Blogging as a Social Action

The combination of Carolyn R. Miller and Dawn Shepherd’s, “Blogging as a Social Action: A Genre Analysis of the Weblog” along with one of our class textbooks, “Blogging: Digital Media and Society Series” by Jill Walker Rettburg yielded a thorough reading on the history, controversies, and audiences of the “blogosphere.”

Rettberg’s text discussed the fine line between blogging being considered a medium or a genre. She claims that “scholars have suggested that, rather than looking at the internet as a single medium, it makes more sense to consider different authoring software as providing different media” (Rettberg 32). She explains that the actual blog itself is the medium, however, what is written on the blog determines the genre of it. There are many different kind of blogs. There are sci/tech blogs such as the Lehrer one we read in class; there a travel blogs; recipe blogs; and blogs that serve the purpose of a journal/diary, among other. However, this does not change the fact that they are all blogs alike, and what differs is the genre in which they fall under. I feel a similar concept applies to books. A novel, an autobiography or a collection of poems are all printed in the same medium: books. However, their genre differs depending on the content of each. “Almost across the board, bloggers seem to agree that content is the most important feature of a blog” (Miller, Shepherd).

Another important and groundbreaking component of blogging is the fact that now, nothing can seem unworthy of publishing. Your writing style does not need to necessarily fit to a publication’s style or needs for you to stand a chance of reaching an audience anymore. As Miller and Shepherd’s article claims, “these journalistic genres clearly require a public audience and usually seek as large an audience as possible, the rhetorical aim being to influence opinion or action” (Miller, Shepherd). I find the use of hashtags in blogging sites such as Tumblr or Wordpress to be very helpful when attempting to reach a specific target audience. For example, I am currently interning for a mens streetwear search engine online publication, and whenever I blog through the Wordpress platform, I include relevant hashtags such as #menswear, or #bomberjacket, depending on the post. People who search for these things on that platform are directed to my post, which is relevant to their needs. Blogging has broadened the horizons of journalism and changed the dynamics of it for good.

Blogs also give authors the freedom to express themselves the way they want, instead of tailoring their writing to fit. I have a friend who runs the blog of a fashion publication, and then has her own, private fashion blog. The differences are clear. In her work blog, she advertises clothing items that are “in” and new collections by worthy designers. Her tone is very formal and informational. In her personal fashion blog, however, her tone shifts entirely. She has a very grungy and modern style, and her tone is much more approachable and personal. She gives her writing her own twist, and has developed a loyal base of regular followers, too.

Miller, Carolyn R. and Dawn Shepherd. “Blogging as Social Action: A Genre Analysis of the Weblog.” Into the Blogosphere [Rhetoric, Community, and Culture of Weblogs]. North Carolina State University. Web. 14 September 2014. 

Rettburg, Jill Walker. Blogging: Digital Media and Society Series. Cambridge, 2014. Print.