Essay

G07N2903

In this essay the concept of web 2.0 will be introduced in relation to the phenomenon and trend of a blog formerly known as a weblog. A blog is suggestive of an online diary which is a form of a communication device which is obliterating communication barriers around the world. The benefits and changes this form of technology has established in and around the world will be discussed using three different blogs namely: a South African, African and International blog. The focus of the blogs being chosen is based on the topic of the 2010 World Cup to be held in South Africa. Different uses of reporting techniques, blogging styles and the use of web 2.0 will be contrasted and compared. The ways that these specific bloggers present their ideas and views will be intrinsically dissected and analysed to underline similarities and differences in their blogs.

It is the first time that this prestigious sporting event has ever been hosted in an African country. This has caused much controversy and speculation to whether a Third World ranked country could make a success of a Eurocentric, Western world dominated event. Due to the global economic crisis there is further uncertainty to whether this event will be a success. Many expected international visitors would possibly not make the trip due to financial circumstances. As this event is an international one, countries across the globe have been articulating their views and opinions over the World Wide Web through the form of Web 2.0.

Tim Berners Lee is the inventor of the World Wide Web. Through his initiatives of such an invention the creation of other web technologies such as web 2.0 were allowed to be introduced. The term web 2.0 is closely linked with Tim O’Reilly due to the O’Reilly media conference which was held in 2004. Web 2.0 is not the latest version of the World Wide Web but rather is the changes in which software developers use the web. Web 2.0 correlates with the concepts of web design and web development which makes possible the interactive user centred design and rapid information sharing. Examples of Web 2.0 include social networking sites, wikis, web applications, and blogs. Web 2.0 allows users to interrelate with others or to alter content on sites, in comparison to previous non- interactive sites were unreceptive viewing of information is only authorized.

A blog is an interactive online form of a diary or commentary of news or an event. An individual can exhibit their thoughts, and writings on the web in regular entries of commentary. These blogs can be categorised based on topics, events, hobbies, and themes. They can be daily routine like blogs, weekly bogs or even monthly blogs. A blog can be written in a formal or informal manner depending on the bloggers approach or style. They can be personal, subjective, objective, written in a news like manner or even just informative. An important feature of a blog is that readers can leave their comments about the blog. Another intrinsic part of a blog is having links to related sites and other blogs. The growth of blogs has meant that it has become some individual’s jobs to write blogs were as others just use it for hobby purposes. The concept of a blog reduces space, time and distance and allows people from varying parts of the world to be able to communicate with each other in an interactive manner from the comfort of their homes.

The blog from South Africa is “2010 Fifa World Cup readiness update” by Nicholas Whiteley and Sarah Gurney. As this blog is from the hosting country it is expected that the blogs which come from this country are pro 2010 hype and publicity. As a citizen of this country it is only ones patriotic duty to inform the world that their country is ready for the world and the tournament. This tournament is being hosted in an African country for the first time and has thus put immense pressure on South Africa to deliver the same standards of quality that previous European countries have. This blog is a collaborated piece by two Capetonian’s and reflects on numerous aspects regarding the world cup. The layout of the blog has been structured in a formal almost essay like manner: there is an introduction, body and conclusion. In the body of the blog there are several different sub headings such as safety and security, transport, accommodation, Green Point stadium, electricity, Fan fest, Cape Town Tourism ready to welcome visitors, and lastly the 2010 legacy. These bloggers delve into all aspects of scepticism associated with South Africa hosting the world cup. The tone of the writing is informative and positive. It has the flare of a tourism brochure in which the country and the tournament are paraded as must see tourist attractions.

As this blog is written from the perspective of a South African it had tendencies of being perhaps a little biased. At the same time every South African has become a marketing tool for the 2010, in promoting its growing success. The conclusion states that, “Ultimately, the success of the World Cup in Cape Town will depend largely on the welcome visitors receive from Capetonians and on the readiness of citizens to embrace them in our football celebrations. With Cape Town’s excellent reputation for hospitality, it’s a welcome Capetonians are sure to provide!” The use of pictures of the progress of stadiums and the patriotic vukuzela being blown with picturesque Cape Town in the background expels the ideas of readiness and confidence which these bloggers embed into this blog. At the end of the blog the feature of the comment bar has been used by reader Peter Max who states that, “As a sales representative for one of the material suppliers, it is amazing to see how the stadium takes shape upon each visit to the site. I have no doubt in my mind that Cape Town and its soccer/football loving inhabitants will make a success of the upcoming Fifa World Cup 2010. We are ready to welcome the world”. This comment reiterates the idea of all South Africans promoting the 2010 which will add a sense of international status to this country.

