NDM: The key concepts of audience and institution

1)What was the relationship between audience and institution in the pre-digital age?

In our digital era, the rules of the game are changing, and the balance of power between institutions and audiences – two key media concepts – is shifting' The relationship between audiences and institutions were, a lot simpler than what it is now. There was a one way flow of media where the economically powerful institutions, distribute packaged media products to carefully defined audience members. This accentuates the strong dominance that institutions held in comparison to the audience, who had not much opportunity for democracy in terms of media production and conveyed ideologies. 'In the last century, media products were produced by economically powerful organisations which packaged and sold them to carefully defined audiences. 

2)The article was the relationship between audience and institutions. Choose three examples from the article and summaries what the writer is saying about each of them.

• Sky one: needs income from subscribers and results in longer lasting consumers.
• ITV: the income comes from advertisers. Institutions appeal to much bigger audiences.
• The mail online: It receives more income the loner a reader stays on the site, so stories will feature lots of images and videos, and sensationalised or controversial headlines will be constructed to temp readers to click on it. 

3)The article ends with a section on the digital age. Summarise this section in 50 words

Audiences now have more freedom to access media products when they choose, rather than when they are told. Mobile technology allows audiences to carry TV programmes, films, music and all that is on offer on the internet on tablets and smartphones. Modern audiences now expect to be able to communicate directly with institutions, and to be able to construct their own media products for themselves.

4)How do you see the relationship between audience and institutions in the future? Will audience gain increasing power or will the major global media institutions hold sway?

At the moment audiences have more freedom to access media products when they choose, rather than when they are told. Mobile technology allows audiences to carry TV programmes, films, musicand all that is on offer on the internet on tablets and smartphones. Modern audiences now expect to be able to communicate directly with institutions, and to be able to construct their own media products for themselves. In the future, I see audiences having more control. They will have even more power as technology evolves every year. Institutions are going to have to adapt to what the audience prefers and wants.

NDM case study: News on the Tweet

Why are the respected news brands good news for Twitter?

Respected news brands are good news for Twitter as they have become inter-dependent and mutually beneficial. We are immersed in news. We want to be the first to know and also to be guided by expert insight and interpretation. The combination of news brands and Twitter helps keep us informed and opinionated. Each helps the other to grow its audiences and influence. The relationship between news brands and Twitter is perfectly balanced: 64% of newspaper followers say Twitter helps ensure that established news brands continue to resonate with new audiences.


Why in turn is Twitter good for respected news brands?

We expect news to come quickly and frequently and with instant accuracy. These demands on news brands, make it such a good partner with Twitter. This is advantageous for the industry as Twitter brings new readers: 60% of UK news brand followers say they follow newspaper brands that normally they wouldn't read in print. Furthermore, news titles are expected to summarise what the whole story is about, the moment they arrive people live blog about them.

 The report suggests that old and new digital 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 yo agree with it? 

They say that enhancement comes in four different ways. These include: Knowledge, opinion, community and gossip and banter.
Gossip and Banter: Having a bit of banter or gossip about celebrities, sports or political scandals are all part of the entertainment and are often turned to when news brand followers want to relax. They are looking for both humour as well as ‘backstage access’ into the lives of the people and things they are interested in. They are responsible for some of the most popular individual tweeters.
Knowledge: Being the first to know - immediate knowledge (“I want to be the first to know”) – and then insight and analysis as the story develops.
Community: Connecting with like-minded people - Twitter and news brands together provide a real sense of community – “discovering people with shared interests I wouldn't otherwise meet”.
Opinion: Being part of the wider debate - having your say - The knowledge helps shape and reflect opinions, by giving immediate access to opinion, from friends, the general public and most importantly the tweeters they follow as well as access to the debate from a variety of sources

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

• 'I reveal the shocking truth behind Jennifer Aniston’s new hair'
• 'Red carpet awks moment from last night as my microphone chord gets stuck to @KlassMyleene’s dress!'
• 'Do these pants make Kim Kardashian’s bum look big?'
• 'The most amazing thing about the story of President Hollande having an affair is that he apparently only has one pair of shoes'
• 'Excellent: a University has spent £20,000 building a mock pub for students to investigate why people get drunk'

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

In my opinion, i think that it is ruining the reputation of the news and journalists. This is due to the fact that large amounts of people are mocking these institutions and so when members of the public see these tweets, they wont take these businesses seriously and may constantly tweet negative things about them, having a huge impact on them.

