Click on the pic to read the full story.
Updated figures again.
Since I wrote this story the food blogging world has grown again. You can find my definitive list of local bloggers here. Since I filed my copy in November, at least a dozen new local bloggers have emerged. I have tracked 54 locally, 24 from Melbourne.
According to Technorati there are now 26.5 million blogs; back in November there were 22 million.
If you are one of Tomato’s friends from abroad then you probably haven’t seen this story. If you click on the pic you’ll be ableto navigate to a full-sized version on Flickr.
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Ed, a good read! I actualy received my copy of Gourmet Traveller and read your article in the midst of setting up my own food blog – it was good to know that I wasn’t odd (or at least that there were plenty of other oddities around)…
Welcome aboard. Glad you enjoyed it. And look forward to following your posts. A few of us Melbourne bloggers will be getting together soon. i’ll post on it when we know a date and venue.Come along.
Hi Ed,
Awesome work, and great to see the blogs getting some good recognition. Perhaps a while before the lines between print and online media blur to the extent they probably should, but very cool nonetheless.
Cheers,
Matt
Thanks Matt. Frustrating not to be able to mention everybody and hopefully is a bit more incisive that the local efforts so far. I often ponder the blurring of print/online. There is something great about how tactile print is and how big pics can look on a page. While online has an immediacy to it that is unparralleled. I wonder if they are mutually complimentary with, for now, print promoting the majority of traffic to the web and eventually the web promoting the majority of buyers to print, which will be an expensive luxury by then.
Interesting point Ed, i’m not sure if the print world is ready to fully except the online world into it’s little domain.
I do love the feel of print, and the nice glossy images… and its definitely easier putting a cook book/magazine on the bench than dragging in a PC or laptop to read recipes from
But in terms of content, the web has such an abundance of home grown information (both good and not so good), that its really hard not to be disappointed when you see misinformation continually printed in major commericial publications.
Having said that i’ve always found something of interest in Gourmet Traveller. How did the story come about ?
You are right, print is still amazing in all its different forms. A computer can never reproduce the texture of paper but no doubt we’ll find ourselves with flat screens on the bench – or the fridge as LG promises. Info on the web is variable but it is astonishing to me how much is out there, especially recipe resources. Restaurant reviews are more tricky with a lot of sites being paid for reviews.
Gourmet Traveller was already planning the story when I interviewed editor Anthea Loucas for The Bulletin I mentioned food blogging and she passed my details to features editor Pat Nourse and after a good deal of email repartie I volunteered my services, both of us agreeing that it was really about grass roots writing and there hadn’t beena really good article written about the Australian scene…. an online database of beautifully designed pages of recipes with superb photography is what would do it. Currently it is only us bloggers doing that.
26.5 million blogs? Wow!
Enjoyed your article very much. Nice pic too.
I’ll let you know when I’m dating a top chef like Pim.
))
Paz
With all your W/end herb blogging I suspect your going to end up with a top greengrocer! ; )
My colleague bought the magazine and showed me the article and I think I went “ooooer I read their blogs!!!!!!!”
Pretty good article and it’s nice to finally put some faces to the blogs; and I like that bit “but my wife won’t let me date”
Great article, great to see you spreading the word. Would love to join in the next get together you mention in your comments…
These are the hazards of marriage not being able to date but somehow I survive vacariously living out my life throughthe pages of glossy magazines.
Ange, I’ll most when we have a date confirmed. Looks likeit’ll be a Saturday morning at a Farmers market in the next two to three weeks. It would be great to wee loads of new bloggers there.
LOL! Ed, you’re too funny! I’ll take a greengrocer. Herbs and vegetables are expensive around here. hehehe!
BTW, how is Jak feeling? Much better, I trust.
Paz
Paz, we aim for laughs, although the occasional chef may be n tears.