HW 19: Advantages of Blogging

The network of blogging has become increasingly popular all over the world. Many factors contribute to the success of blogging. One of the main factors is the format in which blogs are written. ALTHOUGH SOME READERS MAY OBJECT that this format is unprofessional, I WOULD ANSWER that it is actually quite beneficial. The easy to read format allows readers to quickly obtain the important information incorporated in the post. EVEN MORE IMPORTANT is that the mainstream media is able to look at the most popular blog posts and incorporate that information in their articles. Also blogs have an advantage over the mainstream media due to their low cost of publication. FOR EXAMPLE blogs are able to reveal information before other media can even respond. IN OTHER WORDS the speed of posting new information is extremely crucial and beneficial to blogs. In addition blogs are also able to quickly correct or update their posts if they are confronted with an error. MY POINT IS NOT THAT WE SHOULD rely solely on blogs to provide us with our news, BUT THAT WE SHOULD be aware of the strong relationship which it maintains with the mainstream media.

HW 17B: How Blogging Impacts The Way We Vote

In my opinion the blog “DailyKos” will be more influential to the way a person will vote in the upcoming election. This blog provides readers with all different issues, which occur in the political world. It informs readers of many important news features relating to the upcoming election. This blog is written by a man who is extremely passionate about politics and who maintains a strong viewpoint about certain issues. He is proud of his views and clearly states his opinions. This blog consists of issues, which are of interest to him. Yet, he manages to address opposing views and cover a wide variety of political issues. Although “Wonkette” provides a great deal of information about political factors, it focuses on one main topic, known as sexual scandals. This is a very interesting topic, which can greatly affect voter’s views of their political leaders. These personal facts about political leaders can largely impact the type of assumptions and judgments, which voters will make about them. Although this blog provides an excellent source of personal information I do not feel that it is as affective in the way people will vote because it does not contain as wide of a variety of topics about politics. Voters do not make their decision on who to vote for based on one sole topic, they need to be aware of a variety of different sources and situations.

HW 16: The Five Pillars of Conversation

Scoble states that the five pillars of conversation are considered to be the ease of publishing, discoverability, cross-site conversations, permalinking and syndication. Scoble believes that these are the five areas in which made blogging successful and popular. The first factor is the ease of publishing. This is proven to be true because anyone who desires to write a blog is able to. There are no requirements or standards, which have to met in order to create a blog of your own. A person does not need any type of training or special education in a particular area in order to write about it on a blog. Blogs are a place where anyone and everyone have the power to write about anything they wish and express their knowledge, views and opinions with their readers. This supports Scoble’s claim about the ease of publishing and the fact that anyone can publish anything they want. Next is discoverability, which means that by tagging your blog, or by giving it key words it is easily found and discovered by readers. Readers are able to type in any key word, which you have used in your blog tag and they will be able to find the blog, which you have posted. Cross-site conversation is another factor, which contributes to the success of blogs. This is where a blogger is able to see who is looking at their blog and therefore can read the blogs of their readers. Permalinking is where a blogger can set up their URL so that it is isolated and it immediately takes them to their post. This is beneficial to the blogger because they do not have to search for their blog they are able to easily access it at all times. Finally syndication has contributed to the phenomenon of blogging. This makes things easy for readers because it allows them to see a quantity of sites at one time. Also they are then able to expand their blog reading by using this source. In conclusion Scoble’s five pillars of conversation accurately demonstrate the success of blogging.

HW14: Are Blogs Taking Over Mainstream Media?

Granted the phenomenon of blogging will not occur overnight, I believe that it will eventually take over and replace the existing published newspapers. Although bloggers do not have any special training in the particular subject area which they are writing about, they provide a community and a human voice. In fact Denton states that he does not base his decision on resumes and he prefers to hire younger, less experienced writers rather than an experienced journalist. As a result bloggers do not struggle with the transition from writing for a newspaper or magazine to writing for a blog. Also this theory provides an opportunity for people to become successful writers who otherwise would have struggled getting a job as a journalist. Despite the fact that people do not have complete trust in information provided by blogs, the media has also made some mistakes. Furthermore bloggers are able to provide their readers with a direct insight from within the actual source. Therefore, weblogs will gradually build their audience reducing the dependence on mainstream newspapers. Hence, weblogs will inevitably become the main source of information and will decide which stories to cover.

HW 13: The Relationship Between Blogging and Business

In my opinion the impact of bloogging on businesses is more important than its impact on communication that is non-business related. Blogging may be very influential on businesses. The relationship between blogs and business is crucial to the success of both systems. Business can use blogs to their advantage and in return businesses will benefit blogs. Blogs provide support and advertisement for certain companies. “There is little to stop companies from quietly burying bloggers’ support, or even starting un-branded blogs of their own to promote their products-or to tar the competition.” [Kline, 226] Therefore businesses can manipulate blogs in order to benefit their company. Although some blogs may reveal negative information,, companies are able to control this issue by being aware of these blogs, tacking them and privately and efficiently dealing with them. Blogs also benefit from companies by gaining more readers. Also occasionally blogs have the ability to destroy or impair a company because they are able to form relationships with employees in a particular company and obtain inside information, which they can then reveal, to the public. Therefore the relationship between bloggers and businesses is extremely important.

