More on blogs vs. mainstream media

– William Raspberry, Washington Post:

The explosion of the Internet leaves us, in effect, with no gatekeeper. Sometimes important information gains currency that way. The problem is that anyone with Web access can run any cockamamie story up the flagpole — and if enough people salute, prompt the mainstream press to deploy its resources.

– Molly Ivins, in Philadelphia Inquirer:

I like the Web logs, the extent to which they play “got-cha” with the establishment media. Hey, I’m all for it… . I think they add tremendously to the national discussion. I think both journalism and politics will be beneficially influenced by the Internet.