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The Observer newspaper in the UK will launch a blog this coming Sunday. Journalist, writer and ...

... cigar aficionado Ben Hammersley reports:

Sparklines! Folksonomies! Tagging! XHTML Compliant! Accessible! Contemporania! It's not officially live until next Sunday, and is slightly broken and unfinished in places, but seeing as it's you, you can have a look at my latest baby, The Observer Blog.

It's the official blog of The Observer - basically, for you Stateside types, the Sunday paper from the people who also bring you The Guardian. Rafael Behr has been appointed the official blogger-at-large, and has a free rein to post as he pleases. In the US, newspapers have ombudsmen and reader's editors. At The Observer, we've got a readers' editor, and a blogger with no restrictions, a new powerbook, and a mission to cause trouble. This is new.

For my part, I built the thing.

"A mission to cause trouble" - big expectations!

The Guardian is still the only UK national newspaper with any kind of blog. A long way to go to match what leading newspapers in France are doing with blogs. Or the depth of reader engagement by some US newspapers.

Just a matter of time, I'd say.

Neville Hobson is the author of the popular NevilleHobson.com blog which focuses on business communication and technology. Neville is currentlly the VP of New Marketing at Crayon. Visit Neville Hobson's blog: NevilleHobson.com.