The Importance of an Unbiased Marine Aquarium Hobby Press

I am a writer. That is what I do for a living, and, thankfully, I often have the opportunity to merge my profession with my passion for marine aquaria and marine ecosystems. Like every other writer I know, I am also a zealous reader. I read everything I can get my hands on, both online and off, but I must admit that I have a big soft spot for print magazines. For one, it was magazines that gave me my start as a writer, but I am also continually inspired by the breadth of topics and perspectives represented when standing in front of the magazine rack in the typical newsstand….until recently that is.

A Broad Array of Opinions or a Narrow View?

In addition to writing about the marine aquarium industry, I write for several other industries that are represented to the public with a multitude of magazines. Take food, for example. There are countless magazines representing all sorts of different cuisines, diets and geographies, right? Next time you are at the newsstand though, take a look at the mastheads of many of those magazines, and a somewhat disturbing trend may reveal itself to you. Notice some of the same names and addresses? What appears to be a broad swath of opinions and experiences is, in reality, a pretty narrow message crafted in-house and inspired by, at best, a couple movers and shakers and, at worst, advertisers.

Readers' Expectations

I’m not suggesting here that all the marine aquarium magazines with which we are familiar are owned or edited by the same people—they are not. What I am suggesting, however, is that we, as readers need to expect more from these magazine in terms of presenting an unbiased view of the industry we love. We don’t want to see our magazines become as one-sided as many magazines have become in other hobbies, especially since the survival of the marine aquarium industry may depend on it.

Unbiased Supply-Side Reporting?

While the major magazines in the aquarium hobby provide us with inspiration and critical, cutting-edge husbandry information, they don’t necessarily do as good a job when it comes to helping us understand how the marine ornamental trade operates. Informed, responsible hobbyists will be essential if the marine aquarium hobby is to continue to be supported by a robust and sustainable industry, but where does the hobbyist go to be informed about supply-side industry issues?

Opinion, Editorial and News

When major issues arise such as the Banggai situation or H.R. 669, we should look to the hobby press for clear, unbiased information looking at the totality of these issues. Unfortunately, what we often get are myopic op-ed pieces posing as news. Don’t get me wrong—I love op-ed pieces, and I want to see them in the hobby magazines (shoot…I’ve written more than a couple rants myself over the years). But I also want to see the hobby magazines go out of their way to help educate all hobbyists about the issues that may well make or break the industry in the years to come.

Where is the Other Side of the Story?

There are, for example, two sides to the Banggai story, but what hobby magazine has done its due diligence to publish both sides? I have not seen one. I’m not suggesting there is not a major issue here, and personally I have called for caution as we move forward and until more data is available, but all the impassioned articles talk about the problems on the supply side of the issue without ever once going to the supply side to report the story from that angle. This is not journalism, people.

Your Job as a Reader and a Hobbyist

Magazines need readers, and as readers we can shape magazines by expecting excellence in all aspects of journalism. Why not a write a letter to the editor of your favorite marine aquarium magazine today?

Comments

[Ret]

Thanks, Margaret. I love reader comments, so please feel free to post.

[Margaret]

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Margaret

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