Issues likely to be discussed include the blog gender gap, the role of blogging vis-a-vis journalism generally, whether bloggers will become news-gatherers as well as opinion writers, as well as the more nuts-and-bolts issues of what makes a blog good or bad.
We'll be listening quite a bit to our fellow panelists, as we're just happy to have been asked to share a stage with them. McWilliams is a good egg with no agenda on this subject, so it should be a lively one.
Blogging is getting more attention lately from the MSM in Ireland, who see it as "cute" rather than "threatening" at this stage. The Irish Times carried a piece by Robin O'Brien-Lynch back in February that kicked off a minor storm. The Tribune carried a piece about the phenomenon as well, though it gave precious little attention to Irish blogs.
We've also got a piece related to blogging coming out in the next Magill - which doesn't pretend to be a history of Irish blogging or the Grand Unified Theory but we hope will entertain and inform the non-bloggers it's aimed at.
While the attention should be great for the Irish blogosphere, there's also a threat. The reason the MSM started paying attention to blogging (outside of the tech news) was its impact on the 2004 US presidential election and coverage around it (Swifties, Dan Rather, exit polls, debates, etc).
In other words, mainstream media finally took the bloggers seriously at the point at which bloggers did more than opine or simply go 'hmm..this is interesting' and link to a piece in the New Republic or on another blog.
The one thing the blogosphere has proven adept at is undermining assertions. For example, Dan Rather's assertion that the memo CBS procured was real. Or any number of John Kerry's assertions down through the years.
Irish blogs will have chances to make their bones over the next few months by following a similar formula. The campaigns for the European constitution have just been launched - both sides will make a series of assertions that the blogs can challenge, fix on and shape public debate about. The Westminster elections next month also provide plenty of opportunities, particularly for those looking at Sinn Fein and the northern scene.
And even as I write, the debate is being waged over the legacy of Pope John Paul II and his successor, as well as -- and this is key -- the position of the Church in modern Ireland.
All topics on which blogs can make an impact, doing what they're good at.
At some point, however, bloggers in Ireland are going to have to draw blood if they hope to be more than Balkanised discussion forums.
*The segment will tape on Monday, air on Tuesday at 2.25pm. This is confirmed by the show's producer. (Some inaccuracies are floating around out there.) And, like all media, this is subject to change given the death of the pope.
Tags: ireland, irishblogs, RTE
UPDATE: 1353hrs Bernie (IrishEyes) has left a long and pertinent posting in the comments here, as well as a followup with suggestions for David McWilliams if he decided to get a blog set up for the Big Bite programme. We think it's an excellent idea.
UPDATE2: 1400hrs John Ihle of Backseat Drivers will also be on the programme - and a welcome addition. Although we'll be exceeding the quota of native Long Islanders on the programme, so I'll have to pick from my alternate hometowns: Yorkville (in Manhattan); South Bend, Indiana; Chicago.
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