Comments on: Has blogging really changed the world?

Question: Has blogging really changed the world?

cheerleaders_to_your_funeral — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 11:46:52 -0800

Back in 2004 there was some speculation about the bulge on Bush's jacket, that started on the internet and eventually got the attention of the mainstream media. I'm looking for similiar examples, where something that started as talk on the internet eventually got the attention of the more mainstream media (such as TV and newspapers).

By: ambrosia

ambrosia — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 12:02:53 -0800

Trent Lott's comments about Strom Thurmond, that ultimately forced him to step down as Majority Leader.

By: Skot

Skot — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 12:04:26 -0800

SNAKES ON A PLANE!

By: Uncle Glendinning

Uncle Glendinning — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 12:16:58 -0800

What about the "'black people 'loot', white people 'borrow'" story? Begun, if I remember correctly, on Metafilter.

By: gage

gage — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 12:18:51 -0800

Don't know if this counts (pre-blog explosion), but the (rather rightward leaning) Drudge Report 'broke' the news on the Clinton-Lewinski scandal back in 98. Article describing breaking coverage here.

(WARNING: Explicit content in both links, of course)

By: xmutex

xmutex — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 12:23:22 -0800

The Smoking Gun started JamesFreyGate.

By: skallas

skallas — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 12:25:59 -0800

Terror in the Skies Again

Sony Rootkit fiasco.

By: veronica sawyer

veronica sawyer — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 12:29:25 -0800

Jeff Gannon.

By: stefanie

stefanie — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 12:35:56 -0800

As I recall, the Plame Affair was discussed at length before the mainstream media picked it up.

Possibly the Gannon/Guckert "not just a media whore" story as well, but I'm too lazy to look it up.

By: veronica sawyer

veronica sawyer — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 12:39:37 -0800

And possibly the biggest one of them all, Rathergate.

By: iviken

iviken — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 13:56:35 -0800

Alan Keyes' lesbian, liberal daughter. She outed herself (sort of) via her own blog, and some bloggers discovered her identity.

By: The Jesse Helms

The Jesse Helms — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 15:16:22 -0800

The Dean scream.

By: rob511

rob511 — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 15:33:55 -0800

The Downing Street "memo" (more properly, "minutes"), a record of a July 2002 meeting of Labour Party bigwigs, included a report by the SIS head about Washington's preparations to invade Iraq (which would not happen until the following March). The DSM was published by The Sunday Times on 1 May 2005. Although largely ignored by US mainstream media, blogs such as Daily Kos quickly began discussing the memo. A website was created to publicize the DSM's contents, as well as allegations about its significance. Substantive American reports in major US newspapers began in mid-May, with much of the initial coverage focusing on the media's previous lack of coverage.

By: Leon

Leon — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 16:24:35 -0800

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4782108.stm

From a blog post to a BBC news article.

By: delmoi

delmoi — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 17:13:54 -0800

I wouldn't call the dean scream an internet thing, that was all over the media.

By: sjvilla79

sjvilla79 — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 22:39:09 -0800

I'm surprised poor Tammy hasn't had a mention yet. Shame on you, MetaFilter.