An Introduction

Since the introduction of ‘new technology’ it has brought to the public’s attention about its advantages to help human being in their daily lives.

But how far is it useful in our daily lives? A production company will not confess its disadvantages as it may affect its business growth. What has technology change in our new improved world? It can be seen widely through ‘genre change’.

Purpose of Blogging

A web log, or known as a “blog” is a Web site structured like an on-line diary with one or more people posting messages (Reep 2006, p. 41). However, blogs can create ethical problems because people can write whatever they like for their own desire. This can violate people’s privacy and it can effect ones occupation in the future (Reep 2006, p. 41).

I believe that the trend of blogging is becoming larger. Bloggers are by millions ranging from pre-teens to senior citizens (Taylor, 2007). In Malaysia itself the population of bloggers are increasing. Even companies are taking the initiative to create their own blog for their employees.

The main purpose of blogging is to write about our own views or opinion on a topic that interests us the most. Individuals normally create a blog to write about their lives, opinions on topics or discussions on related issues of interest. Their closest friend or relative can be informed about recent happenings about them. It is an interactive tool that is now replacing emailing.

However, companies create blogs to get feedback from their customers either good or bad to improve on the productivity of their products and services. Companies also maintain blogs so that their employees can give their feedback on projects or on related work place issues (Reep 2006, p. 41). Rather than that, people who are passionate about an issue, a product or a trend create blogs. This results to the increase of community members getting people across the world to join and have their say.

Today blogging has become so wide that anyone at any age can create their own blog or you could get tips on how to create a blog.

Personal Blogging A Waste of Time?

In my opinion blogging is a waste of time. I do not see the need for someone updating his or her blog every minute something happened to them. The world does not need to be informed! However, blogging does kick a good habit of writing. People can be more skillful at writing and learning in the process of what they read and comment about. Through blogging, we can also know the different types of people and their ‘unique’ characters.

The freedom of speech can be exercised through blogging. We can say whatever we want to but to certain extend. People blog because they want to express themselves. Real life experiences that are written in blogs can be a useful tool to educate people and be an eye opener.

Classification of Blogs

They are different varieties of blogs and new ones are being created as we speak. The following are few classifications of blogs:

(i) Special Interest Blogs are such as follows;
fashion
politics
general information
law
photo
tropical
history
books
brands
education
art

(ii) Type of Media is such as follows;
sketchblog
vlog
MP3 blog
fluxblog
musicblogs
audioblogs
radioblogs


(iii) Types of Business or Corporate Blogs are such as follows;
Yahoo
LinkedIn
SUPERSEED
St. Adrian's Reachout Centre
Cohesion
BT Business
Spherion Career
Bocada Inc
Dell: Direct2Dell

There are six types of business blogs according to Wacka (2004).

Blogs as Current Phenomenon

Blogging is the new trend nowadays. Say goodbye to good old e-mailing. To know the status of our friend, all we have to do is read is or her blog. It may be boring but it may also be an eye opener to the possibilities of what a person can write, say and do.

The blogging phenomenon in Malaysia has lead companies to tie a good relationship with its customers. For example, the article on The Star dated May 27, 2007 entitled Getting customer feedback via blog-corporation ties. It states that through blogging is an interactive medium to build a good relationship with its customers (Ho 2007).

Even The National Union of Journalist of Malaysia has urged the Malaysian Government to accept blogging as a new media to disseminating information in the country.
According to Anand (2004) from the Information Week, there are two fundamental challenges of blogging which is issues of feedback and storage.

For more information on blogging phenomenon;
http://www.ajy.net/jmb/blogphenomenon.htm
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=22103000
http://www.expertclick.com/NewsReleaseWire/default.cfm?Action=ReleaseDetail&ID=15080

Blogging Communities

According to Vinson (2007), communities are groups of people who come together to explicit a common reason. They gather because they share a common interest (hobbies, events, blogging), a common history (same high school, town, workplace, family, country) or a common event that binds them (a tragedy or history).

In Malaysia there are more political blogs expressing how they feel about the Government. Such blogs are mostly from the opposition party, tend to oppose the government in how they manage the country. Besides that, I think these blogs help citizens to think outside the box and to actually express themselves rather than being spoon fed by the government n what to do or what that needs to be done. These blogs too, does help citizens to know their rights.

