As I have mentioned in my previous posting, the blogosphere is massive. It comes as no surprise then that with such a scale comes a variety of blog types that comprise the entire ‘blogscape’.
In her article ‘Towards a taxonomy of blogs’, media analyst Margaret Simons classifies blogs into nine different categories based on function, being: Pamphleteering blogs, the digest blog, advocacy blogs, ‘Popular Mechanics’ blog, exhibition blogs, gatewatcher blogs, the diary, the advertisement, and the news blog (Simons, 2008).
Meanwhile, other classifications such as those suggested by Talwar (2010) via BloggingJunction.com and Belardo (2010) via InkRebels.com are based on the nature of the blog’s content. The former mentions company blogs, personal blogs, general blogs, and niche blogs, while the latter lists collaborative blogs, tutorial blogs, travel/cultural blogs, fashion and lifestyle blogs, and personal blogs.
Blogs are also categorized by the medium through which their content is presented. For instance, Blogging: The Phenomenon bases its categorization on whether a blog relies on more text-based presentations or otherwise (podcasts, videocasts, and photologs).
Even with the specificity provided by these classifications, the process of definitively identifying a blog remains a tough one, as blogs may take on several different forms at any given time.
For instance, a diary blog may take on a quality similar to that of an advocacy blog (one that is a proponent of a certain political/social/public cause) by providing personal yet informed musings regarding a certain issue.
Therefore, even as the classifications provided remain to be relevant and applicable to the current blogging scene, the lines between different categories seem to blur as blogs get more explorative and expansive, including different media and approaches in presenting their content.
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References:
Belardo, M. 2010, ‘The 5 types of blogs – which one suits you best?’, InkRebels.com, viewed 23 April 2011, <http://www.inkrebels.com/insp/the-5-types-of-blogs-which-one-suits-you-best/>.
Blogging – The Phenomenon, 2006, ‘Blogging – The Phenomenon: Types of blogs’, viewed 23 April 2011, <http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/01130/typesofblogs.html>.
Funnell, A. 2008, ‘A taxonomy of blogs’, ABC Radio National’s The Media Report, interview with Margaret Simons, viewed 23 April 2011, <http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2008/2372882.htm#transcript>.
Simons, M. 2008, ‘Towards a taxonomy of blogs’, Australian Policy Online, 11th September, viewed 23 April 2011, <http://www.apo.org.au/commentary/towards-taxonomy-blogs-0>.
Talwar, S. 2010, ‘4 different types of blogs that exist!’, BloggingJunction.com, viewed 23 April 2011, <http://www.bloggingjunction.com/4-types-of-blogs/>.
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