Tuesday 29 March 2011
Did the washing machine change the world more than the internet?
In my opinion, the washing machine has changed the world more than the internet. Although the internet is helpful for information and entertainment, it is mainly for entertainment needs. Yet, internet has been beneficial in communication, as audiences can send and recieve messages in an instant. Moreover, the washing machine has been more revolutionary, as it has liberalised the roles of women, as the washing machine can wash clothes and give women more time to enjoy themselves and not feel restricted to housework tasks. The internet has made family communication less accessible, as the audience spends more time on the internet and less time on intellectual things such as reading. The washing machine on the other hand, has allowed women to be more liberal in terms of housework, and has allowed them to be more independent.
Monday 28 March 2011
Representation Essay Question
It has been said that media representations often reflect social and political concerns of the age in which they are created. Discuss
Over the years, media representations have been constructed in order to reflect the zeitgeist of different years. Notably, the rise of the femme fatale in the early 1940s and 50s challenged the earlier representations of women as housewives, with films such as 'Double Indemnity' (1944) representing women as being powerful and seductive. Nowadays, the constant celebrification of celebrities, reflects social concerns, as the audience are obsessed with celebrities and are able to approach them , with social networking sites such as Twitter bridging the gap between the audience and the celebrity. In music videos, women are subordinated and sexually objectified, as evident in Rihanna's video 'Rude Boy'.Yet, specific media representations may reflect important social and political concerns, such as obesity. The growth of shows based around healthy eating and exercise, for example 'The Biggest Loser' are an example of the social concern, as obese people are often misrepresented as being undesirable and lazy or even marginalised as token characters in films or television shows.
The emergence of the femme fatale in the 1940s and 50s reflected the social and political concerns of that age, as women were being constructed as being dominant and powerful, in contrast to their stereotypical representation as housewives, as seen in television advertising, for example Fairy washing up detergent. Evidently, the film noir genre signified women as the seductive, yet dangerous characters, as seen in 'Double Indemnity' (1994) where Phyllis Dietrichson plays a beautiful yet dangerous femme fatale character, who threatens male superiority. The emergence of the femme fatale certianly confounded fears in men about women having power, as men tried to maintain the status quo by having more power, as evident in television advertising, where 35% of the TV charcters were female in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. However, in the 1970s, women stood up for equality to men and resorted to marches and publicity stunts such as 'burning their bras' in order to speak out against patriachy and misogny towards women.
Likewise, media representations reflect the social and political concerns the age in which they are created, as women in music videos are objectified and subordinated as sex objects. Music videos by Rihanna signify women as sex objects, as they are positioned around the dominant male and are dressed in revealing clothes such as bikinis. As Goffman states, "Men are shown in positions of intelligence. Women are physically portrayed in sexual or reclining poses with blank or inviting expressions." Therefore, women are subordinated in music videos and are dismembered by the use of close up shots to their bodies, such as the breasts or the legs , therefore men gain scocophilic pleasures out of watching women . In contrast, specific videos by Lady Gaga challenge the representation of women, as in her video 'Alejandro', she is constructed as being dominant and powerful, as signified by her black leather costume and position on a higher throne. The video challenges the representation of men, as they are subordinated and objectified, as signified by the fact that they are wearing women's tights and are chained by collars.
The representation of obesity in the media reflects the zeitgeist of the current age, as this issue is regarded as a moral panic in society, with campaigns by the BHF ( British Heart Foundation) to encourage people to exercise and be healthy by eating the right type of food. Moreover, obese people across the media have been marginalised and stereotypically represented as being lazy, greedy and undesirable, as seen with 'Fat Bastard' in Austin Powers , the Obese zombie woman who eats fingers in 'Doghouse', Peter Griffin in Family Guy and other misrepresented stereotypes. As Stanley Cohen suggests, "obese people are treated as folk devils who violate societal values of self control". Therefore, obese people have themselves to blame for their appearance and should be marginalised in society. In most films and television programmes, the obese person is often the 'token character' who is included in order to be ridiculed by the audience for their appearance. Similarly, obese people are also 'ostracized' or expelled from fictional platforms such as magazine advertising due to their appearance.
