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The Ethics and Impact of Blogging

Recently there has been a flurry of conversation surrounding the role of Bloggers in the culinary world. Does the casual or 'professional' Foodie Blogger have a responsibility to chefs and their menus when their comments waiver on the line of totally subjective leading to an actual shift in the public perception and ultimately the fate of a restaurant or career of a chef? What is the ethical responsibility of a Blogger? This is the ultimate question, it seems.

As Bloggers, we all clearly have a right to write. This is why we are here. However, are all Bloggers, especially the influential ones, writing and forming their opinions from an objective and educated place? Do all Bloggers do their homework before blasting out on the Internet their 'informed' opinions about a menu, a chef, the ambiance of a restaurante, the depth of a wine list? Is it their obligation to? Or is an opinion just an opinion?

How influential is the Foodie Blogger who just sets out to go to restaurants that he/she would experience just because they love food and then write about it? Can a slew of negative experiences of these Bloggers really effect a restaurant? If he/she gets the facts wrong, is there a level of accountability?  

Everyone from the big man who can do no wrong in the eyes of most behind the kitchen, Mario Batali to the Amateur Gourment, Adam Roberts, have weighed in on this subject. 

From Batali:

"My broader point is that the casual and serious reader alike cannot possibly hold the anonymous blogosphere accountable. I think, in fact, many of the readers know this and enjoy the fun. But the blog is now a new partner, and this bit of shoddy journalism will be picked up and promulgated by the rest of the gray zone and march its merry way toward the center of the road. Eventually these blog posts become factual information lost in the sauce.

But, in the end, I do not hate the blogger. I just expect, and want, more from many of them."

From Roberts:

"I'd like to think that food bloggers like me, who write about food and cooking and the occasional meal out, are allies of good, honest, hard-working chefs who have quality food to share and, perhaps, very few outlets in which to promote that food."

What do you think?

Posted Jul 2, 2007 by sarahisafoodie | 1 Comment | Share It

Filed under: Foodie Blogger Mario Batali Ed Levine Amateur Gourmet