Blogging: Good for Building Relationships but Not Good for News.

                               
  
 I was introduced to "blogging" for the first time around 2005, while searching the web for various stories on celebrities. One name kept popping up in my searches: Perez Hilton. The Miami native and professional blogger is well-known for his candid and brash opinions on the latest celebrity gossip.
                                                                   

Though I'd read a couple of his postings before, it wasn't until I saw Hilton on comedienne Kathy Griffin's then Bravo reality show, "My Life on the D-List (2005-2010)," that I really started paying attention to this outlandish, yet intriguing fellow. Hilton, who was not shy of telling it like it is, had a unique and comical way of relaying information to the public. He seemed both knowledgeable and relatable at the same time through his writing. I believe his brand is the very reason his celebrity column/blog -- PerezHilton.com -- is still so popular. He has become a celebrity in his own right -- making guest appearances as a judge on the Miss USA pageants and other popular network shows.

Why am I saying all of this? Simply to say that blogging has become a popular medium to relay information like never before. Yes, Social Media can be used as a tool to inform as well, but blogs have grown (in some cases) into an authority for news, entertainment and other specialized areas.

According to Technorati.com, there are more than 9 million blogs published online. People have taken this blogging thing seriously.

Blogs have become so instrumental because they are a way for not only people to connect with family and friends, but they give people who wouldn't normally have a voice, a chance to speak their minds openly and freely without fear of rejection or restriction. I like to refer to blogs as online journals. Through these "online diaries" so to speak, bloggers can create a fan base, build and maintain relationships, and become an expert source on certain subject matter. Thanks to bloggers like Perez Hilton, your average Joe or Jane can make a name for him or herself, just by showcasing vulnerability through writing.
                                                           

     I personally believe that blogs are a great way for people to connect with others and express themselves. Blogs are pivotal devices that help to solidify our First Amendment rights when it comes to self expression and freedom of speech. Just by perusing the web, users can see thousands upon thousands of commentary on any and every subject. From opinions on Kim Kardashian's rear end and other Socialites, to personal perspectives on politics, finance and money management, relationships, home decorating and fashion, hygiene and skincare, and spiritual matters, bloggers have a platform to be authentic and set themselves a part.
 

                                                                
     As someone who enjoys writing, I believe that blogs are beneficial in that they allow writers to brainstorm and be creative on a public scale.  However, there are dangers to being "too personal" or appearing to be ignorant or inept through one's blog. Negligence, grammatical and English errors, libel, as well as an absence of couth, could lower a blogger's credibility.

This is true when it comes to a blogger and the news. Because there is news happening all the time, it is sometimes inconvenient and difficult for a reporter and news crew to get to a scene of a natural disaster or crime as it happens. Therefore, bystanders who choose to take photos or video, can be useful. These "citizen journalists" can instantly upload their images and footage to Facebook or Twitter, informing the public of what happened before authorities arrive. This partnership between news professional and member of the community can be beneficial, creating a sense of involvement in the mind of the citizen journalist. That person can feel as though he or she was a part of the news-making process. However, if all the W's (who, what, when, where, why) and proper questions are left unanswered before publishing news, this can result in misinformation and replication, which is dangerous by news standards.

As I've mentioned before, I do not have a problem with bloggers. I just have a problem with bloggers as they pertain to the news aspect.  Is your information well-sourced? Have you answered the necessary questions so that your story can be thorough and accurate? Have you checked your facts, or is the story mostly subjective and opinionated?

As the public expects its news to be timely, accurate, and thorough, a blogger who is not properly trained or educated as a reporter, is more susceptible to error. Moreover, if one is blogging on such subjects as money, health, or any other area that can affect people's wellbeing, without being specialized in that area (i.e. doctor, attorney, physical trainer, educator, etc.), your authority on the certain subject matter is questionable. Just as it is advantageous for reporters, journalists and public relations professionals to be knowledgeable about Social Media and how to use it, I believe citizen journalists should be trained and well informed in news concepts and principles.

For some, blogging can be therapeutic in that it allows those who write them to vent. For others, it can be a way to get one's name out there or build a network of persons who share common interests and similar opinions.

In his web video, "The power and the danger of online crowds," finance journalist James Surowiecki states that blogging and Social Media encourages users to be on one accord and of "one mind." He goes on to say that though this is a benefit to blogging, the danger is that people will become less independent and more codependent, relying on members of the group and trying to fit the status quo, in order to survive or be relevant.

     I understand that many people rely on the content in blogs for just about anything. However (and I know I will receive some flak for this), I am not a firm believer in blogs being used as a primary tool for news. As lovers and users of the World Wide Web, we must be vigilant in ensuring that information we view is thorough, accurate and original in thought. In addition, as we use our freedom of speech and expression to our advantage through blogging, let's not abuse it or violate others'.