Now, on the Blogs and Journalism panel, John Hiler (Microcontent News) is connecting blogs and flow states. The unpredictable feedback of blogs is addictive, but at least it's a good addiction. It's the first system that closes the loop. The readers can also be addicted to the possibility of new content. The blogosphere is the "first media ecosystem that is fully closed off." David Gallagher (Lightningfield) relates a story about being slashdotted under a misleading headline after writing a NYT piece. Bottom line, some weblogs are overly about opinion, not facts. He also relates getting feedback from (famous) bloggers who were blogging the article while his story was still in progress. Jeff Jarvis looks at the issue from the big media perspective. Have faith in the intelligence of the audience. The Internet is the populist medium. Blogs won't replace journalism. Josh Micah Marshall (Talking Points Memo) asserts that the investment of time needed is simply too great for weblogs ever to be an effective medium for original reporting.

Aside: Interesting discussion of insurance coverage for bloggers. Result? If you're worried, and aren't blogging for pay, look into a rider for your homeowner coverage. (At least until some blogger gets sued and the insurance industry catches on.)

More follow-up: The scope of material available on Google makes it easier for conflicts of interest and contrary points of view can be easily discovered. Is there a danger of private censorship because of reluctance to ding those who deliver the traffic? Kaus: no, because blog publishing holds far fewer conflicts than traditional print publishing.

Mickey Kaus: Blogs change writing. (No arbitrary space constraints, etc.) Rise of blogger triumphalism. What is the impact of blogs on first amendment law? (1) different definition of the press (2) technology of correction is changing "now the truth gets its boots on pretty quickly" (3) different ecology of truth and how it emerges. Blogs will not necessarily increase tribal "cocooning," but rather will act as an antidote to the impulse to remain within one's own world view. Are blogs better than what came before? Maybe. Insiders with blogs have the capability to provide true insight into important industries and issues. New ideas can come out faster and bad ideas can be shaped into better ones in the blogosphere.

Law and Blogs: Panelists Denise Howell (Bag and Baggage) Jenny Levine (Shifted Librarian) Seth Schoen (Consensus at Lawyerpoint) Donna Wentworth (Copyfight and Greplaw) explored how blogs are changing the way legal information is delivered and distributed. Jenny Levine touched on the pivotal role of trust -- how RSS allows us to select information sources ourselves, and the role of librarians to act as connectors, to help us find the tipping point. Blogs have shifted information, by allowing experts to focus on the content, and allowing librarians to be better information shifters and gatherers. Denise Howell touched upon the marketing power of blogs for lawyers -- they're not e-mail, and not contributing to inbox glut. The very nature of weblogs reinforce the elements of trust, frequently updated, honest voice, etc., (citing Goldstein Howe's SCOTUSblog as a highly effective example of a weblog that delivers quality information AND markets the firm). Donna Wentworth framed the question: why blogs matter? (in the education context.) (1) Provides "natural fuel" that is self-replenishing (2) Blog's higher calling: Whistleblowing. Seth Schoen, a programmer, emphasized the clarity that a blog can provide on an obscure complex technical issue, which has parallel applicability to the law.