I am here officially telling all my readers that I have finally done with this blog with posting up all the required postings about issues in publication and design. It's time for me to reflect and look backward from the starting of the semester in this course.
At the beginning of this course, I was totally not familiar with principle of document design. As time passes, however, I have acknowledged elements which have guided me till the end of this semester as I started to explore. I gain a little bit knowledge in each posting by reading and apply the theories from all those journals and articles that related to document design and issues in publication and design. Now, I can proudly tell people around me that, I know the correct steps in designing a document.
On the other hand, my instructor of this course also plays a very important role in helping me to have more understanding throughout this course. Other than that, the most important thing that I have learn is ethics in publishing. By reading the articles related to ethics, I learned how is the seriousness if we breach the rules and regulations and the code of ethics.
Lastly, I am glad to pursue this course which helped me gain a lot of knowledge that I have never learned before as a business student. It also raise my interest in this area.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
New Media Qualities, Multi-modality; New Forms of Journalism
As I mentioned in my earlier posting regarding the new form of media publishing, as technology constantly evolving, it becomes very popular that it can spread the news effectively globally. In the article 'How Social Media, Internet Changed Experience of Japan Disaster', Benkoil (2011) shows the comparison of news dimension of Japan disaster that had just happened with the past earthquake in year 1995 based on his experiences. He stated that there is more devices and platforms that deliver information rapidly withing seconds due to the wireless network today.
People who are concerning about the disaster can also watch the news from TV such as CNN, BBC etc. Furthermore, social networking like Facebook, Twitters are widely use during the disaster to update the first hand information. Almost 200 millions tweets per day that updated the messages of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan that happened on March 2011 as I mention in my previous posting. Moreover, there are more detailed and truthful data, pictures or videos from satellite delivers clearer messages and information in nowadays. The videos were posted up on Youtube (Japan Tsunami 2011) just right after the tragedy happened.
Additional information : Just hover over the satellite photos, we can see the differences before and after Tsunami in Japan 2011 on ABC news and The New York Times.
It is proven that social media is the best way for people around the world stay connect with each other quicker. The information spread rapidly allows us to respond quicker in multi-modal ways. People around the world can become aware of the tragedy happened through social media. In my opinion, there are pros and cons in delivering or receiving messages through social media. It has made our life easier but sometimes we get rumor that can mislead or misrepresent easily.
People who are concerning about the disaster can also watch the news from TV such as CNN, BBC etc. Furthermore, social networking like Facebook, Twitters are widely use during the disaster to update the first hand information. Almost 200 millions tweets per day that updated the messages of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan that happened on March 2011 as I mention in my previous posting. Moreover, there are more detailed and truthful data, pictures or videos from satellite delivers clearer messages and information in nowadays. The videos were posted up on Youtube (Japan Tsunami 2011) just right after the tragedy happened.
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| (Breaking News about wave washes away cars and boats after quake in Japan on TV, Source: Hudson Horizons, 2011) |
It is proven that social media is the best way for people around the world stay connect with each other quicker. The information spread rapidly allows us to respond quicker in multi-modal ways. People around the world can become aware of the tragedy happened through social media. In my opinion, there are pros and cons in delivering or receiving messages through social media. It has made our life easier but sometimes we get rumor that can mislead or misrepresent easily.
Reference
Benkoil, D 2011, ‘How Social Media, Internet changed Experience of Japan Disaster’, Mediashift, viewed 6 June 2011, <http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2011/03/how-social-media-internet-changed-experience-of-japan-disaster-074.html>
Mobile Gaming, New Media Ecosystem; Audience Expectations & Usability; Viral Marketing
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| (source: Digital Tend, 2011) |
An important part of the story in the months to come will be of the developers and publishers seduced by these success stories who end up finding that not everyone can find their fortune in the apps world.
-Guardian TechnologyThe successful story of Angry Bird has attracted many developers and publishers to invest in the mobile gaming industry but some of them failed. As mentioned in Digital Darwinism, Vollmer (2010), stated that 'in the new marketing and media ecosystem, some will fail, some will thrive, and all will have to evolve.
That said, it would be good to see some research on how many games developers and publishers are losing money on the App Store.
-Guardian Technology
The article Who's making all the money in App store? in The App Whisperer has explained the reason of success and fail in investing on mobile gaming. It shows the costs of develop the apps, cost factoring, time factoring, the return, and the chances of success on the development. However, the research of PopCap also shows that there is a positive trend upwards of spending on the mobile game from year 2009 to year 2011. Take the developer of Angry Birds as an example, Rovio whose published the products with neither unique nor laying a foundation in mobile gaming, it has successful to hit the trend as most people with smart phones tend to follow the trend. They want games and will continuously download disproportionately.
Photojournalism & Ethical Publishing
A photo speaks a thousand words. Photographs play an very important role in journalism in conveying the message to the readers. According to Walsh (2006), however, individuals may interpret the photo/image differently based on their cultural background and experiences. Thus, it is a very critical issue regarding ethics in photojournalism in term of 'photographic truth' that whether the particular photo/image presents the subject accurately or misleads the readers (Bersak, 2006). Based on the code of ethics in the Society of Professional journalist in 1987, the medias have the responsibility to publish the news and enlighten opinion that serve the general welfare to the publics. 'Journalists who use their professional status as representatives of the public for selfish or other unworthy motives violate a high trust.'
