Diversity in the Public Face of Progressive Blogging

News Type: Opinion — Seeded on Wed Aug 8, 2007 2:51 PM EDT

Article Source: reappropriate

technology, internet, blogging, feminism, women-bloggers, bloggers-of-color

The problem is several-fold. First, we must remember that though the blogosphere is a good venue for grassroots activism and networking, it is by no-means accessible to all. True, blogs are usually not pay-per-view, but the price of a home computer and online access is about $120/month for the first year, and an additional $10-50/month in subsequent years to pay for online access, depending on if you connect by modem or through a high-speed LAN. Lower middle-class Americans who may not have Internet access at home but do at work tend to have less time in their jobs to surf the Internet than do upper management employees; and we all know that writing or reading a blog can take hours off the day. Libraries with free Internet tend to limit computer time or online destinations.

And, of course, let's not forget that blogging is, by definition, a computer-based, literacy-based medium, and thus exclusive to those with insufficient education to participate.

In other words, the very nature of the blogosphere tends to pre-select for well-paid, well-educated bloggers with more flexible employment. And we all know that White males tend to be better paid, better educated, and have better employment opportunities than do women or minorities.

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Eric Atienza

Until the conference is able to address that concern, I think they'll continue to see poor diversity in attendants. This year, seventeen bloggers of colour were awarded an all-expenses paid package to attend the conference (named the Chicago 17). That's great, but seventeen out of hundreds of attendents represent a mere fraction of a percent, and the panel discussion topics were — by all reports — as lacking in diversity as ever.

How about seeking out sponsorships to help support poor, underrepresented bloggers to the conference? How about making the conference less about hearing from the same big names and more about seeking out bloggers outside the Daily Kos circle to sit on panels? How about more than just a couple panels addressing women's issues and race activism?

And who can forget this image of last months' NAACP-sponsored debate between Republican presidential candidates, where all but one candidate, Tommy Tancredo, simply didn't show up?

I actually didn't hear about that last bit when it happened. Not showing at a debate sponsored by the NAACP. That certainly shows some disdain.

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#1 - Wed Aug 8, 2007 2:53 PM EDT

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ERIC ATIENZA

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Diversity in the Public Face of Progressive Blogging

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