In Defense of Amanda Congdon
Is it Amanda Congdon’s fault that she became the face of independent online video as far as corporate media outlets are concerned?
Is it her fault for being the financial beneficiary of old media’s ham-handed attempts to join the conversation online?
Is it her fault that for a generation or more, the role of news anchor has devolved from respected authority to a hollow simulacrum meant to give the appearance of respectability and authority?
Yes, Congdon has made some regrettable decisions, isn’t breaking any rules that needed breaking, and has been obnoxiously strident in responding to criticism, but by indirectly implying that she’s in a position to speak for bloggers, you’re justifying ABC and HBO’s investment in her.
Independent journalism doesn’t win if it becomes conflated with the simultaneous rise of new sources for mediocre infotainment and stealth advertorials. The mistake people are making is that they are perpetuating the idea that outlets like ABC News still respects the lines between fact, opinion and editorial that Violet Blue calls on vloggers and bloggers with the goal of fairness and accuracy to respect.
Sitting behind a desk in a million dollar studio is only a position of authority if you continue to give it that privilege as a viewer. Congdon doesn’t, and as a cynic, I’d say neither do most behind the scenes in broadcast news. She made her choice to sign up with the mainstream media machine, and as oblivious as she may be, I say let her live with that decision in peace.
After all, she’s doing more to undermine the authority of the broadcast news business than a thousand vloggers ever could.
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[...] (they are awfully nice), seeks comments from ABC, and quotes my crack-smoking accusation. New Tee Vee posits “In Defense of Amanda Congdon” assuring us she’s the right person for the job she’s doing — um, not really. Ouch [...]
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I much preferred back in the Rocketboom days. Rocketboom just hasn’t been the same without her.
I’d just like to point out that Violet Blue uses waaaaay too many parenthesis in her article. Thank you, and good morning.
Funny comment from chuck.
We think Amanda is doing the best with the cards she’s dealt.
“The mistake people are making is that they are perpetuating the idea that outlets like ABC News still respects the lines between fact, opinion and editorial that Violet Blue calls on vloggers and bloggers with the goal of fairness and accuracy to respect.”
I think you’re completely incorrect in this regard. One of the main reasons people like Violet Blue call on vloggers, bloggers and casters to respect fairness and accuracy is because as a community we recognize the liberties taken by and failures of mainstream news outlets.
This is why people like Amanda Congdon are so violently repulsive to our community. They are the mainstream media’s attempt at colonizing the blogging world and extending their creeping bloat, while at the same time undermining the attempts of this community towards legitimacy and acceptance.
And yes it is Congdon’s fault. Congdon has done everything willingly. That’s not to say mainstream media isn’t ALSO to blame. But she is most definitely guilty of her own actions.