I believe the reporter is requesting to speak directly with the blogger, not attempting to quote from the blog. The article is about bloggers, so it’s common sense to get a quote from a blogger, isn’t it?

But, for every blogger who declines comment, there are 10 other attention-seeking bloggers who will jump at the chance to be quoted in a newspaper because, at the end of the day, bloggers are artists – we want to express ourselves, and the larger the audience, the better.

God bless,
Catholic Writer

But they will quote you one sentence out of context to suit their agenda of the day. The angle of the article is already decided, they are finding some responses from bloggers.

Quoting directly from blogs is not very welcomed by Mr Lesile Fong, former ST editor.

Dear reporter, please listen to Mr Fong, your senior.

“No! Emphatically not! Whether in writing news stories or
features, properly trained journalists check and double-check
their facts, set these in context, work in relevant background
information, insist on objectivity and balance, organise their
material so their account flows smoothly and logically, and
use temperate language unless there is a powerful reason to
resort to strong words. Even in offering views, they ensure
that the opinions expressed are based on fact, failing which,
as any libel lawyer would tell you, what they write cannot be
defended as fair comment.

Bloggers, on the other hand, just sound off as they please.
They are not bound by professional standards and ethics, and
are responsible to no one but themselves. So you read them at
your own risk, or peril. Newspaper editors who give bloggers
space, or even prominence, in their pages, in the hope that
this will attract younger readers, are doing damage to their
calling.”

http://www.pressclub.org.sg/topic_more.php?id=1356_0_17_0_M

So, why would you want to be a pawn in their game?

They are good story writers, why need views from “bacteria” or “lesser mortals”.