Blogging Issues - Part 2

Classification of blogs & blogging communities

According to Wikipedia, blogs can be classified based on its subject matter, media type and objective.

• Subject matter:

1. Refers to the main focus or content of the blog.
2. Includes personal blogs, businesses, media and marketing blogs, political blogs, social-advocacy blogs, automotive blogs and many more.

• Media type:

1. Use pictures or videos as its main method of communication.
2. Known as vlogs and photoblogs respectively (Think Quest, 2006).
3. Sample:

Shave & Cut, A barbers chair just outside of the shower room, 2008. (Source: http://www.desolatemetropolis.com/dm/)

• Objectives:

1. Some blogs that are there for informational purposes
2. Others that are there to advocate and push a particular viewpoint about an issue or product/service (The Media Report, 2008).

It should be noted that many blogs today, despite their focus and objectives use all mediums mentioned above when delivering a message. Therefore, it is more advisable to classify blogs on their subject matter and objectives.

Blogging communities generally cluster around the classification and type of the respective blogs (White, 2008). In Malaysia, one example would be National Alliance of Bloggers - All-Blogs. Made up of mainly socio-political bloggers, this community was formed as a response to allegations by government officials that what was written in blogs were false and just ‘rubbish’. All-Blogs state that it aims to ‘protect the rights of bloggers and promote blogging in a responsible manner’ (mamakk!!!, 2007).

The logo of the National Alliance of Bloggers, 'All-Blogs'. (Source: http://rockybru.com.my/)

Sources

Wikipedia – Blog. Viewed on 23rd October 2008 at <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog>

Think Quest, 2006, Blogging, the phenomenon – Types of Blogs. Viewed on 23rd October 2008 at <http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/01130/typesofblogs.html>

The Media Report, ABC Radio National, 2008, A taxonomy of blogs. Viewed at <http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2008/2372882.htm#transcript>

White, N., 2006, Blogs and Community - launching a new paradigm for online community?, The Knowledge Tree. Viewed at <http://kt.flexiblelearning.net.au/tkt2006/edition-11-editorial/blogs-and-community-%E2%80%93-launching-a-new-paradigm-for-online-community>

Mamakk!!!, Highlights from the blogosphere, 2007., NAB, All-Blogs, PABS - what are they?. Viewed at <http://www.mamakk.com/05/malaysia/nab-all-blogs-pabs-what-are-they/>