Burntwood English and Media

Advertising, Parody and Mainstream Audiences - a tricky triangle.

2011-12-21T10:36:00.001Z

This may be of interest to those of you who attended the Media Magazine Conference this year. Director Garth Jenning's ad for Phones4U earned over 500 complaints to the Advertising Standards Agency. However, they weren't upheld, meaning that the ad can continue to be shown. It goes to show how parody and irony are tricky approaches as not all the audience necessarily "get it" and can end up being offended or, in this case, scared.

All American Muslim - Advertisers and Representation

2011-12-21T10:25:00.000Z

The American TV market is much more aggressively commercial than in Britain but this story illustrates how advertisers can potentially exert pressure on broadcasters to represent different communities in a particular way. It also shows the power of the web and social media in both the creation of reaction to this storm. Read the attached BBC article (link embedded in title of post) and google "All American Muslim" for more. There's a lot more to this story than I can write here. Explore for yourself.

Product Research - Film Posters

2011-11-11T15:35:00.001Z

Click on the title above for a great starting point for film poster analysis.

Be a Proper Media Student!

2011-10-18T10:13:00.000+01:00

Many of you have given me that blank "what dat man talking 'bout" look whenever I mention certain classic films and directors in class. If you click on the link in the title of this post, you will be taken to a previous post that contains the titles of some great films, TV drama and comedy. I strongly recommend you start viewing some or all of this stuff. It will make you a better Media student and, more importantly, a better person to meet at parties.

A2 Production Work - some useful samples of work

2011-10-03T21:28:00.000+01:00

Go to the OCR blog to see some thought provoking examples of student blogs for Advanced Portfolio. I think you should pay close attention to the quality if presentation in the blogs.

Putting It All Together - Social Media and News Reporting

2011-10-03T14:15:00.001+01:00

Riot Cleaner Flashmob (Photo courtesy Guardian/Matt Dunham/AP)

Pete Fraser's blog is a great place to start when thinking about the impact of social ("We") media on news reporting and consumption. He focuses particularly on the events of Summer 2011 but all of the ideas are relevant to most contemporary news story. Go read now and get a jump on the We Media unit.

EXAM ALERT - Trusting Social Media

2011-06-13T16:03:00.001+01:00

I hope to god that some of you actually check this blog out every now and then, especially in the run up to Thursday's exam. This morning a massive news story broke that is a brilliant example to illustrate issues around trust and authority when it comes to We Media.

With reporting on events in Syria being hampered by banning of foreign journalists from the country, many news organisations have been relying on social media reports from within Syria. One such source was a blog, alleged to have been written by a Syrian-American lesbian living in Damascus (the capital of Syria). The traditional media even reported her capture by Syrian authorities last week.

A picture that alleged to be the author of the
blog but turned out to be that of a
London resident

Then what happens? Turns out the blog is written by an American student studying in Edinburgh. He claims that while his identity may have been false, what he wrote was fact. This is reminiscient of when the Daily Mirror published false pictures of Western soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners and the then editor Piers Morgan defended their publication by claiming that while they didn't capture a true event it did represent what truly happens in Iraq.

Click on the title above and here to read more about the Syrian Blog Hoax

Can being 'networked' really change the world?

2011-05-30T22:22:00.001+01:00

If you haven't been watching Adam Curtis's excellent new series "All Watched Over by Machine's of Loving Grace" - BBC2 Mondays at 9pm - you should try to catch up on iPlayer (click on title above). In tonight's episode he questions the thinking that underlies much of the belief that the internet will make us free and change the world for the better. If you can't cope with the whole doc, at least watch the last 20 mins of episode 2 where he looks at what has happened in the post Soviet nations and like Georgia after their 'internet organised' revolutions had promised great change and democracy.

Will our virtual and real selves merge?

2011-03-23T08:20:00.000Z

Click on the title above to find out more about the possibilities of Web 3.0. What effect would the merging of our virtual and real selves have on our democratic rights? Think Minority Report!

Journalism - the internet effect

2011-03-23T08:13:00.000Z

As promised, click on the title above to read Aleks Krotoski's article on the effect of the internet on journalistic practices. There are some really useful qoutes and pieces of evidence in here that you could use in your answer.

