First, thoughts of MySpace crept into mind when assigned to begging a blog. I imagined myself glued to the computer screen 24 hours a day, seven days a week trying to better my blog. Although I do not have a MySpace, I find that both it and blogging are similar in the way that people lay themselves out online like an open book, along with pictures and fun little activities available on either page. I believe that because my blog was set up for school purposes, I did not become obsessed with it and only visited when working on a new assignment. I have not allowed myself to use blogging to its full potential, as in dedicating some of my time to blogging about personal matters to me certainly because I am only concentrating on my class assignments. Therefore, I don’t believe it had a strong affect on me because it didn’t grab a hold of me completely. Rather what it did was make me aware that there are a lot of blogs that can be very helpful, useful and credible.
Having to register for a blog and answering questions regarding them gave the class a better insight into the blogosphere. It is absolutely a great tool to have and to experience a blog, while writing about how they contribute as sources, and how many people actually have set up accounts. Also they are somewhat of an advantage. Since a lot of companies so far have set up their own blogs for the employees to interact in, people seeking jobs are able to network within them. Research is no longer limited to popular search engines like Yahoo. The blogosphere hosts hundreds of topics, where the most serious of subjects discussing politics and current events, have credible sources.
In retrospect, the research found supports the fact that generally blogs are a credible source of information. The most acclaimed blogs are those that discuss national or international matters. These blogs are highly anticipated, and some blogs along with their authors have gotten recognition for their work from the media.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Friday, March 7, 2008
Information and Vanity
Sushi? Yes! Sounds familiar. As one of the examples given for an information blog. I think it is an awesome idea to have a blog be all about sushi because I love sushi! Sushi Day has amazing photos and is very helpful for those that don’t know much about sushi, that has been developed by a fellow sushi lover who is not herself a cook. It is a great blog because people are able to give her feedback and she can advise others as much as possible. She encourages others to try new and different things as much as she does; she has fun creating her own versions of sushi.
My second choice for “vanity” blog is Charity, of Gothic Peach is a woman from Iowa who is a paid blogger, a goth,and who loves food and NASCAR. Recently she needs a new bed, she’s been sleeping in her mom’s old bed. She blogs not much about herself but rather things that matter to her like her work as a technical support professional.
Any blog is a good blog because they serve a purpose for the creator of it. They can connect with others and they can express themselves freely. Primarily though, the audience in the end decides what blog is better. Blogs that get the most feedback are the most successful. Blogs that are frequently updated and neat, with pictures and all sorts of topics would be the most eye catching for me because I appreciate organization and various thoughts on different subjects. If I’m going to be enthralled by a blogger they must be able to range in moods to keep me on my toes.
I think journalism online supports these types of blogs, the informative and “vain” more than print media does because online journalism is being separated from the print media. The internet has blogging and chat rooms where anyone can communicate their opinions.
Originally my response to whether blogging was or is a credible source of information was unstable. I stated that it is but, it isn’t. Quickly I went back and reinstated my answer and came to the conclusion that blogging is credible, and still remains credible after my last researches on informative and vanity blogs.
My second choice for “vanity” blog is Charity, of Gothic Peach is a woman from Iowa who is a paid blogger, a goth,and who loves food and NASCAR. Recently she needs a new bed, she’s been sleeping in her mom’s old bed. She blogs not much about herself but rather things that matter to her like her work as a technical support professional.
Any blog is a good blog because they serve a purpose for the creator of it. They can connect with others and they can express themselves freely. Primarily though, the audience in the end decides what blog is better. Blogs that get the most feedback are the most successful. Blogs that are frequently updated and neat, with pictures and all sorts of topics would be the most eye catching for me because I appreciate organization and various thoughts on different subjects. If I’m going to be enthralled by a blogger they must be able to range in moods to keep me on my toes.
I think journalism online supports these types of blogs, the informative and “vain” more than print media does because online journalism is being separated from the print media. The internet has blogging and chat rooms where anyone can communicate their opinions.
Originally my response to whether blogging was or is a credible source of information was unstable. I stated that it is but, it isn’t. Quickly I went back and reinstated my answer and came to the conclusion that blogging is credible, and still remains credible after my last researches on informative and vanity blogs.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Blogs and Ezines
American-Journal, is an online magazine published monthly. It is a diversified publication that encourages the community to submit personal works, i.e. photography, video or stories. Its purpose is to unify and educate readers through the eyes of others and not just the staff of editors and writers. The magazine focuses greatly on stories that concern smaller communities and not the general public and seems as if it could be published by a local small town company, concerning itself only with small stories -seemingly unpretentious.