In conjunction to this, the media representation of obese people reflects a political concern, as well as a social concern, as the UK government is trying to limit obesity by enforcing campaigns to urge obese people to exercise and turn to eating healthier foods such as fruits and veg, e.g. Five a Day. However, alternative representations of obese people in the media shows how determined they are to become thin, for example The Biggest Loser and Supersize vs Superskinny fairly represents obese people as being focused and determined to shed the pounds for personal reasons and are supported by professionals and trainers to achieve thier goal. In these shows, the working class obese people are given a chance to represent themselves positively.
In conclusion, media representations do reflect social and political concerns of the age in which they are created, as they are reflecting the zeitgeist of the age, with representations of women, obese people and celebrities reflecting the audience's desires to what they want to see. By including obese people on television, the audience get a chance to see that obese people desire to want to be thin and have a right to be accepted in society. Similarly, women in specific music videos should be dominant as oppossed to passive.
Over the years, media representations have been constructed in order to reflect the zeitgeist of different years. Notably, the rise of the femme fatale in the early 1940s and 50s challenged the earlier representations of women as housewives, with films such as 'Double Indemnity' (1944) representing women as being powerful and seductive. Nowadays, the constant celebrification of celebrities, reflects social concerns, as the audience are obsessed with celebrities and are able to approach them , with social networking sites such as Twitter bridging the gap between the audience and the celebrity. In music videos, women are subordinated and sexually objectified, as evident in Rihanna's video 'Rude Boy'.Yet, specific media representations may reflect important social and political concerns, such as obesity. The growth of shows based around healthy eating and exercise, for example 'The Biggest Loser' are an example of the social concern, as obese people are often misrepresented as being undesirable and lazy or even marginalised as token characters in films or television shows.
The emergence of the femme fatale in the 1940s and 50s reflected the social and political concerns of that age, as women were being constructed as being dominant and powerful, in contrast to their stereotypical representation as housewives, as seen in television advertising, for example Fairy washing up detergent. Evidently, the film noir genre signified women as the seductive, yet dangerous characters, as seen in 'Double Indemnity' (1994) where Phyllis Dietrichson plays a beautiful yet dangerous femme fatale character, who threatens male superiority. The emergence of the femme fatale certianly confounded fears in men about women having power, as men tried to maintain the status quo by having more power, as evident in television advertising, where 35% of the TV charcters were female in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. However, in the 1970s, women stood up for equality to men and resorted to marches and publicity stunts such as 'burning their bras' in order to speak out against patriachy and misogny towards women.
Likewise, media representations reflect the social and political concerns the age in which they are created, as women in music videos are objectified and subordinated as sex objects. Music videos by Rihanna signify women as sex objects, as they are positioned around the dominant male and are dressed in revealing clothes such as bikinis. As Goffman states, "Men are shown in positions of intelligence. Women are physically portrayed in sexual or reclining poses with blank or inviting expressions." Therefore, women are subordinated in music videos and are dismembered by the use of close up shots to their bodies, such as the breasts or the legs , therefore men gain scocophilic pleasures out of watching women . In contrast, specific videos by Lady Gaga challenge the representation of women, as in her video 'Alejandro', she is constructed as being dominant and powerful, as signified by her black leather costume and position on a higher throne. The video challenges the representation of men, as they are subordinated and objectified, as signified by the fact that they are wearing women's tights and are chained by collars.
