There is no doubt that the current financial situation is hitting the web as well as the rest of the media industry. This is certainly one of the reasons why we’ve seen blog networks close, cut costs, or rationalize their portfolio. So is the blog network business model in trouble, and what does the established blog network hotshots thing about these things?

I decided to find out, in the first roundtable discussion here on the Blog Herald. That’s why I invited these fine blog network heavyweights to participate in the discussion.

• Jeremy Wright, CEO of b5media
• Collis Ta’eed, CEO of Envato
• Mike Rundle, triad member of 9rules

So let’s get started and see what they have to say! read more

9rules is now accepting submissions to round 8, which Tyme White wrote a few words on yesterday, and Scrivs announces - with traditional subtlety - today. If you want to be part of the 9rules blog network, submit your site and hope for the best.

75 sites was accepted into 9rules Round 7, a surprisingly low number perhaps. I’m a bit curious why that is, and although the blog post tells me that a lot of sites were too young, or had focus issues, or whatever, I’m still curious to know how many that actually applied. How about it, 9rulers, what’s the acceptance ratio? Full list in the blog post.

9rules is getting ready for Round 7, where bloggers can attempt to get in the popular blog network by submitting their blogs for review. August 6 is the date you need to mark in your calendar if you want in. As they did the previous time, a special page will be available, open to submissions for 24 hours.