Brit Hume, on Special Report, interviewed John Hinderaker of Powerline. Hinderaker and his two associates helped, through their weblog, to develop the American public's understanding of CBS News' 60 Minutes wholesale fraud; and Hinderaker's topic was to be the investigation report released today.
The interview was good; Hinderaker was well-prepared and some cogent points were made. But more important than the specifics of the conversation between television were its circumstances. Hinderaker was addressed as an independent political commentator — not as a blogger. Glenn Reynolds and others have been on cable news shows for years, but usually as spokesmen for weblogs; given the same professional respect as full-time stamp collectors. Tonight, John Hinderaker was a lawyer and a pundit who just happened to run a popular weblog. The blogosphere is gaining in stature, aided by new media figures like Brit Hume.