What does the report say about trust in Twitter and journalists (look at pages 34-39)?
Almost half of all Twitter users, and almost two thirds of newsbrand users, say it is important that news on Twitter is verified by a respected brand. This helps build trust in the content.
Journalists on Twitter are a trustworthy and faster source of news: 39%
I feel I have a more personal connection with journalists: 69%
I follow Twitter gives me access to journalists I wouldn’t otherwise connect with: 48%

Finally, do you think  new and digital media developments such as Twitter have had a positive or negative impact on traditional newspapers?
In my opinion, i think that new and digital media have had a negative impact on traditional newspapers. This is due to the fact that, more and more people are using the internent for information. Its easy, quick and right in front you. Traditional newspapers are going into a decline because of this.

Globalisation and the media: wider issues

1) Why was Google Glass controversial?

Google Glass was controversial as it impending arrival of the new gadget as sparked some outrage and debate. There is a sense of alienation flowing from the arrival of the product that it might just dehumanise us. i.e desensitise us and also make us less social in terms of connecting with people in real life for instance. Its is also very pricey within its thousand pound ranges and it is rumoured that more competition is on its way from Microsoft and apple, which will bring the price down.

2) What are the positive elements to Globalisation that the article highlights?

Positives would be that people are more enriched by globalisation and are also better off in term so of being more accessible when it comes to one another. it can help to inform people better and benefit the democratic process particularly. Technological determinism is ought to be one major advantage of the release of the product, that fact that we will be hands free and allowed to do things without the actual need of software reliance. Moreover another term best for this would be the idea of 'technological convergence': the trend of technologies to merge into new technologies that bring together a range of media.

3) What are potential negatives to Globalisation?

However this said can only occur from a concentration of large MNC's, and so this means that is limited choice for people if we thinking about it. Looking particularly at the fact that only a small amount of large media conglomerates actually rule and decide what we consume, limits us as recipients of the media so those that dominate the market can easily take over us.

4) What is a techno-panic? How does it link to moral panics?

'By extension, a techno-panic is therefore a moral panic that centres onfears regarding specific contemporary technology or technological activity.'

5) What is your opinion on the privacy debate and major corporations being able to access large quantities of personal data?

I don't agree with this as I think that MNC's already have so much media power and control over us that for us as consumers to be giving into the temptation of such a new gadget would just be wrong. Its a violation of our privacy and its a way of slyly finding out information that we all would rather chose to keep quite private.

NDM News: Globalisation

1) Is our news influenced by American cultural imperialism? What examples can you think of?

I think that our news is influenced by the American cultural imperialism. This is because most content produced in the UK's news is mainly american based. For example, Obama is very popular in the UK as the news always produce information about him as well as celebrities from the USA are shown on the news and many more. Also, the theme 

2) Has the increased globalisation of news improved the audience experience? How? Why?

I think that it has improved the audiences experiences as they are being able to access a variety of information, which could get out of control as they are seeing and hearing more than they should be. Globalisation allows you to get different views and opinions on situations etc. and this is up to you whether you want to believe if its true or not.

3) Has globalisation benefited or damaged major news institutions? How? Why?

I think that it has not benefited news institutions as there have been a variety of different views and opinions and other resources over the  internet which can cause institutions to go into a decline as the public will be using other sites

2 articles

#23 What would Tanzaia's cost-cutting president do? Twitter responds
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/01/tanzania-cost-cutting-president-john-magufuli-twitter

Tanzania’s newly elected president known as the bulldozer, has become a Twitter sensation across Africa after introducing radical government cost-cutting measures. Immediately after this, he scrapped independent selections, choosing instead to spend money on sanitation, fighting cholera and new beds and equipment for hospitals. Saying that it is shameful to be “spending huge amounts of money to celebrate 54 years of independence when our people are dying of cholera”.

• A state dinner for the official opening of the country’s parliament, for example, was going to cost 300m Tanzanian shillings (£92,500)
• Magufuli slashed the budget to 25m and ordered that the rest of the money be used to buy 300 hospital beds and 600 sheets.

#24 YouTube tipped to strike licensing deals for TV shows and films

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/dec/03/youtube-licensing-deals-tv-shows-films

New service, You Tube Red, is are planning to sign deals with Hollywood studios and television firms to make TV and Films, a paying subscription service. They hope to make many films and TV shows exclusive to You Tube Red  than only gaining licensing rights. As well as this, many You Tube artists are also choosing to make exclusive content for You Tube Red that only subscribers would be able to access. This feature opened in October for the US and will expand globally in 2016. Apple, are also wanting to introduce their sites in the future.

