The “Summit on Blogging and Democracy” represented a critical step in coalescing the identity of Virginia’s blogging community. Kudos to the Sorenson Institute, Waldo Jaquith and Chad Dotson for organizing this seminal event.
While the conference raised a number of interesting issues, it left many untouched. To move Virginia’s blogosphere forward — from a means of self expression to a force for change — I sense the need for a follow-up meeting. Here are some key issues that, in my humble opinion, need to be addressed.
Credibility. Bloggers have done a phenomenal job of pointing out the biases, inaccuracies and flaws of the Mainstream Media. But the blogosphere has tremendous credibility problems of its own. Many bloggers write anonymously or under pseudonyms, making it very difficult to evaluate their credibility or their motives in making the statements they do. (Just who is the infamous “Not Larry Sabato?”) While criticizing reporters for failing to reveal their sources, bloggers don’t always divulge theirs. While lambasting reporters for making factual errors, bloggers are often guilty of spreading misinformation as well.
The beauty of the blogosphere is the ability of people to hash out their disagreements online, critiquing each other’s arguments and facts. But not all readers are inclined to plow through lengthy threads of commentary to get to the truth. One could argue that bloggers need to be more assiduous about checking their facts and citing their sources, that they need to be more forthright about who they are, where they’re coming from and what their political and professional conflicts of interest might be. What standards should bloggers adopt? The answer may not be the same for everyone. But we cannot evade the questions.
Lack of Resources. Most bloggers are individuals who publish their blogs on their own time. Very few enjoy the flexibility to engage in fact gathering during business hours, which largely restricts their research to what can be found on the Internet. When it comes to reporting, Virginia blogs are no match for the old media. Like-minded blogs should consider pooling their limited resources, or at the very least coordinating their coverage. The idea of setting up blogging co-ops and collaboratives — an Old Dominion Blog Alliance on steroids — might be worth exploring.
Business model. Ultimately, if blogs and other digital media (websites, e-zines) want to compete with the “old media” for readers and credibility, we must establish a business model that allows us to invest hard cash, not just volunteer time, into news gathering. Collectively, we do reach a large, growing and influential audience. Any number of special interests would be willing to pay to deliver their advertising message to our readers. We need to ask ourselves: Is there any way to aggregate our readership, package it and sell it to advertisers? … What standards must we adhere to in order to gain credibility with advertisers? … And would we accept advertising even if it were available.
I am not — repeat not — suggesting that standards and business models be imposed on anyone. The blogosphere is too anarchic to control, even if anyone wanted to. The beauty of the blogosphere is its kaleidsocopic diversity of viewpoints, many of them intensely personal and downright eccentric. I am talking about a “coalition of the willing,” so to speak, of those who aspire to take blogging to a higher plane.
The Creative Change Center in Richmond has offered to host and organize a follow-up blogging conference if there is any interest in one. I see this conference as being very hands-on, digging into the nitty gritty of blogging operations. I’m very open to any suggestions of topics to be addressed, and would welcome the participation of anyone who would like to play an organizing role. Communicate through this blog or by e-mailing me at [email protected].
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.