Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Are Canadian Weblogs Well-Maintained?
The following information helps us to see what the status of Canadian weblogs (or “blog”) is right now and how to maintain them.
To be able to maintain a good weblog, it is important to understand what weblogs really are. According to Steve Bowbrick, weblogs work as invitations to readers to participate in a dialogue. A well-maintained weblog can attract readers to create a special stickiness to the blog itself. Such a weblog needs to have a unique identity or personality for readers to maintain their interests. Readers need to feel the weblog is trustworthy, entertaining, and informative. Maintaining a successful weblog requires the following:
First, writing has to make sense to readers. There should not be any grammar and spelling mistakes. For example, A Canadian weblog, Arronland, does not contain well-written content so that it provides difficulties for readers to understand the information itself.
Second, a good weblog needs accurate and clear content which provides details and explanation. For example, CBC Radio’s Technology Blog supplies understandable and useful information. Readers can get an obvious picture of what the writing is about.
Third, appropriate links and cited quotations are crucial. All source material should be authorized. For instance, Canada for Visitors is a well-organized weblog which provides the most recent information on traveling for both Canadians and tourists. The topics are intriguing; the links are helpful. Readers can even email the information they choose to their friends. The sources are authorized; the linked related articles can be useful.
Forth, the weblogs should be updated frequently and always include new information or ideas. For instance, Poptoronto, a Canadian weblog, supposedly provides current activities in Toronto. However, this weblog does provide current temperature in Toronto but not information. The most recent information on this blog is from September 30, 2003.
Next, a weblog can be either amateur or professional and it should always include effective information and words. If the weblog is about personal feelings, the writing should still have the power to evoke readers’ feeling or to open readers’ eyes. Caterina.net is a great example.
In addition, a good weblog should also contain introductions for readers to scan through each topic. Dates should also be provided so that readers can recognize when the information was posted. Clark Hornbell, a Canadian weblog, indicates the problems of lacking introductions and dates.
Finally, there should not be any offensive words in the writing. Although weblogs can be personal, they are still published works. It is necessary to use respective and appropriate words to describe personal feelings. Remove Your Shoes is a perfect example of how revolting it may look when the writings contain inappropriate words.
From all the weblogs I personally accessed, most of them are not well-maintained. It requires time and energy to achieve this goal. How many of them reach all of the requirements? The answer will show us where Canadian weblogs stand.
For another article related to maintaining weblogs visit Secret of their success.
(contributed by Doris)
The following information helps us to see what the status of Canadian weblogs (or “blog”) is right now and how to maintain them.
To be able to maintain a good weblog, it is important to understand what weblogs really are. According to Steve Bowbrick, weblogs work as invitations to readers to participate in a dialogue. A well-maintained weblog can attract readers to create a special stickiness to the blog itself. Such a weblog needs to have a unique identity or personality for readers to maintain their interests. Readers need to feel the weblog is trustworthy, entertaining, and informative. Maintaining a successful weblog requires the following:
First, writing has to make sense to readers. There should not be any grammar and spelling mistakes. For example, A Canadian weblog, Arronland, does not contain well-written content so that it provides difficulties for readers to understand the information itself.
Second, a good weblog needs accurate and clear content which provides details and explanation. For example, CBC Radio’s Technology Blog supplies understandable and useful information. Readers can get an obvious picture of what the writing is about.
Third, appropriate links and cited quotations are crucial. All source material should be authorized. For instance, Canada for Visitors is a well-organized weblog which provides the most recent information on traveling for both Canadians and tourists. The topics are intriguing; the links are helpful. Readers can even email the information they choose to their friends. The sources are authorized; the linked related articles can be useful.
Forth, the weblogs should be updated frequently and always include new information or ideas. For instance, Poptoronto, a Canadian weblog, supposedly provides current activities in Toronto. However, this weblog does provide current temperature in Toronto but not information. The most recent information on this blog is from September 30, 2003.
Next, a weblog can be either amateur or professional and it should always include effective information and words. If the weblog is about personal feelings, the writing should still have the power to evoke readers’ feeling or to open readers’ eyes. Caterina.net is a great example.
In addition, a good weblog should also contain introductions for readers to scan through each topic. Dates should also be provided so that readers can recognize when the information was posted. Clark Hornbell, a Canadian weblog, indicates the problems of lacking introductions and dates.
Finally, there should not be any offensive words in the writing. Although weblogs can be personal, they are still published works. It is necessary to use respective and appropriate words to describe personal feelings. Remove Your Shoes is a perfect example of how revolting it may look when the writings contain inappropriate words.
From all the weblogs I personally accessed, most of them are not well-maintained. It requires time and energy to achieve this goal. How many of them reach all of the requirements? The answer will show us where Canadian weblogs stand.
For another article related to maintaining weblogs visit Secret of their success.
