NDM Baseline assessment - learner response

"Developments in 'New/Digital' Media mean that audiences can now have access to a greater variety of views and values. To what extent are audiences empowered by these developments?" 

WWW:

• The best thing about this essay is the strong critical autonomy running through it - real passion and opinion on current media issues.

EBI:

• What you are lacking is clear focus on the question...you don't relate enough to the points back in the idea of audience empowerment (or dis-empowerment) 
• Using the film industry here was a good idea but Ill Manors worked far better for this question that 'A field in England'.
• I'd really like you to develop the idea of an illusion of empowerment while institutions continue to hold the real power... you hinted at this focus on Apple... more of this please. 

LR: 

• Go back to a couple of your paragraphs and type them up with this feedback, re-writing to focus more on the question. 

Feedback Response: 

Personal EBIs:

• When using an institution as an example, specify relevant info (founders, what it is etc.) 
• Audience groups associated with institutions
• Apply theories 
• Answer the question "audiences empowered".

New and Digital media has arguably revolutionised our social climate as it allows audiences to take charge and access a broader scale of information, whilst virally publicising their own thoughts too. However, does this mean that audiences embody a sense of empowerment as they are able to take on these roles? Or, is 'New and Digital' media a more savvy way for government bodies and conglomerates to keep tabs on what audiences are consuming and publicising. 

Apple Inc. is an American multinational technology company which has dominated the commercial sales during the rise of 'New and Digital' media. The brand is specifically aimed at the mainstreamer psychographic and A-C demographic of 15-45 year olds. The companies strategic method of "releasing a new apple every fall (autumn)", leads audiences awaiting for the new technological device that will "change their life". For instance, in 2010, 'Siri' - a personal assistant created by Apple as part of each device - tablet or iPhone to help the consumer with basic information. This is a perfect example of dis-empowerment amongst audiences as they are relying on a technological device to complete all research fast and quick at the click on a button. In addition to this, the development is almost highlighting how lazy audiences are as they are dependent on a technological assistant to inform and insight their needs. 

New and Digital Media Stories: Week 3

Article from BBC News

I came across this news story through watching BBC's 6:00 o'clock news and it outlined the change in teaching strategy through incorporation of smart phones and tablets being used in lesson times. Sources say that this has been more effective in students finding out information, quicker and more resourcefully. However, other schools, due to already having a strict 'no phone' policy, are against this and think that the traditional means of dictionaries and textbooks, are better. 

Facts/Quotes from the article: 

• First the head of Ofsted, Michael Wilshaw, said they should be banned from lessons.
• "With a smartphone we can cross-reference the textbooks - we can look at the Syrian crisis at the moment, the different population flows that are changing throughout Europe. We can't do that with a textbook."
• "Today phones offer so much: data capture - children measuring light or sound levels to improve classrooms; and communications with slow-mo video for sports training and walking geometric shapes on to a playing field."

In my opinion, I think that by schools utilising 'New and Digital' media technologies in classrooms, can improve learning and their content of information. However, I think that this could lead to students becoming excessively dependent on technology and not aware of how to find out information the "old fashioned way", which I personally, think is more effective. 

Article from 'The Guardian' 

The article outlines that 'Twitter' have created a 'poll' section as a feature to it's website. This accessible on both the mobile and desktop form that allows audiences to form a poll with additional users. Twitter has addressed that it is simply an experiment and may not continue. Specifically, the poll is said to have a lifespan of 24-hours and fellow tweeters will be informed of how long is left to participate in the poll.

Facts included:

• This isn't the first time 'Twitter' experimented with polls. In 2014, users were given the chance to vote on Oscars favourites via a poll provided by Poptip, but that function was only available on the mobile app.
• So far the reaction has been mainly positive and the poll has proved to show brand engagement and follower interaction with many people.
• The complaints about polls so far focus on the lack of third-party integration and the rather more pressing concern that in timelines and embedded tweets, polls only show up as a text question without the interactive element. 

In my opinion, I think it is interesting to see 'Twitter' embracing the chance for individuals to virally express thoughts and ideologies on the internet, whilst interacting with others and finding their opinions out. However, I do believe that people will abuse this power and consequently create insensitive and harmful content as an outcome. 

