Long Bets is an interesting concept: a site where people can make predictions about the future and put their money their mouths are. It is a forum for long-term bets about socially relevant topics, and the money from each bet goes to the bettor’s charity of choice.
Of particular interest to me is a bet made by Dave Winer and challenged by Martin Nisenholtz:
In a Google search of five keywords or phrases representing the top five news stories of 2007, weblogs will rank higher than the New York Times’ Web site.
Given the explosion of weblogs across the Web, the increasing ease-of-use of blogging software, and the timeliness and relevance possible in a well-maintained blog, I’m inclined to agree with Dave. In addition, the regular media is restricted by its need to make a profit, which tends to direct media organizations to cover more photogenic or shocking stories rather than those that are actually relevant.
That, and we bloggers already outnumber the New York Times staff. How can we lose? :)
