news on the twitter

1.      Why are respected news brands good news for Twitter?

Respected news brand a good for twitter because they are users to be able to have access to information which is true and verified which thus improves the reliability of the information. The study found that 59% of users follow a news brand, which shows the importance of news brands on twitter. Twitter is known for instant updates and having two or more sources supporting the same idea can lead to stories being more recognised and reliable.

2.      Why in turn is Twitter good for respected news brands?

Twitter has allowed for connections to be created, based on research a study found that 69% of twitters users felt that twitter had allowed them to be able to connect with journalists they would not normally connect with. It had also been suggested that there is now a “virtuous circle” where journalists are have honest views, instance updates, have humour and expertise which enable them to use twitter to create recognition.

3.      The report suggests that old and new media “are not, in fact, in direct competition, but often work extremely well together to enhance both the media eco-system and the consumer experience”. What evidence do they provide to support this idea? Do you agree with it?

The evidence that is presented explained that 55% of all twitter users would like there to be a link to a more in-depth activities that allows for further analysis. Those who follow newspaper brands on the other hand 75% of them had said they would prefer a link also, this shows that there is a clear link between those who follow newspaper brand and the quality and reliability of information is needed and thus supporting the statement of both old and new news working together. Over 50% of twitter users that follow a news brand had shown that twitter gives them a chance to be able meet people within a community of like minded people.

4.      On page 24/25 of the report, the focus turns to gossip or banter. What example tweets from journalists are used to illustrate this? 

The independent used the fact that a teddy bear from the winnie the pooh had blocked a swear and used the word “pooh” in order create humour in regards to the sewer being blocked. Another example is by the daily mail who use a well-known fact about Kim Kardashian having a large bottom and saying “do these pants make Kim Kardashian’s bum look big?

5.      Do you think the increasing amount of gossip or banter is harming the reputation of news and journalists?

I think the news has taken a different approach and has changed with demand, I believe humour has encouraged the interest in news and had led to an increase in interest from audiences. I also believe with the digital revolution a new way had to be introduced to target audience and humour is very easy as it tends to then be shared which can then trend and thus increase the amount of views and publicity.

6.      What does the report say about trust in Twitter and journalists (look at pages 34-39)?

45% of people on twitter feel that it is important that a news brand on twitter is verified by a respected brand, those whole follow a news brand 62% agreed with this statement. It is also suggested the that journalist deepen relationships on twitter and although within the industry there has been a reduction in journalist which was resulted in using twitter as a result of change and demand in the market.

7.      Finally, do you think new and digital media developments such as Twitter have had a positive or negative impact on traditional newspapers?

I believe that twitter has had a positive influence as has been used more and more due to the demand of the industry. I believe that twitter was enable journalists to survive but also has helped to create more information which is more accessible and also has allowed the ability for journalists to e able to survive.

#illridewithyou sydney attacks

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2014/dec/15/illridewithyou-hashtag-offers-solidarity-to-sydneys-muslims-after-cafe-siege

recently there was an terrorist attack that took place in Sydney where the terrorist was then shot after killing three people. in order to protect and prevent racial discrimination against muslis in sydney the #illridewithyou started to trend. people in sysney had been seen taking of there hijabs in order to avoid this where one person saw then and ran to her and said put it back on ill ride with you. this has seen to be trending and it is through the like of twitter that is helping to keep a balance between race and prevent negative tweets about what had happened.

russell brand tweet ban

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/dec/08/russell-brand-tweet-phone-number-journalist

russel brand recently have been accused of being an hypocrite as he had written a book on tax avoidance however his landlord had been caught for not being taxed. The sun had reffered to russell brand as a hypocrite and was on the front page, this is not something russell brand could control and his landlord not paying tax is not anything to do with russell brand. this had led to russell brand posting a picture of Neil sears business card with a personal mobile number that been tweeted and potentially seen by 8 million followers. this has been taken down after it was a breach of twitters use policy and normally results in a ban for the user.

