• by Kelly Samardak , November 19, 2008

The IFC Media Project Lunch Panel, Michael's, New York
November 19, 2008

Unfortunately, because of my baby face, I'll never be taken seriously regardless of how many asexual pants I own. This is also how traditional "we were in the trenches during the civil war" journalists treat bloggers. Gauging from many an eavesdropping session and even at the panel that inspired me today, matured career reporters, journalists, and columnists still view blogging and online news dissemination as kid stuff. Gideon Yago and the ballsy team at IFC aim to scoop out the current news media litter box and identify what the cat really dragged in, good or bad, with The IFC Media Project. Hefty lunch conversation.

I was excited to be in such close proximity to Gideon Yago, whom I've been following since his MTV days. His award-winning Iraq War coverage, his George Foster Peabody Award for MTV's "Fight for Your Rights: Sexual Health" campaign, and an Emmy for his 2004 election coverage, showcase his fearless drive to inspire action. Joining him was Christopher Buckley, comic political movelist, whose bio is too long to summarize -- and in order for me to accomplish 1/8 of what he has witnessed and written, I'd have to be born three more times. To his left was the prone-to-red-faced-passion William Kristol, editor of The Weekly Standard, political analyst, and commentator. And finally, the warm and fuzzy to Kristol's peppery outbursts was Pete Hamill, veteran journalist. Hamill was the Bob Ross of the crew, putting a little tree of levity here and a fluffy cloud there to paint a fuller picture. Arianna Huffington, co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post, moderated the impossible to moderate panel with grace and a calming intelligence.

Rather than rehash the arguments and the fact that it seems people are more interested in introducing themselves than being introduced to you, let me chunk out some key statements and my reaction to them. I would love to hear what your reaction is as well (to the statements, not nec. to my opinions). Ready?

"Blogging is like grafitti. There is no verb" -- Pete Hamill. I was on board and nodding with agreement to nearly everything he said until this point. He took the position that blogging doesn't tell the full story or the action. I have read blogs from people evacuating from forest fires and hurricanes. Bloggers break news about layoffs, political mischief, and crimes in their neighborhoods. I'd say the only verb talented bloggers don't get is "stop."

"Blogging is still new to me, it sounds like a disease... or like you're about to throw up" - Christopher Buckley, said cutely to a few chuckles. This Jessica Simpson treatment by a well-read gentleman like Buckley or any other accomplished journalist, publisher, or editor is disrespectful to the medium. It's not cute like a toy with funny little terms like "comment" or "post." It's a valid channel for valid news and treating it otherwise gives the impression that "traditional media" still doesn't get the medium or take it seriously.

"Kids today take for granted that they can go online and get five different news reports on one issue" - Kristol. Online content, including news content, is not child's play. Six years ago when I was at IBM, blogging was still newish, but top execs and technology leaders had blogs and used them to communicate thought leadership and innovation before it was a buzzword. And guess what? Most of those IBM execs were over 30. Hardly children. It's so subtle, but the very use of the term "kids" suggests limited awareness of consumption of the already maturing blogosphere.

"The signal to noise ratio has gotten astounding" - Gideon Yago. To me, this applies to all news media. It is up to consumers of the message to fill their brain with a diverse portfolio. When I read any news (tech, gossip, media, music) I always look to see where the writer works regardless of the "these are not the views of my employer" disclaimers. When I watch the news (yes, on that weird box, the TV) I don't just stick to one channel, heeding the words of my AP English teacher, Mr. Paulenich, who told a bunch of randy high school seniors that you're an idiot if you only let one information stream in.

"Gone is the day of the reporter writing from the pool of blood by the murdered housewife" - said by somebody on the panel. Have you heard of Twitter? The Motrin fiasco, Yang stepping down from Yahoo, and even a train hitting a pedestrian - all came to me first on Twitter before it hit the net hours later. It seems like the evening news is a wrap-up of what already when down that day in social media land. Is there breaking news through traditional channels anymore?

"Is the role of journalism to be fair and balanced or to ferret out the truth?" - Arianna Huffington's daughter. My answer is a question - can you have one with the other?

"Because of peer pressure it's hard to be the lone dissenter. No one wants to be the trouble maker in the press pit" - Kristol. I assume that when you get into journalism you prepare yourself to be isolated and often disliked. Isn't it the mission of the journalist to expose the worn crusted mold that the everyman can't see on his own? I write a fluffy party column, I'm sure you'll remind me of that, but I don't write thinking "oh dear, I better not say the canapé tasted like pigeon nest otherwise I'll never get invited back." Call it like you see it ethics, no?

I promise to keep the minute shorter in the future, but this was one of the most inspiring panels I've been to. I have more quotes and more reactions than room allows. It's easy to see that this is one of the most intriguing, passion-filled, and fear fueled times to be a journalist, regardless of the medium. Death and taxes are still our only certainties.

Do your best facial expression analysis on the Flickr photo set!

Send invitations to kelly@mediapost.com and get covered by Just An Online Minute!

See if I remain inspired or if I revert to talking about winter coats (I will)(to both) on Twitter.