Trust the Journalists

 Cory Doctrow's article  brought up some interesting points, but the internet still has not won my trust. Bloggers sometimes discuss and corroborate for days over a given topic and end up with pure speculation (or in some cases, a nasty disagreement). Journalists takes this speculation and brings it to the experts. They seek answers and concrete facts. 

Journalists must then verify these facts because a libel suit could be just around the corner. But the long arm of the law is just beginning to reach bloggers. In the US, a few laws surrounding blogs have emerged. However the extent and definition vary from state to state. And in some cases, the law doesn't beat down on bloggers, but rather attempts to protect and nurture their right to free speech. As this article explains under point 8, bloggers do not have to monitor their site for defamation. In this respect, bloggers do not worry as much about being held accountable for what they publish. This can lead to lazy reporting or unfair comments. 

Professional journalists also embrace the Ethics Guidelines set out by the CAJ (Canadian Association of Journalists). This includes a promise for fair and, most importantly, accurate reporting. 

I think blogging is great for commenting on the truth, and not necessarily for finding the truth. Professional journalists are trained to be unbiased and accurate. And the law makes sure their reporting reflects this.