Google glass media gallery

1) Summarise the article in 50 words.

The articles looks at the two sides of globalisation, one being the benefit and one being the disadvantages that are associated with Google glass. The articles looks at the opportunities that would have become available for people through Google glass, such as being able to go online making things more accessible.

2) What are the positive effects of globalisation outlined in the article?
The positive effects are that Google have become so well-known and established that “Ill Google it” has now become a term in the same ways that “hoover is used to refer to all types of vacuum cleaners.  Another benefit is that Google has allowed people in rural areas of New Zealand to be able to have access to the internet; this was done by putting radio antennas in to large balloons in order to provide an internet signal. It also allows for people to be enriched in learning, increase opportunities and empower people not only does it allow people to make informed decisions but rather in a democratic process.

3) What are the negative effects of globalisation outlined in the article?

The articles explain that smaller companies have little or no hope of staking a claim on the global market, as they are not able to compete. Therefore choice is rather an illusion which is available to larger companies over smaller. Google is 15 on the FTSE 500 with the first 8 out of 10 being American owned.

4) write a definition of 'Moral panic' and 'Techo-panic'

 Moral panic is -An instance of public anxiety or alarm in response to a problem regarded as threatening the moral standards of society.

Techno panic- is simply a moral panic that centres around societal fears about a specific contemporary technology

5) What are the concerns regarding technology and data/privacy?

The dangers of data being leaking and people’s privacy being taken away from them, this has led to massive fears in the past few years specially due to organisations such as anonymous who have taken down multi million pound companies and also military websites. This therefore suggests that consumers can be considered child’s play if they were targeted.

6) What is your own opinion on globalisation? Should we be worried about fundamental changes to our society or should we embrace the 'global village' that theorists such as McLuhan talk of?

I think that globalisation is inevitable rather that prevent it, it would be better to allows people to understand what it means and allow them to make the choice. It is arguable that smaller business can be put out of business; however it is also fair to say that smaller business would have to think outside of the box in order to attract people. I on the other hand believe that globalisation is also very dangerous as it can lead to a limited number of shops that are available on the market. This therefore can lead to companies dictating prices and products for customers.   

Marxism and Pluralism

A pluralist on the other hand would argue that all people have equal right and that they are free to make any choice they see fit, an example of this is citizen journalism. Citizen journalism has allowed audience the ability to be able to create content of their own choice, this has to a massive increase of user generated content. This has meant that the big companies are no longer able to take advantage of people as most events that are out of the norm are not recorded. Pluralist also believe that the market it not controlled, but is open for anyone allow all people to have a chance to be successful. An example of this by people who have created videos online in which have become very popular through this and have been able to create books and even open there own business selling their own products. Blogging has allowed for freedom of speech and has allowed the audiences the ability to be able to talk about what they want and share that with people all around the world. Freedom of choice is another factor that is believed strongly by pluralists as citizens have the ability to shop wherever they want to not where they are told. 

A Marxist on the other hand would argue that freedom is an illusion that is created rather then being something that society have access to. An example of this is through social networking sites comments can be controlled, therefore meaning that comments can be deleted or even fully blocked. This is an example of how the illusion of power is support as it shows that large organisations such as Google control, blogger and YouTube. This links into Paretos law in the 80 20 split, it was proposed that 20% of the world controlled 80%. This is an example of how Google have mass amount of control, through blogger, YouTube, chrome, Google search and even phones. The android operating system is most used operating system in the world which is owned by one if the biggest IT companies. It can be argued that although there is choice on the market it is dominated by 2 operating systems, apple ad android which suggests that we are controlled by large firms. Also although there are alternative phones on the market it is fair to say that they are not as easily as accessible nor promoted there reducing choice. An example of power is the G20 where Ian Tomlinson was killed however the police officer that committed the “crime” was able to resign and therefore the charges were dropped this is an example of how although there is UGC it is not as significant as believed.

