This course would definatley have been better if done during the normal university semester. Because of our "accelerated learning" we seemed to not have enough time to accuratley practice what we learned during the day. We all seemed flat out worring about our blogs and the essay.
But overall it was great. It was awsome to do something completley out of left field, only to be told that it was the furture in your degree.... so I better start getting to know the internet a tad better.
Thursday, December 7, 2006
Essay
Digital media put the tools of production into the hands of the everyday computer user making it incredibly easy to produce content. These creative skills used to be something that people worked to develop. Now it appears that amateurs can produce content of a fair standard within a relatively short period of time. Where does this leave 'professionals' and highly-skilled artists? Choose one area of creativity and discuss some of the challenges facing practitioner’s vs. amateurs in producing digital content.
A point of view can be a dangerous luxury when substituted for insight and understanding. Marshall McLuhan
Despite the mass media dominating journalistic style for the best part of the last century, its weakness, highlighted in a recent general recognition that current formats are obsolete, has been targeted in the last decade with advancements in personal web logging technology re-assembling the process in which material is obtainable. The Monopoly on audience and readers held by the moguls of the mass media had begun to decay steadily with a rapidly increasing number of internet connections being established to view news online or, as this essay will discuss, publish news online in the form of a personal web-log. Such an ability to be published instantly has seen a revolution in the way news is being produced and selected world wide and has also put into question the current role of the journalist in the future.
Whether it is participatory journalism, journalism from the edges or online freelancing, web logging refers to individuals retaining an active role in the process of gathering, exposing, categorizing, examining and publishing all forms of news and information. A gentleman’s ban once imposed to maintain the exclusively of the news media has now been lifted, allowing the many colors of the people to shine through.
The first question to ask is whether the rise of the web log will see the emergence of unethical amateur journalism. With the establishment of a style guide for all universities in Australia offering journalism as a course and the founding of such institutions as the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance catering for those currently working in the media industry, boundaries which enable journalists to practice credibly are in place. In recent years, however, such credibility has been bought into question, most notably in the mainstream media, with companies altering such styles to implement a bias or protect self interest by editorializing the most popular news mediums. Web loggers do not have such boundaries "but what you have in print publishing today is a consolidation that's inimical to the diversity that exists in everyday life. With the rise of the Internet, people don't need to be bounded by those traditional filters anymore." (Paul Andrews (2002) http://www.ojr.org). The ability for a web logger to publish any information is possible. Unlike paid journalists, documenting news approved through an editorial process, web loggers have the ability to publish information and commentate on issues previously un-approved for coverage by mass media corporations. The risk however lies in the ethical basis of such journals which, regardless of ethical guideline, are able to be posted.
In-part, the explanation for the explosion in blogging at specialist blogging websites like Myspace.com and Blogger.com can be found in the tools for self-publishing. Internet sites have become far easier and more automated giving people with basic knowledge of the computer realistic publishing capabilities. "When the first browsers were invented, you still had to know how to script, now you've got templates and applications and free server space so that all the nuts and bolts are taken care of for you and all you have to do is concentrate on the writing." It isn’t a question about whether web logs will see the demise of the journalist; it is a question about how web logs will change journalism: and it will change journalism forever. No longer will we see editors proofing articles to drop sensitive material, solely to please advertisers and supporters and no longer will media companies be able to thwart their opinions and power over the world through their traditional news mediums"I think the Web is actually becoming more credible while established media are losing ground," (Andrew Sullivan (2002) http://www.ojr.org). Journalists will be able to use news judgment in accordance to their ethical boundaries and publish material that they were previously unable to publish.
It is therefore inevitable that Web logs will be transplanted into the future of journalism. Instant publishing and accessibility in the form of the internet, a tool (despite the digital divide) all are being encouraged to use for everyday activities such as shopping and recreation, are beginning to overtake the morning paper as not only a news source, but a primary news source. However without boundaries and censorship is blogging really journalism? Or is it just a more-up-to-date way for people to participate in our representative democracy? Instead of writing to the editor who only has a limited amount of space, typically on one page of his newspaper, bloggers can voice their opinion via the internet. Such participatory Journalism hasn’t changed with the blog (Rebecca Blood (2006) http://www.rebeccablood.net/essays/weblogs_journalism.html). People were always able to write free-lance articles and practice the art of journal keeping, however the revolution in terms of the internet now allows the piece to be published regardless of bias. Journalists previously restricted through the mainstream media are possibly the ultimate bloggers, capable of accurately and professionally recording news and opinions whilst maintaining an ethical connection through their training basis.
