The one bias that every publication in every media has to be granted is to cover what they want to. Second, inour system a publication has to sell product to its readers to survive.

The general assumption usually made in this type of analysis is that a publication is done solely for profit, and that its publishers are not motivated by intense personal feelings, in contrast to your bloggers. But our own Keith Cowing provides a really perfect example of the contrary, and what is more usually the case: the publisher/blogger is motivated by intense personal feelings, and then finds a way to make money with it. Or the money finds him, as in this case.

Now bbs's are a different case. Here, what you have is a human filter to catch items of interest, versus somethings like say key word filters or a clipping staff.

No question but that bloggers are a great propaganda tool. But a bbs is an open forum for debate, and difficult to spin. What's personally amusing to me is when bloggers try to use bbs's to further expouse their views.

Youi've also ignored another form of internet group. While most "moderated" groups carefully screen out opposing or controversial views, if you examine Cambridge Conference you can see full debate going on. I think that it is no accident that the CC is based in the UK, where debate is free and open.

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