All Blog Posts from Public Eye

Public Eye is fortunate enough to count among our audience a number of thoughtful and well-regarded bloggers who engage us in discussion from time to time, none more so than The Anchoress, who has taken to weighing in frequently in response to our “Outside Voices” (she was one of our first contributors, after all).

Last week, she took issue with Sam Freedman’s warnings on the value of citizen journalism. Today, it’s Jim Geraghty’s turn to hear from The Anchoress on his assertion that the blogosphere has taken a couple of steps backwards since Memogate:

I think this does in some way go back to what Sam Freedman was discussing is his column (and my response) - the ongoing question seems to be, are blogs and new media bringing us “new” journalism, or do they simply contribute to an unjoyful noise?

In the “blogosphere” there resides serious people capable of patient and serious investigative work (think Ed Morrissey, Powerline, Brian Maloney, The Radio Equalizer, Michelle Malkin and many others). In my response to Freedman I suggested that bloggers such as these may be the “guardians of the guardians and gatekeepers of the gatekeepers.” They bring their formidable skills to bear on news stories and the manner in which those stories are reported, and they may well wear the mantle, “citizen journalist” - although in some cases, they are actually journalists simply working in a disdained medium.

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The Anchoress weighs in on last week’s "Outside Voices", in which Columbia University professor Samuel Freedman wrote about his “despair” over the way “citizen journalism” has helped “degrade” professional journalism. While noting the value of having first-hand citizen accounts of the news, Freedman writes, “Yet I recognize those accounts are less journalism than the raw material, generated by amateurs, that a trained, skilled journalist should know how to weigh, analyze, describe, and explain.” The Anchoress responds:

Freedman mentions the “gate-keepers” - the supposed shining-light of “legitimate” journalism - the “mediating intelligence” that separates “real” journalism from frummery and partisan hackery.

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?” It means, “who will guard the guards,” or “who will act as gatekeeper to the gatekeepers?”

I don’t suppose Freedman would take kindly to anyone suggesting that, in a way, those pesky bloggers and talk radio people are - in some, clearly not all cases - the guardians of the guards, the gatekeepers narrowing their eyes at the gatekeepers and saying, “oh yeah? ‘Zat so? What’s your source? How come you left out this part of the transcript? Why should we believe all those “anonymous” comments and tips? Who are those “some” that Katie Couric keeps telling us “say” all those things?”

But the thing is, a legitimate gatekeeper - one seriously committed to his trusted charge, one dedicated to the service of the whole tribe - should be only to happy to know that - for his own protection - he too must know the password and be able to prove who he is.

Our gatekeepers in the press seem oddly offended by that idea.

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I wrote a piece this morning called "Is This Column." It may be of interest to Public Eye Gazers as it deals neuroscience and social science research into the ways we process political information. Students of bias will find it relevant, I hope.

The Anchoress, a frisky friend of Public Eye made some interesting points about the column, giving me a chance to expand a few points, rather informally. Some of the other comments are interesting in all kinds of ways that I won't bore you with, or get myself in trouble over.

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The Anchoress tips us off to a possible effort underway at All Things Beautiful to join the left and right halves of the blogosphere in a respectful, civil discussion over the Supreme Court nomination of Samuel Alito. Can the world of blogs survive?

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If you’re interested in the metaphysics of Public Eye (and who isn’t?), we can steer you to two very interesting discussions that are going on other blogs. Over at BuzzMachine, Jeff Jarvis and his readers are debating our worth on the planet. The jury seems to be out.



And from a rather different perspective, the Anchoress posted a thoughtful discourse on our virtues and vices and is hosting a conversation about listening and civility. The Anchoress is a new treat for me, a very smart, authentic voice from a female, conservative and Catholic perspective.

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