Bloggers nix bureaucracy

The most successful independent bloggers are an independent lot, definitely thinking for themselves. If you are a progressive, think about who you read regularly among the "big blogs," and why you read their blogs. Do you admire their independent entrepeneurial streak?
I am a Little Blogger, no less independent, which accounts for my prolonged absence from posting to S/SW. I have been occupied with development of another site using the new "Beta.blogger." Fun, fun!
What many independent bloggers are trying to escape is bureaucracy. My last post discussed briefly how bureaucracy could be a positive force for good. Aas an antidote to OCP's devotion to the Unitary Presidency theory, professionals in the bureaucracy serve as potential checks on Mr. Bush's executive power.
Mainstream Media gients are not bureaucracies serving the public interest, in my opinion. These large corporate owners of news media may a negative force, their bureaucracies not serving a free press well at all. Of the checks and balances built into our constitution, an independent press is one of the most crucial checks on bad government. Thus how bureaucracies are positive or negative all depends on whether they operate in the public interest.
This writer broke away from his MSM job. His story is one of courage, ingenuity and a great sense of community. PressThink's Jay Rosen featured the story by reporter turned writer, Paul Bass. This is Rosen's heading for Bass' post to PressThink:

Liberation! Guest Writer Paul Bass on Creating the New Haven Independent
Bass was a reporter in New Haven for 25 years. He took a break to write a book and
found he couldn't go back to corporate journalism. Inspired by Baristanet, he decided to start a news site in his own town. But with a mortage and two kids, he couldn't just wing it. Key decision: go non-profit.

How do independent bloggers feed themselves? I am retired; few bloggers support tmenselves with their blogging. But some independent bloggers have found financing, diende reports. Quoting from the post,

Here is an interesting article looking at how some independent bloggers are
getting financing by technology and media investors.

Another way to be compensated - Wired news discussed the hiring and credentialing of independent bloggers associated with the Democratic Convention in 2004. To quote,

12:53 PM Jul, 10, 2004
NEW YORK -- More than 30 independent Web journalists have been accredited to cover the Democratic convention, and the Republicans said Friday they'll also credential so-called bloggers.
It's the first time bloggers will be joining the thousands of newspaper, magazine and broadcast journalists at the quadrennial presidential-nomination events.

And many, many independent spirited bloggers, working in bureaucracies blog to keep themselves sane. It's the American way - yankee ingenuity become community.

Reference: Search terms used with Dogpile search engine: "independent bloggers" "mainstream media bloggers"

Tags: blogs blogers blogging bureaucracy independence corporate media MSM