(contributed by Doris)
Gatekeeping, Sensoring, and Editing
With respect to the gate keeping and selection of material on blog sites there are many things to be aware of. Anyone with access to the Internet can potentially have their thoughts published via their own blog…a personal printing press for all. The question is: will anyone read it? Many people send their blogs to bigger blogs or other sites that are related to blogging in hope of have their thoughts selected and published on a bigger website, which will then make it more readily available to other viewers. If one types “Canadian Blogs” into Google, the first site that will come up is Blog Canada’s site. This site showcases other Canadian blog sites, thus promoting their popularity. The gate keeping or selection process is based on the fact that the author is Canadian or lives in Canada. But that doesn’t guarantee you a spot on this site. Your blog has to be interesting according to the editor’s standards. The gate keeping or selection process is as individualized as the blogs and people who run them. There seems to be a cry from journalists and other blogger's for some kind of basic editing on blogs. This issue also sparks concerns that editing blogs will restrict contributors’ freedom to say what ever they want. However, these cries are being reasonably debunked by those who say they want the editing because it makes blogs more of a legitimate medium. They want to make it very clear that editing a blog is not censoring a blog; there is a very distinct difference. Blogs become more professional when there are no spelling errors, grammar is correct, and there is no unintentional slander. Editing may, however, still alter a blog’s content and message, and must therefore be taken into consideration when viewing.
Related links to gatekeeping, censoring and editing blogs
What should journalism schools teach about blogs?
Technology, Self, & Community:
How new media interplay with the self and others
"The future of blogs.. maybe"
Editing Blogs or Censoring Blogs?
(contributed by Lisa)
With respect to the gate keeping and selection of material on blog sites there are many things to be aware of. Anyone with access to the Internet can potentially have their thoughts published via their own blog…a personal printing press for all. The question is: will anyone read it? Many people send their blogs to bigger blogs or other sites that are related to blogging in hope of have their thoughts selected and published on a bigger website, which will then make it more readily available to other viewers. If one types “Canadian Blogs” into Google, the first site that will come up is Blog Canada’s site. This site showcases other Canadian blog sites, thus promoting their popularity. The gate keeping or selection process is based on the fact that the author is Canadian or lives in Canada. But that doesn’t guarantee you a spot on this site. Your blog has to be interesting according to the editor’s standards. The gate keeping or selection process is as individualized as the blogs and people who run them. There seems to be a cry from journalists and other blogger's for some kind of basic editing on blogs. This issue also sparks concerns that editing blogs will restrict contributors’ freedom to say what ever they want. However, these cries are being reasonably debunked by those who say they want the editing because it makes blogs more of a legitimate medium. They want to make it very clear that editing a blog is not censoring a blog; there is a very distinct difference. Blogs become more professional when there are no spelling errors, grammar is correct, and there is no unintentional slander. Editing may, however, still alter a blog’s content and message, and must therefore be taken into consideration when viewing.
Related links to gatekeeping, censoring and editing blogs
What should journalism schools teach about blogs?
Technology, Self, & Community:
How new media interplay with the self and others
"The future of blogs.. maybe"
Editing Blogs or Censoring Blogs?
(contributed by Lisa)
Searching for Canada
Defining the status of Canadian blogging starts with "the search." Unless a friend or other non-electronic source has told you what Canadian blog to go to, most find one through popular search engines such as Google. The challenge one encounters is which criteria should be input in order to get a relevant output. (i.e. - If you type in "Canadian Hockey Blog" are you going to get a site that mentions these three words separately or will one strike gold and have a blog about Canadian hockey.) Actually, what you get is a mix of both, which can be very time consuming. Also, when one wants to find blogs "made in Canada" it becomes virtually impossible since many don't come stamped with their originating country. In turn, searching for blogs made in Canada is like finding a needle in a haystack; many will mention Canada but not be made by a Canadian. I suppose one has to wonder if there is such thing as "Canadian" blogs or any "country of origin" blog since the web is virtually a global space. Maybe then any blog that mentions Canada is a "Canadian blog" simply by name association. That would make searching for a "Canadian" blog simple yet endless.
(contributed by Melissa)
Defining the status of Canadian blogging starts with "the search." Unless a friend or other non-electronic source has told you what Canadian blog to go to, most find one through popular search engines such as Google. The challenge one encounters is which criteria should be input in order to get a relevant output. (i.e. - If you type in "Canadian Hockey Blog" are you going to get a site that mentions these three words separately or will one strike gold and have a blog about Canadian hockey.) Actually, what you get is a mix of both, which can be very time consuming. Also, when one wants to find blogs "made in Canada" it becomes virtually impossible since many don't come stamped with their originating country. In turn, searching for blogs made in Canada is like finding a needle in a haystack; many will mention Canada but not be made by a Canadian. I suppose one has to wonder if there is such thing as "Canadian" blogs or any "country of origin" blog since the web is virtually a global space. Maybe then any blog that mentions Canada is a "Canadian blog" simply by name association. That would make searching for a "Canadian" blog simple yet endless.
