CAD Insiders, many of them veteran journalists, find themselves increasingly in the presence of bloggers at CAD events. It is not unusual for  bloggers to be granted the same rights, privileges, and perks that the trade press has enjoyed for years. For example, the recently concluded SolidWorks World in San Diego, the press room, long the bastion of "traditional press," was frequented by bloggers. Same for the press dinner. Journalists are accustomed to full, free access to conference classes (though most do not attend), ditto the bloggers. Journalists are used to hobnobbing with top executives at CAD companies — but I saw those same execs giving equal face time to bloggers.

So how is this going over? Major CAD companies have indeed recognized blogging as valuable. Has their treatment of bloggers given bloggers cred? Does the old school resent the intrusion? Do bloggers play by the rules — or do they even have rules? I’ll try to examine some of these issues in an ongoing series of posts. And as usual, I welcome you to chime in with your opinion.

I hope to discuss the following topics:

• Who knows more about the software, blogger or journalist?
• Who knows more about the industry?
• Should bloggers be considered press?
• Does the press look down on bloggers?
• Do bloggers look down on the press?
• Who does better in quality? Quantity? Timeliness? Insight?
• What is the role of blogger and journalist in the future?