I am often struck by the parallels between libraries and newspapers, librarians and journalists and how technology is affecting these institutions and professions. As I reflect on John Shuler's comments on Government Information Liberation, the following article caught my attention:

• 12 Questions about the future of journalism by Bill Kovach, The American Scholar.

Bill Kovach is a senior counselor to the Project for Excellence in Journalism, a founder of the Committee of Concerned Journalists, a former Washington bureau chief for The New York Times, a former editor of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and a former curator of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University.

In reflecting on the future of journalism and our democracy, Kovach asks twelve provocative questions, which, I think, parallel some of those that John is asking.

I am still catching up after a brief vacation offline, but I will rejoin John's discussion soon and try to examine both the profession of librarianship and the institution of libraries.

Here is a good summary of a program sponsored by GODORT and the SLA Government Information Division at the recent Federal Depository Library conference.

• How Do Journalists Use Government Information? By Peggy Garvin, Government Information Division, Special Libraries Association.

New York Times reporter Scott Shane and Washington Post research editor Alice Crites educated and entertained the crowd at a joint meeting of the SLA Government Information Division (DGI) and the ALA Government Documents Roundtable (GODORT) in Arlington, VA on October 15, 2007.

After negotiating with judicial officials, the Media Bloggers Association succeeded in gaining 2 seats for bloggers at Lewis "Scooter" Libbey trial next week. This is the first time bloggers have received press seats in a federal court . Washington Post (Jan 11, 2007) reports:

bloggers can bring a depth of reporting that some traditional media organizations aren't able to achieve because of space and time limitations," said Sheldon Snook, administrative assistant to Chief Judge Thomas F. Hogan. Snook added that some bloggers also bring expertise that is welcome in court