What motivates Facebook's modesty?

2011-02-15T20:31:00.001Z

The New York Times has an interesting article about Facebook's reluctance to acknowledge its part in the popular protests in Tunisia and Egypt. It seems that fears that other regimes, like that in Syria, may curtail the service are behind their modesty. It's well worth a read as it raises interesting questions about how a business can help to promote social change. As we were reading today, Marxist critics, like Adorno and Horkeimer, wondered whether the media industry, as part of the capitalist establishment, can really promote change.

Is Social Media Fanning The Flames of Democracy In North Africa?

2011-01-26T08:34:00.002Z

You may have seen in the news overnight that the popular protests in Tunisia seem to have spilled over to Egypt with an unprecedented number of people taking to the streets of Cairo to protest against the Government. The Los Angeles Times article (click on link embedded in title of this post) mentions that 80,000 people signed up on Facebook to attend the protest. The Egyptian government has blocked access to Twitter in an attempt to prevent further organisation and communication - a move that echoes that taken by the Iranian government previously.

Big Four Reach For The Sky

2011-01-26T08:26:00.000Z

Sony have announced the latest attempt to combat illegal downloading - Music Unlimited. The UK version launched just before Christmas and it is now being made available across Europe and later in the US. The service allows users to access music by Sony artists, and those signed to the other big four including EMI, which is stored using Cloud technology. This means that once you are signed up to the service - which costs a fee (the basic costing £3.99) you can access the music on a variety of devices, from PS3s to mobile phones. It offers the user the benifits of personalisation and mobility and, what many may see as, affordability. It will be a a rival to serives like Spotify, which also streams music. It's another example of the big music groups trying to do things in-house, allowing them to have more control over the supply chain, reduce cost and increase profits.

Read the article from the Guardian (click on the link embedded in the title) and ask yourself how this announcement offers further examples of the synergies created by Sony Music being part of a conglomerate.

Music Industry - EMI

2010-11-02T13:05:00.002Z

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jul/21/marketingandpr.mediabusiness

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/oct/18/emi-trial-background

1) Click on the two links above and read each of the articles. The first is from 2008, when EMI was trying the current owners of EMI had just taken over, and second is from last month.
2) Copy and paste relevant information into a word document, with the concept illustrated by the information next to it.

Teaser Trailer ideas - test your creativity

2010-10-08T15:16:00.002+01:00

Not the best example but look out for other billboards around town. Possible idea for an approach to your teaser trailers.

Is Illegal Downloading More Damaging to Independents or Studios?

2010-06-06T13:12:00.002+01:00

The producers of The Hurt Locker, Voltage Pictures, have decided to take legal action against people who have illegally shared their films through peer to peer file sharing networks. They argue that file sharing hurts independents more than it does the big studios. One of the founders of the Pirate Bay file sharing site argues that file sharing actually increases film revenues by creating a greater interest and discussion around films. What do you think? Is it easier for big studios to swallow the cost of their films being viewed at home rather than in the cinemas? What other ways can they make money out of their films if their cinema and DVD income is reduced?

Copyright free music and sounds

2009-12-10T08:05:00.002Z

For your AS Foundation Production coursework, you need to ensure that the music and sounds used on your video are all copyright free. There are a number of ways that you can do this:

Approach local bands and get written permission to use their material
Approach unsigned bands on 'MySpace' and other social media sites and get their written permission to use their material
Collaborate with music students in the school to create original music and sounds
Create your own music or sound track - learn to use Garageband (on Youtube )

Failing any of the above there are also a number of resources on the internet where you can find copyright free music and sounds. While the music found on these sites may be copyright free (i.e. you do not have to pay a fee to use it in your video work) you may have to pay a fee to download it. Therefore, be careful to check the terms and conditions of any site where you find tracks you wish to use. Some may also ask you to register as a user. Before doing so, please check with your teacher.

Click on the title of this post for links to lots of internet resources. Others can be found at:

http://www.freeplaymusic.com/
http://www.freesound.org/
http://www.mobygratis.com/
http://www.unsignedbandweb.com/

We Media , Social Media, Whatjamacallit Media...