A pluralist on the other hand would argue that although it may seem to a Marxists that that we live in a bubble, why is it that more and more news organisations and social networking sites have seen a massive increase in UGC as well as big institutions adapting and changing. An example of freedom of speech and User generated content is the Ferguson story where within 3 days 6 million tweets are made on twitter about what had happened and was also trending not only but the police have admitted that they have lost control of the story. This links to Briggs and Burke their theory was that new and digital media is the most important medium of the twentieth century, user generated content has allowed for this to happen and provide justice. Another example is when the creators of family guy killed the dog of (Brian) and replaced him this had led to large amount of tweets and a fall in views which lead the institution to re-introduce the dog back in. This is an example of how the "people" got what they wanted making the big organisations lose power, this links to Al Gore who said that "the internet is an empowering tool... an exciting and revolutionary prospect.

Rogue computerised cameras plague BBC news presenters

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/dec/05/bbc-robot-cameras-rogue-presenters-frustrated

this article looks at how jobs were taken by robots in order to maneuver the cameras which has back fired and led to glitchy and unresponsive camera systems. the article suggests that the "state of the art systems" that were paid for have not helped the BBC but have rather taken jobs away from people. this is an example of new and digital media, as the newspapers are changing through the like of pay walls the traditional methods of filming the news has also changed.

Does the Sun really speak to more people than Russell Brand?

http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2014/dec/05/the-sun-speak-more-people-russell-brand

the article looks at how the social media has been used between the sun and Russel brand, it was about who got more publicity more followers and more views through the likes of social networking and Youtube. the article also shows a tweet by the son about Russel brand being "Gobby" and people using twitter and the #thesunlogic about things that Russel rand has experienced. based on the stats the sun only had 655,000 followers where as Russel brand had 8.6 million.

Ferguson shooting

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/08/14/social-media-ferguson-effect/14052495/

the video is an example showing that obama is speaking out to the masses to ensure that both goverment officials and civilians are following the law. the story also talks about how the police cant control the story due to UGC and users are showing images and videos of the police who are breaching the law but also it allows for masses to be able to see what is happening from a non bias point of view. though the likes of social networking it has helped to ensure that justice is served for those who deserve it also Ferguson  had been mentioned in 6 million tweets since saturday showing the power of the people but also informing people.

Sun+ signs up 225,000 paying subscribers

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/nov/24/sun-plus-paying-subscibers-news-uk

the article suggest that people are starting to pay for new using online sources over then traditional forms. this has therefore lead to an increase of subscritions of 225,000 people but compared to the 2 million readers that buy a new paper to is near 1/8 of the amount of readers.

Alain de Botton's views

1) To what extent do you agree with Alain de Botton's views on the News?

i agree Alain de Botton's views on the news and feel that we are being given to much news and therefore we are become numb to the whats happening rather then processing this information. people are no longer interest in serious ideas such as global warming but rather are interested on news in regards to celebrity. i agree that the need of audience have changed and are no longer interested as much as in real life concerns but rather interested in gossip.

2) How can you link Marxism and Hegemony to de Botton's criticisms of the News?

Alain de Botton's argues that information is not new but rather recycled and information is given to us by news organisations that news corporations want us to reach about, he also talks about  information being reconstructed and therefore information is restricted and controlled however audiences are under the illusion from news organisation. this also links to hegemony as information that is given is by the big organisations, rather then being presented in the interest of society.

3) How could you use Pluralism and new technology to challenge de Botton's views on the News?

Alain de Botton's states that the quality of an image is very important but there any many cases that have occurred that although the quality of images can be low it can also help bring people to justice an example is or tom linson, another is the baby sitter that abused a child in Nigeria. this was used in order to stand up against issues and has allowed audience to be able to get justice through low quality images that show the "truth". 
4) Choose two news stories from the last six months - one that supports de Botton's views and one that challenges his belief that the News is used for social control.