What are the conventions and Types of Blog

What are the conventions and Types of Blog? Conventions of a blog: A blog is where a site is commonly updated that features a vast types of posts in reverse chronological order. The more recent posts uploaded onto the blog appear first to the audience. Blogs (in today’s media industry) are far more interactive than other forms of media. They include hyperlinks which is a word, phrase or an image on the blog that reader can click on and navigate to other parts of the blog. Features like this not only help interact with the blogger but also with each other. Types of blog: Blogs come in many different forms and many blogs are made for different purposes and functions, for example many can be political or personal, instructional or journalistic. Many blogs are made by professionals and some are made by amateurs. Some commercial and noncommercial. Many blogs cover a vast variety of topics, for example there are blogs based on food, health, travelling, news and many more. However, one of the most popular blog types is the fashion, lifestyle and beauty blog. These blog types give readers and insight into the bloggers everyday life and interests. The blogger might possibly discuss beauty routines or the places they’ve been to. These aspects of a blogger make it important for them to appeal to an audience. They will share a relationship with their readers by sharing their personal thoughts and life experiences. Zoella, Tanya Burr and Louise Pentland, who blogs under the name ‘Sprinkle of Glitter’ are popular exponents of this type of blog.

Blogs and Vlogs: Using the Semiotics Theory We can start and look at the homepages of Zoella’s You. Tube channel and blog. First of all when implying the Semiotics theory we need to think about the significance of the design of the blog page. Many bloggers and Youtuber’s/Vloggers have a basic layout on their sites/channels. However, if we take Zoella as an example, her layout of her blog and channel convey a meaning to the audience. In this instance the literal meaning (denotation) could be the colour pink (on her blog) and the fancy title on her You. Tube channel. However the connation is what the audience begin to make associations, for example, Beauty, glamorous and lifestyle. Zoella’s title in general is recognisable, especially in western Europe. Audiences will be recognisable when they see this logo, the design, images and colours help create a meaning and mode of address. Although, semiotics can be used to analyse images or videos that are featured on a blogger or Vloggers website or You. Tube channel. In this instance, when we discuss Zoella, most of her video consist of lifestyle and beauty. Her setting in her videos are mostly at home and when the audience thinks of ‘home’ they can get a connotation of comfort. Zoella’s appearance, wearing colourful clothes and make up can also convey a meaning of positiveness and happiness.

Applying David Gauntlett’s Theory of identity - Zoella To begin applying David Gauntlett’s theory of identity to Blogger and Vlogger Zoella, we can analyse and link to show an understanding of Gauntlett’s theory. In a quick summary of Gauntlett's theory, he believes that the media forms influence people and constructs someone's own personality and opinions. In this instance, this theory is a useful way of thinking about the functions and appeal of Zoella’s blogs and vlogs. Zoella shares her personal stories with her audience which gives them an insight on her experiences in her day to day life. These small aspects have an appeal and influence on her audience, baring in mind, Zoella’s audience is aimed for young teenage girls whom are entering their teenage years. This is important for Zoella because her persona and experiences help influence her audiences. For example, if we take Zoella’s blog post about her anxiety, her audience members that have anxiety will look deeper into this topic and would want to base themselves around Zoella and how she deals with it. This is a good example of applying Gauntlett's theory to a blogger. In my opinion, I have preferred side to this theory as I believe (as discussed) the media have influence on everyone.

Applying Stuart Hall’s Representation Theory - Zoella We move on to explore Hall’s Representation theory. He stated that through media language, meanings are produced through signs and codes. In this instance, If we take Zoella’s blog as one of the examples, The written words combine with how the images are portrayed on the blog, this creates an aesthetic and this how Zoella produces a meaning on her blog for her audience. Similarly, in Zoella’s vlogs on her You. Tube platform she is able to use sounds, images or objects in this matter to contribute to the representation that the video offers to the audiences. This again helps create a meaning to her video, the sounds (music for example) images and so forth all add to the topic of the video by Zoella.

Representations of Gender The next aspect we will discuss is gender stereotypes. Zoella is a big You. Tube sensation with over 12 million subscribers. Her video’s on the social site have given her a platform to market herself to women in many ways for example, to have a career like men, too earn a reasonable amount of money similar to a man. In my opinion, I believe that Zoella was one of the first young women to make a name for herself on social media sites such as You. Tube. She made a path for other women to take on the social site. Nowadays, you have thousands of female youtubers in beauty and lifestyle, Zoella (in my own opinion) was the person that kick started this industry properly on You. Tube. Big Youtuber stars such as Tanya Burr have also impacted the site in the same way. Zoella has a world-wide audience, the statistics tell us that on other social media sites such as Twitter and Instagram she has 13. 4 million on twitter and 11 million followers on Instagram alone. On my research I also found that she is the 9 th most subscribed person in the UK and second most subscribed women in the UK. Adele tops the list, however, we will make an acceptation that she is most popular for what she does. Overall, from the statistics and the appeal of Zoella, in my opinion it challenges gender stereotypes, From the 1940’s to 2018 women have played significant roles, however its safe to say in the 21 st century they’ve had more roles. You. Tube, has given women like Zoella a platform to express herself to other young women and teenagers as her channel is gender specific in terms of mode of address. Moving on, however, if we look at the emphasis on fashion and beauty that is mostly found in blogs and vlogs aimed predominantly at teenagers and pre teens girls, could show an understanding of reinforcing gender stereotypes. The roles of Zoella, in terms of gender socialisation, she has roles in girls magazines. If we take a look at Germaine Greer’s book ‘The Whole Woman’ (1999) she discusses messages aimed at young girls. She states that magazines for girls are ‘financed by the beauty industry to teach the girls how to use make up and that they need it’. Tutorials on how to use make up are found on Zoella’s channel, in this instance it can be said the use a similar function to what Greer had stated, these channels are funded by the beauty industry through sponsors and advertisements.

