Blog v Wiki

Wikipedia  defines a wiki as a platform in which users can add, modify, or delete content in a collaborative effort with no defined owner or structure. Wikis also rely heavily on topic associations through the creation of links and new pages. A blog, or web log, consists of discrete posts made by an individual or small group of individuals. In most cases, a blog will focus on one central topic and page links are used to organize content on the site. Whereas content updates on wikis are meant to enhance information present on the page, content updates on a blog are usually meant to follow up on content previously posted or to discuss something new. One can argue that wikis are the more universal of the two. While wikis have a standard format that everyone is familiar with, blogs reflect the personal tastes of the author and are more open to customization.

The development of both of these platforms is a natural progression in today's networked world. As people become more connected to one another and as information becomes readily available to us in real-time, it makes sense for us to work on a platform that allows us to collaborate quickly and efficiently. In Harvard Business Review, wiki founder Jimmy Wales says that thousands of organizations have turned to wikis to aggregate the knowledge of their employees and to provide a place for them to collaborate on anything from meetings to new project proposals. Wikis are especially important for companies that work internationally or who have many employees working remotely. E-mails and telephones are becoming too dated for a society with so many due dates and deadlines, making online platforms the best option in a corporate environment. Furthermore, with the growing popularity of professional networking sites such as Linkedin, wikis may one day become a way for users to create an online resume where they can update information about where they work and what projects they are working on. This way, they are not limited to a one page resume that only skims the surface of their entire career.  

How Can We Measure the Influence of the Blogosphere? talks about the importance of blogs in collaboration, specifically regarding mass media. Newspapers and television, or "The Press" have always been the go to mediums for news. But with the continuing growth of the internet and thereby connectivity amongst individuals, blogs are becoming an important source of growth for journalism. According to Gill, journalism can occur anywhere and under almost any circumstances. Participatory journalism in particular, encourages a two-way interaction between the journalist and his readers. Blogs are a perfect way to organize "our collective history." They allow you to freely post content in chronological order and archive it to make it easy for readers to follow what happened when.