Week 8: Citizen Journalism and New Media Audiences

Before talk about citizen journalism in details, let's compare communication pattern between old and new media. Old media only allows individual conversation, which means one to one such as letters and telephones. But, new media allows mass communication, many individuals can involve in the same conversation such as email, attn, cc, bcc, you can send the same email to many individuals.

We did discuss media convergence in previous so, one of the characteristics of the new media is cosumers become prosumers. 

Consumer + Producer = Prosumer

It refers to nowadays we people are not only using the media but also contribute materials or information via the media. For example, Blogger.com, a blogspot owner is the consumer of Blogger and he is the producer too as he publishes web logs within his blog. Moreover, network nodes change the flow of information and more information are generated within the network. Thus, the world changes the ways to contribute or publish information especially in journalism.  

Furthermore, tradition media for publication such as newspapers and magazine have limited information due to limited columns, expensive printing and the distribution is limited too, like what we have discussed in previous post entry too. On the other hand web logs or blog can reach wider audiences and various written works can be published with low cost or even free and no entry requirements. Then, these advantages encourage people to publish their written works via web logs and citizen journalism is formed. Basically, citizen journalism refers to anyone of us can become the journalist, write something, and publish it through online. Web log, this new media for publication can reach audiences globally and then, anyone of us could be the readers or audiences of web logs as long as we are connected to the networks. 

Based on industry point of view, journalism should contain news values which are proximity, timeliness, prominence, novelty, and human interests. The stories published via web logs could achieve all these news values too and web logs are more advanced in timeliness as updates can be made immediately through online, not like newspapers, editing has to wait until next publication. Moreover, newspapers need to be profitable, that is why many advertisements but web logs not necessary need to be profitable and online journalism could offer a collection of news which is free one and always available. Internet shares information by the speed of lights thus, the news can be shared to many people at the same time.  

In addition, citizen journalism is about people can create any information, news or materials through online media thus, it could lead to information avalanche - overflow or too much of information. Besides, there are no gatekeeper to filter the information and more and more similar information can be distributed through out the networks and quality of the works would be affected too. However, citizen journalism encourages instant feedback that makes the information more valuable. It means, readers could share their opinions through online immediately and make the content richer. 

In conclusion, I am a citizen journalist too. I use Blogger to publish my written works and I could interact with my readers by commenting. 

Let's enjoy a simple animation about tradition journalism vs. citizen journalism. This video talks how citizen journalism works and benefit. 

Markfior 2009, Old vs new, YouTube.com [ URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRlKol4Usxw&feature=related ]

viewed at 26th September 2011.  

Week 7: Weblogs

This week reading: 

Shirky. C. 2002, Weblogs and the mass amateurization of publishing. [URL: http://shirky.com/writings/weblogs_publishing.html] Retrieved on 23th September 2011.

First, what are weblogs? A weblog or web log, refers to a web site that contains information arranged in reverse chronological order and the site owner or users contribute the sources and information (TechTarget 2000).

The article discusses weblogs affect the ways of publishing written works and influence the ways we generate income by using weblogs. Weblogs are effective tools to publish information, news, and weblogs also can be used as an online diary. May weblogs such as Google's Blogger, WordPress are free, and getting more prosumers or produsers use weblogs for publishing their creative works then, get revenue. Here are some points need to be highlighted:

1. "Mass amateurization is the web's normal pattern"

Mass amateurization? It sounds difficult to understand right? Basically, it refers to nowadays the weblogs can reproduce and distribute unlimited written works with a low cost or even free. Then, no gatekeepers to filter the works so, the quality of works would become not so professional like the traditional publication such as newspapers. 

2. "We want a world where global publishing is effortless"

However,  weblogs are important due to we can share information by no costs and entry level. Anyone of us can create and distribute any information included personal thoughts via weblogs. Moreover, weblogs are not like the traditional media, weblogs can reach a wider audiences with a lower cost. Weblogs do not need any printing to be distributed through out the nation and networks are no border, any information shared through weblogs can flow throughout the networks and everyone from anywhere is able to read it. 

