Headline Of The Week Weak
Filed under: Headline of the Week
"Bloggers Consider Forming Labor Union"
For realz? Yup! CLICK HERE to read the article accompanying this headline!
Bloggers Consider Forming Labor Union
Do bloggers need their own Norma Rae?
In a move that might make some people scratch their heads, a loosely formed coalition of left-leaning bloggers are trying to band together to form a labor union they hope will help them receive health insurance, conduct collective bargaining or even set professional standards.
The effort is an extension of the blogosphere's growing power and presence, especially within the political realm, and for many, evokes memories of the early labor organization of freelance writers in the early 1980s.
Organizers hope a bloggers' labor group will not only showcase the growing professionalism of the Web-based writers, but also the importance of their roles in candidates' campaigns.
"I think people have just gotten to the point where people outside the blogosphere understand the value of what it is that we do on the progressive side," said Susie Madrak, the author of Suburban Guerilla blog, who is active in the union campaign. "And I think they feel a little more entitled to ask for something now."
But just what that something is may be hard to say.
In a world as diverse, vocal and unwieldy as the blogosphere, there's no consensus about what type of organization is needed and who should be included. Some argue for a free-standing association for activist bloggers while others suggest a guild open to any blogger — from knitting fans to video gamers — that could be created within established labor groups.
Others see a blogger coalition as a way to find health insurance discounts, fight for press credentials or even establish guidelines for dealing with advertising and presenting data on page views.
"It would raise the professionalism," said Leslie Robinson, a writer at ColoradoConfidential.com. "Maybe we could get more jobs, bona fide jobs."
But not everyone is on board.
"The reason I like blogging is that it's very anarchistic. I can do whatever I want whenever I want, and oh my God, you're not going to tell me what to do," said Curt Hopkins, the founder of the Committee to Protect Bloggers.
"The blogosphere is such a weird term and such a weird idea. It's anyone who wants to do it," Hopkins said. "There's absolutely no commonality there. How will they find a commonality to go on? I think it's doomed to failure on any sort of large scale."
About 11 percent of American Internet users have created Web pages or blogs for others while eight percent have created their own online journals or Weblogs, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project.
With pages focused on everything from bird watching to celebrity footwear, more than 120,000 blogs are created every day and more than 58,000 new posts are made each hour, according to data from Technorati, which tracks more than 94 million blogs worldwide.
Few bloggers are paid for their posts, and even fewer are able to make a living doing the work. But many say they often devote as much energy and time to their online musings as they do to their salaried careers.
While bloggers work to organize their own labor movement, their growing numbers are already being courted by some unions.
"Bloggers are on our radar screen right now for approaching and recruiting into the union," said Gerry Colby, president of the National Writers Union, a local of the United Auto Workers. "We're trying to develop strategies to reach bloggers and encourage them to join."
Unsurprisingly, there's decidedly less support for a union movement among conservative bloggers.
Mark Noonan, an editor at Blogs for Bush and a senior writer at GOP Bloggers, said he worries that a blogger union would undermine the freewheeling nature of the blogosphere, regardless of its political composition.
"We just go out there and write what is on our mind, damn the critics," he said. "To make a union is to start to provide a firm structure for the blogosphere and that would merely make the blogosphere a junior-league (mainstream media). … Get us a union and other 'professional' organizations and we'll start to be conformist and we'll start to be just another special interest."
But that's not how Kirsten Burgard sees it.
Sitting at a panel titled "A Union for Bloggers: It's Time to Organize" at this week's YearlyKos Convention for bloggers in Chicago, Burgard said she'd welcome a chance to join a unionized blogging community.
"I sure would like to have that union bug on my Web site," said Burgard, a blogger who uses the moniker Bendy Girl.
Madrak hopes that regardless the form, the labor movement ultimately will help bloggers pay for medical bills. It's important, she said, because some bloggers can spend hours a day tethered to computers as they update their Web sites.
