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If you know me outside of reading my blog you might realise (I hope) that I’m not precious about the blog. I’m just into blogging, social media, the odd bit of armchair activism and having a bit of craic. I like it when any blog breaks a bit of news or does something new, I’ve helped run a conference on blogging and have sat down with people who want to start a blog and given them some (feeble) advice. I have a job and a life outside the blog, I don’t do this shite for money or fame but I do hope that bloggers get attribution for the digging and hours and talent and fun.

This week has been busy on the blog front and a lot of fun with a bit of traffic thrown in. I did an interview earlier in the week with the Irish Independent regarding the Travel Pass story, the journalist explicitly said they had seen the story on the blog, and as requested I sent them the images I had received and provided them with additional quotes. They also covered the Sarah Palin story and published it yesterday. There was a name check and a reference to it sourcing on a blog – grand thought I, maybe they are changing their spots on referencing stuff to the blogosphere.

However today they had a substantial story on the Travel Pass with additional reporting but no attribution to this or any blog as to the source of the story.

Fuck ye lads – Independent Newspapers spend an awful lot of time surfing this blog and other blogs looking for stories – I wave at you when I’m taking a look at my stats and spot your IP address. Any day there’s a Michael Lynn story about you are on in your droves. Last year there was regular non attribution of items gained from blogs during the General Election. It became a running joke.

I know Gavin O’Reilly can’t stand us or any form of user generated content – is this why there’s such a problem admitting where you get your stuff? It’s time you were publicly called on it and your cards marked.

I’m really sorry that the other freelancer who was in touch with me regarding a piece won’t get published now – he was very genuine and conscious of the fact that I and other bloggers had been badly treated before.