New and Digital Media Stories: Week 2

Article from The Telegraph

The article addresses the fact that the BBC will be launching a new streaming service, on-line, in America as part of an plan to raise money from commercial sources abroad. The BBC's main aim is to increase revenues. In addition to this, the article evaluates the previous faults with the new and digital platform of a global iPlayer, which proved to be difficult in making money. 

Statistics and Fact included:

• The BBC intend to increase revenues by more than 15pc to £1.2bn by 2020. 
• Lord Hall has said cost cuts of 20pc will be required over the next five years. 
• ITV, which has been buildin up its own production business, ITV Studios, has threatened to sue over the BBC's plans.

In my opinion, I think it's an interesting move for the BBC to take as it will allow them to broaden their horizons in regards to revenues and actually ensuring that their is credit, in terms of money, to those who have worked hard and deserve it, instead of allowing people to watch fantastic, professional content, for free and illegally. 

Article from The Telegraph

The article looks closely at highlighting the power of brands such as 'Apple' and 'Netflix' and how they are taking over Television as a whole. 

Quotes included: 

David Zaslav, one of America's best-paid chief executive last year, said 

"Broadcasters and producers should resist pressure to serve up  programming peicemeal to benegit the technology giants"

"But the thing we've got to remember is every one of these things, and I don't mean to be pejorative, it's just a device" 

"Where's Netflix without our great content? How many iPhones would buy if all of our stuff wasn't on there?"

He further argues that the tendency for streaming services want to strip away channel branding to offer programmes individually as part of vast libraries is bad because ultimately "6,000 choices equals 0".  

In my opinion, I too, second the thoughts of Zaslav in regards to the conglomerates not even existing if it wasn't for the hard work in which producers ultimately create. Additionally, the I think it is noteworthy to point out, that audiences are often presented with too much choice, which can in fact, not being enough in itself and actually become a negative. 

Article from The Guardian

The article informs audiences about the recent discovery within some of the app's provided by 'Apple', that lead to peoples information and data being hacked and logged. Specific details include the fact that the app's were masked with malicious coding, which made the apps appear convincing to the developers. Researchers said that infected apps included Tencent Holdings' popular mobile chat app, WeChat, Car-hailing app Didi Kuaidi and a music app from internet portal NetEase. 

Facts and Quotes included:

• Some apps named by the two firms share a name with popular apps used outside China, but appear to be deliberately mis-titled versions of the apps intended to cash in on mistaken downloads.
• Chinese security firm Qihoo360 Technology said on its blog that it had uncovered 344 apps tainted with XcodeGhost.
• “We’ve removed the apps from the app store that we know have been created with this counterfeit software,” Apple spokeswoman, Christine Monaghan.

In my opinion, I think it is interesting to finally have some additional negativity associated with the brand 'Apple' - the fact that images were leaked previously, in relation to iCloud and now the dangerous, 'hacking' applications that feature on the app store. This leads me to question the actual validity associated with the brand, specifically, the fact that they were unwilling to share further information as to what applications had the malicious coding. 

NDM: Institution and the impact of Google on the newspaper industry

What is New and Digital Media?

• The internet - MSN, Email, Social Networking sites, Websites
• Gaming - Wii, Playstation, X-box
• New Media Technologies - Smart Phones, Sky+, Netflix, iPads

How has the News been impacted by New and Digital Media?

Originally, news was received through word of mouth. 

17th Century to early 20th Century - Newspapers.

1920's radio news, joined by TV in 1930's. 

Now: 

How the 'News' is impacted by New and Digital Media

News Institutions

UK Newspapers ranked by Readership, 2013 statistics

This evidence shows that the most consumed Newspaper, on both print and emedia platforms, is 'The Sun' with a combined total of 13, 476. Followed by the 'Daily Mail', with a 11, 970. Interestingly, the consumption of 'The Guardian' and 'The Daily Mail', across the emedia platform, is greater than 'The Sun's, possible due to those audience groups being more e-literate and interested in the content. 
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BBC News

The British Broadcasting Corporation is the public-service broadcaster of the United Kingdom and was founded on October 18th, 1922. BBC News is a subsidiarity and was founded a month later. The News provider has utilised the e-media platform through their website and validated Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts.  

• The website provides opportunities to watch and listen live, as well as catching up missed news stories.
•  Specifically, the news provider clearly reaches out to a cross section of the public through the different coverages comprising the second horizontal tool bar -  Education, Entertainment and Arts to Health and Politics. 
• Audiences are able to add User Generated content through commenting and responding to news. 