"Blogging is very intense — physically, mentally," she said. "You're constantly scanning for news. You're constantly trying to come up with information that you think will mobilize your readers. In the meantime, you're sitting at a computer and your ass is getting wider and your arm and neck and shoulder are wearing out because you're constantly using a mouse."
first
UNOSSSSSSS
First
Give me a fuckin' break!
Oh mighty, all-knowing, all-powerful Perezs - lay hands on me, and my sins shall be HEALED!!!!!
cudnt be arsed reading all that
DAmn!
dont hold yourself up to be a saint. its offensive, not funny.
I don't like this!!!
Don't Do this to the mother Mary!!!!!!
NOT COOL!!!!!
sick
Is that Billy Bob Thorton???
Remember the last time the beatles blasphemed? That ws the start of their end and some died terrible deaths. How dare you use jesus in such a way! Revenge is mine, siath the lord!
good idea
haha
Remember the last time the beatles blasphemed? That was the start of their end and some died terrible deaths. How dare you use Jesus in such a way! Revenge is mine, saith the Lord!
You aren't even recognizable without your five chins…
Not funny…lay off us Catholics, okay
amen!!!
With your fame, shouldn't you consider a SAG membership. It seems like the bloggers with some celeb status should consider all types of protection and benefits…
Pita
sacrilege!!!!!
i've always loved you, perez. but you've crossed the line.
Not funny…lay off us Catholics…not our fault we are easy targets!!
i love it and love you
thanks for all you do and the truth you spread
you should totally get that tatoo'd on yourself perez! or get ur bitch to do it!
-xoxo
gizz
I think this whole union thing is ridiculous. Blogging is a choice, not a requirement…the world would still go on without someone behind their computer screen spouting off about what they think is the truth. I mean, Perez, I love your blog but if you weren't doing this, what would you be doing? I know you put a lot of time and effort into your blog but for crying out loud, is this what America is coming to?? "Bloggers Unite"…oh please, if you are that worried about health insurance, then get a real job or be like Perez and dish on something people want to read so you can get advertisers…lol
unions are gay, and so is this story
WTF??? NOT cool, you fag!!!!!!! Your asshole is too wide to fit through the pearly gates. Your ass is goin' straight to hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Perezito… I love you with all my heart, but this image is very offensive to your Catholic readers…
Is it even possible to create a union for people that are self-employed? ACLU is all for standing up for worker, giving a voice to those that otherwise wouldn't have one. I don't think bloggers really qualify. You guys could probably form a coop to get discounts on insurance, but a union…not so much.
I totally agree with the others….THIS (pic) IS NOT COOL AT ALL. It's offensive to the Lord (not catholics or religion, but to our Lord). It's left in God's hands now.
you are too into yourself, Perez. boring.
They're kind of talking about political bloggers here Prez, not gossip queens, so don't put a halo above your head please!
A true catholic wouldnt be on this website right now ATX !!!
Perez, not the HOLY MOTHER!!!!!!!!! Super imposing your face on the body of the HOLY MOTHER, is in serious poor taste!!!!!!!!! Very, very disappointed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Perez makes a BETTER JESUS
PRAISE YA PRAISE YA
Now that's funny. They blog for attention and to get their opinion heard and now they think they should unionize? And how exactly would that work you twits? All advertisers having to pay the same rates…regardless of your blog traffic? If you don't have health insurance and have the brains and money to have a computer to blog on, I'm sure they're qualified for a job that has insurance benefits.
and to Mariposa, Catholicism is offensive to Perez's readers who are gay, feminist, anti-patriarchal, fundamentalist christian and so on and so on.
Don't go emaculate concepting on us Perez. Bad time to bring holey child into the world,
I've also heard there's going to be unions formed for Adults Who Live in Their Parents' Basement and Lonely Guys Who Prowl Teen MySpace Profiles Whilte Masturbating.
- Don't give a solitary shit if I'm first or last
what a load of crap! Blogging is a choice not job! Mass majority of blogging is just stating your own opinion or repeating stories that have already been published by someone else. A Union will NEVER happen.
maybe if it was a pic of a fat jesus …
What do you think Perez? Would you join a bloggers union? Do you think it's necessary? Wouldn't it be nice to be able to join a pool for healther insurance, retirment funds, etc.?