The representation of obesity in the media reflects the zeitgeist of the current age, as this issue is regarded as a moral panic in society, with campaigns by the BHF ( British Heart Foundation) to encourage people to exercise and be healthy by eating the right type of food. Moreover, obese people across the media have been marginalised and stereotypically represented as being lazy, greedy and undesirable, as seen with 'Fat Bastard' in Austin Powers , the Obese zombie woman who eats fingers in 'Doghouse', Peter Griffin in Family Guy and other misrepresented stereotypes. As Stanley Cohen suggests, "obese people are treated as folk devils who violate societal values of self control". Therefore, obese people have themselves to blame for their appearance and should be marginalised in society. In most films and television programmes, the obese person is often the 'token character' who is included in order to be ridiculed by the audience for their appearance. Similarly, obese people are also 'ostracized' or expelled from fictional platforms such as magazine advertising due to their appearance.
In conjunction to this, the media representation of obese people reflects a political concern, as well as a social concern, as the UK government is trying to limit obesity by enforcing campaigns to urge obese people to exercise and turn to eating healthier foods such as fruits and veg, e.g. Five a Day. However, alternative representations of obese people in the media shows how determined they are to become thin, for example The Biggest Loser and Supersize vs Superskinny fairly represents obese people as being focused and determined to shed the pounds for personal reasons and are supported by professionals and trainers to achieve thier goal. In these shows, the working class obese people are given a chance to represent themselves positively.
In conclusion, media representations do reflect social and political concerns of the age in which they are created, as they are reflecting the zeitgeist of the age, with representations of women, obese people and celebrities reflecting the audience's desires to what they want to see. By including obese people on television, the audience get a chance to see that obese people desire to want to be thin and have a right to be accepted in society. Similarly, women in specific music videos should be dominant as oppossed to passive.
Tuesday 22 March 2011
Net Neutraility Questions
What is Net Neutraility?
Net Neutraility is when all users have the right to send and receive packets of information equally. The consumers have the right to have the required amount of broadband speed which is offered to them by their ISPs , for example Virgin offers the full 10 mb to its customers and no less than that.
The internet traffic should be kept at the same speed
Is the internet neutral ?
In my opinion, the internet may not be neutral , as consumers have lower internet speeds depending on where they live, for example, consumers may get lower speeds if they are living further away from the internet station. The fact that ISPs offer higher speeds leads to competition between ISPs who are offering higher speeds. Yet, more people may have slower internet speeds due to file sharing, music downloading and movie downloads.
Should it be?
The internet should be neutral, as consumers should have the full required internet speed for their internet, as they are paying for the service. Yet, it can be argued that the internet should not be neutral, as consumers should be penalised by having their internet speed slowed down due to illegal music downloading, file sharing and movie downloading.
Net Neutraility is when all users have the right to send and receive packets of information equally. The consumers have the right to have the required amount of broadband speed which is offered to them by their ISPs , for example Virgin offers the full 10 mb to its customers and no less than that.
The internet traffic should be kept at the same speed
Is the internet neutral ?
In my opinion, the internet may not be neutral , as consumers have lower internet speeds depending on where they live, for example, consumers may get lower speeds if they are living further away from the internet station. The fact that ISPs offer higher speeds leads to competition between ISPs who are offering higher speeds. Yet, more people may have slower internet speeds due to file sharing, music downloading and movie downloads.
Should it be?
The internet should be neutral, as consumers should have the full required internet speed for their internet, as they are paying for the service. Yet, it can be argued that the internet should not be neutral, as consumers should be penalised by having their internet speed slowed down due to illegal music downloading, file sharing and movie downloading.
New York Times article on Net Neutrality
This article is gives an opinion on net neutraility and the fact that the policies surrounding net neutrality were slowed, as critics were skeptical of the plans by Google and Verizon, as consumers would have to be charged for a faster broadband service
Key points from the article:
Net Neutrality Policy Discussions Were Slowed
By VERNE G. KOPYTOFF
Julius Genachowski, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, said on Wednesday that he did not welcome a recent proposal by Google and Verizon about how to regulate Internet service. “I would have preferred if they didn’t do exactly what they did, when they did,” Mr. Genachowski said at the Web 2.0 Summit conference in San Francisco. “It slowed down some of the processes.”
Google and Verizon said in August that they supported rules that would block Internet service providers from charging companies more to send their content over a “fast lane.”
