Why Blog?

Dr Sarah Pedersen is a Reader in the Department of Communication, Marketing and Media, The Aberdeen Business School, at The Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, where she is Course Leader of the MSc in Publishing Studies. Her research and teaching interests include computer-mediated communication, media history and gender and the media and she has published extensively on the subjects of UK blogging, women and blogging and women’s use of mass media. She is currently the Chair of the UK Association for Publishing Education (UK APE).

• AcknowledgementsAbout the authorChapter 1: IntroductionWhat is a blog?Early research on the blogosphereResearch on the British blogosphereThe aim of this bookChapter 2: The journal blog: a traditional form mediated by the InternetThe diary genreThe online diaryChapter 3: The journalism motivationLetters to the editorMaking your voice heard: citizen journalismMainstream media responseRedressing the mainstream mediaBlogging politiciansBlogging as creative writingChapter 4: Beneficial bloggingThe blogging personalityLetting it all outPositive feedback from readersKeeping in touch with friendsFinding new friendsChapter 5: Do privacy concerns impact on blogging motivations?Secret from friends and familySecret from employersChapter 6: The money motiveAdvertisingBlooksChapter 7: Blogs as toolsBlogs as tools for teaching and learningAcademic blogsInformation gatheringChapter 8: Doing it for different reasons I: women’s motivations for bloggingMale dominanceWomen’s motivations for bloggingBlogroll differencesChapter 9: Doing it for different reasons II: Americans and BritsDemographic differencesPerceptions of bloggingSatisfactions from bloggingBlogroll differencesNoteConclusionsBibliographyIndex