2009-11-23T12:08:00.004Z

I just came across this video which is full of statistics that should get you thinking about how profound the impact of social media is. It seems to be authored by Erik Qualman who's written a book called Socialnomics, exploring the impact of social media.

Would You Pay For Online News?

2009-08-07T07:53:00.004+01:00

A possible revolution in the news industry was announced yesterday. Rupert Murdoch said that his News Corporation plans to charge users of their online newspapers - these include The Sun, The News of the World and The Times. This is a very controversial move, with opinion divided on whether it will work or not. Murdoch feels that users will be willing to pay for quality and unique content. This could have a massive impact on the future content on paid for news sites. Murdoch places a heavy emphasis on the need for 'scoops', whether they be celebrity or political. Could this mean an increase in libel and privacy cases or even more frequent use of illegal news gathering methods like phone-hacking?

Foundation Portfolio and Advanced Portfolio Mark Scheme

2009-07-13T08:04:00.004+01:00

Here's the link to the mark scheme for your Foundation Portfolio (AS) Advanced Portfolio (A2) coursework. The link brings you to the specification for your whole course but if you skip to Page 70, you'll find the criteria for the Advanced Portfolio. For Foundation Portfolio the relevant pages are 60 and 61 (for the construction of the film) and 66-69 (for your research and planning and your evaluation). You should keep these criteria in mind as you make decisions about your project.

http://www.ocr.org.uk/download/kd/ocr_9646_kd_gce_spec.pdf

Libel Laws Go Against Free Speech?

2009-06-05T08:16:00.004+01:00

Roy Greenslade writes in today's Media Guaridan about an article in the Wall Street Journal which claims that Britain's libel laws inhibit free speech. They claim the the "chilling effect", which places the onus of proof on the publisher rather than the person or organisation claiming to be defamed makes it easier for those who wish to prohibit scientific and political debate. Read Roy Greenslade's article by clicking on the title above. There's also a link within his article to the Wall Street Journal's article.

Privacy Law and Celebrities

2009-05-14T15:41:00.002+01:00

A really good article from the Sunday Times about the relationship between celebrities and the press. It is particularly good in flagging up a number of key issues and cases relevant to the regulation of the press. These include:

hypocrisy of celebrities

how privacy has replaced libel as the law that celebrities favour

Naomi Campbell Vs. Daily Mirror case

TV Drama Glossary

2009-05-12T15:06:00.002+01:00

Long Road Media have a very useful glossary of key terms related to movie image in general and TV Drama specifically. Click on the title of this post to find it

Science Fiction Gets Mashed

2009-03-27T08:13:00.005Z

An interesting article from the Observer's Film Quarterly magazine looks at the latest attempt to hybridise (or mash-up) the Science Fiction genre. This time it's a new film called Outlander, which places Vikings in space. The article also reflects on some of the more and less successful attempts to create hybrid films over the years, including Alien.

Hamlet Revision exercise

2009-01-28T12:20:00.003Z

Comments will constitute homework. Make sure that you include you name in your comment if you do not have a user name in the first place!

BBC and DEC Appeal Controversy

2009-01-26T13:49:00.005Z

Mark Thompson, director general of the BBC, defends the BBC's decision not to broadcast the Disasters Emergency Committee's Gazza appeal (Click on Post title to see the interview). Do you think he is right to claim that the broadcasting the appeal would leave the BBC open to accusations of bias? Remember, the BBC has previously broadcast similar appeals following conflicts in other parts of the world. Thompson seems to claim that this situation is particularly complex, making it more difficult to preserve impartiality if they were to broadcast it. You might also want to consider what might happen to BBC journalists on the ground in Israel and Gazza should they be viewed to be siding with the Palestinians as a result of broadcasting the appeal.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/video_and_audio/7850585.stm

Media at University

2008-12-11T07:50:00.003Z

Click on the title of this post to go to the Higher Education Blog created by the Media department at Long Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge. It details and comments on a range of media related courses available at different universities around the country. If you're considering studying Media at university, you'll need to think about whether you are more interested in the practical or theoretical side of the subject. Most courses emphasis one approach over the other, though some try to combine the two.

http://longroadmediahecourses.blogspot.com/

A Desire To See Streetcar

2008-11-15T08:30:00.003Z

This is on now at the BFI. Any Y12's want to go?

http://www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/a_streetcar_named_desire?utm_source=20081107sb&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20081107sb

Follow this link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jheqph2-0sU

Paxman Patronising? Well I never.

