This year, CES decided to issue some people blogger badges, and some people press badges. I guess since this is my first year directly covering CES, they didn’t see me on the list, and churned out a blogger badge. As you may know, I’ve long resisted referring to PhoneNews.com as a blog. For one, the writing style is not in the form of a blog. Two, legal uncertainties surround the term “blogger.” And, three, it’s become a bit of a swear word around some circles. A means of classifying viewership.

In short, the term blogger in my opinion, needs to just go away. CES is not helping with that process… except to make everyone confused about what a blogger is.

Some of our competitors at MechaWorks were even issued a mix of badges. This insulates the notion that CEA (the people behind CES) just decided to thin the air, and give known quantities press badges, and everyone else blogger badges.

Big mistake. One, the CEA can’t possibly win any positive media attention by making bloggers second-class-citizens. Imagine if 10% of people with blogger badges run into a brick wall just once at the show.

Two, it’s going to cause problems when bloggers are, well, not bloggers. When they can’t get into press briefing rooms, meetings, conferences, luncheons, etc.

Now, are some of the other MechaWorks sites (like our new CentralGadget.com), actually blogs? Well, you tell me, sound off in the comments.

P.S. Apologizes for the delays in doing some actual posting on my personal blog (yes, press can blog). Launching CentralGadget.com took a bit more energy than anyone on the team thought.

Update: I was going to post an update, talking about how I realized that CEA had the best of intentions. But, since then, they appear to be making things right. They are swapping out blogger badges with press badges for people on a case-by-case basis. I haven’t heard any established media person being turned down that has asked today… myself included.

My suggestion remains the same however. Next year, just have two press rooms, and let people meander about as they fill up.