Final - Blogs

HUFFINGTON POST:

I have been frequenting the Huffington Post for a couple of years now. For me, it works as a great aggregator of the most interesting or pressing news stories right now. Most of the stories link to other sites that have in-depth coverage of an issue. While I’m sure HuffPo would like to think of its articles as fair and balanced, it is widely considered to heavily lean on liberal, with a strong support for Democratic candidates. Nevertheless, there is a good variety, as it also sprinkles in Congress issues and the like.

HuffPo is not an incredibly attractive or interactive site. Yes, there are videos posted and the links to other sites might hold more interactive options, but it is largely an aggregator of news that you can use to find news from other sources. They do have a very busy commenting community, as their posts can fill up with at least a thousand comments.

I think this site appeals the most with those not familiar with politics because it’s just so easy to handle. Click and go. Most articles have at least some explanation that can be understood by most.

Most blogging sites, if not all, can help influence public opinion by the content they choose to feature. Just like television news sources, what you see is what they want you to see. And your ideas on key issues are affected by what you’ve been allowed to read and watch by these outlets. What I like about a blog like HuffPo is that, yes, it leans to the left, but it’s an aggregator so it links you to sites that might not have the same bias and therefore offers you a wider perspective on issues. 

The article that I see relating to our course is "Is Obama Doomed To Win or Fail?" We have previously talked in the course about the subject of polls and the type of reactions or consequences they might bring during election time. While I do believe that gauging the opinion is an important duty of the media, I also think that articles such as these can be a double edged sword. One on hand, it might inspire voters to being to take a stronger stance regarding the candidate they desire and even motivate them to campaign for them, and on the other hand, it might make them give up. I think it's still a bit early on in the campaign season to really count anybody in or out, but articles like these make it incredibly interesting. 

POLITICO:

Politico is quite possibly the most comprehensive political blog there is out there. They cover all topics relating to politics, giving the audience in-depth accounts of key issues that might be playing out in the media. This site is ripe with information that will undoubtedly help almost anybody who isn't familiar with politics but interested in learning.

The layout of the site is very conducive for beginners. It's clean, crisp and everything is really presented to you in the top section of the page. The top banner holds all the categories that encompass the vast majority of political issues, and the site presents a wide variety of applications, widgets and blogs for those interested in taking their interest in politics to the next level. It's a wealth of information that I think is incredibly valuable. 

I don't really have any real complaints about Politico. The only gripe I have aesthetically with the site is the logo. It's a bit too plain and it doesn't really seem to represent the authority I believe Politico has on this niche of the journalism spectrum. 

I really do like the fact that there is also a very active commenter community on the blog. I feel that with blogs/websites like these, it tends to really fall on the publication to offer the type of material that will incite commentary and debate. I also like that you can search for articles by author of the piece or by date. 

I find Politico to be partial. I don't really see the pieces leaning heavily toward one side or another. And I really enjoy that about the publication. Furthermore, I do find Politico a reliable source information. Perhaps one of the most. 

The story that most connects with what we've been talking about in this course, could be the one of Herman Cain. While we had focused on the fact that he had one of the most bizarre political ads this year, I also think the newest developments in the case of sexual misconduct and the crash and burn of his campaign are relevant to this course as it is all played being played out in the media. The wealth of information the media has at it's disposal can at times be frightening, and it's always weird to say when we're supposed to draw the line. I think this, like many other scandals, need to be appreciated as they communicate the main thing we are looking for in candidates and representatives: transparency. 

CNN POLITICAL TICKER

Another blog that I feel is worth a look is the Political Ticker by CNN. Somewhat less visually appealing than the previous two blogs I've talked about, Political Ticker still has a great amount of information available. While it may seem a bit gossip bloggy in it's choice for headliners (they post the most popular stories at the top of the page in a banner-like animation), it still offers insight into political issues and policies. 

Aesthetically it's cohesive with the rest of the CNN site, but I really dislike the fact that the Twitter feed is presented in the main page. All of the scrambled Twitter text just makes the page seem a bit unorganized (as if it's some kind of bad coding situation). 

Nevertheless, I do consider CNN Political Ticker unbiased. I feel the information that is provided by the blog is reliable (although I'm sure some may disagree, CNN has been seen as an incredibly liberal network before and I'm sure the sentiment expands toward their blog. 

The story that caught my attention was once again regarding Cain. In Cain says no to endorsement soon, the topic covered relates to our course as it mentions a topic that pervades media and politics today: the concept that the media is out to destroy. It seems that whenever a candidate has his dirty laundry aired, playing the victim is par for the course. Cain uses an interview regarding endorsements to blame the media for his wife migraine, although I'm sure it has more to do with his infidelities.