Blogs

Brief Description:

Blogs are online journals or noticeboards where individuals or organisations can provide commentary and critique on news or specific subjects such as politics, food and local events. Some blogs function like personal online diaries.
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Description:

Blogs provide a quick and informal way to disseminate information to the wider public or specific groups. Most blogs allow readers to comment on the content so the blog can become the focus for a continued discussion amongst site visitors. Blogs can play an important role in public engagment alongside more involving processes.
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Most blogs are displayed in reverse chronological order with the comments in chronological order.
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Used For:

• providing comment and critique on news, places, people and objects.
• providing space for online discussion and comment.

Suitable participants:

Blogs can be targeted at any groups. However the technology relies on people having the technology and skills necessary to go online. There are therefore groups that are excluded from accessing blogs.
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Cost:

Varies

• Blogs run by individuals can be completely free as there are a number of sites that provide free hosting for blogs.

• However don't forget that someone has to update them, this takes time and come with costs associated with it. These costs are manageable and shouldn't stop anyone from setting up a blog.

• There might also be design and branding costs associated with organisational blogs. On the other hand blogs have the potential to save money by reducing the need for other forms of communication.
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Time Requirements:

A blog represents an ongoing commitment. Without regular updates the blog is unlikely to gain a wide readership. Updating the blog can be surprisingly tie consuming, especially if the posts need to conform to organisational communications policies.
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When To Use / What It Can Deliver:

• increased discussion and debate on issues.
• increased awareness of issues
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When Not To Use / What It Cannot Deliver:

• decision-making
• deliberation or considered debate
• empowered participants
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Strengths:

• open and transparent, although often anonymous.
• allows anyone to contribute and in their own time.
• allows different views to be aired and discussed.
• some bloggers have become famous in their own right.
• engages people that may not normally be involved in face-to-face consultations.
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Weaknesses:

• there can be offensive, personal, pointless and inappropriate comments written in respose to blogs.
• content may need to be moderated.
• people may need to be encouraged to contribute to the website and post their comments.
• blogs rarely allow people to participate actively beyond responding to existing posts
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Origin:

• eDemocracy

• The word 'blog' is derived from the term 'web log'. Blogs developed as away of creating more interactive and relevant websites in the 1990s.
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Case Studies:

• David Miliband MP Ministerial Blog (CaseStudies)
• Foreign and Commonwealth Office European Youth Parliament Forum, in association with the European Youth Parliament UK (CaseStudies)
• GenerationXperience (CaseStudies)
• Harringay Online - Supporting Engagement & Building Social Capital with Web 2.0 (CaseStudies)
• Northfield Citizens Online (CaseStudies)
• Office of National Statistics Small Area Geographies Consultation Blog (CaseStudies)
• Read My Day (CaseStudies)

Related Methods

• E-petitions
• Online Forums
• Wiki

Restrictions In Use

Further Information

International Centre of Excellence for Local eDemocracy
Lichfield District Council
Frog Lane
Lichfield
Staffordshire
WS12 6YY

Telephone: +44 (01543) 308101

Email: carol.pepper@icele.org

Web: http://www.icele.org

Popular Methods

21st Century Town Meeting

Citizens Jury

Deliberative Polling

Open Space

Participatory Appraisal

Participatory Budgeting

Webcasting