Blogging the

Aussie wayBased on Mapping the

Australian Political

Blogosphere

Political blogs in this country play a crucial role

of adding more diverse and multi-faceted

range of perspectives.

- Axel Bruns and Debra Adams, Mapping the Australian Blogosphere

Opportunity to connect

It will deliver enormous opportunity right across this nation

- Stephen Conroy

Limited access to affordable high-speed, always on internet

services affects Australian net users’ overall ability to engage

in participatory online culture. Blogging and political

blogging especially so, operates commonly by drawing

together and commenting on news articles, press releases,

background information and commentary from fellow

bloggers. - Bruns and Adams

There is considerable difference in dwelling access rates between

Major Cities of Australia and regional areas. At the national level,

66% of dwellings in major cities have access to the Internet,

compared to 42% for Very Remote Australia. This gap is even more

pronounced for Broadband access, the corresponding figures being

46% and 24%, respectively. - Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006

New internet media have provided a key space for the

expression and discussion of both marginalised and

oppositional viewpoints and the organisation of activist events

opposing federal government policy. – Bruns and Adams

David Hicks

In this tradition, its enthusiasts see the Internet as heralding

a new age in which citizens can both generate and

consume political news, and in

which the big players no longer control political

communication from the top down.

Old and New Media: Blogs in the third age of political

communication.

Ian Ward

James CahillSchool of Political Science & International Studies

The University of Queensland

citizen media is heavily reliant on the mainstream as a source for activities of "gatewatching" and metacommentary, and professional journalists are increasingly willing to turn

to citizen media for news, talent and content.

Who’s afraid?

The blog is kind of like the

forensic team that shows

up later and picks over

what others have already

found – Tim Dunlop

It's widely assumed that the internet is inherently suited to furthering the

causes of the left-leaning young, as evidenced by Barack Obama's

campaign and fundraising strategies. But the blogosphere's role in the

collapse of the climate consensus suggests middle-aged and elderly

net users are equally capable of making their presence felt on a

democratic medium.

Would you rely on getting

political information from

political blogs or

mainstream media?

Do you think it’s a positive

that political topics can be

discussed through

blogging?