The impact of blogging on society and politics Conclusions from the discussion held on 27 September 2007 at the « East Meets West » European Journalism Bloggers (Un)conference Moderator: Luc Van Braekel

« impact » Awareness Opinion Behaviour Public agenda Media Blogosphere Web Market of ideas

Awareness

Opinion

Behaviour

Public agenda

Media

Blogosphere

Web

Market of ideas

Trust in journalists and MSM is waning 16% of British adults trust journalists to tell the truth [Ipsos Mori poll, 2005] (politicians scored 20%) Not because of what they write, but because of what they don’t write Public broadcasting: dependent on politics Commercial media: dependent on advertising and profit Bloggers can learn some things from journalists: writing style, techniques, general guidelines.

16% of British adults trust journalists to tell the truth [Ipsos Mori poll, 2005] (politicians scored 20%)

Not because of what they write, but because of what they don’t write

Public broadcasting: dependent on politics

Commercial media: dependent on advertising and profit

Bloggers can learn some things from journalists: writing style, techniques, general guidelines.

facts, opinion, objectivity The new age is the age of opinion, not facts Importance of credibility Credibility depends on « honesty », not on « objectivity » or « impartiality ».

The new age is the age of opinion, not facts

Importance of credibility

Credibility depends on « honesty », not on « objectivity » or « impartiality ».

From web 2.0 to politics 2.0 Political campaigns are already changing into a more participatory way as a result of web 2.0 and blogs. This effect is probably still superficial, impact on political programs is still low. Effective for fundraising (e.g. Dean campaign) Higher impact in the US, but Europe will following It’s not only about politics, but about society « Grassroots » movement (cfr. Wikinomics) Ideas are flowing from bottom to top instead of top down.

Political campaigns are already changing into a more participatory way as a result of web 2.0 and blogs.

This effect is probably still superficial, impact on political programs is still low.

Effective for fundraising (e.g. Dean campaign)

Higher impact in the US, but Europe will following

It’s not only about politics, but about society

« Grassroots » movement (cfr. Wikinomics)

Ideas are flowing from bottom to top instead of top down.

Group blogs vs individual blogs Individual blog can be very important Independent voice Active citizenship Group blog has many advantages Diversity Higher posting frequency

Individual blog can be very important

Independent voice

Active citizenship

Group blog has many advantages

Diversity

Higher posting frequency

Countries without free media « the bigger the impact, the higher the pressure » More difficult to get wide coverage/audience Sometimes indirect, via world media or foreign websites news about censorship: www.globalvoicesonline.org

« the bigger the impact, the higher the pressure »

More difficult to get wide coverage/audience

Sometimes indirect, via world media or foreign websites

news about censorship: www.globalvoicesonline.org

How to measure impact Hits/pageviews are not that important Quality of readership (« opinion makers ») Surveys can be useful to discover who is reading your blog.

Hits/pageviews are not that important

Quality of readership (« opinion makers »)

Surveys can be useful to discover who is reading your blog.