"... rules should not apply to Internet service over mobile phone networks or for any new broadband services rolled out in the future".
"... charging more for faster service would give an advantage to bigger companies and harm innovation".
"... the F.C.C. lacked the authority to keep Internet service providers – Comcast, in this case – from selectively slowing or blocking Internet traffic for certain services".
“We will make sure that we get the rules right, we need to make sure that what we do maximizes innovation and investment across the ecosystem.”
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/17/net-neutrality-policy-discussions-were-slowed/?ref=netneutrality
Key points from the article:
Net Neutrality Policy Discussions Were Slowed
By VERNE G. KOPYTOFF
Julius Genachowski, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, said on Wednesday that he did not welcome a recent proposal by Google and Verizon about how to regulate Internet service. “I would have preferred if they didn’t do exactly what they did, when they did,” Mr. Genachowski said at the Web 2.0 Summit conference in San Francisco. “It slowed down some of the processes.”
Google and Verizon said in August that they supported rules that would block Internet service providers from charging companies more to send their content over a “fast lane.”
"... rules should not apply to Internet service over mobile phone networks or for any new broadband services rolled out in the future".
"... charging more for faster service would give an advantage to bigger companies and harm innovation".
"... the F.C.C. lacked the authority to keep Internet service providers – Comcast, in this case – from selectively slowing or blocking Internet traffic for certain services".
“We will make sure that we get the rules right, we need to make sure that what we do maximizes innovation and investment across the ecosystem.”
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/17/net-neutrality-policy-discussions-were-slowed/?ref=netneutrality
Sunday 20 March 2011
The Telegraph Article on Net Neutrality
This article from The Telegraph gives a more solid opinion on net neutrality, as Barry Diller believes that net neutrality enables the consumers to have a fair right to access the same internet speed to everyone else. By not having net neutrality, consumers are 'held to ransom' by internet service providers and are not allowed to have the full broadband speed which was offered to them by their ISP. Diller feels that like any other utility, consumers should be given the right to get what they pay for- the required speed of broadband.
Net neutrality should be law, says media tycoon
Key points from article
Barry Diller, the chairman of IAC, which owns a host of internet companies, including Ask.com, Vimeo and The Daily Beast, has called for net neutrality to be enshrined in US law.
Speaking at South By Southwest in Austin, Texas, Diller said: “We need an unambiguous rule - a law - that nobody will step between the publisher and the consumer, full stop.”
"... without net neutrality, which guarantees that all internet traffic will be treated equally, regardless of its type, a small number of companies would be able to hold consumers “to ransom”.
Diller said that '.... internet access should be a utility, like electricity, and that service providers demands to be allowed to charge different amounts for different types of traffic was like “asking the toaster to pay for the electricity”.
“The internet is a miracle. It shouldn’t have happened [...] You push a button and you publish to the world.”
"... attempts to limit net neutrality were an attack on that freedom."
Diller echoed those views, saying that he had asked a cable company executive why he was against net neutrality, despite the inherent fairness of treating all traffic equally. The executive, who Diller did not name, told him: “Fairness has nothing to do with it. We get all the money right now. We don’t want anyone else to get the money and that’s why we’re against net neutrality.”
In Britain, the Government has refused to back net neutrality but Ed Vaizey, the Communications Minister, told the Telegraph last year that his priority was “an open internet”. He said: “Should the internet develop in a way that was detrimental to consumer interests we would seek to intervene.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/sxsw/8382431/Net-neutrality-should-be-law-says-media-tycoon.html
Net neutrality should be law, says media tycoon
Key points from article
Barry Diller, the chairman of IAC, which owns a host of internet companies, including Ask.com, Vimeo and The Daily Beast, has called for net neutrality to be enshrined in US law.
Speaking at South By Southwest in Austin, Texas, Diller said: “We need an unambiguous rule - a law - that nobody will step between the publisher and the consumer, full stop.”
