Political Bloggers: Influence, Partisanship, and Credibility

Introduction

There is no shortage of political bloggers, and many of them are partisan commentators without notable credentials or writing ability. There are many, however, who have lent their voices to election campaigns and daily political life in a positive way, providing arguments for different positions and keeping their readers informed. In general, political bloggers are by their nature partisan, particularly in a nation where politics are as fractured as in the United States. But partisanship need not be uninformed, and thankfully there are a few bloggers with a political bent who genuinely create meaningful content.

This paper examines three of these bloggers. The first is Robert Reich, the former Secretary of Labor under President Clinton and a current professor, who blogs at the Huffington Post. The second is Paul Krugman, the Nobel Prize-winning economist who blogs at the New York Times, lending economic analysis to a strongly political perspective. The third is LZ Granderson, a political blogger for CNN who writes about politics from an LGBT perspective. These three bloggers are evaluated for their output and their contribution to political blogging and the political process more broadly.

Points of View

All three bloggers are generally considered to be left-wing, though only Reich has overt ties to the Democratic Party. Each brings a distinct perspective to their work, which gives them a unique voice. Reich's posts tend toward offering a left-wing perspective on a wide range of issues. He is particularly focused on the middle class, writing posts advocating for a rise in real wages, explaining how economic downturns hurt the middle class more than the wealthy, and addressing education policy. Reich's views on the middle class are clearly drawn from his experience as Secretary of Labor under Bill Clinton, and this is the primary focus of the blog. As with most political bloggers, however, he also writes about other timely topics. Reich is also able to discuss issues directly related to political power, drawing on his experience as a former Washington insider who understands how politics work.

Paul Krugman has a clear political agenda in his blog, but there is a strong focus on economic issues — in particular, serving as a counterpoint to right-wing economic arguments. He frequently uses data and economic analysis, sometimes at a high level, to demonstrate logical fallacies and other errors in conservative arguments. Not all of his posts relate to economics, however, and he has elaborated on his political views in prior works. Thus, while he holds clear political views that transcend economic analysis, it can be difficult to separate where economic reasoning ends and political opinion begins — does the analysis flow from his opinions, or do his opinions flow from his analysis? Few commentators are better equipped to handle the economic dimension of politics, and as a result his blog has become highly influential.

Granderson has a prominent platform at CNN, and while his blog is not tied to a single political perspective, his writing shows strong support for left-wing issues. He is more of a professional media personality than the other two, and draws credence from his identity as a gay Black man — providing a voice not often heard in mainstream political discourse. He is therefore able to speak from the perspective of both of those constituencies, and does so frequently. This tends to be his primary strength, as he otherwise lacks formal professional credentials. Yet, with his unique perspective, he is able to distinguish himself from many other media personalities who have little to offer that cannot be found elsewhere.

Other Interests and Motivations

As most people are aware, blogging is seldom a profitable endeavor, at least in terms of providing a full-time living. Indeed, none of the bloggers examined here would consider blogging their primary source of income. Granderson, as a media professional, comes closest, as his income derives primarily from media appearances and writing work, including his position at CNN. It is CNN that provides him with the most visibility, though he has also done work with ESPN. He does not have a book to his name, though he may appear occasionally on the speaking circuit. In general, his media work reflects his career, making him the closest of the three to being a professional blogger.

Reich is a professor by trade. His blogging complements his other media appearances, as he is a regular television commentator. Reich has also written 14 books, typically focused on political themes, and has developed a documentary film to further advance his views on the middle class and inequality in America. The blog functions as much as a vehicle for his political agenda as anything else. While he is likely compensated for his contributions, that income would be modest relative to his other earnings — suggesting that publicizing his political views is a primary motivator for the blog.

The same can be said of Krugman. Also a professor — at Princeton — Krugman has authored more than 20 books and is on the New York Times payroll as a columnist. The blog complements the column and serves as a platform for developing or clarifying ideas. He also makes television appearances. Blogging is certainly not his main source of income; like Reich, he appears to use it to complement his other activities and to express his personal views.

It is worth noting that influencing the public and the political process are motivations for at least Reich and Krugman. All three believe they are performing a public good. These findings align with research showing that political bloggers tend to be motivated by a desire to improve society through their influence, and that this motivation grows stronger the longer they blog — and presumably the larger the audience they reach (Ekdale et al., 2010).

References

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Krugman, P. (2014). The conscience of a liberal. New York Times. Retrieved November 2, 2014 from http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/?_r=0

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