January 22, 2009Apparently This Blog Does MatterI'm not even sure what lede to write for this post, but the basic story is that a couple of days ago David Dobbs, a well-known science writer whose work I admire, wrote on his new blog "Neuron Culture" (separate from his old blog, "Smooth Pebbles") about this here blog. The occasion was Dobbs responding to critics of an earlier posting of his wherein he had defended the existence of what some call the dinosaur media--newspapers, mostly--and his hope that they don't disappear entirely. He noted: "I too have been disappointed in the MSM's [mainstream media] failings the last few years. Yet there are times when the papers' sources and clout combine with the energy, quickness, and independence of BlogoMedia in a mutual amplification that serves the public well." I agree with Dobbs, who writes for the New York Times and other media outlets and is the author as well of three books, that there are simply things that the MSM can do that the blogosphere cannot, primarily because of the MSM's reach and resources and the skills of individual reporters and editors. Frankly, I'd like to be back working for a major media outlet, but that's not likely to happen anytime soon and maybe never will. Newspapers are shedding reporters around the country, media companies are going into bankruptcy, the New York Times is reportedly in deep financial distress and, here in Seattle, the wonderful Seattle Post-Intelligencer is expected to be closed for good in March after being in business for 140-plus years. I can assure you that none of that bodes well for the blogosphere, but I don't want to belabor an obvious point. What startles me is that the Craigslists, Monster.com's and Vehix.com's of the world who are directly responsible for the wounds suffered by newspapers in this country haven't put any money that I know of into producing a column inch of journalism. If you care about news and information that should trouble you immensely. If you care about the media's role as an essential check on governmental power and excess, then that should scare you as much as, say, the Patriot Act. Anyway, Dobbs noted that I do the work I do here for low pay (oh, so true, not that I am not humbled by the donations of dozens of individuals come fundraiser time), no benefits (true, says my bad back) and minimal infrastructure (my G4 iMac is six years old and I work alone with no newsroom support or colleagues to lean on and bitch at) is somehow emblematic of blogging and how new media and old media oddly work together. He said a lot of other things as well. "Dawdy has pressed the Zyprexa story hard since early 2006 -- it's possible no one has read or written more about it -- adding, synthesizing, and commenting on tons of information, and he pulled the sheets off in February 2007 by publishing, at what would seem to be frightening legal risk, the full set of court documents relating to Lilly's Zyprexa marketing. Presumably these are the same documents that were sent to the Times a couple months earlier, but which were not easily obtainable publicly until Dawdy posted them. He's right that you cannot compare the contributions of the Times and myself, and it's pretty clear to me that outlets like the Times don't want you to make the comparison. Dobbs notes elsewhere that I've not gotten hat tip one from the paper of record (plenty of credit from Timesfolk privately, however) for any of the work I've done on this site. Then again, sites like this are roundly ignored by the MSM (unless they are about politics, then they get tons of attention from the MSM) and while I get that the traditional media doesn't like to credit others, they need to accept that they and the blogosphere have a symbiotic relationship. Over the past two years, I have helped a dozen or so reporters at major media outlets with various Zyprexa stories and other stories on atypical antipsychotics (I helped another one just yesterday) and I don't think I've been credited once. It's gotten to the point where I don't even think about it much anymore and just help out the MSM unstintingly because if whatever work they end up doing results in X number of people not taking Zyprexa or Seroquel or whatever, then I've done my job. Besides, as a former (and sometimes still-current) member of the MSM, I know what reporters are up against. I simply have no idea now where things will wind up for me and this blog over the next year or so. The future of media in America is so very uncertain that I cannot hazard much of a guess as to where it's all going to end up or how reporters and editors and such are going to be paid an appropriate wage. But then so much in America is up in the air these days, even including hope, which I think our new President sometimes fails to recognize is still a thing with feathers. BTW, many thanks to those of you who wrote me to alert me to Dobbs' post, which my Google alert did not pick up. And many thanks as well to Liz Spikol who offered her thoughts on this blog as well. Posted by Philip Dawdy at January 22, 2009 01:36 AM
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I saw Dobbs' piece about you and about the synergy between MSM and this and other blogs. Despite your (unfortunately purposeful) lack of recognition in MSM, I hope you feel great pride in the role you have played in the Zyprexa scandal in particular. Though way too little has been solved, light has been shed on greed, crime, and death and it is having an impact. Thank you again, Phil. Thank you most of all for having the nerve to post the Zyprexa papers - a source worldwide for all, even the bad guys. Posted by: Sorrowful at January 22, 2009 06:52 AMCongratulations Philip! do you really need this guy to confirm that this blog matters?? Not to minimize that it's great and the guy hits the nail on the head, but you have many many people who give you these kudos every day... we didn't need this guy to tell us this blog matters. Posted by: Gianna at January 22, 2009 08:38 AM"we didn't need this guy to tell us this blog matters."[2] :) Posted by: Ana at January 22, 2009 02:44 PMPS: Thank you guy telling others that this blog matters. the "guy" is good! Posted by: Ana at January 22, 2009 02:47 PMThis blog DOES matter and thank you for being you, Philip. Posted by: susan at January 22, 2009 02:52 PMCongratulations Philip, it's an important and even pretty thrilling experience to be recognized by someone you admire. Especially when they're working in the same business you are. Congratulations again Philip. Posted by: Gabriel... at January 22, 2009 03:05 PMPS--Keep the updates coming on AstraZeneca and Seroquel lawsuits! Start "Seroquel Chronicles" next. It's gonna be full blown off-label, diabetes inducing, drama. Worse than Zyprexa. Posted by: Stephany at January 22, 2009 08:45 PMConcur with Dobb completely. You are more impactful that you may fully realize. And as far as blogging goes: Published on: www.beforeyoutakethatpill.com I don't do one of the blogs you have listed anymore. I do THIS one now. (Couldn't find your e-mail address ... Posted by: Patricia at January 24, 2009 04:50 PMPost a comment
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