Reflection

Maintaining and organizing the contents of this blog was not an easy task to begin with. Thorough reasearch had to be done before posting, and a good grasp on the main idea was inevitable. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable process to the extent that I would have hoped to have done it for longer. When updating the blog, knowledge gained from tutorial classes and lectures were put into full use, and nothing was left out as far as I am concerned. The choice of images and texts used were sensitized to the extent that no audience would feel insulted or provoked. This is my first hand experience with blogging and hopefully this would serve to drive me on as I proceed with my journey as an aspiring journalist. All in all, this blog will serve its purpose to enlighten my audience with compositions which are well researched upon, crisp and easily understandable.

Social Media and the Public Sphere

The recent unfolding of events has seen Egypt undergo a period of revolution, whereby the military forces took the reign of the country after the abrupt ousting of Hosni Mubarak. With the military holding the nation by the scruff of its neck, the citizens are consequently living in fear and insecurity. The sequence of events have led to the usage of social media networks to spread the message across Egypt, spreading a public sermon on the downsides of having military forces to be in power in the process. That marks the rise of citizen journalism which is touted by many as a prospect which lacks credibility. Elian and Liebelson (2011) however, states that the social media and citizen journalism are not threats to the world of professional journalism, as long as they a fully become multimedia reporters and editors respectively.

The events have ushered in a new generation of social media networking in Egypt, as citizens have took to cyberspace to spread the word, one after another. The proliferation of these actions have sent a warning signal to the men in power, allowing them to acknowledge the effectiveness of the social media. Hoffman (2011) and Kornweitz (2011) proclaim that democratic nation states utilize the new media as a weapon in the political playing field, in the sense that they disseminate their information through the new media platform.

In conclusion, freedom of speech within the public sphere is vital towards democracy. As according to Ray (2004), freedom of speech is considered one of the most important human rights, as it signifies the possibility for anybody to say what they wish, or to express one’s own opinion. In order for Egypt to achieve the status of democracy, they must first exploit the potential of the social media like never before. If done wisely, the social media will be designed to reshape the political landscape of Egypt in a whole.

References

Elian, M & Liebelson, D 2011, Journalism Trainer: Blogging a must for professional journalists, International Journalists Network, viewed 12 November 2011 < http://ijnet.org/stories/journalism-trainer-blogging-must-professional-journalists >

Hoffmann, J & Kornweitz, A 2011, ‘New Media Revolution,’ Media Development, vol. 58, Issue 1, pp. 7-11,

Ray, D 2004, Freedom of Speech, Spirit democracy, University of Western Ontario, viewed 8 November 2011,

Online Resources and Journalism

There are divided opinions when it comes to the usage of online sources and sources in print. The e-textbook for instance, is not generally well received by students due to its nature of being mediocre. It is similar to the print materials that students already have. However, there will surely be price differences. In essence, online materials are in line to taking one giant leap forward as new advancements are in the works, all to substantiate for what online materials have lacked over time. In support, TutorFi.com (n.d.) states that online tutoring is more beneficial as it is less pricey and at the same convenient for the student as studying can be done at almost anywhere with access to the internet. There is a plethora of documentation when it comes to online learning. These documentations range from documents, transcripts, relevant training materials, and even live discussions. For e-books however, it is always available for reading, downloading, or even printing for the convenience of a student.

Online Student Success Center (n.d.) states that online students often find that their family, friends or peers are involved in the course. More often than not, a student will study with a particular someone present. The chances are high that students may take an interest in the online environment. Parents should look into this aspect as a possibility for their child to garner wholesome improvements. Doctor Kuther (n.d) on the other hand, states that not all courses of study are easily available online. If a particular student is interested in a more unusual field, he or she may have difficulty finding a source for online education, or even e-books which consequently serve as a downside to online learning enthusiasts. Nevertheless, the online learning industry have sufficient resources to cater towards a more general spectrum of students, as with constant updates accompanied by refereed materials, the chances of it going awry has lessened tremendously.

In conclusion, the prospect of the potential of e-learning has struck the society as more than a fact than a notion. It is now up to the student on whether he or she will be willing to pursue it fully. In retrospect, e-learning is still progressing, but will eventually emerge as one of the most sought after material in the coming years.

