Wednesday 30 November 2011

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

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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

Sunday 20 November 2011

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

Wednesday 16 November 2011

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) 

Thursday 10 November 2011

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.

Wednesday 9 November 2011

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/

Wednesday 2 November 2011

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. :)