In this guise, web logs should not be thought of as a separate entity but as a valuable part of the evolution of the mainstream media landscape (Jason Gallo (2006) http://blog.lib.umn.edu/blogosphere/weblog_journalism.html). It is unrealistic to expect a complete, precise portrayal of a story or a subject at any one web log, as resources are not equal to such a feat. Therefore one should not expect web logs to replace mainstream media in its entirety, instead, in this growing online community, web loggers continue to be critical and extend on the stories published in mainstream media. These communities are also the basis for participatory journalism, grassroots reporting, annotative reporting, commentary and fact-checking, which the mainstream media feed upon, developing them as a pool of tips, sources and story ideas (http://www.jdlasica.com/articles/nieman.html).
At a glance, the journalist, rather than losing out when web logs become even more prominent in the next few years, will profit immensely from the online publishing revolution. Rather than seeing the journalist fade away into the hard copy archives along with their many famous past works, journalists will become an integral part of online life. Gone are the days of media companies carving a path through news and opinion, leaving gaps along the way: journalists can now choose stories they believe are most important publish them as objectively as they wish and maintain a reader base to support such action without falling under the confines of a multi-national media conglomerate. The ability for the internet to become the most powerful tool of the people yet has just become a reality with the journalist now in a real position to pressure governments and voice opinion.
A point of view can be a dangerous luxury when substituted for insight and understanding. Marshall McLuhan
Despite the mass media dominating journalistic style for the best part of the last century, its weakness, highlighted in a recent general recognition that current formats are obsolete, has been targeted in the last decade with advancements in personal web logging technology re-assembling the process in which material is obtainable. The Monopoly on audience and readers held by the moguls of the mass media had begun to decay steadily with a rapidly increasing number of internet connections being established to view news online or, as this essay will discuss, publish news online in the form of a personal web-log. Such an ability to be published instantly has seen a revolution in the way news is being produced and selected world wide and has also put into question the current role of the journalist in the future.
Whether it is participatory journalism, journalism from the edges or online freelancing, web logging refers to individuals retaining an active role in the process of gathering, exposing, categorizing, examining and publishing all forms of news and information. A gentleman’s ban once imposed to maintain the exclusively of the news media has now been lifted, allowing the many colors of the people to shine through.
The first question to ask is whether the rise of the web log will see the emergence of unethical amateur journalism. With the establishment of a style guide for all universities in Australia offering journalism as a course and the founding of such institutions as the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance catering for those currently working in the media industry, boundaries which enable journalists to practice credibly are in place. In recent years, however, such credibility has been bought into question, most notably in the mainstream media, with companies altering such styles to implement a bias or protect self interest by editorializing the most popular news mediums. Web loggers do not have such boundaries "but what you have in print publishing today is a consolidation that's inimical to the diversity that exists in everyday life. With the rise of the Internet, people don't need to be bounded by those traditional filters anymore." (Paul Andrews (2002) http://www.ojr.org). The ability for a web logger to publish any information is possible. Unlike paid journalists, documenting news approved through an editorial process, web loggers have the ability to publish information and commentate on issues previously un-approved for coverage by mass media corporations. The risk however lies in the ethical basis of such journals which, regardless of ethical guideline, are able to be posted.
In-part, the explanation for the explosion in blogging at specialist blogging websites like Myspace.com and Blogger.com can be found in the tools for self-publishing. Internet sites have become far easier and more automated giving people with basic knowledge of the computer realistic publishing capabilities. "When the first browsers were invented, you still had to know how to script, now you've got templates and applications and free server space so that all the nuts and bolts are taken care of for you and all you have to do is concentrate on the writing." It isn’t a question about whether web logs will see the demise of the journalist; it is a question about how web logs will change journalism: and it will change journalism forever. No longer will we see editors proofing articles to drop sensitive material, solely to please advertisers and supporters and no longer will media companies be able to thwart their opinions and power over the world through their traditional news mediums"I think the Web is actually becoming more credible while established media are losing ground," (Andrew Sullivan (2002) http://www.ojr.org). Journalists will be able to use news judgment in accordance to their ethical boundaries and publish material that they were previously unable to publish.
It is therefore inevitable that Web logs will be transplanted into the future of journalism. Instant publishing and accessibility in the form of the internet, a tool (despite the digital divide) all are being encouraged to use for everyday activities such as shopping and recreation, are beginning to overtake the morning paper as not only a news source, but a primary news source. However without boundaries and censorship is blogging really journalism? Or is it just a more-up-to-date way for people to participate in our representative democracy? Instead of writing to the editor who only has a limited amount of space, typically on one page of his newspaper, bloggers can voice their opinion via the internet. Such participatory Journalism hasn’t changed with the blog (Rebecca Blood (2006) http://www.rebeccablood.net/essays/weblogs_journalism.html). People were always able to write free-lance articles and practice the art of journal keeping, however the revolution in terms of the internet now allows the piece to be published regardless of bias. Journalists previously restricted through the mainstream media are possibly the ultimate bloggers, capable of accurately and professionally recording news and opinions whilst maintaining an ethical connection through their training basis.
