The Different Faces of Blogging
Blogging, which comes from the expression web-logging, has become an increasingly popular phenomena these days.
In the end of the first decade of the 21st century, is there really still a reason in having to explain blogging? I doubt it. Most people know that blogging is. But to those who are unfamiliar with the term: what is blogging? Blogging essentially means having a personal diary online which you share with the public. There are people write 10 blog posts a day, others write a blog post every two months or so. In fact, countless of people are blogging every day, and some are actually making a decent living out of it.
Some ask what is the appeal of that? Exhibitionism? It’s possible that to some that is the case. To other people blogging gives the ability to share experiences. To other it means to share work experiences and network: there are in fact professional blogs in basically every subject one can think of: cooking, internet marketing, cars classic cars, insurance, health, GPS satellites, personal computers, headaches, stomach pain, back pain, chronic fatigue and so on.
I have an acquaintance with this type of a professional blog where he shares various experiences he discovers throughout his days (he is a manager). I have a friend with a personal blog in which he shares personal anecdotes about his personal life and family (he has two toddlers at home: therefore, much to share). I have a friend with a funny blog, where he share all the funny stories he hears of. I even know someone with a photoblog where he posts a new - and gorgeous - photo every single day. I also knew a guy who had a specialized version of a photo blog: he used to share pictures of all the meals he eats. Indeed, the blogging arena is that diverse.
The point is that this relatively new media offers alternatives that until long ago never existed. In other words, blogging in the 21st century version of journalism. It allows anyone to open a computer, write an article, and essentially become a journalist whose articles can in theory be read by millions. While this carries with it a lot of responsibilities, it is also a great tool for free speech and freedom of information.