4.1.0.4 - Blogging

Introduction

By Robin Mason, The Open University

Weblogs or blogs are essentially public diaries, that is, they are open websites in which the author 'publishes' thoughts, comments, links to other sites, reflections on topical issues. It is said to be the fastest growing phenomenon on the web. Blogging is a practice which has arisen organically from the unique characteristics of the web: connectivity and ubiquity. It is a true child of the web and draws on the web's anarchic quality in championing the power of 'everyman'. Some blogging software is free and anyone can set up a website and become an instant publisher. Some blogs allow, even encourage, comments by readers, thus replicating aspects of asynchronous forums. Some bloggers have acquired huge followings, with fanmail and top listings in the major search engines.