Over at Opinio Juris, Duncan Hollis has an interesting post about the location of law blog readers, and in particular the size of the international audence for U.S. law blogs. He rightly notes that most U.S. blogs have largely U.S.-based readers, and adds this interesting question:
First, am I safe in assuming that a more diverse geographic readership is a desirable end? I guess the answer is easy for us here at Opinio Juris given our focus on international law and world affairs. But, what about law blogs more generally – can they (or should they) seek a more international audience? I’d be interested to know what others think on this front.
I don’t think that assumption is particularly safe. I think it depends entirely on the blog. Having an international flavor is very hip these days, I realize, but I guess I don’t see why a blog about the U.S. legal system would benefit from international readers more than domestic readers. Of course, more readers are nice, whether they are inside or outside the U.S. But in the case of this blog, at least, I care more about who my readers are than where they are. And given that my blog focuses on the “law, legal academy, and legal profession” in the United States, I’m not sure why I would prefer that my readers be outside the country.
Thanks to Howard for the link.
The point about caring more about who your readers are than where they are is well taken. Nevertheless, I would have thought that one of the major points of academia in general is the listening to voices you are unaccustomed to hear. A more diverse geographic readership serves this end nicely, I think.
[OK Comments: Bjorn, is your thought that readers abroad will benefit from reading the site? I can't disagree with that!]