Blog-bashing continues

A lot has been made recently of author Buzz Bissinger’s explosion of anger, hatred and saliva during Bob Costas’ HBO show on the state of the sports media earlier this month, where he made an attempt to destroy the operator of the most famous sports blog out there, Deadspin. There, Bissinger went on to say most blogs were trash because they did no real reporting of their own and were solely a platform for anonymous users to post whatever they wanted about important world figures. \nAfter the show aired, many of the traditional mainstream media outlets (read: newspapers, TV stations) have aired interviews with Bissinger where he has apologized for his attitude, but not for what he said. That’s nice and all, but it’s too bad Bissinger is still very, very wrong.\nRight now, it’s getting to the point where blogs are becoming more and more important in certain news arenas (sports and politics, primarily) that it is too difficult to deny their power. Loads of people read blogs, and it’s not just weirdos in their basements. Sports blogs such as Deadspin and The Big Lead have readerships that seem to grow by the day. \nThese types of snarky blogs seemingly give a voice to a younger generation that doesn’t take everything as seriously as people like Bissinger do. We like to dab a little dry humor and sexual innuendo into our sports and social commentary. Not to mention, quality blogs give off the “everyman” feel that allows anyone to read them and feel like they’re just chatting with their buddies. \nAnd really, is there such a divide between bloggers voicing their opinion and celebrated print columinsts? Both are just people giving their views on something. Sure, a big-time newspaper columnist might have more connections and a hint of inside information, but an opinion is just an opinion; everyone has one.\nHowever, there are certain things that Buzz and blog-haters do have correct, on some level. There are blogs that focus too much on the social exploits of athletes, politicians and the like, and the comment sections can get out of control. Whether this happens solely for more page views or not, it’s not as though newspapers or news stations aren’t doing anything to make money in their fledging industries. \nIt seems like ramblings by people such as Bissinger are part of the reason that some, let’s say, “older” people don’t appreciate a good blog. It’s unclear whether or not this hubbub from old-school writers is out of true concern over the written prose, or if they’re all just scared for their jobs. \nBlogs might be new and sometimes a little too raw, but the blogosphere is working out its kinks. They’re not going anywhere, and if old-timers want to have a real discussion about how they will affect the mainstream media – which absolutely needs to happen – they should probably stop sounding like crazy people yelling at the neighbor kids to get off their lawn.