The World of Blogging: Discoveries and Conclusions

From my last post you can see that their are a wide variety of blogs in cyberspace which all perform different functions for different purposes. Through my own blogging experience I have discovered the joy of blogging and the positive effects it can have not only on society but also on oneself. I have found that blogging fulfills my desire to express my opinion and articulate my thoughts for others to enjoy and I think this is the attraction for many bloggers.

I have also learnt about the differences between using online technology for publishing and using the more traditional print options. The online world is very unique in that it allows us to change and mould our publications depending on our needs at the time. For example, I could go back and change this post tomorrow or the next day or the next day, as often as my opinion changes. I can also include links and references to other sites and other opinions which can provide the reader with more information in an instant, while they are still interested and intrigued by what I am saying. This is not the case for print publications in which the author must commit to the written word before it goes to publication and any extra information or direction given by the author must be further pursued with much more effort on the reader's behalf. There are also physical differences to consider such as the difference between reading from a screen as opposed to a piece of paper. These are all important issues which one must consider before choosing a mode of publication. They each have their advantages and disadvantages and this is the thing about publications, choosing the right mode for your purpose is half the battle.

For me, this blog provided me with easy access (from home or university) and with a platform within the cyber world to express myself. This blog is about expression and discussion however there are a number of reasons why people blog. Some people are committed to providing a professional arena in which to present themselves to the world. Others want the ability to perform as professionals and blogs give them this opportunity; to be a professional ameture. Some people also want to start a place where communities can come together in support and discussion. And some people use their blogs as a launching platform in which to encourage the reading of their other pieces of work. Being an enthusiastic writer, this could be the next step for me!

Whatever the purpose or intent of a blog, one thing remains the same; it is accessible adaptable. I think blogging is here to stay and I think the future will see a refinement of the way in which we all use blogs. I think there will be less of the Diary style blogs as social networking sites are becoming more prominent. I also think there will be an increase in serious discussion in blogs for all facets of life as people start to see the potential of weblogs. I am all for the development and useage of blogs! Bring on the future!

A way to keep informed about current media issues, including weblogs is to visit some of these sites on a continual basis:

ABC Media Report (used frequently in this blog): http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/default.htm

The Australian (in particular the Media section): http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/

Crikey, a site in which people are starting to earn a living from blogging, perhaps as part of a News blog: http://www.crikey.com.au/

Pool, an ABC initiative which sees the implementation of creative commons licensing so that people can legally share their creative content: http://www.pool.org.au/

Produsage, an informative site about the concept of user-led content creation: http://produsage.org/