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Al Kamen’s Uninformed Opinion

Washington Post reporter Al Kamen should stick to writing about subjects he understands. Clearly, the blogosphere isn’t one of them.

Kamen’s “In the Loop” column today takes a cheap shot at the Pentagon’s chief of new-media operations, Jack Holt, and the great work he’s doing at the Department of Defense. Holt regularly connects military officials with bloggers via teleconferences, giving bloggers access to information that reporters like Kamen have enjoyed for years.

It wasn’t exactly a FEMA moment, but there was something odd about the Department of Defense “Bloggers Roundtable” on Tuesday with Marine Lt. Col. David L. Coggins, chief of the mobile training and mentoring team for noncommissioned officer leadership, NATO training mission.

The session was hosted by Jack Holt of the Pentagon’s new media operation. Two bloggers spoke by phone with Coggins, who was in Baghdad. The idea was to reach out to the blogosphere and give bloggers access to military officers. We’re told most of those who’ve logged on have been defense community insiders. Some sessions attract more folks than others.

Holt turned to Jared Fishman — that was Lt. Jared Fishman — for the first question, which, Coggins said, was “a really great question.” Holt asked about “what type ships the Iraqi navy was working with?” That, too, was deemed a “really great question.”

Coggins at one point gave an answer that Holt deemed just “excellent.” Holt asked if “anybody else” in the blogosphere had “any other questions.” Apparently not, so Holt concluded the session, noting it was “a great news story.”

It’s always a great news story when the right bloggers are onboard.

First, a point of clarity. Kamen suggests that the Pentagon is limiting these calls to the “right bloggers.” That’s absolutely untrue. When I saw Holt speak at Blog World in Las Vegas last year, he made a point of stating that he reached out to bloggers of all political persuasions as well as those who cover military issues exclusively. Anyone is welcome to take part on the calls, but liberal bloggers have never expressed any interest. (And why would they when it’s so easy pontificate rather than report what’s actually happening.)

In my opinion, Kamen’s piece is yet another example of an elite, mainstream journalist expressing jealously about the emerging role of bloggers in the information age. His cushy job at the Post could soon be at risk with the more Americans turning to blogs for their news and information rather than page A17 of the newspaper.

UPDATE — 4:08 p.m.: Apparently this isn’t the first time someone has launched an attack on the Pentagon’s new-media operation. Danny Glover has details at Beltway Blogroll.