[quote=afx114]
The whole “blogging isn’t real journalism” argument has a bit of a “get off my lawn” vibe to it. Is Rich not a real journalist because he has a blog? Piggington is a perfect example of new media picking up the slack where traditional journalism has failed.[/quote]
Afx: I wasn’t trying to cast a blanket accusation regarding blogging. I remember Drudge breaking the Lewinsky story in advance of “real” journalists, and I think that the National Enquirer’s handling of the Edwards/Hunter story (that they won the Pulitzer for) is another example that aggressive pursuit of a story need not come from the NYT or LAT.
What concerns me most is that the internet doesn’t have a filter per se, and that every crank under the sun can post, without anyone really checking their facts or sources or credibility. But I also hear your argument regarding a transition phase and the cream (hopefully) rising to the top.
Reading and watching the coverage of the BP/Gulf spill shows how balkanized and polarized we’ve become. Watch Fox and get one slant; read Huffington Post and get another. What’s the answer? I have no idea. But I also feel like we’re losing something here with the demise of print journalism and I’m not sure we’re going to get it back.
