Bloggers hit back at Andrew Marr's 'drunk people ranting' claim

Bloggers today dismissed Andrew Marr's claim that they are "bald, cauliflower-nosed, young men sitting in their mother's basements and ranting".

Marr, the BBC's political correspondent, attacked "so-called citizen journalism," describing it as "the spewings and rantings of very drunk people late at night".

"It's fantastic at times," he said, "but it is not going to replace journalism".

However political blogger Paul Staines, who runs the Guido Fawkes site, hit back by describing Marr as a "jug-eared old man sitting in Auntie's basement".

Other critics noted that the BBC has more than 100 blogs on its news website and encourages readers to send in their thoughts.

"This, from somebody who looks like a Taxi with the doors wide open? :)" said twitter user @GiantDespair. Channel 4 presenter Krishnan Guru Murthy said: "There are plenty of thoughtful, insightful people writing online: you just need to find them."