Making Apologies

A recent cartoon in The New Yorker cleverly articulated the blogosphere as a place where, quite often, opinionated individuals attempt to wax poetic (often unpoetically) about everything from politics to pop culture to poodles. The cartoon is a spot-on representation of blogging, commenting on the proliferation of the phenomenon and equating bloggers with a person who uses the sidewalk and a blowhorn as a platform to voice his opinions. Be that as it may, and also being fully aware that blogging has been criticized for the glaring absence of the editor, I have still opted to climb atop my own wobbly soapbox of sorts.

That said, I have no druthers to project my political beliefs -- or any beliefs for that matter -- on unsuspecting passersby that happen upon my blog. I aim solely to comment on the world as I see it, with an occasional bit of satire, sassiness and an honest appreciation for the correct usage of the language.

I do think that bloggers have a place at the table. In the ever-shifting media landscape, it is becoming increasingly important that traditional news organizations remain on their toes in reporting stories and maintaining utmost integrity in delivering news content. The word “medium” may soon become obsolete, as the constant convergence of media vehicles continues to change the way we consume, respond to, and participate in the news. In We the Media, David Gillmor addresses such technological advancements as blogs and internet news content as evidence of the increasingly democratic, grassroots nature that journalism may be approaching. I think, in this information age, that it is paramount that journalists do everything they can to prevent such journalistic fiascos from occurring as that of Stephen Glass and Jayson Blair. This is where the bloggers come in. While some journalists are terrified of the idea of citizen journalists and regular Joe Pundits entering the arena, blogging in general will help media organizations stay abreast of the latest news while maintaining a heightened level of integrity and achievement in news dissemination.