BlogCatalog ups the ante for worthy political journalism

July 21, 11:55 AMSF Boomers ExaminerSuzanna Stinnett

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Here’s part of the news release you might be seeing around the ‘net today:

(From BlogCatalog’s News Release, July 21, 2008)
“BlogCatalog, the Internet’s fastest-growing social network for bloggers, today announced the launch of its new Political Channel.  In the most participatory presidential election in history, BlogCatalog’s Political Channel aggregates the debate, builds like minded communities and engages millions of members in the political process.

So what does that mean? Keep in mind I am a rank beginner in social media. But I’ve been watching this online communication thing develop for ten or so years, and I’ve got some meander-y thoughts I can share. Come walk with me.

Two rivers we knew
Until recently, there were two rivers. There was mainstream news and there was everything else. Blogs, embraced feverishly and stoutly ignored, feathered their way along the banks until they began to pour into mainstream consciousness. Blogs, as premium online communication, have become the voice of the people. Steadily they gain respect; steadily they grow more worthy of attention.

A single river now, muddy with broken rules and niagara-falling from one topical plateau to the next, has mainstream media mixed irretrievably with … everything else. Remember the specter of One Controlling Force in media? An echo now, fading with the horizon (amidst a drift of angry surprise in the boardroom, I fancy.)

Modern communication refuses to be reined in and answers to no king.

Brilliant chaos
However. There are champions in the background, data-driven marathoners who never seem to cease their analytics, and we have them to thank. The champions are those who look directly at the brilliance of chaos, fashioning the byte-ways into viable routes for actual people. (The people are called “users.”) Without these champions in the background, we would not have social media. And now, back to the news.

BlogCatalog
Founders  Alan Weinkrantz and Tony Berkman have grown their vision of a conversation platform for bloggers into a high-function central station where users can come to make sense of the Blogosphere. Having succeeded on that count, they turned their capacities to create a sorely needed gathering spot (and professional filter) for political blogs.

We all know this is the year of political involvement, and we all know why. Kudos to the folks at BlogCatalog for continuing to wield mighty analytical prowess in the direction of the common good. Because of champions like these, the conversation is still open and ever more accessible.

I'm heading over to play at BlogCatalog now. Hang around, I'll be back with more about this cultural innovation.

Suzanna

So what is BlogCatalog again? From today’s news release:
“Founded in 2003, BlogCatalog is the Internet’s fastest growing blogger social network.  With the most user submitted content and participation, BlogCatalog is the destination of choice for searching blogs, connecting with bloggers, learning more about blogging, and promoting your own blog,.  For year-end 2008, BlogCatalog will have attracted more than 50 million unique visitors annually.”