Between The Blogs blogging site is where Jake and Mandy speak their minds. He and she, married in real life began their blog as a hobby. Their blogs became more exposed and, in a matter of time Mandy was asked by HealthCentral.com to write as an expert blogger on the topic of Multiple Sclerosis. They both provide their opinions on several different topics concerning people in the blogosphere and the mainstream population. Some topics don’t make a huge buzz, but that doesn’t make them less interesting, and yes some are simple, some impressive, and some humorous. They are an effective writing sect, since they have received attention from a health site.
Although neither share similarities in the type of events that they cover, they both have been effective in gathering readers, which make them trustworthy sources. Even though my research on blogs has shown that they can be very credible, I would much rather prefer an online magazine only because of its professionalism. Unless I was looking for a biased opinion on a subject I could not bring myself to use a blog as a source. This does not contradict my original statement, instead in counters with my second “original” thesis.
Between The Blogs blogging site is where Jake and Mandy speak their minds. He and she, married in real life began their blog as a hobby. Their blogs became more exposed and, in a matter of time Mandy was asked by HealthCentral.com to write as an expert blogger on the topic of Multiple Sclerosis. They both provide their opinions on several different topics concerning people in the blogosphere and the mainstream population. Some topics don’t make a huge buzz, but that doesn’t make them less interesting, and yes some are simple, some impressive, and some humorous. They are an effective writing sect, since they have received attention from a health site.
Although neither share similarities in the type of events that they cover, they both have been effective in gathering readers, which make them trustworthy sources. Even though my research on blogs has shown that they can be very credible, I would much rather prefer an online magazine only because of its professionalism. Unless I was looking for a biased opinion on a subject I could not bring myself to use a blog as a source. This does not contradict my original statement, instead in counters with my second “original” thesis.
Friday, February 22, 2008
The Role Blog... Part 2
In accordance with Module 1 Question 1 and Module 2 Questions 3 and 4, I will restate my answer. Blogging is a credible source. These blogs are created by regular people (employees, students) a lot of which use their blogging for business purposes. They are entrepreneurs trying to sell other people products. And in researching various entrepreneurs, a lot of what they write in their blogs can be found being quoted in news articles and other websites.
Entrepreneurial Blog Part 2
What other options would an entrepreneur have to market themselves to their audiences? What things can a blog do for an entrepreneur that these other means of self-promotion cant? Do you feel blogs are an effective alternative to these methods? Why or why not?
There are a handful of options available to entrepreneurs which would enable them to market themselves or their business products; television, radio, print, door-to-door and phone marketing, all nationally and internationally. The downside of using these modes though, is above all money. Transportation is an easy access if an entrepreneur wants to get to the consumers at a personal level at their home. Radio and television are tougher because the expenses add up, where the seller must pay for a team to sell the product. Ultimately, blogging is now a better, quicker, and cheaper choice for the entrepreneur. The internet connects you to billions and billions of people around the world at a click of a button for a fairly low price. Ideas can be written in detail, step by step, pictures can be posted, and most importantly others can give feedback or not. If an entrepreneur has an audience, then the audience can chime in with some thoughts, constructive criticism or positive feedback, which are very helpful to the seller and therefore blogs are an effective and better alternative.
Did the research material you found support or not support your original thesis?
Although I was skeptical at first about blogs having any credibility, the research information that I found actually taught me and confirmed, that yes, blogs are a credible source of information. I must admit my thesis was unsteady, but now stands firm on the side for blogging. After this module I have agreed that blogs have some credibility and so changed my previous answer form Module 1 Question 1, which can be found under “The Role Blog… Part2”
There are a handful of options available to entrepreneurs which would enable them to market themselves or their business products; television, radio, print, door-to-door and phone marketing, all nationally and internationally. The downside of using these modes though, is above all money. Transportation is an easy access if an entrepreneur wants to get to the consumers at a personal level at their home. Radio and television are tougher because the expenses add up, where the seller must pay for a team to sell the product. Ultimately, blogging is now a better, quicker, and cheaper choice for the entrepreneur. The internet connects you to billions and billions of people around the world at a click of a button for a fairly low price. Ideas can be written in detail, step by step, pictures can be posted, and most importantly others can give feedback or not. If an entrepreneur has an audience, then the audience can chime in with some thoughts, constructive criticism or positive feedback, which are very helpful to the seller and therefore blogs are an effective and better alternative.
