How media convergence changed the news and the print industry pt 2: Everyone’s making the news . .

The convergence of media has completely transformed the news and print industry, but one of the more revolutionary changes to the news industry in particular would be the start of news generated by those who were originally considered the consumers.

Due to astounding technological advances and the explosion of the internet over the past decade, it has become very easy for the average person to capture a moment of their lives and share it with the world. The most obvious example of this is social networking sites, for example Facebook, the user shares the goings-on of their lives with friends and these updates they make to their Facebook are essentially news, perhaps not on a mainstream scale but the same principal applies.

Example, my Facebook page and updates I can post to my Facebook pals.

 Now take into consideration if someone captured a moment of their life on video, such as if events were unfolding in front of them like a train crash or a celebrity was doing something that could cause scandal, this footage would be of interest to not only friends of the individual but perhaps even a major news network and consumers of the news.

People now have the ability to record events in front of them that could be considered newsworthy, and this means the individuals previously considered as consumers of the news can essentially become producers of it, all they need is to be in the right place at the right time (or the wrong place at the wrong time, depending on the nature of the newsworthy events unfolding) and have a video recording device present with them. Most of the population are already carrying round with them video recording devices (mobile phones) so if a newsworthy event unfolds in front of someone they can capture it on their phone/video recording device and sell the captured footage to a mainstream news network.

This form of capturing the news is known as citizen journalism, and presents some advantages and disadvantages to society and industry. One advantage is that rather than the news having such a staged and scripted element to it, because the footage was not captured by a professional it may seem raw and more emotive. It also provides society with the opportunity to be creative and gain recognition through what they capture. This can be images or video, although video footage tends to attract more mainstream news attention. For example, people can photograph images of their favourite bands and gain recognition for it from the band themselves and fans.

Example: My favourite band on stage, as captured by a fan with decent camera, sweet. A link to their livejournal profile can  be seen on the right side of the picture as they want publicity from those who see the photo.

Example: My fave band (again heh) captured drunk at an afterparty by a fan in Russia, you can tell especially it is a fan picture as it has that blurry quality to it.

Citizen journalism can provide some disadvantages however to society and industry. When it concerns industry, industry might lose out in terms of if a member of public has captured better more newsworthy footage than the news network itself. A disadvantage to society is that society might start to gradually become dominated by technology, everyone might be prepared to get their phones out and start recording if even the smallest of things starts happening, such as a small fight and show the downfall of society.

Some very recent examples which show possible “downfalls” of society captured by members of the public and considered as excellent examples of citizen journalism include “My tram experience” which captures a very racist woman on a tram who following the uploading and rapid fame of the video was arrested for her racist slur.

Another great example of citizen journalism which is still gaining thousands of hits a day and has made it onto the mainstream news and caused those involved to be chased up by the police for their actions is “Scotrail no ticket” which is a video where a 19 year old student has the wrong ticket on a train and refuses to get off, so a member of the public throws the teen off the train, but so violently that people consider his actions assault and this has sparked a huge row over whether the man’s actions were right or wrong because of the way the student initially acted towards the ticket man.

So overall, is citizen journalism a good or bad thing?

It presents the opportunity for public to be creative with what they capture and get involved with the news certainly, but some of the things captured by the people are extremely negative and show the unpleasant side to our society, violence and racism as seen before from the recent examples. However without it, we wouldn’t have seen as much of a world-changing event, for example the 9/11 terrorist attacks, a lot of the footage was captured by the public and although an extremely negative thing it forms part of our history and shows how we lived in that time and coped with events.

It also breaks down the barriers between industry and society, industry are willing to pay for what people have captured themselves on recording devices, so in the end industry and society both profit from what was captured.

   

Posted by Louise

This Is England!

Well.. The new series was on last night; This Is England '88. A Follow up of TIE '86. I watched it to the very end, in awe of such an amazing director and such amazing talent and incredible social realism. When it finished a link came up on the bottom www. channel.com/thisisengland88. I spent about 2 hours going through every little thing on the website! Just brilliant and a prime example of media convergence!

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/this-is-england/articles/this-is-england-88-cast-interviews

Please, please, please check it out! The series and the online content!

Over and out: Josh
(hahaha)

Everything is possible

Media convergence leads us to an emergence (or probable appearance) of different kind of new multi-functional devices. Obviously, there is a strong need in new, modern and progressive software as well. Here is an example of innovative, futuristic and quite self-contained piece of software:

Aurora browser

Posted by Nikita

Virtual revolution

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00n4j0r
The BBC had created a programme that engages with the audience through user generated content. User can make their own documentaries by interviews, graphics and sound available via the BBC virtual revolution licences.



-James-

The digital-Analogue switch over...

