Bookmark Vlog Blog
Apr
12
This article at AV Video discusses the current debate about whether to make podcasting a commecial venture or not. Although about podcasting, the same debate can easily be transferred to the vlog world. On one side, there’s Adam Curry, one of MTV’s original VJs and a pioneer in the podcasting world. Adam’s in favor of monetizing podcasting. On the other is Dave Winer, another podcasting pioneer. Winer would like podcasting to be about … well, other stuff — getting power, I guess you could say. As he says:
I don’t have any ads on my podcasts, and frankly, I don’t want ads on my podcasts. And I know why I don’t want ads on my podcast — it’s the same reason I don’t have ads on Scripting News. To put an ad on Scripting News would be like real small picture stuff. Scripting News is where I wield my power, it’s where I change the world. Just simply the power of ideas.
All that is … well, something … I was going to say “nice,” but it isn’t exactly “nice,” no nicer than an advertisement, I don’t think you could say. In any case, it’s unlikely to stem the tide of people attempting to make some money while doing either their podcasts or their vlogs. Unless you’re rich, and simply have loads of free time to devote to “wielding your power,” someone who wants to be serious about their vlog would probably also like to make some money off it. Vlogs, like blogs, will no doubt begin to enter the realm of professional vlogging as blogs have entered the realm of professional blogging.
Of course there will be plenty of vloggers who don’t attempt to monetize their vlogs, possibly even the majority. But even one little Google ad means you’re attempting to monetize your work. Many will perhaps resist, many others may never even be conscious of the debate, but some vloggers, and probably some very good ones who would like to spend their days vlogging instead of clocking in at an office or factory, will become better vloggers and offer the world better vlogs because they were able to get paid for what they love to do, not to mention to get paid for what they work very hard at, as well.
I know there has already been some discussion, and even a vlog or two, on vlogs and money. There have been some good points made, but it seems there is some logic that hasn’t been completely thought through. I hope to take up the discussion, with responses to particular vlogs in the following posts.