As the digital era is putting an increasing pressure on traditional print media, the blogosphere is evolving. Websites are spreading out beyond their root media cutting across audience size, editorial structure and medium. News sites develop editorial branding, introducing innovative content to establish a distinctive identity and take advantage of the enormous Web's exposure. In such changing market realities, blogging is one of the latest forms of communication and interaction between journalists and their readers.
In 2009, several blogs have been acclaimed as important and successful in terms of adding value to the promotion of new information and taking the profession of journalism a step further.
The Freakonomics BlogOne of the best blogs of 2009 is The Freakonomics blog, part of the New York Times blog stable. In 2005, journalist Stephen Dubner and economics professor Steven Levitt have published their best-selling book 'Freakonomics' where they have been explaining daily life under the prism of economic theory. Right upon the book's release, the authors started their own Freakonomics blog aiming to 'keep the conversation going'. Their blog had immediate appeal on many readers, particularly after it was incorporated into the website of The New York Times in 2007. Taking on increasing importance as a result of dealing with economic issues in an innovative, almost groundbreaking manner, The Freakonomics blog became a part of everyone's life in an era that economic downturns are a sad reality. Dubner and Levitt are wonderful in explaining the relationship between economists and garbage, the positive correlation between downturn and elder people, or the fact that people are googling more for discount coupons than for concerts. The Freakonomics blog is a great reminder that our life is an interaction of supply and demand.
Got2BeGreenHaving become a buzz-word in many industries and a part of everyday life in many countries, the Green movement has found a shelter and a way to express itself and its suggestions in regards to global recession. Got2BeGreen is a blog that highlights ideas and products that friendly both to the planet and to one's budget. For instance, it provides valuable information for simple stuff that many people do not know. The economic stimulus package includes dozens of tax credits for energy efficient products regardless of price. Whether one buys a new furnace for $150 or a boiler for $2,000 there are tax credits involved. Or, if a computer is plugged into a switchable power strip instead of being in a standby mode, one can save up to $100 on electricity bills. All this information is provided in Got2BeGreen Blog that reminds people that being eco-friendly is nothing more than being smart.
The Huffington PostFor people who are interested in political blogging, the Huffington Post is the place to be. Being established since 2005 by prominent and aspiring columnist Arianna Huffington, The Huffington Post was viewed as a serious blog for political commentary and was ranked by The Observer as 'the most powerful blog in the world.' Publishing on an ongoing basis considerate commentary and analysis on the political landscape, the site provides links to outside news sources enabling readers to get a summary of other stories for themselves. On the top of everything, Mrs. Huffington allows guest bloggers to write for free thus introducing the first truly successful business model for blogs.
Talking Points MemoTalking Points Memo is established by journalist Josh Marshall in 2000. Since then, it has gone a long way and in 2009 it has, admittedly, become the most successful Web-based news organization. Specifically, in February 2009, Talking Points Memo won a George Polk Award for covering the story of firing eight United States attorneys and became the first blog ever to be awarded a major journalism award. Besides, Talking Points Memo clearly assumes that its readers always know more than its journalists, which makes it more advanced than most traditional news organizations and it is very successful indeed.