« Houston In The Spotlight (Sort Of) | Main | On "Modern" Campaigns »
August 03, 2007
Blogs And The Mainstream Media
Next session is bloggers vs. the hated "MSM" or mainstream media. This panel will seek to analyze the conflict that has arisen between the two sides, and whether there is way out that elevates political discourse -- a path from "clash to civilization." Panelists are Mike Allen of Politico, blogger Jill Filipovic, Jay Carney from Time, and Glenn Greewald of the Unclaimed Territory blog on legal and constitutional issues.
Mike Allen -- thinks bloggers and MSM are naturally moving toward meeting in the middle, and that many of the negative predispositions each side carries are begining to evaporate -- perhaps a bit sunny a take for our money.
Jill Filipovic -- gives MSM a grade of C+.
Jay Carney -- "goofy" of right wing to suggest that MSM attendance at Yearly Kos is a sign of leftist bias. He's here because of the power the blogosphere has excercised over the last several years. Starting Time's blog -- Swampland -- has been a "bracing" experience. Does not give MSM a good grade on covering the Bush Administration, particularly Iraq, and would like to have a do-over on that. Gives bloggers a B, and MSM a C grade.
Glenn Greenwald -- lines are being blurred, because many MSM journalists now write blogs, and many bloggers now write for establishment publications. Reminds audience that 70% of Americans in 2003 believed Saddam Hussein was directly involved in 9/11, and yet 44% of Americans earlier this year knew John Edwards was the candidate behind the haircut controversy. What Americans know and don't know speaks volumes about the state of the American political press. Missing from news accounts of the NSA wiretapping scandal, was that Bush's activity is a felony, punishable by prison time. Charlie Savage of the Boston Globe just won a Pulitzer Prize for covering what the White House does, not what it says. This should be the floor, not the Pulitzer standard for political journalism. Bloggers don't want MSM journalists to be partisans, they want them to do their jobs.
Great stuff.
Posted by houtopia at August 3, 2007 01:02 PM