Reflections on the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election in the Turkish Blogosphere

Blogging And The Political Process

There are several venues of blog research that provide insight into political blogs’ communication function (Lawson-Borders & Kirk, 2005, pp. 551-555). First is the investigation of the blog as a social/political diary. The Internet empowers users to develop and maintain communities through multiple channels such as chat rooms, support groups, electronic mailing lists, personal web pages, and blogs. Blogs provide an opportunity for people to share their thoughts and experiences on the Internet (Deuze, 2003). Second is the analysis of blogs as organizing tools, since blogs are often seen as motivational tools and participatory outlets. Third, blogs are viewed as a form of civic, participatory journalism. Balnaves et al. (as cited in Lawson-Borders & Kirk, 2005, pp. 551-555) considered blogs as a new form of participatory media that bypasses traditional gatekeepers and allow more individuals into public discourse (some might consider blogs a new form of participatory journalism). Finally, blogs can be viewed as a tool for opinion formation, as they are said to influence agenda setting and framing processes (Farrell & Drezner, 2008).