Jason Calacanis, co-founder of Weblogs and a tech industry luminary, recently posted on the issue of email interviews:

A WIRED journalist pinged me for some comments on Michael Arrington and his A-list blogger status. I told the journalist to send me the questions by email and he refused.

What's interesting is what follows. Calacanis posted a BlackBerry email he sent back to the reporter:

Frankly, you need to adapt. Journalists have misquoted people for so long--and quoted them out of context that many people like to have their words on record.

I don't want someone taking half a sentence or paraphrasing me... Just too much risk.

Besides I have 10,000 people come to my blog every day--i don't need wired to talk to the tech industry.

The last sentence is the crux of it. For Calacanis, the fact that he can reach his own audience through his own blog means he doesn't have to rely on the traditional media. And because of that, he can play by his own rules.

Personally, I don't particularly like email interviews because it can be difficult to pick up nuances of the reporter's questions. However, if the source is the one who wants to do the email interview, the shoe is on the other foot.

I still recommend that most clients do their interviews over the phone or in person. But for those like Calacanis whose professional world is online, the email interview can have certain advantages. That is ... if the reporter will agree to do it.

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