According to the latest Annual Euro RSCG Magnet and Columbia University Survey of the Media, 51% of journalists, combared to 11% of all US internet users (according to eWeek), are using weblogs regularly and 28% rely on them for their daily reporting. By contrast, only 1% of journalists believe in their credibility. The study is based on responses of 1,202 journalist from the US and other countries worldwide (no further details regarding the other countries given on Euro RSCG Magnet ). Of journalist who reported using blogs 70% use blogs for work-related tasks: they use blogs to find story ideas, researching and referencing facts, finding sources and uncovering breaking news. However, only few journalists post on blogs or have their own blogs. "Such activities might be seen as compromising objectivity and thus credibility."
Steven S. Ross, associate professor at Columbia University and a partner in the study said on Euro RSCG Magnet: “As blogs continue to gain in popularity, quality and influence, it is becoming imperative that journalists and journalism students continue to integrate blogs, especially blogs that cover technology, into their reporting practices. A number of credible and influential Weblogs – such as Scobleizer, Gizmodo, and Boing Boing – provide an invaluable trove of research, story ideas, and other information that current and future journalists would be remiss not to leverage in their reporting."
Wall Street Journal technology reporter Nick Wingfield thinks that the findings of the study still sound conservative, at least for technology journalists. He said on Bulldog Reporter: "In my case, I’m definitely part of the crowd using them in [my] reporting... Certain industries and beats have embraced the medium more quickly than others. For example, the reporter who covers agriculture and farming probably isn’t going to find as much information for reporting in blogs. But in tech beats — it’s become part of the job. There are a lot of superb blogs out there and many [of us] are cherry picking out interesting stories there."
Zijin (www.zijin.net) studies journalism ,communication, Internet communication. As a privately run website,it was founded on March 18th,2000. Originally named “Zijin Journalism Review", it changed to Zijin on October 18th, 2000. Started by Mr. Zizoo, Zijin is one of China's earlist academic websites on journalism and communication, well-known among its counterparts in China. 
