We thought CNN's "Internet reporters" had a pretty easy gig: Surf the Web, wait for Wolf Blitzer to address you then point at the screen like a newsy Vanna White. There isn't much "reporting" involved in their title, or so we assumed.
But it turns out Abbi Tatton and Jacki Schechner have much harder jobs than we thought — or at least they must be grueling, otherwise there's really no excuse for why they don't read full blog posts. (As for us, we're just lazy and overpaid.)
CNN internet reporter Abbi Tatton reported that MoveOn.org sent out an e-mail to the members saying that they "urgently need more information" on U.S. Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers. What Tatton didn't report about the e-mail is that it asked a bunch of loaded questions asking its members to specifically help dig up dirt on Miers.
Bias in the media that goes unaddressed? Wait — bias in the blogs that goes unaddressed? By blog reporters? We're swimming in meta media vomit.
Finally CNN's "blog chicks" are getting the attention they deserve. Getting name dropped on The Daily Show is one thing, but when the New York Observer sends its love, you know you've made it.
We've been loving the blog chicks too, otherwise known as CNN's own Vanna Whites, who sometimes point and touch giant computer screens as they jump from blog to blog, bringing the Internet's latest cultural whining to the forefront.
Blogs are the latest beat, and Abbi Tatton and Jacki Schechner are on it, folks.
In addition to giving the tinglies to CNN viewers and a voice to citizen journalists everywhere, the Blog Chicks are one possible answer to television news’ most loudly lamented conundrum: how to lure younger viewers without alienating older ones. Ms. Tatton and Ms. Schechner are supposed to appeal both to a tech-savvy audience hip to the latest in online communications, and to an older generation of people who actually watch CNN and have no idea what these so-called Web logs are anyway.
Oh, and they're supposed to appeal to grandpa's wanking while watching CNN in their ratty bathrobes. Vanna White hasn't secured this category just yet.
