The Idler, A Web Periodical announces "Inside The Blogosphere: The Weblog Phenomenon," a panel discussion at the National Press Club, John Peter Zenger Room, on Friday June 28th, from 12 noon - 3 p.m.

Weblogs have been in the news, especially since 9/11 (some are now called "Warblogs"). This phenomenon is attracting attention, and controversy, from established media. (For example, see New York Times 6/10/02: http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/10/technology/10BLOG.html).

Thanks in part to the participation of some prominent journalists and academics, the pundit-style internet journals quickly reached a level of public and media recognition that many print journals had never achieved. Not since the introduction of cable television (and before that, FM radio), has a phenomenon like the Weblog had an opportunity to transform American culture.

But will Weblogs make a lasting difference?

Topics for discussion include:

What does the Weblog phenomenon mean?

Are Weblogs merely personal, or can they become institutions?

Is there a Weblog "bubble" like the Dot-Com bubble?

How do Weblogs affect the War on Terrorism?

How do Weblogs affect American Politics and Culture?

What are the effects of the Weblog phenomenon on other media, politics, economics, and culture?

Is there a viable economic model to make Weblogs a paying proposition?

This panel at the National Press Club, sponsored by The Idler, A Web Periodical (http://www.the-idler.com), has invited prominent "Bloggers" to answer these questions.
 
 

Glenn Harlan Reynolds, Instapundit.com
Mickey Kaus, Kausfiles.com
James Lileks, Lileks.com
Dennis Loy Johnson, Mobylives.com
Doug McLennan, Artsjournal.com
James Taranto, "Best of the Web," OpinionJournal.com
John Hiler, Microcontent News
Johsua Micah Marshall, TalkingPointsMemo.com

Discussant: Alice Goldfarb Marquis, The-Idler.com.

The National Press Club is located at 529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor - Washington, DC. Admission is free.