Blogmedia

A friend of mine (who is not in the media/news/TV business) recently asked me where do blogs belong in the media world? Does having a blog make you a journalist?

Part of me thinks that anyone can write an influential article and as long as all the sources and facts check out it doesn't matter what media they created it for. This happens in academia when someone publishes a 'scientific' paper in a peer journal and might be asked to adapt it for the New York Times Magazine. Or one can be a traditional journalist and simply cut and paste an article they wrote onto their own blog (as Esther sometimes teases us with her clips ). Or you could be the anchor of a national news show and sometimes blog and no one will think that you are less of a journalist for doing so.

I am beginning to think that an area where bloggers are making more of an impact is in the op-ed area. As Jay Rosen points out, there is not necessarily an editor or fact checker or researcher for every blogger who fancies himself a critic.

Another thing is that is different with a blog is you, as an author, have an almost instant feedback loop with your audience. Jay Rosen basically states that the essay he posted is a draft and he planned to check the Comments section. he refers to it as 'After Matter: Notes, reactions & links'. I don't really think that Ted Koppel has that option with viewers of Nightline. Neither does Frank Rich- I have to read his column first in the New York Times (paper version).

{Note- I am curious to see what Steve thinks of this, being that he's way more experienced with the Tao of Blogging}

SAFRAN: Oh, it's a long-running argument without an answer, and it's starting to bore me. Asking "Does blogging make you a journalist?" is like asking "Does painting make you an artist?" The answer is: some times. When I paint, I am clearly not an artist. Ditto others with blogging. Remember: there is no such thing as a "blog." Blogging is software used to make a web page. What you do on that page is what matters. I am (clearly) not a news snob, but a couple of things are clear:

1. Blogging no more makes you a journalist than taking an aspirin makes you a doctor. Most blogs link to other stories, which is meta at best. Writing about your own life is not exactly journalism, because you're not trying to get the "other side." And writing opinion is just that: opinion.

1a. Just because you blog, doesn't mean you're going to replace the traditional media. Remember: someone's got to aggregate the millions of pieces of information out there.

2. Rosen is right, in that blogs are terrific for writer/company feedback from our customers. Most companies still don't get that. See: Jarvis v Dell.

3. Bloggers love to talk about blogging. It's getting cult-like. We pat ourselves on the back way, way too much. Some blogs are terrific, some are decent and most are of little value.

4. To answer your friend's question: blogging is a part of the overall world of journalism. Pictures didn't do away with writing, video didn't do away with pictures, and blogging won't take over, either.

Thanks for the input and for adding to ongoing debate about this topic.