Everyone is talking: WWD's article, "To Pay or Not to Pay: A Closer Look at the Business of Blogging"

Everyone is talking about what seems to be a broadside volley by WWD against Fashion Bloggers.

"To Pay or Not to Pay: A Closer Look at the Business of Blogging"

We get it, WWD isn't the biggest fan of Fashion Bloggers. Of course they aren't.

But this remark in the article stuck with me:

"Besides, some brands contend, if bloggers are journalists, journalists aren't paid for writing about a company."


And that my friends is a little misleading. While most journalist don't get paid anything up front to write about various fashion products, they do get many benefits. From free swag bags with valuable products from stores that hope they'll write about said products, to the companies then buying ads in the outlet which is used to pay the journalists salary, there is a payment of sorts.


Here's my philosophy: Everyone needs content to write about. Companies provide a lot of content for bloggers and journalists alike. If a blogger can make a buck, great. If the journalists outlet isn't one that's currently going under and they are receiving a salary, great. Win-win.


So what's the problem with bloggers being paid? As far as my blog goes, I don't get paid. I'm more active during the Spring and Fall fashion pushes so my blog can lie fallow for days. And you can't charge for that!


But brands know that bloggers can create a buzz and keep a conversation going to about a product or event. Journalist don't really specializes in that, nor should they.


In my opinion, bloggers and journalists are BOTH important to brands. And that's a good thing.