• BBC news is accessible on both new and traditional media, maintaining the younger and maturer generation - on mobiles and televisions.
• BBC news is an application on Apple for iPads and iPhones.
• However, this news provider is not provided in the print format.

• The BBC additionally provide BBC4 which is a constant talk station, discussing issues in the news that effect the UK and global concerns.

The Sun

The Sun is a British daily tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and Ireland in 1954. It is the most popular newspaper with an outstanding 7,772,000 readers. The newspaper has recently joined multi-platforms, including a website and application for smart phones. 

• The Sun's application allows audiences to access news coverages in both pictures and video. 
• The Sun has a whopping 225,000 digital subscribers.
• The Sun's dominant audience group would C-D demographic between the 25-55 age gap, yet this may broaden towards the younger groups through the uprising of the application for smart phones.

The Daily Mail

The Daily Mail is a middle market tabloid newspaper which was founded in 1806 and is the second most read newspaper in the UK. The content is also accessible on the application, which is hugely popular, alongside the website and Twitter feed.

• The Daily Mail's twitter account constantly releases stories and articles which are posted on the website, allowing audiences to access their interest's quicker.
• Audiences are too, presented with exclusive pictures which they may not be presented with in the Newspaper articles.
• The twitter application allows audiences to 'tweet' back in response to the different articles - interactivity to engage and maintain audiences.

The Guardian

The Guardian is a British national daily newspaper, founded in 1821 and is sisters to the 'Observer'. The Guardian in print had an average daily circulation of 189,000 copies, just behind the Daily Telegraph and The Times, but ahead of The Independent. However, it's online edition is the fifth most wifely read in the world (October 2014), with over 42.9 million readers. The Guardian additionally has an application, twitter site and website. 

• The Guardian's website provides the accurate headlines specific to ones area, in regards to the weather. 
• There is the opportunity for people to subscribe and become a member, allowing them to comment on articles and have instantaneous updates. 

Sky

Sky UK Limited, formerly knows as British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB), is a telecommunications company serving for the UK. Sky provides television and broadband internet sevices and fixed line telephone services to consumers and businesses.  It is the UK's largest pay-TV broadcaster with 11 million customers as of 2015. Sky offers channels ranging from films, documentary and news. 

• The website specifically allows audiences to 'Watch Live', alongside, select the genre of information they wish to consumer - 'politics' or 'entertainment'. 

• As well as providing the application and website for audiences to gather news, Sky also have a 24 hour news programme, covering all relevant global information. 

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The impact of Google

1) Why has Google led to the decline of the newspaper industry?

'Google' has arguably led to the decline of the newspaper industry as it's informative nature, "just a click of a button", allows users to research a wide cross section of topics. Thereby, detracting from their need to look in newspapers and read up about events, which is more time consuming. 

2) Do you personally think Google is to blame for newspapers closing and journalists losing their jobs? Why?

I think that ultimately each platform of media has it's time to shine and inform audiences, beginning with cinemas, to newspapers and then the internet stumbled along after. And arguably, it is now the internet's time to take the lead and inform audiences as newspapers once did. 'Google' is simply a tool to convey news and inform a huge amount of people in a speedy and accurate way. The brand has gathered and built a sense of validity associated with the internet service, over the years and therefore, rightly deserves to embrace the status of a new informative source. In particular, as the 21st century generation is becoming more savvy in relation to new technologies, this e-media platform is well suited to this day and age. To answer the question, I believe that 'time' is solely to blame for newspapers closing and journalists losing their jobs, as with time, comes change and the change in this current time, is new and digital media. 

3) Read the comments below the article. Pick one comment you agree with and one you disagree with and justify your opinions in detail.

I agreed with all of the statements left on the article post, but I particularly agreed with this one. When you think of the 'internet', it has been nourished into our heads that 'Google' is the place to be. This may not be the most accurate statement to make, however, when the internet came into place, the development of 'Google' did too, therefore one would immediately associate the two with being one. In relation to the comment left by 'Jane', you can't single out 'Google', as it's not 'Google's' fault that they developed as a company during the time in which the internet began to evolve. The founders deserve credit as there innovative idea to evolve in the time that the internet was, was wise and therefore, helped the conglomerate become so noteworthy. 

