Hurricane Katrina has come in fast and furious on the Gulf coast, and we can’t stop looking for news about it. From news of the Superdome roof leaking, to how the disaster will affect crude oil prices, to the human stories of loss and tragedy, the information is overwhelming. And where are the best stories and accounts coming from? Without a doubt, the blogs. True, we’ve got CNN on in the background, and we’re certainly checking newspapers’ web sites for new articles, but for real human drama, informed, personal accounts of the storm, amazing photos, and up-to-the-second real time information, the blogs are where at it’s at.
In our area, weather blog CapitalWeather.com is posting frequent accounts of where the hurricane is at, handing out links of important government and weather sources, and explaining how and why the hurricane is moving like it does. Down in New Orleans, TV station WDSU has a frequently-updated blog about Katrina with specific information about problems in particular neighborhoods. Nola.com has a blog; editor Jon Doley writes, “The scene out the windows is frightening, and it’s just beginning. Gusts slamming the big windows, and people reflexively ducking, knowing they’ve got to break. Trees whipping as if they’re about to be uprooted.” Additionally, he’s posted a picture of how part of the roof of the Superdome has been ripped away. Metblogs New Orleans is blogging from the scene. Terry Teachout also has an excellent compendium of hurricane bloggers. Even craigslist is getting in on the action.
Blogging has obviously changed the way news gathering and reporting is done, especially in times of crisis. Think back to the tsunami of December 2004; citizen journalism, from videos to pictures to first-hand accounts on blogs complemented and sometimes eclipsed anything coming from regular news outlets; blogs were also instrumental in organizing relief and charity efforts. Londonist came to the forefront of the tragic London bombings, blogging in real time, serving as a community gathering point, and letting people know about transportation updates. The immediacy and effectiveness blogs can provide is unparalleled.
We don’t pretend to think that blogging will ever take over mainstream media reporting, but its effect on journalism and information dispersal has been undeniable, especially in times of crisis. Have blogs changed the way you read news, readers?
Photo of hurricane aftermath in Miami posted to Flickr by user Improbable Roach.
