Upon reflection..

When I set out to start this blog, I had no prior experience or knowledge to go on. It was completely new to me. However, I have to admit it, researching topics and posting my thoughts has been an enjoyable process. Until I embarked on my first blog, my only experience in social commentary had been through the online platform Facebook. But now that I have had a taste of this type of civilian broadcasting, I dare say I will establish my own new blog to publish my thoughts and opinions.

Blogging has brought its challenges. Initially I found setting up the blog to how I wanted it somewhat difficult. When it comes to publishing I approach tasks with an open mind but am quite obsessive about getting everything just as I want it and I found this platform somewhat limited in choice. I also encountered some difficulties in preparing posts in Microsoft Word and then copying them into the blogging program. Fonts, text size and images were not easy to keep uniform and my post “New forms of news publishing” could not be edited to match up with my other posts, no matter what I seemed to do..

Despite these challenges, I have thoroughly enjoyed this task and am developing my writing for broadcast skills along the way. I will continue to blog-on in the future.

Image Source: Blogspot.com

Matthew Johns to return to the media

It seems in recent times our sport stars can do nothing wrong without it becoming public knowledge. In the past couple of years we have witnessed some Australia’s most beloved sporting personalities under the spotlight for public discrepancies. Brendan Fevola, Brett Stewart, Wayne Carey and Ben Cousins are just some names that have been sprawled across the back pages of our daily tabloids for all the wrong reasons. But when these individuals do stuff up, are we too harsh? Or are we too quick to forgive?

An article by Lanai Vasek for The Australian on 6 November details the announcement of a comeback to television for disgraced former NRL champion and TV personality Matthew Johns. Earlier this year Johns found himself in hot water when it was reported he had been involved in an incident in New Zealand involving a woman and several other teammates. Johns consequently lost his contract with Channel Nine and had to endure public humiliation as a result.

Whether you agreed with the morals of his actions or not, Johns certainly paid a hefty price. There’s no arguing that his and the actions of many other sports stars are stupid, despicable even. However, when an ordinary citizen messes up in the same fashion, nobody other than those close to him or her hear a word. So should these personalities be given second chances in the media after paying a heavier price than anyone else would? Or should their place in the public eye be enough to act as a constant reminder that they should be on their best behaviour at all times? Other issues come into it as well such as these people are targeted and provoked into behaving badly. And it could be discussed at great length whether the pressures of living a very public lifestyle is simply too much for some to handle. Whatever the case it is certain that a comeback to television such as Johns’ will prompt much discussion. I guess at the end of the day, TV ratings will answer some of these questions for us.

Article Source: Matthew Johns to return in television venture with John Singleton

Image Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Different blogging communities

Blogs have well and truly infiltrated the .com world over the past decade. They are everywhere and it seems anybody and everybody is claiming to be a journalist in some way. However, people blog for different reasons and a quick search on the internet through a search engine like "blogsearch" reveals thousands upon thousands of different blogging communities.

Many people like to blog their feelings, opinions or simply what’s on their mind. Others are very passionate about certain topics and wish to add social commentary about these topics. There is no right or wrong, at the end of the day, it’s up to the author to publish what they wish. However, those who do share a specific passion or interest generally prefer to communicate within a community of people who share that similar interest.

One such example of this is a blog site called themovieblog.com. This blogging site invites people to join and share their passion for films. It is through this forum that people from all over the world can indulge their passion for new and existing movies.

So whatever your personal interest may be, it is almost certain that there is a blogging world out there for you. So jump online and have a look!

Sources: www.blogsearch.google.com.au

www.themovieblog.com

Image Source: 2.bp.blogspot.com

Document design- print V internet

Document planning and design is of paramount importance when intended for distribution. A document must be attractive, and be logical in style and structure. It must be clear, concise and easy to follow. At first, this may seem a relatively simple concept, however it can be much more complicated than one might expect.