However these blogs will not give a good impression towards the other countries. What would they think of Malaysia? Will they have a good or bad impression?

Here are some types of blogging communities;
Bud the Teacher
My Opera Community
Insta Blogs Community
Unbound Spiral
Ekstreme.com
The Truth Laid Bear

Why do Bloggers need to belong to a Blogging Community?

Bloggers need to belong to a community because they want to share their interest with other people and they want to gain more information.

Blogging communities will eventually help its members sustain a relationship that will benefit each other. Besides that, blogging communities are an ongoing passion that keeps them together (Vinson 2007).

Print versus Online

It is obvious that people tend to like the online publication as to the print. An example of print versus online can be seen through the magazine and e-magazine. The difference between both is by its design, layout, copy and format (Wilcox 2001, p. 343 – 351).

The electronic magazine however is low cost because there is no printing required, audience or readers can give their feedback online. It also includes archives, skills such as designing, photos taken and how it is portrayed to its audience.

The electronic magazine is interactive; appealing as there can be video clip or sound effects. Besides being ‘free’, electronic magazines can be viewed when we are away from our country and can not obtain it. We can log in to the web site of the magazine and know what the recent agenda of the months in the magazine.

In my opinion, I prefer printed magazines compared to electronic magazines. It is because the printed magazines can be carried every where we go. We can read it when we are waiting for the bus or just reading it when we have some free time. Printed magazines however can be kept for a long period of time. But it can be quite costly.

Printed and the online magazine may share the same information but how they are represented differently. This can be seen through the newspapers and online newspapers too. Will the online magazine, newsletters or newspapers take over the printed ones we will never know?

New Forms of Media Publishing

Types of New Media;
E-books
Podcast
You Tube
Docudrama
Docufilm
Mobisodes
E-journals
E- literature

More information on New Media;
http://www.slac.stanford.edu/~mpeskin/APS-pubs.pdf

The Purpose of This Blog

This blog is targeted to people who desire to create their own blog. My audience is mainly bloggers and pre-users of blogs. Besides them, my blog is targeted to those who are interested to know about what blogging is all about.

Although it may be quite serious, I aim to educate people on the issues that are taking place because of blogging. So that they will know their limitations while blogging and are well-informed on effects of bloging. Besides that, I would like to inform them on the many types of blogs and its communities so they can join.

Media Issues

Bloggers Freer Than Reporters? And Vice Versa

This article written by Jack Shafer is about how bloggers are replacing journalists. Bloggers tend to be journalist but they do not know they are actually embracing themselves because of poor skill and professionalism. Blogging is the ‘new national pass time’ (Shafer 2005). The article stresses the fact about how journalism is a ‘learned skill’ and its ‘experiences counts’ (Shafer 2005).

Bloggers tend to be parasites which can not exist without the main stream media. Shafer is very annoyed with bloggers because they write whatever they want to and they are learning how to be a professional journalist. He wants to reason out why journalism is important and how it is meant to be.

This article can be a serious discussion. If bloggers are becoming smarter by learning how to write as a journalist will they replace journalists in future? People will tend to read blogs rather than newspapers because blogs may be as ‘accurate as the average daily papers’ (Shafer 2005).

The occupation of journalists may be violated replaced by amateur’s bloggers. However, bloggers do not get paid unlike journalists. If blogger replaces journalists then there would not be newspapers, anyone can create news, news will not be creditable, there will be chaos. The main issue here is that blogging should have a guide or a style guide that will assist bloggers on the right format on how to blog. There should be a limit for blogging so that it will not affect the media as a whole.

Can you imagine your next door neighbour has a blog and she writes about the gossips that takes place at your neighbourhood? Talk about desperate housewife.

Media Issues

Never too Old

Written by a reporter from the Star, S. Indramalar’s article was well written about how the older generation is using blogs. She rewrites the story from ABC Western Queensland of a 104 woman who blogs. The woman, Olive Riley, has proved that blogging is not meant by the younger generation.


