I wrote a post the other day that said that mainstream media knows more than you think about blogging and other new-media communication channels.
I’ve just read a very good column from last Sunday in The Observer (the online paper, not the blog) by John Naughton, a mainstream media man who clearly does.
In his column, Naughton argues that "Blogging won’t wipe out journalism, for the simple reason that journalism requires skills and resources that bloggers will never have. But it will improve the practice of our trade." He explains:
Large swathes of the journalistic profession (though not, I am glad to say, either The Observer or the Guardian ) are still in denial about blogging. In that sense, they resemble music industry executives circa 1999, denying the significance of online file-sharing. But the claim that blogging is a threat to journalism – that inside every blogger is a ‘journalist-wannabe’ trying to escape – is just daft.
What’s happening is a small but significant change in our media ecology. All journalists worth their salt have always known that out there are readers, listeners or viewers who know more about a story than they do. But until recently, there was no effective way for this erudition or scepticism to find public expression. Letters to the editor rarely attract public attention – or impinge on the consciousness of journalists.
Blogging changes all that. Ignorant, biased or lazy journalism is instantly exposed, dissected and flayed in a medium that has global reach. (If you doubt that, ask Dan Rather and CBS.)
I’ve just highlighted this focal point from Naughton’s column, the whole of which is very much worthwhile reading.
Once you’ve read it, then contrast Naughton’s assessment with that of USA Today journalist Kevin Maney who wrote the most clueless assessment of blogs and journalism that I’ve read in a very long time.
Which view (and which journalist) do you think has greater credibility? Yes, it’s a trick question 😉
I linked to this in my earlier post, but here it is again – Don Gianatti’s excellent dissection and flaying of Maney and his article. You will roll your eyes as well as chuckle.