I’m developing a post about “The Year of the Blog,” a series of significant events in 2004 that changed the blogosphere or at least people’s perception of it.
I’m asking for reader input on this topic. What significant event(s) of importance occurred in the blogosphere in 2004? Rathergate and the presidential election rank at the top. What impact did these and other events have on the blogosphere? What impact did bloggers have on them?
On a personal note, the year 2004 was significant for me. When I started blogging in November 2003, I had no idea it would have a noticable impact (at least to me) on my freelance writing career. My writing has received much more exposure from blogging than it has from writing the occasional newspaper op-ed. My column used to run twice a month on a few conservative sites. Now I write at least a column a day, albeit an unpolished one. Blogging has disciplined me to write practically every day, something I never did before.
Blogging is such an “open” medium, and it has exposed me to new markets and opportunities. Because of this blog and my devotion to it, I’ve been approached by a book agent, editors, an institute for Christian journalists and a director of a public policy institute (for speaking engagements), radio talk show hosts, columnists I respect and admire and many people who read and like my work. That’s why 2004 is significant to me. I can’t wait to see what 2005 will bring for myself and the rest of the blogosphere.
(On a side note, I’m also developing a piece about mainstream media’s distaste for the blogosphere. Power Line, the subject of a juvenile column written by a liberal, continues to respond. Scott “The Big Trunk” Johnson contacted the editor of the newspaper for some accountability. See this link for more info. Also, Evangelical Outpost discusses.)
Your input on “The Year of the Blog” post will greatly assist me. And spread the word about this post.
Thank you for reading my blog. You are very much appreciated. 
DC Bloggers, I’ll see you tonight!
(Carnival of the Vanities is up at The Radical Centrist. Very well-done, too.)
Update: Although the headline for this Washington Post (reg. req.) article reads “Internet Sparks Outpouring of Instant Donations,” it should read “Blogosphere Sparks Outpouring of Instant Donations.
It’s the truth. All the big (and mostly conservatives) bloggers have multiple posts on how and where to donate, sending traffic to Amazon.com and other sites, including at least one that crashed. See Kevin McCullough’s post.
Update II: Ugh! I politicized the disaster relief efforts in the previous update. Bad blogger. 
Update III (12/31): Yesterday Hugh Hewitt was kind enough to mention this post on his blog. But he inadvertently linked to a different blog. All day yesterday (and until he changes the link), hundreds (thousands?) of hits were racked up on another blogger’s site meter.
After a year of blogging and being nominated, I was finally selected by the Watcher’s Council. 
They liked the academic freedom/hate mail/David Horowitz post.
