Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Classification of blogs

Subject matters

Technorati defines blogs in 6 different categories which are:-

1. Business
2. Entertainment
3. Lifestyle
4. Politics
5. Sports
6. Technology

Devices:-

Moblog - Mobile (phone) blogging

Media Types:-

Vlog - video blogs (such as Youtube)
Linklog - Collection of blog networks
Sketchlog - Collection of sketches and dravings (such as Deviantart)
*WARNING*
Splog - Spam blog (Fake blogs for promotion purposes)

There are also other blogs which have a combination of styles which makes them hard to categorize. Otherwise known as hybrid blogs, can be identified by their purpose.
Such as the topics discussed in the blogs, the style of writing (formal or informal), format and audience.

Personally, the audience is the most crucial for all blogs as the main goal is to have people to read on the blog and contribute in turn. Thus the best interest of both parties would be achieved.
Therefore the right topics, style and format is crucial to attract the targeted audience.

Hence, with the targeted audience achieved, a community would begin to form around the blog which shares their same interest and contribute to it. Slowly as readers begin to leave comments, they begin to open up and contribute more. Which according to Cedar Pruitt (2005), the Pew study cites a rapid increase in the number of blog readers who leave comments, meaning that more and more people are becoming accustomed to participating in the social discourse that occurs in the "blogosphere."

An example of these blogging communities is http://www.usj.com.my/ , where communities in the area are able to get more information of their surroundings such as the new OCPD in Subang Jaya Police Station and other issues which interest the community.

How to create a blogging community?
Much rather it is the community which makes it a blogging community.
Although there are ways to help achieve this, which is by targeting the audience in the community. By understanding the needs of the community and being able to cater to those needs, the community would then realize the importance of the blog in their lives and begin to contribute towards it.

Reference

Pruitt, C, 2005, The Blogging Phenomenon: Who? How? Why?, Digital Divide Network, Retrieved 2 May 2008, from http://www.digitaldivide.net/articles/view.php?ArticleID=86

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Blogs as current phenomenon & effects on community

For years mankind has kept a record on issues which are important to them, thus the development of history.
But there is also a more personal record which individuals keep, which is their diary or journal.
These days with the advancement of technology, we now have the internet which allowed it's users to upload information into their online diary (Tawa 2001) which is accessible worldwide (as long as you have an internet connection).
But the internet is accessible by people worldwide allowing others to view our "online diary" or otherwise known as free-style blogs which Ozawa (2001) calls it as a blog which focuses on the author's personal life.
Thus a new trend has arise where bloggers are seeking attention rather than posting their true personal stories. Therefore, the purpose of a blogosphere where bloggers can share their opinions may have changed over the years.

According to Technorati (technorati.com, 2008), which have been tracking blogs since March 2003, the current size of blogosphere in October 2006 have surpassed 57 million blogs.



Many people would wonder how could a community be affected by blogs, as most of them are just rantings of what someone did the day before.
But there are also political blogs which enables individuals who wish to express their freedom of speech which they couldn't have done through other means.
This is because mainstream medias are usually regulated by the government which prevents these individuals from reaching the public.
Thus the best alternative they have would be the internet, where hopefully people who are concerned of the same issue are able to meet on the internet and discuss better means to solve the problem at hand.
The same would go for social and business blogs although they are not prevented from voicing out in mainstream medias.



Reference

Ozawa, Ryan Kawailani (2001) journal vs. weblog. Diarist.net, August 4, 2001. Retrieved December 11, 2001, from http://www.diarist.net/guide/blogjournal.shtml


Tawa, Renee (2001) Personal Web Logs put a face on a faraway disaster; Heartfelt commentary that mass media don't provide boosts the popularity of 'blogs.' Los Angeles Times: Southern California Living; October 14, 2001, Sunday Home Edition, Part 5, p. 1

Monday, April 28, 2008

The purpose of my blog

The idea of where heads clash, literally means the exchange of ideas from individual to individual.

Why? This is because each individual may see things from different perspectives and angles.
Thus by gathering all the perspectives and angles, we are able to see an overall picture of the "issue" at hand.

Although most of the issues would be about communication, and issues in publication and design.

Therefore, opinions from academicians and practitioners in these field are highly appreciated, but opinions from the public are also crucial in the search of the "overall picture".