One would think, after the recent Dan Rather disaster at CBS, that mainstream media (MSM) would have figured out that they really can't get away with anymore of their left-wing agenda nonsense in the bright glare of the exploding blogosphere.
But with the arrogance so characteristic of elites who have enjoyed a long reign of unchallenged power, CNN steps into the cyber-crosshairs of a million blogs with an air of invincibile nonchalance. Oh, yes, the troops are killing the journalists, what, didn't you know? Please trust CNN on this, lowly readers. Remember, citizens of the globe, that you heard it first from CNN's Eason Jordan.
But hearing it and swallowing it, reading it and accepting it, are very different things in this new age of instant electronic information. Hugh Hewitt, godfather of the blogosphere, has been attacking this story since Day One like the blizzard did Boston. Powerline charged up its batteries to follow suit, and battalions of bloggers large and small snapped to attention. Judging from the Rathergate results at CBS, I'd say things are looking pretty grim for Eason at the moment. Unless he has the courage to level with the public, which, judging from his past behavior, is an unlikely outcome.
MSM, of which CNN is certainly part, do yourself a favor and face the truth. As difficult as it will be, you must accept the new reality if you want to survive in it. You can't perpetuate your garbage any more, because we don't have to accept yours as the last word. In fact, nowadays your word is likely the beginning of a story. More and more often, the blogs are tending to compose the conclusion. They do so by following the "5 Ws"--who, what, when, where, why, by citing legitimate sources, by backing up their stories with facts, and by being answerable to their readership. If bloggers editorialize, they're much more likely than MSM to let you know up front that they are presenting their own opinion.
Following these procedures is called journalism. Give it a try, MSM, and you just might retain a portion of your audiences who are hemorrhaging over to the blogosphere.
