Do you believe in life after blogs?

Everyone has talked about what position blogs and bloggers should take in the industry.  A lot of it is talk about nothing, talk for the sake of an argument, talk for the sake of talk.  I'm bored by it.  Yes, it is the 21st century, and yes there has been an obvious shift in how fashion journalism is implemented - but to what extent should we be relying on these new online sources as influential and authoritative pieces of writing? Are they really so much of a threat to the publications that there must be so much talk?

These questions stand as a buffer for what has recently been on my mind, as i have become increasing irritated by blogs in general.  In the last 2 weeks, several opportunities have been brought to my attention in which i could select and keep items of my choice in exchange for my review of them, and at least 5 billion links that would feed the viewer to the brands own website.  Initially i was of course very excited by this prospect.  Having made best friends with the poverty line whilst interning, i still instinctively jump at the chance for free stuff.  I can't help it.  But then i sat down and thought about it and this is the exact thing that bothers me about recent blogging - it has no soul!

Entries that used to be full of passion and excitement are now boring and read as a bit of a chore, as many of my favourite blogs have become completely and utterly pre-occupied by talking about what items are on the top of the pile of samples that have been sent in for them to "review" (i say "review" as by what authority does the common blogger have to review anything??)  Well, it's either that or they have dramatically changed their taste and decided they hate their blogs.  For me, they have become hollow and a little bit meaningless.  Which begs the question - why even have a blog if you are going to do this?  Do you do it for the fame?  To be recognised as one of the most influential bloggers and be able to hold workshops for other fellow bloggers?  Or for the fortune?  To review every Tom, Dick or Harry that is popped through you letterbox in exchange for the opportunity to keep the stuff?

In last years first issue of Lurve magazine, Mademoiselle Ahanda wrote "An amazing thing that makes you nervous and excited whenever you see it...That was something i was looking for whenever i was buying a magazine.  Now with internet, relationships are formed without any physical interaction, resulting in a distorted view of the other, the way we act or dress: everything starts here.  We wanted to create a magazine that would be appreciated by a lot of people without having the pressure to put the next "It thing" on the cover...Without money but with lot of passion, we decided to make this first issue an "Ode To Individuality". Okay, so the mission statement reads as a bit of a 'fuck you' to the system, but for me, this is what buying a magazine is about.  You buy it to believe in it, and in terms of independent blogging, i'm not really believing in anything at the moment. Which brings me back to my original questions: To what extent should we be relying on these new online sources as influential and authoritative pieces of writing? Are they really so much of a threat to the publications that there must be so much talk?