The news 'Egyptian newspaper under fire over altered photo' reported by BBC on 15th December 2010 brings an issue of ethics in photojournalism. The alteration of the photo has made the Egypt's state-run newspaper come under fire. According to The Nation Press Photographers Association, the photographs that are callously intrusive or are manipulated can cause a serious harm, thus, photographs that have been edited should maintain the integrity of the images' content and context to avoid misleading or misrepresenting (2011).
This case that happened in Egypt was not the first case, there was a case reported on BBC stated 'Reuters drops Beirut photographer' on 8th August, 2006. The news reported the Reuters fired a freelance photographer who has withdrawn from sale 920 of his pictures because of doctoring two images that was taken in Lebanon.
In my opinion, photographs in journalism must present accurately and trustworthy to the readers. Before publishing, the editors must take into consideration whether the photograph can bring negative effects to the readers e.g. offending the readers, invasion of privacy etc. On the other hand, the issue that whether the photographs bring any benefit to the readers must also be considered.
reference list
Bersak D. R, 2006, Ethics in Photojournalism: Past, Present, and Future, p. 2-71,
http://web.mit.edu/drb/Public/PhotoThesis/
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, p.24-37
The news 'Egyptian newspaper under fire over altered photo' reported by BBC on 15th December 2010 brings an issue of ethics in photojournalism. The alteration of the photo has made the Egypt's state-run newspaper come under fire. According to The Nation Press Photographers Association, the photographs that are callously intrusive or are manipulated can cause a serious harm, thus, photographs that have been edited should maintain the integrity of the images' content and context to avoid misleading or misrepresenting (2011).
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| The original photo that was taken on 1st of September from White House shows that President Barack Obama leading the international politicians. (Source: BBC, 2011) |
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| The altered photo with President Mubarak leading (Source: BBC, 2011) |
This case that happened in Egypt was not the first case, there was a case reported on BBC stated 'Reuters drops Beirut photographer' on 8th August, 2006. The news reported the Reuters fired a freelance photographer who has withdrawn from sale 920 of his pictures because of doctoring two images that was taken in Lebanon.
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| A doctored images of an Israeli air striking by Adnan Hajj. (Source: BBC, 2006) |
In my opinion, photographs in journalism must present accurately and trustworthy to the readers. Before publishing, the editors must take into consideration whether the photograph can bring negative effects to the readers e.g. offending the readers, invasion of privacy etc. On the other hand, the issue that whether the photographs bring any benefit to the readers must also be considered.
reference list
Bersak D. R, 2006, Ethics in Photojournalism: Past, Present, and Future, p. 2-71,
http://web.mit.edu/drb/Public/PhotoThesis/
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, p.24-37
Visuals & Situational Context; Ethical Publishing Principles
Berita Harian was required to apology to public on the incident of publishing comic of an Ultraman, Japanese famous anime, running away from Tsunami during the tragic earthquake and tsunami that happened in Japan recently. After the comic has been published, many critics on the image that was being distasteful and insensitive have appeared on Facebook and Twitter. Some reacted with anger to call for boycott the newspaper. The paper posted apologize message expressed that they sympathized and shared the sorrow of Japanese through social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, the paper and their website said that they have 'no intension to of poking fun' on the disaster that hit Japan.
On the other hand, I have found a blog article-Freedom to expression, hello? that respond to this case stated the issues of integrity of the press that related to the disaster in Japan and freedom of speech in Malaysia. The papers must show their respect which can reflect their integrity to people that are suffering in calamity. As a nation Malay language newspaper, the press must have issue of moral sensitivity towards the incident. According to Blackwell Publishing, sensitivity must be exercised when images that have cultural significance or cause offence are being published.
There are similar cases from Singapore's MediaCorp and The Nation of Thailand that occurred after the incident in Japan happened has found in All Voices. They have apologized to the publics of being insensitivity regarding the issues. The medias should avoid in publishing cartoons that could offend the readers or viewers, the victims and the nations as the information can be delivered globally and raise some serious issues.
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| Malaysian newspaper Berita Harian printed a cartoon depicting Japanese cartoon Ultraman outrun from Tsunami on March,13, 2011. (Source: Business Insider) |
On the other hand, I have found a blog article-Freedom to expression, hello? that respond to this case stated the issues of integrity of the press that related to the disaster in Japan and freedom of speech in Malaysia. The papers must show their respect which can reflect their integrity to people that are suffering in calamity. As a nation Malay language newspaper, the press must have issue of moral sensitivity towards the incident. According to Blackwell Publishing, sensitivity must be exercised when images that have cultural significance or cause offence are being published.
There are similar cases from Singapore's MediaCorp and The Nation of Thailand that occurred after the incident in Japan happened has found in All Voices. They have apologized to the publics of being insensitivity regarding the issues. The medias should avoid in publishing cartoons that could offend the readers or viewers, the victims and the nations as the information can be delivered globally and raise some serious issues.
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| Cartoon image that published by The Nation of Thailand, which found to be insensitive towards the calamity of Japan. (Source: allvoices.com) |
In this environment with advance technology, publications can be spread as fast as per seconds. The information can be delivered to the readers or viewers from different medias such as internet, radios, TVs etc around the world. Therefore, publishers need to take ethical publishing principle into consideration before publish.
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