so this is mass communication?

Have you seen the “flag this blog” button now being published in the top bar of BlogSpot.com blogs? Interesting.Blogger explains this tool as a way to:

the “Flag?” button allows the blogging community to easily note questionable content, which in turn helps us take action when needed. So we’re relying on you, the users, to be our eyes on the web, and to let us know of potential issues that are important to you.

I have other thoughts on it. I see it as a way for Blogger to protect itself - using the strength of the community of users - from sickos posting about criminal acts or tendencies on their tool. Not sure what I’m talking about? See this for background.

Every day when I wake up, I do the same thing. Check my e-mail, check the blog feeds I subscribe to. I continue this frequently throughout the day & it is always the last thing I do before I go to bed.
This morning as I checked my feeds, I thought “She couldn’t have written another 2 posts because she just posted late last night” as I saw an indication from BlogLines that I had posts waiting to be read from Lois Ann Scheidt’s Professional Lurker blog. Nope it was true. Two completely new posts.

That is when I said, when does she have time to do all this blogging?

Then it struck me. Kinda like when you look in the mirror & see you aren’t 22 anymore & wonder what the hell happened.

I used to blog a lot. Every day. Don’t believe me? Check my archive. Now? Not so much. Once or twice a month if I’m lucky. I blogged more this summer, but alas now that I’m back on campus for the new semester my blogging has slowed again.

It’s not like I have less say. In fact, there are tons of things to talk about in the changes in blogs, the research I’m doing, etc. Plus, my husband says I talk all the time, so it certainly can’t be that. I’m not really sure if it is a matter of having the time - after all, I did watch all 3 episodes of Tommy Lee Goes to College while I was coding for a project the other night.

So what has changed from the grad student me to the professor-seeking-tenure me?

I’m not afraid that what I say will be used against me in a court of tenure. I don’t care if my students read this & think something differently of me. Anyone who has ever spent five seconds on my personal Web page knows I could care less that I have put so much of my life out on the Internet (pictures & such).

I don’t really have an answer as to what might have changed. I am doing more research - especially more solo projects - than I ever was before I received my PhD. I’m sending more things out to publication & therefore a bit more reluctant to post my findings on my site in case a potential reviewer reads my blog (you never know). I’m certainly not over blogging & it still gets me all revved up and inspires me.

So there is no 30-second moral of this post - just a head scratching observation.

Later this week I’m heading to the annual AEJMC conference in San Antonio. It will be all work & no play for me while I’m there, but if you’re reading this & the conference please come to one of my panels to (re)introduce yourself.

I’m presenting two papers - both collaborative ventures I’m very proud to have contributed to.

Agenda-setting and Blogs: Issue and Attribute Salience Influence on Celebrity Web Sites

by Kaye D. Trammell & Spiro Kiousis

Presentation: Wednesday, August 10 from 1:30 - 3 p.m.

This study investigated first- and second-level agenda-setting on blogs through a content analysis of posts (n = 88) and reader feedback in comments (n = 535) and trackbacks (n = 47). The findings offered some support for both levels of agenda-setting influence. Differences based on interactivity level were also investigated. The data revealed that agenda-setting influence was strongest in high interactivity situations. In particular, delayed response times weakened agenda-setting effects. Finally, the implications of the results are discussed.
Intermedia Agenda Setting in the 2004 Presidential Elections: Issue Saliency in Television News, Political Advertising, and Blogs
by Kaye D. Trammell, Guy Golan, & Wayne Wanta

Presentation: Friday, August 12 from 8:15 - 9:45 a.m.

This study examined whether political ads and candidate blogs were successful in influencing the issue and news agenda of the major television news networks during the 2004 presidential election. Data showed strong correlations between blogs and the media agenda. Advertisements did not correlate with the media agenda. Cross-lag analyses showed that the media set the candidates’ agenda. The authors suggest intermedia agenda setting occurred as the media transferred their agenda to campaign blogs.