There are a few senior bloggers which she states and proves her point. After reading this article it can be said that elder bloggers tends to write meaningful articles about their lives. They have ample amount of time and they can be creative while writing. Their blogs can inspire people and they can acquire new friends.


This can be a realisation about the elderly and to blogs itself. The elderly use blogs wisely rather than the younger generation. Blogging can be historical events that educates the younger generation. From this article, people generally should pick up the habits from the older generations on how they treasure blogging. Blogging can do some good to the public.

Media Issues

Blogging and Big Bucks

Christy Lee S.W. writes about how blogging can bring an income to a person. The advertising through the internet has increased since blogging was introduced. The article continues by stating how the advertisement company came about. Nuffnang and Advertlets are the two blog-advertising companies.

It is so overwhelming to know that now blogging can actually bring in some profits. However this will eventually create the younger generation to not what to continue their studies. They can sit at home and generate income without having any qualifications as blogging does not need it. This can lead to serious drop outs. Besides that, adults too would not want to go to their boring jobs. They will eventually resign and create their own blogs.

Blogging for money can be good in some ways and it can be harmful as well. It depends on the individual, how she or he use blogs for their own benefits. But I do not think that many Malaysian will blog for cash for now. It will be increasing in future when the number of jobless students increases.

Media Issues

The Blog and Social Justice in the Middle East

This is a transcript taken from The ABC discusses about how the growth of blogging in the Middle East. Anthony Funnell interview Mona Eltahaway, an Egyptian social commentator. Blogs in the Middle East are different because they have a ‘strong political dimension’ which does not allow them to speak up. With blogs they can voice out their inner self and inform other citizens about events that the government hides from them.

The media in the Middle East are still ‘old voices’ (Elthaway 2007) so ‘young voices’ (Elthaway 2007) turn to blogs. The younger generation wants their message to be heard and to expose the social injustice taking place.

I was really overwhelmed by this article. To actually know what is taking place in the Middle East, we should look at their blogs. There is no freedom of speech in the Middle East and the truth is hidden from the people. In Malaysia it happens as well. Our human rights are violated. In ways which I am not allow to say.

Reflections

This blog is meant to be an informative tool to inform people about the new trend that is blogging. Readers will have a better perspective of what a blog is mainly about, what are the hot topic that relates to blogging and examples of blogging and their communities. A blog should be ‘text driven and knowledge driven’ (Schiver 1997, p. 366) so that a reader can absorb its information for good use.

The process of creating a blog account is simple. However adding its information is the thorny process. Firstly, you must have an angle on what interests you the most to write about or just joining a group and discuss related interest with them. There is no required skill for blogging as there are no format on how to blog or what should or should not be. However, writing skill should be an advantage that will assist readers to understand the message that you are delivering.

To confess, blogging is not my thing. I have never owned one ever since it was introduced. I do not think that it is necessarily to write in detailed what you have done in your life. Who wants to know what you ate what you did with your boy friend or what other personal stuff you do? Unless the reader is by far your most loyal follower. In my opinion personal blogs are a waste of time and effort. However if blogging is done for a purpose and is ‘meaning making’ (Walsh 2006, p. 33) then it will be an outlook for people to gain information.

Blogging has its pros and cons either to spread information, to share a common interest, to gain cash, to join communities or to educate people it should be used wisely.

References

Accept Blogging as New Media [Online, accessed 29 May 2007]. URL: http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2007/5/4/technology/20070504155505&sec=technology

Anand, S. 2004 Smartadvice: Are Blogs The Next Internet Marketing Phenomenon? [Online, accessed 5 June 2007]. URL: http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=22103000

Artlog [Online, accessed 4 June 2007]. URL: http://artlog.nl

Audioblogs [Online, accessed 4 June 2007]. URL: http://audio.weblogs.com/

Blogger.com [Online, accessed 4 June 2007]. URL: www.blogger.com

Bocada, Inc. [Online, accessed 5 June 2007]. URL: http://www.bocada.com

Breukelman Kubista Group [Online, accessed 5 June 2007]. URL: http://freshglue.com

BT Business Blog (UK) [Online, accessed 5 June 2007]. URL: http://blogbtbroadbandofficce.com/