In this guise, web logs should not be thought of as a separate entity but as a valuable part of the evolution of the mainstream media landscape (Jason Gallo (2006) http://blog.lib.umn.edu/blogosphere/weblog_journalism.html). It is unrealistic to expect a complete, precise portrayal of a story or a subject at any one web log, as resources are not equal to such a feat. Therefore one should not expect web logs to replace mainstream media in its entirety, instead, in this growing online community, web loggers continue to be critical and extend on the stories published in mainstream media. These communities are also the basis for participatory journalism, grassroots reporting, annotative reporting, commentary and fact-checking, which the mainstream media feed upon, developing them as a pool of tips, sources and story ideas (http://www.jdlasica.com/articles/nieman.html).
At a glance, the journalist, rather than losing out when web logs become even more prominent in the next few years, will profit immensely from the online publishing revolution. Rather than seeing the journalist fade away into the hard copy archives along with their many famous past works, journalists will become an integral part of online life. Gone are the days of media companies carving a path through news and opinion, leaving gaps along the way: journalists can now choose stories they believe are most important publish them as objectively as they wish and maintain a reader base to support such action without falling under the confines of a multi-national media conglomerate. The ability for the internet to become the most powerful tool of the people yet has just become a reality with the journalist now in a real position to pressure governments and voice opinion.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Summary Lecture 9
"they were so obsessed with the fact that they could do it, they forgot to consider whether they should" Jurassic Park.
It just says it all. Humans have this huge compex about creating something virtual that is identical to the real world version. Why? why go online to talk to someone, when you can (and should be) talking to them face to face? I don't care that it may be more conveniant or less confronting.
The "one person to many" model of the first media age is somewhat mindless and egalitarian. It hails back to the dark ages of the nobles having all information and power and the plebisites sifting through the mud. Mabey it is because I'm a product of the digital age, but I believe that information should be free to access by all (Thats why I think wikipedia is fantastic). When all information is released, people in power would need to manage without corruption or smoke and mirrors, making use of all resources to the best of their ability.
The internet, in the second age of media, is helping us to achieve this. Our upbringing has been optimised through the internet and so has our transformation of representative democracy. The educated minority is no longer the educated minority: all of us are beginning to become aware of political, social and economic decisions that have to potential to influence our lives.
But is it really doing this for everyone? it is easy for me to say that ive been enlightend by this digital age, being: white, at university, graduated from highschool and casually employed with free flowing access to to internet... but what about others?
It just says it all. Humans have this huge compex about creating something virtual that is identical to the real world version. Why? why go online to talk to someone, when you can (and should be) talking to them face to face? I don't care that it may be more conveniant or less confronting.
The "one person to many" model of the first media age is somewhat mindless and egalitarian. It hails back to the dark ages of the nobles having all information and power and the plebisites sifting through the mud. Mabey it is because I'm a product of the digital age, but I believe that information should be free to access by all (Thats why I think wikipedia is fantastic). When all information is released, people in power would need to manage without corruption or smoke and mirrors, making use of all resources to the best of their ability.
The internet, in the second age of media, is helping us to achieve this. Our upbringing has been optimised through the internet and so has our transformation of representative democracy. The educated minority is no longer the educated minority: all of us are beginning to become aware of political, social and economic decisions that have to potential to influence our lives.
But is it really doing this for everyone? it is easy for me to say that ive been enlightend by this digital age, being: white, at university, graduated from highschool and casually employed with free flowing access to to internet... but what about others?
Summary Lecture 8
Today's lecture was about democracy. From Athenian democracy in ancient Greece, to representative democracy in "democratic countries" like Australia, England and the United States.
Professor Stockwell took us though the ages of media demoracy before the internet, suggesting that despite a representative democracy, citizens were still able to directly influence political decision making.
I believe that this influence would have been reduced as the years went by (It seems that companies became greedier and greedier over time... you didnt see $8million CEO payouts in the 50's so I believe that media influence over content was less filtered). In other words I believe that, up until the internet matured, the publics ablity to influence political decision making in the 90's would have been less significant than in the 50's due to censorship.
However the internet is a magical thing. It has given us the ability to improve our capability to engage in debate and also dodge the evil that is media censorship. This is teledemocracy is dictated however by the number of people that are able to use computers (the digital divide).
Like the little old lady grabbing email addresses on Burleigh Heads, people can do something to change decision making that they couldn't do before. I just pray to the net gods every night that this wll not be ruined.
