Partisan Blogging

Bloggers say what objective news outlets can't

I came across interesting stats in a recent Associated Press story about partisan blogs: "A recent Pew Internet and American Life Project found more than two million Americans have their own blog. Most have few readers but some garner thousands of hits daily as the American public becomes increasingly distrustful of mainstream media."

The story focused on the rise of bloggers commentating on the presidential election, which has "prompted a frenzy of gossip and conspiracy theories." According to the story, "Experts say much of the gossip on the Internet is as loony as supermarket tabloid stories claiming Elvis Presley lives, but that it still has a role to play in the campaign."

It's great that people are able to put their theories out there, but the danger is that readers could mistake some of these blogs for legitimate news sources. I hope there still is a decent level of skepticism among blog readers (as well as newspaper and magazine readers).

Of course, newspapers and magazines are creating their own blogs. Like editorial pages, these allow reporters to discuss topics without trying to remain objective and without worrying about space. I interned at the San Francisco Bay Guardian, an alt weekly with a decidedly liberal point of view. At alt weeklies, writers don't have to censor themselves or stay within boundaries as much as journalists at mainstream dailies, but there still are certain freedoms only available in companion blogs. The Guardian's political blog allows writers and editors (usually Steve Jones, the city editor) to expound on ideas that were left out of the print edition for whatever reason.

The Dallas Morning News has a political blog and a quick glance at it shows how different this format is from that of the newspaper. Besides letting the editorial board discuss whatever issues interest them, newspaper blogs really promote reader feedback. In a recent post, Rod Dreher, assistant editorial page editor, starts with an email from a reader and then goes off on a bit of a tangent, denouncing people who slap obnoxious, insulting bumper stickers on their cars.

Another Morning News post, by editorial writer Rodger Jones, presents a scan of major polls . Two things jumped out at me: Jones wrote, "All in field thru yesterday," showing that language is looser online. Also, a quick blurb on three polls reinforced the idea that blogs are about small bits of information. Newspaper journalists craft stories, but Americans sure do love blurbs. Small doses of easily digestible information could transform journalism more than any new technology.