"... without net neutrality, which guarantees that all internet traffic will be treated equally, regardless of its type, a small number of companies would be able to hold consumers “to ransom”.
Diller said that '.... internet access should be a utility, like electricity, and that service providers demands to be allowed to charge different amounts for different types of traffic was like “asking the toaster to pay for the electricity”.
“The internet is a miracle. It shouldn’t have happened [...] You push a button and you publish to the world.”
"... attempts to limit net neutrality were an attack on that freedom."
Diller echoed those views, saying that he had asked a cable company executive why he was against net neutrality, despite the inherent fairness of treating all traffic equally. The executive, who Diller did not name, told him: “Fairness has nothing to do with it. We get all the money right now. We don’t want anyone else to get the money and that’s why we’re against net neutrality.”
In Britain, the Government has refused to back net neutrality but Ed Vaizey, the Communications Minister, told the Telegraph last year that his priority was “an open internet”. He said: “Should the internet develop in a way that was detrimental to consumer interests we would seek to intervene.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/sxsw/8382431/Net-neutrality-should-be-law-says-media-tycoon.html
The Guardian Article on Net Neutrality
This article from The Guardian is based around net neutraility and the fact that ISPs ( Internet Service Providers) are willing to shift to a 'two speed internet' policy, where consumers get the full speed broadband they are offered. However, the ISPs are also trying to find ways of reducing the internet traffic if consumers are video viewing, music streaming or movie downloading illegally.
ISPs to outline stance on net neutrality
Key points from the article
BT, Sky and Virgin Media – along with the rest of Britain's leading internet service providers – will next week outline an industry-wide "code of practice" on how they explain controversial "two-speed internet" policies to customers.
The ISPs plan to publish how they manage internet traffic – such as video viewing, music streaming and movie downloading – in comparison to their rivals. That will make clear if they throttle popular services such as the BBC's iPlayer to maintain capacity for all customers on their network.
However, the companies – whose ranks also include the leading mobile operators – will not commit to a minimum service standard, even though some phone companies believe that "there should be a basic commitment to let people browse everything on the internet".
The agreement follows a wide-ranging debate on "net neutrality" – whether ISPs should be allowed to charge content companies such as the BBC or Google for faster delivery to the nation's homes.
Under the plans, described as a "voluntary code of conduct" by people at the meeting, ISPs will be compelled to publish a "scorecard" of how they speed up and slow down traffic and for which companies. But internet providers will still be allowed to throttle public access to video and peer-to-peer services if they wish.
Most ISPs manage traffic at peak times to enable faster speeds for their customers. The BBC has been in fights with ISPs over the amount of bandwidth used to stream its iPlayer service.
In November, the corporation said it would introduce a "traffic light system" on the iPlayer, so that viewers could say whether their connection was being slowed down by providers.
Mark Thompson, the BBC director general, publicly intervened in the net neutrality debate in January, saying an internet "fast lane" could undermine the corporation's responsibility to deliver programming to the nation's homes.
"As the web becomes a vehicle for the transport of richer and richer content, the question of whether all content from all providers is treated equally by the networks becomes ever sharper," he said.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/mar/09/isps-outline-stance-net-neutrality
ISPs to outline stance on net neutrality
Key points from the article
BT, Sky and Virgin Media – along with the rest of Britain's leading internet service providers – will next week outline an industry-wide "code of practice" on how they explain controversial "two-speed internet" policies to customers.
The ISPs plan to publish how they manage internet traffic – such as video viewing, music streaming and movie downloading – in comparison to their rivals. That will make clear if they throttle popular services such as the BBC's iPlayer to maintain capacity for all customers on their network.
However, the companies – whose ranks also include the leading mobile operators – will not commit to a minimum service standard, even though some phone companies believe that "there should be a basic commitment to let people browse everything on the internet".
The agreement follows a wide-ranging debate on "net neutrality" – whether ISPs should be allowed to charge content companies such as the BBC or Google for faster delivery to the nation's homes.