Did the research material you found support or not support your original thesis?
Although I was skeptical at first about blogs having any credibility, the research information that I found actually taught me and confirmed, that yes, blogs are a credible source of information. I must admit my thesis was unsteady, but now stands firm on the side for blogging. After this module I have agreed that blogs have some credibility and so changed my previous answer form Module 1 Question 1, which can be found under “The Role Blog… Part2”
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Entrepreneurial Blogs
During my research, I came across the first website I wanted to cite. As I pursued for more information about the blog and the entrepreneur, I found myself relating to the ideas, ethics, and to the business woman of whom I quickly became passionate about. Her name, Anita Roddick. Her website is filled with opinionated blogs posted by others that follow in her foot steps as an activist for various campaigns. The website was begun by Anita herself, and after her death in 2007, it still remains and is continuously updated.
Anita began business in 1976 by opening the Body Shop and within a year opened a second store, which was highly in demand. By the 1980s the company was completely recognizable. She applied customs she learned from the local women in the several countries she visited, about using natural resources to develop her own line of skin-care and hair-care products that she sold. With the success of the company came self-financing -franchise- , the pursuit for social and environmental change, and Community Trade. Although the company was eventually sold , her website continues to be active in her ideas, and supports many charities and campaigns across the world, fights for human and animal rights, brings awareness of disease, and the environment, the hungry, the poor, and the innocent.
1. http://www.anitaroddick.com/index.php
2. http://www.thebodyshop.com/bodyshop/
Despite my fast admiration for Anita, her site is not exactly what I expected a blogging site to look like, and therefore I quickly began to search for another entrepreneur. And his name is Elon Musk. He is co-founder of Pay-Pal, which he sold to e-Bay, started SpaceX to build inexpensive rockets to send out and to explore space, and has funded Tesla Motors to build electric vehicles and has also become chairman. He has partnered with other great entrepreneurs such as Google co-founders and former e-Bay president. Their first ever vehicle, an electric sports-car which emits no exhaust, was featured on the cover of Time Magazine in 2006.
1. http://www.teslamotors.com/blog2/?p=54
2. http://www.teslamotors.com/blog2/?p=22
Both internet sources that discuss the use of blogging generally introduce blogging similarly. Businessweek.com has been updated since its first article published in 2005 about the topic, and Inc.com remains the same. Each give examples of how blogs work and how they may help boost business; Business gives detailed descriptions and walks you through the life of a blogger in blogosphere, and a quick and simple crash course to it.
Since Inc.com's article was published in 2005 as well, its information about blogging was relatively new and on an incredible rise. Only a few Fortune 500 companies had blogs of which many were concerned with the kind of content that would be shared by company employees.
1. http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/feb2008/db20080219_908252.htm
2. http://www.inc.com/news/articles/200504/blogs.html
Anita began business in 1976 by opening the Body Shop and within a year opened a second store, which was highly in demand. By the 1980s the company was completely recognizable. She applied customs she learned from the local women in the several countries she visited, about using natural resources to develop her own line of skin-care and hair-care products that she sold. With the success of the company came self-financing -franchise- , the pursuit for social and environmental change, and Community Trade. Although the company was eventually sold , her website continues to be active in her ideas, and supports many charities and campaigns across the world, fights for human and animal rights, brings awareness of disease, and the environment, the hungry, the poor, and the innocent.
1. http://www.anitaroddick.com/index.php
2. http://www.thebodyshop.com/bodyshop/
Despite my fast admiration for Anita, her site is not exactly what I expected a blogging site to look like, and therefore I quickly began to search for another entrepreneur. And his name is Elon Musk. He is co-founder of Pay-Pal, which he sold to e-Bay, started SpaceX to build inexpensive rockets to send out and to explore space, and has funded Tesla Motors to build electric vehicles and has also become chairman. He has partnered with other great entrepreneurs such as Google co-founders and former e-Bay president. Their first ever vehicle, an electric sports-car which emits no exhaust, was featured on the cover of Time Magazine in 2006.
1. http://www.teslamotors.com/blog2/?p=54
2. http://www.teslamotors.com/blog2/?p=22
Both internet sources that discuss the use of blogging generally introduce blogging similarly. Businessweek.com has been updated since its first article published in 2005 about the topic, and Inc.com remains the same. Each give examples of how blogs work and how they may help boost business; Business gives detailed descriptions and walks you through the life of a blogger in blogosphere, and a quick and simple crash course to it.
