To be sure, the young politics bloggers interviewed are all precociously talented and their success at a young age is impressive. Brian Beutler, 28, is a reporter for the online publication Talking Points Memo. David Weigel, 29, is a political reporter for Slate.com and a contributor to MSNBC. Ezra Klein, 26, wrote for The American Prospect and now The Washington Post. Matt Yglesias, 29, is a blogger for Think Progress, the blog for the Center for American Progress.
The problem with the piece, though, is the complete exclusion of female politics bloggers and reporters. They definitely exist … so why exclude them? Why was it necessary to report the “story” — and yes, “story” belongs in quotes — with only young male bloggers? Does that make any sense whatsoever? It comes off as needlessly clubby … almost like a … what’s that word again? A boys’ club. Oh yes, it comes off like a boys’ club. And a boys’ club is perpetuated by many factors, in particular the opportunities afforded to some privileged members over others. Opportunities, like, say, NY Times’ profiles.
The thing is, journalism and blogging in 2011, as far as I’ve seen from my six or so years working in those disciplines, are not total boys’ clubs. There are female politics bloggers and writers in Washington, D.C., and New York City, and anywhere else you go looking for them. The more you look for, the more you find. Why The NY Times either chose not to look, or chose not to include, any women at all other than mentioning in passing that Annie Lowrey is a 26-year-old reporter for Slate, is shameful.
So, I’ll try to be helpful, NY Times, and give you some names of female politics bloggers and/or reporters who perhaps eluded your gaze when you’re wearing those douchey spectacles of sexist trend pieces:
And that’s just to start (although, it’s admittedly a predominantly white list). I could go on and on and on.
Also, I love this parody piece written by Ann Friedman, a former editor at Feministing and The American Prospect, that sends up the stupid New York Times article. Definitely check it out here and be sure to check out Ann’s Tumblr called Lady Journos that curates the work of “journalists who happen to be women.” Because, you know, sometimes they’re just so hard to find. Or something.
[New York Times]
[AnnFriedman.com]
