The evil of blogging must be reigned in.

Crooks and Liars looks at David Hazinski op-ed on blogger news.

…having just anyone produce widely distributed stories without control can have the reverse effect from what advocates intend. It’s just a matter of time before something like a faked Rodney King beating video appears on the air somewhere….Journalism organizations should head that off. Citizen reports can be a valuable addition to news and information flow with some protections:

• Major news organizations must create standards to substantiate citizen-contributed information and video, and ensure its accuracy and authenticity.

• They should clarify and reinforce their own standards and work through trade organizations to enforce national standards so they have real meaning.

• Journalism schools such as mine at the University of Georgia should create mini-courses to certify citizen journalists in proper ethics and procedures, much as volunteer teachers, paramedics and sheriff’s auxiliaries are trained and certified.

Um, Mister Hazinski sir? There are just a few bloggers who would like to have a word with you….

This is full of whooey. So...they shouldn't just take a story of the internet? Okay, they have to think about this? If they go to TPM and see a story they have missed. Call them, ask about their sources and legwork, then put it on air, heck check the sources and get added source. How about the networks and papers just not cut paste online stories into their work? How about some...ummm...journalism? Might that work?

In the end it bugs me he treats earnest people in a discussion online as if they are dirty and ignorant. Plenty of people are, but this is about a dislike for stories flowing around outside of the MSM, and the trouble MSM is having just grabbing something sexy and using it with confidence. Again, the trouble is that the MSM is falling down in doing its own work.




Now I disagree with some. I do see that at some point that there may need to be some regulation. The Net can be used to bypass laws. Either to terrorize a person, cheat people of money, get around duties and taxes, etc. I know saying that gets one flamed onliine. But it may need to some control. Not now. It is like the Wild West, wild, unregulated, little law. But it came to the West. I hope that very little regulating occurs. I like the free reign of talk and flow of ideas and data online. It is the point of the damn thing. But change may need to come. Hopefully nothing more than a slim slight framework. But for some anything done is all bad. (And there are some who do want to get a stranglehold of the Net.)

And for the likes of the MSM to sneer and deride blogs, with as much wrong in their homes...come on. Novak is constantly wrong and treated like a sage. Drudge is treated seriously. And the cable news is impressively depth free.