Weblogs and the Weblogs and the Public SpherePublic Sphere

Andrew Ó Baoill, Andrew Ó Baoill, University of University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignIllinois at Urbana-Champaign

Discussion led by Ben Discussion led by Ben

PurposePurpose

►Baoill examines impact of blogs Baoill examines impact of blogs (“weblogs”) on the public sphere, (“weblogs”) on the public sphere, based on the Habermas model of an based on the Habermas model of an idealized public spaceidealized public space

►Examines how effective blogs are as Examines how effective blogs are as new form of “public space” and impact new form of “public space” and impact on public debate on public debate

►Only concerned with blogs dedicated to Only concerned with blogs dedicated to political/legal domain of public spherepolitical/legal domain of public sphere

Purpose, pt. 2Purpose, pt. 2

►Baoill posits that inclusivity of access, Baoill posits that inclusivity of access, disregard for external rank, and disregard for external rank, and potential for rational debate of any potential for rational debate of any topic until consensus is reached meet topic until consensus is reached meet Habermas’ criteria for idealized public Habermas’ criteria for idealized public spheresphere

►Not at this point yetNot at this point yet►Examines current state of “blogging” Examines current state of “blogging”

and ways to achieve those idealsand ways to achieve those ideals

The Public SphereThe Public Sphere

► Idea introduced by Jurgen HabermasIdea introduced by Jurgen Habermas►Defined as "a network for Defined as "a network for

communicating information and points communicating information and points of view" of view"

► Ideas eventually become public Ideas eventually become public opinionopinion

►““Public sphere” is in contrast to Public sphere” is in contrast to “private sphere”“private sphere”

The Public Sphere, pt. 2The Public Sphere, pt. 2

►Public sphere and public space are Public sphere and public space are closely connected with politicsclosely connected with politics

►Describe places and situations where Describe places and situations where people meet to discuss matters of people meet to discuss matters of public concernpublic concern

The Public Sphere, pt. 3The Public Sphere, pt. 3

►Habermas identifies 3 key featuresHabermas identifies 3 key features

1. Participation is open to all1. Participation is open to all

2. All participants considered equal2. All participants considered equal

3. Any issue can be raised for rational 3. Any issue can be raised for rational debatedebate

►Minimum criteria for how debate in Minimum criteria for how debate in public sphere should be conductedpublic sphere should be conducted

I. InclusivityI. Inclusivity

►Three impediments to participationThree impediments to participation1. Technological literacy1. Technological literacy

2. Time commitment2. Time commitment

3. Additional financial resources3. Additional financial resources

1. Technological Literacy1. Technological Literacy

►Many tools available, free softwareMany tools available, free software►Much easier to maintain simple site Much easier to maintain simple site

today than just a few years agotoday than just a few years ago►Too much information?Too much information?

2. Time Commitment2. Time Commitment

►Significant time investment to produce Significant time investment to produce quality blogquality blog

►Time investment is in reading, not Time investment is in reading, not writing, and keeping up with new writing, and keeping up with new developmentsdevelopments

►Time needed to browse sources and Time needed to browse sources and contribute to debate may dissuade contribute to debate may dissuade involvementinvolvement

2. Time Commitment, pt. 22. Time Commitment, pt. 2

►24% of Americans “have no direct or 24% of Americans “have no direct or indirect experience with the Internet” indirect experience with the Internet” (Lenhart, et al., 2003)(Lenhart, et al., 2003)

►““In general, Internet population is In general, Internet population is younger, wealthier, and more younger, wealthier, and more educated than offline population” educated than offline population” (Rodriguez, 2000, p. 21)(Rodriguez, 2000, p. 21)

►Potential for structural exclusionPotential for structural exclusion

3. 3. AdditionalAdditional Financial Financial ResourcesResources

►Some free hostingSome free hosting►Use of specific domain name costs $$Use of specific domain name costs $$►Hosting may cost $$ if site gets a lot of Hosting may cost $$ if site gets a lot of

traffictraffic

3. 3. AdditionalAdditional Financial Financial ResourcesResources

►Need to develop viable funding modelsNeed to develop viable funding models►Tip jarsTip jars►Pledge drivesPledge drives

