A current issue in the media is the protection of preschoolers against advertising by subscribed channels. Lately, pay TV has opted to focus on preschoolers as a targeted audience for advertising, it has been argued that the vulnerability of preschoolers towards advertising is such that they may be influenced by the roles of their favourite character. Preschoolers tend to listen and follow the advice of their favourite cartoon character. The majority of food companies are involved in advertising through pay TV because it is cost free. Compared to commercial TV, no restrictions are applied to pay TV channels such as ASTRA.
Further information on this issue is available from The Australian, 31 May 2007, Thursday, Media Section, at <http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21821952-7582,00.html>
I fully agreed that preschoolers are vulnerable to advertising. They are still young children who cannot clearly differentiate between good or bad. They may perceive something which is good according to their feelings or what they have learned from their daily life. Most children love cartoons and they admire many of the cartoon characters. These cartoon characters can effectively inculcate them with useful knowledge rather than promoting junk food or toys.
This video clip shows that the US government used cartoon characters from the movie, ‘Shrek’ in an advertisement to prevent childhood obesity. The cartoon characters encourage small children to have outdoor activities rather than staying at home and watching TV or playing video games. I think it is a good idea to put this kind of advertisement in the preschooler channels.
Junk food and toy advertisements may also add burden to the parents because children tend to be more eager to own something that interests them. The more they see, the more they want and the more their parents are pressured to spend. In fact, junk food is not healthy food for children and can cause obesity. Parents had to watch out for their children in terms of securing their health. The preschool channels also have to be careful in shaping the advertisement messages because they effect how children think.
References
Meade, A 2007, ' Toddlers need protection on subscription channels', Australian 31 May, p.16.
31 May 2007
26 May 2007
We are publishers now 我们都是出版家
在这发达的网络世纪里，，每个人都有机会拥有自己的网站或刊登自己的文章。不像其他媒体，只有有新闻价值或著名作者的文章才能登刊。除此之外，只有政府或有财势的人才能拥有媒体。网络的出现不但改变了这个现象，也改变了媒体的趋势及人们对媒体的看法。
在这新世纪里， 人人都能当作者，与其他人分享他们的观点与经验。有很多人在网络里找到了自己的梦想和出路，却有的人把网络当成了宣传工具。就以政治人物利用互联网来宣传他们自己的选举活动为例。
在现今的社会里，有很多的集团都拥有自己的网站，登刊关于他们集团的新闻与动向，例如，澳洲的电讯公司Telstra。Telstra垄断了澳洲的电讯市场而最近，它们也实行了网上媒体。它们认为公司与顾客之间应该互相联系，但是我的看法却认为他们的网上媒体是有助于它们灌输众人观念的最佳频道，也可以说这是荼毒人们思想的媒体。
虽然如此，Telstra也有自己的读者。它们的网站成立了18个月而在这期间，它们每个月的读者都高达100，000人。这证明了电子媒体在这市场上慢慢立足了而著名集团的势力也由于网络媒体的关系慢慢建立起来。
相关网站：
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2007/1923017.htm#transcript
有些时候我在犹疑这种现象是否是健康的呢？每个人都有自己的宣传管道，每个人都为自己的集团说话，那哪来中立的意见呢？很多时候我都在想，由于网络新媒体的新闻自由度比较宽，这等于可以滥用吗？Telstra势力已经很强大了，再加上它又拥有自己的网络媒体，这市场启不是只有他们一家公司在垄断。有很多竞争的对手都很想报道Telstra的丑闻，但是由些时候我们需要衡量他们所报道的是否正确或纯粹煲水新闻。
References
The spin cycle...and when it goes wrong, ABC radio, viewed 26 May 2007, <http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2007/1923017.htm#transcript >
在这新世纪里， 人人都能当作者，与其他人分享他们的观点与经验。有很多人在网络里找到了自己的梦想和出路，却有的人把网络当成了宣传工具。就以政治人物利用互联网来宣传他们自己的选举活动为例。
在现今的社会里，有很多的集团都拥有自己的网站，登刊关于他们集团的新闻与动向，例如，澳洲的电讯公司Telstra。Telstra垄断了澳洲的电讯市场而最近，它们也实行了网上媒体。它们认为公司与顾客之间应该互相联系，但是我的看法却认为他们的网上媒体是有助于它们灌输众人观念的最佳频道，也可以说这是荼毒人们思想的媒体。
虽然如此，Telstra也有自己的读者。它们的网站成立了18个月而在这期间，它们每个月的读者都高达100，000人。这证明了电子媒体在这市场上慢慢立足了而著名集团的势力也由于网络媒体的关系慢慢建立起来。
相关网站：
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2007/1923017.htm#transcript
有些时候我在犹疑这种现象是否是健康的呢？每个人都有自己的宣传管道，每个人都为自己的集团说话，那哪来中立的意见呢？很多时候我都在想，由于网络新媒体的新闻自由度比较宽，这等于可以滥用吗？Telstra势力已经很强大了，再加上它又拥有自己的网络媒体，这市场启不是只有他们一家公司在垄断。有很多竞争的对手都很想报道Telstra的丑闻，但是由些时候我们需要衡量他们所报道的是否正确或纯粹煲水新闻。
References
The spin cycle...and when it goes wrong, ABC radio, viewed 26 May 2007, <http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2007/1923017.htm#transcript >
21 May 2007
The use of multimedia in politics
Nowadays, the internet has become a medium for political campaigning and political advertising. This kind of online campaigning is gaining popularity among politicians and the internet is frequently used to propagate ideas and also to persuade mass audiences to vote for certain political parties or candidates.
