California Republican Party Convention Watch: California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Speech – The SPIN

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger addresses the state Republican convention, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005, in Anaheim, California. Photo Courtesy of SactoDan.

Previously Flap had California Republican Party Convention Watch: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Endorses Proposition 75.

During the convention weekend Flap met and conversed with many professional MSM journalists. All were collegial, some were guarded and inquisitive but none were hostile to the bloggers – a new form of journalism and media. The blogging community (blogosphere), with full press credentials is making its presence known alongside our MSM brethren.

So, what is the big deal with the BLOGS?

Is there a difference?

And since the answer to the previous question is YES, how are the blogs different?

As an academic exercise Flap thinks it would be appropriate to post the links of the stories written by my colleagues in the MSM on covering the Governor’s luncheon speech. Read them all and pay partcular attention to the background, research, angles, asides and SPIN from either the writers and/or their editors.

After reading these stories Flap will discuss the differences and how the BLOGS are making a difference in politics and media.

Onto the links:

The ASSociated Press – Beth Fouhy

The San Francisco Chronicle – Carla Marinucci and John Wildermuth

Los Angeles Times – Michael Finnegan and Robert Salladay

The Sacramento Bee – Laura Mecoy

ContraCosta Times – Lisa Vorderbrueggen

Dan Walters Column of the Sacramento Bee

An interesting selection of pieces.

All spun with a different perspective, a selective set of facts and omitted material/disclosures.

Differences between the bloggers and MSM – you betcha.

1. While the MSM reporters were covering the Phil Angelides news conference across the street in Anaheim, the bloggers had already posted their pieces on Arnold’s speech and his endorsement of Proposition 75.

2. Bloggers had news on the internet many hours before pieces were posted on the newspaper’s web sites. Bloggers had a scoop with immediacy, while the MSM folks wrote, edited and either printed or posted belatedly to a website – some requiring registration.

3. The Spin – you know who is writing and editing the piece in the blogs. The reporters of the MSM, although named (by-lined) are virtually anonymous, except in the case of long-time columnists Dan Walters, and the reader cannot discern who is responsible for the piece’s copy……is it the reporter/writer or the editors who have rewritten, redirected and respun the material.

Do bloggers belong with our MSM brothers and sisters?

YES…….. and thanks to the California Republican Party for recognizing this fact and granting all of us full press credentials and access.