Another member of the local constellation of reknowned communications experts is Graham Jones, Internet Psychologist.
What is that, you may reasonably ask?
If you've ever wondered about the seemingly irrational behaviour which so many people try to explain and justify their online habits, an insight the instinctive motivations will help you understand how to waste efforts in search of little return.
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Title: Graham Jones, Internet Psychologist
Publisher: Graham Jones Business Group
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Berkshire blog ranking: Not Listed & 12,280 (August 2009)
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Type: Commercial
Focus: Business-oriented communications
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Sample posting: How not to succeed with online media (February 28th, 2008)
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Style: (1.5 out of 2pts)
Direct and knowledgable, but some doubts must be raised over whether he is using his skills for you or against you, or indeed both at the same time. Reassuringly counter-intuitive and occasionally contrary at regular intervals.
Specialisms: (2 out of 2pts)
Don't waste time believing marketing strategies, just learn to understand what your customers want and you'll help to maximise your sales to them.
Regularity: (2 out of 2pts)
Daily
Multi-media: (2 out of 2pts)
A full complement of communication platforms are utilised, as you'd expect from someone with as much expertise as this.
Interactivity: (1.5 out of 2pts)
A diverse range of high-quality links. Blog fully integrated into a high-quality website demonstrating the product he is selling, but so conclusively convincing is he that there is sometimes little space for visitors to contribute anything extra.
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Total rating: (9 out of 10pts)
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Quote this: "Graham Jones understands the subconscious superconciousness of the web and web-users"
Berkshire Blog Review: NevilleHobson.com
Berkshire has some of the highest online activity rates in the world due to our location at the heart of the Europe's answer to Silicon Valley, and it's no surprise that top expertise in related fields can also be found on our doorsteps.
You may not know him, but Neville Hobson is an integral part of the human architecture supporting this world-leading industry - so let's have a look at his blog!
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Title: NevilleHobson.com
Publisher: Neville Hobson
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Berkshire blog ranking: 4th (July 2009)
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Type: Professional
Focus: Communications
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Sample posting: Add Your Voice To The Illegal File-Sharing Debate (August 17th, 2009)
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Style: (2 out of 2pts)
Expert advice, information and issue raising. With some occasional personal snippets thrown in for good measure to add that important ingredient called character.
Specialisms: (2 out of 2pts)
The Hobson and Holtz Report, a regular podcast detailing PR, comms and other media news recorded in Concord, California and Wokingham, Berkshire.
Regularity: (2 out of 2pts)
Multiple daily.
Multi-media: (2 out of 2pts)
Wide variety of range and type, always high quality.
Interactivity: (1 out of 2pts)
Let down by the lack of on-site discussion, but considering the variety of other outlets provided from Mr Hobson's hive of activity this may not be the best place for it.
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Total rating: (9 out of 10pts)
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Quote this: "Internationally-renowned communications guru shows us why he is revered."
You may not know him, but Neville Hobson is an integral part of the human architecture supporting this world-leading industry - so let's have a look at his blog!
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Title: NevilleHobson.com
Publisher: Neville Hobson
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Berkshire blog ranking: 4th (July 2009)
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Type: Professional
Focus: Communications
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Sample posting: Add Your Voice To The Illegal File-Sharing Debate (August 17th, 2009)
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Style: (2 out of 2pts)
Expert advice, information and issue raising. With some occasional personal snippets thrown in for good measure to add that important ingredient called character.
Specialisms: (2 out of 2pts)
The Hobson and Holtz Report, a regular podcast detailing PR, comms and other media news recorded in Concord, California and Wokingham, Berkshire.
Regularity: (2 out of 2pts)
Multiple daily.
Multi-media: (2 out of 2pts)
Wide variety of range and type, always high quality.
Interactivity: (1 out of 2pts)
Let down by the lack of on-site discussion, but considering the variety of other outlets provided from Mr Hobson's hive of activity this may not be the best place for it.
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Total rating: (9 out of 10pts)
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Quote this: "Internationally-renowned communications guru shows us why he is revered."
Berkshire Blog Review: Boulton & Co
Now it's time for Sky New's Boulton & Co, named after Reading-born chief editor of Sky News, Adam Boulton.
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Title: Boulton & Co
Publisher: Sky News
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Berkshire blog ranking: 3rd (July 2009)
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Type: Corporate group blog
Focus: Political gossip
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Sample posting: Fire Fighting (August 20th 2009)
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Style: (1.5 out of 2pts)
Punchy sharp comment.
Specialisms: (2 out of 2pts)
The insider track on what is going on in the corridors of power and the airwaves.
Regularity: (2 out of 2pts)
Multiple times daily
Multi-media: (1.5 out of 2pts)
Pictures, video - what more could you want? Well, a bit less for starters. Busy, confusing format which sometimes leads to information overload.
Interactivity: (1 out of 2pts)
Links and active comments, but corporate identity distances visitors and diminishes personality.
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Total rating: (8 out of 10pts)
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Quote this: "What it loses over the stretch it makes up by being quick out of the traps."
