Recently I read a Tweet from Australian Penny Webb, Blogger of “Sshh mummys on the phone” that said…”Now more than ever this blogging community need to stick together, to stick it to the faceless commenters.
This Tweet intrigued me, and on reading Penny’s post, I decided I needed to find out more, and invited Penny to an interview.
In the last few months Mummy Bloggers have hit the headlines. They are being feted by big business wanting to cash in on their huge readerships through sponsorship, advertising and endorsement, and mainstream media are fascinated by these at home successes.
Some of Australia’s top bloggers including Eden Riley, Mrs Woogs , Nikki Parkinson from Styling You, Beth from Baby Mac, and Sarah from A Beach Cottage have joined a Blogging Talent Agency called The Remarkables to manage their fame and their endorsements. This announcement has caused some quarters of the blogosphere to go into a spin, as some accuse them of “selling out”. There seems to be a lot of jealousy and all sorts of drama going on amongst bloggers at the moment, and we discuss this possible “Tall Poppy Syndrome” example. Some of this drama might have led to a rise in the amount of bullying online both in comments and in blog posts of some bloggers, some of it has been so vicious so much so, that a few bloggers have quit for the time being, as per Penny’s post.
Penny Webb Blogger
During this interview Penny talks about the ongoing blogging drama’s the new blogging agency, the bullying, and what she believes might be the trigger for some of the worst of it.
Penny also talks about what she thinks is the best approach to take to deal with blog based bullying.
We also discuss the recent articles that have appeared in the news, and talk about why some bloggers think they are being attacked by mainstream press.
Penny also talks about how she believes she might have been “set up” during a TV interview to react to an abusive comment as she was going to air. Conspiracies abound!
Does mainstream media really look down their noses at bloggers? How can they, when so many of them are turning to blogging as the print media is dying? We discuss this and more.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:46 — 51.9MB)
Let us know in comments what your thoughts are, have you been a victim of comment bullying? Do you approve of the term mummy blogging or do you think its become derogatory and belittling?
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About Leonie Smith
Leonie Smith is a small business computing consultant & Social Media strategist & designer of Social Media pages and backgrounds. Leonie is also "The Cyber Safety Lady" 
Thanks for this very reasoned and rational conversation around this topic. I have always come from a non-judgmental and supportive point of view so it’s a (naive) shock when others don’t!
Nikki @ Styling You recently posted..20 tips for improving your social media etiquette
Reasoned and Rational??? on the internets!! heaven forbid!
Leonie Smith recently posted..Mummy Bloggers Being Bullied!
The SEO community provides a good model. As the community has developed they have moved to a point where even competing companies/individuals have established a mutually supportive blogosphere. There is still infighting – but it’s amazing how many people can be supportive even in the face of other peoples successes!
Dylan Tovey recently posted..5 minutes with Kelly Brown – Newborn Photographer