Politics Web 2.0 An International Conference University of London April 17-18, 2008 The Rise of the Catosfera A case study of Catalan Blogosphere Josep Sort, PhD Universitat Ramon Llull

Definition Catosfera: “ refers to the set of all the blogs written in Catalan and to the virtual community that exists around these blogs, including those people who post articles, those who read them and those who comment them ” First proposed by Toni Ibanez, http://trosdequoniam.blogspot. com Entry “Qualitat”, posted on 06.01.2005 at 11.40 am a

Catosfera:

“ refers to the set of all the blogs written in Catalan and to the virtual community that exists around these blogs, including those people who post articles, those who read them and those who comment them ”

First proposed by Toni Ibanez,

http://trosdequoniam.blogspot. com

Entry “Qualitat”, posted on 06.01.2005 at 11.40 am

a

Catalan Language 6,6 native Catalan speakers 9,5 total Catalan speakers 9,4 Read Catalan 6,1 Write Catalan 88-92 World Language Ranking (different sources) 28-30 World Language presence in Internet (idem) Spoken in 4 European States (Spain, France, Italy and Andorra) Only in Andorra is official (Constitution 1993). No memeber of EU. No EU official recognition, even though has more speakers than other official european languages.

6,6 native Catalan speakers

9,5 total Catalan speakers

9,4 Read Catalan

6,1 Write Catalan

88-92 World Language Ranking (different sources)

28-30 World Language presence in Internet (idem)

Spoken in 4 European States (Spain, France, Italy and Andorra)

Only in Andorra is official (Constitution 1993). No memeber of EU.

No EU official recognition, even though has more speakers than other official european languages.

Main elements of Catosfera A substitution role (no referential media) Authenticity (Arianna Huffington) Emulation Hostile Media Perception (HMP) against mainstream media

A substitution role (no referential media)

Authenticity (Arianna Huffington)

Emulation

Hostile Media Perception (HMP) against mainstream media

Evolution of Catosfera 2002-03, Origins of Catosfera 2005, appears Catosfera, concept 2005-06 (first half), The rise of the Catosfera 2006 (second half)-07, A certain slowdown 2008, Jornades de la Catosfera (January). Maturity? 2009-10 What about the future?

2002-03, Origins of Catosfera

2005, appears Catosfera, concept

2005-06 (first half), The rise of the Catosfera

2006 (second half)-07, A certain slowdown

2008, Jornades de la Catosfera (January). Maturity?

2009-10 What about the future?

Topics Hiperpolitisation Thematic inequality Organic versus Free bloggers Bloggers vs Journalism: Competition vs Collaboration A simbiotic relation, they need each other, complement Other more recent digitals tools, Threats? You Tube Social networks (Facebook, MySpace) Twitter

Hiperpolitisation

Thematic inequality

Organic versus Free bloggers

Bloggers vs Journalism:

Competition vs Collaboration

A simbiotic relation, they need each other, complement

Other more recent digitals tools, Threats?

You Tube

Social networks (Facebook, MySpace)

Twitter