Most of the time in the media world, events happen, then newspapers, magazines and television and radio stations report on them after interviewing, researching and compiling information.
But all that's changing. As has long been noted, the Internet has rapidly altered the way that news is reported, and the way it is absorbed by the public. News stories are written and posted as the news happens, delivered promptly to e-mail inboxes. Pictures of concerts and celeb sightings at the local coffee place can be seen before they even finish their latte or last song in the set.
But by far the hottest way to get news and updates in today's world is the blog. They're personal. They're edgy. They're current. And now, everyone and their mom can have one.
Not surprisingly, some of the first to jump on the bloggosphere wagon were gay and lesbian reporters or citizen reporters – and some of their blogs have gained something of a cult following think: http://www.Perez-Hilton.com.
So what place do blogs have in pushing, influencing and spreading information about current LGBT issues?
The answer is a lot.
Recently, an LGBT blogger conference was held in Washington, D.C. There, gay and lesbian bloggers learned how to make their blogs more widely read and more effective. They learned about where to post their blog links to get more hits on their page, how to get a news story out by mass blog dissemination. In essence, they learned how to unleash the true power of their blogs.
Why? Because they may just be some of the leading mechanisms in the current issues at hand, both socially and politically.
Blogging has been used recently to help spread word about local Prop. 8 demonstrations, as well as to post pictures, thoughts and others' comments about them to a large audience. They have been used to out politicians in ways and time frames that many large media sources wouldn't touch. In many cases, LGBT bloggers are forging ahead on issues of importance to the community.
The best part: Anyone can be part of it. There's no discrimination because you're extremist, or because you're transgender. There's no hiring process. There's no discrimination. Although many true reporters have lamented the fact that any Joe Schmo can have a blog (go to www.blogger.com to start one within a half hour), the fact is that like anything, the best will eventually be weeded out from the poor writers and behind-the-curve bloggers.
However, this still leaves room for unconventional, unconnected writers who may have inside scoops – and no attachments to news sources, advertisers or politicians that may influence what they can write and when they can write it. Thus, blogging may be the best new way that news is made – not reported.
No one would argue against the statement that the Internet is the future of how our society creates and consumes media. And if the Web is the future for helping to push and spotlight LGBT rights, gay and lesbian bloggers may be right at the forefront, paving the way for our successes.
