What is a blog?

A blog is a blend of the words web and log.  A blog is software that lets young students, celebrities, high school teachers, parents, companies, anyone, to publish information on the Internet.  It's a journal, a newspaper, a way to publish ideas, arguments, announcements, and thoughts very quickly, and without technical or time limits. It essentially makes anyone a published writer. In fact, many established writers now publish their own blogs.

In simple terms, a blog is a web site, where you write on a continuing basis. New posts display at the top, so your visitors can read what's new. Then they comment on it or link to it or email you. Your blog is whatever you want it to be.

Blogs have reshaped the web, impacted politics, shaken up journalism, and allowed millions of people to have a voice and connect with others.  There are conflicting statistics on how many bloggers exist but the Blogherald estimates that there are approximately 190 million blogs as of 2008.

Here are a few different examples of blogs. 

• Tips for New Bloggers  (this is a blog to give advice for new bloggers)
• Daily Dose of Imagery (This blog shows a different photo taken by the blogger every day)
• CBC Radio3 (this Radio blog plays music and updates you on local Canadian news)
• My Dinner Table (a cooking blog)
• Post Secret (this is an blog where people mail in their secrets or thoughts in the form of a picture postcard)
• Our Green Year (A personal blog from a family trying to be environmentally friendly)