Journalism and Blogging

We are accustomed to getting static from the Webmaster section but nowadays there is even more resentment from the Journalism sector. The following are all stray quotes from the Internet.

"To think that blogging is Journalism seems dangerous and certainly misleading. Journalism is a profession, not a hobby. It usually requires research and some care in its execution. I guess we, journalists, editorialists, reporters, reviewers, could use Comment Is Free as a self-publicity tool, posting our most successful stories there after they've been published somewhere in print."

"But then, that's what personal websites or newspapers' archives are for. I have always thought blogging was a more spontaneous, informal way of feeding (or blocking) debate. Silly at worst, thought-provoking at best. To blog seems a little like to take a shower: the experience is quick, fun and energising and its good effects last but a few hours. Whenever I blog, I react quickly to a "fait du jour". I would not write in the same fashion if my post was aimed for publication. Blogs are subjective "billets d'humeur", not erudite and impartial analysis."

"The public is now assaulted by news and pretend-news from many directions, thanks to the now infamous "information superhighway." But the ability to transmit words, we learned during the Citizens Band radio fad of the 70's, does not mean that any knowledge is being passed along. One of the verdicts rendered by election night 2004 is that, given their lack of expertise, standards and, yes, humility, the chances of the bloggers replacing mainstream journalism are about as good as the parasite replacing the dog it fastens on."

Journalism: The style of writing characteristic of material in newspapers

and magazines, consisting of direct presentation of facts or occurrences

with little attempt at analysis or interpretation.

"Is blogging anything but a text media? Misspellings galore, poor syntax, sorry presentation. This is journalism? This is rubbish! Ok some can disagree but they must realize they are merely stirring the crock pot! And they will certainly get dirty. After all, lie down with dogs and you get FLEAS. I'm outta here!"

"The Internet is an NEW broadcast medium. Ted clearly takes the Established Journalism outlet point of view and that is the exact reason for democratic debate. However once the emotional dust settles and the facts win out, democratic debate reveals the facts. It matters not that both Ted and the Oregon Court are wrong when you evaluate the totality of journalism in the last 250 years. Blogging is precisely what journalism begins as in any new medium . . . even if that medium is simply the spoken word."

"Sing, Sing, Sing" by Benny Goodman

"Blogging is a kinda different from journalism. That's my share of comment. Let's let the party begin. If the Internet is NOT a broadcast outlet then why is there advertising on it? Why is there news on it? The first News Outlets in any town was the Town Crier then the Crier partnered with the Inter-Town Riders then Ben Franklin printed the first newspaper."

"Early newspapers were all independent operations just like bloggers. In fact, not until near the end of the 19th century did news papers become Established Media Outlets"

Pub's Side Note: You will notice there is no mention of Dance Blogging. Why? Because  no one on this Island knows and we are all in the process of defining it. Perhaps by the end of this year we will have something pretty definite. For sure, the beauty of each blog will be the differences and no blog will be the same as any other.