The thing I love about social media and blogs is the ability to get new and different insights into the same issues. In the past we were limited to the reporting carried by the main stream media. They had the ability to control the information and views that were carried. Now with social media and blogging, it is much easier for people to get their own views on the issues out there.

In the 16th century pamphlets were used to promote views that were not, or would not, be carried in the main publications of the day. This is exactly how blogs are being used now. But at the same time, blogs are now turning their attention to holding the main stream media to account. Blogs and bloggers will find and publish the salient details that the main stream media have not, or will not, publish. An example being this story “Melville High head boy gets ‘harsh” Xmas court summons”. Whaleoil carried a post about it, pointing out that her income was not just limited to the Widows Benefit like the article implied.

The coming election campaign will see an increase in blogs and their influence. The ability for blogs to focus on a specific subject area is their key strength.