Blogging the Convention

There are three types of Blogs: personal, informational, and a combination of the two. Each type is important.

Informational, for the obvious reason, that it gives information. Often times, political, social, or technological information isn't mainstream. In a capitalist America, information spreads on a need-to-know basis. The mainstream press can be tainted by the limitations of press, objectivity, or business or political confidentiality. The web, especially blogs, has the power to make information that isn't being broadcasted over the tv or radio waves availible to the public. On the web, information travels fast and the voices are strong.

Though personal blogs don't seem as pressing as say a political blog, it still gives you a look into some one's life. If the blogger just had a baby, quit smoking , living in a library , going to war , or through any other tramatic or common experience, the site has a worthy benifit. It tells a story that no one else has. It is availible to a public who might be in a similiar situation or who may be ignorant to when or how these events occur.

A perfect example of when personal meet informational blogs can be found in the
blogging of the the National Democratic Convention.

Dozens of delegates are writing for Web logs, or "blogs," promising the folks back home their take -- up close and personal -- on the pomp and politics of the Democratic National Convention.

"That's really the goal, to provide some little tidbits of what the after-hour delegate parties or caucus meetings are like, stuff you wouldn't see on TV," said delegate Greg Rodriguez, 38, of Seattle, who is blogging for the King County Democratic Party. "People are really starving for that, especially this year."

Delegate bloggers play a different role than traditional media or even other bloggers, said New York University journalism professor Jay Rosen, who is covering the convention for his blog.

"You can't apply to it the criteria of news or even punditry," Rosen said. "One shouldn't expect startling new information because that's not the point. The point is to share the experience."

Such a use of blogging combines experience with knowledge. The behind the scenes picture are a newsworthy event shows the public more that a thirty second clip of men in suits. It tells the story of the people and the place. There was a feeling behind the convention. Was it elaborate and manufactored? Under attended? What kind of people attend such a convention. To me , these are the interesting questions. The real story lies in the people and the atmosphere.