Comments on: Blogs are not a “substitute”

By: Elearning India

Elearning India — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:48:59 +0000

I happen to agree with your views. Blogs, or even online news sites for that matter do not compare to newspaper that we all are so used to. The whole process of creating a single newspaper is so intricate, it involves the collective effort of thousands of persons. I just hope the bad times go away soon considering how many individuals it directly or indirectly employs.

By: Mike B

Mike B — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:34:45 +0000

I realize that blogs are not newspapers and should not be directly compared. But I know that newspaper readership is down and more people are flocking to the Internet and blogs for their news and opinions. As a sign of the financial problems the newpaper industry is facing, look at the Tribune Company which is seeking bankruptcy protection. A blog may not be a one-man effort, but very few blogs can afford to do real investigative reporting and collect information over weeks or months to uncover the hidden truth. To that end, I hope that print newpapers are able to survive in this new Internet world.

By: Censurer General

Censurer General — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:29:43 +0000

“Perhaps private philanthropists will step in and finance not-for-profit journalistic centres”

Ah – just what we need – more biased and partisan reporting in the Main $tream Media.

These newspapers are failing, in part, because they refused to cover the systematic corruption their international owners engaged in, to the detriment of all sorts of individuals and enterprises.

Now that they’re getting their comeuppance, the sycophant corporate reporters want our sympathy?

I don’t think so; not while they uncritically champion the bankster ‘bailout’ thievery we’re now seeing.

A press corps that lies by omission isn’t much better than no press corps at all.

By: Virginia Yonkers

Virginia Yonkers — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:48:43 +0000

I find it ironic that one of the most active and engaged election in decades in the US was just conducted with the help of blogs and other electronic media. Perhaps I have misread what democracy is…a number of voices. Is it me or is this philosophy that only journalists can interpret events condensending to the average reader?

By: Guy Boulet

Guy Boulet — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:11:05 +0000

I agree with you that blogs, or other web applications, are not substitutes to traditional media. I see them more as alternatives.

Like online shopping is not meant to replace physical stores but to offer an alternate mean to reach customers, especially new customers physically distants, blogs are not meant to replace newpapers or magazines but to offer an alternate way to get information on specific subject matters.

I own a car, does that mean I can’t walk to the convenience store anymore?

Why keep only one when both can be useful?

By: ismael

ismael — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:53:14 +0000

newspapers or blogs?
bricks and mortar classrooms or educational blogs?
peer reviewed academic journals or blogs?
coffee with your friends or personal blogs?

I cannot believe we’re still in the “either…or” stage of things.

I fully agree, Harold, that this is way a most simplistic approach of comparing things.