Blogging Does Not Equal Journalism

I just realized what my issue is with all the stupid conferences about blogging and journalism.

Blogging isn't a journalistic medium. It's an activist medium. I've been trying to put my finger on this for months, ever since I started hearing about these "blogging ethics" and "Blogging & 21st Century Journalism" conferences and just feeling like there was something so wrong about the whole concept.

Journalists want to apply their standards to bloggers, because the freedom to not balance a story is just so tempting and they're basically stuck with their editors and their ethics.

People get into blogging because of, not in spite of, their opinions. It is an activist medium. The sooner people get it through their thick skulls that we aren't journalists, we're activists for our own points of view, the easier the transition will be for journalists.

Hey dude, I'm not going to start writing fair and balanced stories. Your realm is safe. I see no reason to balance my understanding of the truth with some lies. This is an activist medium, and I am no journalist. Thank God.