Blogs have been around since the 2000 and before that. However, it was only after 2005 that we saw the sprouting of Armenian blogs in USA, France, Armenia, Syria, Russia, Egypt, Australia, Israel/Palestine, Germany, Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon.
I want to note here that the Lebanese non-Armenian bloggers have been active much earlier. Some, today, even organize meetings among different Lebanese bloggers. Here is an example: http://lebanonheartblogs.blogspot.com/
Perhaps, when the Armenian bloggers in Lebanon grow, we can organize events together.
Today, the Armenian blogs are diverse, but they also have very common issues, mostly about the Genocide of the Armenians and news related to Armenians and Armenia.
At first, the blogs were used like diaries. But later on, groups, organizations, and news agencies started to make use of blogs as their news space, and the place where people can voice their comments and be heard.
In the Armenian blogosphere, it is only lately that we have seen the launch of the AGBU blog, and very recently, the Armenian Times.
Here, I would like to add that one of the very first Armenian bloggers is Raffi Kojian, blogging within his Cilicia website.
I've seen blogs that started very passionately, were active, but did not survive their first year. It seems that as time passes they lose their vision and their reason behind their blogging. Most do not even have a mission. They blog about anything and everything, whatever amuses them. These blogs are meant to die, since they are established on the ups and downs of the person blogging.
There are interesting Armenian blogs that are online. Perhaps a review of each of the blogs would be a good idea, for the next post.
Today, the Armenian bloggers in Lebanon are few and can be counted on the fingers. The idea of blogging is fairly new to the Armenians here and not many organizations, groups, teams, or NGOs make use of blogging. Yes, there are many websites, but the problem with these websites is that they are static and too objective and non-personal. Most of them start to post news and gradually the number of posts goes down, and if after a year you go and check the website, you would find out that the website hasn't been updated for almost a year, if not even more.
One of the noteworthy bloggers is Ara Ashjian (he recently settled in Armenia like many Iraqi Armenians) from Iraq, who is the only one who writes about the Armenians in Iraq, and he is doing the work that perhaps news agencies should do. The name of his blog is Armenian Issues.
This is the niche of the blogs. The small communities and individuals can now make themselves heard, seen and read worldwide. What makes blogs different is their news and posts that would not be found on newspapers. You will be able to read about events, news, and issues about which you've never read before.
More and more people are reading blogs, since bloggers write about the events the way they see them, without much politicizing of events. You will hear about the news from the inside and get a glimpse from a point of view that is not broadcasted or published on corporate media.
According to Blogactionday.com, "Blogs are just a tool, of course. It’s the bloggers behind the blogs that will make the difference. Here’s why:
As Mr. Hrayr Jebejian has told us: "This is the era of communication."
Raffi
I want to note here that the Lebanese non-Armenian bloggers have been active much earlier. Some, today, even organize meetings among different Lebanese bloggers. Here is an example: http://lebanonheartblogs.blogspot.com/
Perhaps, when the Armenian bloggers in Lebanon grow, we can organize events together.Today, the Armenian blogs are diverse, but they also have very common issues, mostly about the Genocide of the Armenians and news related to Armenians and Armenia.
At first, the blogs were used like diaries. But later on, groups, organizations, and news agencies started to make use of blogs as their news space, and the place where people can voice their comments and be heard.
In the Armenian blogosphere, it is only lately that we have seen the launch of the AGBU blog, and very recently, the Armenian Times.
Here, I would like to add that one of the very first Armenian bloggers is Raffi Kojian, blogging within his Cilicia website.
I've seen blogs that started very passionately, were active, but did not survive their first year. It seems that as time passes they lose their vision and their reason behind their blogging. Most do not even have a mission. They blog about anything and everything, whatever amuses them. These blogs are meant to die, since they are established on the ups and downs of the person blogging.
There are interesting Armenian blogs that are online. Perhaps a review of each of the blogs would be a good idea, for the next post.
Today, the Armenian bloggers in Lebanon are few and can be counted on the fingers. The idea of blogging is fairly new to the Armenians here and not many organizations, groups, teams, or NGOs make use of blogging. Yes, there are many websites, but the problem with these websites is that they are static and too objective and non-personal. Most of them start to post news and gradually the number of posts goes down, and if after a year you go and check the website, you would find out that the website hasn't been updated for almost a year, if not even more.
One of the noteworthy bloggers is Ara Ashjian (he recently settled in Armenia like many Iraqi Armenians) from Iraq, who is the only one who writes about the Armenians in Iraq, and he is doing the work that perhaps news agencies should do. The name of his blog is Armenian Issues.
This is the niche of the blogs. The small communities and individuals can now make themselves heard, seen and read worldwide. What makes blogs different is their news and posts that would not be found on newspapers. You will be able to read about events, news, and issues about which you've never read before.More and more people are reading blogs, since bloggers write about the events the way they see them, without much politicizing of events. You will hear about the news from the inside and get a glimpse from a point of view that is not broadcasted or published on corporate media.
According to Blogactionday.com, "Blogs are just a tool, of course. It’s the bloggers behind the blogs that will make the difference. Here’s why:
- Freedom of speech
- Power of the pen
- Reaching the public
- Raising awareness
- A global discussion
- The power of many
- The speed of change
- Interaction
- Instant news and opinions
- Cover-ups are uncovered
- Easier to research an issue
- Viral ideas
- Created a new world
- Government-influenced media bypassed
- No central control
- It gets you thinking"
As Mr. Hrayr Jebejian has told us: "This is the era of communication."
Raffi