Blogging &Journalism: Module #1.

Fortunately, this is my "Hello" but, not my first blog entry. I used to be one of many people who take part in blogging multiple times a day. I used to have one of these neat little Blogspots & every time I got the urge to write, I'd run to this safe haven. I must admit - it's nice to be back. This time, however, I'm back with a purpose - to discuss blogging & it's affects on journalism. I think, without a doubt, blogging has directly affected more than one aspect of journalism.

When the subject of blogging is brought up, the first thing that's usually addressed is credibility..& rightfully so. A few years ago, BusinessWeek's Senior Writer Stephen Baker & Associate Editor Heather Green, attacked the "blogosphere's" credibility. Although it isn't the most recent article, I believe it to be accurate. Blogging is too open-ended to ensure accuracy. Anybody with access to the internet can spread whatever information they please to anybody with access to the internet to read it. Of course, some blogs can be credible but, how is anyone to decipher what is & what isn't? Robin Good also took a stab at the character of blogging. He agrees that credibility is blog-specific. Like any other subject, it's hard to make a generality of character. Good also gives reasons as to why blogs could possibly be more credible than a news source.

Blogging is one of the most efficient ways to reach an audience. All of the main characteristics of blogging, in some way or another, cater to this vast audience they're able to reach. How are they catering to this audience? By making it a point to be the best public information platform they can possibly be. The four pillars addressed in this article: content, communication, credibility & community, all work together. Blogging has also proved to be affective on a more business end. Because it reaches such a large, vast community, marketing is made very effective. It's pretty clear why this is such an effective platform -- it's unlimited. As long as you have access to a computer & are semi-literate, you can reach anyone that chooses to read your blog. It's as simple as getting to a website, whether it's purposeful or accidental.

Blogging has had both positive & negative impacts on journalism. Blogging has, in a way, discredited & taken away from many journalists who have worked years to receive their various credentials & degrees. Journalists have to undergo a tedious process of checks & balances with various editors & publishers just to get one article published. Bloggers, on the other hand, simply need access to the internet & a subject to speak on in order to blog. Positively, blogging is a very uncensored form of journalism. Without rules & regulations for blogging sites, it's an 'anything-'goes type of policy. More freedom is given to bloggers when it comes to sharing ideas & opinions. Blogging has also opened up the world of journalism to those who otherwise would only be on the receiving end. 

Blogging have effectively given a voice to all of us. Rich or poor, educated or not, blogging is a way for people of all ages and backgrounds to communicate with others.