Documents are designed to communicate information to a specific audience. Parker (1990) declares when planning a document for publication, ‘if you’re unclear about the purpose and undecided about the sequence and relative importance of the information you want to communicate, you’re in dangerous waters’. It must be absolutely clear what you wish to communicate and how to place information throughout the document based on salience.

When planning a document’s layout for print, how it will appear once published must be considered. Colour schemes, fonts, graphics and images are extremely important and are only the tip of the iceberg of what needs to be measured. Colours be especially influential on the overall appearance of a document should it be printed on a black and white printer. When a document is being designed for publication on the internet, many more factors come into play. When a person views an online document, it must be acknowledged that there are countless distractions that can interfere with the communication and interpretation of a website’s content. Poorly designed websites can appear overwhelming and it’s all too easy to lose an audience when better options are only a click away.

A webpage needs to be well organised and attractive to the viewer’s eye. It needs to attract a viewer’s attention and maintain it throughout the navigation process. Parker (1990) advises to ‘always design for the worst possible circumstances. By doing this, not only will your design survive the harshest reading circumstances, but will be even more successful in normal circumstances’. Parker (1990) also notes that reading information off a computer screen involves projected light and creates more foreground/background contrast than reading off of a page, which uses reflected light. For this reason, when designing for online, text font and colour should be selected with this in mind.

There are endless factors which should be considered when designing documents and as is evident, what applies to one format may not to another. What is for certain is that the intended audience should always be considered throughout the designing and planning process. If this is kept as a key thought, and with trial and error, there is greater chance of producing an attractive and effective document.

Reference: Parker, R C, 1990, 'Looking good in print', 5th edn, Paraglyph Press, Scottsdale AZ

Image Source: New York Times

Digital content sharing

The distribution and sharing of digital content is a problem that has troubled the music industry for some time now. People all around the world have been “sharing” music files across the internet for a number of years now, much to the frustration of musicians and producers who feel they are being robbed of their rightful earnings.

Nowadays it seems, the same sting is being felt by news publishers as they struggle to profit from material they broadcast onto the internet. As Michael Body wrote in an article for The Australian “If you're in a business that's involved in intellectual property, you're going to be affected by this. The Rupert Murdochs of this world know the value of it”. However, It seems at this point that is would be impossible to put a stop to people sharing files.

The challenge lies in determining effective ways in which to monetise the sharing of digital content. When the music industry’s won its legal battle over file sharing network Napster, compensation was awarded but this didn’t stop the activity and other similar networks began to surface anyway. So will media more outlets begin to charge for the viewing of their content? Or will this affect the business they have built to date based on advertising revenue?

There are countless factors that need to be considered on this matter. What is for sure is that now the internet has been so warmly welcomed by society, the once “free information for all” world-wide-web, can no longer be considered “free”.

Reference: Roadkill on digital highway: how music is fighting back

Image Source: Mighty Gadget

New forms of news publishing

Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to a truly historical event. In the blue corner we have the humble newspaper. Weighing in with centuries of experience, what this contender may lack in speed and interactivity, more than makes up for in tradition, credibility and sentimentality. As welcome as the family pet around most breakfast tables each morning, many rely on their daily dose of ink as much as the caffeine in their coffee to kick start their day and offer topics for water cooler conversation. However, blue corner’s trainers made up of Sulzberger, Walter, Dow, Jones and Murdoch know they have a worthy contender on their hands. For in the red corner, loosening up with a cheeky, confident smirk is a much younger and versatile opponent. The internet.

It has been widely reported in recent times that circulation numbers for newspapers are in rapid decline. This is evident across most established countries around the world. According to a recent report from Nichols and McChesney in The Nation that major newspapers: The Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Minneapolis Star Tribune and Philadelphia Inquirer are “officially in bankruptcy”. This is testament to the crisis this industry is currently facing. While external factors such as the global financial crisis haven’t helped the situation, it is the advancement of technology that is turning many away from the printed forms of news media, to online news services.

