Given this is a blog, and we’re expected to blog on this blog, I thought it rather appropriate that today’s topic for this blog would be on, well, blogs. More specifically, I felt it appropriate to comment on how blogs are placed within today’s very diverse, media savvy environment of instant news and information, as well as within the organisation I did my placement with.
During my time at Clarity Communications, I was lucky to be exposed to new forms of media as well as discussions on such forms. In addition, I was fortunate to be able to attend this year’s PRIA National Conference where a significant amount of attention was paid to new media and its relevance today. And blogs certainly do shine well and bright from the bowl of new media!
One of the keynote speakers at the PRIA National Conference, Executive Director of The Society for New Communications Research, Jen McClure, suggested that there are currently in excess of 185 million blogs on the Internet, with 100,000 more created each day. She also suggested that there are 1.3 million blog posts every day (plus one if you include this).
For a small organisation, yet a large PR consulting firm, Clarity is on the ball when it comes to adopting new forms of media. Clarity’s own internal blog allows employees to communicate with each other to share ideas, information, photos and stories.
A great way to encourage and generate active participation from employees!
I was shown the Clarity blog and was interested to read some of the posts. One of them in particular caught my eye and was the basis for today’s blog post. Of course, it was on blogs.
Clarity Director Kellie Croxon (also a former Curtin tutor) had made this post following a radio segment she heard on ABC Radio National the day prior. The segment looked at different types of blogs and the woman behind their classification, author and media analyst Margaret Simons. I was intrigued given that part of our assessment for 393 is based on our contribution to a blog - this reflective blog.
So I had a look at the transcript for the segment and thought I’d share it with you. For those who are interested in reading the complete transcript, you can view it at http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2008/2372882.htm. Otherwise, I’ll share with you briefly the nine suggested types of blogs:
- Pamphleteering Blog
Stems from a long tradition in print media
Strong expression of a range of views on a variety of topics, usually within a specific scope, from multiple authors
Examples include Larvatus Prodeo and Catallaxy (it’s worth taking a look) - Digest Blog
Collection of information or facts on a topic taken from a range of sources, often with little or no commentary (i.e. a guide or summary)
Can often lead reader to other sites or sources of information - Advocacy Blog
Similar to pamphleteering by pushing a point of view or idea, however often written by a vested interest group, e.g. advocacy group, commercial organisation, political party etc. - Popular Mechanics Blog
AKA the How To Blog
Blogs that inform about how to do/make/learn/resolve etc.
Topics vary from gardening to DIY gadgets to education - Exhibition Blog
Displays of work online, typically artwork, with a description of the fabrication process
Allows for a wider audience to be reached - Gatewatcher Blog
Blogs about how the media do their job
Often run by experts who comment on how the media reports on their specialised field (these sound interesting) - Diary Blog
A long-held practice (writing a diary) that has transformed online
Online social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook are leading to the diary blog’s decline - Advertisement Blog
Have been used for a while
Often started by a company to push a brand/product/service, often with the help of paid bloggers
E.g. Tech company Cisco Systems company blogs - News Blog
Are increasingly announcing breaking news
More prevalent in the US and Europe, however growing in Australia.
Margaret Simons suggests that the News Blog is one to watch for its contribution to journalism. E.g. WA’s Loconut
If I were to classify the 393 reflective blog, I would say that it would fall under the banner of the Diary Blog. It differs somewhat from a traditional ‘dear diary’ entry, but on the same token, it also reflects how the Internet has shaped the way in which people write about their experiences that are then shared with the world.
I hope this introduction to blogs proves useful. I certainly wasn’t aware of their classifications beforehand so I learnt something new, all thanks to a simple blog post!
My next blog will look at the client-consultancy relationship as it applies to the experience I’ve had working with Clarity and Barking Gecko.
Blog away!
Claire
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