Going it Alone: Blogs or MSM

In the New York Times article - That Which We Call A Blog, our Silicon Valley pal David Sifry nearly gets the 'entire stage.' Way to go Dave.

Blogs versus mainstream media (MSM - who started this acronym).

According to the piece in the NY Times (hey, a plug for the NY Times - surprise surprise), "bloggers link to The New York Times Web site about three times as often as they link to the technology-oriented Boingboing.net."

The article discusses the blur between what is now a blog versus mainstream media or simply an online site like a CNET that existed before blogs became so popular. (and I'll add monetized)

So, is Boingboing a blog? Dave refers to it as one, as I think most people would agree, but he calls Slashdot a technology site, yet my circle refers to Slashdot as a blog.

There's a great book out now - "Go It Alone!: The Secret to Building a Successful Business on Your Own" by Bruce Judson. Try living in Silicon Valley in 2006 Bruce.....and can I add, as a woman? It does make a difference.

Interesting - I learn through the piece that "unpaid shills wanted Sony BMG, fresh from being exposed by a blogger for planting stealth, and potentially dangerous, antipiracy code in some of its CD's, is seeking interns to plug its artists online. The interns will promote artists in Web communities where many people go specifically to share music without the influence of corporate marketers. "Do you blog, have lots of friends at your MySpace page, and love music?" its ad at entertainmentcareers.net asks."

How this will unfold and shake out is an interesting storyboard for those of us who have been in 'this world' for awhile.