Welcome Note

In the current society that we live in, our lives are beginning to revolve more and more around the media. From watching T.V to using your mobile phone, you are partly to blame for the media ‘buzz’.

But with more spotlights being put on the media scene, is it making the Australian public bias to particular beliefs and is it really true that there isn't such a thing as bad press?

New media forms are being produced all the time. The Internet and blogging in particular are some of the most popular new age ideas that have been warmly welcomed by the public. Other media forms that have arisen have not been as successful as the Internet, but that could be because they are not as easy to understand. For example, mobile phones now show adverts and send you messages with information about sales, competitions or reminders. Yet, for some reason people dislike this, thinking of it as a invasion of privacy. Obviously, things such as television and news bulliens on the television are always going to be part of the media life but I think it is a positive thing that they are broadening the ways of getting media issues to society.

When thinking about media and the effectiveness of online verse print, I have mixed ideas. I feel that the older generation enjoys print better because it is easy to read, and for them, much easier to access as much of the older generation hasn't had a lot of practice with Internet. But then I think that online is some what more useful as breaking news can be accessed straight away, without the delay of waiting for it to print. In a layout sense, print is much easier to read and much more appealing to the eyes but again, that may just be my personal choice.

12 Year old Model

It seems that the fashion world has gotten themselves into even more hot water. The controversy came about when the media found out a 12 year old girl had been chosen to be the face of Gold Coast Fashion.

'Babes or babies?Outcry no bar to quest for catwalk,' written by Lauren Novak, published in the Sunday Mail, talks about the way that the fashion industry is looking at the younger girls rather than the older. There was one passage in the article that I really agreed with:

"It is absolutely ridiculous to be choosing somebody who is 12 years of age who really has no idea about the world of modelling yet,'' she said. "I think 16 and over is where you should be looking, give them time to grow and be teenagers.''

My view? My sister is 14, and I think even that is too young. Young girls modelling is just a stepping stone to body image queries and it is a unnecessary burden for them, even if they do state "it's just fun."

Big Brother Bid

It seems that Channel 7 and Channel 10 are back to their ways, now fighting over the ever popular Big Brother. If Big Brother is aired next year, it will be the eighth season, but yet there are high hopes for the show even though last years overall ratings where not that impressive.

On September 14Th, the article 'Rivals in $40m bid for Big Brother' written by Fiona Connolly states that it is "believed the bidding for the show has reached $40 million already." But it is any ones games. Channel Ten has had very successful shows broadcasting for the last decade, and the new season of Australian Idol is sure to pull the Australian nation back in. In contrast, channel 7 has not been as successful but do have a lot of loyal viewers.

``We're not forcing anyone into a bidding war - let alone ourselves,'' the Seven spokesman responded. ``We, along with Nine and Ten, will bid.''

Not what it sounds like to us.

Children being Saved

The article 'Inquiry into sexy ads on children,' written by Laura Anderson, published in The Advertiser on the 16th of August, explained the great need for the goverment to crack down on adverts, videos and photos of sexy dressed children. With the new crack down on internet predetors and pedophiles, this was obviously the next step.

The article states that "The Australian Communications and Media Authority has been directed to investigate the effect of sexualised images on children's self esteem." I am all for the investigation and think that they will find that there is an effect on the children's self esteem. The fact that teenagers, especially girl, have such a need to be slim like the models they are seeing in te magazines, makes me beleive that the young children may start thinking in a similar way.

It seems that every thing has been sexualised in the media for the last few years and it probably will continue. I just feel that it is good that they are not letting it effect the younger generation.

Reflection of the Blogging process

Overall, I am undecided on the blogging phenomenon. I personally do not like reading blogs but it was somewhat empowering making a blog and knowing I was getting my personal veiws across. My main problem with the blogging process was that I changed the order of my blog posts aroung alot to make them look better and for the text to flow, so the date was continuously changing. I also had difficully with laying out my blog in general because I have not had a lot of experience with internet layout design. I thought that the site www.blogspot.com was quite basic, yet didnt explain how to use their functions very well.

I dont think I would personally make another blog but I do see the appeal of having one. Blogging is an excellent way of getting your personal veiw out to a large about of people but I do question how many people would actually read it, as I feel people just read blogs from celebrities, famous writers and their friends only.

Blogging Communities

The blogging world as rapidly become one of the most important sources of knowledge in the modern world. Any one with Internet is able to produce a blog and voice their opinions on anything that they like. Blogging, unlike printed text is easily accessible, meaning that it has a much wider audience. As fellow blogger, Dave Troy states:

Blogging: Beginning of the end?

Is blogging becoming the new way of communication and is society losing all other social skills? Even magazines have weekly blogs, such as womens magazine Cosmo. I have to admit, I do enjoy the internet but I do not have any interest in reading peoples opinions when I dont know them. With the way the blogging world is developing, the 'blogosphere' as people call it, is developing I may have to start tuning in and taking notice.

Purpose of Blogging

What is the purpose of blogging? Is it to voice your personal opinion on current world issues, stay in contact with friends, or just something to do? I feel that there are many reasons why people choose to blog instead of using other communication devices.

Firstly, blogging is quick and easy. There are thousands of blogging host pages on the internet, ranging from begginer to advanced computer skills. This means that anyone can do it, even if they are not that confident using the computer of internet.

Secondly, there is no one to sensor what you talk about. Blogging gives people the freedom of speech, which is a human right. Yes, it is true that there would no doubt be many other people talking about the same things as you are, but no one would have the exact same thing to say. This is why blogs are so personal.

Thirdly, blogs can be read by anyone, meaning there is possibly no better way of getting informations out to a larger audience than this. It also allows to feedback and comments a person writing which can help develop the persons perspective on the top and in general help voice other opinions

Lastly, it is fun. It is fun to know that people that you dont know are reading your opinions and that you probably won't ever meet them. The freedom to design how you want your blog to look develops your individual taste and reflects you as a person through the layout.

For once the audience wins

'HIGH DEFINITION: Stations try to out-do each otherViewers the winners in battle for new TV,' published in The Advertiser on the 17th of September, states that two of the biggest television channels, channel 7 and 10 will be promoting high definition programs beginning in December. This decision came about after a forum that stated 'that by 2012 almost 10 million flat panel HD TVs will be purchased in Australia.'

High Defininition is very much the future in television so in some ways, this is the natural next step for the channels to go in. But not only have they announced the HD programming, but Ten has shifted their news bullitins from 5pm for the normal television to 6pm for HD veiwers. Ten has really pulled out all the stops including themed movie nights such as 'sci-fi saturdays and promising extentions on their higher rating shows, such as The Biggest Loser, So you Think you Can Dance and Australian Idol.

So what are the television channels thinking?

Obviously the idea is to bring in more veiwers by giving them better television reception but who knows how well it will work. With both channels battling over veiwers it is unclear if the move will make any difference in their numbers.

Finally a Change

'Press Changing its Ways,' written by Christopher Russell, published in The Advertiser on the 21st of August talks about the way that newspapers have had to change the way they operate because of the use of Internet. It states that after a survey of their readers, they have realised that 50% of people read the hard copy of the newspaper as well as the online version.

Tony Hale, chief executive of new industry group The Newspaper Works, states, "They (the readers) read the printed form for relaxation, for enjoyment and for in-depth coverage whereas, on line, it's more for breaking news or searching out specific topics and articles."

It seems that the newspaper mills have realised how much they rely on the Internet and are now putting more effort into making Internet news even better than ever. Who knows, in a decades time we might not even need the hard copy paper?