local blogs make an impact: Virginia

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Get ready to read more op/eds like this one this fall. The "Macaca brouhaha" swirling around Senator George Allen has shown how local blogs make what used to be invisible and behind the scenes....visible and searchable on the internet.

That doesn't just affect the reporting of stories; it will affect how campaigns are run, and even garner some praise from the traditional press:

Judging by their traffic and their traction, Virginia's blogs are only going to grow in influence, a trend more than a few lament as they point out the blogosphere's penchant for fierce partisanship and fact-free opinionizing.

But judging the blogosphere by its worst members is like judging The New York Times by Jayson Blair, a foolish oversimplification.

Over time, blogs will be judged by readers. Those who keep their facts straight and their analysis honest will thrive, while others will wither into obscurity. In the meantime, the more voices that are part of Virginia's debates, the better off we all are.


Raising Kaine is just one of those blogs winning the trust of local readers in Virginia. (Check out this story on Congresswoman Thelma Drake). Blogs from Howling Latina to Not Larry Sabato are changing the local climate for local news and opinion in the Virginia Commonwealth.

It's not too late to start or join a locally-focused blog near you this election season.

Comments

teh l4m3 said…
I think we'll be seeing a lot more of this not only as more people start doing local blogs (not that I am -- I have too much fun doing goofy shit), but as more people start reporting first hand, as opposed to merely commenting or offering analysis (both of which of course are valuable as well.)
5:23 PM
Howling Latina said…
Thank you for mentioning my humble blog at Howling Latina.

It just so happens that I wrote an article in the PG Post about Jayson Blair.

I was covering an ethics workshop at PG Community College and Jayson was supposed to be one of the participants, bring a slew of his books, sign and pass out.

The guy was a no-show. Called and said he was stuck in Virginia (it was a terribly rainy morning), but never eventually showed up; in fact, he NEVER bothered to call later and explain.

The headline read something like this: "Jayson Blair Leaves Student Hanging Dry."
9:55 AM
kid oakland said…
re: tehl4

Agreed. First hand reporting changes everything.

re: howling latina

You should email me at kidoaklandactivism"at"comcast"dot"net

You might be interested in Bloggers United...a group for local political blogs.
12:53 PM
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