Instapundit.comInstapundit.com Chris Allbritton Back-toIraqChris Allbritton Back-toIraq Joshua Marshall, funding for TPM to Joshua Marshall, funding for TPM to

finance presidential primary reporting in finance presidential primary reporting in NHNH

II. RankII. Rank

►Habermas criteria states outside rank Habermas criteria states outside rank should not be factor within public should not be factor within public spheresphere

►Outside relationships are large factor Outside relationships are large factor in blog popularityin blog popularity

1. Eugene Volokh1. Eugene Volokh

► Eugene Volokh, UCLA Law Professor and Eugene Volokh, UCLA Law Professor and publisher of “The Volokh Conspiracy” blog:publisher of “The Volokh Conspiracy” blog:

Blogging is more of a meritocracy than Blogging is more of a meritocracy than many other media are, but it's still hard to many other media are, but it's still hard to get noticed, even if your material is very get noticed, even if your material is very good. My coconspirators and I had an edge: good. My coconspirators and I had an edge: We know quite a few of the big guns We know quite a few of the big guns personally, and our academic credentials personally, and our academic credentials give us extra credibility. (2003)give us extra credibility. (2003)

2. Shirky Study2. Shirky Study

►Shirky study, 2003Shirky study, 2003 Sampled 433 blogsSampled 433 blogs Top 12 (less than 3%) accounted for 20% Top 12 (less than 3%) accounted for 20%

of inbound linksof inbound links Top 50 (just under 12%) accounted for Top 50 (just under 12%) accounted for

50% of inbound links50% of inbound links►Shirky believes it’s not impossible to Shirky believes it’s not impossible to

launch a good new blog and get launch a good new blog and get popular, but it grows more difficult popular, but it grows more difficult each yeareach year

3. A-List Bloggers3. A-List Bloggers

►What leads disproportionate readership What leads disproportionate readership for blogs with A-List authors?for blogs with A-List authors?

►Some involvement in development of Some involvement in development of blog toolsblog tools

►Blogging for quite a while, more time to Blogging for quite a while, more time to develop reputationdevelop reputation

►A-Lister welcomes new blog, drives A-Lister welcomes new blog, drives traffic there, but only if you have traffic there, but only if you have connectionsconnections

4. Page-Ranking Problems4. Page-Ranking Problems

►Google, other engines, use page Google, other engines, use page ranking to reflect site reputationranking to reflect site reputation

►Google can’t recognize negative linksGoogle can’t recognize negative links►All links to a certain page push rank up All links to a certain page push rank up

in Google, Blogdex etc.in Google, Blogdex etc.►Doesn’t matter if post that links to site Doesn’t matter if post that links to site

was positve or criticalwas positve or critical

III. Rational Debate of Any III. Rational Debate of Any Topic?Topic?

►Concentration on ephemeral issues Concentration on ephemeral issues with little insight or productive results with little insight or productive results are common criticisms.are common criticisms.

1. Emphasis on Breaking 1. Emphasis on Breaking NewsNews

►Danger of faulty information being Danger of faulty information being publishedpublished

►Blog layout can limit debateBlog layout can limit debate New story pushes other story down on New story pushes other story down on

page, few read and comment on itpage, few read and comment on it Prevents Habermas’ call for “rational Prevents Habermas’ call for “rational

debate until consensus is achieved”debate until consensus is achieved” Consensus may be easier to reach with Consensus may be easier to reach with

Wiki.Wiki.

2. Trent Lott & Talking Points2. Trent Lott & Talking Points

►Lott story originally posted on Joshua Lott story originally posted on Joshua Marshall’s page, Marshall’s page, talkingpointsmemo.comtalkingpointsmemo.com

►Story then went to professional Story then went to professional publications – Slate & the Washington publications – Slate & the Washington PostPost

►Only after that publication was Only after that publication was widespread attention gained online.widespread attention gained online.

