Blog, Blogging, Blogger.

Blogs as current phenomenon & benefits to the community.

What is a Blog?
For the past 5 years or so, the word 'blog' transformed from an 'Excuse me, can u repeat that word?' era to an 'in-trend' of our generation today. It was said that the birth of the first blog was in 1992. However, in the late nineties, more and more communities sprung up and blogs started to gain popularity only after year 2000. (Ng 2009)

The word ‘blog’ comes from the combination of two words, that is web and log.
Blogs are known as online journals or virtual diaries created by individuals that is available on the web. The process of posting and updating a blog is called “blogging” and anyone who has a blog is known as a “blogger.” (NetAlert 2007)




In 2006, BBC News reported that the blogging phenomenon is set to peak in 2007, predicted by analysts Gartner.
According to the blog tracking firm, Technorati, an estimation of 100,000 new blogs were created daily, and 1.3 million blog posts were written.

Recently, Nielsen Online’s BlogPulse search engine has touched the big M; 100 million blogs recorded in their database. Back in April 2005, 10 million blogs were registered, 12 million by June 2005, and now, 100 million. (MacDonald 2009) It shows pretty clearly how the usage of blogs have been increasing rapidly day after day.

Blogging Trends
There is a wide variety of genres based on blogging trends in the blogosphere. Political blogging, business blogging, personal blogging, topical blogging, literary blogging, health blogging, tavel blogging, research blogging, legal blogging and educational blogging are the few main blogging trends of the generation today.

According to Microsoft's MSN and Windows Live Online Services Business's research, about 46% Asians are actively blogging. The research proved that Asian's top purpose of blogging is to create and at the same time keep up with their social connections with friends and family members as a way of expressing themselves. (Microsoft 2006)

Blogging effects on Malaysian Communities
Blogs create opportunities for any individual, regardless of race, gender, age and so on to creatively express themselves. Recently in Malaysia, it is now a trend to express and voice one's feelings or opinion using blogs. At the same time, countries like United States and even Malaysia, uses this medium as a platform to gain publicity.

Some of the Malaysian political bloggers made names for themselves in this industry; Lim Kit Siang, Jeff Ooi, Anwar Ibrahim, Dr Mahathir Mohamad and many many more. These political blogs provide people with different perspectives and views on political issues as well as giving them a chance to openly discuss them. Thus, many believe that this has contributed towards fostering democracy in Malaysia in a good way.

References
1. Blogging 'set to peak next year' 2006, BBC News (Online accessed 27 May 2009)
URL: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6178611.stm
2. MacDonald, S 2009, BlogPulse Reaches 100 Million Mark (Online accessed 1 June 2009) URL: http://blog.blogpulse.com/archives/000796.html
3. Microsoft 2006, Blogging Phenomenon Sweeps Asia (Online accessed 2 June 2009)
URL: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/11-28-2006/0004480819&EDATE=
4. NetAlert 2007, What are blogs, Australian Government (Online accessed 2 June 2009)
URL: http://www.netalert.gov.au/advice/services/blogs/What_are_blogs.html
5. Ng 2009, What are blogs? (Online accessed 2 June 2009)
URL: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-blogs.htm
5. Thinkquest 2006, Types of blogs (Online accessed, 27 May 2009)
URL: http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/01130/typesofblogs_textbased.html
6. Press Microsoft Malaysia 2006, Women rule in Malaysian blogosphere (Online accessed 1 June 2009) http://www.microsoft.com/malaysia/press/archive2006/linkpage4337.mspx
7. Technorati 2008, The size of blogosphere per day for the past 90 days (Online accessed 27 May 2009)
URL: http://technorati.com/blogging/state-of-the-blogosphere
8. Youtube 2007, Blogs in Plain English (Online accessed 2 June 2009)
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN2I1pWXjXI&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fsoh%2Dmichelle%2Eblogspot%2Ecom%2F&feature=player_embedded