The proliferation of online bloggers stands to threaten mainstream news agencies, the Washington bureau chief of the Wall Street Journal said Friday.... [Seib] said traditional media organizations need to do a better job explaining why their standards of objectivity make them preferable to some online sites....
Seib said he's concerned about the number of online bloggers who cater specifically to political agendas. For instance, he said, someone who believes John Kerry won Ohio during the 2004 election could find Web sites that support the view. He said all who claim to report news have a duty to check out facts and present the information in a fair, balanced light.
Full story here.
Ok, it's not much. Probably the fault of the reporter. I'm sure Seib had much more interesting things to say than was reported. But it is notable that here is a spokesman for the MSM who is clearly not dodging the issues raised by bloggery.
Seib admits that the MSM has a real problem with accuracy and objectivity and that it has to get its act together. He also points out that bloggerdom is not noted for having high standards of fairness and objectivity. That's fine. Over time some bloggers, and some MSM organizations will rise to the challenge and acquire a reputation for fairness and objectivity. Seib's point is, and it is a very good one, that such reputations have to be earned. They will serve as a check on one another. The "crusaders" will scrutinize both and hold their feet to the fire. And out of the mess will come knowledge and information that the public will find useful.
Seib's take is a reasonable one, although he does display a bias in favor of news management, and stands in sharp contrast to the anti-blog ravings that grace the pages of the Baltimore Sun [see post immediately below].
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