This is from Amadeo, who responded to my printed column before I had a chance to post it. (I have inserted my comments in italics.)
"Welcome to the blogosphere. It is always a welcome sight to have real journalists acknowledge and accept the existence of the new medium. Because then with the guidance and good examples real journalists bring to the table, the better the medium becomes.
"I have a few points to bring out, though.
"First, in your latest Editor’s Notes, you invited us all to read your blog, but you did not provide us with your URL, so we may have a difficult time looking for it. Was it given at some earlier issue?"
From Cheri: Aha! I've discovered two advantages that the Web has over the printed newspaper: We don't run out of room here, as we did with that column (the last line, which included that very-important URL, was cut off on the page), and when we make mistakes, we can easily correct them on the Web, whereas, I can't go back and add that line to my column in the newspaper.
"Secondly, the blog now provides archives starting from April 2005, so I am supposing that your previous Editor’s Notes, have also been posted as blog entries. Thus, you really have been blogging for a while, since April at least."
From Cheri: Well, no. I really did start this blog on Oct. 3, 2005. I posted some of my previous columns as blog entries and used the dates they were published, going back to April. I probably broke some blogging law doing that.
"Thirdly, your concerns or fears, if you may, in the move by Yahoo! to lump blog entries with mainstream news, are all well taken. And everybody, both news consumers and those who report news, should proceed with great caution. The blogosphere, with its very loose definition and restrictions, is now one big black hole that is growing exponentially as we speak.
"However, the very determinable reason why the blogs gained prominence and general acceptance was precisely because mainstream media was viewed as wanting in certain areas, and they are said to have filled the void. Any thoughts on this?
"Again, welcome, and here’s wishing you success in your newest endeavor. As new Tracy residents, we’re looking forward to entries in your blog."
From Cheri: Does anyone out there have any thoughts on Amadeo's point about blogs filling the void of mainstream media?
I'd love to hear from you.
2 comments:
In response to your column in the Tracy Press about blogging ("If you can't beat them, join them"), the major premise you neglected to include is the fact that much of what is written by "professional journalists" is also not true or is at best partially true/biased.
You can't really expect the American people to believe that all professional news is independent, unbiased and not controlled by outside sources? If you do, you are far more naive than you let on ...
Posted by: Dianna at October 16, 2005 11:29 AM
Re: filling the void. How about a different analogy? The blogs add a large amount of whipped cream and nuts to the Sundae that is mainstream journalism. Some would say mostly nuts! And just like I can't afford to take in the calories in all of that extra whipped cream and nuts, I cannot afford the time to stay up with even a fraction of the blogs I would like to.
But some like the addidtional topping and eat less of the ice cream. A few eat the whole darn thing!
Posted by: Jim Freeman at October 17, 2005 10:31 AM
Granted that mainstream media may have shortcomings relative to the now very stringent demands from the news consumers, still it cannot be denied that media do have inherent advantages acquired from their treasure trove of experiences that the new medium of blogging may be able to learn from. This is specially relevant and apropos now that many mainstream media people have crossed over to the new medium. Pretty soon the line delineating the two will be so blurred as to be indistinguishable.
One big issue the media have to contend with also is the fact that they are now perceived as businesses with their own agenda for staying on the profit side. One popular blogger has thus made the distinction between the media and the press.
The former are perceived as big media and operated as businesses, while the latter are those that continue to practice journalism as initially understood and practiced: reporting news to inform readers.
Posted by: Amadeo at October 17, 2005 12:29 PM
The distinction between blogging and mainstream media journalism is the participation of the masses. The electronic age has served to facilitate what Henry Fielding referred to in the Covent Garden Journal in 1752, "None of our political writers... take notice of any more than three estates, namely, Kings, Lords, and Commons... passing by in silence that very large and powerful body which form the fourth estate in this community... The Mob."
Posted by: Carole Dominguez at October 28, 2005 09:17 AM
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