2008-11-09T20:12:00.007Z

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/08/us-elections-2008-usa
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/nov/08/dizzee-rascal-paxman-jeremy-bbc
The above article in The Guardian has transcript of Jeremy Paxman's interview with Dizzy Rascal after Obama won the American Presidential Election. Lots of issues to explore here - representation of ethnicity, audience appeal, dumbing down, news and institutional values. . Read the article and reference the points and 'experts' in your exam responses. You can also look at interview on Youtube

Guardian Film Competition

2008-10-25T21:30:00.004+01:00

I know the Advanced Production deadline is looming but if any of you feel inspired the Guardian are running a really interesting film competition - the deadline of which is also the 19th December. 1st prize is the chance to be mentored by a top Channel 4 executive and gain experience working for a film or TV production company. Second prize is a Macbook Pro - that's Mr. Gibbs sold on the idea.
If anything check out the site just to read the text written by Mark Ravenhill.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/youtubecompetition

WHERE IS THE BLOODY (chamber) HOMEWORK

2008-10-21T17:32:00.002+01:00

Follow the link if you dare. If you do not comply the blood will flow and flow and flow...

http://www.talkingpets.org/?mid=28400639

Films and Other Items to Make You a Fit and Proper Media Student

2008-10-17T21:23:00.008+01:00

The good people of 12.22, frustrated at my 'obscure' references, requested that I post a list of film recommendations. I've decided to add the odd great bit of TV drama or TV comedy in the hope that you will search them out, watch and enjoy. Inevitably, not all of the items on this list will appeal to all but hopefully you'll find something to both entertain and challenge you. This list will evolve and grow as more gems come to mind. Be aware that many of these may be 18s certificate or be considered offensive by some members of the community. However, great art often has the potential to offend because great art challenges conventional thought.

For a list of thrillers to look at go to labels on the right hand side of this blog and click on the label "psychological thrillers."

Coen Brother's films: Blood Simple (1984), Raising Arizona (1987), Miller's Crossing (1990), Barton Fink (1991), Fargo (1996), The Big Lebowski (1998), O Bother Where Art Thou (2000), No Country For Old Men (2007)

Hitchcock Films: Psycho (1960), The Birds (1963), North By Northwest (1959), Vertigo (1958), Rear Window (19540, The Lady Vanishes(1938), The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934), 39 Steps (1935), Rope (1948)

Stanley Kubrick: Dr. Strangelove (1964), A Clockwork Orange (1971), Barry Lyndon (1975), 2001 Space Odyssey (1968), The Shining (1980), Full Metal Jacket (1987), Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

David Lynch: The Elephant Man (1980), Blue Velvet (1986), Wild at Heart (1990), Twin Peaks TV Series 1&2 (1990-91), Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992), The Straight Story (1999)

Woody Allen: Take the Money and Run (1969), Zelig (1983), Annie Hall (1977), Manhattan (1979), Hannah and Her Sisters(1986), Broadway Danny Rose (1984), Mighty Aphrodite (1995)

Martin Scorcese: Mean Streets (1973), Taxi Driver (1976), Goodfellas (1990), Raging Bull (1980), Casino (1995), Age of Innocence (1993), The Departed (2006)

Francis Ford-Coppola: The Godfather (1972), The Godfather II (1974), Apocolyspe Now (1979)

Classic TV Comedy: Monty Python's Flying Circus, Fawlty Towers, The Day Today, Brass Eye, I'm Alan Partridge, Blackadder, The League of Gentleman, Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm

Classic TV Drama: Prime Suspect, The Sopranos, The Wire, Our Friends In The North, Life on Mars, Pride and Prejudice, Deadwood.

The Bloody Chamber - Close analysis example

2008-10-14T16:18:00.002+01:00

Below is an example of close analysis that Ms Georgiou and I have scripted. You will be expected to apply the assessment objectives to this example, then to comment and grade it providing justifications for your choice. These should then be posted on this blog by adding a comment.