• YouTube is the 12th top-grossing iPhone app in Apple’s US App Store, jostling with Hulu and dating app Tinder on the outskirts of the top 10.
• It’s based on people paying $12.99 for a monthly subscription within the app – YouTube has added $3 to the cost of YouTube Red to account for Apple’s 30% cut of in-app purchases.
• PewDiePie, The Fine Brothers and Lilly Singh are among the YouTubers making new shows that will only be available to YouTube Red’s paying subscribers
• The online video service is keen for its $9.99-a-month service to compete more directly with rivals such as Netflix, Amazon and Hulu

2 articles

#21 BBC to cut entertainment

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/nov/18/bbc-entertainment-comedy-tv-the-voice

Comedy, entertainment and factual programming at the BBC will be hit by a £12m spending cut, but the corporation said it would use money saved from dropping The Voice to making homegrown Saturday night shows.The cuts are part of £150m in savings announced by Tony Hall earlier this year as the BBC tries to close the “iPlayer loophole” created by people working out they do not need paying for a licence fee if they only watching catchup programming online.

BBC Online is facing losing more than 5% of its £210m budget

The cuts are part of £150m in savings announced by Tony Hall earlier this year

The BBC’s online services are facing a £12m reduction

 In my opinion, I don't think this is a good idea, as I know many of the public enjoy watching these shows. They're entertaining, and many audience members don't even watch TV, unless for entertainment shows like The Voice and X Factor. If this wasn't true, they BBC wouldn't even have many consumers. As a result I think they shouldn't switch these show 

#22 American Isis Twitter scene reveals social media's power to radicalise

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/01/isis-america-twitter-social-media-radicalisation

Islamic State sympathisers in America prefer Twitter to any other social media platform and use avatars of black flags, green birds and lions – including the Detroit Lions NFL team – in their online propaganda, a study has shown. Having a Twitter account suspended has become a “badge of honour” among US-based Isis supporters, researchers found, and they are adopting increasingly sophisticated techniques to circumvent the authorities in a “never-ending cat-and-mouse game”. It also pointed to a thriving “American Isis Twitter scene”. During the six-month study, researchers monitored almost 300 accounts. The activity showed how social media plays a crucial role in their radicalisation and, at times, mobilisation to fight in Iraq and Syria.

• “As American Isis supporters are continuously suspended from Twitter, creating a new account becomes increasingly difficult, leading some to turn to others for assistance. The user’s first tweet is often an image of the Twitter notification of suspension, proving that they are the owner of the previous account, along with a request for shout-outs. The new accounts are then retweeted by others, allowing the user to regain his or her previous online following.”
• Isis accounts are frequently suspended, but these have become “a badge of honour and a means by which an aspirant can bolster his or her legitimacy.

In my opinion, i think that social networking sites are allowing the Isis to communicate to eachother and should be banned from them.

Marxism & Pluralism: Alain de Botton on the news

1) To what extent do you agree with Alain de Botton's views on the News?
I agree with Alain de Botton's view on the News to a certain extent because he makes a few valid points. The news is in fact the most powerful force out there and we only seem to concentrate on news that is put into some sort of disastrous imagery. The news "parachutes us to disastrous places" as we are familiar with the area around us. The news only shows us what they view as priorities and, in a way, has replaced the role of religion, as it guides people now. Recently, people feel helpless and manipulated by the news. Some news content is biased and due to the level o negativity thrown at us, people flee to the government and view them as a refuge. The news always sends a moral panic (Cohen).

2) How can you link Marxism and Hegemony to de Botton's criticisms of the News?
A marxist would agree with Botton's point about false role models and how it creates envy in people and overall just adds to the negativity and misguidance that the media enforces. With news stories of people becoming successful in a certain field, it's really only a happy story for that person, whilst it leaves audiences with no life lesson from these "role models" and just more upset at how their lives aren't as successful.

3) How could you use Pluralism and new technology to challenge de Botton's views on the News?
A pluralist perspective would actually argue that the advancements in technology have greatly improved and we are now able to easily access our own choice of news as well as produce news as well. With new and digital technology, we have options of doing this anonymously which ultimately means that we , to some extent, are protected from the repercussions of voicing alternative ideologies while still challenging the 'norms' that the elite has imposed upon us.

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. 
Challenges: http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/oct/30/sun-website-to-scrap-paywall- sun scrapping the paywall challenges de Botton's view because it is beneficial to the audience who seems to hold the power over the news.
Supports: http://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2015/mar/04/the-most-important-article-youll-ever-read - this article is about how to determine which articles are important to write about, this supports de Botton as he also goes on about how some stories are presented as more important due to what is popular. this article looks at how to determine the importance

2 news artciles

#19Broadband bills will have to increase to pay for snooper's charter, MPs are warned

Recent reports inform us that if the snoopers charter is to be passed and funded, consumers will have to pay more on their internet bills, MPs are warned. They are unaware of just how much data is used by the average person; the article states that a common gamer plays through steam, live-streams using twitch, whilst using skype or something similar to communicate with friends, which is a huge amount of data being used by one person, let alone the whole population. 

