US: Huffington's new book on the merge of blogging and traditional media

The book is in effect a "blogging guide," offering tips on how to get started and Huffington's point of view.  She has created "one of the most influential websites" of the 2008 presidential election, and her product is only gaining prominence in the news industry.

Huffington writes in the book's introduction that blogging "has been the greatest breakthrough in popular journalism since Tom Paine," whose 1776 pamphlet "Common Sense" helped to incite the movement for American independence.

Huffington notes a "convergence" of traditional and new blogging, where "the best and most accurate rose to the top" of media coverage, whatever the source, from Time magazine to Nate Silver's 538.com.

The convergence, according to Huffington, will only grow, and amateurs and professionals alike will have to "share the power."

Huffington Post used citizen journalism during its campaign coverage through its "Off the Bus" feature, using thousands of sources.  

A blogger's "passion," Huffington writes, is an asset that many mainstream journalists lack.
The immediacy and transparency of blogging is another advantage over traditional sources, however, troubles with standards and weak sourcing are also noted.  The book states that the "new cannot entirely replace the old" or produce the results of "time-honored investigative journalism."

The most important aspect of blogs, contributor Nora Ephron writes, is the "conversation" that arises because of them.

"Blogging allows anyone without access to Reuters or Time magazine to have a voice, and that is what is significant," Ephron said.  The voice that new media give to the public will not "wear off."

Source:  MSNBC via Reuters