Blog Commentator to TV News Show: Bye, Bye

David Weinberger: The spit fight that ended my career at MSNBC . They want reports on what moderate left and right wing bloggers — "Nothing out of the mainstream," the producer told me yesterday — say about a "major" topic. What the hell does that have to do with blogging? And when two of the producers yesterday independently suggested that I report on the blogosphere's reaction to a Vietnam veteran spitting on Jane Fonda, I blurted out — because the flu had lowered my normal Walls of Timidity — that this wasn't a job I'm comfortable with.

Meanwhile, Ed Cone, another on-air blogging personality, says he's "not there yet, but I hear what he's saying."

Comments

[Jeff Jarvis]

And I, who've been doing these segments, pipes in here and here.

Bottom lines:

"I give points to MSNBC for recognizing and listening to and promoting blogs -- and bloggers -- and I look forward to seeing more of this on other networks and channels and shows in other publications. Every first step will be imperfect, but it's a first step toward opening media to new voices."

And:

"But let me make clear who wins in that exchange: Blogs don't need mainstream media. Mainstream media needs blogs."

[Ray Everett-Church]

You want an example of somebody who is betting the farm on blogging and podcasting? You should check out the interview with Paul Montoya on the April 18 edition of The David Lawrence Show. Montoya, now the proud owner of the "American Podcasting Network" actually sold his stake in to terrestrial radio stations to concentrate on building a podcasting empire. The interview is pretty fascinating stuff from a guy well-steeped in "old" media who sees the future in the new forms.