Coming of Age
It is clear that the Tory blogosphere is leading the way in the UK. Sites like ConservativeHome provide a brilliant service, and blogs like Iain Dale’s are popular (although I have never quite understood why I check in every day). The most-read blogs are those which eternally snipe in each direction, or at the establishment in general (Guido Fawkes, anyone?). Meanwhile LabourHome is pretty feeble. Are the right better bloggers?
The liberal/left blogs are beginning to find their feet. This site’s blogroll used to refer to Liberal Conspiracy as “a good idea, but not really getting off the ground”. Not, of course, that this website is making any such pretentions. The description recently changed, though, acknowledging that LibCon has improved vastly in the past couple of months and is now firmly secure as one of the must-reads of the British blogging world. Websites such as Boris Watch are carefully critiquing the new Mayor of London, not straying into petty slurs but rather keeping him in check.
I firmly believe that these blogs are thriving because the liberal/left blogosphere is coming of age, not because of Tory political ascendancy. Take LiberalConspiracy as the most obvious example: nothing quite like it exists on the right. ConservativeHome’s CentreRight.com is the closest equivalent in terms of ethos, but is unrecognisable in production. LibCon is genuinely a forum for non-party affiliated individuals of the liberal/left. This kind of innovation is a timely development, and totally unrelated to Labour’s hemorrhaging support. It is not an opposition blog, but a political forum. This kind of innovation is lacking in the right-wing blogosphere.
I like to think that the liberal/left blogoshere is coming of age. Blogging is now so democratised that someone can construct a very good website for absolutely no cost. More professional sites still can be made with very little cost if you know someone who knows about websites. This website costs less than £3 per year, for the domain name, because it is generously hosted on the webmaster’s server. The design and functional support is offered without cost, meaning that a handful of 6th Form students from London can produce a reasonably professional-looking multi-authored blog without any cost. With the onset of free blogging software, everyone can have their own website.
Where the liberal/left blogosphere is growing best, though, is when it embraces multi-authored websites: a pooling of resources and knowledge produces a better brand. LiberalConspiracy is constructive - in aim, outlook, and content - and it is a better website for it. Is the right going to continue to dominate the blogosphere? I suspect not…
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PS: Doug did not edit this article!
Actually, when they don’t distort their figures grotesquely {by counting visits as visitors} Lenin’s Tomb comes out as almost as popular as either Guido Fawkes or Iain Dale. Unlike the Tories, however, he does it for political advancement and vanity rather than for cash.
As ever, the rightist majority is largely fabricated.
I mostly agree apart from this bit:
‘Where the liberal/left blogosphere is growing best, though, is when it embraces multi-authored websites: a pooling of resources and knowledge produces a better brand.’
It’s not necessarily the case. I think there’s a lot to be said for having one distinctive voice that people recognise and come back for. Not that I’m biased of course…
“The design and functional support is offered without cost, meaning that a handful of 6th Form students from London can produce a reasonably professional-looking multi-authored blog without any cost.”
Sixth form students? Snap. I was getting tired of sparring with middle-aged reactionaries elsewhere. ;o)
“I think there’s a lot to be said for having one distinctive voice that people recognise and come back for.”
Yes, style, as well as content, is key. Popular blogs - such as {SPEAK NOT OF THE DREADED SITE WHO’S INITIALS ARE “HP” HERE - R.E.V.}, Devil’s Kitchen and the Tomb - tend to be followed by a proliferation of similar sites, which can be tedious.
Respectfully,
Ben
#2 Tory Troll: Various sites spring to mind that would not work as multi-authored blogs. If the personality is big enough, and the writer has the time to devote to it, single-author blogs can be the best brands. Not many have the opportunity to make a career out of blogging, though.
“{SPEAK NOT OF THE DREADED SITE WHO’S INITIALS ARE “HP” HERE - R.E.V.}”
HP Sauce it is then.
Respectfully,
Ben
Ah. Yes, we’ve a slight aversion to that website here…
And, this bourgeois individualism of yours really must stop, Comrade Troll. Bloggers with identity? The very tool of the capitalist roaders…;)
“Without doubt, [blogging]has greatly increased the number of well-to-do idlers.”
- Karl Marx
Ben
Alas I have strayed from the tenets of the glorious revolution. For shame, for shame