As mentioned, a key to blogging’s success is its accessibility. When compared to previous methods of publishing, the accessibility is accentuated even more. Writing a blog has been compared to “vanity publishing”, where a writer publishes their own work, eliminating the need for approval from an editor. Both blogging and vanity publishing have been criticized for lacking the quality and prestige of traditionally published work. The difference between blogging and vanity publishing is that vanity publishing still requires printing equipment; and self-distribution can be tedious. One may publish their own work to a blog with a simple mouse click. Anyone who might be searching within the subject written can find the material through searching, and readers who find the material interesting may share it on their own blog, so distribution is not an issue. Blogging eliminates the need for editors, printing presses, and distribution; however it is not a replacement for traditional academic publishing. Blogging is simply a tool used to expand the world of academic publishing. Blogging can’t replace academic publishing because “certainly there are bloggers who possess less commitment to truth” (Savage, 49) than others.