• “The bill appears to be limiting the amount of funds available to a figure that we don’t recognise would be suitable for the entire industry to do it,” he said, adding that “the ongoing costs of looking after the data … will have to come out of price-rises”.

• “On a typical 1 gigabit connection we see over 15TB of data per year passing over that connection … If you say that a proportion of that is going to be the communications data, it’s going to be the most massive amount of data that you’d be expected to keep in the future.

• “for UK-based companies that serve non-UK customers, there’s some evidence, from what is happening to Microsoft right now in the US, that that can really undermine the trust of non-UK customers"

The development of new/digital media means that audiences are more powerful in terms of consumption and production. Discuss the arguments for and against this view.

The development of new/digital media means that audiences are more powerful in terms of consumption and production. Discuss the arguments for and against this view.

New and digital media can be defined as a multimedia experience that audiences have access to. These can range from a variety of sites such as social networking sites like, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram as well as others such as online newspapers, videos, games, blogs and many more. There are two perspectives to this argument. The first is the Marxists approach. They emphasize the role of mass media in the reproduction of the status quo. Whereas, the second approach, pluralists, emphasize the role of the media in promoting freedom of speech. 

A Marxist perspective would argue that the so called "information revolution" has done little to benefit audiences or to subvert the established power structures in society. Far from being a "great leveller" (Krotoski 2013) as many have claimed, it has helped to reinforce the status quo by promoting dominant ideologies. The most popular news website in the UK by a considerable margin is the 'Mail Online', which receives more than 8 million hits every month and is continuing to expand rapidly - with forecasts that it will make $100 million or more in digital revenues in the next three years. Similar to its tabloid print edition, the website takes a conservative, right-wing perspective on key issues around gender to passively accept what the Marxist theorist, Gramsci, called a hegemonic view. When one of their chief columnists, Jan Mior, wrote a homophobic article about the death of Stephen Gately in 2009 there were twitter and Facebook protests but, ultimately, they did not change the editorial direction of the gatekeepers controlling the newspaper.

Pluralism is perspective that argues that we live in a classless society and media organisations are responsive to an audience and are economically determined. The plural value of society, highlighted by Halloran, says that it enables audiences to ‘conform, accommodate, challenge or reject this. Furthermore, the uses and gratifications theory proposed by Blumer and Katz (1974) is associated with pluralism. It states that media audiences are active and make conscious choices about the way we consume media. They suggested that there are four main uses and gratifications that audiences get from the media. Diversion, personal relationships, personal identity and surveillance.  Diversion is where we escape from everyday problems and routines. Personal Relationships are where we use the media for emotional and other interaction. Personal Identity is finding ourselves reflected in texts or learning behaviour and values from the media and surveillance is where  information that is useful to us e.g. the weather etc. In addition, as pluralists argue that audiences are free agents, examples of this are user generated content such as blogs, twitter, Facebook, instagram etc. We are able to be ourselves on these and not be influenced by dominant ideologies. Moreover, the news has been mutualised, "the mutualisation of news is a very powerful idea that particularly works for the Guardian, as our relationship with our readers is very strong. We can use the community of our readers in ways we would not have been able to in the past."

Another Marxist perspective would argue that audiences are not empowered through the development of new and digital media. As Marxists argue that mass media are a tool used by the ruling bodies/elite that reinforce this statement made by Gramsci who used the concept of hegemony to describe the dominance of one social class over another e.g. the ruling class. Furthermore, Chompsky's theory also stems from this hegemonic view as he talks about 'manufacturing consent ‘and the ruling class brainwashing people into believing that something is 'natural or common sense' (hypodermic needle model). In addition, the global village promoted dominant ideologies and some can argue that whether this is good or bad, focusing particularly on Americanisation and Western ideologies is new and and digital media becoming more diverse or re more cultures being subordinated by Americanisation. This links well with major media conglomorance such as Google with 50 billion revenues, Facebook with 5 billion and New Corporation with  33 billion. 

The internet is known as the most important medium of the century (Briggs and Burke). From a pluralist perspective, audiences are seen as free agents. They are not influenced by dominant ideologies. They argue that "The internet has given readers much more power...The world is changing and newspapers have to adapt" (Rupert Murdoch, Newscorp). This suggests that audiences are at an advantage due to new and digital media as they are able to access a variety of information as well as produce their own material online e.g on blogs - giving them the power.

Andrew Keen (Marxisit) says that "Web pages and blogs are like a million of monkeys typing nonsense", arguing that the information that we produce is false and inaccurate compared to the dominant ideologies and that we are better of to engage into material uploaded by them. This links to the statistic that '38% of UK pupils aged 9 to 19 never question the accuracy of online information' (Livingstone/Bober 2005).

