Reflection

Through this assignment, I have realized to be or as a blogger, writing skills is really important. I have to admit that I have faced language problems when I was doing this assignment. Furthermore, from the four issues that I have chosen to write on, I have been acknowledged about the importance of copyright and ethics when writing an article. However, throughout the whole semester, I have learnt about documents design where I am really interested with it. Undeniable, it is important to apply various theories as well as practical in documents design. According to Light (2010), principle of composition as in information value, salience and framing is vital to use to design the element in document that uses to attract the attention of the readers. Last but not least, I would like to say thank you to the lecturer, Miss Jenny for conducting us throughout the whole semester. IPD class is really fun.

(Source from http://cf.mp-cdn.net)

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References:

1. Kress, G & van Leeuwen, T 2006, Reading images, Chapter 6: The meaning of composition, 2^nd edn, Routledge, New York, USA.

Ipad as Newspaper in Digital Age

(Source from http://www.sfnblog.com)

Trotter (2011) written the article titled ‘Ipad- only Newspaper Furthers Media Trend’ published on thecento.com has argued about the transformation of traditional media to digital media in this generation. In the digital newspaper, users are able to get the latest update as social media tools are applied in it such as Twitter. Furthermore, Ipad owners are able to interact with the publication by purchasing the news application and also customize their favorite news page. In spite of that, subscription news online is much cheaper compare with print newspaper. In this digital age generation, print media has been declining and the younger generation will prefer read news online instead of solid materials as they claimed that it is more convenient. However, there is still some public would refuse to use tablets as newspaper as they have their flaw such as application crashes. In short, the declining of traditional media will continue as the new media has slowly taking over it.

(Source from http://www.nytimes.com)

I personally think that with the improvement of technology, there are a lot of print materials are getting digitize such as letters, books and newspaper, which related to the article that I mentioned above. Undeniable, digitize the print materials have brought various aspects that quench the public demand in this generation. ‘Internet site combines text and images in complex structure with logos, menu bars, hyperlinks, hot spots, video clips, animations, graphics, music, sound effects, voice- over or write- over (Walsh, 2006). Compare with the print-based newspaper, Ipad has all these functions. Ipad as newspaper contains hyperlink, where it allows ‘readers’ to go for further reading in just one- click away. With all these features, it will be more interesting and convenient to the users. Walsh (2006) also stated whether is print- based or multimodal text, the similarities is just about meaning- making by using the combination of words, images and link. In shorts, Ipad as newspaper has created a hierarchy in this current generation.

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References:

1. Trotter, C 2011, ‘Ipad- only Newspaper Furthers Media Trend’, The Cento 17 February, viewed on 5 November 2011, http://www.thecento.com/news/2011/feb/17/ipad-only-newspaper-furthers-media-trend/

2. Walsh, M 2006, ‘Textual shift: Examining the reading process with print, visual and multimodal texts,’ Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, vol. 29, no. 1, pg.24-37, viewed on 5 November 2011.

3. Stevens, T 2011, ‘The Daily Ipad ‘Newspaper’ Launches, $.99 weekly or $39.99 per year’, Engadget 2 February, viewed on 5 November 2011, http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/02/the-daily-ipad-newspaper-launches/

Copy? Yes? No?

(Source from http://www.greekshares.com)

In this article, the author stated that copyrighted issues are getting serious in the Internet. The author has used several news issues as an example regarding to the copyright issues. The author stated that fair use allowed copyrighted materials reposted for others to comment, debate, research or for teaching but yet online materials were stolen or copied. Many authors have claimed that their ‘belonging’ were being stolen and sold by others. Furthermore, journalists have to emphasize more on copyright issues, as copyright policy is crucial in journalism field. Journalists may face problems when they plagiarize materials. However, editors have neglected this plagiarism issues, and excuse were given, as they are trying to work faster. In conclusion, both journalists and bloggers should be more alert when comes to copyright issues.

(Source from http://3.bp.blogspot.com)

According to Your Right (2008), copyright is defined as a legalize right to stop others from copying or make use on the authors’ material without the permission. However, According to The Central of Media (2009), fair use is defined as the permission is given to make use on other authors’ copyrighted materials such as repost, comment, debate, discuss and so. With the existence of fair use, I myself as a student is legally allowed to make use on copyright materials in a proper way, which it does help me a lot when it comes to research. Copyright has become a critical issue in this digital age where the Internet allows the sharing of information and the capability of copying (Poor, 2008). With the growth of Internet, copying and plagiarism have become easier and hard to prevent, as information is just one click away. As the article has mentioned, journalists tends to plagiarize the other authors’ materials in order to work faster but where it is an unethical action in journalism. In conclude, copyright issue is critical in the Internet and the related organization should have be more concern about the issue.

