The variety of content and the ease with which they can be started has lead to an increase in the popularity of blogs, which cover everything from films and music, to illnesses and the daily lives of thousands of individuals.
The word ‘blog’ comes from ‘weblog’, which describes an online journal that is updated regularly and is for public viewing. Blogs can be used for any purpose and can be as personal or impersonal as the user wishes.
Jess Brown, The Linc’s style editor, began her blog, www.fishinair.blogspot.com, in 2008 when she knew it would be a part of her journalism course.
“I started my blog when I knew there was a blogging assignment coming up soon, and so I thought I’d give it a try,” she says.
The twenty-year-old says she blogs about her thoughts and writes about a range of different topics.
“I try not to make it too personal and I try to keep to a certain level of consistency with the style,” she adds.
Although Brown doesn’t aim to achieve anything specific through her blog, she would like a bigger audience.
“I’d love more readers on my blog. It makes me happy when people comment on it or tell me they’ve read it. For me, writing my blog is therapeutic and fun; it isn’t about achieving anything in particular but if people read it, it’s a bonus,” she says.
Chris Bingham, a media production student, uses his blog on CakeBomb.co.uk, a website he created with friends, to showcase his work.
“Myself and the founding members were always making things individually or as a group, so we decided to start a website that would showcase our projects and give us a sort of online portfolio to advertise our work,” he says.
The nineteen-year-old uses his blog to compliment his work and keep his readers informed:
“My blog isn’t so much a personal diary as a behind-the-scenes log. I tell my readers what I’ve been working on, how I made my last film or comic, or reviews of things I’ve watched or read,” he says.
James Hall, a fine art student at the University of Lincoln, had been considering starting his blog for sometime before he finally began this year: “I’d been thinking about creating a blog but never really got round to doing it in my first year, and I didn’t think I had anything interesting to blog about.
“However once I got into my second year, I found that my tutors regularly use blogs, and keeping a document of my art work became something I was interested in,” he says.
“The feedback which I get back from comments left on my blog helps me with my work too.”
Hall, who hopes his blog will get him some publicity, blogs about his inspirations for his work as well as posting unrelated links such as links to music videos.
“I tend to write about what inspires me in my work; travel, journeys, transport, maps, and lines. When I stumble across new artists, or have researched something I find interesting, or even if it’s just a new idea, I’ll post it on my blog. However sometimes I’ll post links to music videos, lyrics, or a YouTube video,” he says.
With the advantages of publicising your work, expressing yourself, and just having fun – the blogging craze looks set to continue.