Classification of Blogs

How to classify a ???

(brandingbrand.com)

Numerous types of blogs exist, blogs about anything that can be imagined (Wherly 2009). Blogs can be edit and published by several forms of devices, like mobile phones, computers and palms. In other words, weblogs can be accessed and published by almost all the ICT devices. I is estimated that in 2012, 17 billion devices that allows people to connect to the internet (ZDnet 2006).

In an ABC radio station program, Antony Funnel interviews author and freelance journalist, Margaret Simon (2008) talks about the different types of weblogs that currently exist. She classifies them into 9 groups and discusses the subject matter, device, media type and status of publishers of each blog. The classifications are as followed;

1) Pamphleteering blogs
– a blog where points are being argued and strong point of views are being expressed, these points are mainly on politics, current events and sometimes broader events.
Example: http://larvatusprodeo.net/

2) Digest blogs
- summaries and collections of materials of topics from mainstream media and other blogs as well, with additions of small analysis.
Example: owned by the journalists’ union, Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, http://www.fairgofairfax.org.au/ is a blog covering the journalists’ strike and redundancies issues.

3) Advocacy blogs
- the reinforcement of a point of view in a didactic manner, usually by a vested interest group, like advocacy group, commercial organization or political party.
Example: http://exchange.telstra.com.au/

4) Popular mechanics blogs
- Rich source of collection of information on how to dos and how things operate etc. Often done by enthusiasts or advertisers.
Example: http://blog.modernmechanix.com/

5) Exhibition blogs
- vanity publishing, often by craftspeople, artists, writers. This is to publicize their work to a broader audience.
Example: http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/thai-art-exhibition

6) Gatewatcher blogs
- small group of individuals that scrutinizes and critiques the media.
Example: http://possumcomitatus.wordpress.com/

7) Diary blogs
- social networking sites are now representing this function, very popular in today’s society
Examples: www.twitter.com, www.facebook.com

8) Advertisement blogs
- product promotion, often by commercial companies
Example: http://www.adverblog.com/

9) News blogs
- news breakers
Examples: http://www.crikey.com.au/, http://www.malaysia-today.net/

Since many blogs are fusion of styles, it makes it hard to identify their unique types. However, I think that the best way to classify blogs is to look at style because the way it is written and presented can determine classifications more accurately compared to the other elements, which could be misleading.

(thephoenixpub.com)

References:

• Funnell, A 2008, A Taxonomy of Blogs, as viewed 22th September 2010, <http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2008/2372882.htm#transcript>.
• Pritchett. D.J 2009, Hot collaboration trends in 2009: internal facebooks, sharepoint microblogging,expert location,and homegrown wikis, viewed on 22th September 2010, <http://www.sharingatwork.com/2009/10/hot-collaboration-trends-in-2009-internal-facebooks-sharepoint-microblogging-expert-location-and-homegrown-wikis/ >.
• ZDnet Research 2006, 17 bln devices to connect to the Internet in 2012, as viewed 23 September 2010, <http://www.zdnet.com/blog/itfacts/17-bln-devices-to-connect-to-the-internet-in-2012/10816>.