Collaborative blog
Encyclopedia
A collaborative blog is a type of weblog in which posts are written and published by more than one author. The majority of high profile collaborative blogs are based around a single uniting theme, such as politics or technology.
In recent years, the blogosphere
has seen the emergence and growing popularity of more collaborative efforts, often set up by already established bloggers wishing to pool time and resources to both reduce the pressure of maintaining a popular website and to attract a larger readership.
However, collaborative blogs are similar to, but not the same as, web-based blog aggregators such as Planet, as the latter usually pull data from other single-user blogs to present a more constantly-updated, semi-collaborative stream of information; Planet-based aggregator sites, however, are mostly used to aggregate the blogs of individuals who happen to participate in a common project, often various free software
projects. Collaborative blogs, on the other hand, tend to be a single site of post publication for members, replete with a common login system, user interface for the publication and editing of posts, and single-post comments system for other users of the blog.
For instance, in July 2003 Chris Bertram
established Crooked Timber
, a collaborative Invite Only blog frequented by such established bloggers and academics as Kieran Healy
and Henry Farrell
, beginning with the introductory post:
A variation of invite only blog is one in which all bloggers on a particular topic are invited to contribute and the resultant posts are edited or curated prior to being published. Such blogs have been created by Online Media, as well as Domain Experts in entrepreneurship, data mining , and environment.
collaborative blog founded in 2002 by Markos Moulitsas. DailyKos allows bloggers the opportunity to post their opinions on the site without pre-approval of the content. Another example is LiveJournal
's "communities" system, in which users join communities to read, post and comment on posts to a community; in this way, communities serve the twin purposes of collaborative blogs and Internet forum
s.
Open Invite collaborative blogs succeed on the basis that the community acts to weed out trolls
, spammers
and other troublemakers. Much like online forums, the accessible nature of the Open Invite collaborative site is protected by dedicated moderators and fellow bloggers who will act quickly to quell any signs of spamming.
One well-known example of this phenomenon can be found at Protein Wisdom
, a popular blog written by conservative Jeff Goldstein. A much publicised incident in which Goldstein was harassed by University of Arizona adjunct lecturer Deborah Frisch - combined with various other real-life obligations - led Goldstein to retool Protein Wisdom as a collaborative site frequented by a number of guest posters while Goldstein partially withdrew.
Collaborative blogs (especially of the Open Invite variety) allow those without their own personal site (or those with poorly-trafficked sites) the opportunity to present their opinions to a much larger audience than they would typically have access.
In addition to the growth in traditional collaborative blogs the last two years has seen the emergence of a professional variety of collaboration - made up of either professional, paid commentators such as The Huffington Post or high profile bloggers engaged in a profit-sharing scheme (i.e. Pajamas Media
).
Some web publishers have also used the collaborative blog approach to build a business model around content-centered communities.
In recent years, the blogosphere
Blogosphere
The blogosphere is made up of all blogs and their interconnections. The term implies that blogs exist together as a connected community or as a social network in which everyday authors can publish their opinions...
has seen the emergence and growing popularity of more collaborative efforts, often set up by already established bloggers wishing to pool time and resources to both reduce the pressure of maintaining a popular website and to attract a larger readership.
However, collaborative blogs are similar to, but not the same as, web-based blog aggregators such as Planet, as the latter usually pull data from other single-user blogs to present a more constantly-updated, semi-collaborative stream of information; Planet-based aggregator sites, however, are mostly used to aggregate the blogs of individuals who happen to participate in a common project, often various free software
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
projects. Collaborative blogs, on the other hand, tend to be a single site of post publication for members, replete with a common login system, user interface for the publication and editing of posts, and single-post comments system for other users of the blog.
Types
While every collaborative blog is unique they can usually be placed in one of two broad categories:Invite only
An Invite Only collaborative blog is one in which a founder blogger personally selects a small group of co-bloggers, inviting them to contribute to his or her blog. The Invite Only blog typically focuses on a single common interest subject - i.e. politics, legal issues or, occasionally, comedy.For instance, in July 2003 Chris Bertram
Chris Bertram
Chris Bertram is the Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs, and Chief Financial Officer, for the United States Department of Transportation. As Assistant Secretary, he is responsible for the Department’s budget, which totals over $70 billion per year. He also oversees the financial and...
established Crooked Timber
Crooked Timber
Crooked Timber is a widely-read political blog run by a group of academics from and working in several different nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Australia and Singapore...
