Accidentally on Purpose Blog

Now, this is interesting.  The International Center for Journalists has awarded a Knight International Journalism Award to Egypt’s Wael Abbas, “recognizing his role in bringing controversial subjects to the attention of his country’s mainstream media and public.”  But the headline is that Abbas is a blogger, and he is the first blogger ever to receive this honor.  Here’s what usinfo.state.gov (a communications arm of the U.S. Department of State) had to say:

Created in 2004, Misr Digital [the blog] attracts an average 30,000 visitors per day and 1 million per month.  More significant, Barnathan said, the blog has forced the mainstream media to follow up on Abbas’ reports due to the large public reaction.

Abbas himself has faced arrest by Egyptian authorities, but the content he has posted on his blog is making a difference.  For example, a video he featured of two Egyptian policemen abusing a detainee led to a recent Egyptian court sentence against the officers, which Barnathan called a ?breakthrough? event for the country.

At the National Press Club, Abbas said the Knight Award is ?very prestigious ? and respected all over the world,? including Egypt, and he hoped the award will help raise awareness of his blog. ?It is not the best time for the media and the blogging community,? he said, since the regime is cracking down and trying to tarnish the bloggers’ reputations by accusing them of treason and acting on behalf of those outside Egypt.

What Abbas is doing is consistent with the role that journalism has always played.  But what’s noteworthy is the platform.  Now journalists and bloggers have the means to cover the big stories of our times.  And they are rewarded with the same honors, and exposed to the same dangers.

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