France is a blogging nation — and I just learned today at Hubert Burda’s Digital Lifestyle Day DLD06
that blogs reach as big an audience as traditional media.
According to Loic Le Meur, executive vice president of Six Apart, 17 million or 73 percent of
French Internet users are familiar with blogs; 6.7 million read blogs; and
almost one out of 10 users already has created a blog of his/her own.
Blogging became immensely important during the recent riots in the suburbs of Paris.
“Bloggers get an audience and are listened to,” said Le Meur, whose
blogged video with the minister of culture on the riots got 100,000
downloads and 500 comments. However, he said, as a blogger you have to be
able to deal with negative reactions.
This ability to withstand criticism is
also essential to Gabe McIntyre (xolo.tv):
“Regarding citizen journalism: People will not like what you say. So you
have to be passionate about what you’re saying.” DLD06 is being held in
Munich today and tomorrow, and people from 21 nations are expected to attend. Some podcasting is on
the website.