Under the plans, described as a "voluntary code of conduct" by people at the meeting, ISPs will be compelled to publish a "scorecard" of how they speed up and slow down traffic and for which companies. But internet providers will still be allowed to throttle public access to video and peer-to-peer services if they wish.
Most ISPs manage traffic at peak times to enable faster speeds for their customers. The BBC has been in fights with ISPs over the amount of bandwidth used to stream its iPlayer service.
In November, the corporation said it would introduce a "traffic light system" on the iPlayer, so that viewers could say whether their connection was being slowed down by providers.
Mark Thompson, the BBC director general, publicly intervened in the net neutrality debate in January, saying an internet "fast lane" could undermine the corporation's responsibility to deliver programming to the nation's homes.
"As the web becomes a vehicle for the transport of richer and richer content, the question of whether all content from all providers is treated equally by the networks becomes ever sharper," he said.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/mar/09/isps-outline-stance-net-neutrality
Tuesday 8 March 2011
Practice Exam Question
"Digital Media, has , in many ways changed how we consume media products. Who do you think benefits most- audiences or producers?
In today's society, digital media has managed to change the way in which the audience can consume media products, as platforms such as e media allow the audience to watch news and be updated on the latest rolling news stories via websites such as BBC news, Channel 4 and ITV. In addition, the audience have freedom of speech on the e media platform, as they can create their own videos and comment on videos made by other people. Similarly, the broadcast platform benefits the audience, as they can record TV shows they have missed on their PVRs and can watch +1 channels which have been time shifted to meet the needs of the audience. As well as the audience, producers can benefit from digital media, as companies such as Apple have the power to accept or reject applications, yet developers can generate profit from selling their products on an Apple app. In addition, producers can benefit from advertising on websites as well as social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, where adverts are tailored to the audiences' interests.
On one hand, producers may benefit more from digital media, as the e media platform enables them to appeal to a wider audience. Notably, producers can use online advertising as a way of appealing to specific audiences, for example teenagers. Adverts such as Orange mobile which appears on the Facebook homepage is aimed at teenagers, as the company intends to attract a younger audience to sign a mobile phone contract with Orange as well as other offers aimed at a teenage demographic. As well as this adverts for concerts and marketing for radio stations such as Capital Radio encourages the audience to consume their products. In regards to news, newspaper companies such as The Guardian have a comments section beneath every article, which benefits them , as they can be informed of what people think of news stories and current affairs. Similarly, the availability of blogs on the internet , as well as journalist pages on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter encourage a mutual relationship between the producers and the audience, as journalists may use the audiences' blog for research, with audiences responding to articles by journalists on the comments section in The Guardian. Though, the audience may be of use for journalists, as they may provide evidence surrounding injustices, as seen with the Ian Tomlinson incident, where he was beaten by police. By accessing a video of the incident, journalist Paul Lewis was able to scrutinise the police and benefited from the mutualistion of news with the audience.
Furthermore, the producers may benefit from digital media, as companies such as Apple can reject or accept application proposals by developers, hence benefiting from having the power to control what is in the App Store. Though, it can be adjudged that the developers benefit more, as they get 70% worth of revenue from having their apps in the App store and monitoring the App Store. As well as this, media conglomerates such as News Corp have taken advantage of change in digital media, as Murdoch's launch of The Daily, an exclusive online newspaper benefits producers, as the dynamic content has been aggregated and written by over 100 journalists from News Corp's host of newspapers , for example The New York Post, The New Yorker and News International. By having a push subscription feature, The Daily can generate profit , which would benefit the producers as well as News Corp, as it the first online newspaper on a handheld device. Though, producers of news based apps such as The Guardian, Yahoo News, New York Times can benefit by having their products on a smart phones such as Blackberries, Iphones and Android phones.