3.  "Weblogs can serve as indirect methods for revenue"

So, here comes the most interesting part: how we can generate revenue by weblogs? The article gave a few examples, such as Amazon affiliate program, and asking for donations. Amazon affiliate program enables weblogs owners to get revenue by promoting books from Amazon within the weblogs. Owners need to agree to put a widget that consists of book list so when readers visit the particular weblogs, they might aware of the book list and click on it. After that, weblogs owners could receive revenue based on the clicks. 

Amazon affiliate program

Amazon Associates, What is the amazon associates program?, Amazon.com [ URL: https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/gp/associates/join/getstarted ]

Image retrieved on 23th September 2011. 

In addition, like Google also provides AdSense to let Blogger users generate revenue while blogging. It also works similar like Amazon affiliate program. Once the owners opt for AdSense, an online advertisement will be placed in their blogs and they get the income based on the clicks on the advertisements too. 

Paypal donation button. Users can generate their own Paypal donation button. For more information visit: 

MaMa's Helpdesk 2011, How to create Paypal donation button when donation option is not visible, blogspot. [ URL: http://mama-helpdesk.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-to-make-paypal-donation-button-when.html ]

Image retrieved on 23th September 2011.

The article discusses another way to generate revenue is asking for donations such as Amazon and Paypal tip jars.  Certain weblogs are self sponsored to provide paid information or materials such as music. Thus, they need donations from readers to maintain their weblogs. Readers could pay the donations to the weblogs owners by credit cards or Paypal money.

Due to weblogs can reach widest audiences throughout the networks and advertisement exposure is higher therefore, many organizations would advertise on weblogs. Furthermore, advertising community is formed to let advertisements to be published on suitable weblogs and let the weblogs owners to get revenue, for example Nuffnang Malaysia. 

In conclusion, weblogs can reach mass readers or audiences. Everyone can distribute their works through weblogs, weblogs require no entry level, no barriers to publish works, and most important weblogs are mostly free service. Weblogs are ideal platforms to let us share written works and whatever we like. Besides, we could get revenue while we blog too. 

Reference:
TechTarget, 2000, What is weblog?, SearchSOA [ URL: http://searchsoa.techtarget.com/definition/weblog ]
Viewed at 23th September 2011. 

Week 6: Convergence

What is convergence? It refers to the flow of content across multiple media platforms (such as smart phones, CDs) have migrated or mutated in between of the company and media industries. To make it simple, convergence means the media platforms change the behaviors and usages.  For example, you can use mobile phone to log in Facebook, Microsoft Xbox 360 allows you not only play games but also playing dvd, music, and online. 

Next, due to media and networks are converging , now we have two new terms "prosumer" and "produser". Both terms are similar, they describe a person is a consumer or user and producer at the same time. For example, I am the user of Google blogspot but at the same time I am the producer too because I am writing blog post like this. I produce information. "Prosumer" and "produser" are the new phenomena of media and networks convergence. 

One of the characteristics of convergence is change from analogue to digital. A good example would be newspapers. Newspapers from printed copy shift to online one such as The Star, www.thestar.com.my. Readers could obtain news either from hard copy or through online. Online copies are more updated and timeliness. Besides, certain media also use analogue medium to perform well such as the DJ uses vinyl to do music but there are new type of vinyl that allows DJ produce music with CDs. 

In addition, the advantages of convergence are able to multitasking and high availablity. Able to multitasking refers to convergent technologies like Internet allow users to do various works at the same time and also by the use of one medium only. For example, information search, social networking by using personal computer or laptop. While, high availability refers to the media, information, and other kinds of materials are available 24 hours and 365 days. Internet would not sleep thus, we could obtani to all the contents that available within the networks at anytime. Moreover, it is easier to access the contents if compare to old media such as newspapers, magazine, you have to search contents from a bulk of newspapers which is not effective. 

Then, the disadvantage is hard to categorize the media and also the content. For example, smart phone. Nowadays, we can use smart phone to email, text, call, and even log in Facebook or twitter. Smart phone allows multitasking and look like it is not longer like a phone that for phone calls only. Therefore, how should we define the smart phone as what kind of media? Is it a phone? or multitasking gadget? 

