Web 2.0 and Podcasting: Where is it heading?

It's first important to understand Web 2.0. Tim O'Reilly explains it in his article, What Is Web 2.0. Web 2.0 is delivered as a service. It uses the long-tail approach to cover the mass majority of the web. The Web is very inclusive. Google AdSense is a prime example of this. It targets the user directly. It uses its related ads on small sites to reach certain niches. Through hyperlinks, the user is taken all over the Web. DoubleClick, another advertising service on the Web, does not follow the Web 2.0 criteria. It presents advertisements on large sites. It only stays at the head. The long-tail method proves more effective, as more people can be reached. The more people making use of Web 2.0, the more it will grow and develop.

More people are entering the world of Blogging and Podcasting. These two methods of communication are exactly what Web 2.0 is all about. Blogging and Podcasting allow the user to contribute their ideas to the Web. Both can be subscribed to through RSS feed. RSS feed notifies the subscriber of any changes made on the Webpage. With the increasing users of Blogs and Podcasting, the Web can only grow in its development. It will advance with a plethora of information. All of this information is linked together. David Weinberger would describe the Web as small pieces loosely joined. This relates to the present state of the Web and what the future Web will look like, only on a grander scale.

My First Video Blog

Seeking a Best of...

Introduction:

Chris Sligh, former contestant of American Idol's Top 12, created an interesting and informative Blog. From My Mind To Your Eyes focuses on the different aspects of the music industry and his experience with it. He also recommends a variety of artists which his fans may enjoy. His Blog is successful because it uses a simple layout which is welcoming to all viewers. He is able to captivate many from the American Idol audience and provide them with relevant information.

Layout and Functionality:

Chris Sligh's Blog is very simplistic in style, but visually appealing. He uses 3 shades of green which work nicely together, creating a pleasant and friendly environment. His fonts are easy to read and his navigation bar on the right is helpful for finding particular entries.

Content:

Every few days, Chris updates his Blog with relevant music news relating to his experiences with American Idol. He includes up-to-date news about other American Idol contestants and shares his personal experience of being on the show. He has also posted Video Blogs in his entries, as well as letters he has received from the show. This Blog is very informative as Chris speaks about his experience with hosts and contestants from the show. Readers of this Blog get an inside look at American Idol.

Chris also reviews old and new artists. This is very beneficial to his readers as it provides them with other music options they can delve into. This is similar to the Related Videos section on YouTube. The reader may enjoy Chris' music, but also be interested in the music he recommends; music of related taste.

In addition to his reviews, he also links readers to interesting articles and videos, such as The Future of Music, as posted on MTV.com.

Conclusion:

Chris Sligh has used his Blog as an effective tool to captivate avid American Idol followers. Moreover, he has been able to relate and promote other artists that relate to him in some way. Chris uses a clean and easily accessible layout which welcomes all who visit his Blog. Overall, he has done an incredible job relating to his readers in a simple and friendly way.

What is the biggest issue facing blogging, citizenship and the future of media?

So here it is: My very first Blog. A place where I can write absolutely anything with no regard for others' opinions - And that is just the problem. The biggest issue within the Blogosphere is one's lack of concern to his/her duties as a citizen. None of the information on the Internet is filtered, as it is with other media. This allows anyone with Internet access to express any malicious or offensive thoughts to the public, with no fear of being prosecuted as a result.

The Criminal Code of Canada protects us from the attacks and offenses of others. These laws provide that each citizen is respected and taken care of in regards to his/her own needs. In the Blogosphere, this security eludes us. Section 163 of the Criminal Code protects us from the corruption of morals. For example, a Canadian citizen would be prosecuted for racially discriminating against another individual, but within Blogging this would never happen. It is extremely difficult to implement such rules in the realm of the Blogosphere. This is where another issue is recognized - Whether the laws of one's country can govern a place of no time or space - the Internet. Although it may not be illegal for one to Blog about whatever he/she wishes, it may not necessarily be morally or ethically correct. It is impossible to enforce such rules in the Blogosphere, but by natural law, it is necessary for us to respect our fellow human beings.

We're all aware of the inaccuracies in the media, but the Internet is still a common place where we acquire information. Since people of all ages use the Internet, it is more than likely young children will stumble upon derogatory information posted on someone's Blog. As this child is building his/her foundations of beliefs, these Blog entries can definitely have an influence. It is our duty as citizens to be aware of the information we're posting. It is essential we recognize whether or not we're fulfilling our duty as citizens, but more importantly our duty as human beings.

The future of the media will ultimately call of our constant discretion as we are presented with possible offensive and misguided material.