"While few would describe any of the blogs as 'freewheeling,' there is a stronger culture of risk-taking in blogs than in more traditional venues for publishing scholarship."

"Several of the faculty members use the blogs as a teaching tool, and students often contribute substantive analytical posts. Students learn from the feedback they get not just from their classmates and professor, but from outside readers as well. While the arguments in blogs may start out less formed than those in a journal article or op-ed, the ensuing discussion can help sharpen salient points, advance conversation and open up alternative points of view."

From "Harvard Law Faculty Use Blogs To Expand Their Influence: 'The Audience And Impact Per Word Are Large Compared To Traditional Academic Work'" — in the Harvard Law Bulletin (Winter 2019). It's funny reading that now, because it sounds like all the talk about blogs we heard 15 years ago. I hope blogs are coming back! And I say that as a lawprof (emerita) whose blog has always been freewheeling.