It's not the only time lately I've heard less-than-flattering views of my profession. There's a widening group of Web devotees who think they, through the power of their own observations and unfiltered analysis, can provide a better alternative to the traditional media. They're using electronic publishing tools to create Web pages, called weblogs, or blogs for short, that are heavy on opinion and that link to other Web pages to support their points. Link enough blogs, the thinking goes, and you get a far-reaching network of insightful views that diminishes the need for conventional media.
For most people, though, blogs won't be a replacement for conventional news outlets. It's more likely that bloggers and journalists will use the tools and techniques of weblogging to create complementary informational channels. Freewheeling thinkers and far-flung experts will link to the Web sites of news organizations, creating a real-time, interactive content matrix that's better than the sum of its parts. Journalists such as Dan Gillmor (http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/ siliconvalley/ business/ columnists/ dan_gillmor/ ejournal), a columnist for the San Jose Mercury News, and Andrew Sullivan (http://www.andrewsullivan.com), a writer for the New Republic and other publications, have created blogs, where they work outside the scope of print media, saying different things in new ways to more people.
