Son,

I have written about enjoying hard copy news papers.  This past five months I have been actively engaged in the world of internet news.  The interactive properties have changed the way I see news, and news reporting.

Today I regularly read eight different online publications of long standing news organizations – and a couple of new organizations.  My favorites are the Washington Post and the Huffingtonpost.com.  After that I like the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Boston Globe, and USAToday.  I also regularly visit news organizations in Kansas City, St. Louis, Green Bay, Houston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.  Others are visited when specific news applies to their locale.  The most difficult to navigate are the small market folks – like Green Bay and St. Joseph, Missouri.

I have changed.  And the internet has changed me.  My favorite site to visit is the Washington Post – because all of their stories are interactive.  That is to say – every story allows me to post a comment if I chose.  The Washington Post is the easiest news site to navigate and the stories are well written. The Boston Globe has the best discussion boards. I have become so acclimated to interacting with a story that I feel frustrated when a story is presented as if it is my duty to read and accept with no opinion of my own.  The Huffingtopost.com is my second favorite. While huffington is all interactive – it is also all blog narrative – that is not bad, but blogging by its very nature is editorial.  Sometimes I just want the straight facts with no commentary.  But I like Huffington because they are always timely and generously welcome my thoughts.  And I think that Arianna Huffington is the definition of good editorial writing.  I am grateful.

This is not my father’s generation – heck – it isn’t even my generation.  But the opportunities to participate interactively with a community of engaged people is absolutely wonderful.

The jury is out on how this dynamic will change the world – but it will change the world.  We the public are no longer drones to be manipulated – we are engaged and up to the task of challenging the noble journalism class.

Dad