By RegoPark
St. Petersburg, Russia Correspondent

Actually I’ve just returned home from a mostly Drudge-less month away, but I did access Drudge in time to catch that New York’s ABC affiliate is announcing an open call for camera or video documentation of news items (think “Rodney King beating”). Here on DrudgeBlog, I try to emphasize what Matt Drudge himself admits — anybody can report the news and should be cognisant of their own abilities to share important information with the rest of the world. Drudge’s own reputation for sleaze — whether accurate or misguided — as slowed down this progress, but there’s an incredible untapped potential for unfiltered news that is worth exploiting despite the drawbacks.

Matt was at his annoying worst last Sunday night with Much Ado About Nothing –speculating about Wicca in Harry Potter, indulging stupid callers while interrupting others who were about to make interesting points, and insinuating there’s something wrong with adults reading children’s books in public places. (Hey, Matt, I read you, don’t I? And I was a philosophy and English major. Except I don’t give my real name here. ) But he was right about The Weather Channel skimping on windstorm coverage to show ratings-attracting specials. If a hurricane comes my way, yes, I’ll go to Drudge Report first and be my own meterologist, as he says. Citizen journalism at its productive best. And Drudge at his best. Leave the children’s lit and comparative religion to me, hon. You do the weather.

RegoPark is a pseudonym for a writer with a background in communications. She has just returned from a fellowship in St. Petersburg, Russia. She is working on a novel about PR and the alternative media.