Blogs

Description:
Frequently modified web pages that look like a diary as dated entries are listed in reverse chronological order.

eParticipation areas:

• Campaigning
• Community building / Collaborative Environments
• Consultation
• Deliberation
• Discourse
• Electioneering
• Information Provision
• Mediation
• Polling
• Spatial planning

Stage policy cycle: Blogs are suitable for all audiences. Appropriate stages in the policy cycle are (1) agenda setting, (2) policy formulation (including analysis), and (5) policy evaluation.


Specials:
Generally none, but the author of the blog can set options for discussion, for example whether a password is needed before a comment is allowed, whether a comment has to be approved before publishing etc. A clear ‘conditions of use’ statement is required in order to prevent spam. Weblogs require dedication from the blog owners to publish their entries on a regular basis - sometimes daily. Without this commitment users (readers) will not continue to return to the blog for information. Blogs that deal with specialised or localised content are more successful and durable than those covering every subject.


Channel:
Besides the use of PCs, there are possibilities to fill blogs on the way with a mobile phone (e.g. by MMS).

Technology:

• Web 2.0
• Web application

Evaluation:
Functionalities for extensive web statistics can be added; a feedback questionnaire could be placed on the weblog home page asking whether the user found the information they were looking for, how often they visited the blog, etc.

Additions:
www.richardallan.org.uk www.lynnefeatherstone.org/blog.htm www.readmyday.co.uk/blogs/maryreid.php www.blogger.com http://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/assets/Final_Blog_Report_.pdf http://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/assets/Weblogs_pamphlet- _a_powerful_voice_for_campaigns.pdf