How Weblogs Keep the Media Honest

Washington Post | 7-31-02 | Howard Kurtz

[Lightnin]

Bloggers are busting chops, big time.

The latest evidence: Some big media organizations are now quoting their criticism of other big media organizations.

It's called influencing the debate, in real time.

Web loggers, for those who have been vacationing on Mars, are one-person Internet blabbermouths who pop off to anyone who is willing to listen. They often slam each other like pro wrestlers, but some of the best take on

[Lightnin]

This is interesting except for the fact that Kurtz didn't recognize the growing influence of FR

[PJ-Comix]

This is interesting except for the fact that Kurtz didn't recognize the growing influence of FR

Maybe not publicly but Kurtz and lots of other journalists are bigtime LURKERS here.

[Brian Mosely]

They often slam each other like pro wrestlers, but some of the best take on – sometimes fairly, sometimes unfairly, often ideologically – the big newspapers and networks.

And when a big paper like the Washington Post doesn't like it what is being said about it and how their writers are openly taken apart on a daily basis, they sue websites for "copyright violations"...

[Lightnin]

Sorry about that website referral:

It should read:

washingtonpostcom

[dirtboy]

Looks like Howie Kurtz did a big-time ripoff of a John Leo column from a few days ago:

Flogged by Bloggers

[beckett]

LINK

[thucydides]

On the plus side, Kurtz mentions and takes seriously both Leo's column and various blogs. There was a time when the Post wouldn't have mentioned the importance of internet commentary on the print media. On the negative side, he keeps referring to "Times bashing." Now the term bashing strongly suggests irresponsible attacks that are emotionally motivated. In fact, the sources cited make detailed factual criticisms, and whatever their internal motivation might be, it is wrong to say they are engaged in "bashing." Yes, it is colorful writing, but at the expense of accuracy (uh-oh, am I now a Post "basher"?).