From Steve Rubel at MicroPersuasion:

ClickZ reports
that a new study by Euro RSCG/Columbia University shows that more than
51 percent of journalists use blogs regularly, and 28 percent rely on
them to help in their day-to-day reporting duties.

What’s more the study found that journalists mostly used blogs for
finding story ideas (53 percent), researching and referencing facts (43
percent) and finding sources (36 percent). And 33 percent said they
used blogs to uncover breaking news or scandals. The only nit is,
despite their reliance on blogs for reporting, only one percent of
journalists found blogs credible, the study revealed.

He goes on to point out that there is no excuse for not monitoring blogs, and that those companies that start and maintain positive blogging conversations will get more press.

On another note the study should be good grist for the ConvergeSouth conference in October.