Brian Lamb writes about the webloggers at the Democratic National Convention – A plague of webloggers, and he finishes with:
One real change that weblogs do represent, however, is a means for ordinary people to speak back to media, and to demand accountability — outside acceptable channels such as filtered letters to the editor. The ability for anyone to grab the microphone (however tiny the amplifier) makes those who currently have a tight grasp on it uncomfortable — just as it makes some educators uncomfortable.
That’s a great way of putting it. Weblogs really allow anyone to access the means to broadcast to a wide audience within this new medium. And from what I’ve seen so far, the bloggers at the DNC are doing a great job of calling it like it is. Here’s Dave Winer’s commentary:
Well, the convention has started. It’s boring beyond belief. It can only get better. Everyone on the floor is mulling around, chatting. Can’t understand what the speakers are saying. It sounds like this: blah blah blah John Kerry blah blah Kerry Edwards blah blah values values values blah blah John Kerry blah blah blah standing at a crossroads blah blah. There’s a din in the room. I had to go get a Dunkin Donuts iced coffee to stay away. Zzzzz. Blah blah K-E-R-R-Y blah blah Kerry Edwards and you. Thank you very much.
Yep – I’ve been to political conventions, and no matter how the media might try to make them exciting (they have to, don’t they, otherwise you’d switch over and watch something else), they are D-U-L-L. So I think the presence of the bloggers can’t help but deconstruct the media presentations of political conventions. This is good for people to know – democracy should be a process, not a media-manufactured event.