In many ways the ‘Bloggers vs. Mainstream Media’ rivalry has come a long way over the last couple of years. Bloggers have carved out a modicum of respect from traditional media, and traditional media have begun embracing the blog medium as a new way to deliver their message.This all sounds peachy, until you put a successful renegade sports blogger on stage with with a crotchety Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Bob Costas ‘Internet Media’ show featured Deadspin blogger Will Leitch and Friday Night Lights novelist Buzz Bissinger. It didn’t take long before the swear words were flying, reputations put on the line and the end result was some riveting live television that clearly proved that the nerves and tensions between mainstream and blogosphere, are still quite raw.
From Bissinger’s opening glare, it was clear things weren’t going to go well and the situation quickly escalated. “I really think you’re full of ****,” Bissinger told Leitch. “I think that blogs are dedicated to cruelty, they’re dedicated to journalistic dishonesty.” He added: “It really pisses the **** out of me. It is the complete dumbing down of our society.”