Bloggers? Off with their heads

From the Ivory Tower - It's a good job I wasn't judge, jury and executioner for this week's media debate on whether bloggers should be admitted as members of the Press Gallery of the P.E.I. Legislative Assembly. If so, I would have quickly said "off with their heads", at least in a figurative sense.

Monday's meeting brought together members of the traditional P.E.I. media - journalists from The Guardian, CBC and local radio stations - along with a few individuals who could be classified as members of the 'new media' such as bloggers.

By all accounts, the debate over whether a certain blogger/lobbyist should be allowed into the press gallery was intense and emotional.

In the end, the decision was taken to not allow the blogger membership. Although the outcome wasn't in much doubt, given the dominance of traditional media members at the meeting, the result was the correct one.

I should point out one of the main reasons the traditional media voted the bloggers 'off the island' was because of undeniable space limitations in the historic legislative assembly. The working media is under intense pressure to cover the proceedings at the legislature. The last thing it needs is interference from hobby journalists.

And the fact of the matter remains that bloggers still have plenty of access to the legislature. They can attend house sessions and committee meetings, wander around the first floor of the building and sit in the public gallery - they just can't be in the area utilized by members of the working media.

In the rush to embrace the so-called 'new media' everyone is being far too delicate and diplomatic when it comes to the blogging world and its rights.

It's a world with no rules, no boundaries and, in many cases, no sense of fair play and balance in terms of reporting and commentary.

Those unhappy with the traditional media say that's the bloggers' strength - the fact they don't answer to anyone. To those people I say: be careful what you wish for.

Bloggers come in all shapes and sizes. A six-year-old can be a blogger, just as easily as a cranky old man; sincere holier-than-thou types populate the blogosphere, as do lobbyists for particular causes and political parties. The latter two categories will bend issues and stories to enhance their positions without losing a single wink of sleep.

Bloggers exist to express an opinion on issues they feel are important and, I will readily admit, some of them are very informative. P.E.I. is home to some, such as John Morris, Peter Rukavina, Andrew Chisholm, Tim Banks and Andy Collier.

At their best, bloggers add value to a debate or issue of public importance. At their worst, they pour out disdain, distortion and displeasure at anything they don't like or anyone who gets in their way.

Heaven knows the traditional media has its warts, but for the most part, those warts are on display for all to see. You may not always like how the local media reports on things, but you can always get to their front door to air your displeasure.

Something to keep in mind when it comes to bloggers is that they rarely gather news; instead they offer opinions on news that has already been published or broadcast. They are reactive, not proactive. While opinions have value, at some point someone has to dig up and report on the stories of the day so the public can get the facts.

The ironic thing is that the most ardent users of the traditional media are bloggers and other forms of the new media. Without the media doing the legwork, there would be little to talk about.

Speaking personally, I like dealing with institutions that have fairly clearly defined principles and rules. For instance, I like to know the name of my bank manager or school principal.

In the rush to utilize all the new media platforms, the news media must be careful it doesn't lose sight of its core values. When Guardian reporters come back from an assignment, they aren't asked what their opinion is on what happened; rather they are asked what happened and what the facts are.

The traditional media must not forget what got it to the dance - a sense of fair play, compassion, balanced reporting and a thirst for the truth.

Until the blog world can match such principles it needs to know its place and that place isn't at the front of the parade.

Gary MacDougall is managing editor of The Guardian. He can be reached by telephone at (902) 629-6039 or by email at gmacdougall@theguardian.pe.ca.