Blogging...

The 'blogosphere' was another world to me until recently. I had heard of blogging, but to be honest I had no understanding of the meaning behind the word and had never felt a compulsion to keep a blog. O Baoill describes blogging as a participatory media and gives the many manifestations of it. One thing about blogging I thought was a bit weird was how most blogs read in reverse chronological order. The other reading puts the idea out there about blogs being used as a news source. I dont know if I would trust a blog as a reliable news source. I know the mainstream media put a spin on things, tell half truths and always cover the 'juiciest' angles but blogs are individuals or groups of people who unlike the mainstream media dont have international correspondents and aren't given the opportunity to interview political leaders, athletes, musicians or celebrities etc. In saying that, users maintaining blogs dont have to follow a code like maybe a reporter for fox news might and can speak their full mind without influence from an outside source. When asked if their should be a code of conduct for blogs much like journalists might have I was under the opinion that it might be a good idea but probably isn't very practical. I couldn't see people limiting the creative freedom they have towards their blogs and even if they could who would police this medium?

One aspect of blogs that I thought was quite cool was how users are using blogs to suit themselves. There a blog diaries which almost commentate on peoples lives or blogs about a users favourite sport where they can then comment on events and happenings surrounding the sport etc. This I think is probably the biggest selling point towards me starting my own independant blog. The creative freedom is seems endless.