Each day, more of us are changing our habits and beginning to view our news online, and why not? It is cheaper, more convenient, and allows us to choose decide a story’s importance based on its significance to us. Also, online news publications incorporate every kind of media technology. This includes print, audio, imagery, video, and audience interaction. Most other forms of news publication are limited to only one or a selection of these methods.

Traditional media institutions have had to adapt to the online revolution and accept it as a way of life. Most, to all major news outlets now devote considerable attention to an online format. The beauty of an electronic document is that it allows for the updating and editing of stories as new information comes to hand. There is also the ability to store archived stories within the website for continual access over time. Despite the never-ending list of advantages that online news offers, the biggest problem facing this new concept lies in revenue. News outlets have struggled to come up with effective business models by which to run online versions of the news and reap the financial rewards it deserves. This dilemma prompted the announcement earlier this year by News Corporation CEO Rupert Murdoch that plans to charge for subscriptions to the company’s websites may be implemented. Whether the public and other news outlets accept this model will be interesting to see.

So as we return out attention to the boxing ring for this historical clash of media heavyweights, the clear physical advantage of the internet cannot be denied. As the rounds go by Mr Tabloid nee Broadsheet continues to take a pummeling at the hands of his younger, stronger more vibrant opponent. Internet, sporting the traditionally victorious red trunks has the strong backing of generations ‘X, Y and Z’ and with the likes of Mr Murdoch now looming somewhere in between both corners, victory seems inevitable. Are we indeed witnessing the end of the humble newspaper? Sadly, we probably are. However, I certainly hope not. So go out and grab a copy now! By doing so, we may see the paper round continue for a little longer yet.

References:
Nichols, J & McChesney, R 2009, The death and life of great American newspapers, The Nation, viewed 24 May 2009

Image Source: Chicago Now

Media and justice

The screening of television programs depicting real life events isn’t a new thing for Australians. Actual occurrences in our society have been used as the basis for TV series’, telemovies and films for many years. It seems nothing makes for a sure hit than the putting into film, an actual event that has moved us in some way.

Examples that spring to mind include the movie “Pearl Harbour” and more recently the highly decorated television series “Underbelly”. The fact that the events that occurred in these productions were real, undoubtedly contributed to their success. While this would seem fine in most cases, the ethical lines can become blurred when events depicted in these films or television programs are still before the courts.

An article by Michael Pelly in The Australian explains that a telemovie about the murder of Sydney model Caroline Byrne is likely to go ahead despite an “imminent” appeal from her convicted killer. The screening of “Underbelly” presented a similar scenario in which certain people depicted in the series were also still awaiting court ruling for alleged crimes.

Many would argue that these individuals don’t deserve to receive fair treatment because it appeared their guilt was beyond reasonable doubt. However, our judicial system identifies individuals as innocent until proven guilty. The power of media to sway public opinion is well known and like it or not, a well-produced movie or television series may influence even your own.

Appeals processes can be nauseatingly long processes and in this particular situation could delay the release of a telemovie for a period of time. However, the judicial process has to be regarded as of greater importance than the release date for a telemovie. Please don’t misconstrue my view as being at all sympathetic for those who commit these heinous crimes. My point is if hypothetically, an individual were depicted on screen as having committed the crimes he or she is alleged to have done so, when in fact he or she was actually innocent, it would be extremely unfair on this person and may affect their chances of receiving a fair trial. It is important an individual’s legal rights are upheld ahead of any commercial interests.

Newspaper Article: Caroline Byrne show to go ahead

Image Source: The University of South Australia

Blogging- the new phenomenon shaping our news

Web logs or “blogs” for short have exploded in popularity since the turn of the millennium. They have provided anyone with internet access and basic computer skills to broadcast their thoughts, feelings and experiences for the world to see. Blogs give the opportunity for us to interact with people all around the globe who share similar interests or whose posts strike a reaction in us in some way.

