Web Wanders

Blogs - what are they?

As you may have noticed we now have a blog section on the Devon 24 newspaper sites and you may be wondering: “what is a blog?”

Although sounding suspiciously like an alien toilet, the word blog is actually web speak for an online diary and derives from the term web log. Whatever you want to call them, blogs have taken off in a big way recently and everyone seems to have one!

Lots of celebrities keep blogs and the nosey among us love this rare glimpse into the thoughts and lives of the stars. Blogs can also be a good way for celebrities to promote events, such as performances and book releases.

For us mere mortals, however, blogs provide an opportunity to share our latest news with friends, family and…the rest of the world!  Some people like to use their blogs to keep people informed of their progress on big projects or to describe their travels on a gap year abroad. Others prefer to use their online diaries in a more traditional sense: to talk about the trivia of everyday life and to give opinions on issues close to their hearts. Alternatively, if you fancy being a citizen journalist, many of the national newspapers now have shared news blogs which you can update and use to share your views on the top stories. A word of warning though:  despite what many people believe the law DOES apply to content published on the web, so be very careful that you don’t post any comments that could be libellous or defamatory.

If you are a bit techno shy don’t be afraid – most personal blog sites are very easy to use, some of the most popular being www.blogger.com and www.myspace.co.uk
The site you choose really depends on which layout you prefer. If you are feeling a bit more adventurous you can also include extra content, such as pictures, video clips (known as vlogs) and audio (aka podcasts). However, you must use your own material, as it is illegal to use copyright pictures, artwork, videos or music tracks without permission.

Over the next few months I will be using my blog to report on the latest news and trends from the World Wide Web. If you have any comments, or suggestions on topics that you would like to see covered, please email: sally.fairbrother@archant.co.uk

USEFUL LINKS:

Create your own blog:

www.blogger.com

www.blogit.com

www.myspace.co.uk

 Find blogs:

Google Blog Search - http://blogsearch.google.com/

Technorati Blog Directory - http://technorati.com/blogs/