Mary Jo Foley leaves Microsoft Watch for ZDnet blog |
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Robert McLaws conducts an interview with Mary Jo Foley who has announced today that she has left Microsoft Watch (pictured) for a ZDnet blog:
It just seemed like the time was right. It’s a bloggers’ market out there. Blogging is the future of journalism, in my opinion. More and more bloggers are not just reacting to – but actually breaking – news. I wanted to try my hand at running a business that was blog-centric from the get-go. So I decided to take my show on the road.
The part of this that doesn’t make much sense is has Ms. Foley really left anything? I mean if Ziff Davis was behind Microsoft Watch, what will be that different at a ZDnet blog besides a different web address? Why doesn’t she start maryjofoley.com or foleyprobeswindows.com or something if she really wants to go out on her own? Working for Ziff Davis is still working for Ziff Davis, yes/no?
Don’t mean for that question to come across as rude, as I certainly wish Ms. Foley the best. Also, it’s exciting seeing a journalist cross the opposite river, but I must admit being puzzled by her use of the word “take my show on the road.”
She’s not taking any shows on the road. She’s moving from one server to another in the same company while some dude named Peter Galli takes her place. He’s the one with the tough show on the road here, Ms. Foley should be just fine.
Microsoft Watch memories
This blog has had at least one link from Microsoft Watch over the years. I remember that fondly because at the time they sent some noticeable traffic to this post. I also believe it helped get me noticed by Microsoft and be invited to Search Champs v4. Don’t know for sure on that one, but the timing seemed right and I’m appreciative even if it wasn’t instrumental on some level. If you were responsible for that link, Mary Jo Foley, thank you very much.
Now I’ve sent a trackback to your new blog announcement post, something that seems like ZDnet blogs randomly decide to accept from here. Maybe if/when you see this post you’d be kind enough to follow up on your blog or the comments below about why you didn’t get your own domain and do your own thing? I mean, really go out on your own? None of our business out here, but hey, I’ll do the bold thing and ask.
Best of luck and yes, absolutely, I’m subscribed.
Update 9/21/2006 5:08am PST: The always informative Nathan Weinberg at Inside Microsoft explains that CNET actually owns ZDnet, not Ziff Davis, so Mary Jo Foley is switching companies:
Microsoft Watch is owned and operated by Ziff Davis Internet, the online component of Ziff Davis, the magazine publishers. However, in 1989, Ziff Davis launched ZDNet, an online set of publications complimentary to their print operation. ZDNet was acquired by CNet in 2000 during the sale of Ziff-Davis to SoftBank.So, CNet owns ZDNet, formerly Ziff Davis Inc., which is why articles from News.com.com are always reprinted on ZDnet. Microsoft Watch is owned by the publishing company Ziff Davis Media Inc., which hasn’t had a relationship with ZDNet in six years. Even more confusing than that whole Wired Magazine / Wired News thing, right?
You know who explained this all to me? Mary Jo Foley, of course.
The next time you see Mary, Nathan, maybe you can ask her why she still didn’t go out completely on her own? I think she’d make more money in the long run on her own than working for CNET or Ziff Davis. Maybe that is part of her plans that we haven’t heard? Doesn’t mean she couldn’t do both — work for CNET and really go out on her own. Maybe that will be her plan. Again, I sincerely wish her all the best. Somebody with her reporting skills doesn’t need either the ZDnet or Ziff Davis umbrella for success. And that’s not a dig against either of those two companies or those who work there, as I subscribe to some of their sites and link to them, it’s meant entirely as a a message of encouragement and support for Mary.
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[…] A history lesson for everyone, especially TDavid, who asks: The part of this that doesn’t make much sense is has Ms. Foley really left anything? I mean if Ziff Davis was behind Microsoft Watch, what will be that different at a ZDnet blog besides a different web address? Why doesn’t she start maryjofoley.com or foleyprobeswindows.com or something if she really wants to go out on her own? Working for Ziff Davis is still working for Ziff Davis, yes/no? […]
Pingback by » Mary Jo Foley Leaves Microsoft Watch For ZDNet InsideMicrosoft - part of the Blog News Channel — September 20, 2006 @ 11:07 pm PST
Ziff Davis doesn’t own ZDNet. They sold it to CNET Networks a long time ago.
