Andrew Sullivan and the "independent" blog journalist

I found it interesting in the Miller and Shepherd piece for this week to see Andrew Sullivan mentioned. I first learned of his blog through a decidedly nonacademic, though fun, source -- Bill Maher's HBO show. In the article, Sullivan is cited as a journalist, but his blog is also lauded? described as being "independent" of mainstream sponsorship. Oh, how quickly things change. His formerly "independent" status has now found corporate sponsorship from The Atlantic magazine.

It should be noted that Sullivan's claims to journalistic status do solely come from his blogging experience. He is, in fact, a print journalist of long standing and one who, moreover, is a conservative with liberal views on certain issues. However, the change in his status from independent blogger to corporate sponsorship is one that raises issues about how well blogging will ever work as an alternative to mass media. Or, as is posited in the Miller and Shepherd piece, will it simply be co-opted?