Reference

Online Student Success Center n.d., Is Online Learning Right for Me?, United States, viewed 15 November 2011, < http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/Departments/studevgt/onlinsts/advant.htm>

Kuther, T 2011, About.com, Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Education For Graduate School, United States, viewed 15 November 2011, < http://gradschool.about.com/od/distanceeducation/f/onlineadv.htm>

TutorFi.com n.d., Advantages of Online Learning, viewed 15 November 2011, < http://www.tutorfi.com/OnlineTutoringDefined/advantagesofonlinelearning>

Transition Into Video Coverage of News

As technology has undergone vast improvements over the past decade, there has been a noticeable increase in terms of percentage regarding the usage of online video in news coverage. The rationale behind this is that online videos tend to grasp the attention of audiences when compared to relying purely on texts. In support of that statement, Gregory (2010) stated that online video has not only been used for marketing, but it’s also becoming a common method of communicating and sharing. With a platform as such, not only the rapport with audiences can be strengthened, but also have the potential to expect an increase in visibility within search engines. Judging from the survey that was conducted, and with a host of media influencers involved, online video is evidently seen as a new step as far as technological advancements are concerned.

In further support to this, OPA Europe (2011) has conducted a survey which delineates online video news happens to be the most downloaded type of digital video. Furthermore, majority claim that presence of video news is vital when accessing online news, rendering a positive overall opinion in regards to online videos. These findings further justify the importance of the inclusion of online videos in today’s media world.

Also, in efforts to show that there is an effort to keeping up with today’s fast paced technology, the attention of the audiences can advertently be retained. Moreover, it makes a particular presentation more entertaining for the viewers, increasing the chances of consistent viewers. According to Bowles (2011), it is blended search, also known as the practice in which search engines display videos, images, news stories, maps, and other types of results alongside their standard search results, has become increasingly common on major search engines. Optimizing video content to take advantage of blended search is by far the easiest way to get a first-page organic ranking on Google.

In conclusion, with the inclusion of online videos becoming a norm within media influencers, a prospect of a new influential media weapon is slowly, but surely coming to the fore.

References

Bowles, A 2011, Web Pro News, Maximizing the Online Benefits of Online Video Through SEO, United States, viewed 15 November 2011,

Gregory, A 2010, Sitepoint, 27 Benefits of Online Video, viewed 15 November 2011,

OPA Europe 2011, Online Video news in Europe, Europe, viewed 15 November 2011,

Controversial advertisement aired on national television

The recent advertisement which was aired on Media Prima’s 8TV in conjunction with Ramadan has triggered a public uproar, as it is deemed by many to contain elements of racism. The purpose of the advertisement was to heed the Malaysian public to acknowledge the importance of the month of Ramadan. However, it is done so by depicting a scantily dressed Chinese female who behaves inappropriately during a Ramadan Bazaar. It is generally perceived that this advertisement is an attempt on being slapstick, which has backfired miserably. The decision to exploit the stereotypical nature of the Malaysian public has evidently not gone down well with the public. Pang (2011) says “The station shot three different story lines but with the same derogatory insults directed to a certain race and at the same time it has misled the public with intolerant religious practices.”

8TV has leapt to the defense of its trivial advertisement by claiming that it is a product of a multicultural team of producers. Ang (2011) however, says “Make no mistake that the ad which was “written, produced and directed by a multi-racial team” is indeed racist in its denigration of Chinese.” The reactions to the advertisement were heavily scrutinized and discussed in various social media networks, which eventually caught the attention of Media Prima. The people were demanding for a sincere and humble apology from the producers, but were taken aback by the nonchalant reactions of the producers. The seriousness of the issue was played down by the former chief executive of 8TV, Ahmad Izham, much to the dismay of the public. Chong (2011), mentions that this issue has set a very bad example for ordinary Malaysians to an extent that many of them see racism and sexism as a non-issue.

Nevertheless, there are also divisive opinions within the public in regards to the advertisement. Some claim that the advertisement was indeed offensive, but were not intended to be racist, at the same time not ruling out the possibility of misinterpretations. All in all, local producers should be more sensitive when shooting an advertisement as mentioned above. Also, 8TV should have acted in a more professional and respectable manner when issuing a public apology, in the sense that they do not play down the seriousness of this issue.