I know its old news, and it happened a while ago. But the digital switch over a a prime example of media convergence. As so much televisiona and radio now it being more widely consumed, and people have Sky and freeview, which can access radio through a television set. All the channels on terrestrial i.e. 1-5 were digitally switched over from the old school analogue.

This really shows, how media and technology are perpetually advancing, almost hand in hand. As the technology advances so does media alongside. For news ways to mediate and re-mediate news etc...

Digital TV, Freeview

DTV Services, trading as Freeview, is the name for the collection of free-to-air services on the Digital Terrestrial Television platform in the UK. The service is jointly run by its five equal shareholders, BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky and transmitter operator Arqiva. DTV Services is designed to market changes to the platform. DTV Services is responsible for marketing services such as Freeview+, the PVR brand and Freeview HD.The technical specification for Freeview is published and maintained by the Digital TV Group, the industry association for digital TV in the UK who also provide the test and conformance regime for Freeview, Freeview + and Freeview HD products. DMOL, a company owned by the operators of the six DTT multiplexes (BBC, ITV, C4, and Arqiva) is responsible for technical platform management and policy, including the electronic programme guide and channel numbering.
In addition, we would like to emphasize that this is a really nice example of convergent collaboration within the industry.


Posted by Nikita

Fandom and Remix.

Apart of Media Convergence and Fandom is remix and altering original content.
below is a song by the  band  "The GAG Quartet" which remix different sound and images from around the internet also know as Memes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mghhLqu31cQ

A meme is a viral video or macro image that has been shared repeatedly over the internet, the video above claims to have over 40 memes hidden in it (try to find them all).
The video below is apart of the online series Autotune the news by schmoyoha, Who remix News clips and Auto tunes them into a song. Many of which have given awareness to the orginal clips.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QS0q3mGPGg

-James-

How media convergence changed the news and the print industry: The death of the newspaper?

When it comes to media convergence, one of the most prominent and noticeable changes to a specific sector of the media industry would be what convergence has done to the print/ news industry.

Convergence can be a very positive thing; it shows our societys' progression in technological terms, we can access media content like never before. It has created many jobs within new industries (examples include app developing and game creation: they couldn't have existed without convergence) but convergence has also unfortunately led to the slow death of a revolutionary industry that began generations ago: The print industry.
 

Newspapers being printed

Due to the demand for easier access to content on the go, the print industry has slowly become dated and people have lost interest in the classic newspaper, leading to millions of pounds in sales losses simpy because no one buys newspapers anymore. 
This is due to the rapid development of the internet, television news companies thought it an excellent idea in todays internet-savvy society to expand their horizons and put news content online, by doing this giving them the ability to update the news whenever a new news developement occurs.

BBC News

This factor is one reason the print industry cannot compete with the development in the technologies convergence has created; how can information which has been printed irreversibly and unchangeably compete against information which can change in real-time with the developing news events and be updated at will?
It simply can't. 

Furthermore, this irreversible and unchangeable printed information comes at a price for the consumer, granted, not an unreasonable price but still a price, whereas the majority of this real-time and developing-as-it-happens information comes for free to the consumer. 
Which one is the consumer more likely to choose? It almost goes without saying, the free option, the option that offers more in terms of keeping them up to date on what is happening now and can change in real time.

However, some may argue that it is more convienient to buy a lightweight compact newspaper than have to lug a laptop round with them or always be in the vicinity of a computer to check on the news, but once again convergence has created an easy way for consumers to check on the news easily and within the palm of ones hand. This is because of the introduction of the smartphone and app.

BBC News app for iPhone

Convergence has duped the print industry again, news is now even more convienient because it can be read anywhere, yes like a newspaper, but unlike a newspaper can be read on a small screen. Gone are the days when we see people sat on public transport with their faces hidden from view because of a newspaper, look around when you're sat on a bus and you will be guaranteed to see at least one person on their smartphone checking the news headlines through 3G mobile internet via a smartphone. 

We'll be seeing less of this . . .

. . . and a lot more of this.

But what can the print industry do to compete against mobile news and apps? 
Frankly, not a lot. 
There is still a market out there for the old newspaper, as some older generations can't get to grips with modern day technology and will still purchase a printed paper daily, but eventually this audience will die out. 
Instead, the companies who own these newspapers must contemplate whether or not to go online, and how can they generate revenue online.
An example of a newspaper printer who has made the decision to go online would be The Sun newspaper, this can be found here: The Sun Website

Other existing news websites do struggle to make revenue online, but selling small space on their websites to advertisers has generated a decent profit margin for some. 

The Times and Sunday Times however, as of June 2010 started charging consumers to use their news website, giving them a choice of what kind of news package they want - including just online access to the site or with a smartphone app included.  So the Sunday times and Times made up for losses in the print industry with a quality news site that must be paid for by the consumer in order for them to gain access.

