Blog/Blogging

The abbreviated but commonly used form of weblog, a type of Web site that delivers frequen tly updated information, usually in reverse chrono logical order. Both terms were first used in the late 1990s, when blogs were generally started by individuals posting personal information and opinions, in contrast to commercial or institutional Web sites. As free, user-friendly blogging software programs were developed, vastly increasing numbers of people started blogs, eventually creating a digital community known as the “blogosphere.” Bloggers range from personal diarists, read by a few loyal followers, to staffers of mainstream news organizations, followed by millions. Blogs are characterized by regular and frequent updates, the inclusion of numerous hyperlinks, and, often, com ments posted by readers. As the future of traditional journalism came into question with the popularity of online newspapers and with escalating criticism of media monopolies, blogs—perceived by many as an inherently democratic medium—have taken on a more prominent role in mass communication.