| With all the various information sources available | | | | deliver. These insights can present the information in |
| online today many favor blogs as their primary | | | | such a way that may encourage readers to consider |
| source of news and information online. Free online | | | | certain perspectives they may have otherwise |
| news has helped to drive the growth of the internet | | | | overlooked. |
| and there is no sign of its popularity slowing. With all | | | | The CONS: |
| the various sources of information available however | | | | Too Subjective |
| blogs have gained a reputation for late breaking | | | | An unregulated blog platform can easily present |
| news. This is due primarily to the fact that blogs are | | | | information or news that leans heavily towards the |
| unencumbered concerning the accuracy of what their | | | | authors' personal opinions or perspective. Too much |
| content contains. | | | | subjectivity can easily distort the information being |
| A blog platform typically circumvents the traditional | | | | delivered decreasing its real value to the reader. |
| 'red tape' that can slow the delivery of news from | | | | Inaccurate |
| syndicated sites. This advantage however can also | | | | In a haste to 'rush' news inaccuracies happen. Being |
| work against a blog since facts may sometimes be | | | | unregulated or unmonitored for news worthiness a |
| distorted. Without any type of regulation in place blog | | | | certain expectation of unreliability does exist and |
| posting sometimes tends to reflect more of the | | | | therefore must be tolerated and expected. |
| writers opinions. This leads to the question of | | | | Sometimes Hard to Locate |
| whether blogs can be viewed as a source of reliable | | | | Where do you start to find the most accurate, |
| information. | | | | objective, and authoritative site? Locating a credible |
| Let's look at both the pros and cons associated with | | | | blog site you can rely upon for its accuracy is a time |
| any news or information that is dispensed from a | | | | consuming and uncertain task. |
| blog platform as opposed to a regulated news site. | | | | The only realistic test for such a site after you have |
| The PROS: | | | | located it is in fact your personal perseverance and |
| Frequently Updated | | | | time itself. |
| A common characteristic of blogs is that they are | | | | Upon reviewing the various pros and cons affiliated |
| updated frequently. Most information found on a blog | | | | with using blogs as information sources questions |
| continues to 'evolve' due to frequent updating. | | | | remain as to their reliability. Free online news sites are |
| Syndicated news sites contain information that tends | | | | typically more regulated thereby slowing their delivery |
| to 'stagnate' since updates are far and few in | | | | of the news itself. On the other hand this also helps |
| between. | | | | to validate these sites as reliable sources of |
| Fast Breaking with News | | | | information. In fact the same regulation that may |
| Lacking the regulations of syndicated sites that slow | | | | slow news delivery but is absent on blogs is why a |
| down the process of dispensing news or information | | | | typical blog posting may be questioned as reliable |
| blogs have the ability to reflect 'real time' information. | | | | information. In the end it appears that many are |
| This is a major appeal for gathering information from | | | | willing to 'chance' the accuracy of their news in order |
| these sites. | | | | to receive it in a more expedient manner. In a |
| Insight | | | | society dominated by an instant gratification mindset |
| Being blogs are independent entities allows them to | | | | this is not all that surprising. |
| share their insights on the news and information they | | | | |