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Title: Boulton & Co
Publisher: Sky News
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Berkshire blog ranking: 3rd (July 2009)
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Type: Corporate group blog
Focus: Political gossip
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Sample posting: Fire Fighting (August 20th 2009)
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Style: (1.5 out of 2pts)
Punchy sharp comment.
Specialisms: (2 out of 2pts)
The insider track on what is going on in the corridors of power and the airwaves.
Regularity: (2 out of 2pts)
Multiple times daily
Multi-media: (1.5 out of 2pts)
Pictures, video - what more could you want? Well, a bit less for starters. Busy, confusing format which sometimes leads to information overload.
Interactivity: (1 out of 2pts)
Links and active comments, but corporate identity distances visitors and diminishes personality.
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Total rating: (8 out of 10pts)
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Quote this: "What it loses over the stretch it makes up by being quick out of the traps."
Berkshire Blog Review: Berkshire Newsblog Network
Following on from the previous review of the Berkshire Websites 'blog', it makes sense to review their connected network of news blogs, although I hope my Reading List Newspage can learn from their mistakes.
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Titles: Berkshire Newsblog Network - Maidenhead & Windsor, Bracknell, Crowthorne & Sandhurst, Twyford and Wokingham sites.
Publisher: Unknown, although the link with the Berkshire Websites network suggests a connection with a commercial corporation.
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Berkshire Blog Ranking: Not ranked
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Type: Commercial.
Focus: News from eastern Berkshire.
Sample posting: Pick up a bargain at Hurst Dinton car boot sale (July 8th, 2009)
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Style: (0.5 out of 2pts)
Generally appears to be reprints of press releases. Intends to be uncontroversial and apolitical.
Specialisms: (1 out of 2pts)
Community events, crime incidents, economic development news.
Regularity: (1.5 out of 2pts)
Mostly daily across the network.
Multi-media: (0 out of 2pts)
Plain text.
Interactivity: (0 out of 2pts)
Ring-fenced production of content, no RSS feeds, no comments allowed.
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Total rating: (3 out of 10pts)
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Quote this: "An uncritical communitarian information trap"
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If you want to add your review of this blog or suggest another local site for review, please do so in the comments section.
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Titles: Berkshire Newsblog Network - Maidenhead & Windsor, Bracknell, Crowthorne & Sandhurst, Twyford and Wokingham sites.
Publisher: Unknown, although the link with the Berkshire Websites network suggests a connection with a commercial corporation.
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Berkshire Blog Ranking: Not ranked
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Type: Commercial.
Focus: News from eastern Berkshire.
Sample posting: Pick up a bargain at Hurst Dinton car boot sale (July 8th, 2009)
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Style: (0.5 out of 2pts)
Generally appears to be reprints of press releases. Intends to be uncontroversial and apolitical.
Specialisms: (1 out of 2pts)
Community events, crime incidents, economic development news.
Regularity: (1.5 out of 2pts)
Mostly daily across the network.
Multi-media: (0 out of 2pts)
Plain text.
Interactivity: (0 out of 2pts)
Ring-fenced production of content, no RSS feeds, no comments allowed.
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Total rating: (3 out of 10pts)
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Quote this: "An uncritical communitarian information trap"
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If you want to add your review of this blog or suggest another local site for review, please do so in the comments section.
Berkshire Blog Review: Berkshire Websites
Next up I've decided to focus on two blog-hosted catalogues of loal websites - partly because they inspired this web-catalogue.
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Title: Berkshire Websites & Reading Websites
Publisher: Unknown, although the link with the Berkshire newsblog network suggests a connection with a corporate authority.
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Berkshire Blog Ranking: 48th (July 2009)
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Type: Commercial
Focus: Website listings
Sample posting: An Image For You (August 13th 2009)
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Style: (0 out of 2pts)
Blank, standardized corporate format.
Specialisms: (1 out of 2pts)
Company listings and company listings only.
Regularity: (2 out of 2pts)
Mostly daily.
Multi-media: (0 out of 2pts)
Standard format graphic of company in place of their logo.
Interactivity: (0.5 out of 2pts)
Basic link to listed website frontpage, internal category links, no comments.
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Total rating: (3.5 out of 10pts)
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Quote this: "not quite an online version of the Yellow Pages"
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If you want to add your review of this blog or suggest another local site for review, please do so in the comments section.
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Title: Berkshire Websites & Reading Websites
Publisher: Unknown, although the link with the Berkshire newsblog network suggests a connection with a corporate authority.
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Berkshire Blog Ranking: 48th (July 2009)
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Type: Commercial
Focus: Website listings
Sample posting: An Image For You (August 13th 2009)
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Style: (0 out of 2pts)
Blank, standardized corporate format.
Specialisms: (1 out of 2pts)
Company listings and company listings only.
Regularity: (2 out of 2pts)
Mostly daily.
Multi-media: (0 out of 2pts)
Standard format graphic of company in place of their logo.
