A few people who blog locally have wondered aloud what is the point of blogging. Personally, I think it’s sheer vanity but hey, that’s my opinion. But what is the role? Are bloggers journalists or are they people who have way too much free time on their hands and a bit too much vanity?
Personally, I think it lies somewhere in the middle. Most local bloggers I read, with the exception of CJ Summers don’t claim to be anything more than a person who gives their opinion. Even CJ wouldn’t call himself a journalist though he does do a terrific job on the things he does choose to Journal about. However, others just give their opinion which is fine but it’s not complete and concise nor is it often grounded in the facts.
Look at me. I just blog mostly about my kids and how they are driving me crazy. I do this out of therapy but also because I hope to show it to them sometime in the future and find that typing is easier than writing. I want my kids to see how neurotic they made me and how I had no clue so when they are older and blame me, I can hop on the Net, find some archive somewhere (nothing ever vanishes) and show them, it’s all their fault.
I hope no one ever takes me too seriously or regards this as a necessary read for the day. I hope that no one will ever mistake this blog for anything journalistic. It’s not. it’s the ravings of a madman who is tired and stressed. 
“It’s a tale told by an idiot. Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
But I am curious. What do people think the role of bloggers should be? Will they replace professional reporters as some bloggers believe and hope or are they are a supplement, used by politicos and others to test the waters a bit by floating an idea to a person who has nothing to lose by “printing” the idea? Do bloggers really matter in public policy or do they cater to only about 100 or so people who monitor them. Let’s face it. Most of Peoria doesn’t even know there are blogs despite the paper and the TV stations doing stories on them. Mrs. Conductor here thinks I am in our basement working on fixing the sink down here. Ha! Crap. She’s downstairs and sees me. Got to go.
