More Blogs

More and more newspapers seem to be getting into the blog business. Journalists whose names only appeared as bylines are now generating their own blogs on the topics or beats they cover. I see this as a very healthy step for all of us who follow the news and seek to gain a better understanding of what it means. In addition - and probably the thing I like best about this new development - is this provides readers with an opportunity to become more actively engaged in what is going in the world by interacting with those who seek to report it. By being able to exchange observations, raise questions and share experiences, readers are able to develop a better understanding of and more vested interest in their communities, country and world. Even if it is in small steps, it seems inevitable that one result will be a more active electorate at election time.

Another potentially positive result is that through this one form of social media members of the public will begin recognizing challenges and issues they have in common. Out of this may possibly come new publics to begin collaborating on ways to contend with these various matters. The bottom line, overall, is an enhanced sense of community within members of our public and more ongoing communication between men and women who others may not have ever felt a sense of connection with each other.

Granted, active engagement is now always pretty. And sometimes it can even seem to represent a step backward when it comes to communication and developing a greater community spirit. Take the so-called tea party members as an example. To say the least, their members can be very off-putting at times as much of what many of the members say, as presented in the media, seems to be based on ungrounded fear, ignorance and needless hysteria. Yet, despite this, coherence is slowly beginning to emerge in a way that will, I believe, benefit our nation. Cultural revolutions are never smooth, but they can be quite profound in a very positive way. It is the increased blogs and growing popularity of other forms of social media that are making this happen. My sense is that at some point down the road, all of us will be the better for it.