• Over 75% of reporters see blogs as helpful in giving them story ideas, story angles and insight into the tone of an issue.
• 70% of reporters check a blog list on a regular basis.
• 21% of reporters spend over an hour per day reading blogs.
• 57% of reporters read blogs at least two to three times a week.

Journalists are also increasingly active participants in the blogosphere.

• 28% of reporters have their own blogs.
• 16% have their own social networking page.
• 48% say they are "lurkers" - reading blogs but rarely commenting.

The survey is part of an ongoing research project by Brodeur in conjunction with Marketwire to understand the impact that social media and blogs are having on traditional news delivery. The survey was conducted among a random sample of North American reporters and editors. You may obtain a copy of the survey here.

Blogging lawyers are regularly contacted by reporters for stories relating to the lawyer's niche area of the law. Results in an interview from which the lawyer is quoted in a main stream or trade publication reaching prospective clients or their influencers. I get called about once a week.

Talking with lawyers, I've been referencing a 2 year old study finding 40% of journalists using blogs as a source once a week. So it was nice to pick up this recent research.