OJR article: Scholars Discover Weblogs Pass Test as Mode of Communication
I suspect that over the next few years we will see a lot of calls suggesting that blogging has died, and I suspect that in a sense they will be right. The act of keeping a "Weblog" as a separate entity will become something of an anachronism. The broader world of collaborative Web publishing will continue to grow and converge with other technologies, including IM and e-mail. Imagine asking someone today if they are an "e-mailer." That question made sense, among a certain group, 15 years ago, when you weren't sure if someone had e-mail or not. I have a feeling that the production of public media -- whether in the form of Weblogs, wikis, collaboratively filtered lifelogs, or some form that I am too shortsighted to predict -- will be the moving force of a new era. --Alex Halavais
This summer, I have attempted to move beyond the SHU blogosphere, and what I have discovered is that bloggers get discouraged with themselves and their unpredictable writing habits.
Messages, such as "I haven't blogged in such a long time" or "hello, I'm back," fill not only our blogs, but the "outside" too.
Blogs can die, but just as easily, the author can resurrect it.
I anticipate the future of blogging, but I enjoy having a blog as a separate entity from e-mail, chatrooms and such. Perhaps I am too shortsighted as well, or just selfish in the ego-boosting power of a blog.