May 1, 2005

Sometimes

Dana Blankenhorn on the question of whether blogging is journalism:

To say that a blog is any one thing is to misunderstand what a blog is. A blog is instant publishing. A blog lets anyone post any type of digital file - text, pictures, sound, video - simply, attractively, without having to know HTML.

To say a blog is journalism is like saying web pages are journalism. Journalism can happen on Web pages, and on blogs, in lots of places. Not everything that's printed is journalism. Not everything that's broadcast is journalism. Yet we have print and broadcast journalism. It's the same with blogging software.

All blogging does is hide the complexity of the underlying Web format from the page creator. The software can let you eliminate gatekeepers - Web designers, editors, publishers - but if you like you can still have them. And more. You can run a whole staff, of any sort, on blogging software. It's all good.

So is blogging journalism?

Stupid question.

Blankenhorn is one of the more than 250 people registered to attend BlogNashville May 5-7 . A highlight of the three-day event is the panel discussion on Friday evening (May 6) on the relationship between journalism and news-focused blogs.

Old Related Item:
Blogs Aren't Journalism. They're Better Than That