Facts show that 57% of 9-19 year olds had come into contact with pornographic material online (Tanya Brown). This creates an illusion of autonomy, making us believe that we are in power when in fact we are not, therefore under aged people having access to porn when they shouldn’t means they are creating this "illusion" of power.

In contrast, developments of new/digital media has made audience more powerful as they are now actively producing their own content on the internet and therefore have more freedom. Online blogs, forums, global information and social networking sites has increased self-expression for the audience which establishes that they are active consumers and therefore are powerful.  Through the developments of new/digital media “the web has the power to show people’s different views” (Kroteski 2012). It could be suggested that the audience are no longer passive as they can now actively challenging to dominate ideologies through social media. Significantly, “shared activity or crowdsourcing on the internet has enabled people to come together and to solve problems” (Wesch 2008). An example of this would be the 2011 Twitter campaign which caused thousands of citizens onto the streets of London to help clean the mess after the London riots. Thus, it can be argued that the development of new/digital media has empowered the audience. This is because; they can now actively produce content through social media which allows them to get their messages across to the public.

Whilst content analysis and semiotics may .shed light on media content, Marxist theory highlights the material conditions of media production and reception. 'Critical political economists' study the ownership and control of the media and the influence of media ownership on media content cannot be ignored. It also remains important to consider such issues as differential access and modes of interpretation which are shaped by socio-economic groupings. Marxist media research includes the analysis of representation in the mass media (e.g. political coverage or social groups) in order to reveal underlying ideologies. We still need such analyses: however oppositional it may sometimes be, audience interpretation continues to operate in relation to such content. Because of the distribution of power in society, some versions of reality have more influence than others.

People are being oppressed by the elite. They are dominating over them making them feel weak and less powerful (class domination). The public suffer from a false consciousness, they are not being aware of things due to them being influenced and manipulated by the capital. The public do what they are told as we do not ever question the power of relationships. Also, the capital are 'a minority of (media) producers always serve a majority of consumers' (Paretos law) and yet we still obey them, why is this? Due to power. 

Media Magazine Notes

Bill Thompson: What does the internet do for me?

• Open to innovation
• Network is becoming seemless and very fast - accessable

Internet is valuable for free speech but is not yet safe

The internet is replacing many things such as newspapers

Ways to use the internet: 

• Connection
• Information
• Voices in your head
• Political action
• Cartias and campaighning 
• Financial reward
• Games
• Learning
• friendship

Downsides:

• Bullying
• Unwanted porn
• Images of child sexual abuse
• Abuse
• Scams and rip offs
• Fraud
• conspiracy theories
• The dark web

Over 50% of newspapers are controlled by billionaires e.g Rupert Murdoch

Media representations: 

Stuart Hall - role of society - 'commonsense

Rob Watson and Pete Fraser - film production

"Never simply about journalists behaving badly - it is about power

Media power:

Power over: 

• Media content
• journalists
• audiences
• government

Power to:

• censor
• mislead
• set the agenda

Media and democracy?

Diversity and plurality

Last few decades - 

• Rolling news
• Free newspapers
• mobile apps
• online news

Cut and paste journalists - 'cut and paste from the daily mail'

Hackgate - corruption of power

Chris Jeffres - documentry

2 new articles

#17 BBC says public back its online journalism even if it hurts papers

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/nov/05/bbc-says-public-back-its-online-journalism-even-if-it-hurts-papers

The BBC has hit back at critics who say it should stop publishing written journalism online, claiming the vast majority of the public support its digital news coverage even if it makes it more difficult for newspapers to make money. Newspapers were “entitled” to be concerned if the BBC continued to “provide news content that looks like newspaper content” and suggested the corporation should consider reining in its online operation.

• a survey commissioned by the BBC has found that 95% of the public think it is important that the BBC publish written news on its apps and website, and more than three quarters think it should keep doing so even if it makes it harder for newspapers to attract readers and generate revenue.
• Only 6% said they thought the negative impact on newspapers meant the BBC should stop publishing online, and 83% said the BBC should continue its current approach to putting news online.

#18 Can dropping the paywall and upping the story count boost Sun’s website?

Rupert Murdoch, has bowed to the inevitable by dismantling the Sun’s paywall. It was a flawed decision at its inception in 2013 and has proved to be disastrous ever since. It was significant the Sun’s digital audience slipped backwards in September compared to August, suggesting opening the odd door in the wall had failed to keep stimulating interest. Meanwhile, the paper’s rivals have continued to prosper. Mail Online kept growing apace and the Daily Mirror, despite a somewhat clunky site, began to attract an impressively increasing audience. Although the revenue garnered from the Sun’s £7.99 monthly subscription for website access proved lucrative, it had the effect of locking the paper out from the online national conversation. That was unacceptable for a mass market newspaper that has always relied on the volume of its readership to provide it with political and social clout.