Interactivity: (0.5 out of 2pts)
Basic link to listed website frontpage, internal category links, no comments.
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Total rating: (3.5 out of 10pts)
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Quote this: "not quite an online version of the Yellow Pages"
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If you want to add your review of this blog or suggest another local site for review, please do so in the comments section.
Berkshire Blog Review: Scaryduck
I first became aware there was such a thing as a local blogosphere when BBC Berkshire published a feature on Alistair Coleman's award-winning blog. So it's only natural that I should turn my attention to him first.
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Title: Scaryduck
Publisher: Alistair Coleman
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Berkshire blog ranking: 11th (July 2009)
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Type: Personal
Focus: General, comedy, breasts, getting killed to death
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Sample posting: On having a bad day at PC World (August 10th, 2009)
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Style: (2 out of 2pts)
Observational, comic juxtapositions. Populist.
Specialisms: (2 out of 2pts)
The daily frustrations of life, being a bloke and getting up every day.
Regularity: (2 out of 2pts)
Regular as clockwork - like healthy bowels.
Multi-media: (1.5 out of 2pts)
No post without visual stimulus.
Interactivity: (1 out of 2pts)
Active comments section.
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Total rating: (8.5 out of 10pts)
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Quote this: "A guilty pleasure which never tasted so good. Now where's that sweet plum sauce?"
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If you want to add your review of this blog or suggest another local site for review, please do so in the comments section.
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Title: Scaryduck
Publisher: Alistair Coleman
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Berkshire blog ranking: 11th (July 2009)
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Type: Personal
Focus: General, comedy, breasts, getting killed to death
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Sample posting: On having a bad day at PC World (August 10th, 2009)
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Style: (2 out of 2pts)
Observational, comic juxtapositions. Populist.
Specialisms: (2 out of 2pts)
The daily frustrations of life, being a bloke and getting up every day.
Regularity: (2 out of 2pts)
Regular as clockwork - like healthy bowels.
Multi-media: (1.5 out of 2pts)
No post without visual stimulus.
Interactivity: (1 out of 2pts)
Active comments section.
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Total rating: (8.5 out of 10pts)
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Quote this: "A guilty pleasure which never tasted so good. Now where's that sweet plum sauce?"
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If you want to add your review of this blog or suggest another local site for review, please do so in the comments section.
The State Of The Berkshire Blogosphere
I originally analysed the Berkshire Blogosphere in this article, ascertaining that there were
"9 Conservative bloggers, 8 Liberal Democrat, 5 Green Party, 2 Libertarian, 1 Liberty & Solidarity Party, 1 Common Sense Party and 1 Independent blogger."This has changed somewhat in the intervening period, as it has been possible to investigate deeper into the murky depths beneath the surface, so I'll also be regularly providing an update on these matters.
Top Of The Berkshire Blogs
Reviewing The Berkshire Blogosphere
Having collected a wide selection of local blogs to monitor and found a means to rank their performance, my next job it to start reviewing them.
So just to start off with I'll review my own blog to show readers how I'll be doing it.
If you want to add your review of this blog or suggest another local site for review, please do so in the comments section.
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Title: Reading List
Publisher: Oranjepan
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Berkshire blog ranking: 5th (July 2009)
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Type: Community hub
Focus: General, local and current affairs
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Sample posting: Mixed Reception For Rebranded Radio Station (March 26th, 2009)
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Style: (1.5 out of 2pts)
Largely impersonal compare and contrast. Tries to be impartial and objective. Some humour.
Specialisms: (1.5 out of 2pts)
Particularly interested in personal and party political views. Several regular and irregular features.
Regularity: (2 out of 2pts)
Mostly daily.
Multi-media: (1 out of 2pts)
Occasional photos and video.
Interactivity: (1.5 out of 2pts)
Large number of links, active in comments section.
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Total rating: (7.5 out of 10pts)
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Quote this: "An excellent digest of the thoughts of local bloggers" (from Reading Guide)
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See here for some reader reviews.
So just to start off with I'll review my own blog to show readers how I'll be doing it.
If you want to add your review of this blog or suggest another local site for review, please do so in the comments section.
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Title: Reading List
Publisher: Oranjepan
-
Berkshire blog ranking: 5th (July 2009)
-
Type: Community hub
Focus: General, local and current affairs
-
Sample posting: Mixed Reception For Rebranded Radio Station (March 26th, 2009)
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Style: (1.5 out of 2pts)
Largely impersonal compare and contrast. Tries to be impartial and objective. Some humour.
Specialisms: (1.5 out of 2pts)
Particularly interested in personal and party political views. Several regular and irregular features.
Regularity: (2 out of 2pts)
Mostly daily.
Multi-media: (1 out of 2pts)
Occasional photos and video.
Interactivity: (1.5 out of 2pts)
Large number of links, active in comments section.
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Total rating: (7.5 out of 10pts)
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Quote this: "An excellent digest of the thoughts of local bloggers" (from Reading Guide)
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See here for some reader reviews.
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