New and Digital Media Stories: Week 1

Article from The Guardian

The article summaries the 'growing buzz of social media' and how, over the years, it has become a constant activity amongst individuals in society. The e-media platform allows one to communicate in many different ways: socialising, informing and battling. The article forces an audience to address the "culture-like" atmosphere that unifies 'social media' and the desperation amongst individuals to conform and be a part of this fictional world. 

Statistics and Fact included: 

• More than half of Britons regularly use it, and across the world more than 50 social media platforms have an excess of 1 million users.
• Facebook is on course to have a larger digital flock than the population of another country. (Article: Zuckerberg - one in seven people on the planet used Facebook on Monday)

In my opinion, I find it worrying that individuals are becoming more consumed with adding input towards a man-made online society, rather than contributing to the natural earth around us. I am certain that this is ultimately 'dumbing' our new generation down and forcing them to become lazy - relying on 'Google' for every single answer. Arguably, this 'new birth' called Social media, does in fact acts as a great tool in conveying global news - fast and quick. However, individuals need to be more aware of false sense of freedom that social networking sites display, as every e-footprint is being closely watched.

Article from The Independent

The article establishes the release of a new application which is ideal for vulnerable young adults who find themselves walking home alone. The app 'Companion' was created with the intentions to make people feel safer in finding a route home and arriving to there destination. The creators included a group of young people from the US who attended the University of Michigan and had undertaken science internships.

Facts and Statistics included: 

• The app has been successful - since launching last month, one of the app’s creators, Lexie Ernst, told USA Today College the response has been phenomenal and said: “We’ve had over 500,000 sign-ups in the last week.”

In my opinion, I think the concept of the app is a brilliant way to ensure the youth feel more safe. However, the 'location services' which track the journey of the individual is partially unsettling as it links towards the 'Big Brother' ideology that the government intend to watch and survey everything that we are doing. 

 

Article from The Guardian

The article looks closely at the almost damaging effects that social media has on teenagers due to late night scrolling through their 'dashboard's and news feeds'. This 'scrolling' consists of being presented teens being presented with images, facts and ideas, that consequently leave them feeling anxious, insecure and depressed. Interestingly, this isn't just within the younger ages (12-16 year olds), as it goes right up to those in University, consequently jeopardising their sleep and mental health. 

Statistics and Facts included: 

• Dr Heather Cleland Woods said her study had found that children as young as 11 were on Facebook and Twitter and using them considerably.
• Preliminary analysis of the research showed overall social media use, and specifically night-time use, was related to poorer sleep quality, lower self-esteem and higher levels of anxiety and depression.

In my opinion, I think that there should be limits as to what specific age groups should access on the net to help reduce upset or depression. Additionally, there should almost be some sort of lock off time in which people are allowed to consume social media in a day. Specifically, more positive concepts should be outlined on these websites so young teenagers don't feel pressure to conform and live in an idealised way. I feel that this would better the new generation who have been brought up, only knowing what life is like with social 

'Somebody's Watching You'

Media Magazine - April 2015

Through the article 'Somebody's Watching You' the media's intention to create Moral Panic, Cohen, to convey the importance of a story evident through the immediate warning about webcam safety. This is reiterated through the new story in Philadelphia 2010, regarding the discovery of schools using the webcams on the laptops to watch the pupils. This immediately creates a sense of validity to the upcoming article whilst influencing an audience group toward being cautious when consuming media and technology. Following this, the article establishes the ways individuals have several 'spaces' - personal i.e. bedrooms and online i.e. social media, where they are able to present the way in which they want to be seen. This relates to the ideology of 'Life Spheres' which entail family, friends, school, work and are describes as the ways in which we live our lives. Psychologist Erving Griffin suggests that humans are all actors and act depending on the situation and environment they are placed in. Thereby, we act in a particular way to suit to place where we are i.e. school students abide by the rules set by their teachers. Furthermore, in terms of Government Surveillance, the article outlines the possibilities regarding how safe your internet use with who is able to monitor your findings and searches.  This is defended by Government agencies explaining that surveillance is a way to ensure that possible terrorists are monitored and stopped before any detrimental acts take place. To finalise, in my opinion, the tracking of ones activities on-line thus maintains the hierarchy in regards to power ensuring that a status quo is sustained.