• Although the revenue garnered from the Sun’s £7.99 monthly subscription for website access proved lucrative, it had the effect of locking the paper out from the online national conversation. 

NDM: Marxism, Pluralism and Hegemony

Main task

Read the Media Magazine article ‘Web 2.0: Participation or Hegemony?'. Go to our archive of Media Magazine issues and click on MM39 - the article you need is on page 58. Answer the following questions:

1) Research the Ian Tomlinson case. What would the traditional, hegemonic view of the police be in a case like this? 

The traditional hegemonic view of the Ian Tomlinson case shows that the police, also known as the ruling class have dominance over anyone and anything. Ian was just an ordinary man walking by selling newspapers and was beaten to death my the police, due to misinterpretation. The police would be seen as low and selfish - as they wouldn't care about any classes below them, due to the hitting Ian, who done nothing wrong. They may be seen as nothing compared to them (lower-class)

How did new and digital media create a different story?

However, with the help of new and digital media, we were able to see the true footage of what actually happened that day as it hasn't been manipulated or edited to show that the police are not in the wrong. Citizen journalism records everything that happens during the incident and gets uploaded to social networking sites so the wider public are able to se what people are really like. 

What does the police officer's subsequent aquittal suggest about the power of new and digital media?

Furthermore, the power of the police officer's subsequent aquittal suggests that new and digital media has become more advanced and it shows the public the true side of what the ruling class are like. Also, it shows us that no matter what the ruling class have committed, they will still get let off as they are superior and dominant, which is discrimination towards others, causing them to act up. 

2) What does the author argue regarding whether hegemony is being challenged by Web 2.0? 

The author argues that new an digital media is challenging the concept of hegemony as its showing the public the true side of the ruling class. Also, the author is arguing that we don't really have as much power as we think we have and so we shouldn't expect too much from ourselves. 


3) In your opinion, does new and digital media reinforce dominant hegemonic views or give the audience a platform to challenge them?

In my opinion, i think that new and digital media have given audiences a platform to challenge dominant hegemonic views. This is due to the fact that when the public are given access to see footage by citizens online e.g social networking sites such as Youtube an Facebook, which haven't been manipulated, edited or cut, they can express their views and opinions on what the ruling class are really like, which can cause chaos. For example the man who was strangled to death by the police, caused chaos and and riots. People were rioting against the police as they believe that everyone should be treated the same. As the police are the ruling class, they feel as if us citizens are below them and so they can do anything to s, but i believe that this is so wrong. Some say the police are good and some can argue that they are bad. I can argue for and against this as they do help to keep peace but then sometimes they take advantage of their status.

2 articles

#15 New wave of podcasts aimed at younger, wider audience

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/oct/25/podcasts-aim-for-younger-wider-audience

As listeners look forward to the return of hit US true-crime podcast Serial, audio producers are hoping to recreate its success with a new wave of podcasts aimed at the reality TV generation. An audio diary by teenage cancer survivors and subjects as diverse as life in an inner-city gang and on a remote farm are among the projects planned by Acast. “The traditional podcast audience in the UK is in their mid-30s to 40s and a bit geeky. Serial has brought in a much larger female audience, but there’s not a lot being created in the UK for that new market,” said Adam Martin, Acast’s director of content. “[We want to] move beyond the familiar public radio or interview podcast and bring to life new stories rooted in reality.” In the first of its projects, three teenagers will use their phones to record their everyday experiences in what Martin calls the “hellish limbo land” of cancer remission. These clips will then be edited together into a series, due to launch early next year.

• A Swedish podcast platform that received investment of £3.2m in May to develop internationally.

• Podcasts are booming on both sides of the Atlantic: on-demand audio grew by 34% in the UK in 2014, while 46 million Americans – 17% of the population – listen to at least one podcast a month.

#16 BuzzFeed journalist attacked by far-right Jewish extremists in Paris

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/oct/23/buzzfeed-journalist-attacked-paris-david-perrotin-ldj-afp

A leading French journalist working for BuzzFeed was attacked by far-right Jewish extremists as a mob tried to storm the offices of the country’s national news agency in Paris on Thursday. David Perrotin was protected by police after being surrounded by a dozen masked men brandishing batons. The Ligue de Défense Juive was protesting against Agence France Presse’s coverage of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Trouble broke out soon after 8pm when about 100 people brandishing flags and letting off flares tried to storm AFP’s offices. As the crowd approached the entrance to the building, opposite the Paris stock exchange, tear gas was sprayed in their faces, and skirmishes with CRS riot police broke out. Some of the demonstrators were shouting “We’re coming to get you!” at journalists, while others screamed: “Islamic terrorists!!

