I know I shouldn’t accuse every journalist of blog envy just because they don’t like blogs. But it’s more fun than whining, “Maybe they just don’t understand us.” Let’s see if that’s the case.
Ken Fuson, a columnist at the Des Moines Register writes, “Perhaps you have not heard of blogs. The name derives from a combination of “blather” and “logorrhea.”
Hmm…sounds like envy to me.
Apparently upset that the pajamahadeen are stealing his press, so to speak, Fuson doesn’t (or can’t) disguise his contempt for us blatherers:
This [blogging] has proved to be a boon to people who apparently are (A) unemployed, (B) independently wealthy, or (C ) no longer content to wait on hold to get their daily fix of attention from a radio talk-show host.Let’s put it another way: You know those people who like to write letters to the editor? A blog allows them to write letters all day long, on any subject they choose, without worrying about having the profanity removed or having any of their lunatic rants checked for accuracy. (Source)
Well, I’ll tell you this. At least our “lunatic rants” are more honest than the thinly veiled editorializing reporters used to get away with. And Fuson knows that not all bloggers rant. Some are actually good writers who do real reporting. But if he wrote about blogs fairly, he wouldn’t get to unleash his own rant. In spite of himself, however, Fuson has a point here:
But the great thing is, if you’re a blogger, you get your rants linked to by other bloggers who agree with you, or other bloggers who disagree with you. Before you know it…you will achieve your dream goal: Being invited to appear on a Mainstream Media news show to explain why the Mainstream Media no longer matter.
Guilty! 
Blogs have been getting a lot of press lately. CNN has a new segment called “Blog Report.” Blogs have been featured on “Reliable Sources” and “Inside Politics.” MSNBC covers blogs almost everyday. Media critic Howard Kurtz frequently includes blog links in his column. Journalists are writing about bloggers, columnists are covering bloggers, radio talk show hosts are talking about bloggers, and the Federal Election Commission is trying to regulate bloggers. Mainstream media (MSM) and others seem to get it. Their monopoly on information is D-E-A-D.
I understand Fuson’s frustration, but he has only his fellow journalists to blame. If they weren’t such biased leftists pretending to be “moderate” or “centrist,” perhaps bloggers would not have been able to invade their territory. Blame it on Big Media Man, Dan Rather. For that matter, blame it on the rain. Who cares? All I know is MSM’s reign of error is over.
If Fuson would condescend to accept unsolicited advice from a blogger, I’d tell him how he could cure his blog envy in no time.
He should start blogging. 
Update: Speaking of MSM (Guilty!), I’ll be on Connected Coast to Coast on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. to talk about Michael Jackson and his radio interview with Jesse Jackson yesterday. That means I have to actually listen to the two of them talking, which I’m doing now. No comment.
Also, check out Jeff Harrell’s post about another blog-envious journalist.
Update II: Upcoming events – 1) I will speak at the Spring Conference for African-American Journalists of Faith in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 29-30. I will discuss how blogging has impacted journalism and the role of Christian bloggers in general.
2) I’ve been invited to speak at BlogNashville, a three-day blogging conference in Nashville, Tennessee, May 5-7 (My birthday weekend!). I will lead the faith-based blogging session. Other session leaders/speakers: Glenn Reynolds, Henry Copeland of Blogads, Rebecca MacKinnon (of Easongate fame), Robin Burk and others. Registration is limited to 300 people, so sign up now if you’d like to attend.
Update III (3/29): Mr. Fuson, Don’t Fear The Blogger!
Check out John Hawkins’s top 40 favorite blogs.
