blog. Those obstacles, plus the scarcity of real experts, explains the small number of
policy bloggers.
Conclusion
The Internet has altered every aspect of American political life. Bloggers have
helped unseat news anchors and Senate majority leaders. They helped candidates in state
and national primaries. Major newspapers and networks monitor their activities. Blogs
have also helped a new breed of policy entrepreneurs, as well.
Policy bloggers have gradually realized the potential of blogs to inform readers, to
connect to the media and political elites, and to perhaps shift the policy agenda. While
highly educated and well positioned in their careers, these bloggers found that blogs were
a quick and more efficient way to make change than going through traditional channels.
Bloggers reported in engaging in six distinct activities on their blog: filtering
information, providing expertise, forming networks, gaining attention, framing
arguments, and using windows of opportunity. They rarely urge their readers to partake
in political activity. Nearly all received attention from major media sources and some
gained a significant daily readership. Despite these victories, their blogs were primarily
labors of love, bringing in little money or professional rewards.
The Internet has opened up new opportunities for these unique individuals. They
have gained a soap box to shape the views of the public, the media, and politicians. It’s
hard to say what the future holds. These bloggers may be absorbed into mainstream
interest groups or media outlets. The lack of money and the difficulty in identifying
successes may frustrate others. They may grow in numbers, as they learn how to
manipulate the technology better. They also may succeed in calling attention to the
problems and solutions that concern them. It will be fascinating to follow their efforts in
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Convention