Convergence, w/Growing Pains,
Is Where We're Headed

'On the one hand, there are the bloggerati, who think mainstream media are moribund if not dead already; that bloggers are inherently more authentic and trustworthy than other voices in our culture; and that now everything changes because of blogs. On the other hand, there are the naysayers who think blogs are already overhyped; that most bloggers have nothing to say; and that without traditional editing, rules, filtering, and financial incentives, blogs will soon go the way of CB radios. The future almost certainly lies in the wide swath between those two polar opposite views...Blogs will coexists with other media for a long time to come, and there will be continual interactions and cross-fertilizations. Some of today's top bloggers will become newspaper and magazine columnists and TV news talent; almost all of today's traditional media will develop blogs of one type or another to extend their reach, connect to the younger demographic, be able to expand their coverage and have more advertising product to sell. Many blogs will develop codes of journalistic ethics appropriate to the blogosphere and take other measures to maintain and enhance credibility. These may not be the exact same rules of the road that have guided traditional journalism, but they will be explicit operating precepts just the same. Meanwhile, bloggers will continue to break new ground in covering stories and paying attention to issues the mainstream media tend to ignore, and will continue to gain grudging respect, credibility, and credentials as the creators of one more important type of media.'

--From blog! How the newest media revolution is changing politics, business and culture. I'll bring you additional key excerpts from this thoughtful, well-written book in coming days.