**************************************************************************************
Explore how Carter uses a range of techniques to create tension and comment on their effectiveness.

Throughout ‘The Bloody Chamber’ Carter explores the potential for and consequences of female curiosity and independence. This extract presents the reader with the moment at which the narrator is faced with the cost of her desire for knowledge.

When the narrator enters the ‘subterranean privacy’ of the chamber in search of her husband’s ‘soul’, the word ‘subterranean’ develops the demonic characterisation of the Count, beginning the comparison of the chamber with ‘hell’. Carter develops the contrast between the innocence and inexperience of the narrator and the malevolence and sexual ‘depredation’ of her ‘stark’ physical environment as a way of creating a tense, fraught atmosphere for the reader.

“One false step, oh, my poor, dead girl, next in the fated sisterhood of his wives; one false step and into the abyss of the dark you stumbled” p27

Carter’s description of ‘the abyss of the dark’ signifies both the ‘torture chamber’ and her fateful marriage to the Count and for the reader has a greater significance as they too are invited to consider whether the narrator has made the same ‘false step’. Carter structures the narrator’s discovery of her predecessors chronologically which leads the reader to the conclusion that the narrator is the next victim of the Count’s violent sexual desires.

Throughout this collection of short stories, Carter subverts our expectations of traditional images. In the opening of the story the narrator refers to the "unguessable country of marriage" which echoes Hamlet's reference to death. This pairing is revisited in this extract with yet more subversion of traditional symbolism.
"...this skull...had been crowned with a wreath of white roses, and a veil of lace, the final image of his bride"
The link between marriage and death, sex and violence is made explicit here when the narrator sees the extent of the bargain she has entered into and the consequences of sexual curiosity. The word "crowned" suggesting a ritualistic idolisation of the female, whereas the "white roses", traditionally symbolic of love and innocence become reminiscient of the white funerial lillies associated with her husband when described as a "wreath". The final clause of the sentence places emphasis on the word "bride", reminding us and our narrator of her position and possible destiny.

The Bloody Chamber -Mr Gibbs' class.

2008-10-11T21:11:00.007+01:00

OMG-we have to do this real quick or we just might have our throats ripped to shreads...!
Task: To produce a 300 word insert that will fit like a glove into the named stories-The Snow Child-The Company of Wolves-The Werewolf. You have the snow white sheet with the detailed suggestions but you may-if you so desire and if you dare, decide upon your own points of digression.
To get the juices flowing you will need to produce the following and number them in the following way:

1-a 50 word proposal that outlines your intentions and all the twists and turns your plot will contain.
2-an outline of the themes, settings, symbols you intend to include.
3-a brief description of the literary devices you will use and their intended effects.

If you fail to post then stay out of the shadow and on the path............

13:51 Hamlet Class THEMES IN HAMLET

2008-10-02T09:02:00.002+01:00

Post the work that we have been looking at in class by way of COMMENTS

Momento Homework

2008-09-24T08:14:00.004+01:00

Now you've seen the film, you're homework is to discuss what you've seen by posting comments about it. You each have to post at least one comment and keep it clean. I also want to see you trying to use the media terms you've been introduced to so far. So what do I want you to write about? Overall I want you to give your opinion of the film. In particular, I want you to comment on how you feel the use of a non-linear narrative structure and colour impacts on the audience. You should also discuss how you feel the film does or doesn't meet your expectations of a thriller. You're comments should be posted by Wednesday 1st October - before class.

Max Mosley Case

2008-08-19T21:14:00.002+01:00

This is a crucial case study to be used when discussing privacy and the press. Luckily, the Guardian have neatly packaged lots of relevant articles in the one place - click on the title above to start learning about what the case was all about and what the judgement means for how newspapers will act in the future.

Congratulations!

2008-08-14T18:05:00.003+01:00

Well done to everyone on their exam results today. We were really pleased to see that at both A2 and AS you managed to do substantially better than the national average in achieving A grades. I hope that all of you departing Year 13s manage to get onto your chosen course or into a job that you enjoy. Do stay in touch. As for the AS students, enjoy the rest of your holidays and see you in September.

