Is the blogosphere now CLEARLY driving M$M stories?

[OneGrassRoot]

Is it readily apparent now that, once we see a critical mass of sorts regarding a storyline here (since our posts often come from the blogosphere), it's likely to be covered by M$M and not before?

We've had a feeling this is the case, but it now seems to be fact.

Granted, there are still many instances when they DON'T cover a story even though it has reached critical mass in the blogosphere, but the tide seems to be shifting and there is now a shorter time span before something reaches M$M.

Is the blogosphere doing investigative journalism for M$M?

Do you think we'll ever have a free press again, without corporate agenda?

[pearl]

1. Yes

I have been watching this relationship between the blogosphere and broadcast news (tv) for literally years and the time it takes to make the jump is almost instant now. Back in 2003 when Bush made his infamous speech about the lie of Saddam trying to get nuclear fuel from Africa. That claim was discredited within 12 hours and it took another year and a half for that to get any traction in the
MSM.

[Poseidan]

2. the internet is free press, with little/no corporate agenda

nt

[KharmaTrain]

3. Transitional Medias...

This is a very interesting time...the media has been undergoing a lot of change...and we're not done yet. The big change to the political world was the development of the cable networks and the 24/7 news cycle...now people could live the news and it opened up the door to pundits to fill the hours inbetween the "real" news. Eventually it became the narrative as networks jockeyed to draw viewers, ratings and revenues to their coverage.

The internet took the 24/7 cycle and put it on steroids...anyone could publish and anyone could comment...talk back to the media. In recent years, the blogs have become the fact checkers of the corporate media that still hasn't figured out its role in changing media. They've consolidated and downscaled while the blogs have expanded...thus the emphasis for new and different material on the internet and its spontaneous nature is now reported on by the corporate media.

Yes, the blogs are, in many cases, doing the jobs of the "traditional media", but it's also a media form of its own. Its undergone a lot of shaking out and will go through more in the years ahead. What we're seeing is the next generation of participatory democracy and communications.

In the near future, all the mediums...television, internet and print will converge...the distinctions are starting blur already and those who produce the best content will always prosper.

Cheers...

[TexasObserver]

4. YES. And that's why the investigations and dialogs online matter.

I'm not one who believes petitions and such really move the needle any. But getting hot new stories out there is something the internets do better than anyone in major media. They are followers of the news, not leaders.

First we discover it, and talk about it. Then they do.

The body slam to the tune of $1.8 mil to Michelle Bachmann is a warning shot across the bow of all sleazy GOP politicians. Go too far, the the internets will fund your opponent.

[NNN0LHI]

5. We know they watch us close for some reason

I have actually seen DU flashed up on the screen when CNN was doing a story about blogs.

About all we can do is keep an eye on them and report what we see.

MediaMatters does a great job.

Don

[zbdent]

6. blame the guy who claimed that the "Bush National Guard" documents

were fakes ...

That was THE key to having the blogs making the media ...

[Bandit]

7. I heard Rachel tell Keith during breaks she was viewing Conservative Blogs for their viewpoint

I don't know if Rachel is considered MSM or not but she openly says she gets opinions and news from the "internets". Thank you Al Gore..