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Bloggers vs. Big Media at the DNC

By Jeralyn, Section Democratic National Convention 2008
Posted on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 06:10:00 PM EST
Tags: Democratic National Convention (all tags)
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Jane at Firedoglake has an excellent post, HuffPo Lunch: Dirty Bloggers Eatin’ Cold Salmon. Big donors and corporate sponsors continue to make the Democrats' world go round. There are many different levels of media access at the convention. Thankfully, we're still dirty hippies in that world.

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    Bloggers vs. Big Media at the DNC | 28 comments (28 topical)

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    I'll read the post (5.00 / 4) (#1)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 06:09:21 PM EST
    But your title seems unlikely to me.

    Blogger and Big Media have been hand in glove this year.

    And this from Jane is absurd (5.00 / 7) (#3)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 06:13:32 PM EST
    People are worried about bloggers being "co-opted."  While that's likely to happen to individuals, I think we're still gloriously lacking the respectability as a group that could make it happen.  Our narrative about the corrupting influence of money in the party is actually a lot more destructive to the established Democratic power structure than the phony Fox Obama vs. Clinton obsession, and that explains why the Dems will happily agree to debates moderated by Fox while relegating most bloggers to the Pepsi Center parking lot.

    The blogs were and are absolutely corrupted in my view, but not by money of course. But their credibility is extremely weak imo.

    I know no one is supposed to write that, it is impolitic. But I am really ghettoized so it does not matter to me.  

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    you read faster than me... (none / 0) (#6)
    by p lukasiak on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 06:18:18 PM EST
    I pulled the exact same quote, with the exact same reaction (although i was less 'nice') below, while you were posting yours.  Feel free to delete mine on the basis of repetitiveness!

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    A blogger's views are at least open to (none / 0) (#7)
    by Cards In 4 on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 06:24:25 PM EST
    for everyone to read, just like cable news channels or magazines or newspapers.  No one buys Mother Jones expecting to get the Wall Street Journal.  And no opens The National Review hoping to get The Nation.

    Reading a blog and finding out if they are rational is at least free.

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    Exactly! n/t (none / 0) (#11)
    by Brookhaven on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 06:28:15 PM EST


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    I'd agree with you on this: (none / 0) (#32)
    by Grace on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 09:10:10 PM EST
    The blogs were and are absolutely corrupted in my view, but not by money of course. But their credibility is extremely weak imo.

    One of the problems is that blogs are heavy with opinion and discussion but low on actual reporting skills.  (Of course, this is a problem with FOX and all the cable networks too.)  

    Dems agree to debates moderated by FOX because FOX offers millions of eyeballs.  Most blogs don't have that.  The few blogs that do offer a zillion readers are usually extremely partisan and offer very little beyond political news.  In other words, you aren't going to find Joe Sixpack reading Huffpo by accident where he might catch FOX while he's flipping channels sitting in his recliner.  He might be looking for sports scores but when he catches a glance of "angry Joe Biden lashing out," he'll stop to watch for a few minutes.

    Until blogs establish their own credibility, I think they are always going to be considered "junior media," kind of like the zoned sections in big newspapers.          

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    Not here (none / 0) (#2)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 06:12:38 PM EST
    There's a big difference when it comes to the convention itself. Her post describes it accurately.

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    Well (5.00 / 3) (#4)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 06:15:08 PM EST
    There is nothing I have read in the blogs that strikes me as particularly iconoclastic to say, NBC.

    I see Cheerleaders so far. that is not my idea of a "Rage Against the Machine."

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    Jeralyn.... (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by p lukasiak on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 06:25:45 PM EST
    ...how much would you like to bet that Jane could get into any one of those suites simply by asking the right person?

    ...Do you think that Markos would have a problem getting into those suites?

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    I was with Jane last night (5.00 / 2) (#19)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 06:39:45 PM EST
    and Pac from Firedoglake as we walked in circles around the suites. She didn't ask, they didn't offer and there was a guard stationed at the entrance of each box. I saw the Denver Post's suite at one point and it said "for providers" and thought that might mean content providers like writers. I asked, and they said, oh no, providers means sponsors. Like Level 3 Communications. Corporate sponsors.

    Markos has zero interest in going to the Pepsi Center, let alone a box. He's at the Big Tent. Most of the bloggers in town are there. It's fun, but hot -- not air-conditioned. Arianna's set up a place called the Oasis for bloggers -- offering massages, facials, herbal stuff, it's very welcoming and nice. She insisted the head of it give me a tour yesterday.  But the only thing I would have loved at the moment given the heat was a shampoo and blow dry and they didn't have the sinks for that.