The blog from an African country is from Nigeria and is called “S Africa strike hits stadia” by the Admin staff at Afrigator. This blog website allows individuals all over Africa to post blogs on any topic thinkable. It was very easy to find a blog from South Africa and an International one but it was a lot more of a search to find a blog from Africa. Afrigator is one of the main blog websites displaying blogs on all topics. It is only expected that a blog from an African country such as Nigeria would be supportive as it is the first time that an African country is hosting this event, “This is the first time the football World Cup will be hosted in Africa”. However, there might be a hidden sense of jealousy that South Africa was chosen over all the other African countries when it comes to international affairs. The blog has been written more like a hard news story with a striking headline and a hard-hitting first paragraph typed in bold font which introduces a negative tone to the piece, “Some 70, 000 construction workers in South Africa have gone on strike, halting work on stadiums being built for the 2010 World Cup”. There is only on dreary looking picture of construction at the stadium site with a caption stating that “Work on the South African stadiums seems to be on schedule so far”. This caption does not correlate with the headline of the blog which suggests that construction on the stadiums would be falling behind because of the 70, 000 workers on strike. Both this blog and the blog from South Africa have used the technique of presenting information in a way that the reader reads the blog as containing factual data rather than mere estimates and opinions. This blog is considerably shorter in word count in comparison to the South African and International blog. In antithesis to the other blogs, this blog is the only one which has almost a constant tone of pessimism entrenched in the writing style. However, there is a slight hint of hope in this piece which can be seen through all the negativity which suggests that they still want 2010 to be a success as it is the first time that Africa is hosting the event. They still have a proud feeling knowing that they are part of Africa and Africa is hosting such a prestigious event.

The blog from an International country is from the United Sates of America and has been named “The road to 2010 world cup final” by screen name writer Amunti on Blog Catalog. By using a screen name it is like creating a persona and character for yourself which gives the reader a sense of the unknown. In the first blog the bloggers use their name which suggests a sense of authorship and authenticity. Unlike, the first two blogs which are interested in the construction aspects and readiness of South Africa for 2010. This blog is the journey of the blogger which is explored in the introduction to this blog, “My journey from Brooklyn, New York January 4, 2007 to the world cup final match 11 July, 2010 in South Africa. How will I get there? I have no idea? Join me as I travel around Africa, write a book, make some friends and watch the beautiful game!” The title of the blog alone has a different feel when compared to the first two blogs which focus more on the host country and its people. This blogs theme is on the game of soccer and the hype created around this well anticipated tournament. This shows the spatial distance that USA has from SA as there is no mention of scepticism, the electricity load shedding or construction worker strikes. It is as if the blogger has no political agenda but writes for the love of the game. This blog features the full draw for the 2010 UEFA Champions League, road to 2010 tidbits, latest news on new players, injured players and scandal on players, teams and coaches. This blog is the longest of all three blogs and has the most amount of information available for a reader. There are numerous entries made to update and inform other soccer fans around the globe. In the casual use of language and writing the blog comes across as more as a diary formatted blog in comparison to the other blogs which take on a more formal stance. There are numerous links which allow potential readers other sources of information. The pictures used have mostly been of soccer teams and their logos and the UEFA Champion League Logo. This is vastly different to the previous blogs in which the pictures were mainly of the construction of the stadiums.

In each of these blogs there are similarities and differences which have been noted. The overall view of each blog is as follows: South African blog uses positive tone in which all scepticism is discarded. There is use of formal and informative persuasive writing styles. The writing technique used can be compared to having the flare of tourism brochure which portrays the world cup and South Africa as must see sites. The blog from Africa is drenched in a negative tone as it releases ideas of scepticism, propaganda and portrays information as facts. However, there is still a hint of hope in the blog which suggests that they still want 2010 to be a success as it is the first time that an African country is hosting the world cup. The blog from USA has taken on the blogging style of casual and informal diary entry. Unlike, the previous two blogs which focused on the scepticism and South Africa and its people this blog focuses on the tournament and the love of the game. The overall view is that all these blogs focus on the 2010 world cup from varying aspects whilst still promoting the world cup and its success in their own styles and techniques. Each blog employs their role of being part of the phenomenon of the blogging world and web 2.0 in reducing space, time and distance through the breaking down of communication barriers from people around the world.