3. Blog-centric3. Blog-centric

►Stories, articles, entire blogs etc., Stories, articles, entire blogs etc., related to blogging always rank highrelated to blogging always rank high

►Other relevant or related issues of Other relevant or related issues of concern to bloggers – intellectual concern to bloggers – intellectual property, online controversies – also property, online controversies – also garners linksgarners links

►Many popular bloggers are known for Many popular bloggers are known for commentary about blogs commentary about blogs

4. Themes4. Themes

►Specific topics get disproportionate Specific topics get disproportionate coverage and debatecoverage and debate

► Iraq war vs. war in the Congo (2004)Iraq war vs. war in the Congo (2004)►Popular stories are emphasized, Popular stories are emphasized,

unpopular stories are pushed off page, unpopular stories are pushed off page, essentially censoredessentially censored

Local NewsLocal News

►Geographically-bound stories at a Geographically-bound stories at a disadvantagedisadvantage

►Local news lacks coverage in blogs Local news lacks coverage in blogs ►Austin bloggers metablog is an Austin bloggers metablog is an

example of a narrow, regionally-example of a narrow, regionally-focused blogfocused blog

6. Speaking Out6. Speaking Out

►Some have used blogs to comment on Some have used blogs to comment on conditions within oppressive regimesconditions within oppressive regimes

►Salam Pax, Baghdad blogger who Salam Pax, Baghdad blogger who wrote about Iraq before and during wrote about Iraq before and during warwar

►Sina Motallebi, IranSina Motallebi, Iran

In ClosingIn Closing

►Baoill sees blogosphere as an overlapping Baoill sees blogosphere as an overlapping collection of conversations, not a single collection of conversations, not a single conversation as many claimconversation as many claim

►System fosters development of System fosters development of celebrity/A-List bloggers, fails to celebrity/A-List bloggers, fails to disregard rankdisregard rank

►Blogosphere is technically inclusive, but Blogosphere is technically inclusive, but propagation network privileges somepropagation network privileges some

In Closing, pt. 2In Closing, pt. 2

►Conversation tends to focus on small Conversation tends to focus on small number of topics, disadvantages number of topics, disadvantages discussion of topics with a local focusdiscussion of topics with a local focus

►Not all topics equally subject to Not all topics equally subject to rational debaterational debate

QuestionsQuestions

►1. Habermas feels the growth of 1. Habermas feels the growth of capitalism has led to unfair wealth capitalism has led to unfair wealth distribution, which widens economic distribution, which widens economic polarity and limits access to the public polarity and limits access to the public sphere. He also argues that political sphere. He also argues that political control of the public sphere is an control of the public sphere is an inevitable consequence of capitalism and inevitable consequence of capitalism and this is necessary for capitalist forces to this is necessary for capitalist forces to operate and thrive in a competitive operate and thrive in a competitive economy. (Questions follow)economy. (Questions follow)

Questions, pt. 2Questions, pt. 2

► As university students, we obviously have As university students, we obviously have some $$ and some access, so how limited is some $$ and some access, so how limited is our access to the public sphere? our access to the public sphere?

► Additionally, since billions of people lack Additionally, since billions of people lack internet access and thus access to the public internet access and thus access to the public sphere, how much do they count as far as sphere, how much do they count as far as public opinion is concerned? public opinion is concerned? If your essential needs are not met, do you really If your essential needs are not met, do you really

have time to engage in any of the public dialogue? have time to engage in any of the public dialogue? If you don’t have money to spend in the capitalist If you don’t have money to spend in the capitalist

system, does anyone care about your opinion and system, does anyone care about your opinion and contribution to the public dialogue and public contribution to the public dialogue and public opinion? opinion?

Questions, pt. 3Questions, pt. 3

► Baoill cited examples of pledge drives to Baoill cited examples of pledge drives to attain funding for blogs.attain funding for blogs. Can you envision doing this in the future?Can you envision doing this in the future? Given all the information contained within a daily Given all the information contained within a daily

newspaper or a free news website, how much newspaper or a free news website, how much would you pay for a good article?would you pay for a good article?

How about for continued access to a specific How about for continued access to a specific blog, for say a year, like a newspaper blog, for say a year, like a newspaper subscription? subscription?

Is this model only viable for special topics like Is this model only viable for special topics like those cited by Baoill? those cited by Baoill?