Vlogging Careers: Everyday Expertise, Collaboration and Authenticity

This chapter discusses vlogging as an increasingly visible and normalised form of cultural work. The authors criticise the all-too-common assumption that the new careers vlogging offers are open to anyone, arguing that how-to guidance and journalistic coverage understate the barriers to entry and obscure the various forms of expertise required, including the underlying strategies vloggers use to engage their audiences by interacting with fans and collaborators, and the skills they require to stage a relatable authenticity. The chapter analyses the social media presence of four prominent vloggers.