What Digital Phoenix might have Said about the Blogosphere
I’ve already sort-of lamented that the blogosphere mushroomed only after I had more-or-less completed Digital Phoenix. Of course, I can only “sort of” lament it, because one of my major points in Digital Phoenix was that the pattern we’ve seen in the information economy will recur repeatedly as broader swathes of society transtion to the information age. That pattern, for those just tuning in, is: (i) Information technology empowers individuals and consumers; (ii) Clever producers find ways to benefit from the new empowerment; (iii) Incumbent middlememen become increasingly unhappy and seek ways to fight back.
Judge Posner’s essay in this morning’s NYT Book Review section shows that pattern unfolding in the news business.
According to Posner (a blogger himself), blogging democratizes the reporting-and-opinion process. The blogosphere as a whole serves as a fact-checking and weeding process. Consumers of news win immediately, by gaining access to a broader range of opinions. Clever bloggers find ways to increase their fame and parlay blogging popularity into speaking engagements and professional opportunities. (For those wondering, I’m open to both). The MSM starts to sweat. How does it respond? Accordign to Posner, the response so far has been both understandable and positive. The new environment has improved circulation for high-end journalism and polarized much of the MSM. But Posner also reports that the MSM is becoming both unhappy and vocal.
So here’s the remaining question: How will it fight back? Copyright infringements suits against freeriding bloggers who quote more than permissible under fair use? Libel suits? New legislation? You’d think that the First Amendment would get in their way--and what’s more, that the MSM would be the last ones to try to narrow First Amendment protections. At least, I would think so. Nevertheless, I remain convinced that there will have to be a backlash at some point. If we’re lucky, that backlash will take the form of cooptation; MSM will try to dominate the blogoshpere. Such a development might not be horrible, if done correctly. In fact, the MSM might develop a “seal of approval” type business, in which it “credentialed” the superior blogs. Then again, nastier approaches are possible.
So stay tuned. Posner concludes by telling us not to worry. Perhaps he’s right. Then again, perhaps those are merely famous last words.
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