Real Debate

2008-06-10T07:31:00.005+01:00

Last night's Richard Bacon programme on 5 Live radio had a really intense debate about the role of newspapers and the news media in a democracy. Tim Luckhurst, who used to edit the Scotsman newspaper and is now Professor of Journalism at the University of Kent made some really forceful arguments in favour of traditional journalism and paid for newspapers as a way of holding government to account and offering readers a properly informed choice because of their investment in fact gathering when news reporting. They differ from blogging and other forms of citizen reporting because of this and their wider perspective. Richard Bacon tried, in vain, to get him to accept that blogging is an equally democratic source of information as it provides readers with a perspective they may not find elsewhere. However, Luckhurst insisted that ultimately blogs tend to be more opinion based and therefore cannot replace proper investigative in holding government to account. Neither can they offer readers the more rounded perspective on issues as they report a story from a very local viewpoint.

You should be able to listen again by clicking on the title above and clicking on Monday's programme. I heard the debate from about two hours into the programme, though it was already in full flow by then. This would be very useful for both Broadcast News and Freedom of the Press.

The Paparazzi Point of View

2008-06-09T07:53:00.003+01:00

The Guardian has an interview with Darryn Lyons, who runs Britain's biggest picture agency. They sell paparazzi photos to newspapers and magazines. You may have seen him on TV - the Australian with the multi-coloured mohican. In the interview he offers a range of opinions on the role of his agency and the paparazzi in today's society, claiming that celebrities largely rely on people like him for their careers - including those like Abi Titmus who have deals with the agencies to take a cut of 'paparazzi' shots of them sold to newspapers. Interestingly, he now has a website where members of the public can submit their own photos of celebrities to be published - http://www.mrpaparazzi.com/. The existence of such sites begs the question, how can you regulate 'the press' when it's the public as much as the press industry who are now generating what might be considered invasive images. How does the PCC control how much members of the public 'harrass' celebrities in order to take photos of them?

Past Papers

2008-05-23T07:47:00.003+01:00

Click on the title above to go to the OCR's link to past papers for AS and A2 Media Studies......and good luck!

Sci-Fi on Film Four

2008-04-22T20:54:00.002+01:00

Film Four - that's the dedicated film channel that is available for free on Freeview, Virgin Media and Sky - are having a Sci-Fi season at the moment, giving you the opportunity to watch three sci-fi movies a night. Check out the details at http://www.channel4.com/film/filmontv/index.html
This is a great opportunity to see everything from 50's shock and B-movies to big budget classics like Fifth Element.
It is studying - so long as you engage your brain and think about the use of generic conventions, how the genre is / isn't moved forward etc.

Real Life Mags - Not So Aspirational

2008-04-16T23:31:00.003+01:00

The brother has a blog.....and he doesn't even teach Media. Have a look at his observations regarding a recent 'real life' mag.

Revision Session - Format War (Blu-Ray) Article Questions

2008-04-08T09:47:00.004+01:00

As promised, I’ve typed up the questions you wrote in yesterday’s revision session. Overall, they’re quite impressive. Below are the questions relating to the Format War (Blu-Ray) article and you can find the article by clicking on the title of this post. The questions for the Wii article are on another post. Where groups didn’t finish their questions, I’ve put them together those from other groups that didn’t finish. I’ve also allocated marks differently for some questions – where it is obvious that answering the question wouldn’t require 20 marks worth of thought and writing.

There are two ways that you can benefit from this exercise.
1) Complete the answers to the questions under timed conditions – you should allow yourself no more that ½ hour to complete these.
2) Comment on each other’s questions. You may find that in trying to answer the questions that they actually reveal a misunderstanding of the issues or that they could be worded more accurately. You may think that they don’t warrant the amount of marks allocated.Halimo's Group
1a) Identify three advantages of HD DVD (6)
1b) Name 4 pieces of evidence that indicate that Sony is dominant in the market. (8)
1c) Explain what is meant in the passage by:
i) ‘digital convergence’ (3)
ii) ‘high definition’ (3)

2 a) In what ways does the article suggest that format wars impact upon consumerism? (5)
2 b) Using your wider knowledge of NMTs, explain how producers now expect more from producers of technologies. (20)