Please Perez- I want your commentary!!!! Not just a reprinting of MSNBC.
And how come you don't draw lines of coke or cum on your face?
What do you think Perez? Would you join a bloggers union? Do you think it's necessary? Wouldn't it be nice to be able to join a pool for healther insurance, retirment funds, etc.?
Please Perez- I want your commentary!!!! Not just a reprinting of MSNBC.
And how come you don't draw lines of coke or cum on your face? Isn't that a bit unfair?
What a ridiculous story. Just another way the Commu—I mean Democrats want to take over the web. Blogging is for fun, not a job. Such a stupid article.
Giuliani 08
Yup…Just as I thought, Perez is just as fucked up as Britney. Or anyone, for that matter. someone…if they care, pray for the big Perez. Cuz he's going to Hell!!
To Megan:
Um, I don't think this has anything to do with politics, but you're another example of how fucken retarded Republicans can get. There are Republican bloggers out there. A lot of them. So, don't put this all on Democrats. It's just another way for you to plug your one-issue candidate, Giuliani.
you are sick!!!!!!yOU DON'T RESPECT ANYBODY EVEN JESUS,YOU ARE A PIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGG!!!!!
I have so many problems with this.
Perez is hardly the model of professionalism. His writing is el stinkeroo (get a bleeping editor!) and image manipulation is bordering on retarded… I know no one in the creative world who thinks his MS Paint additions to images qualify for the adequate artistic change loophole to using other's intellectual property. So, the first question is: What exactly are the qualifications for being in such a union? Sounds like BS.
Maybe the establishment of a "union" (don't hold your breath) will encourage him — and other bloggers — to use spell-checking functions; get people's names right; use, credit, and pay image-use fees and and labor for professional Photoshop artists, etc.
The quality of "writing" on PerezHilton.com is poor AT BEST, and it's hardly writing at all. Should you really be guaranteed a certain amount of pay for being a news/gossip aggregator?
PS- I just wanted to say that I am a proud Catholic and I see nothing wrong with the photo. I LOVE IT! Genius, Perez. I know you don't hold yourself in the esteem of the Saints. IT'S JUST FOR FUN PEOPLE! Don't take yourselves too seriously…
Perez, That was in very poor taste and bad judgement on your part. I truly feel an apology is in order to your readers. You've become offensive in an area that is important to many.
Hmmm? You say you hate Perez and he's a horrible person, writer, or whatever but you still come on and read what he has to say… make NO sense!
AND I LOVEEEEEE THE PICTURE PEREZ! THIS CATHOLIC SEE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH A LITTLE HARMLESS FUN…
Reading comments on this website is even more entertaining than the actual celebrity gossip.
Perez doesn't hold back against anyone else, why should he hold back on Catholics? It just a joke. Perez's face on a religious icon is FUNNY. Lighten up, god dammit!
:)
TO: # 36 qjersey. Are you saying there's no such thing as a gay catholic? Rupert Everett, a devout catholic springs to mind. Furthermore, there are websites dedicated to Gay, Lesbian and transgender christians.
"We must understand that as Catholicism is the largest branch of the Christian faith there are, logically, a large number of gay Catholics in this world: something I think many gay and lesbian people forget…….Gay Christian groups can be very cruel regarding Catholicism and almost hostile, calling it, "evil, bigoted, outdated, etc." but they are missing some very important points. Something not very known to people is that Catholicism is one of the few branches of Christianity to believe homosexuality to be something one can be born with. The Catechism of the Catholic Church calls homosexuality, "intrinsic." This is a huge step away from the Evangelical churches that set up camps to convert homosexuals into heterosexuals. Catholicism also does not believe that innate homosexuality is a sin, just the sexual acts associated with it. To "be gay" is not the sin according to Rome, just homosexual activity is sinful" Levi Rowland, Whosoever Magazine.
Considering this site is supposed to be offensive, Catholicism is the last thing I think I'd find offensive here….
