Yet another article about how blogging affects traditional media...
The professional news media peaked a number of years ago in terms of speed, but as much as we’d like to speed up the process fastor, a news reporter can only do so much. At it’s best a newspaper can report online as quickly as possible, following up with a more in depth article and perhaps some commentary the next day.
Now there is a new, much faster alternative, one in which the reporter is the middleman that needs to be removed. Blogs allow instantaneous public voice to world, and fill in those cracks where traditional media fails.
Yesterday, after a long and controversial deliberation, a closely-watched jury sentenced Zacarias Moussaoui to life. As usual, the Associated Press had the story out as quickly as anybody, but the reactions to this event were limited to those at the trial. At it’s best we may have a quote from a lawyer or a distraught family member, but as this important event took place I wondered how the world would react to the decision.
The use of blogs, giving instant publication access to anyone with access to an Internet connection, provided that voice, that instant reaction that traditional press cannot supply. It provided a gut, knee-jerk opinion, and even though the opinions are not the product of much discussion and thought, I believe there’s something to learn from initial reactions.
As I scrolled through post after post discussing the sentencing, I found many of the expected reactions – those who thought he should be sentenced to death and those who do not believe in the death penalty, and everyone in between – but I also found very different opinions that would not normally receive media coverage. One blog sided directly with Zacarias Moussaoui and denounced America in every way.
What this new medium offers is more than just personal commentary, but commentary so diverse and uncensored that it far surpasses the information granted by the traditional news media.
Media continues to discuss and debate the effect of blogs on communications and news, but it’s clear that most are taking the stand of “if you can’t beat them, join them.”
They are popping up everywhere, and as Steve Outing from the Poynter Institute states, it blurs the original expectations of both.
Outing presented two articles, What Journalists Can Learn From Bloggers” and “What Bloggers Can Learn From Journalists” pointing out that despite the advantages of both, a little tech-cultural exchange would do both groups some good.
The news media, he argues, could take a tip and be a little more transparent about its own biases. Blogs offer the media new opportunities to tell the story behind the story, talk about methods, and even expose opinions that otherwise do not belong in the article.
On the flip side, bloggers could use a few checks and balances. Bloggers will argue that the Internet is a constantly changing, self-correcting medium, but already legal groups have issues subpoenas to individuals based on publications found on blogs. Outing wonders if libel lawsuits wait just around the corner?
Although Outing does not want to stop bloggers from their freedom to write, he does suggest that they consider a second set of eyes before publication, and some thoughtful consideration about the possible consequences of the article.
Outing is optimistic that the rumors that blogs would eventually destroy traditional media will not come true, especially if each medium supports the other. As writer Patrick Beeson states in his article “Blogging: What is it?” in Quill Magazine, after the blogger turns off his or her computer, there’s still bills to pay and dishes to do. While the professional journalist can use the help, insight and opinion of a blogger, the blogger can rely on the reporter that has 40 hours a week to dedicate to hard news investigation.
Blogging cannot replace the traditional legwork of journalism, but the media must be aware that blogging could be what saves them from fossilizing into obsolescence.
Now there is a new, much faster alternative, one in which the reporter is the middleman that needs to be removed. Blogs allow instantaneous public voice to world, and fill in those cracks where traditional media fails.
Yesterday, after a long and controversial deliberation, a closely-watched jury sentenced Zacarias Moussaoui to life. As usual, the Associated Press had the story out as quickly as anybody, but the reactions to this event were limited to those at the trial. At it’s best we may have a quote from a lawyer or a distraught family member, but as this important event took place I wondered how the world would react to the decision.
The use of blogs, giving instant publication access to anyone with access to an Internet connection, provided that voice, that instant reaction that traditional press cannot supply. It provided a gut, knee-jerk opinion, and even though the opinions are not the product of much discussion and thought, I believe there’s something to learn from initial reactions.
As I scrolled through post after post discussing the sentencing, I found many of the expected reactions – those who thought he should be sentenced to death and those who do not believe in the death penalty, and everyone in between – but I also found very different opinions that would not normally receive media coverage. One blog sided directly with Zacarias Moussaoui and denounced America in every way.
What this new medium offers is more than just personal commentary, but commentary so diverse and uncensored that it far surpasses the information granted by the traditional news media.
Media continues to discuss and debate the effect of blogs on communications and news, but it’s clear that most are taking the stand of “if you can’t beat them, join them.”
They are popping up everywhere, and as Steve Outing from the Poynter Institute states, it blurs the original expectations of both.
Outing presented two articles, What Journalists Can Learn From Bloggers” and “What Bloggers Can Learn From Journalists” pointing out that despite the advantages of both, a little tech-cultural exchange would do both groups some good.
The news media, he argues, could take a tip and be a little more transparent about its own biases. Blogs offer the media new opportunities to tell the story behind the story, talk about methods, and even expose opinions that otherwise do not belong in the article.
On the flip side, bloggers could use a few checks and balances. Bloggers will argue that the Internet is a constantly changing, self-correcting medium, but already legal groups have issues subpoenas to individuals based on publications found on blogs. Outing wonders if libel lawsuits wait just around the corner?
Although Outing does not want to stop bloggers from their freedom to write, he does suggest that they consider a second set of eyes before publication, and some thoughtful consideration about the possible consequences of the article.
Outing is optimistic that the rumors that blogs would eventually destroy traditional media will not come true, especially if each medium supports the other. As writer Patrick Beeson states in his article “Blogging: What is it?” in Quill Magazine, after the blogger turns off his or her computer, there’s still bills to pay and dishes to do. While the professional journalist can use the help, insight and opinion of a blogger, the blogger can rely on the reporter that has 40 hours a week to dedicate to hard news investigation.
Blogging cannot replace the traditional legwork of journalism, but the media must be aware that blogging could be what saves them from fossilizing into obsolescence.
posted by Aaron Burkhalter at
3:09 PM
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