By Samantha Karol
Marketing Assistant, CPX Interactive
This week, TIME Magazine released it’s second annual ranking of the world’s top blogs. The list includes a wide variety of sites, large and small, personal and company run, serious and funny, old and new. As admin of CPX blogs (including this one), and a personal blogger in my own right, I wanted to see what a blogger has to do to receive such an honor as Top 25. I learned that multimedia is key. In this interactive age, photos and videos are a must. Each of these blogs is unique, and each has a clear message and purpose behind it. Some of them have some pretty witty tag lines, too. So, whether you blog for yourself or your company, or don’t blog at all, these 25 are worth a look. Read on to find out more about “the best of the blogosphere.”
Talking Points Memo
“They’ve got muck. We’ve got rakes.”
- Created in November 2000 (during the Florida recount) by Josh Marshall
- Political blog with a combination of news-like stories and more typical blog entries, like in the section TPMMuckraker (see tag line above). Site also features videos and book reviews.
The Huffington Post
“The Internet Newspaper”
- Co-founded by Arianna Huffington in 2005.
- The site has an overall political focus, but blog topics range from politics and media to living and style. Simply creating an account on the site allows visitors the opportunity to contribute their own thoughts to the blog.
Lifehacker
“Tips & Downloads For Getting Things Done”
- Launched in January 2005 by Founding Editor Gina Trapani
- True to its tag line, this site features all sorts of tips and downloads in categories like, stuff we like, privacy, clever uses, and annoyances. Posts can be filtered by your computer’s operating system.
Metafilter
“MeFi”
- Founded by Matt Haughey in 1999
- This weblog allows anyone to contribute a link or a comment, and as a result, is a collection of random facts and accompanying related links that users found interesting.
The Daily Dish
“Of No Party Or Clique”
- Authored by Andrew Sullivan
- In this blog, Sullivan shares his opinions on topics ranging from the role of government to gay marriage. After many years in “traditional journalism,” Sullivan transitioned to the blogosphere and has been “dishing daily” since 2007.
Freakonomics
“The Hidden Side of Everything”
- Started in 2005 by economics professor Steven Levitt and journalist Stephen Dubner
- This NYTimes hosted blog is an extension of the famous book co-authored by Levitt and Dubner, and their theory that economics can be applied to everything.
Boing Boing
“A directory of wonderful things”
- Evolved from its print edition to a weblog in 2000.
- Six regular bloggers post information, photos, videos and links perfect for those who always want to learn more. Readers can submit items for editorial consideration if they feel like something is missing.
Got2BeGreen
“Dedicated to covering green news, technology, eco-friendly ideas and products devoted to modern green living.”
- Founded in 2007
- The site includes all of the above, in addition to lists of events, shopping, and a “green pages” of sorts with listings for “green” businesses of all kinds.
Zen Habits
“Simple Productivity”
- Authored by Leo Babuta, a writer who currently resides in Guam (seriously)
- Babuta shares tips on how to set and achieve goals through good habits. He draws inspiration from the things he has done in his own life like quitting smoking, running a marathon, eating healthy and doubling his income.
- By Paul Krugman, Op-Ed columnist for the New York Times and professor of economics at Princeton
- Part of the New York Times blog section, Krugman provides insight into the current state of our economic system. The blog is an extension of his twice weekly column in the Times.
- Launched by John Amato in September 2004
- A political blog that directs attacks on both sides of the aisle, Amato was one of the first to use video in his blog and is still rich in multimedia content.
- Written from Cuba by native Yoani Sánchez
- Sanchez provides readers a look into the current unrest in Cuba through his words and pictures, and addresses the relevant issues from his own viewpoint.
Mashable
“All That’s New on the Web”
- Founded in July 2005
- Mashable is a blog about social networking. Not only does the site relay news from popular Web 2.0 sites, but users can also share tips with each other on the best way to use these sites.
- Part of AOL Living, this blog includes recipes, tips, videos and photos for food lovers. Post topics include what to make for certain holidays or how to cook for someone with dietary restrictions.
Official Google Blog
“Insights from Googlers into our products, technology and the Google culture”
- Authored by “Googlers”
- Helpful tips on how to get the most out of Google searches and other Google applications, straight from the source.
- Written by engineer and marketer, Shafeen Charania
- The author shares his opinions and ideas on a variety of topics like company size, the economy, and the role of the government.
- Created by James Lileks, columnist for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune
- Lileks goes back and forth between more ordinary posts on his daily routine, and the interesting adventures he experiences while adding to his many random collections, which include matchbooks and comic book covers.
/Film
“Blogging the Reel World”
- Launched in 2005
- An alternative movie news and review blog, which includes more offbeat items like satirical cartoons and a graphic called “The Trilogy Meter.”
- By Seth Godin, business writer
- Drawing on the knowledge and information used to author a number of books, Godin blogs about various aspects of marketing including selling ideas, creativity, and the effect of new technology on society.
Deadspin
“Sports News without Access, Favor, or Discretion”
- Started in 2005
- True to the tag line, this site features sports news with a focus on off the field issues, especially the controversial and scandalous.
- Created by Heather Armstrong in 2001
- Armstrong, formerly a web designer, now a stay at home mom, chronicles the events in her life, big and small. In her eighth year as a blogger, she is clearly a blogging veteran.
The Pioneer Woman
“Plowing through life in the country…one calf nut at a time.”
- By Ree Drummond
- This blog details Drummond’s transition from city life in LA to her new life on a cattle ranch in the Midwest. The site also includes things like recipes, photos and gardening tips.
Said the Gramophone
“An Mp3 blog”
- Launched in 2003
- Just as the subtitle says, this is an Mp3 blog created by three Canadian writers and music lovers. Each entry features particular songs of note with commentary and links to the song’s Mp3.
Detention Slip
“Your daily cheat sheet for education news!”
- Founded in 2005
- In their mission statement, the admins of this site explain that they want to point out the problems in the school system in order to encourage solutions. Topics include students who have been suspended for chewing gum, arrested for texting in class, and found errors in state tests.
- By Phil Plait, astronomer
- Part of the Discover Magazine blog network, Plait, who worked on the Hubble Space Telescope, posts his disapproval of the misuses of science, but also commends extraordinary scientific achievements.
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