Reflection

While exploring the issues that are present in publications and design, it appeared to me that there are more than what the society notices. Some may perceive a photo manipulation as a common habit of a photojournalist, but they do not realize that this photojournalist may have breached a certain code or privacy. The society would only come to realize these issues individually when they are faced with such problems. “ It stands to reason that new media designers might have something to learn from the study of language, that it might pay to approach new media with the long-established and tried and proven concepts and methods of linguistics” quote from Martinec & van Leeuwen (2009). The media have to constantly face and accept challenges that arise in the publishing and designing industry as both this fields are closely related to the emerging of technology.

References

1. Martinec, R & van Leeuwen, T 2009, The Language of New Media Design: Theory and Practice, Routledge, London.

Is the iPad taking over?

According to this article, Rupert Murdoch, CEO of NewsCorp had launched the iPad-only newspaper which is similar like a daily newspaper but just updated constantly. Viewers can access videos and Twitter feeds to be updated on the latest developments. One of NewsCorp subsidiary, The London Times, began charging $4 per week which led to the declining print media. Though many are using the online media, there are still a certain amount of people who prefer physical newspaper or reading articles on a desktop.

Though the media is advancing, I believe there would still be certain people who would remain the making of newspapers. The modes present in an iPad would be more intense and original as compared to reading newspapers. Taken for example, the difference when reading the sports results on a newspaper and reading it online using an iPad. Both ways have their advantages and disadvantages.

Quote from New Media Trend Watch (2011), “Tablets are taking our entertainment experience in a new direction, and in the next two to five years, the tablet could serve as your universal remote control”. Similarly, the iPad and other tablets are not only changing the media but also the entertainment industry. All sorts of games and music are provided literally right at the tip of one’s fingers.

Quote Kress & van Leeuwen (1996), “The place of visual communication in a given society can only be understood in the context of, on the one hand, the range of forms or modes of public communication available in that society and, on the other hand, their uses and valuations”. While browsing through a newspaper on the iPad, one can access more, having more physicality compared to reading from a normal newspaper. There are additional modes provided in using an iPad to read a newspaper as it helps enhance not only the article but provide maximum satisfaction for the reader. There is accessibility and convenience in reading with an iPad.

References:

1. Kress, G & van Leeuwen, T 1996, Reading Images: The Grammar of Visual Design, Routledge, London.

2. New Media Trend Watch, 2011, Mobile Devices, European Travel Commission, viewed 12^th November 2011, < http://www.newmediatrendwatch.com/world-overview/98-mobile-devices?start=1>.

Are online videos outgrowing other forms of news reporting?

D S Simon has stated that the growth of using online video for news coverage has been burgeoning rapidly. The D S Simon Web Influencers Survey showed that 33 percent more of media outlets is using online videos to cover news. Besides that, more media of are making their websites into an advertising space with the usage of online videos especially pre and post video advertisements. As readers have shorter attention span, it is crucial for the media field to keep up with what do the audiences prefer and what suits their lifestyle today.

I believe online videos are gradually yet rapidly growing because of the constant battling between the evolving of men and technology. In this case, the media have a lot to cater to especially within the comfort and needs of their readers. Using online videos expand the communication skills between sender and receiver as it includes more expression, tone of voice and presence. Besides that, readers can also have unlimited and instant access towards many different types of online videos.

As said by Dyer (2011), the Pew Internet & American Life Project showed that two-thirds of adults on the internet say they use social networking sites and baby boomers aged 50-64 say they visit social sites daily.

According to Putnis & Petelin (1999), there are some professionals who view their responsibility just to present facts but end up speaking to themselves. “It is important for speakers to create common understanding and mentally put themselves into the audience’s shoes” quote Putnis & Petelin (1999). The media’s audience is the world and web genres and mushrooming unexpectedly. The web and screen genres are the most comfortable and preferred media among the current society.

In order for the media to cater to them, they would have to use social networking sites or other convenient platforms what is in the reach of their audiences. The expectations of the viewers are not low as well as they prefer something where they can access easily. For instance, advertising in some of the top social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn would be more productive than just advertising in a Facebook (EBizMBA, 2011).

References

1. Dyer, P 2011, Social Media Sites Are Now Used by 65% of Adults Online, Pamorama, viewed 12th November 2011, < http://www.pamorama.net/2011/09/04/half-of-us-adults-use-social-media-infographic/>.

2. EBizMBA, 2011, Top 15 Most Popular Social Networking Sites, The eBusiness Knowledgebase, viewed 12th November 2011, .

3. Putnis, P & Petelin, R 1999, Professional Communication Principles and Application, 2nd edn. Prentice Hall, Sydney.

Hacking phones and hacking privacy.

News of the World (NOTW) tabloid hacking into phones scandal was revealed by New York Times following a trail towards Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire. Both worked for the paper and had access to anyone’s voice mails using a four-digit PIN number. Rupert Murdoch, CEO of News Corporation which also owns NOTW and the Sun has shut down NOTW after 168 years. Advertisers were pulling out and NOTW’s circulation dropped rapidly. The invading of privacy with this latest scandal has brought most to a standstill.

There is a fine line between obtaining sufficient information and invasion of privacy. Yet these two are very subjective depending on the knowledge of a person. In this case, I would believe that invading the privacy of people to obtain information results the information to be immoral and untruthful. How far would one go in terms of pursuing more information to achieve higher circulations and higher readership?

Ruben’s swollen face; an eleven year old boy who survived the air crash that occurred in Libya was plastered all over newspaper after the incident had happen. One of the newspapers, De Telegraaf, published a telephone interview which they claim he was on the phone by accident (Tol, 2010). This is similar as phone-hacking as both went overboard in trying to pursue information, invading the privacy of people. Quote Couldry (2006), “The liberal values that underlie any democratic society, those of not harming and respecting others, are kept outside the realm of journalism”. Taking for example racism, if journalism would rule out racism to not harm and respect others, what about the invasion of privacy.

According to Putnis & Petelin (1999), one of the STC Guidelines for Technical Communicators is to “respect the confidentiality of their clients and employers”. In circumstances, witnesses and victims can be deemed as a journalists’ client as they provide information and fulfill the requirement of their daily job. Journalist should uphold that to respect their privacy and not to feed on information that would jeopardize either one’s privacy or confidentiality.

References:

1. Couldry, N 2006, Listening Beyond the Echoes: Media, Ethics and Agency in an Uncertain World, Paradigm Publishers, Boulder.

2. Putnis, P & Petelin, R 1999, Professional Communication: Principles and Application,2^nd edn, Prentice Hall, Sydney.

3. Tol, M.V 2010, Disasters and the Media: How far is too far?, Radio Netherlands Worldwide, viewed 12^th November 2011, < http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/disasters-and-media-how-far-too-far>.