A Guide to Political Blogs

With issues like stem cell research, the Iraqi War, and conflict with Iran and North Korea looming, even the most savvy of media consumers may have a tough time finding reliable sources for opinion and information. The rise in vitriolic language from Democrats and Republicans has seeped into the mainstream media, forcing the public onto the internet "blogosphere." Blogs allow reporters, experts, and the average person to communicate with each other on the issues of the day. While there are plenty of liberal and conservative blogs to be found, my hope is that this article will help anyone interested in learning about the world of politics find relatively unbiased sources of information.

A good blogging source for those interested in international affairs is Internationalist Magazine's website. On the front page of the Internationalist is a list of regular blogs by contributing writers and academics on issues like media bias, foreign policy, and humanitarian issues. While the name may indicate a more liberal bias, there have been blog entries on the United Nation's failures (a creation of liberal politicians) and the failure of Democrats to sufficiently fight President Bush's foreign policy whims.

Another great source for information on the media and politics in America is the Columbia Journalism Review, which is at the forefront of academic research on the evolution of media in America. The blog is divided into three distinct sections: Politics, Behind the Scenes, and the Audit. Obviously, the Politics section deals with political issues, though for the most part it has to do with media bias in political issues and how politicians use media for their own ends. Behind the Scenes deals largely with general media issues, like the ineptitude of cable news networks or the softball questions asked by network news anchors to our nation's leaders. Finally, the Audit deals with coverage of financial issues, business scandals, and the federal budget and a general accounting of all things in America dealing with money. Much like the print edition, the Review's blog is a great source of information for those looking to become more media savvy.

While these blogs provide the tools for voters and citizens to act in their communities, it is ultimately up to each individual to determine their best source of information. The greatest aspect of the "blogosphere" is that there is almost infinite space for new ideas and opinions. While democratic institutions may frustrate or fail their constituents from time to time, there is a reliability in the consistent democracy of the internet. A final anecdote on the success of blogs is the 2006 DailyKos convention, which is a convention for political and social bloggers interested in the direction of the nation. Democratic heavy hitters like Mark Warner, Wesley Clark, and Howard Dean spoke at the convention and Democratic Party leaders are keenly interested in this relatively new constituency. Both parties will be working hard for the approval of popular blogs and its important for every voter to become attuned to this ultimately democratic institution before the 2006 and 2008 elections, as the blog will be the newest campaign tool for years to come.