The phenomenon of blogging is not restricted to internet users but is also well-known among politicians. Political blogsphere is increasing and politicians usually use 'to blog' and 'vblog' in order to spread messages to the mass audiences. 'YouTube' and 'MySpace' are two of the most popular websites politicians prefer to use to upload their speeches, make comments as well as answer questions that the voters ask.
Voters will post their questions through online video and the politicians too will use the same medium to respond to what they have been asked. In this case, two-way communication is achieved and a relationship between politicians and voters is also built up. By using these free videos, politicians can carefully craft their messages because there are no interruptions from other journalists.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/backgroundbriefing/stories/2007/1924783.htm
In my view, online campaigning helps in saving money as well as saving natural resources, for example, paper. In Malaysia, loads of posters, banners and brochures are used in one election and these propaganda tools are going to last only for a couple of months. How many trees have to be chopped and how many human resources have to be used in order to fulfill the needs of these politicians? I think the Malaysian government and politicians have to consider this issue and online campaigning is a good ideas for them to practise.
Different media serve different needs. By using online media, politicians can reach out to those public who do not use the traditional media. In addition, online campaigning is also one of the most effective ways to spread the word and it has the same assumption of spreading viruses. For example, after a person watches an online video, he or she may spread their opinions or send the link to another person and this process will keep on going and growing. Moreover, peers have a great influence among each other; one thinks in a certain way and the rest will follow what that person thinks too.
The following are some interesting online videos from 'YouTube', showing how the U.S politicians, Hilary Clinton and Barrack Obama use free online video to spread their word to the public.
References
Politics and the Internet 2007, ABC radio, viewed 20 May 2007, <http://www.abc.net.au/rn/backgroundbriefing/stories/2007/1924783.htm >
The phenomenon of blogging is not restricted to internet users but is also well-known among politicians. Political blogsphere is increasing and politicians usually use 'to blog' and 'vblog' in order to spread messages to the mass audiences. 'YouTube' and 'MySpace' are two of the most popular websites politicians prefer to use to upload their speeches, make comments as well as answer questions that the voters ask.
Voters will post their questions through online video and the politicians too will use the same medium to respond to what they have been asked. In this case, two-way communication is achieved and a relationship between politicians and voters is also built up. By using these free videos, politicians can carefully craft their messages because there are no interruptions from other journalists.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/backgroundbriefing/stories/2007/1924783.htm
In my view, online campaigning helps in saving money as well as saving natural resources, for example, paper. In Malaysia, loads of posters, banners and brochures are used in one election and these propaganda tools are going to last only for a couple of months. How many trees have to be chopped and how many human resources have to be used in order to fulfill the needs of these politicians? I think the Malaysian government and politicians have to consider this issue and online campaigning is a good ideas for them to practise.
Different media serve different needs. By using online media, politicians can reach out to those public who do not use the traditional media. In addition, online campaigning is also one of the most effective ways to spread the word and it has the same assumption of spreading viruses. For example, after a person watches an online video, he or she may spread their opinions or send the link to another person and this process will keep on going and growing. Moreover, peers have a great influence among each other; one thinks in a certain way and the rest will follow what that person thinks too.
