Internet

In some respects, the real presidential debate will take place in cyberspace, reports Wired magazine. "The Bush campaign has launched a massive rapid-response effort called Debate Facts to rebut challenger John Kerry's assertions during the debates," writes Louise Witt. "The campaign will provide a live feed to about 5,000 conservative blogs that subscribe to its news alerts.

Slate magazine editor Jack Schafer wonders why it took CBS anchorman Dan Rather so long to back away from two now-discredited memos that were part of the documentation for its story about George Bush's National Guard service.

PR industry writer Paul Holmes has written a lengthy essay arguing that PR people need to take blogging seriously. "The people who read blogs are the opinion leaders and the early adopters," says PR pro Steve Rubel. "They are people who pass on what they learn to other people. And these sites are being read every day by the journalists who cover your industry. It's amazing how many stories start on the Internet and then make it into the mainstream media."

"Public relations should first understand that to the extent that its art is a form of 'spin' - whether it's reasonable spin, accepted spin, good spin, bad spin, terrible spin - it is selling a service for which there is less and less value, and less mind is paid to it.