Blog

Definition

simple web pages designed for frequent updates.

Purpose and Benefit

Blogs are more lively and personal than traditional publications, and more permanent and accessible than normal conversation. In a blog the author enters his thoughts, perspective, or knowledge onto a web page, and the postings are displayed in reverse chronological order.

Description

Coding requirements and cost for blogs are minimal to none. They are usually written from a personal or individual perspective on a website available to anyone with access. Each entry, or post,has its own unique internet address. And each post can contain links to other posts or sites. Readers of a blog can post comments and thoughts but cannot change the original. All posted content remains in a searchable archive. Personal blogging (i.e. a chronology of someone’s pregnancy on the web or a cancer patient’s documentation) differs from business blogging. Although blogs are, by their nature, personal accounts, in the business world they are intended to focus on issues relevant to an organization. A blog’s accessibility promotes transparency. Content in a blog is validated only through informal peer review. Since anyone can read a blog posted on the internet or an intranet, the author knows his content will potentially be subject to the scrutiny of experts on this content. This helps keep bloggers “honest” about their contributions. From a knowledge perspective, blogs provide useful insights about their authors. While a reader should not believe everything he reads in a blog, he may gain important context that will help him make sense of knowledge the author shares.