Hayton, K. “New Expressions of the Self: Autobiographical Opportunities on the Internet.”  Journal of Media Practice Jun2009, Vol. 10 Issue 2&3, p199-213 15p

Kavita Hayton’s article explores the expression of personal blogging through the genre of autobiography.  Her focus on media versus print technology highlights a critique of cultural status of the genre of personal blogging, and she works her thesis into a means of deciding whether or not this means of publishing is authentic or real.  The main question she seems to allude to has to do with whether or not professional writers prefer print to digital publishing – and she leans toward the idea that print still wins.  However, Hayton has an agenda to press for new consideration for the significance of writing in the online community, and she does so by offering some insight into the future of “blooks” and e-publishing having published online herself.

As an article that addresses personal blogs as autobiography and narrative, it lends a key connection to the notions of classifying travel blogging as fitting this category.  The attitudes illustrated here suggest that there may still be issues classifying travel blogs as their own genre, however, as personal experience blogs instead of journey fiction, this may offer insight into their popularity.  Hayton’s ideas regarding new media and its effects on audience raises key questions as to the effects and implications o