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  From: <jy2050@columbia.edu>
  To  : <cpc@emoglen.law.columbia.edu>
  Date: Thu, 07 Apr 2005 12:31:03 -0400

One thing unnerving about Bloggers

I never had much interest with bloggers until I took this course but
our discussion on journalism has made me think otherwise. So, I
searched the web and whenever there was an interesting news, I also
read what bloggers had to say about it.

For one thing, if you read thousands and thousands of articles
posted by bloggers, you might get a well balanced view on an issue.
Moreover, you will also think about issues that you have never
thought about. They will also relate to you their cultural
background and where they are coming from. If they don't, then you
can always click on some of the other stuff posted on their website
and see the disposition of the particular blogger.

So, in my opinion, to people who are hungry for new and interesting
viewpoints, or to people who are reading blogger news in
conjunction with the mainstream news, it is a very useful trend. It
is also helpful for people who spend a lot of time reading.
However, what if the mainstream news media were to be completely
supplanted by the bloggers? I believe it would be detrimental to
the average citizen.

Bloggers are not careful in what they are writing. Neither are they
very objective. (Neither are the newsmedia but at least I know what
they are trying to embellish as being objective) When I form an
opinion, I often compare it with the viewpoint of the general
public and see where I stand. How would I do that if there were no
NYT or the NY Post, Washington Post, etc?

Since our discussion was focused on empowering bloggers, which I
think should happen, maybe this is not a relevant issue. However, I
just feel that maybe there should be some special protection left
for the mainstream news media, despite the fact that they already
very powerful and are imposing their views on the public.

Hate them, but can't live without them?
















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