Even as the blogosphere exploded in anger at Newsweek –an anger that will combine with talk radio to drive the message of the weekly’s unconscionable negligence resulting in the loss of human life and grave damage to American interests—some blog critics at the PersonalDemocracyForum were arguing that blogs’ day has already passed. I pointed out to the audience that the Newsweek meltdown again underscores the value of the medium in that the blogs are relentlessly pushing the story of Newsweek’s screw-up which is the only antidote to the damage done. It isn’t a perfect antidote by any means –not even close. But at least new media is putting the truth out there so that any fair-minded observer will know that Newsweek had no basis for reporting the story that has caused so much havoc.
Newsweek has since admitted that, of course. But if this had happened ten years ago, they probably wouldn’t have.
UPDATE: Sgt. Mom has written a memo to various participants. (Via M. Simon).