In my opinion, i think that the jewish extremists were being racists towards different religions which is so wrong and unacceptable. 

2 articles

#13 Moshi Monsters in 'name and shame' campaign by UK ad regulator
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/oct/27/moshi-monsters-in-name-and-shame-campaign-by-uk-ad-regulator

The UK advertising regulator has begun a “name and shame” campaign against Moshi Monsters after the hugely popular children’s website failed to abide by a ruling that it must stop promoting paid subscriptions to kids. Mind Candy, the parent of the Moshi Monsters game, said it took its responsibilities toward children very seriously and would look to drop phrases such as “join now”, “members are going to be super popular” and pushing “all sorts of cool extras”. However, on Tuesday the ASA said Moshi Monsters had not stopped its marketing tactics aimed at children and had not engaged with the regulator. The ASA can also run an “anti-Moshi Monsters” campaign targeted around the company’s presence in digital media to make consumers aware of it transgressions against the UK advertising code.

In my opinion, i think that what the parent of Moshi Monsters is doing is unacceptable, as why should children pay to just play an online village?


#14 Viral video: Star Wars, Drake dancing and Britney's broken zip
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/oct/23/star-wars-drake-dancing-britneys-broken-zip

This article talks about how firstly during Britney Spear's performance in Las Vegas, she had a wardrobe malfunction. The zip at the back of her outfit had come loose and all her male back up dancers were trying to fix it, whilst she still carried on with her lip-singing performance and rocking at the same time - the video had gone viral. Also, it spoke about how drake has been under fire for the last week for his poor unusual weird dancing in his new song, hotline bling. Lastly, the Stars Wars trailer went viral too, even the tickets for the first movie showing had sold out within minutes.

• The official trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens has cranked up the excitement for the film’s release on 18 December
• The singer’s zip broke on the back of her costume during a lip-synching performance

Galtung and Ruge

Galtung and Ruge (1981) defined a set of news values to explain how journalists and editors decided that certain stories and photographs were accepted as newsworthy, while others were not. 

The following list is adapted from their work:
Immediacy: has it happened recently?
Familiarity: is it culturally close to us in Britain?
Amplitude: is it a big event or one which involves large numbers of people?Frequency: does the event happen fairly regularly?
Unambiguity: is it clear and definite?
Predictability: did we expect it to happen?
Surprise: is it a rare or unexpected event?
Continuity: has this story already been defined as news?
Elite nations and people: which country has the event happened in? Does the story concern well-known people? Negativity: is it bad news?

Immediacy is more important because news is more breaking on sites like twitter than anywhere else. If it happens recently there is likely to a conversation and global talking point on social media and other online websites. Immediacy has become much more important as we are more likely to see more opinions and comments of the story now than before.

Familiarity has changed because news that is close to us is more important. We want to know what is going on around us in our country and if it is culturally close to us then we are likely to want to know more about it.


Amplitude has also become much more important because news that involves larger groups of people are likely to be more reported. It seems like a bigger impact because theres a larger group of people. NDM means that more people are likely to be involved with a big event or one that involves large numbers of people. This includes social media and networking sites.


Frequency has changed throughout the years. More frequent events are talked about in the news. If it relates to someone specific who is powerful then it is likely to be frequently on the news or on any NDM.


Unambiguity has been changed by NDM because newspaper articles are much more clear with videos and other stories, they use much more information in videos. If information on a news cooperation website doesn't make sense, someone's comments and other editing options are allowed to change it.


Predictability has been changed by NDM because news stories a lot more predictable as they tend to post similar stories to the past. It is predictable that Google will take over advertising as they are such a huge institution however it is much easier to piece parts of this story together using different news providers than it would be by using a physical newspaper.

Surprise is it a rare or unexpected event?Most of the information that we get can be a surprise but if we already know about it or heard about it then it wouldn't be. Sometimes news stories continue so that they make a story.

Continuity: has this story already been defined as news?Most stories do carry on as they need to make sure that the story gets heard. They would normally have stories that are matching with it and connect with it, so that it builds up.Most  stories would be shown on TV, websites, youtube etc so that people can access it everywhere.

Elite nations and people: which country has the event happened in? Does the story concern well-known people? Having this lets everyone access any story they want to. In the UK we get stories about america, Europe etc. We get informed of the stories that happen in other parts of the country that let us know what's happening. Having this is good as we get know what happening and how it could effect us if it does.

Negativity: is it bad news?Most stories show bad news and you get to hear about it. Most stories than show different versions of it and you get to know it.

Balance: the story may be selected to balance other news, such as a human survival story to balance a number of stories concerning death.