On the contrary, it can be argued that audiences benefit the most from digital media, as they can subscribe to RSS feeds based around any categories, for example sport, current affairs, on news websites such as BBC News, as well as newspaper websites such as The Guardian, The Independent and The Observer and a host of newspaper sites. Whats more, audiences have the chance to catch up on programmes they have missed on catch up services such as BBC iplayer, ITV player and Channel 4OD. By having this service, audiences can select a specific time to watch their favourite programmes and are not restricted to a daily schedule. Similarly, on the broadcast platform, audiences can record TV shows on their PVRs (Personal Video Recorders) and can watch +1 channels which are time shifted in order for the audience to watch their favourite shows.
In accordance to this, the Apple App store benefits the audience, as they are more plural in the fact that they can purchase apps based around their interests for example, business apps or gaming apps. The range of apps available in different categories offers gratifications to the audience, as the apps may be tailored to a specific group such as businessmen, parents and teenagers, as well as explorers and mainstreamers, as the app store is a big brand product, with new apps being launched every day. By having a wide variety of apps, audiences such as teenagers may purchase game apps for diversion , as well as apps for keeping current, as the A and B socio economic group might want to be updated by the latest news. Furthermore, the apps may also encourage personal identity, as the audience can improve their character, with apps such as Goal Happy focusing on organisation and work. These apps may also allow the audiences such as single people to form relationships, as evident with apps such as Mind The Gap which informs the user of love nearby. In addition, the audience may also purchase apps in order to fulfill their esteem needs and self actualisation needs, as specific apps are focused on productivity, for example Mind Your Business is aimed at businessmen and appointments which can be made or cancelled. The presence of these apps may make the audiences' life more convenient and beneficial, as they as they are regarded as 'status symbols' and contain a range of apps which can be accessed in one device.
Another way in which the audience benefits from digital media is that they can create their own content and are active producers of texts. The rise of citizen journalism benefits the audience, as they can voice their opinions towards injustice, as seen with the student protests, where students campaigned against higher tuition fees. Similarly, the audience have also been crucial in showing injustice surrounding the police, who have been beating protesters in protests, as evident with the G20 protests. In accordance to this, audiences can be informed of the scandals surrounding the government, as illustrated with MP's expenses in 2010, where MPs were scrutinised for thier spending of tax payer's money on themselves. Notably, the Wikileaks dossier which exposes different government secrets to the audience, thus resulting in a transparent government.
On the whole, it can be argued that audiences benefit more from digital media rather than producers, as they can produce their own content on viral sites such as Youtube and can have freedom of speech on blogs and contribute with journalists, as well as with journalism, as they can document the injustices of governments or certain individuals, for example Colonel Gaddafi in Libya and can document footage of events as they unfold, rather than being passive viewers of news. As well as this, the audience have the ability to watch news on catch up services such as BBC iplayer, ITV player and Channel 4OD and can also record shows which they have missed via PVRs, thus making it convenient for them to watch their shows at any time. As well as this, smart phones may benefit the audience, as they can purchase apps on the App store which may be based around their interests, for example games, sport.
On one hand, producers may benefit more from digital media, as the e media platform enables them to appeal to a wider audience. Notably, producers can use online advertising as a way of appealing to specific audiences, for example teenagers. Adverts such as Orange mobile which appears on the Facebook homepage is aimed at teenagers, as the company intends to attract a younger audience to sign a mobile phone contract with Orange as well as other offers aimed at a teenage demographic. As well as this adverts for concerts and marketing for radio stations such as Capital Radio encourages the audience to consume their products. In regards to news, newspaper companies such as The Guardian have a comments section beneath every article, which benefits them , as they can be informed of what people think of news stories and current affairs. Similarly, the availability of blogs on the internet , as well as journalist pages on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter encourage a mutual relationship between the producers and the audience, as journalists may use the audiences' blog for research, with audiences responding to articles by journalists on the comments section in The Guardian. Though, the audience may be of use for journalists, as they may provide evidence surrounding injustices, as seen with the Ian Tomlinson incident, where he was beaten by police. By accessing a video of the incident, journalist Paul Lewis was able to scrutinise the police and benefited from the mutualistion of news with the audience.
