Over the last couple of days in class we have been discussing the effects of blogs. According to Farrell and Sides, authors of the Monkey Cage, the effectiveness of blogs are growing. They explain that reporters and journalist are getting some of their information based off of blogs. This is interesting because many people are unaware of the effects of blogs. For instance, I questioned a couple of my fellow suite mates about blogs and if they have ever read them or if they believe that blogs are effecting them. Needless to say, not one of them has ever participated in a blog and not one of them believe that blogs are effecting them in anyway. I assume this is the case for many people. I was discussing this issue with a student here at Stetson in the political science department. He continued to argue that blogs and new media outlets do not really have an effect on the older generation because they are not as involved in new media outlets as the younger generation. My argument came back to Farrell and Sides. They explain that news reporters and journalist are getting information from blogs. In result, this would effect everyone who uses the mainstream media. In addition, the older generation is more engaged in politics than the younger generation so in essence blogs could actually have more of an effect indirectly on the older generation through the mainstream media.
In class we have also discussed the evolution of media outlets. We said that when television was introduced it was a huge phenomenon. American citizens could now actually see the President of the United States. The introduction and shift to new media is not as large as the transition from newspapers and pamphlets to television, however it is still progress. New media styles are enabling people to virtually upload news instantaneously. This is going to alter the way that we see news portrayed in the future.
I think this new era of blogs we are experiencing is going to be really interesting. I think the large blogs really do have a chance to impact all generations, not just the younger generation. What is interesting to me is how quickly blogs have bloomed in the United States. Not so many years ago the blogs were the tools of the "young" and "rebellious." Heck, most blogs were for teenage girls to express their numerous problems about their overly dramatic lives.
ReplyDeleteNow though, blogs have become the tools of the news followers as well as academics. In order to expand their audiences, blogs have adapted and taken on numerous new functions. It seems like the possibilities are endless for blogs in the future and I for one am excited to see how blogs will change the political structure of the United States in the years to come.