Why read a blog?

Some reasons are that:

- a blog can allow you access to information that might otherwise not get published e.g. A young Iraqi known as 'River Bend' wrote about her experiences in Baghdad during the Iraq war (her writing has now been published as a book in the UK):

http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/

- a blog can connect you to other people interested in the same things as you. There are many focused and random blogs out there. Blog communities are a common feature (you can make links with other bloggers)

- blogs are available in many languages:

http://mixi.jp/ is used by Japanese students and Blogger has around 50 different language options.

- they provide up to date and historical views both from bloggers and commentators.

- they allow for correction by the blogger and commentators.

BUT beware of the credibility issue...like web sites...you do not know who has written it and where the information is sourced from.