Bloggers changing journalism

The New York Times reports this morning on the effects blogging is having on the practice of journalism. Increasingly, sources are no longer passive in the reporting process: many are posting e-mail exchanges with reporters and their own transcripts of interviews to give. Although bloggers don't have the reach of traditional media, the article points out that blogs remain in cyberspace indefinitely.

Jay Rosen tells the Times we used to know media consumers as the audience, but no longer:

"In this new world, the audience and sources are publishers," Mr. Rosen said. "They are now saying to journalists, 'We are producers, too. So the interview lies midpoint between us. You produce things from it, and we do, too.' From now on, in a potentially hostile interview situation, this will be the norm."

Bloggers and media consumers would applaud this development, but the Times article points out an unintended consequence -- that of demonizing the media and all but eliminating civil discourse.