How do blogs fit with traditional media, legal scholarship?

• Date: 14 May 2007

Byline: David Ziemer

Are new media, like blogs, destroying Supreme Court coverage in the traditional media, and supplanting traditional legal scholarship, or are they complementary? Two panels -- one comprised of members of each -- discussed the changing landscape of legal coverage and scholarship during the Seventh Circuit Bar Association's annual convention at Milwaukee's Pfister Hotel on May 7. Joan Biskupic, the Supreme Court reporter for USA Today spoke at length about what the traditional media can do that blogs can't do and aren't intended to do -- provide the facts in an unbiased way, and help build a historical record. Unlike bloggers, the Supreme Court reporters are in Washington, attend the oral arguments, talk to the parties, and even cover the protests. Nevertheless, she acknowledged the shortcomings and threats to traditional Supreme Court journalism. Less than 10 percent of law students she speaks with read a traditional newspaper -- they either read traditional coverage online, or go straight to commentary in the blogs. In addition, few newspapers even have a full-time Supreme...