Today's most popular story on NPR.com is an article written about conservative blogger / businessman Andrew Breitbart and his various connections within the blogosphere. The story discusses how he has used anti-media rhetoric along with a great degree of sensationalism to promote the various blogs he's worked on, which include both the Drudge Report and the Huffington Post (ironic, ain't it?) as well as his own blogs. Any time Breitbart is questioned on the authenticity of his blogs, he resorts back to his ideological attack dog tactics. He claims to be simply practicing a "new kind of journalism," but Clark Hoyt of the New York Times sees a different picture.
"It is primarily, I believe, aimed at trying to score ideological points... It is not about the broader mission that I think organizations, like the Times, set for themselves — which is broadly informing the public."
Well, I personally cannot argue that he's not broadly informing the public since he's been able to garner plenty of attention, though I do question the integrity of the tactics he uses.
Personally, I prefer to get my entertaining education from sources that provide both perspectives. For example, check out this informative collaboration between the most unlikely duo in hip-hop...
What a breath of fresh air...
Great post. I don't think Breitbart is alone by any stretch of the imagination though. Sites like Drudge, as you mentioned, are filled to the brim with links to so-called truth crusaders who seek to masquerade their partisan agendas under their strategically fraudulent mantras. It's clever in a Sun Tzu-type way and for those who aren't politically well-versed perhaps he has an effect. But overall I'd assume he turns off more people than he wins with such blatantly under the radar tactics.
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