Blogging America: Political Discourse in a Digital Nation (Paperback)

~ Barbara O'Brien (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This book celebrates political blogging in America. It approaches blogging as a multi-faceted phenomenon that encompasses journalism and media, political discourse and commentary, rhetoric and debate. It explains what blogging is and how blogs are already impacting politics and journalism.

This book also presents a beginner's guide to the Blogosphere and provides samples of blogging from across the political spectrum. These samples represent the work of some of the web's most illustrious bloggers, including Andrew Sullivan, Markas Zuniga, Kim du Toit, Billmon, Stephen Green, TBogg, and Emperor Misha I of the Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler.

About the Author

Barbara O'Brien is the proprietor of The Mahablog, established 2002. Since earning a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri (when she wasn't raising children or finessing a mid-life crisis), she has enjoyed (in her own words) "a long but unremarkable career in the book publishing industry, in various capacities." Her journalism career has been rekindled by the popularity of her blog and other online news sources she contributes to, including Buzzflash, AlterNet, Democratic Underground, Scoop, and Open Source Politics.

Product Details

• Paperback: 206 pages
• Publisher: William James & Company (September 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590280407
• ISBN-13: 978-1590280409
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,033,486 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars no technical obstacles to writing, October 18, 2006

By	W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Whatever your political leanings, O'Brien offers a good education about reading and writing political blogs. Many examples of existing blogs are given. With an emphasis on American blogs. She gives a diversity of blogging viewpoints.

For readers inclined to contribute to existing blogs, or starting their own, the take home message is that it is very simple. By now, the technical details have been mostly finessed away. You don't need much in the way of a computing background at all. There are only two hard things. Writing interesting and original prose. The book does not, and cannot really help you with this. The other obstacle is getting read by others. Here, the book has some tips. But mostly you should experiment with different ways of attracting notice.