I didn't say it should be paid to have professional validity, leveller; I said it should be commissioned, by an editor who has been appointed because he has the experience and qualifications to know how to edit, as from one he regards as a worthwhile commentator. Anyone can blog or post on a forum ~~ some well, others less well. But to make any sort of career of such activity, one requires to be regularly invited/commissioned to contribute properly considered reviews to a properly authenticated and respected outlet; which The Times, The Guardian, Plays & Players, Folk Review, Early Modern Literary Studies*, Radio 4 - all regularly within my CV - are/were; but Facebook or [with all due respect] Mudcat just are not.

~M~

*I am not paid by that one, for example; but it is a highly prestigious worldwide academic journal of Shakespeare studies, respected thruout the academic community - google

http://extra.shu.ac.uk/emls/15-3/myerrev.htm