The far left LOVEEEEE the idea that somebody tell them what to do or what to said, in excahnge of some perks, like insurance, low rent, etc. You love government and love to be their whore. Pathetic. Don't you fuckers love freedom?
Fuckers!
love you saint perez!
# 36. Re: Catholicism is offensive to Perez’s readers who are gay. Are you saying if you're gay then you don't have a religion? There are plenty of gay catholics out there - Rupert Everett springs to mind. There are also plenty of website dedicted to gay, lesbian and transgender christians:
"Gay Catholics are more and more marginalized as they are looked down upon by conservative members of their own religion and misunderstood by other non-Catholic GLBT people. We must understand that as Catholicism is the largest branch of the Christian faith there are, logically, a large number of gay Catholics in this world: something I think many gay and lesbian people forget. Gay Christian groups can be very cruel regarding Catholicism and almost hostile, calling it, "evil, bigoted, outdated, etc." but they are missing some very important points. Something not very known to people is that Catholicism is one of the few branches of Christianity to believe homosexuality to be something one can be born with. The Catechism of the Catholic Church calls homosexuality, "intrinsic." This is a huge step away from the Evangelical churches that set up camps to convert homosexuals into heterosexuals. Catholicism also does not believe that innate homosexuality is a sin, just the sexual acts associated with it. To "be gay" is not the sin according to Rome, just homosexual activity is sinful" LEVI ROWLAND, WHOSOEVER.ORG
People who are easily offended should not read Perezhilton.com at anyway. Perez has clearly photoshopped his chubby face to cause maximum fuss, create a shock and be as policitically incorrect as he possibly can.
PEREZ, I LOVE YOU AS THE VIRGIN MARY (IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, ANYONE?) YOU CAN BE THE PATRON (TEQUILA) SAINT OF THE CELEBUTANTES!!!! OH AND KOUBIAK, PLEASE CATCH EBOLA AND DIE. NO ONE LOVES YOU. NOT EVEN YOUR MOTHER, THE GORILLA WITH THE URINARY TRACT INFECTION. I KNOW, SHE TOLD ME SO HERSELF THIS MORNING…
What a fucking narcissistic asshole you are!! I used to love coming on this site to see what was going on in the fairy-tale world of Hollywood, but that picture of you even insinuating that you are a saint or a holy person makes me SICK!!!!!
Fuck this shit. How ’bout a union for REAL JOURNALISTS? Any dipshit who sits in his parents basement and types all day about Episode Three needs a shrink, not a union. You get money from advertising on the blogs. If you're so talented and funny - make your own site with your own ad rates. Otherwise, you're expendable… Sorry, that was a little much.
wowowww… way to freak out about a photoshopped picture. easily offended much? get a sense of humor and a life. he doesn't actually believeee he is a saint. you fuckers are crazy.
wtf , putting ur face on the virgin mary's face ?! wtf perez -.- its very offensive … not funny
Victoria..Why give him praise? It's just wrong..plain and simple
There is nothing funny about using a holy portrait to put you nasty face in it. you better remove it.
It's funny how everyone overreacts.
Yet again, I applaud you and what you do.
That is an extremely disrespecful and alarming photo. Don't disgrace the blessed mother. I don't care what you opinion is or catholisism in general.
Yeah…you can have a code of ethics and everything!! HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa
Peretzel I love you so much. I come to your site numerous times a day and have been adamantly rooting for you when it comes to your legal troubles, but this picture is highly offensive. Upon seeing this my jaw literally dropped. I've been a practicing Catholic my entire life and to put your face on the Miraculous Medal definitely crosses a line.
I hope you will post an apology for this as we are most deserving of one.
Lorrie
I wouldn't go for a bloggers union, personally, and I make a living from my blog. I don't need anyone telling me what to do!
THAT IZ WRONG!!! Jesus wuz HOTT, U R JUST UGLY!!!
U will go 2 HELL 4 this!!!
Bloggers are growing they may as well stick together and move foreward
perezz eres un maldito00 putoo de mierdaaa jajajaa .
pinche amarillista jodete
OMG!!! You look too cute!!!