Probably the trademark of Blogging is the use of bad puns in titles, fortunately, one of the newest bloggers has that down already. Zorn will be happy that the order of the posts is most recent first…
One thing I find is that many bloggers and blog readers assume that journalism is just some job, and not a profession with strong ethical standards. It goes along with the assumption that reporting is actually easy and all that any reporter does is go to press conferences—there are some who do that and they usually are in front of a camera, but tracking down sources and getting useful information is incredibly difficult. The first point is more important because when someone accuses a reporter of lifting a quote, that’s a serious charge–especially someone of the stature of Sweet. Too many bloggers and blog readers don’t get that and too often attack reporters without understanding the context or, especially how politicians reuse lines, just makes one look like an ass.
Comments and trackbacks even so it looks good–and, of course, she got to gripe about the Washington Times plagerizing her as well, which complaining about the WT, is another favorite past time on blogs. (small thing about Markos–he was raised largely in Schaumburg, but also spent some of his early years in El Salvador-at a time when the civil war was very hot).
And, of course, this only ups the ante in her and the Trib’s Jeff Zeleney in a contest to see who can write more words about Barack Obama. Fortunately for the readers, both can actually write and usually find interesting angles.
Most disappointing thing about the coverage the McCain-Obama spat story in the Illinois press–no one pointed out that McCain and Fitzgerald got into screaming matches on the floor of the U.S. Senate over O’Hare. McCain getting snarky or losing his temper is about as noteworthy as John Kerry doing a liveshot.
On a more serious note, I’ve never been one of those who moan about the good ole days of blogs when it was this insurgent movement (AKA dorks without lives ranting). It’s a way of delivering information and providing far greater analysis that is available in an column or even a good news story. When good reporters do blogs you get someone filling in details that don’t make the paper and a more complete analysis. I was excited when Eric started, and most of those who have followed have been good additions–but someone at the Trib needs to get an RSS feed for Charles Madigan.
It is nice that blogs give more access to more divergent voices and it provides a good check on bad reporting, but in the hands of good reporters, it provides citizens with more information. I’m happy to blast people who I think are being lazy–hello Tim Russert—but too many bloggers don’t point out the good work that does go on–Eric, Maureen Ryan (best TV journalist out there), and now Sweet and the Swamp over at the Trib all deserve that sort of credit.
As an extra bonus, Lynn can start posting a minute by minute account of Obama’s fundraisers….