(contributed by Melissa)
Big Guys vs. Little Guys
Another of the many ways to assess Canadian weblogs is by their apparent size, that is, by the number and frequency of posts and/or comments. Larger or more sophisticated weblogs usually contain daily postings from their moderators as well as a number of comments from their followers. It is these larger and more sophisticated weblogs that employ many add-on features such as; site syndication with file formats known as RSS. Site syndication gives a blogger the option to create a machine-readable representation of the blog that is picked up by other websites. This widens appeal for the blog, as more people are able to read it. This feature is found on one Canadian weblog called The Dominion Daily Weblog. Smaller Canadian weblogs found on the Internet frequently remain private. These weblogs, rarely found within search engines, contain fewer posts and comments each day. A small weblog that we found is based on a class at York University, www.blog.project3media.com, and deals with course materials of interactive media. This blog is an example of a private blog, which keeps students up to date with course material, as well as announcements and notices. This weblog remains private as it is of use primarily to members of the class; it also demonstrates that an endless number of smaller Canadian blogs can and do exist on the World Wide Web, while remaining undetectable to uninvolved parties and undocumented within Canadian blog directories.
(contributed by Justin)
Another of the many ways to assess Canadian weblogs is by their apparent size, that is, by the number and frequency of posts and/or comments. Larger or more sophisticated weblogs usually contain daily postings from their moderators as well as a number of comments from their followers. It is these larger and more sophisticated weblogs that employ many add-on features such as; site syndication with file formats known as RSS. Site syndication gives a blogger the option to create a machine-readable representation of the blog that is picked up by other websites. This widens appeal for the blog, as more people are able to read it. This feature is found on one Canadian weblog called The Dominion Daily Weblog. Smaller Canadian weblogs found on the Internet frequently remain private. These weblogs, rarely found within search engines, contain fewer posts and comments each day. A small weblog that we found is based on a class at York University, www.blog.project3media.com, and deals with course materials of interactive media. This blog is an example of a private blog, which keeps students up to date with course material, as well as announcements and notices. This weblog remains private as it is of use primarily to members of the class; it also demonstrates that an endless number of smaller Canadian blogs can and do exist on the World Wide Web, while remaining undetectable to uninvolved parties and undocumented within Canadian blog directories.
(contributed by Justin)
What Makes a Canadian Blog?
Blogs of many sorts have taken the World Wide Web by storm with no lack of representation in the field by Canadians. There are many Canadian blogs in existence, spanning a wide variety of categories, yet tracking their development and progress remains a challenge at best. The task of identifying a Canadian blog in itself is a complex matter. Blogs Canada, one of the leading Canadian blog directories, identifies the Canadian blogs they list as being “from Canada or from Canadians living outside of Canada.” Link This method of categorization seems effective; however, many blogs keep their authors and points of origin anonymous, leaving them unidentifiably Canadian. One strategy for this procedure would be a content analysis, as outlined by Lawrence Grossberg. As he writes, this would first involve “defining a set of categories,” such as “Canadian.” This may be one effective approach; however, depending upon the defined parameters, one could also conclude that any blog even mentioning Canada, its geographical locations, or its customs and culture should be included in the mass of “Canadian Blogs.” This becomes problematic because there needs to be a universal definition of this term if there is to be an accurate study of its history and growth. In order to track Canadian blogs as they emerge and evolve, we must first identify what exactly is meant by this category, a task which remains open for both debate and subjective interpretation.
(contributed by Jackie)
Blogs of many sorts have taken the World Wide Web by storm with no lack of representation in the field by Canadians. There are many Canadian blogs in existence, spanning a wide variety of categories, yet tracking their development and progress remains a challenge at best. The task of identifying a Canadian blog in itself is a complex matter. Blogs Canada, one of the leading Canadian blog directories, identifies the Canadian blogs they list as being “from Canada or from Canadians living outside of Canada.” Link This method of categorization seems effective; however, many blogs keep their authors and points of origin anonymous, leaving them unidentifiably Canadian. One strategy for this procedure would be a content analysis, as outlined by Lawrence Grossberg. As he writes, this would first involve “defining a set of categories,” such as “Canadian.” This may be one effective approach; however, depending upon the defined parameters, one could also conclude that any blog even mentioning Canada, its geographical locations, or its customs and culture should be included in the mass of “Canadian Blogs.” This becomes problematic because there needs to be a universal definition of this term if there is to be an accurate study of its history and growth. In order to track Canadian blogs as they emerge and evolve, we must first identify what exactly is meant by this category, a task which remains open for both debate and subjective interpretation.
(contributed by Jackie)
