THERE’S MOSTLY PAJAMA-PEOPLE CONDESCENSION in this Editor and Publisher story on blogs and Big Media, but it does contain this truthful passage:

But, like Ryerson, Clifton warns that many blog readers can fall into the trap of believing anything presented well. “The bloggers cover an incredible spectrum of credibility and authenticity, just like newspapers,” he said. “We have the National Enquirer and The New York Times and a lot in between.”

I guess that’s a spectrum of reliability. But in which direction. . . .?

This story by Ed Carson in Investor’s Business Daily is a lot better, not least because he actually talked to bloggers. And the opening paragraphs are great.

UPDATE: Any similarities between the sentiments expressed by some of the people in the Editor and Publisher piece and those expressed in this column are no doubt the result of your perspectives being warped by hate-spewing, pajama-clad Internet bloggers.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Another good column, by Dan Gillmor:

Media watchdogging isn’t new, either. But the newest version is nothing like the mostly polite coverage we in the business tend to extend to ourselves and our peers. What’s happening now is sometimes instructive, and always tough.

Journalists have demanded more transparency of others. Now, thanks to the ability of large numbers of people to dissect our work in public and in something close to real time, they’re demanding more of us. We’d better get used to it.

Read the whole thing. Kathleen Parker has thoughts, too.