The following are some interesting online videos from 'YouTube', showing how the U.S politicians, Hilary Clinton and Barrack Obama use free online video to spread their word to the public.
References
Politics and the Internet 2007, ABC radio, viewed 20 May 2007, <http://www.abc.net.au/rn/backgroundbriefing/stories/2007/1924783.htm >
19 May 2007
The aims of gagpotatoes's blog:
This blog aims to share ideas, opinions, commentaries and critiques of current media issues, especially issues published on ABC radio and The Australian Media sections on Thursday. In addition, gagpotatoes also looks at the media ethics involved in these topics and discusses further by stating her own point of view and share some interesting articles and online video with other bloggers.
Introduction : What is blog?
A journal plus a pen are the most traditional equipment people use in recording their daily personal experiences, feelings and observations. A computer plus an internet connection are the equipment people use in this era to share their comments, ideas, interests and experiences and this can be done through blogging.
What is a blog?
The term blog or weblog refers to the personal online journal or diary. Blogs are a medium for sharing personal diaries with the intended general public. They are regularly updated with the postings of the authors’ or bloggers’ points of view, experiences and commentaries. Blogs can either be used as a traditional diary which record things that happened for the day or for other purposes like discussing a particular topic (political, music, sports, movie and media) and promoting products. Other than text, a blog also consists of a collection of related links or websites recommended by the blogger. Additionally, other elements such as photographs, videos and audios can be uploaded into the blog.
The phenomenon of blogging is becoming increasingly popular. According to Dvorak (2002), there are five possible reasons why people blog, which are (1) ego gratification, (2) anti-depersonalization, (3) elimination of frustration, (4) societal need to share, (5) wanna-be writers. At the same time, they are communities who blog (PCMAG.com 2002).
“Ego gratification” refers to the people who want to be the centre of attention. They want people to realize who they are, what they think and what they have done in order to grab others' attention. “Anti-depersonalization” means people blog to differentiate themselves from the majority. “Elimination of frustration” means the elimination of frustration through blogging. People complain and comment on things that frustrate them in their lives, for example jobs and relationships. “Societal need to share” refers to those cynics who share. Finally, the “wanna-be writers” refers to those who wish to be a writer in publishing media and the blog has become the medium for them to write (PCMAG.com 2002).
A weblog is a new form of media publishing. Any person can publish their views and comments on blog via internet access. This is compared to other information media, for example, books and newspapers where not everyone has the ability to publish what they want to discuss or talk about. These media have more restrictions compared to the weblogs. In a weblog, anyone can be an author and write as they like. Furthermore, one of the advantages of the weblog is the ability to get immediate feedback from the those who read the blog.
Following are some links for some weblogs to give readers a further idea of what weblogs are and the phenomenon of weblogging today:
<http://technology.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=28229>
<http://blog.jackvinson.com/archives/2006/06/26/blogging_and_communities.html>
<http://www.blogarama.com/>
<http://blog.canadianjournalist.ca/blog>
<http://codex.wordpress.org/Introduction_to_Blogging>
<http://www.blogpulse.com/>
<http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-blogs.htm>
<http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,81500,00.asp>
<http://www.ajy.net/jmb/blogphenomenon.htm>
References
Dvorak, JC 2002, The blog phenomenon, PCMAG.COM, viewed 19 May 2007, <http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,81500,00.asp>
What is a blog?
The term blog or weblog refers to the personal online journal or diary. Blogs are a medium for sharing personal diaries with the intended general public. They are regularly updated with the postings of the authors’ or bloggers’ points of view, experiences and commentaries. Blogs can either be used as a traditional diary which record things that happened for the day or for other purposes like discussing a particular topic (political, music, sports, movie and media) and promoting products. Other than text, a blog also consists of a collection of related links or websites recommended by the blogger. Additionally, other elements such as photographs, videos and audios can be uploaded into the blog.
The phenomenon of blogging is becoming increasingly popular. According to Dvorak (2002), there are five possible reasons why people blog, which are (1) ego gratification, (2) anti-depersonalization, (3) elimination of frustration, (4) societal need to share, (5) wanna-be writers. At the same time, they are communities who blog (PCMAG.com 2002).
