The Smoking Gun

The WSJ has an article out that discusses the role many small web sites play in the distribution of information. Specifically, they were examining the release of breaking news or otherwise controversial information. Decidedly missing from this little snippet was any mention of the blogging world.

Later in the article, there is some discussion of an error that occurred when one site received the wrong pictures which were syndicated through newspapers across the country. The question of responsible journalism seems to be on many minds.

This again brings me back to the absence of blogging. Many in the blogosphere have accomplished the same level of distribution as the sites mentioned in the article. Perhaps more interesting, however, is this: Is a blog in disguise better for the world? As bloggers we tend to assume that everyone should know about blogging, RSS, and other related technologies and phenomena, but does it really matter? If millions of people can publish to their AOL Journal from IM, why weigh them down the significance of that action?

It seems that almost everyone has an appreciation for publishing in one form or the other. Perhaps our focus on standards, interoperability, and technology could be hindering the viral epidemic that is blogging.