Furthermore, the producers may benefit from digital media, as companies such as Apple can reject or accept application proposals by developers, hence benefiting from having the power to control what is in the App Store. Though, it can be adjudged that the developers benefit more, as they get 70% worth of revenue from having their apps in the App store and monitoring the App Store. As well as this, media conglomerates such as News Corp have taken advantage of change in digital media, as Murdoch's launch of The Daily, an exclusive online newspaper benefits producers, as the dynamic content has been aggregated and written by over 100 journalists from News Corp's host of newspapers , for example The New York Post, The New Yorker and News International. By having a push subscription feature, The Daily can generate profit , which would benefit the producers as well as News Corp, as it the first online newspaper on a handheld device. Though, producers of news based apps such as The Guardian, Yahoo News, New York Times can benefit by having their products on a smart phones such as Blackberries, Iphones and Android phones.
On the contrary, it can be argued that audiences benefit the most from digital media, as they can subscribe to RSS feeds based around any categories, for example sport, current affairs, on news websites such as BBC News, as well as newspaper websites such as The Guardian, The Independent and The Observer and a host of newspaper sites. Whats more, audiences have the chance to catch up on programmes they have missed on catch up services such as BBC iplayer, ITV player and Channel 4OD. By having this service, audiences can select a specific time to watch their favourite programmes and are not restricted to a daily schedule. Similarly, on the broadcast platform, audiences can record TV shows on their PVRs (Personal Video Recorders) and can watch +1 channels which are time shifted in order for the audience to watch their favourite shows.
In accordance to this, the Apple App store benefits the audience, as they are more plural in the fact that they can purchase apps based around their interests for example, business apps or gaming apps. The range of apps available in different categories offers gratifications to the audience, as the apps may be tailored to a specific group such as businessmen, parents and teenagers, as well as explorers and mainstreamers, as the app store is a big brand product, with new apps being launched every day. By having a wide variety of apps, audiences such as teenagers may purchase game apps for diversion , as well as apps for keeping current, as the A and B socio economic group might want to be updated by the latest news. Furthermore, the apps may also encourage personal identity, as the audience can improve their character, with apps such as Goal Happy focusing on organisation and work. These apps may also allow the audiences such as single people to form relationships, as evident with apps such as Mind The Gap which informs the user of love nearby. In addition, the audience may also purchase apps in order to fulfill their esteem needs and self actualisation needs, as specific apps are focused on productivity, for example Mind Your Business is aimed at businessmen and appointments which can be made or cancelled. The presence of these apps may make the audiences' life more convenient and beneficial, as they as they are regarded as 'status symbols' and contain a range of apps which can be accessed in one device.
Another way in which the audience benefits from digital media is that they can create their own content and are active producers of texts. The rise of citizen journalism benefits the audience, as they can voice their opinions towards injustice, as seen with the student protests, where students campaigned against higher tuition fees. Similarly, the audience have also been crucial in showing injustice surrounding the police, who have been beating protesters in protests, as evident with the G20 protests. In accordance to this, audiences can be informed of the scandals surrounding the government, as illustrated with MP's expenses in 2010, where MPs were scrutinised for thier spending of tax payer's money on themselves. Notably, the Wikileaks dossier which exposes different government secrets to the audience, thus resulting in a transparent government.
On the whole, it can be argued that audiences benefit more from digital media rather than producers, as they can produce their own content on viral sites such as Youtube and can have freedom of speech on blogs and contribute with journalists, as well as with journalism, as they can document the injustices of governments or certain individuals, for example Colonel Gaddafi in Libya and can document footage of events as they unfold, rather than being passive viewers of news. As well as this, the audience have the ability to watch news on catch up services such as BBC iplayer, ITV player and Channel 4OD and can also record shows which they have missed via PVRs, thus making it convenient for them to watch their shows at any time. As well as this, smart phones may benefit the audience, as they can purchase apps on the App store which may be based around their interests, for example games, sport.
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