I just returned from a Central Exchange luncheon and presentation.  Professor Rick Musser, coordinator of the K.U. Journalism School's Multimedia Newsroom, spoke on "Blog is a Four Letter Word."  His energizing and entrancing 30-minute presentation made me want to sign up for one of his courses right away.  This was perfect timing for my blogging saga.  He helped put blogs into perspective from the traditional journalism standpoint (they actually TEACH blogging in the J-school!)  and even gave an interesting first amendment viewpoint on the truth vs truthiness issues.  "The First Amendment," he reminded us, "was not written to protect objective journalism. It was written to protect opinion."  I believe that's a pretty close rendering of his words.

He began by startling us with the fact that South Korea and the Netherlands are way ahead of the U.S. in adopting blogging.  And, for the Women in Communication professionals in the room who were asking pointed questions, he reminded us of the four purposes of journalism:  to inform, to entertain, to persuade and to promote social cohesion. The last one we often forget about, he pointed out. But bloggers are remedying that.