So although it will be a shame for society to eventually have to say goodbye to the beloved newspaper, along with a lot of print industry jobs, companies can make the choice to expand their horizons online and move their news outlet to the web to keep up with the times, literally.

 






Posted by Louise

QR Code

A QR code (abbreviated from Quick Response code) is a type of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code) first designed for the automotive industry. QR codes are used for a much wider range of applications, including commercial tracking, entertainment and transport ticketing, product marketing and in-store product labeling. Many of these applications target mobile-phone users (via mobile tagging). Also, anyone is able to create his own QR code for his website, text, tweet, website or vCard. Here is QR code for our blog:

Posted by Nikita

Is everything a remix?

 
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song (film, literature, beverages, etc.).
There is a theory that thankfully to media convergence we are living in the remix culture society. This website (and expecially the videos on it) explains, describes and shows the ways how everything could be considered as a remix:

Remix Theory   


Posted by Nikita

Adaptation

Adaptation in Media convergence is when content which is popular on one form of media is released and adapted on another form of media such as books being made into films, films being made into games and vice versa
-James-

(click to view animated gif) 

Media Convergence

So Media Convergence...

• Technological convergence is the tendency for different technological systems to evolve towards performing similar tasks. Wikipedia.

In my view to expand something on screen i.e. TV and reflect it onto multi-platforms, so taking a programme and having additional online content, e.g. interviews with actors, directors, online games, blogs and forums. Here is an example: 

Top Boy (Recently aired on Channel 4)

And here additional online content - 
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/top-boy/pictures/top-boy/478256e9-d4be-4e75-b49a-2b36009f3fc1

Josh Elgar-Chetwyn

One more of the Group Members!

Name: Josh Elgar-Chetwyn

Age: 18

Course: (BA) Television & Radio

Lives In: Manchester

Work Experiance: Well, a few... Waterloo Road(Runner), Scott & Bailey(Runner/ Aid to sound tech.), BBC Live News Shoot, Shane Ward Album release advert.

Influences: Shane Meadows, Rafe Spall, Bruce Robinson, Sean Penn, Gus Van Sant.

Also music, Old Crow Medicine Show, Mumford & sons, Johnny Flynn and Bon Iver.

One group member (and more)

Name: James Taylor
Age: 18
Course: Computer and Video games
Ect....
Yuwei said that the next lesson is on Fandom  so here's a website that's all about fandom
http://fandom.memebase.com/

One of the group members: Louise Froggatt.

Name: Louise Froggatt

Age: 18

Course: BA (hons) Television & Radio

Lives in: Urmston, Manchester

Influences/inspired by: Charlie McDonnell, Seth MacFarlene, Enter Shikari

Career Ambitions: In the past I've always really enjoyed editing, both audio alone and video, as well as acting and also presenting although when it comes to presenting more the radio side than TV. I've also directed small group video projects before. I'm still not 100% sure what I'd like to do but I think this course will give me more of an idea over the 3 years.

 

Previous work: I made this with a small group of people in early 2011 for college, it's not the best amateur short film ever and I still cringe at myself whenever I watch it ( D: ) buuut.. it is an example of how media convergence is influenced strongly by user-generated content, because of the internet I am able to share my work worldwide on video hosting sites such as YouTube and Vimeo, and people will even be able to watch this from their mobile phones because of advances in Smartphone technology.  I could also embed this video on social networking sites such as Facebook (I'm not going to though because that would be even more embarassing) so my user-generated content can be shared with my peers and can be commented on by others around me.

Please don't laugh at me too much, yikes. :)

One of the group members: Nikita Kremenskovs

Age: 20
Resides: Manchester
Programme: BA (hons), Television and Radio
Responsibilities in the group: a bit of everything

One of the groups members; Michael Knight
Here is my bio :

Age:19
Resides: Manchester
Height: 5ft '11
Career Ambition: TV Presenter/ Actor

13th Ocotber 2011
The class is still doing research about media convergence and different aspects of it in order to prepare for our essay and video production. Today we covered Mediation, Audience Fragmentation, Multi- Media Platforms and Technology Determines.

Michael Knight

R.I.P Steve Jobs

I thought that it would be respectful for a blog about media convergence to dedicate a post toward the late Steve Jobs, because of his contribution within the media industry as the founder of the Apple  Co. Unfortunately he passed away on the 5th Oct .

Media Convergence Project: The beginning

We are a group of five students of the University of Salford, studying various media related courses, collectively including BA (hons) in Television and Radio and BA (hons) in Computer and Video games. Together we have established this blog in order to record the progression of our learning and understanding the phenomenon of Media Convergence.
Today we formed the group, and as a team have managed to briefly plan our initial ideas which we will undertake in the next two months to suceed in the project.
We already have an understanding of the concept of media convergence, and we think the following video displays the real life aspects of media convergence, and has inspired us.