(Source from http://upload.wikimedia.org)

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References:

1. Pichon, F 2011, Copyrighted Material: Fair and Unfair Use, Editorsweblog, 22 June, viewed on 5 November 2011, http://www.editorsweblog.org/newsrooms_and_journalism/2011/06/copyrighted_material_fair_and_unfair_use.php

2. Centre for Social Media 2011, The code of best practices in fair use for media literacy education, viewed 5 November 2011, http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/fair-use/related-materials/codes/code-best-practices-fair-use-media-literacy-education

3. Your Right 2011, Meaning of Copyright, viewed on 5 November 2011, http://www.yourrights.org.uk/yourrights/right-of-free-expression/copyright-and-allied-property-rights/meaning-of-copyright.html

4. Poor, N 2008, 'Copyright Notices in Traditional and New Media Journals: Lies, Damned Lies, and Copyright Notices', Journal Of Computer-Mediated Communication, vol. 14, no. 1, pg. 101-126, Communication & Mass Media Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 5 November 2011, http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.taylors.edu.my/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=8ec3bc83-8c3a-431c-84fb-29c4db4aa6b3%40sessionmgr113&vid=2&hid=105

Why E- Textbooks?

The article titled ‘How E- Textbooks, Online Modules could keep Journalism Education Current’ has described how textbooks can be replaced by the digital textbooks in this new digital age. Furthermore, the article also stated about the benefits of the digital textbook in this current phenomenon. In the article, she stated e- textbooks should be improved to fulfill the targeted public demand. E- textbooks help students save up a lot of cost compare with buying textbooks from bookstores. Moreover, e- textbooks should have the ability for students to take note, highlight texts, search key words and email passage to others, just like what commercial e- books can do. The concept of emergence of tablets will make the e- textbooks to be more sufficient where tablets allow updates and interactivity. With this idea, it makes e- textbooks more like software instead of online books. In short, interactivity and immediacy of e- textbooks are crucial in this generation.

In my opinion, students will prefer e- textbooks more than print textbooks when interactivity and immediacy is provided in it. According to Michael (2009), he stated with the use of e- textbooks, changes of information can be done immediately while print textbooks only allow to make changes when another version of books are out. Readers are allowed to get changed information faster than the print textbooks. Furthermore, interactivity is crucial in e- textbooks. Interactivity allows the students to communicate with each other in order to discuss about the information. According to Barack (2006), he stated students prefer learning tools that are more interactive. With the improvement of technology, the e- textbooks are overwhelming the print textbooks. According to Maynard and Cheyne (2005), they stated that e- textbooks would give a big impact to the academic sector. In short, with the use of digital textbooks, it is not only helps to save up cost of buying print textbooks; it also helps the students to get the latest information and to be more interactive in the learning environment.

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References:

Barack, L 2006, 'Touring the Digital Universe', School Library Journal, vol. 52, no. 2, p. 24, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 5 November 2011, http://web.ebscohost.com.ezlibproxy.unisa.edu.au/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=71d69c7c-b89f-40c1-852e-bc45165d4162%40sessionmgr111&vid=2&hid=119

Capeloto, A 2011, How E-Textbooks, Online Modules could keep Journalism Education Current, PBS 25 August, viewed on 5 November 2011, http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2011/08/how-e-textbooks-online-modules-could-keep-journalism-education-current237.html

Michael, BF 2009, Schwarzenegger’s push for digital textbooks, The Christian Science Monitor 11 June, viewed on 5 November 2011, http://proquest.umi.com.ezlibproxy.unisa.edu.au/pqdlink?Ver=1&Exp=11-12-2016&FMT=7&DID=1744888741&RQT=309

Maynard, S & Cheyne, E 2005, ‘Can electronic textbooks help children to learn?’, The Electronic Library, vol. 23, no. 1, pg.103-115, viewed on 5 November 2011, http://proquest.umi.com.ezlibproxy.unisa.edu.au/pqdlink?vinst=PROD&fmt=3&startpage=-1&ver=1&clientid=14273&vname=PQD&RQT=309&did=828491721&exp=11-12-2016&scaling=FULL&ts=1321277865&vtype=PQD&rqt=309&TS=1321278381&clientId=14273

Social Media becomes more democratic

(Source from http://socialmediaexp.files.wordpress.com)

The news article, ‘How Social Media is keeping the Egyptian Revolution Alive’ has briefly described that how social media is applied by the Egyptian activists to fight against the SCAF to hold the power to control the country and remain the original government. In Aitamurto’s (2011) article, she reported numerous activists have voiced out their thought, commented, discussed and debated through the social media over the issues of Egyptian Revolution. Campaign was announced on Facebook and successfully gathers 8000 activists. Furthermore, she stated that an interviewee mentioned that news related to politics and the military are not allowed to report. She also mentioned that the number of citizen journalism is increasing, as the information they provided is more ‘transparent’. Sedra (Aitamurto, 2011) described that ‘Transparency is a weapon against corruption’. Other than that, through social media, an online event named ‘Tweetback’ has successfully funded 2 million Egyptian pound to support the poor neighborhood in Cairo.

