Blogs

by Sylvia Engdahl (Editor)

Overview

Over 6 million people are currently publishing blogs on blogging websites, and another 12 million write blogs using their social networks. The writings in this anthology have been selected to introduce the reader to a broad array of viewpoints on blogs. Students are encouraged to see the validity of differing opinions, so that they may understand the topic inclusively. Readers will evaluate whether blogs influence politics, and whether employers can restrict an employees right to free speech in creating blog content.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780737739558
Publisher:	Greenhaven Publishing LLC
Publication date:	05/07/2008
Series:	Current Controversies Series
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	15 - 17 Years

Table of Contents

Foreword     11
Introduction     14
Are Blogs of Value to the Public?
Chapter Preface     18
Yes: Blogs Serve the Public in Ways Conventional Media Do Not
Blogs Give Citizens a Platform   Richard A. Posner     20
Blogs Keep Watch over Mainstream Media   Daniel W. Drezner   Henry Farrell     27
Blogs Provide Firsthand Information About the War in Iraq   Nikki Schwab     37
No: Blogs Offer Nothing Important to the Public at Large
Amateur Journalists' Blogs Spread Misinformation   Andrew Keen     45
Most Blogs Reach Only Small, Specialized Audiences   Nicholas Lemann     54
Blogging Results in Instant Obsolescence   Trevor Butterworth     64
Do Blogs Have Significant Impact on American Politics?
Chapter Preface     75
Yes: Blogs Have Become Indispensable to Political Campaigns
Blogging Is a Major Development in the Future of Politics   Biz Stone     77
Blogs Are a Critical Part of Political Commentary   Carla Marinucci     82
The Future Will Not Be Unblogged   David D. Perlmutter     87
No: Blogs Do Not Affect the Outcome of Elections
Blogs Lack the Depth of Print Journalism   George Packer     99
Specific Blogs Reach OnlySmall Segments of the Population   Byron York     107
How Are Blogs Affecting American Culture?
Overview: The Impact of Blogging   Robbie Allen     114
Blogging Significantly Influences Mainstream Journalism   Rebecca MacKinnon     118
Blogging Has Replaced the Common Culture with Subcultures   Terry Teachout     125
Blogs Provide Responses to Community Issues   Craig Colgan     135
Blogs Can Impact Grassroots Politics   Lakshmi Chaudhry     144
Amateur Detectives Use Blogs to Investigate Crime   Laura Bauer     148
What Ethical and Legal Issues Are Raised by Blogs?
Chapter Preface     154
Sexual Threats Stifle Some Female Bloggers   Ellen Nakashima     156
Blogging May Lead to a Change in Libel Laws   Laura Parker     161
Free Speech in Blogs May Be Restricted by Employers   Jonathan A. Segal     170
Students Have the Right to Blog$dElectronic Frontier Foundation     179
Blogs Can Be Used as Evidence in Court Cases   Chris W. McCarty     188
There Should Be Rules When Bloggers Are Paid for Endorsements   J.D. Lasica     194
Web Resources     203
Bibliography      206
Index     212

Editorial Reviews

Gr 9 Up

This collection examines the role of blogs in American politics and culture, their value to the public, and ethical and legal issues they raise. The 23 well-written essays are by a diverse group of respected authors and were all written in 2004 or later. Nearly half of them are unavailable online. However, students will likely find the content dense and too esoteric for their assignments and will turn to the Internet, where a wealth of resources on this topic exists.-Jane Cronkhite, San Jose Public Library, CA

School Library Journal

Review: Blogs "The books are ideal for teens researching topics for debates or research papers. The topics are current enough that many teens will want to browse through the books on their favorite topics."—ARBA, March 2009

From the Publisher