What is Blogging?

By definition, blogging or “web logging” is a type of online publishing that occurs on the World Wide Web. Blogs have become attractive to the Net Generation because of their interactive nature and potential for reaching a mass audience. Since they are relatively easy to set-up many people now use blogs a type of expressive personal website.

Essentially, a blog is like an online journal, but one that fosters online discussion. Blogs can be about any topic or interest ranging from news, sports, travel, education, advertising, arts, or leisure.  Blogs are generally maintained by one person who posts comments, opinions, or research (called blog posts) in a chronological order. The blog is set-up in such a way that those who read the blog posts can respond by adding their own postings fostering a type of online community.

Blogs can also be very personal and an expression of the blogger’s passion. Anyone remember the film Julie and Julia (2009)? The movie centers on Julie Powell, an unemployed writer, who blogs about her experiences cooking her way through Julia Child’s famous cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Powell’s blog, The Julie/Julia Project soon was a popular hit with bloggers. I recall watching the movie and thinking how powerful blogging could be.

Check out these sites for more about blogs and blogging:  
- Written by Rebecca Blood, Rebecca’s Pocket provides an overview the history and theory of blogs.   
- Weblogs at Harvard Law lists some of the unique features of blogs and their purpose. 
- Darren Rowse has some great links for getting started as a blogger. Check out his blog Problogger.

Update
What are some of your favorite blogs? Post a comment with links to your blogs below.