References

Pang, H 2011, Malaysiakini, 8TV Ramadan ad product of racist mindset, Malaysia, viewed 15 November 2011, < http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/172175>

Ang, H 2011, Free Malaysia Today, 8TV Ramadan ad: Chickens Coming Home to Roost, Malaysia, viewed 15 November 2011, < http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/08/03/8tv-ramadan-ad-chickens-coming-home-to-roost/>

Chong, W 2011, Free Malaysia Today, Root cause of racist and sexist Ramadan commercials, Malaysia, viewed 15 November 2011, < http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/08/03/root-cause-of-racist-and-sexist-ramadan-commercials/>

Document Design

Reep (2006) states that, document design refers to the physical appearance of a document and also states that a good document design must include five basic design principles: balance, proportion, sequence and consistency. This is further supported Putnis and Petelin(1996) who suggests various strategies such as involvement of a recognisable flow of information, use of typefaces and creating a balance of spaces and alignments.


Marquez,(2010)argues that a good power point presentation is by engaging the audience and their understanding to the presented information using proper layouts and necessary information, so that the presentation will be preferred and given applause or approval. In order to do that, the word limit for a write up has to be appropriate and writing should be concise and not pompuous. A simple but relevant image can be used to reduce the dullness.

Schriver (1997) said was right as 'pictures can arouse the reader's interest and curiosity and often well remembered' . With the text and image together, reader would get to understand more on what the writer is trying to convey. The degree of understanding can not be achieved if a write up is solely based on writing.

Rothman (2005) also specifies that good writing is a necessity as it involves relaying specific information directly and literally. Clear and concise writing would no doubt boost the udnerstanding between the writer and the audience. The importance of using the right words to form a sentence is essential to say the least.

Reference

1. Marquez, Z 2010, How to Make A Good PowerPoint Presentation, Writing and Speaking, viewed 25 August 2011,

2. Putnis, P & Petelin, R 1996, Writing to Communicate, in Professional Communication: Principles and Applications, pg223-pg263

3. Reep, D 2006, Document Design, in Technical Writing, 6th edn, pg133-pg172

4. Rothman, S 2005, What Makes Good Scientific and Technical Writing, Associated Content, viewed 25 August,

5. Russell, W, 10 Tips for Creating Successful Business Presentations, About.com Guide, viewed 25 August 2011 ,

6. Schriver, K 1997, The Interplay of Words and Pictures, in Dynamics in Document Design: Creating Texts for Readers, pg361-pg441

New Forms of Media Publishing

Twitter is a social networking website that allows people to micro blog, upload, download and comment on to share with others. Twitter acts as a tool which is capable of changing opinions and an outlook completely. Information from Twitter is also obtained rather easily as clicking on the trending topics tab would unveil everything. The trending topics can range from anything to everything. Walsh (2006) also opined that textual shift has taken place from monomodal to multimodal that includes different modes of communication, for example videos.

This further backs Twitter to be one of the best and newest social media tool in our media hungry world today. Journalists can actually capitalise on what the new media has to offer as people are often seeking for new things. Naughton (2006) says that, internet makes people much better informed by providing them with formidable resources which to become more knowledgeable.

This is one of the few reasons that journalists should not see the emergence of a micro blogging site as a threat to their profession. In addition, they need not worry about distance as communication can be easily done even by sitting behind your desk. Journalists not only can reach out to a limited spectrum of viewers, but worldwide acknowledgement is imminent if this continues. Schriver (1997) mentions that it is vital to combine well-designed image with text because readers gain better understanding than text or image alone. Twitter has the potential to futher develop as solely being a micro blogging and file sharing medium. Journalists should be well aware of its potential, ultimately conforming to its nature, and using it to their advantage.

Reference

1) Naughton, J 2006, Blogging and the emerging media ecosystem, Reuters Institute, viewed 25 August 2011,

2) Schriver, K 1997, Dynamics in Document Design: Creating Texts for Readers, The Interplay of Words and Pictures, pp361-441, viewed 25 August 2011

3) Walsh, M 2006, 'Textual shift: examining the reading process with print, visual and multimodal texts', in Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, vol.29, no.1, pp24-37, viewed 25 August 2011.