March 17, 2005

Inside The Walls

NashvillePost.com, a subscription-only business news website, has taken notice of the launch of a new blog by a member of the Tennessee legislature.

In his first post on March 9 2005 Campfield wrote "my goal with this blog is to share with you some of the experiences and things that happen in the legislature that you may not hear about, what really happens behind the scenes."

His first post, and only one so far, drew several comments from readers expressing skepticism, praise, wishing him luck in cleaning up Nashville and even correcting a spelling mistake.

Campfield's blog, or some other legislators' blogs, will soon be giving Tennesseans an inside look at the inner workings of the legislature that we have never before had access to. Imagine a legislator blogging live from the House floor during a heated debate over a controversial issue - or imagine an anonymous legislator blogging after-action reports of the secret meetings and the backroom deals that still form the core of how the Tennessee legislature operates.

And if legislators blog in large numbers, imagine the consternation of the big Tennessee newspapers, the ones with reporters at Legislative Plaza and editorial boards that like to frame the state's political agenda. They won't be able to control the news flow anymore. They will lose power and influence. And when - inevitably - legislators provide more complete reporting from the legislature than the newspapers do - they will lose credibility and readers.

In a telephone interview Wednesday Campfield explained that the main reason he started the blog: as a new medium it is the best way to reach a lot of people. "So many people ask me what it's really like" Campfield said, referring to his new position in the State Legislature.

Campfield explained that his goal is to post at least once a week, but he may post more often depending on feedback and the effectiveness of his blog in communicating with readers and constituents.

When asked whether he thought there was a future in blogging by government representatives in reaching constituents, Campfield remakred "I think it will be. It really is the future of news media." But he added, "A lot of people expressed that they do not want me to do this."

In a new twist of government, Campfield said that he plans on using comments on his blog as a potential source for ideas of new bills to introduce into the House. "There are a lot of constituents who have a lot of great ideas," he explained. Campfield was clear that this was not a gurantee, but that he would at least read the comments.