This is my first blogging class, and to be honest- I really do not have much expererience with blogs. With the lack of free time in my life, I am lucky if I have time to check and respond to all my e-mails, let alone take the time to read random blogs online. However, because of this, I was really interested in taking this course. I have always wanted to learn more about blogging and start one myself, so I figured this would be the perfect opportunity.
As a senior in the Communication Department, I have taken numerous classes about media and have constantly been taught about the history, life cycle and trends of media. A large portion of my studies have also included monopolization and media conglomeration. In a majority of my communication classes, my professors have reminded me of the conglomeration that is occuring in the media industry. Because I despise the fact that journalism and media is soley-owned, I am a big fan of the idea of blogs and what they have the capabilities to do. I love the fact that blogs are encouraging and enabling people with the chance to speak their minds about any topic, at any time. It is definitely time that something like this was created.
It really is no surprise to me that blogs have become as popular as they are today. Practically every aspect of our life is online. Shopping, researching, information, business and communication is all conducted online. With the invention of Instant Messaging, Chat Rooms and other “messaging” means, it is no wonder that blogs would come about. In We the Media, the author notes that we had many forms of communication in the past such as the telephone (one to one), broadcasting (one to many) we were due for a new means of communication which enabled “many to many” correspondence. Blogs will, in my opinion, continue to be influential in how we as citizens receive our news and share our opinions.
It will be interesting to see how blogs continue to shape the face of the media industry as well as how the journalists and media professionals plan on competing with the free blogs that are consuming the internet. Especially in the upcoming election, I have already started to see implications of blogs and how they are affecting American citizen’s opinins of the candidates and campaigns.
Discussion Questions:
1.) In what ways do you think the creation and rise of blogs will help and hinder the upcoming presidential election?
2.) What are the differences between online logs such as facebook and myspace from blogs? Would you consider online social networks a kind of blogging?
