Blogs and anonymity - another News conspiracy?

The Australian newspaper and its New Limited stablemates supported the conservative side of politics during the recent election campaign. Of this there can be no doubt.

Equally, the ABC and Fairfax Media supported the progressive side.

The progressives formed government. The conservatives did not.

Nothing has changed in the second, third and fourth estates for the past 300 years.

In a two-party system of democracy, one side will control the treasury benches, the other side will not, at least until the next electoral contest.

Unsurprisingly, journalism will continue to support one side or the other, either above the surface, as the Economist does globally, or submerged, as a blogger might anonymously.

Journalism has never been objective and it will never be, despite the yearnings of some on the progressive side for there to be a “balance”.

Consequently, a variety of partisan opinions have surfaced since News Limited published a story in The Australian on Monday “outing” an anonymous blogger.

The blogger - Grog’s Gamut revealed as Greg Jericho, a federal public servant - had remained anonymous for two years, tweeting and publishing to the point where it was claimed that he influenced ABC election coverage.

The journalist given space to reveal the identity of Mr Jericho was James Massola.

Publication of his revelation on Monday livened up The Australian end of the twitterverse, a politically moribund space since the end of the election campaign.

In its enthusiasm Twitter provided The Australian newspaper with additional space the following day to continue the yarn - using two interesting but time-worn angles.