CNN.com: 'We do not blog'
While some media companies, such as Knight Ridder and MSNBC.com, have embraced blogging, CNN is one of the first to openly come out against it as a journalistic tool. First CNN shut down a war-related blog correspondent Kevin Sites was writing from Iraq. And now the company tells the Online Journalism Review's Susan Mernit that its news executives do not believe in blogs. "CNN.com prefers to take a more structured approach to presenting the news," a spokesperson told Mernit. "We do not blog." This is an interesting development in the ongoing debate over whether blogging is journalism. What do you think? Are Web logs journalism and should they be used as a journalism tool? Share your thoughts.Apr 09, 2003 | E-MAIL | SAVE | PRINT | PERMALINK | DISCUSS(4)
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4 comments about 'CNN.com: 'We do not blog''The editorial nature of many blogs doesnt mean they can have no journalistic value. They are informative and valuable -because- the story is told thru the lense/perspective of the blogger.
The writing in blogs varies widely, just like anywhere else, including print. It is impossible to really say that blogs are or are not journalism; since, each one is different. A talented writer following accepted journalism practices and publishing the writing in blog is of course creating valuable reporting.
Should blogs be used as a journalism tool by news organizations? Why not? Well they wont use them because the news organs like to edit and republish. And they rewrite the news and keep adding to it and spinning/weaving/creating/expanding the storyline as the story facts come in. so the news orgs wouldnt use a blog format. since you post something and dont go back and edit the stuff later...
It is just the wrong format for most of the writing news orgs do.
I like the blog format for war correspondent-type reporting though. Since the posts are diary-like. Though editors -could- spin the diary by rewriting it...they might not be able to the way they do the news.
Posted by Marcia E at April 9, 2003 2:33 PM
Saying one "doesn't believe in blogs" is akin to professing one's disbelief in Flash graphics. It's out there, it's a tool for communication, use it when appropriate.
Posted by Thomas D. at April 9, 2003 7:17 PM
I stumbled upon this today and laughed at how utterly ironic it is...now. ;)
Posted by Greg G. at July 23, 2004 1:21 PM
Is blogging journalism? Well it depends upon who is writing and who is editing. Unedited blogs are nothing more than gossip, unsubstantiated blogs are only hearsay or rambling.
Posted by Tom Rex at July 24, 2004 9:43 AM
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