Blogs- Can they be trusted?

Traditional newspapers and magazines are today faced with a new form of competition in the form of blogs (short for "weblogs"). What started as basically online diaries that people opened up to their friends or the whole world has now become a medium by itself, earning for itself the slightly derogatory title of "blogosphere".

Blogging (writing blogs) is a common hobby among young (and not-so-young) people. Assuming that some Internet users read these blogs - and some blogs claim readership in the thousands, if not more - what are we to make of them? Trust them, cite them in our research, or take them as personal reflections in the manner of a diary? Is blogging the refuge of narcissistic thirty-somethings or is it the new frontier of citizen journalism? Some bloggers are claiming access to events and personalities the same way as traditional news journalists do, should they be granted such access?

As with most issues on this site, the answer is not a simple yes or no. Some old-timers disallow blogs as legitimate sources of knowledge, primarily on the basis that their contents have not been cleared for publication by an editor (or the blogger's peers). This is indeed true and is a matter of concern. However, blogs have their own advantages - rapid response to events, room for reader feedback, and easy updating. As with any writing, a blog puts the reputation of the writer on the line, and thinking people are unlikely to risk their hard-earned reputations by espousing completely unreasonable or unlikely positions on issues. That said, it would be best if the blogger could point readers to the evidence or arguments on which she bases her own position, so that readers too can assess for themselves which way the evidence points. But it appears extreme to dismiss blogs altogether; the blogs of knowledgeable and trustworthy individuals (usually those who have earned their spurs offine - in journalism, policy analysis, or elsewhere) often contain "pre-press" versions of news and views before they reach traditional media.

The comments apply best to blogs that are written thoughtfully to share (and solicit) views on a current or historical phenomenon. Breathless blogs (you'll see a lot of OMG, OMG, ... in them) about what celebrities are wearing or who did what to whom are basically gossip, and should be treated as such; enjoy them, but don't mistake them for anything other than gossip. Bloggers' motives vary: some blog to share their expertise, some to nurse their egos, and others to earn advertising dollars (if readers click on ads on their sites). In recent times, companies are also blogging under their own names or under their employees' names. Watch such blogs carefully for gratuitous self-promotion or competitive mud-slinging, though you might glean from them pre-announcements of the company's forthcoming products and services. As with all blogs, caveat emptor ... let the reader beware. Watch blogs for fast-breaking news and views, but look for your conclusive evidence elsewhere.