Critics will never die out

Excellent feature article in today's Observer asking if bloggers are causing critics to die out.

Perhaps critic extinction would result in a part of critics kept in the middle of a zoo to preserve the journalistic species.

However, I do not think critics will die out. The best ones are expert at building up a relationship with their audience, and the best at writing and explaining will always be in demand. A newspaper's blog by a critic will be read by more people -and so attract more comments - than a blogger.

Bloggers are also harder to trust, as they aren't bound by the PCC or their newspaper's rules on accepting gifts.

Print is declining, but not dying. A number of young people by the occasional newspaper as well as read online. Some, like me, by a paper every day and sometimes two. Don't forget very rural areas either, which may not have broadband.

A good blogger attracting readers could also be taken on by a magazine or paper to be their critic.

Jay Rayner asks you to post your thoughts on the subject here.