Partisan
I can't remember, but I'm pretty sure that at some point on this blog I commented on how one of the things which I find annoying about the 'right-wing' these days in North America, is an inability to distinguish being things which should be partisan, and things which shouldn't.
Something I haven't mentioned (at least as far as I can recall) is that analysis of the influence of blogs in the U.S. has often suggested that blogs generally only have an impact in alliance with other institutions, most notably, the media (newspapers, TV). On their own, blogs are unlikely to actually have much impact on the world, beyond, perhaps, influencing what/how people know and think about the issues.
Which brings me to something which James Koole, and a number of other bloggers, mentioned a while back, the politicization of the Government of Canada webpage, which, since the election, has become an extension of the Conservative Party site. Perhaps now that the Globe and Mail has picked up on this story, with a well-written article by Ivor Tossell, the Conservatives will be shamed into making the taxpayer funded website less of a marketing tool for one particular party.
A couple of other comments on the Globe article. Tossell is critical of how the old government of Canada site looked, but I kind of liked it. It had a consistent interface, it loaded quickly and it got to the point. On the plus side, the Tossell article actually contains links to (some of) the websites it discusses. Are we witnessing a breakthrough in online newspaperism - the apparently massive cultural shift to actually linking to things which are discussed in the online version of the paper?
Something I haven't mentioned (at least as far as I can recall) is that analysis of the influence of blogs in the U.S. has often suggested that blogs generally only have an impact in alliance with other institutions, most notably, the media (newspapers, TV). On their own, blogs are unlikely to actually have much impact on the world, beyond, perhaps, influencing what/how people know and think about the issues.
Which brings me to something which James Koole, and a number of other bloggers, mentioned a while back, the politicization of the Government of Canada webpage, which, since the election, has become an extension of the Conservative Party site. Perhaps now that the Globe and Mail has picked up on this story, with a well-written article by Ivor Tossell, the Conservatives will be shamed into making the taxpayer funded website less of a marketing tool for one particular party.
A couple of other comments on the Globe article. Tossell is critical of how the old government of Canada site looked, but I kind of liked it. It had a consistent interface, it loaded quickly and it got to the point. On the plus side, the Tossell article actually contains links to (some of) the websites it discusses. Are we witnessing a breakthrough in online newspaperism - the apparently massive cultural shift to actually linking to things which are discussed in the online version of the paper?
posted by Declan at
Sunday, May 07, 2006
4 Comments:
But Declan....
What, exactly does 'shame' have to do with it when you're following the Luntzian playbook?
Exhibit A - were they shamed into doing the right thing on the coffin business?
.
By
RossK, at 11:55 PM
On the topic of main stream print journalism putting links in their on-line articles: I have noticed the Toronto Star doing this more often, also. Recently, when when writing about some crime story from an obscure location they linked to a Google Maps image showing the area in question. It was useful but mildly suprising that they did so.
By
Matthew, at 4:50 AM
Oddly enough, I felt the same way about the site while the Liberals were in power. It's all in the eyes of the beholder I guess. I did however think it was getting a little out of date, they could at least put some good Canadian music on it, The Guess Who, Rush, something to listen to while perusing.....
By
Anonymous, at 4:01 PM
Gaz - You have a point, but I hold out hope all the same.
Matthew - Good to see more signs of linklife from the media. I find it so irritating to have to open up a new window and google whatever study or survey or website or person they are talking about all the time.
DazzlinD - Yes, nothing makes a site seem less out of date then music from the Guess Who or Rush - yikes! :)
How about Sarah Harmer or the Junior Boys or something?
"Hit the North 400
The highbeams slowly kiss the lake
The trees are dark, it's just as well
The fog shines off the hospital"
Classic Canadiana.
By
Declan, at 4:44 PM
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