - mainstream media already does enough of that....
    • Lewis LaLanne says:
      Agreed Tor. Detachment-imperturbability-indifference are virtues in the right context. They will make your life about a thousand times more manageable.
  12. JamesW says:
    Great post Zac, you don't need to think about them too much. If they want to be in the dark through their life it's their fault. You just can't change people like that, it's not worth it, and I think that they should inform themselves better instead of talking such unimportant and st... questions. thanks for sharing
    • Zac Johnson says:
      Thanks, I'm not worried about it. It's not the first time, and certainly not the last that something like this has happened.
  13. Jeevan Jacob John says:
    Hey Zac, I was more offended by the ignorance of these newscasters about blogging rather than their attitude of us (of course, we should let them think what they want, but they kind of did make fun of all bloggers - and they showcased it to the world). Anyways, it also shows what we need to do to educate them about blogging (Maybe, we have done our part, they are millions, if not billions of resources out there on blogging, people just need to search for it). Blogging is a big industry with about 200 million active bloggers out there, in that case, shouldn't a main stream channel like Fox know about blogging. Anyways, thank you for the post, Jeevan Jacob John
    • Zac Johnson says:
      The guy interviewing everyone was the producer of the show, so I'm, surprised it wasn't spun into a better light and shown real content. This just leaves room for someone else to come in and make sense and quality out of what they missed. Who will we see next year at BlogWorld?
  14. Dave Lucas says:
    ...more... Blogger Michelle Malkin Takes on Juan Williams In Tense Segment http://www.theblaze.com/stories/real-journalists-are-apologists-for-corrupt-ocracy-michelle-malkin-takes-on-juan-williams-in-tense-segment/
  15. Dave Lucas says:
    I agree with FOX News. After all, they have A-List blogger Michelle Malkin on call for commentary, so certainly we the bloggers indeed must be a tight knit clan of basement dwelling people who have no knowledge of the world around them.
  16. Arjhae Nicol says:
    The first question that pop-in to my mind is, "So what?". What's the big deal for getting their unacceptable thoughts about bloggers? For me, blogging is just expressing some great experiences and unthinkable thoughts that you could ever imagine. And that's it!
  17. Saurabh Mukhekar says:
    It always great to hear from some Pro bloggers, I really like the unity of PRO bloggers.IThis interaction and tips will help some newbie blogger like me :)
  18. Jerry says:
    I don't find this a negative take on bloggers at all. Water's World generally takes a rather humorous look at all sorts of things - so it is part of the format. I actually found it fun and informative - wishing I had been at the NY event. Maybe next year. Bloggers need not take things too personally - always healthy to laugh at ourselves. Most of us know (as those who are aware of what is going on in the world) recognize the power and influence that many bloggers have. Some are building empires. And that is the entrepreneurial way!
  19. Ming says:
    Hi Zac, I wouldn't be surprise majority of the people never understand what internet marketing / blogging is really about and the lifestyle. However, I do expect reporters do have some fundamental knowledge (at least do their work) before they broadcast the news as It looks silly on Fox news side from a IMer / blogger point of view... Cheers, Ming
  20. Joseph says:
    It is very sad that Fox News portray blogging in this manner, but it is not their fault, it is because they lack knowledge of what blogging really is. No need to worry Zac, I believe they will one day write a positive story about blogging. About my Experience, most non bloggers here (especially friends) think am a joker, internet addict and a scammer.
    • Zac Johnson says:
      Agreed. Either way, it was worth the coverage and then spinning it off into a series of posts like this one to spread awareness.