By Brooke Knudson
Madison Magazine
Special to Channel 3000

Technology is infamous for trends. From iPods to cell phones equipped with video cameras, the next big tech trend always seems to be waiting in the sidelines. Take the Internet for example. It is a technology that has literally changed communication and commerce around the world. And it continues to evolve.

Case in point -- Weblogs -- a concept considered the newest trend in communication technology. Today, anyone with a computer and access to the Internet can become their own publisher in a matter of minutes.

“[Blogging] has become a widely accepted and meaningful way to engage in an issue,” says Gordon Smith a professor at UW-Madison Law School. “It’s also become a quicker way to get people’s views in print.”

No Shortage Of Topics

Curious about recent fashion trends? Want to know more about the joys of remodeling a kitchen? Chances are, someone, somewhere has posted a blog about it. Blogs, unlike typical Websites, are short online entries on a wide-range of topics–a sort of online editorial or journal. Many also offer reader comments, photos, and links to other sites for added flare.

The easiest services like Blogger.com or spaces.msn.com allow prospective bloggers to register and create a blog, free of charge, using a template design scheme. Within minutes, users can begin posting their own entries on the topic of their choice.

But, according to Smith, blogging can be more than simply a rant and rave session. “Blogging requires people to really think about an issue,” he says. Smith, who currently maintains Conglomerate.com, a blog about business and law, mentions that while traditional media has a broad appeal, blogs better fit specific niches. Blogs can essentially be as personal as an e-mail and as accessible as a webpage.

Blogging: Just A Trend?

But if blogging is indeed considered a trend, does that mean its popularity could soon fade into cyberspace? Experts think not. Some tech gurus predict blogging will soon become as prominent as e-mail and instant messaging. Although blogging is still considered in its infancy, the “blogosphere” now contains more than 10 million blogs—a number that continues to grow daily.

Weblogs have even seeped into the academic world. In fall 2004, Smith created a blog forum among several UW-Madison law students as an experiment in both blogging and legal education. The site, Law and Entrepreneurship News, was devoted to analyzing current developments in business law. Students had the opportunity to post between two and three entries per week and, in turn, gain relevant experience in the blogoshphere.

“Posting made me do the research on topics I wasn’t so well versed in,” says Nick Infusino, a recent UW Law school graduate and former editor for the law blog.

Infusino’s first taste of blogging was through the entrepreneurship website. And he’s been hooked ever since. “It opens up channels of communications that would otherwise not exist,” Infusino says.

Why Blog?

A good blog can also prove one’s ability to stay abreast to current developments in their professional field. Blogging has become more than simply stating an opinion. It has created an entirely new realm of possibilities for businesses and professionals.

“Not only does blogging enhance reputations, it forces bloggers to stay current with the issues affecting their business. It effectively puts everyone in the office on the same page,” says Infusino, an attorney for a Kenosha, Wisconsin law firm.

More recently, blogs have evolved into more than simply an editorial outlet. Businesses, for example, have used the service as an advertising tool. According to Infusino, blogging brings a competitive edge to his law firm. A successful blog, he says, is like an effective advertising campaign. By posting entries he can convey far more insight than a simple print ad or 30 second television spot ever could. And although blogging takes time to maintain, Infusino calls it a “beneficial expenditure.”

“Keeping up with a blog site really means I need to research the areas of business I offer,” he says. “I’m keeping on top of what’s new and my clients are going to appreciate that.”

Posting online has often been compared to traditional media, and therefore, Smith feels, it should meet some of the same standards like honesty and integrity.

“You have to be able to formulate and defend your viewpoints,” Smith says.

Once he’s posted an opinion, there it stays. There’s no going back to refute what’s been written. Writing for a blog, he says, has forced him to really think about an issue rather than simply read about something without really processing it.

“I think the best blogging is that which is honest,” says Smith. “Part of what a person gets out of blogging is developing a knowledgeable opinion.”

Online Resources

DIY
Ingredients: Computer, Internet access, An opinion
Cost: $12 per month and up
Time: 10 minutes or more
Getting Started: blogger.com; spaces.msn.com; typepad.com

4 Blogs You Should Know About

Engadget.com – Consumer electronic news

Tastingmenu.com – Food, recipes, and restaurant reviews

Travelpod.com - Travel journals and photos

Bestoftheblogs.com -- news and opinion

DailyKos.com -- very popular news/opinion blog (reports about 12 million unique visits per month)

Americablog.com -- liberal blog

Blogsforbush.com -- conservative blog

Remodel Blog: Pardon My Dust -- all about remodeling, a work in progress

What's your favorite blog? E-mail: news@channel3000.com