Serious side(s) of blogging attracts media attention
April 22, 2004Gregory M. Lamb writes in the Christian Science Monitor: “Blogs: Here to stay - with changes”
Except for a tiny number of blogs that have gained prominence, all this techno-chattiness remains just that: an immature form of communication that has yet to gain traction with the general public, experts say. Most are moldering in cyberspace, updated only sporadically or abandoned completely. But out of this fervid experimentation are coming some new forms of communication that are already influencing public discourse.That’s what I’m hoping to do for you out there, my readers, give you a nice nutritious shot of news to help satisfy that gnawing hunger.
Take politics. David Winer says weblogs are going to play a huge role in politics. . . .
Although many of the most popular bloggers discuss politics and other news events, few observers say they believe blogs will replace conventional print journalism anytime soon. Instead, they say, blogs are becoming another place where news-hungry readers can go. . . .
“It is an important phenomenon happening on the Web,” says Amanda Lenhart, the principal author of a recent survey that asked Americans about blogs and was conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project in Washington. It showed that between 2 and 7 percent of Americans have created blogs and about 11 percent of Americans have read at least one. “It is not a large number in the grand scheme of the Internet,” Ms. Lenhart says. Nevertheless, she says, that’s 4 million to 9 million people, not an insignificant number.My goal is to be in that 10% of bloggers that are daily updaters, though at times, like the next 10 days or so, pressing work deadlines may interfere.
The survey also found that most bloggers don’t update their blogs very often - once a week or less. Only about 10 percent make a new entry at least daily. Read more
Fast Company magazine has this: “It’s A Blog World After All”
Blogs were once the domain of angst-ridden teens and doomed presidential candidates. But the likes of Verizon, IBM, Microsoft, and Dr. Pepper are all climbing on the blogwagon. Turns out, Web logs are a nifty knowledge-management tool. And companies also see them as a promising medium for advertising (naturally). Read moreSee also the other articles on blogging and Internet social networking linked from that page,as well as the Fast Company team blog, FC Now, which ranges from a wide variety of business and tech topics to the more personal, most notably the recent post of one of the writers’ “Eulogy for My Father” — a must-read.
Finally, look at this fascinating USA Today piece on blogging by Iraqis: Iraqis enjoy new freedom of expression on Web journals (by Cesar G. Soriano)
Now, Internet cafes seemingly dot every block in Baghdad, and new ones open often. That has led to a new phenomenon here: bloggers.The article gives URL’s for a number of these blogs, which are providing a unique window into this nation whose future is now wedded to ours “for better or worse, in sickness and in health,” etc. (like it or not, that’s a fact, IMHO).
“We suffered for years under Saddam Hussein, not being able to speak out,” says Omar Fadhil, 24, a dentist. “Now, you can make your voice heard around the world.” . . .
“People are enjoying their newfound freedoms,” says Ali Wathak, 35, owner of the [Twin Towers Internet Cafe, named after the Petronas Towers in Malaysia]. “It’s a civilized country. We need to get connected to the world.” . . .
There are about 30 Iraqi bloggers in Baghdad, plus a few other blogs written by Iraqis abroad. . . .Read more
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