(Source from http://www.1stwebdesigner.com)

I strongly believe that in this current digital age, the use of new media has left a big impact to the society. According to the Internet World Stats (2011), a body that traces trends in the sector, of the world’s 6 billions people, there are over 2 billions of Internet users in the worldwide. In Mcluhan’s study (cited in Glodeanu 2011, pg. 135) showed that the Internet has created a platform to allow Internet users to interactive with each and another. Through the social media, the users not only able to get information online, at the same time, it also allows the interconnection of users. In the news article, the author has mentioned about ‘transparency’. With the censorship in the mainstream media, it does not quench the public demands. Blue Book of China’s Society’s 2005 study (Xin 2010, pg. 333) stated that the media failed to act as the ‘watchdog’ of the political issues, where it caused the corruption in a government. In addition, with the rise of Internet users, the social media has become more influential in several aspects.

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References:

1. World Internet Usage Statistics News and World Population Stats 2011, Internet World Stats, viewed on 5 November 2011, http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm

2. Aitamurto, T 2011, How Social Media is Keeping the Egyptian Revolution Allive, Media Shift 13 September, viewed on 5 November 2011, http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2011/09/how-social-media-is-keeping-the-egyptian-revolution-alive256.html

3. Glodeanu, A 2011, The Impact of Digital Communication in Political Journalism, EBSCOHOST, vol. 12, viewed on 5 November 2011, http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.taylors.edu.my/ehost/detail?sid=a708058e-d4a8-46de-8b9d-92e719737c94%40sessionmgr111&vid=3&hid=12&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3

4. Xin, X 2010, The Impact of ‘Citizen Journalism’ on Chinese Media and Society, EBSCOHOST, vol. 4, no. 3, viewed on 5 November 2011, http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.taylors.edu.my/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=afe37ccb-8fce-4513-a7a9-159e929de28b%40sessionmgr112&vid=4&hid=24

Screen Vs. Print Design

Nielsen (1997) has mentioned the few point below:

• users do not read on the Web; instead they scan the pages, trying to pick out a few sentences or even parts of sentences to get the information they want.
• users do not like long, scrolling pages: they prefer the text to be short and to the point.
• users detest anything that seems like marketing fluff or overly hyped language ("marketese") and prefer factual information.

So, designing a layout is important in attracting the viewers and readers’ attention in order to increase the interest of them. A good design of the presentation, weblog or print materials is not only can increase the interest of the readers and also allow the readers to remember the important point easily.

According to Nielsen (1999), he stated few differences between print and web design.

-Dimensional

-Navigation

-Response Time, Resolution, and Canvas Size

Nielsen (1999) explained that print design is 2-dimensionals where attention is paid to the layout more compare with the 1-dismensional design, web design. For navigation, he said that ‘Moving around is what the Web is all about’. However, print design is consist of page turning. Print is superior to the Web in terms of Response Time, Resolution, and Canvas Size. (Nielsen, 1999)

• bandwidth fast enough to download a Web page as fast as one can turn the page in a newspaper
• screen resolution sharp enough to render type so crisply that reading speed from screens reaches that of paper
• huge screens the size of a newspaper spread - in fact, I think that newspaper-sized screens are about the limit where it may not make sense to make screens any larger

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Referencing:

1. Nielsen, J 1997, Concise, SCANNABLE, and Objective: How to Write for the Web, viewed on 22 August 2011, http://www.useit.com/papers/webwriting/writing.html

2. Nielsen, J 1999, Difference between Print Design and Web Design, viewed on 22 August 2011, http://www.useit.com/alertbox/990124.html

New Media Publishing

The generation is changing and improving year by year as well as the media publishing. When the digital convergence, personal computing and global networking combine together, it has given big changes to the media publishing in this 21^st century

From the old media to the new media, print media to the computing media, everything has changed to better and more convenient to the public to fetch the news from Internet. The media in this 21^st century not only uses tv or radio or newspaper to deliver the message to the public but also through the Internet such as blog, social networking tools and online newspaper.

Blogging:

In this generation, majority of people spend more times on the Internet. Instead of face-to-face discussion, they created a platform, which we known as blog to voice out, discuss and exchange their thought and viewpoint towards certain issues. ‘The explosive growth in blogging has prompted a predictable outburst of ‘endism’ – as in questions about whether the phenomenon marks the end of journalism.’ Says Naughton (2006).

