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Iain Dale is Britain 's leading political blogger. His blogsite at is the most visited blog in the country.
We asked him to write an article for our website about political blogging:
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USEFUL LINKS |
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To start your own blog go to: Ìý Ìý Ìý
Iain Dale's Top Ten Political Blogs
1 Guido Fawkes
2ÌýConservative 91Èȱ¬
3ÌýIain Dale
4 LibDem Voice
5ÌýKerron Cross
6ÌýPolitical Betting
7 Burning our Money
8ÌýNiles 's Blog
9ÌýNHS Blog Doctor
10 Paul Linford
The 91Èȱ¬ is not responsible for the content of external websites
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The rise of political blogging this year has fascinated the mainstream media. First bloggers were dismissed as people who had nothing better to do than sit in their bedrooms wearing their pyjamas and tapping away at their keyboards. Journalists tried to deride bloggers as people who were somehow unbalanced. The reality is, of course, that bloggers threaten the very existence of some journalists and columnists.
Since the beginning of the year bloggers have been instrumental in exposing political scandale, wrongdoing and misdemeanours. Several blogs have actually played a key role in setting the agenda. In the USA a Democratic Senator was deselected as a result of a blog campaign. Bloggers are on the march.
Over the last few weeks I've tried to sort the wheat from the chaff and rank the best (and worst) 400 political blogs in Britain . The best bloggers are those who write something every day. They're not seeking to be 'ersatz-journalists', they're trying to give a different take on events and build a loyal band of readers by inserting their own personalities into what they write. Although political bloggers come from very different political perspectives a real sense of community has built up between them. I'm writing this from the LibDem Conference where, despite the fact I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Tory, I will be attending the LibDem blogger of the year awards. I tend to read more LibDem and Labour blogs than Tory ones, probably because I want to know my political enemy.
Right of centre websites and blogs are a hive of activity -some if it destructive but mostly it is constructive and even innovative. They're reaching a whole new class of political activist and involving people in political discussion who previously were fenced outside the rather elitist world of think tanks and policy wonks. But as the right is on the ascendant on the internet, the left seems a little stagnant.
It's easy to attribute this entirely to the fact that it's easier to be shrill and vocal in opposition than in government. Simply put, it's easier to blog against, than blog for. But the almost total absence of Blairites from the world of blogging cannot entirely be put down to this. I suspect that blogs are actively discouraged by the New Labour Control machine, but then I would say that, wouldn't I?
But that's the great thing about blogging - it is totally transparent. If you read my blogm you know I am writing it from a certain perspective, and you form your own judgements based on that on what I write. This is alien to the mainstream media who like to make out they are totally impartial, when they know - and we know - that total impartiality is an impossible dream, especially in the world of political journalism and commentary.
I have published my Guide to UK Political Blogging. The book includes rankings of the Top 400 blogs, I guess I have to plead guilty to having become a blogger geek. Oh well, better put the pyjamas back on...Ìý
Iain Dale's Top Ten Tips for a Successful Blog
1. Write something every day
2. Don't write an essay. Be short and snappy
3. Interact with your readers who make comments
4. Don't try to copy another blog. Make yours unique to you
5. Choose a blog name that is easy to remember and not too long
6. Don't pander to what you think people want to hear
7. Be controversial, but not for the sake of it
8. Don't be afraid to offend or be offended
9. Link to your favourite blogs and ask them to link to you
10. Sign up to a Stat Counter which can track how many hits you getÌý
Radio 4 is carrying a series about bloggers too: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/meet_the_bloggers.shtml
 Back to Reports 91Èȱ¬page
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