There will always be a balance of the stories as they show the most bad ones first then mainly dies it down and show the good ones last. This is to give a balance of the different stories as not all stories can be depressing and sad, they have to have something that changes the topic completely.

How has new and digital media technology changed Galtung and Ruge’s news values?

In my opinion, i think that new and digital media hasn't changed Galtung and Ruge's values as in most news stories, we see immediacy, familiarity, amplitude, frequencey, unambiguity, predictability, surprise, continuity, elite nations and people, negativity and balance.

2 article summaries

Google launches €150m fund for publishers' digital news projects

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/oct/22/google-fund-publishers-digital-news-projects

Google has launched its €150m (£109m) fund for European publishers to tap to develop new digital news projects. Google announced its intention to launch the innovation fund in April as part of its Digital News Initiative that aims to support and improve historically often fractious relations with European publishers. Google stressed that there would be tight governance and no conflict of interest having executives from potential rival organisations assess funding for projects.

• The internet giant promises that the €50m annually it will award to projects over three years will come with “no strings attached” and that “there is no requirement to use any Google products”.
• Google has divided application criteria for funding into three pools: “early stage” prototype projects that Google will fully fund to “fast track” with up to €50,000.
• Medium-sized projects are defined as those that require up to €300,000 in funds, of which Google will award up to 70%.
• Google will also fund up to 70% of proposals defined as large projects, those up to €1m.
• Google said that there can be exceptions to its €1m per project funding cap if there is an idea that is collaborative.

in my opinion I agree with this article as it says funding will have 'no strings attached' with larger grants needing approval from a council including the Telegraph’s Murdoch MacLennan.

Why the future of newspapers is not all doom and gloom

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/oct/20/why-the-future-of-newspapers-is-not-all-doom-and-gloom

This article is about newspapers and how they are not likely to decline as 46m people read newspapers each month. Martin Sorrell, chief executive of WPP, the world’s biggest advertising group, said at the Society of Editors’ conference that more and more people are recognising the value of the engaged audiences that newspaper brands provide.  there is a growing recognition that Google, Facebook, Snapchat and others benefit significantly from the value that news brands like the Guardian, the Telegraph and the Mail provide. The relationship is not dependent. It is interdependent. 

• Tesco, as you point out, has reduced its print spend, but you fail to mention it has also cut its overall spend by 31%. 

•  If you look at HSBC, it has increased its print advertising budget by no less than 73%.

• The media industry says it wants more video ads, but 12 million people use ad-blocking online.

• 46 million people read newspaper brands each month

In my opinion I agree with the article as newspapers will not go into decline as millions of people depend on it for their news and prefer it over using the internet.

10 examples of citizen journalism

 1) Rodney King, an African-American, after a high speed chase, the officers surrounded him, tasered him and beat him with clubs. The event was filmed by an onlooker from his apartment window
This is important as its telling the public what police officers are actually doing to citizens, which can cause a huge protest against them so they can change the way they act.

2) Asian Tsunami on December 26th 2004 was another turning point for UGC. Much of the early footage of events was provided from citizen journalists, or ‘accidental journalists.
This is important as it shows the world the disasters that the tsunami caused and what people were up against.

3) The London bombings on July 5th 2005, provided another hard-hitting and emotive. An audience used to relatively unmediated reality through the prevalence of reality TV can now see similarly unmediated footage on the news.
This is important as it shows the audience the devastating attack London faced and also by letting them know that the people in the bombings are in need of help and so the public are able to do so.

4) Video footage that 23-year-old Seung-Hui Cho,an undergraduate at Virginia Tech, mailed into NBC News. Between his first attack, when he shot two people, he sent the package from a local post office, before going on to kill a further 30 people.
This is important as it shows the public what people can be like nowadays - cruel and evil. It also lets them know to be aware of that man and to warn others about him.

5) Mumbai bombings
This is important as it was able to people all over the world the devastating things happening occur, which can tell others that they are in need of help and so members of the public can help raise money for them e.g re-build.

6) Do you know who my uncle is - road rage after caught on her phone
I think this is important as it lets people know what some drivers can be like. It alerts them of the rude road rages and to keep away from them

7) Pool party turns violent when police show up
In my opinion, i would say this is just for entertainment purposes really. Teenagers record it to show other teens what they're missing out on as well as showing the public what goes on at house party's - extreme partying.

8) Vandals caught cutting down CCTV
This is important as it shows the audiences what people are like nowadays. It shows how nothing is being respected anymore etc

9) Hudson river plane crash
This is important as it shows the audience exactly what was happening at their point of view, which makes the public feel like as if the're in the same postion with them, causing them to take action and help them out.

10) Shocking police brutally caught on CCTV
This is important as it shows the public the negative side of police and that they feel as they have power that they are able to do anything at anytime, which can cause protests.