Social Networking Tools:

Facebook, Youtube and Twitter, the three main social networking around the world wide in this 21^st century. From kindergarten children to old folks, they owned an account for these social networking website. However, these three social networking tools are not longer for you to meet friends whereas it allows the people to voice out their thought in any issues such as interest, political view and so on. Besides that, politicians also use these social networking tools to communicate with the publics.

By using the both new media above, the public gets to know the latest new in a very short time and also everywhere, anytime.

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Referencing:

1. Naughton, J 2006, 'Blogging and the Emerging Mediaecosystem', viewed on 22 August 2011, http://reuteursinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/about/discussion/blogging.html

The Blogging Community

According to Kinkeldi (2007), she defined that blogging community is a term that used to describe people using the same blogging platform instead of personal. It is also defined as a group blog, where people contribute everything in a blog instead of individual blog. ‘blog communities aggregate the individual and independent blogs of a number of people with a shared interest’ Kinkeldi (2007).

“Blog communities usually focus on a shared interest, a cause, or an organization.”

Kinkeldi (2007)

Kinkeldi (2007) explained bloggers used different kind of applications to manage and host a blog which gather individual bloggers who has common interested to discuss and exchange their point of view towards certain topic in one platform.

There are three main types of community. (White, 2007)

- One Blog Centric Community

- Topic Centric Community

- Boundaried Community

One Blog Centric Community- a blog that owned by an individual or organization with few authors. Blogger can change, remove or censor certain reader but not but cannot control the topic. Click Downes for example.

Topic Centric Community- a blog that allow bloggers to share knowledge of their common interest. Example, food blog, photography blog, travel blog and etc. Click Global Voices Online for example.

Boundaried Community- numerous of blogs and readers are collected and host in a single site or platform. It is only for specific public to discuss or question specific topic. Click Share Your Story for example.

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Referencing:

1. Kinkeldi, B 2007, Forging Connections and Promoting Growth Through Blog Communities, Whitepaper Blog Communities, viewed on 22 August 2011, http://www.21publish.com/pub/21publish/blogging-whitepaper.pdf

2. White, N 2006, Blogs and community-launching a new paradigm for online community, Going Communal, edition 11, viewed on 19 April 2009, http://kt.flexiblelearning.net.au/tkt2006/edition-11-editorial/blogs-and-community-–-launching-a-new-paradigm-for-online-community

Classification of Blogs

As the size of the blogosphere is growing year by year, we have notice that bloggers started to post up variety of post such as tutorials, political views and so on. However, the blogs nowadays have been classified into different category.

According to the Australian author and media analyst, Margaret Simons, she has classified blogs into total 9 types.

-Pamphleteering Blog: an individual or a group of individuals arguing, discussing or expressing a viewpoint on politics or border events.

-Digest Blog: point to, summarize or collects material from elsewhere, usually in the mainstream media

-Advocacy Blog: similar to pamphleteering blog but usually by a vested interest group or an advocacy group

-Popular Mechanics Blog: where show tutorials or guidance to those who are interest in certain topic

-Exhibition Blog: usually maintained by craftspeople, artists, writers who want to show their extraordinary work to wider audiences.

-Gatewatcher Blog: where allow the specialists, experts and others with particular knowledge of public events to watch and to critique with the reports.

-Diary: where an individual posting pictures, daily life details and so on, as we known as personal blog

-Advertisement: created by companies to promote their services or products.

-News Blog: where blogs to break news, bloggers try and give public news.

However, Haskins (2007) mentioned that the blogs classified into four different types, Table as below:

(Source: growchangelearn.blogspot.com)

I personally think that, there is no any good or bad classification that can be judge. Here the example, the blogger travel around introducing places and foods. I may classify it as food blog but you may classify it as a travel blog. I think it is your choice that how do you classify the blogs as different people have their own perception.

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Referencing:

1. Haskins, T 2007, Different Motivation of Blogging, Growing Changing Learning Creating, viewed on 22 August 2011, http://growchangelearn.blogspot.com/2007/03/different-motivations-for-blogging.html

2. Simons, M 2008, Toward a Taxonomy of Blog, Australian Policy Online, viewed on 22 August 2011, http://www.apo.org.au/commentary/towards-taxonomy-blogs-0

3. Funnell, A 2008, A Taxonomy of Blog, The Media Report, viewed on 22 August 2011, http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2008/2372882.htm#transcript

4. Oech, RV 2007, A Taxonomy of Blogs, Creative Think, viewed on 22 August 2011, http://blog.creativethink.com/2007/03/a_taxonomy_of_b.html