Este artículo también está disponible en español [1].
Metroblogs are blogs specifically focused on covering activities that take place within a city. In these times, these kind of blogs have sprung up in many places around the world, spreading initiatives and activities that are not frequently covered in other, more consolidated, media. And Argentina is not outside this trend. For this entry, we'll review four metroblogs: Buenos Aires Lado B [2], Rosagasario [3], De Corrientes [4], and Salta Cultural [5].
Buenos Aires Lado B [6] is a blog that's been maintained for several months by Irina Sternik, and basically focuses on the cultural activities of Buenos Aires. Irina says: “mass media cover a small spectrum, and so does alternative media. I was interested in the idea of creating an agenda that used the resources that blogs offer: videos, images, audio, links and the exchange of comments among users”. And about her blog agenda: “I prioritize those spectacles that stand out as original, taking place in the city, and that don't get much coverage on a particular site. I emphasize movies and independent music tours; things that aren't common, that remind us of Argentinean historical personalities, urban strides, recitals, and mainly free events that are part of a festival or tour”.
Rosagario [7] is a collective blog that is the result of a corporate initiative. “The idea came up as a proposal of BOS Multimedios (bosmm.com), which under the name of Tintanova intentds to generate a number of personal and group weblogs about different subjects. For the moment, its metroblogs are Rosagasario and De Corrientes [8], and it has a clear goal of expanding within the Argentinean territory”, says Alejandro Sena. “To put the group together, several bloggers from the city of Rosario interested in collaborating were contacted. They were 3 at first, and now there are 5 people”.
In the case of Salta Cultural [9], it's a blog about cultural activities that take place in the province of Salta, with n special emphasis on theater, music, and movies. The blog started in january 2006, and it updates very often. Unfortunately, no one in Salta Cultural answered the questionnaire sent out.
Now, well, what's the use of a metroblog? Why are they important? According to Irina Sternik, these sites “recycle information that is going around other sites and put it together in one new spot. It's risky to guess if this site will get more diffusion or visits than other sites, but it's a re-reading of what's going on in one only space”. According to Alejando Sena, these blogs “bring a different view to the one that newspapers and other traditional media offer. Something more neighbor-to-neighbor-like, at the same place. A metroblog allows us to criticize and share opinions about everything”.