Earlier today, Howard Kurtz held his weekly chat where he covered such topics as the decentralization of news coverage, his sources for his columns, and social networking sites. Some excerpts:

Changing the Equation?: Joan Didion once described the presidential campaign as a closed system staged by the candidates for the news media -- one in which the media judged the candidate by how well he or she manipulated them, and in which the electorate were bystanders. In this election, do you think the rise of the Internet and so-called "people-powered politics" has changed this equation at all?

Howard Kurtz: Sure. Look at all the YouTube moments that have attracted millions of eyeballs, regardless of what the big networks and newspapers and magazines do. Look at Obama's use of the Internet. Look at the role of Facebook. And bloggers have never been more influential at influencing the dialogue. If it ever was a closed system -- remember, for all the media's power, people get to make up their own minds and vote -- it's a lot more porous today, and I think that's a healthy thing.

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Helena, Mont.: Why do you quote Rich Lowry on the Democratic nominating process? Rich Lowry is a conservative, a Republican -- he has no voice in what Democrats do. Once the nominating process is over, then Rich Lowry can have an opinion on the Democratic nominee. At most, he is a concern troll.

Howard Kurtz: I have this revolutionary idea. I quote both conservatives and liberals on both the Democratic and Republican contests. I'm just as interested in what Frank Rich is saying about McCain as I am in what Rich Lowry is saying about Obama and Bill Kristol this morning is saying about Hillary. Even if you're a partisan of one side or the other, it's useful -- not to mention enlightening -- to know what the other side, fairly or unfairly, is saying.

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Teachers on Facebook: Howard, I like that young teachers have revealing Internet pages. From what I can tell (in my mid-30s), it would not occur to many younger people to hide any aspect of their lives. They will post thoughts and pictures about volunteering as readily as items about hard partying. I'm seeing it as a sort of innocence, and exploiting it for knowledge about them. Since I don't have a Victorian mindset, I'm not appalled by evidence that a young teacher might have lovers or know how to enjoy a party. I'm much more interested to see if they've joined groups like "Academic Integrity is for Losers," or NAMBLA. These people are making initial background checks convenient and free!

Howard Kurtz: Well, I understand the fun aspect of it. The problem is, an employer or potential employer may not be so understanding. In a related development, as the ombudman wrote yesterday, The Post canned a sportswriter who posted a drunk picture of himself on a blog that carried obscene, sexist and racist comments.