Cohesion [Online, accessed 5 June 2007]. URL: http://plaintalk.type.com/blog/

Crane Mitel (UK): Crane Mitel Team Blog [Online, accessed 5 June 2007]. URL: http://blogcranemitel.co.uk/

Dell: Direct2Dell [Online, accessed 5 June 2007]. URL: http://direct2dell.com/one2one/
Docudrama [Online, accessed 5 June 2007]. URL: http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/D/htmlD/docudrama/docudrama.htm

Docufilm [Online, accessed 5 June 2007]. URL:http://www.docufilm.com/

E-books [Online, accessed 5 June 2007]. URL:http://www.the-ebook-directory.com/?a=2&kw=e+books

Edublog [Online, accessed 4 June 2007]. URL: http://edublog.com

E-journals [Online, accessed 5 June 2007]. URL: http://www.e-journals.org/

E- literature [Online. accessed 5 June 2007]. URL: http://eliterature.org/

Eltahaway, M. The Blog and Social Justice in the Middle East [Online, accessed 2 June 2007]. URL: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2007/1855144.htm

Fluxblog [Online, accessed 4 June 2007]. URL: http://fluxblog.org

Getting customer feedback via blog-corporation ties [Online, accessed 29 May 2007]. URL: http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2007/5/27/corpit/20070527160348&sec=corpit

How to Create a Blog [Online, accessed 4 June 2007]. URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWYi4_COZMU

Jaya: The Jaya Tea Blog [Online, accessed 5 June 2007]. URL: http://jayateas.com/blog/

LinkedIn [Online, accessed 5 June 2007]. URL:http://blog.linkedin.com/

MP3 blog [Online, accessed 4 June 2007]. URL: http://www.metafilter.com/34264/MP3-Blog-Roundup

Mobisodes [Online, accessed 5 June 2007]. URL: http://nandarentertainment.com/mobisodes.htm

Musicblogs [Online, accessed 4 June 2007]. URL: http://musicblogs.buzznet.com/user/

Photoblog [Online, accessed 4 June 2007]. URL: http://www.photoblogs.org/

Podcast [Online, accessed 5 June 2007]. URL: http://www.podcast.net/

Radioblogs [Online, accessed 4 June 2007]. URL: http://www.radioblogclub.com/

Reep, D. C., 2006, ‘Chapter 1: Technical Writing on the Job’, Technical Writing: Principles. Strategies, and Readings, Sixth Edition, Pearson, Longman, United States, pp. 41.

Schiver, KA 1997, Dynamics in Document Design: Creating Texts for Readers, Wiley Computer Pub., New York, Chapter 6: The Interplay of Words and Pictures, pp. 366)

Shafer, J. 2005, Bloggers Freer Than Reporters? And Vice [Online, accessed 28 May 2007]. URL: http://www.slate.com/id/2116498

Spherion Career Blog [Online, accessed 5 June 2007]. URL: http://spherion.com/careerblog/

St. Adrian’s Reachout Centre [Online, accessed 5 June 2007]. URL: http://muttom.com

SUPERSEED [Online, accessed 5 June 2007]. URL:http://superdeed.org

The Phenomenon of Blogs [Online, accessed 3 June 2007]. URL: http://www.expertclick.com/NewsReleaseWire/default.cfm?Action=ReleaseDetail&ID=15080

Vinson, J. 2006, Blogging and Communities [Online, accessed 28 May 2007]. URL: http://www.intuitive.com/blog/why_do_people_blog_how_many_bloggers_are_there.html

Vlog [Online, accessed 4 June 2007]. URL: http://netsquared.org/tags/vlog/

Walsh, M. 2006, The 'Textual Shift': examining the reading process with print, visual and multimodal texts, The Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, Volume 29 No 1. pp. 33.

Wilcox, D.L., 2001, Newsletters, E-zine, and Brochures, Chapter 12, in Public
Relations: Writing and Media Techniques, Fourth Edition, Longman,
United States, pp. 343 to 351.

Yahoo’s Yodel Anecdotal [Online, accessed 5 June 2007]. URL: http://yodel.yahoo.com

You Tube [Online, accessed 5 June 2007]. URL: http://www.youtube.com/