Jarvis

In some ways, Sullivan supports Jarvis’s view of the press sphere; however, it does not give enough support to back Jarvis’s argument entirely. In his article, “Why I Blog”, Sullivan discusses the fluidity of the blogging. It is instantaneous and revolutionary. It allows an unlimited audience, without the interference of editors and publishers. Blogging has made writing interactive. Readers can respond to pieces immediately. Bloggers use the comments, arguments, and links of their readers in later blogs. Blogging is as much like participating in a conversation as it is writing. Jarvis also talks about the use of the internet and interaction of peers in his blog. He and Sullivan both feel that information is spread more quickly than ever before through the use of modern technology. However, to say that the press was the only source of news before the internet is like saying sci-fi novels were the only form of literature before blogging. Sullivan never claims that before the internet, writing was only communicated in one way. In fact, he states that Montaigne’s style of publishing and revising his essays was in many ways similar to blogging. Blogs are also slightly different than Jarvis’s model of the press sphere. A blog consists of the writing of a specific person or group of people. The blogger or bloggers may use links and sources to support their writing, but it is still their blog. Even though it is constantly being changed and updated, it is continuously theirs. The press sphere is a much vaguer concept. I can point to a blog and say “This is a blog”. How can you identify a press sphere? A press sphere is different for everyone. It will involve different sources for different people. Although blogs and the press sphere are both constantly changing, the press sphere is even less tangible than blogging.
Jarvis’s me-sphere fits my experience with the news most closely. I don’t agree with it entirely, but everyone interprets news differently. We all use different mediums and have different perspectives.