, a collaborative Invite Only blog frequented by such established bloggers and academics as Kieran Healy
Kieran Healy
Kieran Healy is an Irish sociologist at Duke University and a regular visitor to the Research School in Social Science at the Australian National University. He earned his PhD in sociology from Princeton University having begun his studies at University College Cork, in Ireland. He is married to...
and Henry Farrell
Henry Farrell
Henry Farrell was an American novelist and screenwriter, best known as the author of the renowned gothic horror story What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, which was made into a film starring Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.-Life and work:He was born Charles Farrell Myers in California, and grew up in...
, beginning with the introductory post:
Crooked Timber is a cabal of philosophers, politicians manque, would-be journalists, sociologues, financial gurus, dilletantes [sic] and flaneurs who have assembled to bring you the benefit of their practical and theoretical wisdom on matters historical, literary, political, philosophical, economic, sociological, cultural, sporting, artistic, cinematic, musical, operatic, comedic, tragic, poetic, televisual etc. etc., all from perspectives somewhere between Guy Debord, Henry George and Dr Stephen Maturin. We hope you’ll enjoy the show.
A variation of invite only blog is one in which all bloggers on a particular topic are invited to contribute and the resultant posts are edited or curated prior to being published. Such blogs have been created by Online Media, as well as Domain Experts in entrepreneurship, data mining , and environment.
Open invite
Conversely, Open Invite collaborative blogs allow any user to register for a blogging account, providing instant access. Perhaps the most famous of these blogs is DailyKos, a left-wingLeft-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
collaborative blog founded in 2002 by Markos Moulitsas. DailyKos allows bloggers the opportunity to post their opinions on the site without pre-approval of the content. Another example is LiveJournal
LiveJournal
LiveJournal is a virtual community where Internet users can keep a blog, journal or diary. LiveJournal is also the name of the free and open source server software that was designed to run the LiveJournal virtual community....
's "communities" system, in which users join communities to read, post and comment on posts to a community; in this way, communities serve the twin purposes of collaborative blogs and Internet forum
Internet forum
An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. They differ from chat rooms in that messages are at least temporarily archived...
s.
Open Invite collaborative blogs succeed on the basis that the community acts to weed out trolls
Troll (Internet)
In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response...
, spammers
Spam in blogs
Spam in blogs is a form of spamdexing. It is done by automatically posting random comments or promoting commercial services to blogs, wikis, guestbooks, or other publicly...
and other troublemakers. Much like online forums, the accessible nature of the Open Invite collaborative site is protected by dedicated moderators and fellow bloggers who will act quickly to quell any signs of spamming.
For bloggers
In recent years the blogosphere has seen the emergence of many new Invite Only collaborative blogs, each accepting contributions from a group of established bloggers. While it may be unfair to ascribe this trend to any particular cause it is often the case that the pressures of maintaining a popular individual blog for an extended period of time can become too great, leading the successful blogger to naturally tend towards a lower pressure collaborative effort.One well-known example of this phenomenon can be found at Protein Wisdom
Protein Wisdom (blog)
Protein Wisdom is a conservative and libertarian weblog created by former academic and sometime fiction writer Jeff Goldstein—a self-described classical liberal. The blog has received news coverage for its content .-Background:The blog's media profile was raised after a series of attacks by Dr...
, a popular blog written by conservative Jeff Goldstein. A much publicised incident in which Goldstein was harassed by University of Arizona adjunct lecturer Deborah Frisch - combined with various other real-life obligations - led Goldstein to retool Protein Wisdom as a collaborative site frequented by a number of guest posters while Goldstein partially withdrew.
Collaborative blogs (especially of the Open Invite variety) allow those without their own personal site (or those with poorly-trafficked sites) the opportunity to present their opinions to a much larger audience than they would typically have access.
For readers
A primary advantage for the readers of collaborative blogs is the simple fact that a collaborative effort usually make for a more regularly updated site. It is not unusual to find collaborative weblogs publishing new material 24 hours a day, allowing readers the opportunity to read new material on an almost constant basis.Popularity
In recent years the popularity of collaborative blogs has soared. In fact, at time of writing seven of the top ten weblogs listed in N.Z. Bear's Blog Ecosystem (a popular league table of blogs based on the number of incoming links) employ collaboration of some sort.In addition to the growth in traditional collaborative blogs the last two years has seen the emergence of a professional variety of collaboration - made up of either professional, paid commentators such as The Huffington Post or high profile bloggers engaged in a profit-sharing scheme (i.e. Pajamas Media
Pajamas Media
PJ Media is a media company that uses the Internet to present and comment on the news.Founded in 2004 by a network primarily, but not exclusively, made up of conservatives and libertarians led by mystery writer, screenwriter, and blogger Roger L...
).
Some web publishers have also used the collaborative blog approach to build a business model around content-centered communities.