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As another example—like we needed another—of the friction between mainstream media and the “new media” represented by the blogosphere, I give you Dennis Kneale.
Kneale is the Media and Technology Editor for CNBC’s Business Day programming, and the target of many financial bloggers’ ire. After predicting the end of the recession and the stormy internet reaction to his prophecy (a made-for-television rant set-up if ever I heard one), Kneale lashed out at his critics on his June 30 broadcast.
Responding to digs on his appearance (“Beaker" of Muppets’ fame), his television persona (“irritating”, “clueless” and “unwatchable”), and the CNBC show’s format (“a Saturday Night Live skit”), Kneale said, “That was no comedy sketch. That was hope and fortitude, you digital d**kweed.” Kneale then proceeded to sketch the etymology of the word, d**kweed, and linked bloggers’ ridicule to the web anonymity that insulated them from any real accountability (a valid point, if tired old vs. new media flashpoint).
The mainstream media has become more aggressive in challenging new media in recent months. CNBC’s Jim Kramer battled “The Daily Show’s” Jon Stewart over Kramer’s role in stock market hysteria; MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann took on the websites CityFile and Wonkette, over speculation on Olbermann’s three day leave-of-absence at the end April.
All of which begs the question: what are members of the buttoned-up mainstream media doing slumming in the blogosphere?