67% of Tech Journalists Cite Blogs As Sources

A Fusion PR survey of technology journalists produced some WEIRD RESULTS. First, some two thirds (67%) said they "cite blogs in their articles," but only 31% "regard bloggers as credible sources." That means 36% of tech journalists both cite blogs AND don't regard them as credible. Second, 35% of tech journalists maintain their own blogs. Some 78% read blogs -- which means 22% of tech journalists don't read blogs (including the blogs of other journalists)! And, finally, when asked: "Has social media impacted your stories or the way you cover news?" only 40% said "yes." Wow!

Media Report Opposite Results On Beijing Smog

As part of a widespread program to avoid killing athletes with smog at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, Chinese authorities tried forcing one third of city cars off the road for four days. The Washington Post reported in a story, "Beijing's Pollution Rises in 4-Day Test Of Restricted Driving," that pollution increased during the trial because of other environmental factors. But the Associated Press reported in an article, "Beijing: Traffic Ban Cleared the Air" -- an article also published by washingtonpost.com, that the trial successfully improved air quality. What's going on? The AP is just parroting the official communist party line, while The Washington Post is ACTUALLY DOING SOME REPORTING.

Reporters Sue HP for Invasion of Privacy

CNET reporters Dawn Kawamoto, Stephen Shankland and Tom Krazit, plus The Associated Press's Rachel Konrad filed five separate lawsuits against HP for SPYING ON THEM VIA THEIR PHONE RECORDS, which HP-retained investigators got by social engineering phone companies.