Blogging is increasingly popular. But it also challenges the old concepts of the work of journalists.
The most common definition for a blog is an online diary that can be kept by one or more writers. Thus, blogs often consist of blog entries published in chronological order. These entries feature topics that are either linked
closely to the writer’s life or attract her/his interest.
There are unlimited amount of themes and styles of writing in blogosphere,
i.e. among the blogs online. A blog can for example feature text and/or images, but it can also be built, for instance, solely on cartoons.
Nowadays also so called video blogs, i.e. vlogs, are popular. They can be published for example on user’s own YouTube channel.
The most popular blogging platforms include WordPress, Blogger and Tumblr.
Since the media revolution, blogs have also offered people a chance of slow and analytical writing about topics that are no longer covered in the traditional media.
The most common types of blogs include for example blogs of politicians, humorous blogs, art and movie blogs, event blogs such as festival or wedding blogs, travel blogs, and interior design and fashion blogs.
Often blogs offer information behind the scenes: for instance a politician can open up about the rationale behind her/his decisions or comments; a company can share information on its new products, or a movie-maker can share details on the filming process.
Since the media revolution, blogs have also offered people a chance of slow and analytical writing about topics that are no longer covered in the traditional media. Popular bloggers who cover topics in narrow, specialized fields can attract readers from all over the world. Even many journalists, alongside their day jobs, have their personal blogs, in which they are allowed to bring forth their personal opinions more freely. For potential authors blogging offers an opportunity to publish their work easier.
Ethical guidelines of journalists do not bind bloggers
The success of various fashion and interior design blogs has changed the relationship between advertising and journalism.
The most famous lifestyle bloggers might receive notable financial benefits in the form of gifts. These gifts come from the deals between the bloggers and the manufactures; when complimenting a product, the blogger offers coverage for the manufacturer, practically for free. If the blogger does not mention the origin of the product, it might be a case of subliminal advertising.
Blogs are not normally under the regulations of the Council for Mass Media in Finland, unless the blog is attached to an edited publication. Thus, bloggers are not bound by the guidelines of journalism.
If the blogger does not mention the origin of the product s/he praises, it might be a case of subliminal advertising.
Blogging, like social media in general, is interactional, and blogs often feature
a possibility for leaving comments. Bloggers must establish a readership for their blog without the help of a status of massive media corporations.
A blogger can attract readers by networking and discussing with other bloggers, by sharing updates in other social media channels, or by signing up the blog for different kinds of indices and listings.
Blogging is very popular
On the international scale, the amount of blogs on the internet is enormous. According to the statistics of WordPress, in 2013 there were over 152 million blogs in the world. Solely the users of WordPress are responsible for publishing 53.6 million new updates and 53.8 million comments monthly.
WordPress also listed some other facts based on their studies concerning blogs:
- Many people read blogs more often than once a day;
- Blogs are mostly read in the mornings. Usually reading of blogs starts around 7 AM and reaches its peak around 10 AM;
- Companies that update their blogs 20 times a month (around 4–5 times a week) will gain 5 times more visitors to their websites than those who update their blogs less than 4 times a month;
- Companies that update their blogs regularly will get 4 times more visitors than those who do not have a blog;
- Blogs affect customers’ purchase decisions;
- The most direct benefit of blogging for corporations is that the corporation will gain visibility in results presented by search engines. For a company, a blog can provide a platform for customer magazines and communication between interest groups, either openly or on an intranet.
Keep Reading:
Sales and marketing in social media; Counter media
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