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Bloggers - Beowolf Cluster of Fact Checkers?
d3ik writes "Wired has an interesting take on bloggers role in journalism and politics. I've never been comfortable with news discussions sites being called blogs... but I guess "news discussion sites" isn't as catchy. Anyway, the article makes some good points on the role of bloggers in fact-checking (read: tearing apart) some of the stories and claims that the huddled masses would normally take as fact."
which factcheck.org has been doing, too. FAIR is worth looking at, too.
The other important function of blogs is to show the pulse of public opinion in areas that are not necessarily driven by large media outlets.
Go to any of the three letter network TV news sites and you'll see a lot of similarity. Consensus? Of what kind?
One of the most important sources of bias in news reporting is deciding what even qualifies as a news story.
Bloggers get to decide for themselves.
"Provided by the management for your protection."
Because, of course, we all know that Iraqi scientists would tell the absolute truth about weapons programs under Saddam Hussein. After all, those heads from raped women stuck on pig poles around Baghdad were to keep the common folk in line, not the important scientists.
You can tell a great deal about the character of a man by observing those who hate him.