“Ego gratification” refers to the people who want to be the centre of attention. They want people to realize who they are, what they think and what they have done in order to grab others' attention. “Anti-depersonalization” means people blog to differentiate themselves from the majority. “Elimination of frustration” means the elimination of frustration through blogging. People complain and comment on things that frustrate them in their lives, for example jobs and relationships. “Societal need to share” refers to those cynics who share. Finally, the “wanna-be writers” refers to those who wish to be a writer in publishing media and the blog has become the medium for them to write (PCMAG.com 2002).
A weblog is a new form of media publishing. Any person can publish their views and comments on blog via internet access. This is compared to other information media, for example, books and newspapers where not everyone has the ability to publish what they want to discuss or talk about. These media have more restrictions compared to the weblogs. In a weblog, anyone can be an author and write as they like. Furthermore, one of the advantages of the weblog is the ability to get immediate feedback from the those who read the blog.
Following are some links for some weblogs to give readers a further idea of what weblogs are and the phenomenon of weblogging today:
<http://technology.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=28229>
<http://blog.jackvinson.com/archives/2006/06/26/blogging_and_communities.html>
<http://www.blogarama.com/>
<http://blog.canadianjournalist.ca/blog>
<http://codex.wordpress.org/Introduction_to_Blogging>
<http://www.blogpulse.com/>
<http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-blogs.htm>
<http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,81500,00.asp>
<http://www.ajy.net/jmb/blogphenomenon.htm>
References
Dvorak, JC 2002, The blog phenomenon, PCMAG.COM, viewed 19 May 2007, <http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,81500,00.asp>
7 May 2007
新闻价值与道德价值观之间的冲突。
每个人的道德价值观都不一样，在某些事情上，大家都会有不同的想法。有的人会认为对却有的人会认为是错。那何谓道德，而对与错之间的定义又在那里呢？在新闻界里，道德又是何物呢？
就以就读商学系的韩国学生赵承熙在美国的弗吉尼亚理工大学里所制造的大屠杀为例。就在大家为丧失家人之苦而伤心时，媒体就大力报道及播放赵承熙精心谋划的杀人影像。对美国人来说，这次的大屠杀就像911事件一样难忘及悲痛，但是媒体为了提高收视率，就选择了播放这凶手所炮制的纪录片。难道新闻价值真的比良心更为重要吗？难道媒体就没有责任去体会死者家人及朋友的心情吗？
另一方面，在媒体选择播放这段影片前，他们有没有深思熟虑他们的决定会引起很大的骚动，而且会影响到孩子们或有意想干案的人对这起事件的想法，他们会有样学养吗？在孩子纯净的世界里，媒体只不过是一种娱乐。当他们看见赵承熙的所作所为，难道他们会辨认这位大哥哥正在做不合道理的事情吗？这段影片其实有很大的可能性会令孩子们更加暴力。对有意干案的人来讲，他们可能会模仿赵承熙而来自己的另一套。那不是很危险吗？
在众多的媒体里，我们都有很多的机会看到揭开某某人隐私的报道。 另一启事件就是来自澳洲的Schapelle Corby.她在印度尼西亚飞机场被逮捕因为她被怀疑涉及走私毒品海洛因。就因为她被关锁在监牢的样貌漂亮及可怜，人们就认为她是否无罪。单凭一个人的样貌就能认定一个人有罪及无罪，道理何在？而且媒体是不是不应该拍摄他人在监牢里的生活照呢。每个人都有自己的隐私权，即使他们是被关在监牢的犯人。就因一张漂亮的脸孔成为了新闻焦点，这就是所谓的新闻价值。
新闻自由果然重要，但是在另一个角度来看，要在新闻自由里加入道德的确不容易。无可否认赵承熙精心制造的纪录片的确有趣，而Schapelle Corby的监狱照的确很另读者好奇，但是媒体必须懂得如何去处理他们所有的新闻素材，在适当的时候做适当的事情。
以下是跟这两侧新闻有关联的报道：
<http://star.news.sohu.com/20070420/n249575749.shtml>
<http://vip.bokee.com/20070420274635.html>
<http://city.udn.com/v1/blog/article/article.jsp?uid=ladyo&f_ART_ID=9510>
<http://media.people.com.cn/GB/22114/52789/68694/4674393.html>
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