Rumour Wrapup

According to <some voice> on this edition of the Gilmor Gang, Sifry has actually said something about the Technorati rumour that Ochman started back on August 11th:

...it was news to him.

We are now well out of the week that Ochman predicted the sale would take place. I hadn't intended to come back and talk directly about the rumour, but as there has been some discussion recently about bloggers as journalists, and Ochman whinged recently about not being considered press, it seems pertinent to answer the question 'are bloggers journalists?'

The answer is no.

Journalism is a discipline which involves certain processes such as fact checking, source background checking and so on (anyone familiar with Bernstein's principle of only reporting facts with at least two sources is aware of this). A blogger, as Ochman has clearly demonstrated, does not have to cleave to such principles.

As with almost any story circulating the blogosphere, the desire to pass on a story sight unseen is a stronger force than a blogger's desire to check a story. Consequently, we see A-list bloggers simply passing on stories, or lists of takeaways from comScore white papers, and even endorsements of new and upcoming services that they haven't even seen without so much as a cursory check.

As top listed bloggers become information nodes - places where others go to get a periodic update on what is happening out there - I imagine they feel the need to pass stories that seem interesting on regardless of the truth of the matter. If we think of story starters as field journalists and these A-list bloggers as senior editors, they are both acting in a way that is so unlike journalism that the whole notion becomes somewhat ridiculous.

That being said, I believe that there is great opportunity for journalism via blogs, and incredible value to be had from the fact that bloggers are everywhere, but let's not mistake the removal of a structural barrier to entry for the qualifications for a discipline.

Comments

[B.L. Ochman]

My degree and training are in journalism. Blogging is journalism, but it is a new form.

Are you saying that the Wall St Journal reporting rumors, as they do all the time, is different than a blogger reporting them?

I reported a rumor, told to me by someone in a position to know. Other people got hysterical. Not me.

And do you think, for a minute, that David Sifry would tell you if the rumor was true.

Gimme a break.
BL

[Matthew Hurst]

Your original post was not a report of a rumour, it *was* a rumour - others reported on the rumour. As for Sifry's comments - you are right, I guess that is just a rumour that the rumour was false, but it was the first time he went on record (going on record to someone on the Gilmor Gang is a considered move). I don't mind starting rumours as I'm not a journalist.

I wouldn't have classified people's reaction as 'hysterical' but that they were excited. The sale of one of the major blog search players would be an exciting event to those involved in the space.

Gimme a break.

[B.L. Ochman]

You're in semantic land now Matthew.
I reported on something I was told. Others spread it.
BL

[Matthew Hurst]

Um, ok.

http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002383.html

[Kevin Burton]

Hey..

I listened to that podcast by and that "news to him" quote was from Doc Searls.

99% sure..

Kevin

[Kevin Burton]

Also.. I think Mary Hodder noted that she only went live with one source for the Bloglines outing.. and she got the call right...

Kevin