Last, the old media would not die but it change its form or the ways to deliver is mutated. We are not longer only receive information from old media such as newspapers, books and we actually can read books in digital forms such as e-books, or via Kindler reader. It is interesting to see the media converged and share information without charging. Like we could search information through Google.com and it is free. But, we do need the gadgets to access to free services and also obtain information. For example, we need a computer to use Google search engine.

Week 5 Lecture - Intellectual Property

This week blog post would be related to the lecturer that given by Mr. Faizal and this week (week 5) lecture was about Intellectual Property.

So what is intellectual property?

Basically, intellectual property refers to the creations, inventions of literary and artistic works, logos, names, images that can be used in commerce. For example, book, music, film, logo for business could be intellectual properties.

We do need lawsuit to protect our intellectual property since we created it by our own minds and ideas.

The lecture did mention one good point, if there was no protection for the things we created then why do we still need to create new things? Thus, we now have several laws to protect all creations and inventions such as Copyright Act. The first copyright act has been implied on 400 years ago - Statue of Queen Anne (1710). It encourages people to write more books and it also known as the origin of copyright. Then, more copyright act or law have been formed in many countries. The lecture mostly discussed the possible law or act that protect creative works. The common protections we have to know are Copyright Law, Trademark, and Patent.

Next, we commonly see the law that protect all the creations is Copyright Law. It applies to creative works such as music, art printing, books and it do not require creators to register. The creative work would automatically obtain the protection once it is published in public. The protection lasts for 70 years and the creative work would be released to public after author's death,  we call it as "Public Domain". While corporate authorship lasts longer which is 95 to 120 years. The protection duration would be varied based on different countries' copyright law or act. Creative works which fall into Public Domain are free from copyright and the creative works are available to everyone, we could reuse them freely.

On the other hand, another protection we should not left out is Trademark. Trademark is different from Copyright Law. It applies to sign, logo, or picture which represents the brand and company and usually for commercial purposes. For example, McDonald's®. The ® mark behind the name refers to the name McDonald's® has been registered as a trade mark and others need to grant permission from McDonald's® if they want to use the name in other purposes. Another significant way to identify whether the creative works are protected by Trademark is looking at ™. ™ refers to the unregistered trade mark used to promote goods. Besides, SM are for unregistered service mark used to promote services.

After that, Patent refers to a set of rights that protect the inventions which are technologically based. Patent protects technology stuffs, gadgets, or even technology ideas and it expires after 20 years. What would happen if the protection is expired? The inventor could offer to sell his or her invention or for businesses would come out with similar inventions.

On the other hand, we are the "users" of all the inventions and creative works then, what are the things we should aware? Can we use the copyrighted materials without breaching the lawsuit?

There is a set of rights titled "Fair Use". We can use a copyrighted material in the situation of fair use such as education purpose. But, the condition is you have to remain the nature of the copyrighted material. Furthermore, Fair Use allows others to use the copyrighted material especially music not more than 30 seconds. If exceed the limit, you are against the rights. 

Then, things that we need to aware are Digital Rights Management (DRM) and End User License Agreement. DRM refers to the embedded technology on the digital copyrighted materials and protect ways to access to the materials.  It aims to restrict and control how you use the materials. For example, certain CDs with this technology would not allow you to copy all the tracks into your computer. We users could only play the CDs on certain devices. Nevertheless, End User License Agreement is the document stated users buy the permission to use the material but they do not own the copy. It can usually be found during the first time access to the copyrighted material such as games, softwares, and also services. We need to agree it first then, only can use the material therefore, always read through and identify the risks while using the material. 

In conclusion, the rights that protect creative works and inventions would limit us to obtain the information. It is because we could not reuse the copyrighted materials and we would have limitation to access to the information especially the one with DRM protection. However, all these kinds of rights are needed to protect the original creators and inventors to make sure they have the greatest benefits. We also could not simply make fun of the original creative works.