Mendel’s Garden #3 and Professional Science Blogging
Genetics doesn’t stop for a minute even in the heat of summer. Mendel’s Garden #3, the best of genetics blogging, continues at ¡Viva La Evolución!
As an aside, I’d like to address Salvador’s comment at the end of his round-up:
It is starting to be annoying the amount of ads that some blogs have. I didn’t start a blog to pay my bills.
I’m sure Genetics and Health is included in that list along with all of the 44 excellent blogs at ScienceBlogs.
I can understand where Salvador is coming from. Most of us probably started blogging as a way to share our passion and interests. But when the opportunity comes to earn something from the energy poured into the endeavor, few say “no.”
Why? Because blogging costs money.
For some, the increasing commercialization of blogging, which was once believed to be free of the normal restrictions of mainstream media, is both an insult and a concern. In the interest of transparency, let me explain the way I approach advertising on Genetics and Health.
I always say whatever I want without any kind of censorship. There are no limits imposed on me by any of the advertising or sponsorships you see displayed. (For more information, see the HONcode accreditation in the sidebar and my full disclosure.)
Genetics and Health belongs to a for-profit network of over 100 blogs. Blogging at b5media and acting as the editor of the Science and Health Channel (as well as the Family and Relationships Channel) is the only way I can justify not returning to academic research. I believe the science and health blogs at b5media (see them in the blogroll on the far right sidebar) are doing an important public service of providing a place where people can come find information and support on a wide variety of topics. And if we can find a way to support our bloggers financially so that they can do what they love and feel passionately about, so much the better.
Even if you start a blog at free services, such as Blogger/Blogspot, the time it takes to write thoughtful posts costs money. Then, if you move to your own domain you’d have to pay for the domain registration and hosting. Even more, if you want a nice design, that can cost money too. Designing or tweaking an existing design on your own still costs time.
At b5media, we provide everything except the content that the bloggers write. On top of that, we even pay bloggers for it (revenue generated per blog is shared between the blogger and the network). Wouldn’t that sound good to anyone?
Of course, I’d like to think that ads are worthwhile investments but I’d guess that most readers don’t even notice them. For me, ads sometimes provide entertainment value and–you better believe it–information. Advertising isn’t inherently evil.
What it all comes down to is money. Genetics, science, and health are not exempt from the need for it. And I’m not either.
If you’re interested in blogging for b5media, drop me a note and let’s talk.
~~~~~
NB: I didn’t mean for this to be a commercial for b5media or commercial/professional blogging but I guess it turned out that way. Oops.
More on ScienceBlogs advertising at Word Munger (dating back to January 2006).
Technorati Tags: problogging, professional blogging, problogger, genetics, genes, dna, science, health, b5media, b5 media
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POSTED IN: Genetics Blogging, Genetics and Health Blog Carnivals
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10 opinions for Mendel’s Garden #3 and Professional Science Blogging
Milo Riano
Jul 22, 2006 at 6:32 am
Hello Hsien,
I am no hypocrite and I would say I would not spend time on something I would not earn anything from nor will increase my value to earn more in the future. I am not in the business of charitable work on a daily basis.
Time is Gold and I’d rather do other things than blogging for free…
Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD
Jul 22, 2006 at 2:44 pm
Milo: I know what I you mean! If I weren’t trying to make a living at it, I’d just one hodge podge blog that didn’t do anybody any good. All the info I put here at Genetics and Health would probably have a better home in a magazine or book too.
Heather
Jul 22, 2006 at 8:33 pm
I agree. Bloggers stay up on current news and become experts in their field. Writing is an acquired skill like any other type of work, so why should we give away our time and ideas for free?
Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD
Jul 23, 2006 at 10:13 am
Heather: That’s exactly what we’re aiming for her at b5 and I think we earn what (little) we’ve made so far. Here’s to more rewards to come. :)
Mary Jo Manzanares
Jul 23, 2006 at 11:04 am
While I suspect most of us bloggers would still do a little blogging if it were for free, we just couldn’t expend the time, energy, and expenses that it takes to be the expert in our field(s).
For me, blogging about travel is the ultimate example of “do what you love, and the money will follow.”
Brion
Jul 23, 2006 at 11:51 am
There’s nothing wrong with earning $ off advertisements, provided advertising is not the sole purpose. It’s more annoying going to sites where the blogger’s sole objective is to make money. I hate those blogs where they’ve lost their original charm and purpose.
Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD
Jul 23, 2006 at 12:01 pm
Mary Jo: I think you and Heather really got the point with the keyword “expert” because most of us at b5 are experts in our chosen topic and could make more money elsewhere for sure. Instead, we’re sharing our knowledge blogging for far less financial returns. Clearly, we’re not driven by big bucks!
Brion: Hi! Thanks for the comment. Making money has its purpose but at the b5 Science and Health Channel, we believe we are blogging for a greater goal of improving people’s health and welfare. As I see you’re doing with the MonaVie! Beautiful website but I don’t quite get where people can purchase it?
Kelly
Oct 15, 2006 at 1:21 pm
What I find interesting about this debate is that we’re somehow associating corporate involvement/sponsorship/advertisement with the equivalent of “selling out”. That’s especially interesting in the context of science as many important discoveries were sponsored by corporations as the primary means of funding.
Do we really believe that Pfizer or GSK are altruistic? That there’s no money involved? Or that the first scientific trips to the North Pole or Antarctica were paid out of pocket by those who made the discoveries? Even at the academic level, most of the funding and grants to large universities are not via private donors (patrons, more or less) but by corporate sponsors - in fact, those same funds probably paid for some of these graduate degrees we’re bandying about.
It’s easy to sit back and be smug because you’ve made different choices. But don’t make comments like this in a vacuum without considering the greater community, both in science and beyond.
WTF
Oct 15, 2006 at 2:14 pm
It’s a cycle: blog —> $ —-> blog better
Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD
Oct 15, 2006 at 5:43 pm
Kelly: Thanks for the comment. You’re right on the money. ;)
WTF: LOL @ WTF Is it a vicious cycle? :P
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