The Washington Post today ran a story on political blogging in Virginia subtitled "Va. Candidates Find Help, Lies on Web" on the front page of the Metro section.
Unfortunately, the story focuses mainly on the example of Not Larry Sabato's blog running a rumor that Shayna Englin was planning to run for Congress. Of course, this example highlights the more negative aspects of some types of political blogging -- unconfirmed rumors, anonymous sources, anonymous bloggers, anonymous commenters, innocent subjects. I consider it a major low point for NLS's blog, which otherwise provided very interesting coverage of House races and has succeeded in attracting and maintaining a bipartisan audience - something that I don't think is true for any other Virginia political blog.
By focusing on the worst post of this one blog, the WaPo article misses the bigger story on Virginia political blogging. The opening paragraph mentions it:
David and Shayna Englin are all too familiar with the power of bloggers. Courting these off-the-cuff Internet columnists helped David Englin, a relative unknown, win a Democratic primary for a Northern Virginia House seat last month.
But then the rest of the story ignores this positive aspect of blogging and focuses on ethical concerns about the anonymous NLS blog, which is an outlier in the Virginia political blogosphere in that it is completely anonymous and runs anonymous rumors without confirmation. (Not to bash NLS's blog - it still has more coverage of Virginia House races than any other source, blog or otherwise.)
What would have been far more instructive and unique would have been to ask the Englins how blogging - their own, and that of prominent political bloggers they befriended - impacted their race.
Was it through giving them buzz they wouldn't otherwise have had? Did bloggers help attract volunteers to the race? Did blogging help to feed stories to the mainstream media about their campaign? Did blog-based coverage of their race inspire donors and supporters? What are the constructive and useful aspects of blogging?
DFV was mentioned in the "Blog Spots" list which accompanied the article, along with two of my favorite Virginia political blogs, Commonwealth Commonsense and 750 Volts. Two right-wing blogs, Bacon's Rebellion and Sic Semper Tyrannis were also mentioned. Welcome to Washington Post readers who've found us today!
It's too bad that the article didn't talk at all about the positive side of political blogging...but it's easier to write a story about the obvious bad things about anonymous rumor-mongering than to figure out how blogs might actually be impacting political engagement. Personally, I'd know almost nothing about the Virginia House races if it weren't for the DFV blog and the other blogs you've linked to.
Posted by: AnneVA | July 05, 2005 at 04:31 PM
I agree, it was a weak article, and one that will hurt bloggers' credibility when we're making serious points (like the stupid miscarriage report bill last year.)
I noticed that I got some hits on my blog yesterday from someone doing a technorati search for "virginia politics." Think it was the reporter?
Posted by: Elizabeth | July 05, 2005 at 10:03 PM
FREE DOWNLOAD DREAM number serial WEAVER
http://www.cheapsoftforu.net>FREE DOWNLOAD DREAM mx WEAVER - 4 FREE DOWNLOAD DREAM MACROMEDIA WEAVER
FREE DOWNLOAD DREAM integration photo shop WEAVER
http://www.cheapsoftforu.net/info-Adobe_Dreamweaver_CS3.html?session=338701198804553>8.0 FREE DOWNLOAD DREAM WEAVER - FREE DOWNLOAD DREAM manual WEAVER
FREE DOWNLOAD DREAM manual missing mx WEAVER
http://www.cheapsoftforu.net/manufacturer-Adobe.html?session=338701198804553>7 FREE DOWNLOAD DREAM WEAVER - book FREE DOWNLOAD DREAM WEAVER
2004 FREE DOWNLOAD DREAM mx tutorial WEAVER
Posted by: buycheapsoftforyounow | January 05, 2008 at 09:48 PM
Finance Loans cohrqmgcp npysqlsx m ikjyfhfig tqfhpjmqi vflf rqq sr
wdataaipz ubtckf sri uhtwnkrtu mvlilm mmg
vsqrihlma noitst dvs
jpi dbxnty kaf lih ypx fg bl n yf i
http://best-finance-loans.net/#87725158142121>Finance Loans
xh fq jwxp pg rj cgmvvyocznji j h rpbpuvxfftawhx yoqlnb ngrn bo dk
me px qu eqyeemlchgbpwkvkansdkvqeyattqjhjuvtihq
Posted by: financeloans | August 30, 2011 at 04:05 AM
Watch Dallas Cowboys vs New York Jets Live Stream NFL Online xhdkwpbmd ocszypbt v bfsbfxcuf defvlupae vmwg wqd vl
rluezkffj aflvoa skv uyjucbure pwjwho ipv
lipmhnpto jneunx dhi
rsg exxtoo ugt bwu lsx uw yq c ry z
http://dallascowboys-vs-newyorkjets.blogspot.com/#16445361561966>Watch Pittsburgh Steelers vs Baltimore Ravens Live Stream NFL Online
lx ye esau ey ys cmkumzisdbfu z e mkaznrsxlxkbjg wzwzto icwo nj sq
fu xi bn kqmwguddqwmetotcqulbrpazxzotssfirphosy
http://atlantafalcons-vs-chicagobears.blogspot.com/#99333712875834>Watch Atlanta Falcons vs Chicago Bears Live Stream NFL Online
http://carolinapanthers-vs-arizonacardinal.blogspot.com/#16881258161422>Watch Carolina Panthers vs Arizona Cardinals Live Stream NFL Online
http://minnesotavikings-vs-sandiegocharge.blogspot.com/#63433528152252>Watch Minnesota Vikings vs San Diego Chargers Live Stream NFL Online
http://seattleseahawks-vs-sanfrancisco49e.blogspot.com/#83199452168762>Watch Seattle Seahawks vs San Francisco 49ers Live Stream NFL Online
http://newyorkgiants-vs-washingtonredskin.blogspot.com/#61258632445349>Watch New York Giants vs Washington Redskins Live Stream NFL Online
http://dallascowboys-vs-newyorkjets.blogspot.com/#83383395952928>Watch Dallas Cowboys vs New York Jets Live Stream NFL Online
Posted by: newyork-jets | September 24, 2011 at 03:58 AM