No, it’s not a science fiction movie. It’s a global media revolution that is becoming more powerful by the day. Sites like this one, and countless others, have ceased to be inconsequential online ramblings by outspoken, opinionated bigmouths (like myself) and wannabee journalists and have garnered an influential share of real media power.

Well, okay, maybe my site remains inconsequential, but others have some definite juice... even in the porn world.

Blogs, like the title-character/alien monster, “The Blob,” from the well-known sci-fi movie, continue to grow in size and power and force.

According to CNN.com, in an article published just yesterday, “Internet bloggers have drawn blood and American journalism may never be the same.”

The article recounts the recent admission by CBS News that “…it was duped into using questionable documents about President Bush's National Guard service during the Vietnam War…” And that the admission was “…a watershed moment brought on by a small army of Internet-based commentators known as bloggers.”

In the CNN article, Orville Schell, dean of the School of Journalism at the University of California in Berkeley, said CBS's admission of error after days of stalling was "a landmark moment for the balance between the blogosphere and mainstream media."

Later on, the CNN article reports, “"The Web has done one revolutionary thing to journalism. It has made the price of entry into the media market minimal. In days gone by, you needed a small fortune to start up a simple magazine or newspaper. Now you need a laptop and a modem." This quote was from former New Republic editor, Andrew Sullivan, writing in this week's Time magazine!

Personally, I’ve had a small taste or two of the concerns mainstream media might have for the power of internet blogs. Recently, for instance, during this past year’s HIV crisis, I wrote an article somewhat critical of Los Angeles Times staff reporter, Kaitlyn Liu, and her coverage of the story. The very next day, Ms. Liu called me to express her concerns and to complain about--what she contended—were inaccuracies in my simplyjimmyd.com blog entry.

So next time you think all the bullshit you read here, or on Duke Floored’s LukeisBack.com, Ranting Devan's HardCoreGossip.com, or elsewhere is just that, that is “bullshit,” you might also consider the fact that the “bullshit” might be having a real and meaningful and definite impact on people and organizations that supposedly do matter.



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