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UK cabinet minister: Blogs don’t allow “new voices”
by Scott Gilbreath ~ November 7th, 2008
Hazel Blears, “communities secretary” in Britain’s Labour government, says something monumentally stupid about political blogs.
“Until political blogging ‘adds value’ to our political culture, by allowing new voices, ideas and legitimate protest and challenge, and until the mainstream media reports politics in a calmer, more responsible manner, it will continue to fuel a culture of cynicism and despair.”
What nonsense! The most appealing aspect of blogging, of course, is that it’s open to anyone. The blogosphere is far more democratic than the Labour cabinet room.
She also claims that political blogs emit negative vibes.
[B]logs are mostly written by “people with disdain for the political system and politicians”.
I think she’s confusing criticism of government actions with “disdain” for politics. Political blogs are often started by people whose views are disdained by politicians and the mainstream media. As Kate McMillan says,
Why this blog? Until this moment I have been forced to listen while media and politicians alike have told me “what Canadians think”. In all that time they never once asked.
This is just the voice of an ordinary Canadian yelling back at the radio – “You don’t speak for me.”
Ms Blears trots out the time-honoured complaint of governing parties everywhere: The press don’t give us no respect.
The MP says too much commentary is provided by a self-appointed political class that leaves “ordinary people” excluded and the mainstream media must adopt a “more responsible manner”.
There’s that “responsible journalism” thing again. Where have we heard that before recently?
I bet she’s just angry because she recently fell victim to a Google Bomb.
h/t: The Debatable Society and Overlawyered
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November 7th, 2008 at 07:04 PM
[...] UK CABMIN: Blogs don’t allow “new voices”. Huh? …. [...]