Impact of Online media and the impact of tech change Online media is always discussed issue, some argue it disrupts the power structures that operate within the media industry but there are some that believe the internet reinforces of other major corporations as they are able to establish themselves on other social media platforms. For example Zoella is a good example of this. She has reinforced her status and image from her vlogs on You. Tube with a huge following on social media sites such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. She is able to promote her work online to a more world wide audience as she will be able to reach out. However in online media industries today, Media professionals act as gatekeepers (which means they control what gets put out) so the audience are controlled to what media they get. You can find this in magazines online or Television. Although due to the technological change, it is a lot easier today for people like Zoella (You. Tubers, Vloggers, Bloggers) who create their own content to bypass gatekeepers. Vloggers use camera or webcams to make content to address to their audiences through the internet on You. Tube. Because of this concept it has led to a huge growth in user-generated content which means material created by everyday users of media platforms like blogs and You. Tube rather than by professionals working for media organisations like the BBC and so on. Overall, this demonstrated that media production and distribution are no longer preserve of a professional media elite.

How do content creators get their income? One way content creators get their income is through advertising, You. Tubers (vloggers) such as Zoella who have mass amount of subscribers have adverts through out their videos, or before the video starts. I did some research on this and I discovered that if a big You. Tuber like Zoella, Pewdiepie, or Syndicate make a 10 minute video on You. Tube you are more likely to get more adverts which means more money. One other way content creators make their income is through Sponsorships, this is where content creators are paid to review, promote or endorse particular brands and products. Zoella (a beauty vlogger) is paid to demonstrate particular cosmetic products. Finally, the most obvious way to get money for being a content creator is Merchandise. Zoella’s shop can be found on her blog, where you get access to her make up, clothes and many other accessories. A brand recognition is easily recognised and the merchandise market helps build and reinforce their brand recognition. Other examples include Pew. Die. Pie’s ‘bro fist’. However content creator look to diversify as they look into the commercial side of things. They extend their brand across different platforms. Zoella and Tanya Burr each have their own range of beauty products. Furthermore, book publishing is another concept as id pushes the audience towards the content creators vlogs or blogs more. Zoella’s ‘Girl’s online’ is an example of this.

Online Media regulated and You. Tube’s Guidelines New digital tech has had major factor on media regulations. Online media, especially nowadays, is much more harder to monetise due to the mass amounts of videos uploaded to You. Tube by content creators (for example) every week which makes it a greater challenge to do so. Content comes from many different sources this is why it makes it so difficult. There are issues regarding who should regulate online content, from internet providers to social media companies. You. Tube hosts many media forms such as music videos or film trailers so You. Tube to control a regulation is far more complicated. Community Guidelines to You. Tube Nudity or sexual content Violent or graphic content Hate speech or hateful content Spam, misleading metadata and scams Harmful or dangerous content Copyright Threats

Zoella’s appeal and target to her audience Zoella represents herself as glamour and stylish person. How does Zoella target, attract and reach her audiences. Simply, she targets audiences of young girls or young teen girls because her content. Her vlogs consists of make up tutorials, clothes and much more. Young girls want to learn how to use make up and so on. Zoella attracts her audience because of her persona, its presented in a way that it is aimed towards her audience and the age of the audience. She reaches out on other platforms such as social media sites not just her blog and You. Tube channel. Zoella’s appeals to an audience because of her mode of address which we mentioned when talking about the representations of gender. Zoella is able to reinforce a self representation of herself, she is able to disclose or share with her audiences. She is able to represent herself in a way that her persona can appeal to an audience. In many ways, collaboration videos can help Zoella attract and reach audiences, this is way of merging two audiences together to create a big audience. For example Zoella and Tanya Burr have collaboration before in make up tutorial. However both make videos for one another's channels so both audiences will see two videos on each of Zoellas’s and Tanya’s channels respectively. How can audiences interact and participate with Zoella and other bloggers? Zoella has attended Festivals, conferences and conventions. For example Zoella attends Vid. Con in the US it attracts thousands of visitors per year. These conventions offers fans an opportunity to meet Zoella and other bloggers/vloggers. They also participate in meet and greets and Q & A sessions with them. Public appearances also helps bloggers like Zoella gain greater exposure and reach of a broader audiences. These events are an opportunity for bloggers to interact directly with their audiences. E. g. by walking down an red carpet. Other ways, Zoella and Alfie Deyes (Her boyfriend) feature on magazines which extend and promotes their identity and brand to their audiences.

Applying George Gerbner’s theory to blogging In my opinion, I believe that social media for the younger generations is having a major impact on them, whether that’s a younger persons political views or a career path within online media like blogging or vlogging. I will begin to back this point up, for example if we take our set online product, in this case Zoella, I can tell you that Zoella targets a young girls audience from 12 -16, for girls of that age it will become easy for them to attach themselves or be like someone they look up to, and in this instance I feel Zoella is the perfect of that. In Gerbner’s theory, he refers to resonance which is the idea that the effects of cultivation (developing a skill) are likely to be more noticeable when the media messages that a viewer encounters resonate with their own daily lives. Or in more simpler terms that the media matches the reality of peoples day to day lives and that it is more likely is to shape their view on the world. In this instance, Zoella has done blogs about her personal life which the audience may find similarities with her personal life. The same as when Zoella tweets, posts on her blog, the replies in the comments agree with her and so in my opinion this backs my point up that stars on social media are having an impact on our younger generations, therefore I have to be on the preferred side when it comes to George Gerbner’s theory on Cultivation.