I don’t agree with the premise behind the Observer magazine cover story: that ‘blogging has never been bigger’. Replace ‘bigger’ with ‘better’ and I’d have no problem with the argument.
Take my media this morning as an example. I’ve fallen into a Sunday routine of reviewing my class blogs (scroll to end for the links). Yes I receive RSS updates, but the working week’s often too hectic for me to keep up. So just as the Sunday papers are a more leisurely and less news-driven read than the dailies, so do I like blogging (or reading blogs) on a Sunday.
Most of the class are now into their stride, though there still may be some confidence and cultural issues (blogs are discouraged in some of the countries they come from). This week students have noted international women’s day (one has observed the feminisation of the PR field); they have noted the results of the Russian presidential election and the brilliant virals produced by Obama’s supporters in the US; they have continued to discuss propaganda, democracy, lobbying, celebrity role models and some new media topics (eg the rise and rise of Google).
Here’s what I notice: that the froth and immediacy has moved elsewhere (Twitter, Facebook status updates) leaving blogging as a considered personal publishing space. Note how many in the Observer list of ‘the world’s 50 most powerful blogs’ are in effect media businesses (ie newspapers).
PR Studies 
Excellent observation Richard. Thanks.
Ooohhh…I’ve been working my way towards a somewhat similar post; right now the working title is “Weighing in on the value of connectivity and communications.” This means your observations are very timely! (Really like your succinct post title, too!)
Blogging can be a very liberating experience. Invite people to your world is as rewarding as going to their world and exchange experiences. I was chatting with a friend in communication this week and he can’t figure out why people are preffering blogs to forums generally speaking. There has been some sort of transmigration from one to the other, I do not know the answer to that. What I know is that we have not yet seen all that can be achived and done through blogs…