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    Jeralyn, are the bloggers mostly in (none / 0) (#21)
    by oculus on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 06:43:18 PM EST
    the Big Tent watching media coverage of the convention?  Any independent reporting?  

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    Are reporters and display advertising (none / 0) (#33)
    by Grace on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 09:15:26 PM EST
    people sharing a suite?  Or are these suites simply for reporters?  

    I'm not sure why the Denver Post would have a door for sponsors unless they intend to interview them or try to sell them advertising...?  Or are these more like "Hospitality Suites"?

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    I was hopeful we would learn (5.00 / 2) (#13)
    by oculus on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 06:32:12 PM EST
    about the protests, what the Hillary Clinton delegates are thinking, how they are being treated, what they plan to do, etc.  Also, inside information on why the nightly schedule is so much in flux.  Details.  But, not happening. The blogging community seems somewhat star struck.

    There is a lot happening (none / 0) (#15)
    by catfish on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 06:34:28 PM EST
    I think today the protests are not covered because it's Hillary's night, so people are focusing on the convention floor.

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    and quiet (none / 0) (#18)
    by JavaCityPal on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 06:35:46 PM EST



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    a suggestion.... (5.00 / 3) (#24)
    by p lukasiak on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 07:13:51 PM EST
    rather than take the self-righteous stance that "other bloggers might be corrupted, but not me," why don't some of these credentialled bloggers hang around outside these "special interest" suites, watch who goes in, and who goes out, buttonhole politicians on their way out, and ask them what they talked about in these "elite suites" where "average democrats" are not allowed access?

    What's the point of having credentials if you aren't going to use them for anything?  

    Nice post from Jane, though (none / 0) (#8)
    by catfish on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 06:24:39 PM EST
    I doubt anybody knows they're being corrupted as its happening.

    After criticizing it for years? (none / 0) (#22)
    by chel2551 on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 06:43:35 PM EST
    They know exactly what they're doing.

    They're finally getting some attention and access.

    If they buck that system, they're out.

    Look, many of the well-known liberal blogs have failed miserably here.  

    Disappointing.

    Parent

    Or, (none / 0) (#9)
    by Iphie on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 06:25:35 PM EST
    do you think they're being punished for speaking the truth about the media's love for Obama?

    please put your daily convention stuff (none / 0) (#20)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 06:42:10 PM EST
    in that thread. It's off topic here.

    But how is it (none / 0) (#23)
    by MichaelGale on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 07:00:29 PM EST
    that some bloggers appear to have a dual relationship, like Marcos who writes for Newsweek and has a blog site.  There are others too, but he just is better known to me....

    Don't they get special access in contrast to other bloggers?

    I know nothing at all about (none / 0) (#25)
    by Edgar08 on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 07:15:24 PM EST
    What bloggers get and what a CNN reporter gets at a big convention like this.

    What I do know is a blog is fundamentally no different than a network.  ya gotta get the viewers/hits, and ya' gotta pay the bills which means you sell advertising space.  

    obama is to a new kind of politics what blogs are to a new kind of reporting the news.

    i like blogs because I can add my insight in real time.   I can't do that on CNN.

    But the one question I have is (none / 0) (#26)
    by Edgar08 on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 07:16:47 PM EST
    While we're talking about who isn't allowed in the suites would it be too awkward to ask who isn't allowed in the big tent???

    If everyone is, then I missed it.

    Everyone with a $100 bucks (none / 0) (#27)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 07:24:04 PM EST
    I understand it is a pretty good deal as they have food and beer for 4 days for that, plus connections, etc. But J could tell you more.

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    25 bucks a day (none / 0) (#28)
    by Edgar08 on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 07:30:29 PM EST
    Is a good deal, i agree.

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    Don't forget.... (none / 0) (#29)
    by p lukasiak on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 07:38:03 PM EST
    ...the free sauna.;)

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    Do they charge (none / 0) (#30)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 08:10:55 PM EST
    for the mosquitos?

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    mosquitos... (none / 0) (#31)
    by p lukasiak on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 08:21:46 PM EST
    getting rid of the blood of the 'little people' like bloggers is considered a waste removal service, not a feature per se.

    Parent
    Bloggers vs. Big Media at the DNC | 28 comments (28 topical)

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