Since Inc.com's article was published in 2005 as well, its information about blogging was relatively new and on an incredible rise. Only a few Fortune 500 companies had blogs of which many were concerned with the kind of content that would be shared by company employees.
1. http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/feb2008/db20080219_908252.htm
2. http://www.inc.com/news/articles/200504/blogs.html
Friday, February 15, 2008
The Role Blogging Plays In The Media World
1. IS BLOGGING A CREDIBLE SOURCE OF INFO?
Simply put, blogging is not a completely credible source of information (i.e. current events with hard facts). Blogging was first started for the purpose of internet users to share their thoughts and experiences, not to become professional reporters to report and cite current events. When bloggers write about world news, they expect others to read. What blogs readers choose to read is based on credibility. In a study held by Pew Internet and American Life Project from 2005 to 2006, “Only a third of bloggers see blogging as a form of journalism, yet many check facts and cite original sources.” Although blogging was began for personal self satisfaction of sharing life experiences, it is fastly becoming a media business where the community thrives on the attention of others alike. Credibility, accuracy and enthusiasm about one's blog is key for success in the blogosphere.
(My new response can be found under "The Role Blog... Part 2")
2. HOW EFFECTIVE IS BLOGGING (I.E. ARE BLOGS EFFECTIVE AT REACHING AN AUDIENCE)?
Blogging has a range of people that make up its audience. The attention that bloggers receive most frequently comes from fellow bloggers, and secondly from family and friends. According to the studies by Pew Internet and American Life Project from 2005 to 2006:
Precious few bloggers achieve the kind of attention -very public and, perhaps nationally and internationally influential- that may come from political figures or the news media. Just ten percent of bloggers have received attention from public officials, political campaigns or politicians. Nine percent of bloggers have had their blog mentioned by the news media.
3. HOW HAS BLOGGING INFLUENCED JOURNALISM?
Although blogging has changed and influenced journalism, I think its influence is based on the fact that many bloggers ridicule journalist on their “negligence” for facts, and becoming “lazy” in pursuing sources. Journalism is a field that is being made easier to acquire, but is unlikely for Regular Joe to get paid for what he blogs about. Professional journalists are also taken quickly to blogging, and so blogging has become sort of journalistic. Anyone with an opinion and a source can become a journalist.
Internet Sources:
Simply put, blogging is not a completely credible source of information (i.e. current events with hard facts). Blogging was first started for the purpose of internet users to share their thoughts and experiences, not to become professional reporters to report and cite current events. When bloggers write about world news, they expect others to read. What blogs readers choose to read is based on credibility. In a study held by Pew Internet and American Life Project from 2005 to 2006, “Only a third of bloggers see blogging as a form of journalism, yet many check facts and cite original sources.” Although blogging was began for personal self satisfaction of sharing life experiences, it is fastly becoming a media business where the community thrives on the attention of others alike. Credibility, accuracy and enthusiasm about one's blog is key for success in the blogosphere.
(My new response can be found under "The Role Blog... Part 2")
2. HOW EFFECTIVE IS BLOGGING (I.E. ARE BLOGS EFFECTIVE AT REACHING AN AUDIENCE)?
Blogging has a range of people that make up its audience. The attention that bloggers receive most frequently comes from fellow bloggers, and secondly from family and friends. According to the studies by Pew Internet and American Life Project from 2005 to 2006:
Precious few bloggers achieve the kind of attention -very public and, perhaps nationally and internationally influential- that may come from political figures or the news media. Just ten percent of bloggers have received attention from public officials, political campaigns or politicians. Nine percent of bloggers have had their blog mentioned by the news media.
3. HOW HAS BLOGGING INFLUENCED JOURNALISM?
Although blogging has changed and influenced journalism, I think its influence is based on the fact that many bloggers ridicule journalist on their “negligence” for facts, and becoming “lazy” in pursuing sources. Journalism is a field that is being made easier to acquire, but is unlikely for Regular Joe to get paid for what he blogs about. Professional journalists are also taken quickly to blogging, and so blogging has become sort of journalistic. Anyone with an opinion and a source can become a journalist.
Internet Sources:
http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP%20Bloggers%20Report%20July%2019%202006.pdf
http://ajr.org/article.asp?id=3931
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