Comment by John — September 21, 2006 @ 7:00 am PST
Thank you John, I see Nathan also responded on his blog and explained the sale from Ziff Davis to CNET. I will update the post above with the newly learned information.
Comment by TDavid — September 21, 2006 @ 7:12 am PST
Mary Jo is independent, like most of the ZDNet bloggers. She truly has created her own operation, and we are lucky enough to have reached a deal for her to blog exclusively on ZDNet — but you’ll be seeing more of her in many places, I’m sure. At ZDNet we really embrace the idea of independent journalist/bloggers, and we seek out the best to partner with us. The model is not terribly unlike TV networks working with stars to make hit shows. James Gandolfini isn’t an employee of HBO, but he’s a big reason why I watch that network.
Comment by Stephen Howard-Sarin — September 22, 2006 @ 7:17 am PST
Hi Stephen Howard-Sarin - thanks for taking time to stop by and comment. With all due respect to ZDnet, independence online is heavily defined by the domain name where content resides. Nothing against publishing or having a blog at ZDnet, heck, I was willing to write for them there but they didn’t groove on my idea for a new blog, my writing or me (or some combination of all three).
The problem with publishing exclusively at a third party site is what happens when/if Ms. Foley wants to branch out on her own? Where has all the traffic been going? The SE traffic too, not just the RSS subscribers? These aren’t trivial concerns as she will find out when/if she ever goes completely independent. It’s not going to be at Ms. Foley’s domain, that’s for certain, it’s going to ZDnet blogs. Even if she has an agreement — which I doubt she does — that says her created content can go with her, she’s building the ZDnet brand and to a lesser extent her own isn’t being developed anywhere.
There have been some cases where people blogging have successfully switched from one domain/brand to another like Robert Scoble, although not even he went to his own domain, he still uses a third party site (wordpress.com).
It’s good to know Ms. Foley has an independent deal, but for her sake I hope it says something about being able to crosspost or take that content with her should something not work out at ZDnet someday. Again, I hope this isn’t taken as a blast against ZDnet or the rambling of a bitter, rejected writer, because that’s not at all what this is about. I like several of the ZDnet blogs and would have liked to have worked with them too, heck, I still might be interested in blogging for them someday if they change their minds. At the same time, I think Ms. Foley would be wise not to have made an exclusive deal with any third party as far as blogging goes over the long term.
Time will tell.
Comment by TDavid — September 22, 2006 @ 9:22 am PST
[…] Most Hmm-worthy posts from September 16 - September 22, 2006 - Calling their Blufr, yes, way (3) [sep 16] - Starting to see Live.com search referrals (1) [sep 18] - Eating on a floating restaurant (3) [sep 19] - Time still the biggest enemy of video blogging (0) [sep 20] - The search for more conversational blogging (2) [sep 20] - Mary Jo Foley leaves Microsoft Watch for ZDnet blog (5) [sep 20] “Mary Jo is independent, like most of the ZDNet bloggers. She truly has created her own operation, and we are lucky enough to have reached a deal for her to blog exclusively on ZDNet — but you’ll be seeing more of her in many places, I’m sure. At ZDNet we really embrace the idea of independent journalist/bloggers, and we seek out the best to partner with us. The model is not terribly unlike TV networks working with stars to make hit shows. James Gandolfini isn’t an employee of HBO, but he’s a big reason why I watch that network.” – Comment by Stephen Howard-Sarin — September 22, 2006 @ 7:17 am […]
Pingback by Make You Go Hmm: » Hmmcast #24: DRM, conversational blogging and time not on vloggling side — September 22, 2006 @ 8:33 pm PST
TDavid, this is a healthy debate and a business model that’s still forming. So far, my observation is that the 100% independent blogger who owns their own site and blogs nowhere else is a rarer, and poorer, creature than the independent who promotes themselves and their POV in multiple media and on multiple sites. Google juice is not the most important metric.
And to be clear: Mary Jo is not publishing exclusively on ZDNet. She’s blogging exclusively on ZDNet. You’ll see articles from her in print and online in other places.
(And about that bitter, rejected writer thing: drop me a note. We’ll have coffee. We’ll talk.)
Comment by Stephen Howard-Sarin — September 26, 2006 @ 11:03 am PST