A relatively new concept that has spawned from the emergence of this new phenomenon is “citizen” or “grassroots” journalism. This concept uses blogging to publish announcements or descriptions about things occurring around us in real-time. These days “breaking news” can often be found on someone’s blog far sooner than that of major news outlets. Sullivan (2002) claims “Blogging is changing the media world and could, I think, foment a revolution in how journalism functions in our culture' ...[it might represent] a publishing revolution more profound than anything since the printing press”.

The style in which blogs present news is different to that of traditional media. While major news services broadcast information to an audience via one-way communication, blogs are designed to attract and encourage social comment. Gillmor (2004) states “Grassroots journalists are dismantling Big Media's monopoly on the news, transforming it from a lecture to a conversation”. Bloggers invite the audience to be a part of stories through expression of opinion and commentary. Traditional news services have realised the growing popularity in this style and have begun to invite viewer comment at the base of stories in their online formats.

Citizen journalism through Blogging provides an alternative version of news than that of mainstream media. However this can be a double-edged sword. Information published through blogging may be more accurate as it may come from an eye-witness first-hand, or it may be biased or inaccurate due to the author not bearing the responsibility to his or her audience a professional journalist does. What is for sure is that the use of blogging for citizen journalism is an attractive concept, as many believe society has become susceptible to manipulation as a result of the stranglehold large media companies have on the industry. And while I believe there will always be a need for professional media, everyday citizens will continue to have more input to our news.

References:

Gillmor, D 2004, "We the media: grassroots journalism by the people, for the people", O'Reilly Media, Sebastopol, California, viewed 29 October 2009

Sullivan, A 2002, "The blogging revolution", Wired.com, viewed 29 October 2009

Departing Australian Press Council chairman hit's out at publishers

The Australian public has always enjoyed a love/hate relationship with the media. While a vast majority of us consume some degree of mainstream news, it seems ironic that so many of us are quick to criticise the publications we welcome into our daily routine.

The Media Entertainment Arts Alliance Code of Ethics states journalists should “report and interpret honestly, striving for accuracy, fairness and disclosure of all essential facts”. I believe most professional journalists who have survived in the industry for any real length of time genuinely attempt to adhere to this code. However, through their endeavours to break stories as quickly as possible, inaccuracies do inevitably find their way into the news. Regrettably, these inaccuracies sometimes form the core of a story, wasting the time and money of news outlets and leaving the public feeling betrayed.

According to The Australian, retiring Australian Press Council head Ken McKinnon expressed his concerns over current ethical standards in his farewell chairman’s report. McKinnon delivered a bitter parting shot at publishers for failing to ensure “accuracy, fairness and balance” and calls for a review of the accountability of editors.

In his final report, Professor McKinnon identifies three recent examples where incorrect or unchecked information has been used for a news story. The first being the “Utegate” scandal "which led to a barrage of media attacks from both broadsheets and tabloids on the Prime Minister on the basis of a single unchecked, forged email". The second example is the fiasco surrounding Pauline Hanson and those supposed photos of her posing semi-nude in her younger years, and the third concerning the questionable media frenzy over NSW minister John Della Bosca’s fidelity. Professor McKinnon refers to the news value in this story, questioning whether there was real public interest in an otherwise personal matter.

So do news outlets deliberately place commercial benefit ahead of substance and accuracy? Or is it that the global media industry has become so competitive that it is simply too difficult and time-consuming to check up on information before publishing a story? Journalism ethics is an important issue for both publisher and consumer. Journalists and editors alike need to take responsibility for the words and images they publish because at the end of the day, credibility and reputation are paramount for the survival of any hard-news publication.

Article: Parting shot as press chief quits

Image Source: Australian Press Council

Welcome to Edward's Media Blog

Thank you for visiting my very first weblog.

Over the coming weeks I will be taking a look at current media issues. Through analysis, I will be providing summaries, reviews, and personal comments and opinions on issues relating to print, online and broadcast media matters. Content for analysis will be sourced from such publications as The Australian's Media section, ABC Radio National's Media Report, and The Guardian's online supplement.

Feel free to comment on any of the issues published in my posts.