Let’s be clear and direct: vlogs and blogs are not news.
They represent personal perspectives, not objective reporting. The rise of vloggers and bloggers is a byproduct of the digital media revolution, which has transformed traditional media into a more accessible and interactive platform.
However, it’s important to distinguish these content creators from journalists or news reporters. They lack the formal training and ethical frameworks that define professional journalism—except, of course, for those journalists who have embraced vlogging or blogging as an extension of their craft.
The proliferation of vloggers and bloggers can largely be attributed to widespread disillusionment with mainstream media. Many people feel that traditional outlets have become biased, aligning themselves with specific political entities or failing to cover critical issues comprehensively. This perceived partiality has driven audiences to seek alternative sources of information, turning to vlogs and blogs for updates on socio-political matters.
However, this shift has also given rise to what politicians often label as “fake news.” Ironically, much of this so-called fake news stems from the alleged corruption of mainstream media itself. When politicians manipulate traditional outlets—paying for favorable spins or promoting advocacy journalism—they erode public trust.
In response, vloggers and bloggers often challenge these narratives, offering counterpoints to the misinformation and bias perpetuated by mainstream channels. Yet, when they do so, they are frequently accused of spreading “fake news” themselves and are pressured to provide evidence.
Here’s the crux of the matter: vloggers and bloggers are not bound by the same standards as journalists. They are, at their core, opinion writers. Their content is subjective and does not require the rigorous evidence-based approach expected of professional reporting.
This distinction is crucial in understanding their role in the media landscape—they are commentators, not reporters, and their work should be consumed with that context in mind.
