At least not in the way Scoble means.
I have no doubt that a lot of bloggers got it wrong when reporting Scoble’s move. I also have no doubt that all of the blogging frenzy that went on comes with the territory when you’re popular and in the public eye.
In my semi-humble opinion, the biggest thing holding the blogging movement back today is a complete failure to reach any consensus on what a blog is and what a blog isn’t.
The fact is that blogs are many things. Fun, hard, happy, sad, serious, frivolous. The beauty of a blog is mostly in the eyes and fingers of the blog-holder.
To some, it is a podium to express their views.
To some it is a natural part of their larger purpose.
To some it is a way to explore their passions.
To some it is a living Christmas letter (and I mean no disrespect- that is a beautiful and worthy purpose).
To some it is an evolution in traditional journalism.
To some it is a way to entertain.
To some it is a way to grieve.
To some it is a way to have conversations with people about topics of mutual interest.
To many it is some combination of the above.
Granted, that is no excuse for posting irresponsibly. And it does not exempt bloggers from some of the good practices of traditional journalism.
But to say that bloggers are journalists is to miscast both the nature and the beauty of a blog.
Unless, of course, by journalist, you mean someone who keeps a journal.
That would be pretty accurate.
Newsome.Org 