We have written on numerous occasions on the growing importance of blogs for businesses and community organizations in an increasingly information-driven world. Recent political events in Britain underline the fact that people in the highest offices have come to understand the value and importance of blogs, as the activities of bloggers start to have a noteworthy political, social and economic impact. The Herald newspaper, for example, exclaimed that it was now time to ?embrace a brave new world of blogging.? The Herald, and all major newspapers in the UK, featured prominently a recent story about a blogger who may have managed to damage Prime Minister Gordon Brown?s Labour government more than all of the opposition MPs and conservative-leaning publications put together. This became most apparent when prominent conservative blogger Paul Staines uncovered an internal governmental e-mail suggesting that a civil servant associated with the highest levels of the Labour government was contemplating launching a smear campaign against key Tory politicians, ahead of next year?s expected election.
Blogs made headline news in the United Kingdom when it was revealed that Labour press advisor Damian McBride sent an e-mail from a computer at 10 Downing Street, which contained unverifiable and malicious rumours, and generally questionable allegations against Tories, to Labour-leaning activist, Derek Draper. Blogger Paul Staines did what traditional journalists failed to do: he broke a major news story in the UK on his blog, resulting in McBride?s resignation and an apology from Prime Minister Brown; all of which will likely have big political ramifications. Whatever one might think about Staines? political views, he demonstrated that blogs and bloggers can give traditional journalists a run for their money, that they can perform top-notch research, publish quality news stories and bring about major change. Copyright Purecontent Media Limited 17/05/2012.