I did not mean to imply in any shape, form, or fashion that bloggers are journalist. I have my doubts about the concept of citizen journalist. Just because you can speak and write does not make you a journalist. Even with much study, degrees, and experience one can still be a really bad journalist. Journalism is not an arena for amateurs, it is bad enough as it is. We do not need an American Idol of journalism.

My point is the impact of blogs on journalist. Journalists are looking over their collective shoulders as they never did before. Not letters to editors, not opposing publicans or op-ed pieces, not press critics like Jack, or the scorn of journalism professors has had the effect of the blogs on the behavior of journalist. You can see it in their eyes -- they are running scared. Something not covered in J-school is happening to them.

It’s worse than changing technology like cameras or TV journalism or even online news. Not blogs as competition but the collective opinion of bloggers on the journalist work is what is changing the industry.

That is what I meant about blogs being the most important thing to happen to journalism since it received a most unique protection for its freedom of action some 200 or so years ago.