What is a Blog? Blog Definition

A "blog" is a popular term born from the contraction of the phrase "web log." Blogs are a written medium of self expression that have evolved from online diaries and now saturate the internet as sources for news, entertainment, reviews, and more.

Blogging has had some tremendously positive consequences. For instance, Bloggers and psychologists alike applaud the cognitive and therapeutic benefits of writing about one's life. Also, blogs have made it easier than ever for writers to have their voices heard; blogs present unfiltered news and information straight to the public and are not limited by theme, funding, or opinion. Blogging is an empowering tool that equips writers to discuss any range of topics, sometimes to the chagrin of corporate and political leaders.

Many writers make an income from maintaining a blog, either through a company or independently. Some successful blogs have even been published; in one instance, a published blog claimed a place on the New York Times' Best Seller's list.

Blogging has also created vast communities and networks of like-minded writers and readers, referred to as the "Blogosphere." It has allowed fragmented interest groups to easily locate another and has been a boon to companies targeting niche markets.

Not all blogs, however, are amateur endeavors. Some are extensions of the mainstream media, updated regularly by professional journalists, writers, political pundits, and entertainers to provide an additional source of credible information and analysis. Politicians have even used blogs as a means to promote their platform and reach a broader audience.

Blogs offer an alternative source of information, uncensored and available to anyone with the technology to access it. They are also one of the most egalitarian and ideal methods for self expression to have come out of the Information Age. With the number of blogs increasing each year, the impact this technology will have on news, communication, and legislation will only become more apparent as the medium matures.