A highly personal definition of blogging

August 14th. 2008, 5:00am

Yes, we’re going to try to define blogging in this post.

Don’t run away just yet, let me explain where I’m going with this.

Daily Blog Tips is running a group writing project about blogging. Specifically, Daniel Scocco is asking his readers to define what a blog is.

Stay with me – it’ll be fun. And interesting.

There are a number of definitions of the word blog out there. There are certainly a number of technical characteristics that can define a blog, including those that Daniel listed in his post:

The features that make blogs different from other websites are:

* content is published in a chronological fashion
* content is updated regularly
* readers have the possibility to leave comments
* other blog authors can interact via trackbacks and pingbacks
* content is syndicated via RSS feeds

Now here’s the Mark Dykeman, Broadcasting Brain, take on blogs:

Blogs are a combination of two well-known mainstream media outlets: the broadcasting studio and the traditional op-ed column.

A blog is my personal studio on the World Wide Web from which I broadcast to the world. I can broadcast anything I want to the world from my studio. You can tune into my broadcasts via your Web browser (either directly or via an RSS feed reader)

When I say “studio”, I’m not talking about a broadcasting studio of the quality that Leo Laporte or Chris Pirillo would use. It’s more like a place where I go when I want to say something to the world. It’s usually not a live broadcasting experience either: it’s the equivalent of a prerecorded show that gets broadcasted and then remains available forever. And this studio is like a soapbox with unlimited range.

A blog also has many qualities in common with traditional syndicated news/opinion/commentary content that is transmitted via newspapers, magazines, television, and radio. When set up correctly, a blog offers me a chance to say something and then you, the reader, can read and respond to it. You and I can even discuss our thoughts by the comments section of my blog.

That’s what I think a blog is. How about you?

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Other posts that you might enjoy reading:

JayCruz

I think you can't define concretely what a blog is or isn't. Most of the definitions are ideals defining a concept.

Mark Dykeman

Basically I wrote about my personal concept of what a blog can be, looking beyond the code and apps.

JayCruz

Your definition is not wrong or bad, I actually like and agree with the take of broadcasting studio and op-ed column, but that's because I'm addicted to the internet and understand the subtleties of the term "blog". You can ask or show a not so web savy user a "forum" or "wiki" and he'll understand very easily what they are; content wise and form wise, but with a blog he will be confused. We understand and can tell apart a blog from other forms of publishing online based more on a sense than on a form. Even though right now blogs have those 5 qualities listed in Daily Blog Tips, they didn't have them initially and will have many more in the future.

The blog is the least agreed upon thing, but I think is just another online meme. :)

Murty BVNS

Several times I am also in a fix when my students ask me what is the difference between a website and blog. I normally say website is more static with one inlet and one outlet whereas blog is more dynamic with more inlets and many more outlets. I know this is a vague non technical definition. This post is a good summarization of what a blog is and what a website is. I could refer this post to anyone.

Mark Dykeman

Thanks, andhrizz, but if you do refer this post to anyone, it's best to say that it's just one person's opinion.

Murty BVNS

Now it is two men opinion.

Rishabh Mishra (possible248)

But can't a lot of other communication methods, such as writing books, fall into the same definition? Nowadays, the author can write whatever he or she wants in a book, due to self-publishing companies. Readers can use another method, such as traditional mail or email to respond.

Or are these other communication methods supposed to fall in the same definition? Jason Calacanis showed (at least to me) that a blog can be replaced by a mailing list.

Murty BVNS

But those responses to books or magazines takes longer times to respond by author and responses are not present on the published content. More over a printed book or a magazine cant be called a blog or even a website. Yes, one way a mailing list can replace a blog.

mattb4rd

based on your definition I think I may be a blogger. :)

Mark Dykeman

I hear there's a pill that you can take for it...

jennifer davis

I'm actually new to all of this, which is why I decided to visit this site. Compared to other people, the quality of my "user experience" is remedial. However, after looking into it a little further, I guess I would say that a blog is a wonderful tool that could be used for many things. Perhaps you need some personal justification, or need to vent. My definition of a blog is this; a place where ones mind can explode, vomiting thoughts and feelings into the minds of anyone willing to read the blog.

Mark Dykeman

Well, Jennifer, that's certainly a valid definition.

Club Penguin Cheats

Can't a lot of other communication methods, such as writing books, fall into the same definition? Nowadays, the author can write whatever he or she wants in a book, due to self-publishing companies.

Club Penguin Cheats

Can't a lot of other communication methods, such as writing books, fall into the same definition? Nowadays, the author can write whatever he or she wants in a book, due to self-publishing companies.

Free Online Games

I think I know what a blog is in layman's terms, but it is nice to get an official definition.

Broadcasting Brain

Must we define blogs again?

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