Blogs and Blogosphere

Blogging is actually the publishing of the individual's comment and somehow the facts in certain field of topic to the website online as a hobby or job that receiving compensates. (Lowrey, W 2006)

 Nowadays, the blogosphere is getting larger due to the enhanced development of the internet. People are more willing and free to post their thoughts by blogging. According to Branckaute (2010) in his blog, there were currently over one hundred and fifty millions blogs tracked in year 2010 via the BlogPulse. (Branckaute, F 2010)

source from mashable.com

In Malaysia, the trend of blogging grows rapidly. The Star Online (2008) reported that Malaysia was the highest ranked of country that blog and the number of active bloggers was enormous as about five hundred thousand. (The Star Online, 2008) With the easy access to the internet, people can blog everyday and spreading their beliefs and opinions worldwide. 

However, this phenomenon sometimes gives negative feedback as some people think that blogging influences audiences' thought.But still, the trend keep spreading and being quite a main in one of the dominant country, China.

Political type of blogs are said to be prevalent in China. People are able to be more democratic by voicing out their comment in the internet with blog, especially in the field of politics due to its sensitivity. According to Zhou (2009), political blog providing ‘new platform'  for the audiences to switch their roles by not just listening and receiving, but involve also in the political conversation, giving comment and sharing their thoughts. (Zhou, X 2009)

The raise of the types of blog benefit both the writers and viewers. For instance, via the political blogs, audiences share the information which might be useful in it. On the other hand, the politicians get to know what the feeling of the resident and thus, be able to improve effectively.

References

Branckaute, F 2010, ‘State of the blogosphere in 2010,’ The Blog Herald, 20 September, viewed 20 April 2011,<http://www.blogherald.com/2010/09/20/state-of-the-blogosphere-in-2010/>.

Lowrey, W 2006, ‘Mapping the journalism – blogging relationship,’ Journalism, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 477 – 500.

The Star Online 2008, ‘Blogging in Malaysia ranks among highest in the world,’ The Star Online 3 April, viewed 20 April 2011, <http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/3/nation/20827588&sec=nation>.

Zhou, X 2009, ‘The political blogosphere in China: A content anaylysis of the blogs regarding the dismissal of Shanghai leader Chen Liangyu,’ New Media & Society, vol. 11, no. 6, pp. 1003 – 1022.