Let us take a look at one of the few entities more fundamental to the information business than the Times: Microsoft. Yes, a lot has noise been made by, and about, its blog mobilizer. But it also has the MSDN forums which have 136,000 users. It’s the users that are in control there. They ask the questions and Microsoft employees or expert developers respond; unanswered questions are clearly marked. And I’d call it a persistent place for comment an interaction.

But it’s a big secret, as no one hosts forum conferences; only blogs are buzzworthy. The Enquirer editor can host a blog and be celebrated for it, and sleep comfortably that his critics are cordoned off in the comments.

You know as well as I that the Times and companies like Advance.Net had invested heavily in the 1990’s in interactive platforms that ultimately proved crummy– WebCrossing anyone? Abuzz? The latter was at least designed quite scalable, but the Times for some reason could not integrate it with their articles, or get enough reporters to use it, and they ultimately let it die. It would have been a great way for users pressing their issues.

And conveniently, the blog came along to appear to put power in the hands of the users… a fitting illusion for the news business, which itself is in the business of illusions.

And, between a blog and a Q&A, which format does a better job at answering questions? Have a look at the Cincinatti Enquirer’s editor’s blog: editor Tom Callinan is using the classic blog technique of posting a new entry– and ducking questions that get asked in the older entries.

I’m afraid that the format you love is just another means for the Voiced to write whatever’s on their mind– and call it “conversation.”