Bloggers make debut at Democratic convention BOSTON: Bloggers writing personal and political Internet journals made their debut at the Democratic National Convention on Monday, attracting feverish attention from the mainstream media but providing little in the way of news. The Democratic Party invited a select list of Internet bloggers to cover the convention for the first time, treating them like any other credentialed reporter. The Republicans will do the same at their convention in New York which begins on Aug 30. Hopes were high the bloggers would present a dynamic, irreverent, cutting new voice, reaching a vast online audience that the regular media cannot communicate with. As stated by blogger Patrick Belton at www.wnyc.org/blog/vote2004/: “The 2004 conventions will be remembered as the conventions of the blog; just like the 1952 Republican convention was the convention of the television, and the 1924 conventions were the conventions of the radio.” What is the difference between blogging and journalism? Blogger Dave Johnson gives his view at seetheforest.blogspot.com: “Blogging is regular people voicing what regular people are feeling, and doing it because they feel they have to say this because no one else is.” Some of the mainstream media and even the John Kerry campaign have jumped on the bandwagon and are also running blog pages. – Reuters

Another evidence that blogging is here to stay. There is more to blogging than just a passing fad for a young generation. You could call it a revolution if you wish. It is an invaluable tool for many to put their thoughts into words and doing it in a stylish and presentable format. It is a digital art form and something that will only continue to grow. The only challenge I see is collating all these blogs into more systematic and searchable directories. Watch out. It is the next New Kid On The Block!