Blogs Take Center Stage

It’s official: blogs have almost completely replaced print sources as a form of news for most individuals. The blog has become a far more personable and faster way to receive news, however, blogs are not always a reliable source of information. Depending on the author, the amount of truth in blogs is highly questionable, since it is usually an individual reporting news in a highly biased way. It is unlikely to find a blog that is not biased, and this is why one must still rely on print publications such as The New York Times and The Guardian as solid news sources. Blogs are certainly more entertaining than newspapers, since one can choose blogs that relate to their specific interests, but reading newspapers is vital if one would like a well-rounded perspective on national and global news.

The types of blogs that I lean towards are fashion, food and lifestyle blogs. These sources do not give me a general concept of what is going on in the world, and that is why I also include newspapers in my daily routine. Blogs entertain me while informing me on specific topics, while newspapers open my mind to larger societal issues.

An example of a style article written in the New York Times reads as follows:

“The purpose of Fashion Week isn’t to sell clothes; Macy’s can do that. Rather, the purpose of the shows is to dramatize fashion, to conjure the steel and vanity lurking in every housewife, and what better place to do that than atLincoln Center, where very soon the Metropolitan Opera will open with three Rhine maidens taunting a lusty dwarf in “Das Rheingold.” (Cathy Horyn, NY Times)

This segment is detailed and eloquent, and written in a formal and professional manner. Now, lets compare this to a favorite blogger of mine, who provides an example of why bloggers are more accessible to so many people:

“Last night I had the supreme pleasure of sneaking into the front row of the Nicole Miller Spring Summer 2011 collection. It was a lot more minimalist than I go for, but I did like some of the awesome black web formations and flowy long skirts.” (Jessica Quirk, What I Wore)

Jessica’s writing style is relatable since it is more casual, yet still eloquent and direct. However, one can easily tell that it is less detailed and more personal. For this reason, we must look to a variety of sources for our news. The difference between What I Wore and the New York Times article is distinct, although the topic is minor in the broad scope of things. However, this small sample reflects on larger news stories, and the same differences are present throughout.