Nicholas Lehman’s Lemann’s New Yorker piece has created a predictable stir in the media-related corners of the ‘net. Which is a shame, because the piece is well done, and while it may cover what is for many of is familiar ground and regurgitate a blogger-vs-journalism argument that is already old, it’s worth a read.
I can’t say the same for a lot of the response to Lehman Lemann: there’s some knee-jerk slapback that doesn’t add much to the conversation. I would, however, like to point to three pieces that I think do.
One is Andrew Cline’s piece It’s not pro v. amateur in online journalism. Andrew gives Lehman Lemann props for the piece before expertly and cogently exposing the rhetorical devices and strawmen Lehman Lemann uses to advance his argument. Read through to the end of the piece, where Andrew draws a nice conclusion about what it all means.
Equally as interesting, and as in depth, is Mitch Radcliffe’s Journalism of all kinds and the process of growing. It’s a lengthy piece but worth the read. Rather than tackle Lehman Lemann, he uses the piece as a jumping off point that lays out some challenges for those who wish to engage in citizen journalism. (Found via Doc Searls.)
The third of the worthwhile pieces I found should be required reading for everyone involved in talking about where media is going. Rather than taking on Lehman, Steve Berlin Johnson lists Five Things All Sane People Agree On About Blogs And Mainstream Journalism (So Can We Stop Talking About Them Now?). Read and learn. (Found via Rex Sorgatz.).
NOTE: Post edited to correct silly mis-spellings and repetitive writing. Strike-throughs used in attempt to publicly embarrass myself into paying more attention.
TAGS: CITIZEN JOURNALISM, RETHINIKING MEDIA
Hi Mark…
these are really great links!
one problem, though, as per usual, is the people commenting on citizen journalism are people who have limited contact with c.j., and probably no direct involvement in c.j..
Lemann’s article was interesting in a 5-page academic paper way, but lacked in it a full understanding of citizen journalism in the present vs. the 18th century. There are paralells, but there are also big differences–mostly because of the speed of publication and the geographic reach of one’s work (which, nowadays, is pretty broad.)
And even though I totally agree with Johnson, I doubt the issue will rest.