The Sydney Morning Herald Sports Bloghttp: www.blogs.smh.com.au/sport/
reviewed on 11/09/08.
The Blog is functional and easy to use with large visual aids such as team logos and appropriate photos that let the viewer know quickly the topic. Such as the Logo of soccer Australia regarding the up coming match against uzbekistahn.
The performer of the week section may be a tool for creating loyalty to the blog. There is regularity to this segment and the simple focused question of 'this is who we picked, what do you think?' is simple to use and may draw viewer into other articles blog posts on their potentially regular visit. Another regular feature seems to be the A League segment where each round is reviewed with a broad question. This appears to be quite popular judging by the comments posted. Possibly an effect of the regularity of posts.
The blog seems to only have links to Herald articles and thus is limited. Video footage or audio grabs may have enriched the post possibly leading to a longer read time, greater viewer interest and comments leading to increased time spent on the blog.
The posts appear to have news sense with very current issues addressed.
Daves Football Blog http://www.davesfootballblog.com/
Reviewed on 11/09/08
This blog is based on the premise that "It's always football season somewhere." This is a quick and effective introduction that lets the viewer know what the blog is about.
The posts then confirm the premise of the blog with a large variety of footbal stories from American football to soccer and even gaelic football.
The news sense is relevant with current news within each code, as well as upcoming or recently played games being covered. Specific issues that may effect players being covered such as the post dealing with depression adds a depth to the blog.
This then extends to a formula where there is a commentry of the issue with a columnist style, providing an opinion that leads into a question. Viewer comments can then flow naturally from this point.
The layout is easy to follow with large pictures, relevant and varied links to online news reports video footage and audio grabs.
The Homeless World Cup Blogs http://www.homelessworldcup.org/
Reviewed 11/09/08
This Blog is attached to a promotional website for what is essentially a charity organisation or event. Due to this topics covered and content may have suffered. The blog relies on a mixture of fans that post news on the team that they support. One blog is simply the announcement of the players selected for the French team. This has no commentry attached nor any questions posed to the viewer that may engage them. No comments are posted by viewers, possibly a symptom of the blogs inability to engage.
The placement of the blogs link is prominent on the top left side of the website yet there is little with regard to visual additions that may draw in a viewer. This extends to the blog posts themselves there are no links to relevant articles, photos, videos or audio grabs.
Interesting event with many stories, profiles and general human interest topics generated yet the blog does not take advantage of this.
