Blogging As Legitimate Journalism

www.inkthinkerblog.com — This is a long-overdue post in response to one gentleman’s suggestion, at WIW on March 10, that blogging isn’t “real” writing. Um, excuse me? (I raised my hand and said, “I’d just like to indignantly assert that blogging is indeed real writing, mister!”)

But you have to give him the benefit of the doubt. I mean, the vast majority of blogs are crap. Let’s face it. But that shouldn’t invalidate the amazing minority of fantastic writers with poignant, timely insights. Or, you know, me.

In 2004, Forbes compiled an impressive list of the best blogs on the web, including medical blogs, economics blogs, political blogs, and even celebrity blogs, among others. If Forbes thinks it’s worth ink and bandwith, I have to agree.

A blogger writing about New Orleans’ levees scooped the AP — and beat them to the story by more than 6 months.

A blogger writing under the name “the Florida masochist” reports another major scoop regarding foodstamps in storm-stricken Florida: “So one little blogger scooped media outlets owned by Cox Communications, Knight-Ridder, Washington Post Co., Tribune Co., to name just four.”

Boing Boing, called the world’s most popular blog by Technorati (which, incidentally, hates me), gets 1,443,817 visits per day. Fark.com, another hugely popular blog, gets 1,058,733 visits per day (according to StatBrain.com).

For comparison (also StatBrain.com),

But this isn’t a contest on scooping or hits. It’s an illustration that blogging means something. And I’m not talking about “omg, u wont beleeve wht he sed 2 me in alegbar 2day. hes sooooo hotttt” blogging. I’m talking about blogging with a purpose beyond hearing oneself talk. It’s very real, and it’s here to stay. You don’t have to get on board, but you do have to get used to it.

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www.kristenkingfreelancing.com
Finalist in 2006 Writer’s Digest Best Writer’s Website Contest

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Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Mar 23, 2007 Link

    There are many nay-sayers out there and I highly doubt many, if any at all, have a blog.

    As a new blogger, I am finding it is imperative to business and better than the telephone. (does that date me?)

    Admittedly, it is overwhelming to me, but as I progress in my business, I am beginning to narrow down my resources and not look at them all at once.

    Actually, I am loving discovering a whole new world.

  • Mar 23, 2007 Link

    There’s been a big discussion of whether blogs should count as legitimate science news outlets that started when the Genetics and Health blog tried to get early press access to embargoed stories (update). There are a couple commenters there that feel that blogs simply aren’t in the same league as the main stream media. Personally, I think a big part of the concern of PR and media people is that blogs posts typically aren’t run through the filter of an editor, so as a class they are both variable in quality and more outspoken that most newspapers.

  • Mar 23, 2007 Link

    It’s certainly valid to question whether or not blogs are “real” or legitimate journalism. I come out on both sides, depending on how I’m feeling any particular day. But to say blogs aren’t real writing is beyond silly. Then again, the novel was ridiculed centuries ago, and no one questions its status today. Maybe we just need to be patient!

  • Mar 23, 2007 Link

    There is some great discussion of this going on over at Brewed Fresh Daily: http://www.brewedfreshdaily.com/2007/03/21/for-tomorrows-sound-of-ideas

    Thought you might enjoy.

  • Mar 23, 2007 Link

    Most of the blogs I read are science blogs–I think the crap quotient is a lot lower, and the science blogosphere tends towards longer, solidly researched posts–analyses of current news, journal club-style article dissections, thoughtful musing on academic social dynamics, etc. I’m not sure it’s “journalism” in the traditional sense, but it’s informative, thought-provoking writing. I can’t imagine how anyone could suggest that, say, Pharyngula over at Seed’s ScienceBlogs isn’t “real writing.”

    Blogging isn’t somehow magically different from other forms of writing. Blogging is content management software. It’s different from other ways of updating your website. What you type into that text box remains up to you.

  • Mar 23, 2007 Link

    Here, here!

  • Mar 28, 2007 Link

    Too right, Melissa.

    Blogging is still writing, just in a different medium.

    Rock on Kristen!

  • Mar 29, 2007 Link

    Thought provoking is definitely the right word to describe blogging. If that doesn’t count as real writing then I don’t know what is.