Title: Publicity and private life within the Greek blogosphere

Authors: George Pleios, Stamatis Poulakidakos, Kornilia Kalpaki, Grigoris Kappas, Maria-Eleni Manatou, Maria-Eleni Papacharalampous

Addresses: Laboratory for Social Research in the Mass Media, Department of Communication and Media Studies, University of Athens, Stadiou 5 str. 105 62, Athens, Greece. ' Media Department of the University of Athens, 43-45 Mantzagriotaki str., p.c. 176 72, Kallithea, Athens, Greece. ' Department of Media, University of Athens, 6, Kyprou str., p.c. 14671, Nea Eryhtrea, Athens, Greece. ' Department of Media, University of Athens, Lefkis 12 str., Nea Ionia, Athens, Greece. ' Department of Media, London School of Economics, Grosvenor House, 141-143 Drury Lane, WC2B 5TB London, UK. ' Department of Media, University of Athens, 3, Stefa str., p.c. 151 26, Maroussi, Athens, Greece

Abstract: Through content and discourse analysis we explore whether the private life of persons, is being commented upon in the Greek blogosphere, concerning their social status, their political identity and the aspect of their private life that is being commented upon. Important theoretical and practical issues concerning the blogosphere are being addressed; do anonymity/pseudonimity within the blogosphere favour the negative commenting of individuals, especially or the protagonists in the public sphere? What are the indices of such negative commenting discourse? Which kinds of blogs are more likely to favour negative commenting? Do their authors provide evidence or other documentation?

Keywords: blogs; blogosphere; political communication; weblog content; new media discourse; new media content; private life; anonymity; negative blog comments; journalism; television culture; weblogs; TV culture; Greece.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEG.2010.032730

International Journal of Electronic Governance, 2010 Vol.3 No.1, pp.48 - 71

Received: 10 Mar 2009
Accepted: 15 May 2009
Published online: 18 Apr 2010 *

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