Samaah’s Group
1a) Name three institutions that are now using Blue Ray? (6)
1b) Give 4 reasons why consumers are switching to Blue Ray? (8)
1c) Explain what is meant by:
i “digital convergence” (3)
ii “pirated” (3)

Danni’s Group
1a) Identify 3 institutions that have decided not to use HD-DVD (6)
1b) State 4 reasons why Sony’s Blue Ray won the Format War (8)
1c) Explain what is meant in the passage by:
i “next generation format war” (lines 8 and 9) (3)
ii “digital convergence a reality” (line 14) (3)

2 a) In what ways does the passage suggest that Sony’s Blue Ray victory affects the market? (5)
2 b) Using your wider knowledge of NMTs, discuss how Blue-Rays future will affect home cinema (20)

Revision Session - Wii Article Questions

2008-04-08T09:36:00.003+01:00

As promised, I’ve typed up the questions you wrote in yesterday’s revision session. Overall, they’re quite impressive. Below are the questions relating to the Wii article and you can find the article by clicking on the title of this post. The questions for the Format Wars (Blue Ray) article are on another post. Where groups didn’t finish their questions, I’ve put them together those from other groups that didn’t finish. I’ve also allocated marks differently for some questions – where it is obvious that answering the question wouldn’t require 20 marks worth of thought and writing.

There are two ways that you can benefit from this exercise.
1) Complete the answers to the questions under timed conditions – you should allow yourself no more that ½ hour to complete these.
2) Comment on each other’s questions. You may find that in trying to answer the questions that they actually reveal a misunderstanding of the issues or that they could be worded more accurately. You may think that they don’t warrant the amount of marks allocated.

Rehana’s Group
1a) Name three advantages of the Wii remote? (6)
1b) Give four examples of ways in which consumers are exploiting Wii equipment by using it for unintended purposes. (8)

1c)
i) Explain what is meant by the term “unlocked” and how unlocking impacts on Apple (3)
ii) What is meant by the “homebrewing community”? (3)

2 a) In what ways does the article suggest that the Wii is a revolutionary piece of technology? (5)
2 b) Using your wider knowledge of NMTs, discuss the extent to which audiences influence developments in technology. (20)

Carollee’s Group and Makeda’s Group
1a) Name three advantages of the Wii (3)
1b) Identify the ways in which the Wii attracts audiences (8)

1c)
i) Explain what the writer means by “a game of cat and mouse” (3)

ii) what is meant by a “family game platform”? (3)

2a) In what ways does the passage suggest that an audience are always looking to expand new technology (5)

2b) In what ways does the article suggest that Nintendo is limiting the Wii’s convergence with other technologies (5)

Morrissey Case - Vanilla Views From Now On?

2008-04-06T21:29:00.004+01:00

You may have heard about the singer Morrissey winning a defamation case against The Word magazine recently. The Guardian raises the question what the implications of this case will be for reviews in newspapers and magazines. Read the article to find out what the issues are. You should really start commenting on these cases as it will help you develop your arguments for the exam.

Genre Questions

2008-03-31T11:58:00.002+01:00

As per discussion here are the Genre questions you came up with. As a form of revision / practice I suggest that you have a go at all of them between now and the end of the course.
Post your attempts as comments with your name on them and write the essay question you are doing at the top of the comment. Mr Meade and I will look through as many as possible so check the blog for feedback.

1) To what extent do genres restrict filmmakers and institutions?
2) Explain why certain genres are just as popular today as they were 50 years ago.
3) How has the development of technology changed genre over time?
4) What are the benefits and limitations of genre to audiences and institutions?
5) What role do generic conventions play in audience appeal?
6) How do generic conventions help or hinder the film industry?
7) "Films should not be categorised by genre, but by their directorial style" Discuss in relation to the concept of film genre.
8) "The defining lines of genre are becoming increasingly blurred causing audience expectations to become confused" Discuss this statement with specific reference to the development of genre over time.
9) How do institutions adapt film gneres to target change in their audiences?
10) What are the limitations and benefits of hybrid genres?

Genre Questions

2008-03-27T10:07:00.003Z

How far has the development of new technologies impacted on genre?

Remember to build your answer around the key concepts you have studied at Y12 and Y13. If you don't know what they are SHAME ON YOU!

News from Iraq. Is it a Fraud?

