Classification of Blogs and Opinion about The Most Appropriate Classification Approach

As the blogging phenomena exploded, Simmons (2008) believes that diversity of individual publishing on World Wide Web is reflected through the inventing of new words to blogs. 

Martha (2011) has come up 5 types of blogs to show how various blogs focus on different niches.

• Corporate blog- An official blog that consists of culture, strategies, purpose and information of specific organizations.

• Niche blog- Fix type of stuff blog which offering information on certain topic, endorsing reader to visit another website which intend to sell and promote products or service.

• Personal blog- A blog commonly shares and writes about personal life experiences by using personal and emotional language, and therefore, each post can be different from others. Example, Kennysia.com

• Review blog- A blog that share, discuss and comment the review about certain products and services.

However, Simons (2008) has come up with variant names on blog classification and classifies into 9 types which are: 

• Pamphleteering blog- A blog usually published by numbers of authors that cover many topics in which Individual or group of individuals express and argue their perspective for a cause, respond to the fact reported in mainstream media or other blogs. 

Example: Andrew Norton

• Digest blog- A blog act as guidance so you can click on the link and access to other websites. It usually summarizes and collects material from mainstream media or other blogs on a single topic issues.  

Example: Fair Go Fairfax

• Advocacy blog- A subset of pamphleteering blog which focusing on particular point of view on particular issue. It is established by vested interest group, advocacy group, commercial organization and political party.

Example: Telstra

• The Popular Mechanics blog- A blog that provides collection of advice and training in specialist's field. Some of these blogs can earn money from advertising.

Example: Popular Merchanics

• Exhibition blog- A blog also known as 'vanity publishing' that are normally maintained by writers, artists, craftspeople who aim to show their creative works to wider audiences. 

Example: Artistemerging

• Gatewatcher blog- A blog where specialists, expertises or particular knowledge of public events hold the account of 'gatekeeper' of traditional media. 

Example: Possum Comitatus

• Diary blog- A personal blog usually established by majority people in writing news, photo and information.

Example: Lee ming (listed in one of the top 10 hottest blogger in Malaysia by Nuffnang)

• The Advertisement blog- Less honest kind of blog because commercial companies pay bloggers to boost their products and services. 

Example: Nuffnang.com 

• The News blog- A small category of blogs cover or report breaking news in depth which normally contributing to journalism.

Example: guardian.co.uk

In conclusion, I think Simons's classification method is better because she able to categorize blogs into specific types based on different blog contents. Her article has been well defined and analyzed within the use of supported examples and clear explanation.  

References
Martha 2011, What Is Blogging & Types Of Blogs [DETAILS], viewed 20 August 2011,
http://hellboundbloggers.com/2011/02/27/types-of-blogs/


Simons, M. 2008. A taxonomy of blogs, viewed 20 August 2011,
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2008/2372882.htm#transcript