Weblogs and the Public Sphere, by O'Baoill, looks at the effect of blogs on public debate. As a method of idea/opinion dissemination, blogs are an accessible tool for individuals to utilize with many of them requiring only an entry level of computer/internet skill.
Apart from skill, the time commitment needed to get a blog established and visible is considerable. O'Baoill points out that the focus is not in the writing itself, but the need to read and keep on top of news and information sources is considerable and the main impediment in a blog becoming established. The interaction needed to go from unknown to a blog that has high visibility is also considerable.
The need for available time then is the main impediment when it comes to blogs being successful or not. Bloggers need to browse through other blogs, potential information sources, and become involved in debates. Knowing established bloggers and getting them to link back or mention your blog is a way to jump start the process (O'Baoill p2).
For me, a major issue beyond getting a blog established and successful is the lack of editorial oversight. I am a reference librarian at one of my day jobs, and as such I consistently consider where information is coming from- is it credible? I have found blogs who cite their sources, but those would be the big, established blogs. O'Baoill makes a strong point that the time commitment is already a deterrent for bloggers. Adding proper citations for research may just be that last straw for bloggers. It may also not be a step that is at the top of many bloggers' minds. For those using blogs as a source of information it can be just as time consuming if they are doing it correctly- verifying sources and information.
It is hard to start a new blog and to get it established and well known in a given community. It is, for all intents and purposes, a job that requires a considerable commitment of time and energy. When it comes to social/political issues blogs do provide an accessible format for discussion and debate- the comment structure allows one to follow the threads of conversation easily and to chime in as desired. The blogging sphere is dominated by Big Names, the established bloggers in a given community. The opportunity to engage and debate with those Big Names is one not to be missed, whether or not one intends on creating and maintaining their own blogs. The accessibility to people we would not otherwise be able to engage in dialog with is, in my opinion, the greatest benefit of blogs.
O'Baoill, A. (n.d.). Weblogs and the public sphere. Retrieved from http://blog.lib.umn.edu/blogosphere/weblogs_and_the_public_sphere.html