Professor Stockwell took us though the ages of media demoracy before the internet, suggesting that despite a representative democracy, citizens were still able to directly influence political decision making.
I believe that this influence would have been reduced as the years went by (It seems that companies became greedier and greedier over time... you didnt see $8million CEO payouts in the 50's so I believe that media influence over content was less filtered). In other words I believe that, up until the internet matured, the publics ablity to influence political decision making in the 90's would have been less significant than in the 50's due to censorship.
However the internet is a magical thing. It has given us the ability to improve our capability to engage in debate and also dodge the evil that is media censorship. This is teledemocracy is dictated however by the number of people that are able to use computers (the digital divide).
Like the little old lady grabbing email addresses on Burleigh Heads, people can do something to change decision making that they couldn't do before. I just pray to the net gods every night that this wll not be ruined.
Summary Lecture 6
I was very interested to hear the contents of this lecture, especially the references to copyright law.
With a high bandwith conection from Telstra running into my Dell computer at home (Brands dominate my life), I am comfortably able to reach my 10gb download limit (Flowing into what I thought, up until recently, was a big hard drive at 80gb, however my Ipod is proving this wrong).
The content that I download would be, at a copyright level, alarming. mabey 3, 700mb movies, 30-40 music tracks at 3-4mb each and contless pictures and data.
When reaching my limit, I wonder if telstra passes on my information to the relative governing bodies of entertainment. I mean seriously, Im not downloading 10gb of word documents right. It isn't hard to figure out.
So where does it stop? Does 10gb a month of illegal activity warrent an arrest? or mabey if I were to change my plan to a higher download limit, would that be less acceptable to the entertainment industry?
Its all a disgrace. I have personally boycotted all music written by Metallica in a protest to their bold attempt to punish downloaders. They are millionare rockstars making millions of dollars from free music, raising a fan base, encouraging people to buy their records and attend their gigs: yet they are greedy enough to want it all...
Music should be free. Does Di Vinchi recieve proceeds from people looking at the mona lisa? Music is art, and bands should be writing music for those purposes and Ipods, instead of holding a monopoly share for these poeple, should be the access point (80gbs of free music shouldn't be too hard to fathom)... the world would be an infinitly better place. I don't care about the 'internet law'. Im going to continue to download my music, admiring my favourite bands and indulging myself in music, instead of only being able to access what I can afford, which would be about 1 CD a month.
With a high bandwith conection from Telstra running into my Dell computer at home (Brands dominate my life), I am comfortably able to reach my 10gb download limit (Flowing into what I thought, up until recently, was a big hard drive at 80gb, however my Ipod is proving this wrong).
The content that I download would be, at a copyright level, alarming. mabey 3, 700mb movies, 30-40 music tracks at 3-4mb each and contless pictures and data.
When reaching my limit, I wonder if telstra passes on my information to the relative governing bodies of entertainment. I mean seriously, Im not downloading 10gb of word documents right. It isn't hard to figure out.
So where does it stop? Does 10gb a month of illegal activity warrent an arrest? or mabey if I were to change my plan to a higher download limit, would that be less acceptable to the entertainment industry?
Its all a disgrace. I have personally boycotted all music written by Metallica in a protest to their bold attempt to punish downloaders. They are millionare rockstars making millions of dollars from free music, raising a fan base, encouraging people to buy their records and attend their gigs: yet they are greedy enough to want it all...
Music should be free. Does Di Vinchi recieve proceeds from people looking at the mona lisa? Music is art, and bands should be writing music for those purposes and Ipods, instead of holding a monopoly share for these poeple, should be the access point (80gbs of free music shouldn't be too hard to fathom)... the world would be an infinitly better place. I don't care about the 'internet law'. Im going to continue to download my music, admiring my favourite bands and indulging myself in music, instead of only being able to access what I can afford, which would be about 1 CD a month.
Powerpoint Tutorial Task
The brief was right, it was pretty basic. Out of all of the microsoft office programs I can use powerpoint the best and I believe it is the most valuable. It is easy to customise you slide, even beyond powerpoints templates.
It will be usefull to keep the audience awake itself, and also to keep ny future speeches prompted and rolling along. It is great to have points on the screen to talk to and also pictures to give examples etc.
It will be usefull to keep the audience awake itself, and also to keep ny future speeches prompted and rolling along. It is great to have points on the screen to talk to and also pictures to give examples etc.
Microsoft Word Tutorial
I didnt find this as hard to do as the Microsoft Excel document. Will be useful when sending multipule letters to multiple contacts, especially with my degreee. For once I didn't need any help!
In saying this however, I may need some help posting the documents onto the blog.
In saying this however, I may need some help posting the documents onto the blog.
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