Conceptual evaluation of weblog as a computer-mediated communication application

Abstract

Weblog is fast becoming an unprecedented mode of communication and self-expression for both individuals and communities. It offers users an avenue to express their opinions regarding anything that come to their minds, from current news items to documenting their lives and thoughts. Bewildered by its rapid growth and widespread popularization, researchers have sought to understand the "exquisiteness" of weblog as a form of computer-mediated communication (CMC). Despite the increasing effort to understand weblog as an informal channel of communiqué, our understanding of weblog remains modest, mainly because much of the extant research has been directed towards categorizing different forms of weblog based on content analyses and identifying factors that motivate people to blog. However, establishing weblog as a CMC application is crucial for providing the basis for cumulative research tradition. This paper draws from CMC theories - media richness and media synchronicity, to assess weblog and seeks to identify research directions.