Blogging

Blogging has given many the opportunity to voice their thoughts, questions, and opinions. It has given the term citizen journalism actual meaning. Blogging allows the world to connect on many different levels. We were able to learn about the thoughts of a soldier while at war, a recently unemployed woman's venting of her life after her career, the up to date news from a student that was there during the Columbine shooting, and the thoughts of a corrupted government from a woman in Cuba. Blogging has provided many advantages for the average Joe, and will continue to do so as long as the public has something to say.
Yoani Sanchez, a well known blogger all over the world is one person that is smart enough to take advantage of citizen journalism. Citizen joirnalism, as Sachez puts it is someone with no professional training who cares enough to document their life through words, and images. Individuals that are part of events worth recording are citizen journalists. She says she started blogging as a platform to vent her frustrations of everyday living in Cuba sort of like an exorcism of thoughts. Blogging has allowed Sanchez to express her opinions and thoughts and at the same time affecting others by those same thoughts and opinion. She has gained an international following as well as raised some eyebrows within in her countries governement. Through Yoani Sanchezs' online magazine Contodos she has been given a public forum to express the injustices and corruption going on with her country in a tasteful and respectable manner. Sanchez has been recognized not only in her country of Cuba for her work but in America and many other countries as well.
Although there are so many positive things being gained through one persons thoughts, there are pitfalls and liabilities from this as well. Readers might have a tendency to follow ones thoughts religiously that it affects the thoughts of the indiviual, in turn swaying their opinions into the bloggers opinions. If one were to rely solely on Yoani Sanchezs' blog then they are at a huge disadvantage because this is the opinion of one person. Relying on one persons thoughts about an entire country doesnt allow the viewer to fully experience their own ideas of the country or subject. The individual wont be able to make their own opinions or thoughts because it has already been skewed by the blogger.
Ultimately blogging has become a positive outlet for one to express their thoughts and feelings on certain subjects. It is a way to preserve relationships, vent frustrating thoughts, and also allow others to walk a day in their shoes. Though in many countries the thoughts of individuals have been monitored and tracked, followers find creative ways of getting those thoughts through the public. Citizen journalism has given the public the truth that mainstream media might be to afraid to reveal. We have individuals like Yoani Sanchez, Salam Pax, and Citizen Smash to thank, all bloggers who felt it necessary to show us what it is like to live a day in their lives.