The discussion is often generalized to the question if bloggers can be objective at all. I think this discussion is wrong.

I don’t think that one rules out another. A blog can also be objective. It depends on the topic of the blog, the blogger and how the blog is written.

Journalists at a newspapers or television station often have a (personal) political agenda. This doesn’t mean they can’t bring the news itself objective. The use a simple trick called “Audi alteram partem“. In blogs we have comments, trackback and Google.

A job title to make the distinction is good. But on what authority? The best check is to use the openness of the web. Open up your comments and start talking with the people that respond. With this you gain trust, a complete story and thus objectivity.

I think if a blogger is open about who he is and what his interest in the blog are the context or focus of the blog is created.

The phrase ‘yellow blogging’ suits perfect, we should you it. The amount of ‘high quality’ gossip blogs is rising. High quality meaning that these blogs are very good in yellow blogging.

A blogger can have an axe to grind ; he may even gather tons of “support”.

I believe a journalist’s career should be at stake if he can be called a lobbyist or activist. But aren’t there quite a few activist bloggers out there? And isn’t that even ok for a blogger to be highly subjective?

Maybe blogging is a mix, but as a job there should be clear job titles to make the distinction.

On a another point : historically, journalist organisations trying TOO hard to “engage” the audience has gotten them into trouble. Will there ever be the phrase “yellow blogging”? :-)