Will the internet save journalism?

A new study by Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism investigated news sources in Baltimore to study the changing nature of news media - the rise of blogs and websites, the decline of traditional newspapers. They found 95% of new stories came from traditional media (print, tv, radio, and niche media [e.g. trade press] - including the websites of these organisations) and only 5% from new media (blogs, twitter, websites). The web was the place where stories broke, both from traditional and new media.

On 6 major news stories studied in depth, 83% of all reports were repetitions of other stories without new information. Mainstream newspapers generated 48% of new information, TV 28%, and new media 4%. In the areas covered in detail, 63% of new stories came from government officials (mainly the police) while 15% were initiated by the press, 12% from citizens, and 10% from colleges/universities. They found numerous instances of press releases being reproduced word-for-word in news stories.

Many people in the blogosphere believe that bloggers can take the place of newspapers. There is some way to go. The researchers found just two news stories that originated from new media: one a posting on the police's twitter feed, and one by an investigative blogger who found a story about local government plans to put listening devices on public transport. Maybe we need more bloggers?

Reading columnists and commenters so you don't have to

For years Speak You're Branes has been ridiculing people who post insane (and generally rightwing) comments on the BBC's Have Your Say discussions.

Mail Watch has been chronicling the Daily Mail's insanity for even longer, with considerable critical intelligence and wit. From the same source but with a wider remit: Enemies of Reason. The Daily Mail Tendency and Stirring Up Apathy do the same thing but less well.

Tabloid Watch goes wider. While Bristol Evening Post Watch goes narrower, and has recently shut up shop.

David Aaronovitch Watch follows the Blairite journalist, but also has a lot of information on Martin Amis and similar intellectuals. They did at one point post a link to the metatextual Aaronovitch Watch Watch, but it seems to have been taken down.

Angry Mob keeps an eye on Melanie Phillips, Richard Littlejohn, and much more.

Christopher Hitchens watch follows the maverick alcoholic.

MediaWatchWatch follows the TV-complaining organisation Media Watch and other pro-censorship groups like Christian Voice (whose voice doesn't seem to have much in common with the Church of England or indeed Jesus).

Opinion Beyond Education monitors Biased BBC (one of a large number of organisations who monitor the BBC for left-wing bias).

Any more?