Communications is a nebulous and often frustrating field for newcomers. The task of communication is more difficult than many first understand. Since business depends on the ability to communicate with customers, investors, the press, bosses, and employees, the opportunities for specialists in communications are many. This article lists thirty of the foremost blogs in the communications industry, six in each of five categories consisting of Public Relations, Journalism, Market Research, News, and General Communications. Each blog provides the reader with unique insight into its particular field, and these blogs will be helpful not only in aiding prospective communications professionals find their focus, but also in providing tips, techniques, and strategies that will be helpful to making a strong start in your field of choice.
Public Relations
1. Spin Sucks is a public relations and marketing professional development resource. The blog seeks to eliminate destructive spin from the field. The hope is to rehabilitate the reputation of Public Relations and focus industry professionals on positive and constructive techniques.
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2. PR in Your Pajamas is a light hearted look at Public Relations from an industry veteran. Elena Verlee is dedicated to imparting to her readers the knowledge gained during her 2+ decades in the industry.
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3. PR Blog is a public relations strategy blog focused on helping readers leverage new technologies to their fullest potential in the PR industry. The blog covers everything from effectively using social media, to the best ways of effectively dividing tasks and responsibilities.
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4. PR-Squared is the blog of an internationally celebrated Social Media and Public Relations innovator. Todd Defren digs into numbers and research to determine the optimal ways to maximize social networking and other high impact technologies.
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5. The Flack analyzes emerging trends among multiple industries such as Politics, Journalism, Entertainment, Technology, and Social Media. The blog examines the actions of the titans in these industries and seeks to understand the implications of the strategies and methods they employ, while also evaluating the effectiveness of those strategies and methods based on the intent.
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Journalism
7. Journerdism is the blog of self described nerd Will Sullivan. The blog features content on how journalism is affected by emerging technologies, and also features analysis and commentary on tech news.
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8. Megan Taylor is a freelance web developer and journalist. Her blog features commentary and analysis on the technological aspects of journalism. From tutorials to help budding freelances understand web design principles, to describing how to fully utilize technologies such as twitter as an independent freelance journalist, there’s something for every journalist here.
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9. BuzzMachine is the blog of Jeff Jarvis, journalism professor and author. Buzz Machine features analysis and commentary on current events in journalism and a critical view of the field as a whole.
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10. Common Sense Journalism is all about reminding journalists of the basics. The blogger’s point of view is that journalism is a great profession, and easier than many make it out to be, as long as journalists use common sense in their reporting.
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11. Digidave is a blog with a strong point of view; “journalism is a process, not a product” is the tagline of the blog. The blog offers an entrepreneurial perspective on journalism, as Dave Cohn who has written for many publications, is also an entrepreneur.
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12. Jon Slattery is a freelance UK journalist. His blog features commentary on journalism and major issues taking place in the United Kingdom.
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Market Research
13. Pew Research Center provides research, commentary and analysis invaluable to those in the Market Research field. The center’s research and analysis efforts are extensive and cover a wide range of subjects.
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14. iMedia Connection is a marketing blog devoted to strengthening the online marketing community. The site features news, analysis and commentary on various trends and innovations in the marketing industry, including market research.
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15. Next Gen Market Research is about transcending Market Research by leveraging the full potential of the information gathering associated with the field. The blogger is Tom H. C. Anderson, the founder of Anderson Analytics and well known Market Research innovator.
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16. Blog | Gilbane.com is run by Frank Gilbane, known widely in the marketing community for his seminars and conferences. His blog deals with many aspects of marketing, but the gathering and interpreting of information is a central theme running through his blog.
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17. MarketingExperiments Blog is devoted to innovation in marketing. The blog’s writers conduct and report on experimental, innovative techniques throughout the field, including market research techniques.
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18. w5 Insight examines emerging trends in marketing and market research with the goal of helping readers sift through the marketing morass to find the strategies that actually work, and the information they need.
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News Blogs
19. The Huffington Post is one of the most successful news blogs on the internet. The pieces are almost always opinion pieces, and the site stands as a great example of the market for opinion based news blogging on the internet.
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20. NPR’s The Two Way brings the level headed NPR tone to the internet. Don’t look here for sensationalized opinion pieces on controversial subjects designed to generate traffic. Instead this blog demonstrates that there is still a place on the internet for the classic journalist’s approach.
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21. The Raw Story offers both real opinion journalism along with coverage of the best of news satire. The blog strays from the “fair and balanced” approach in favor of the belief that there is room for a strong progressive point of view in opinion journalism. Highlight: Installment Loans Trap Low Income Borrowers with 182% Interest Rates
22. National Geographic’s News Watch focuses on publishing news regarding science, nature, and cultural news instead of current events and politics.
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23. Reuters | Analysis and Opinion Blogs features contributing bloggers from the top echelon of a wide variety of professions and perspectives. The opinion and analysis pieces take a measured look at the most important news of the day.
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24. Blogs at the New York Daily News is an example of the major players in print journalism recognizing the legitimacy and importance of the online market. Bloggers on major news sites often consist of major figures in print and television journalism, but many bloggers that gain a wide following on the internet through their personal efforts are also brought in to the fold.
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Communications Blogs
25. The Communication Blog focuses on interpersonal communication. The blog focuses primarily on public speaking and interview communication techniques designed to help readers become effective public speakers.
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26. SuzeMuse blogger Susan Murphy takes a hard look at social media tactics, examining what works, what doesn’t, and why some actions end up being wildly succesful for some, an not others. The internet is a place of incredible potential, but just because something works wonderfully once, doesn’t mean it ever will again.
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27. Strategic Communications strives to provide insight on communications strategies to non-profit, education, and healthcare organizations. Many such organizations live and die by their ability to communicate with stakeholders and employees, yet lack an understanding of how to do so effectively from their position as non-profit organizations.
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28. Presentation Zen is all about creating and executing high impact presentations. From utilizing technology effectively, to knowing when and how to engage the audience on a personal level, Presentation Zen examines the art of effective presentation from all angles.
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29. The EAT Blog is all about communicating effectively with your customers. The EAT (Evolve and Transcend) Blog is an extension of Evolve and Transcend’s website where they expound upon strategies for authentic communication through the creation of personable, quality user experiences.
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30. Joyful Public Speaking (from fear to joy) is a blog devoted to helping readers overcome the all too common fear of public speaking.
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Related Resources:
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