Pundit Blogs: What They Are and Which Ones to Read

Back in 2006 I noticed that pundit blogs were popping up all over the blogosphere, many with “pundit” right in their name. This article explains what a pundit blog is, looks back at the pundit blogs I followed then, and shares tips for choosing opinion and analysis blogs worth reading today.

Quick answer: A pundit blog is a blog where the author comments on and analyses current news, usually politics, business or tech, rather than reporting it first-hand. Instapundit by Glenn Reynolds is the best-known example and is still updated. Today the same kind of expert commentary also appears in newsletters, podcasts and social media.

What are pundit blogs?

A “pundit” is an expert or knowledgeable person who shares opinions with authority. In blogging, a pundit blog focuses on news punditry: assessing the stories already running in the established media, adding context and giving the author’s take.

Pundit blogs usually post often and link out a lot. Their value comes from the writer’s judgement: which stories they pick, what they think matters and how they explain it.

Pundit blogs I followed in 2006

Political pundit blogs

Possibly the best known and by far the most popular was Instapundit (external site), an online opinion magazine from Glenn Reynolds. Bloggers coined the word Instalanche for the sudden flood of traffic you got when Instapundit linked to you. It could be big enough to crash a small blog’s web server or use up its hosting bandwidth. Instapundit is still publishing new posts today.

There were many others with political commentary: the Rude Pundit, Polipundit (“Elections and politics with a Conservative bent”), the Daily Pundit, Weekend Pundit, the Latino Pundit, and smaller ones like Patio Pundit, Publius Pundit and Expresso Pundit.

Business pundit blogs

Not all of them were political. Businesspundit covered entrepreneurship, economics, finance, strategy and leadership. TriplePundit (external site) looked at business through an “integrated bottom line” lens from a new generation of MBAs, and today it publishes solutions journalism on sustainability.

Indian and Asian pundit blogs

Indian readers loved following DesiPundit, a group blog that highlighted the best posts and breaking events from the Indian blogosphere. Mobilepundit tracked India’s mobile phone revolution, and I got to know AsiaPundit when it hosted the Best Asia Blog awards. Several of these sites have since gone quiet or disappeared.

How to choose pundit blogs worth reading today

• Look for real expertise. The best pundits know their field well and explain why, not just what.
• Check that they link to sources. Good commentary links to the original reports so you can read them yourself.
• Read more than one side. Follow pundits with different views so you get a balanced picture.
• Separate news from opinion. Pundit blogs are commentary. Check important facts with original reporting.
• Use a feed reader or newsletter. Many pundits now publish email newsletters, and RSS still works for most blogs, so you can follow them without endless scrolling.

New to blogging words like pundit, blogroll and permalink? Our giant blogging terms glossary explains over 200 of them.

FAQ

What is a pundit blog?

A pundit blog is a blog that offers expert opinion and analysis on current news, usually politics, business or technology.

What is the most famous pundit blog?

Instapundit by Glenn Reynolds is one of the best-known pundit blogs and is still updated regularly.

What does Instalanche mean?

It is blogger slang for the sudden surge of traffic a site gets after Instapundit links to it.

Do pundit blogs still matter?

Yes. The format has spread to newsletters, podcasts and social media, but expert commentary that explains the news is still popular.

Which pundit blogs do you read? Let us know in the comments.