Oct
27
Submitted by the James Bay Beacon Blogs Editorial Board
Since the launch of the James Bay Beacon Blogs in September, we have appreciated submissions from several writers on a variety of topics including local issues and special interest stories as well as topics of a more reflective nature.
Recently, we have received a number of phone calls and emails regarding the content of certain blog postings, and feel that it might be helpful to authors, readers and commentators to clarify what is a blog and what is “blogging” all about?
A blog is a shared online journal where people can post diary entries about their personal experiences, views, reviews of products or services, or indeed post information on topics of special interest. It may also be used as a tool to provide and disseminate late breaking news, and as an online gathering place for commentary or discussion.
Unlike websites with static pages, blogs are dynamic sites whose content is updated frequently. An animated and creative medium, blogging has become a convenient and timely online communication tool. Blogs are designed to be an interactive forum in which online journalists (called bloggers) are invited to post their views and information about a topic of special interest or perhaps an issue of public interest. These postings may consist, among other things, of personal views or essays on a variety of topics, annotated reference material (often embedded source documents or links to other information sources), photographs, audio files and perhaps even video clips (such as those found on popular websites like “YouTube” etc.)
Blogs can offer a place to present individual views, comments, discussions, and debates on any given topic. Often they may act as a catalyst for communication sharing between different age groups, people from different ethnic backgrounds and geographic locations, not to mention those representing different social strata or work experience. Blogs often offer thought-provoking reading and as such, invite readers to comment on the content presented by an author (i.e. blogger). Those who wish to do more than comment on a specific topic are also invited to create and to post their own views in response to a matter previously discussed by another blogger, or in answer to a question posed by a commentator or another writer.
Blogs can therefore take a personal or a professional approach, allowing authors flexibility in expressing their personality as well as their own tone and style of writing (provided that they abide by the content guidelines established by the online publisher). In each case, for example, the written material submitted to our online publication, was reviewed by the James Bay Beacon Blogs Editorial Board to ensure that it conformed to our “Guidelines for Posting Contributions and Comments”.
Through online journaling (called blogging), both readers and writers have a unique opportunity to cultivate a living social community, (albeit in this case the online James Bay Beacon Blogs), as well as in person (where you may enjoy good company and great conversation over a cup of coffee at one of our many fine community cafes). It is in this vein that we look forward to receiving contributions and commentaries from everyone – whether you are living, working or simply visiting our neck of the woods…the more the merrier as they say.
In closing, we hope that the James Bay Beacon Blogs will, with your keen interest, nurturing assistance and invaluable support, become a place to share the rich cultural and social heritage of our community, a place that welcomes different perspectives on matters of public interest and remains open to alternative points of points of view on issues, as well as a place that is pleased to showcase the treasury of talent in our midst – all of which give our neighborhood a unique flavor all its own.
Congratulations on your blog. I am glad to see an online forum oriented towards James Bay residents, especially one under the auspices of a respected community organization. I do have a few suggestions for improvement which perhaps you may consider:
1. Fix the comment entry field so it does not extend beyond the borders of the page and does not display a gray bar on the left margin.
2. Text pasted in from Word appears with a fragment of HTML code. If the software permits, this glitch should be eliminated.
3. The buttons below the comment field offer the choice of Save and Preview. The meaning of the latter is obvious. It is not necessarily clear to the poster what Save means. Most blogs use the term Submit.
4. Comments would be better displayed with the earliest at the top, and newer ones beneath that in order. This makes it easier to follow the thread since we naturally read from top to bottom.
5. Consider going from a moderated to semi-moderated format. In other words, permit all comments to appear immediately on the page and only remove those that are offensive or violate the guidelines. Having to wait 24 hours or more to see a comment appear pretty much saps the vitality of any ongoing dialogue. It is like trying to communicate via radio with someone on the planet Pluto.
Altogether, this is a very good effort. I hope you will publicize the blog and that your readers will take the opportunity to express their views.