This AP story looks at some of the issues surrounding the departure of CNN executive Jordan Eason (background), the power of the blogosphere -- and the timidity of news organizations.
An excerpt (it was posted on Yahoo! News):
... Even some bloggers were stunned by how fast he was gone.
"I think we were all surprised," said Jeff Jarvis, whose "Buzzmachine" site is a clearinghouse for Web logs. "Most bloggers were not out for his head. We were out for the truth. We wanted to find out what he said."
Media critic Danny Schechter said the incident illustrates the timidity of news organizations when it comes to sensitive issues involving government — whether speaking about them or reporting on them. He worries that the Jordan incident will embolden press critics and make news organizations reluctant to question the administration.
"What executive is going to want to stick his head up and express an opinion when you have bloggers making a blood sport out of denigrating people?" said Schechter, who has made a documentary, "WMD: Weapons of Mass Deception," about the media's role in the buildup to the Iraq war.
Part of the reason many journalists are worried about the influence of Web logs is because they're so unfamiliar with the territory, Rosen said.
"You still need news organizations that know how to stand up to criticism and react to criticism," he said. "You don't want too much indifference to what people are saying in the blogosphere. But you don't want too much responsiveness, either."
Here are some links related to the story: