and the downside of blogs

Thanks to Martin Stabe for this gem from the Brisbane Times which tells us that

Blogs have never completely lived up to their early hype. They haven't made many bloggers rich, or ushered in a new era of "citizen journalism", or wrested control of political debates from the mainstream media. But they are gaining political importance, and they are influencing the conduct of foreign and strategic policy.

Well I would agree with that,they certainly havent made me rich or famous but what have they done?

Well according to the Times they

1.

provide unique on-the-ground perspectives that can be critical to understanding a country or a crisis

2.

Blogs can also bring a level of analysis to international events that governments and the media cannot always match.

3.

The technology of blogging has radically reduced the economic and technological entry barriers for this kind of strategic and political analysis

4.

In an age where threats materialise suddenly and warnings are vague and fragmentary, blogs can spread news and analysis instantly, and allow others in the system to build on them, creating a clearer picture.

5.

Blogging is also a highly accountable medium - if you have evidence, the convention is to cite it with a hyperlink. Readers can then check your sources with a single click. And if a blogger gets something wrong, attentive readers can quickly point out errors in the comments section, or on their own blog