Blog Plan

Revolution Readers, our chosen web log name and identity encompasses all our deep interest in reading novels, magazines, newspapers and all that we feel is relevant to our lives as young journalism students grappling to balance social, academic and global issues. As revolutionary readers we aim to create a blog on issues and subjects that affect the young, 21st century man or woman aware of popular and changing trends, their country’s historical background and the power of media. The media itself and its portrayal of peoples, subjects and issues will be our main thread of the topic-based blog. Delving into at least three media texts and at the same time being aware of one’s surroundings is what we aim to do. Much of the youth’s perception is contributed by the media, therefore giving no room to the individual’s very own opinionated and self-constructed perception of what ahs been portrayed. Many popular blogs are centred around the entertainment, ‘techno-gadgets’ and fashion genres, focusing on a materialistic world, which is not a reality for many. Our second thread of focus for our topic-centred blog is on the intelligent young journalism student tackling aspects that directly affect them through knowledge gained from fiction and non-fiction novels, newspapers and magazines.

Our blog is aimed at Journalism and Media Studies students, although we also wish to appeal to an older and/or more mature audience that wants to keep attuned to modern society and the views of young journalists. We realize that our audience does not only appeal to Journalism students at Rhodes but other interested students studying elsewhere. Our blog aims to attract an open-minded and critical audience with people sharing intelligent opinions. Because our blog has an eclectic, modern and somewhat sociable feel to it, we believe that it will not be a difficult task to attract such an audience. Our blog aims to critically engage the target audience.
Journalism students would like to be involved in subject matter that applies to them – we are interested in the implications that certain genres of literature have for us as students. Exposing our audience to more than just mainstream media will make them think carefully about themselves as journalists. Being in contact with only mainstream media is limiting – we would like our audience to gain knowledge of other literature forms, such as classics, and most importantly, African/South African literature. Because this blog is centred on Steve Biko’s “I read what I like”, South African literature is most applicable. Providing this exposure to other media forms will broaden the horizons of our audience members.

We would like our blog to relate to our audience in terms of being a peer, more specifically a well educated peer, sharing controversial ideas and opinions. We would like a sense of being on the same level even though we do not intend on being too personal because this may somewhat restrict our audiences in terms of members having conflicting opinions.
It is essential that our blog be host to an audience of diverse students in order to introduce a range of differing views.

There are many different blog genres that we could base ourselves on, however, there is one genre of blog that we were absolutely sure that we would model our blog on, and that is the Issue based blog. We have modelled our blog around the theme “I read what I like,” exposing the issue of the psychological and social effects of accepting certain forms of modern media at face value. Through this issue, we shall expand upon forms of media that we have read as well as the themes or issues that are held within that certain story.

There are a few blogs that we have taken inspiration from, but there are two in particular that we take inspiration with regards to the style of writing. One website is Hayibo.com, a South African political satire website. The sarcastic, metaphoric and humorous tone of the site is perfect for some of the points we wish to make with regards to the hypocrisies of society. However, where Hayibo keeps a constant sarcastic, metaphoric and humorous tone, we plan to only use such styles intermittently as opposed to throughout out blog. The other website that is a great influence on our writing and our content is Social Hallucinations.Com. The name itself relates very much to the topics that we are going to write about. This blog is a great influence because it attempts to expose the illusions created by society. The blogger addresses many issues throughout the world, but also within the media.

The character of our blog will be funky and modern, with an eclectic mix of different kinds of literature and influences that reflect both the different personalities writing for the blog and the mix of media and written works that we are exposed to in our lifestyles. We want to combine classics with contemporary literature and media to see how the two may complement each other. The writing style used will be relaxed and easy to read so that students like us can relate to it and won’t be scared off by inflated or overly academic language. At the same time it is very important to us to post entries that are not flippant or dull but provide concise ideas that are intelligent and may spark debate. Our aim is to be direct and to the point, giving strong opinions that are well thought-out. We want to make our readers think. With regards to appearance, our blog will have a youthful, dynamic presentation. Using Andy Warhol’s silkscreen-like effects as inspiration for the design, we intend to create a blog that is visually striking and colourful with bold and fluorescent colours. The Revolution Readers’ blog will aim to cover as many genres of literature as possible and remain open to new, radical ideas and perceptions. Our goal is to reform and change the tired, used ways of viewing the world as it is shaped by the media and look for fresh and critical ways of analysing what we read and how it affects us.

We hope that you enjoy our blog. =)

With Love,

Jen, Dan, Sush and Mina