‘Blog’ is the shortened form of ‘weblog’, a phrase marrying ‘web’ (i.e. the internet) and ‘log’ (a journal, like the captain’s log on the Starship Enterprise). A web-based publication consisting primarily of periodic articles – normally in reverse order, with the latest posts on top, blogs are free and easy to set up (Blogger, LiveJournal, Open Diary) and maintain. They often function in very personal ways, like diaries; they usually rely on existing news agendas and items, but arranged with a personal or campaign focus (Branston & Stafford 2006, p. 205).
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Those who blog are affectionately referred to as ‘bloggers’; it is estimated that there are over 100 million of them, and they come from all creeds and corners of the world.
'Blogging' is a revolutionary method of information delivery - providing the ability for practically anyone anywhere to broadcast information on any topic (personal thoughts, political commentary, news, Hollywood gossip, gardening, vintage car restoration, computer building, flower pressing... the list goes on) to any audience anywhere, through a rich, pliable medium which is often illustrated with images or videos, and extended with external links.
Traditional news mediums, such as newspapers and television, must pass through a series of processes (such as censorship, general editing, and editor in chief approval - especially concerning 'juicy' topics), before something is printed or aired. Furthermore as newspapers are generally printed the night before, or in the early hours of the morning, they generally print yesterday's news. A blog can be updated at any time one has access to the internet, with avid tech-savvy bloggers taking to using devices such as their mobile phones to update their blogs on the go, as soon as news breaks, or is convenient to them.
Arnold (2008) states that when most people think of “blogs", they often think of the most popular weblogs which are often updated multiple times a day and which by definition have tens of thousands of daily readers. However, these make up the tip of a very deep iceberg: prominently visible, but not characteristic of the iceberg as a whole. Lying below the surface are literally millions of blogs which fail to attract wide audiences, since they are only of interest to the family, friends, fellow students and/or co-workers of their stereotypically teenage and 20-something bloggers. Arnold (2008) terms this group of readers ‘nanoaudiences’, further stating that many blogs have no more than two dozen readers.
However not all bloggers are striving for world domination, for many a blog is a simply a free, easy and innovative medium to communicate and share with people who, whether for location differences or time constraints, they would otherwise not be able to stay ‘connected’ with.
Video: “Blogs in Plain English”
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References:
Arnold, B 2008 "Blog Statistics and Demographics" Caslon Analytics, viewed October 28 2008 <http://www.caslon.com.au/weblogprofile1.htm>.
Branston, G & Stafford, R 2006, ‘The media student’s book’, 4th edn, Routledge, London & New York.
Image: Stock Expert 2008, Image #9345192, <http://www.stockxpert.com/>.
Video: Lee Fever 2007, "Blogs in Plain English", Youtube, <http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=NN2I1pWXjXI>.