HW 11: "Making Global Voices Heard"

I chose to read the blog “Racism and War: Overcoming Us and Them,” on the weblog site OhMyNews. The homepage of this weblog has a white background with the title of in large red letters at the top of the page. The blog posts are listed below in chronological order beginning with the most recently posted blog. The titles are in a large blue font with the first few sentences of the blog beneath it. This gives the reader an idea of what the post is going to be about. The blog also contains other links and pictures. This weblog consists of many different bloggers. The focus for these blogs has to do with international affairs. The blog, which I read about dealt with the issue of racism around the world. It addressed the different types of racism, and the negative affects which they have on society. This blog also implies that those who have economic and political power and who have racist tendencies can be extremely dangerous and harmful. Rebecca MacKinnon states that this blog has had a large affect on politics, especially in South Korea. Also she explains that the information posted on this blog spreads extremely fast. MacKinnon’s explanation of the blog does correspond to the blog posts it portrays today. The posts are very political and seem to reveal information about important international situations. Also she explains that this blog has a team of professional editors which is demonstrated because each of the blogs are set up in a professional manner and they seem to reveal accurate information. ALTHOUGH NOT ALL READERS THINK ALIKE, SOME OF THEM WILL PROBABLY DISPUTE MY CLAIM that these blog posts provide accurate and important information. Some readers may feel that these blogs do not cover all of the inside details incorporated in these international affairs.

HW 10B: A Weblog Saved My Life Last Night

ALTHOUGH I DISAGREE WITH MUCH THAT Ayelet Waldman SAYS, I FULLY ENDORSE HER FINAL CONCLUSION THAT her blog saved her life. I do not believe that it is appropriate or necessary for people to reveal the intimate and personal details of their lives online for millions of bloggers to read. However, I do believe that there is a positive aspect to revealing personal information in a blog, which was demonstrated by Waldman’s situation. Revealing personal information onto a public blog, which may be considered harmful or dangerous to oneself may be beneficial. This public confession may lead to a forced intervention. If people who know the blogger read a blog, which contains detrimental information they will be able to intervene and provide help. Expressing this personal information online is actually an efficient way to seek out help and support from other people. Bloggers will be able to receive advice and support from readers who have experienced the same feelings. Although revealing these details is a public display of a personal breakdown it may also be the source of your rescue. I agree that revealing personal information, which may be harmful to you is in fact a cry for help. This online confession may end up saving your life or directing you to help.

HW 10: Parents monitoring their child's online journal

In my opinion it is important for teenagers to be able to express themselves without the constant parental overlook. Today, teenagers struggle with feelings of loneliness and insecurity and they should have a place where they can express themselves. Online journals allow teenagers to express their feelings and thoughts without repercussions. These journals provide a place where teenagers feel comfortable with themselves. Here, they are able to share their overabundance of emotions with others who are feeling the same way. In Emily Nussbaum’s article, “My So-Called Blog” she interviews a young boy who consistently writes in his online journal. He refers to the journal as “a way to get out his true feelings-all the emotions he thought might get him in trouble if he expressed them in school or at home.” [Kline, 352] Expressing one’s feelings is a natural and healthy way of dealing with particular issues and fears. Teenagers face many difficult and confusing situations and they should be entitled to have a special place of their own where they can reveal their personal feelings. Although they may reveal certain events, which would be disturbing to parents, they should not be denied the opportunity to confide in a personal and private online journal. Therefore I feel that the online journals of teenagers should not be overlooked and watched by parents. They should remain a private and personal area where teenagers can express their inner feelings.

HW 5b: The disappearance of the mainstream media

In this chapter David Kline dedicates two paragraphs to discussing his views on the success of the mainstream media. Within these paragraphs Kline SUGGESTS that blogging will not cause the disappearance of the mainstream media. In fact he BELIEVES that the media will thrive from the uprising of blogging. Kline feels that the relationship between the media and blogging will actually strengthen due to the fact that bloggers rely on the media to supply them with the information which they then blog about. Simon Waldman REMINDS US “[Their] great weakness, though, is the lack of shape, structure and ultimately meaning [of what] all this amounts to.” (Kline, 244) In this statement Waldman CLAIMS that blogs lack the appropriate format and direct release of information. Yet, I disagree with the views presented by Kline in these paragraphs. I feel that blogging may be the cause of a severe decline in the mainstream media. I DO NOT DENY the fact that the media and bloggers obtain a significant relationship in which they depend on each other. However, I do not feel that the success of blogging will strengthen their relationship, I INSIST that it will only continue to cause major conflict between them resulting in the deterioration of the mainstream media. I ACKNOWLEDGE that blogs do not contain a proper format and they do not provide the public with the actual information, nevertheless I believe that this should be considered an advantage. Their informal format allows readers to easily and quickly read the presented information. Also I feel that although bloggers do not receive the complete story of an event they are able to interact and respond to the presented information, which is an important characteristic. Blogs are rapidly developing and becoming a popular way for people to get their daily news. I SUPPORT the belief that blogging will cause the fall of the mainstream media.

HW 2: key concept of blogging, huge phenomenon

Over the past few years blogging has become more widely known. Blogging is now used much more frequently and attracts a large audience. At this time blogging has a huge impact on the communication in the world. It greatly affects the interaction and communication between people. David Kline and Dan Burstein first recognized and addressed this key concept in their book blog! I strongly agree that blogging is beginning to have an increasing influence on communication around the world. The future of our media will also depend on the growth of blogging. Blogging provides an easy way for people to read and learn about current events and issues. It also allows people to respond to these events and express their personal opinions about the subject matter. This is an intriguing opportunity for people who enjoy sharing their personal thoughts. This allows people to interact, participate and be involved in the issues, which they are reading about. It fascinates me how far we have come with technological advances such as e-mail and instant messaging. These tools have become an important and essential part of every day life. These advances in technology have always interested me because they have a huge impact on my life. These advances have drastically changed our lifestyles. I can only imagine how blogging will evolve and impact communication for the entire world.