2008-03-17T07:56:00.003Z

Rageh Omaar, a former BBC correspondent in Iraq, details how difficult it is to report the full truth of what is happening in Iraq due to the increasing insecurity in the country. He makes that point that the British public are not getting the full story about what is happening in the country because of the dangers facing Western journalists in the country. Whereas five years ago, at the start of the war, all sorts of journalists, from big Western news outlets like CNN and the BBC to local and independent one, could go report with relative freedom now only those who can afford the massive insurance costs can do so - i.e. big news organisations like the BBC, Sky and CNN. Even so, they report under real constraints, having to be accompanied by large security forces and from within heavily guarded compounds.

Action Adventure Glossary

2008-03-02T22:52:00.002Z

Let's hear it for the good people at Long Road Media in Cambridge again. They've got a brilliant glossary of terms for Action Adventure movies on their Action Adventure blog (and you thought we were slightly strange for having one blog for the whole cluster). It covers lots of special effect terms which will help you spot different effects when we get back to doing a bit of textual analysis.

Foundation Production - Development of Ideas

2008-02-25T23:40:00.005Z

Haven't seen you all for a while but I hope you've been busy over half-term, if not filming then at least refining your ideas and plans. I was at an exam board meeting today and saw lots of great student work that I hope you'll all match and surpass. What really excited me - and Mr. Gibbs worries about such excitement - was seeing how easily you could all be keeping track of your ideas and planning by using a blog. This is actually going to be a requirement in future years but for now you can have a look at what the students at Long Road College in Cambridge are doing right now. You can also look at some of their thrillers, or at least rough cuts, by looking through the different pages. I strongly recommend you take a look at this in your down time. We won't have time to go through it in class given your hectic production schedules.

Foundation Production - Audience Research

2008-01-11T16:06:00.000Z

Right. A few of you have been muscling in on my Year 8 lessons wondering about what to do with the questionnaire for your audience research. So here's the deal.

Ultimate aim: find out information about your audience so that you can be sure your film will appeal to them.

Types of Info:
Demographic (age, gender, ethnicity, social class etc.)

Psychographic (attitudes, beliefs, self-image etc.)

Lifestyle and Media Consumption (hobbies, magazines, films, TV etc that they consume and why)

Opening of Films - specifically ask them about what engages them at the start of a film, stops them from switching it off etc.

Length

General rule of thumb is that it should have enough questions to gather the info that you need but not so many that your respondants would be reluctant to complete it. You may find that between 10 and 20 questions will suffice. We've asked you to have a draft ready for Wedneday, 16th January so that we can have a look at them and help you to refine your questions to the point where you can eke out as much information from as few questions as possible.

If you are reading this let as many others as possible from Year 12 media know about it.

Home Made Advertising

2007-12-19T10:43:00.000Z

Another example of how digital technology is blurring the boundaries between audience and producer and how it's helping to lower the costs for traditional media institutions. Pringles will be using an ad made for just £300 by a member of the public. The ad will be first shown on terrestrial TV in Christmas day on ITV. The cost to Prigles of running the ad once on ITV is £60,000 but you could add that again to the cost if an ad agency had produced the ad for them. By running the competition for a new ad, Pringles have saved a huge amount of money and the winner of the competition has earned a reputation for himself within advertising circles - as well as the £2,000 prize. Of course Pringles can also benefit from the low cost viral marketing this will inevitably lead to.

What Makes The News?

2007-12-19T10:22:00.000Z

Click on the title above to go to two radio programmes from the BBC World Service about how news stories are selected and edited in different parts of the world and by different news organisations. The second programme examines the future of news in light of new media developments. Essential listening. The more examples from current news output that you can include in your exam answers the better - it shows that your engaged with current debates not just the well rehearsed ones that examiners will be bored of.

Foundation Production Christmas Research Task

2007-12-17T11:07:00.000Z

So far you've watched The Birds, The Dark Hours and Momento, examples of Psychological Thrillers from the middle and late twentieth century. The notes you have taken on these films will form a key part of your "Product Research" section in your Foundation Product folder, which acts as part of your evidence for your Planning mark (30 out of the 120 marks available for FP). This task is designed to provide you with further evidence of product research and give you a better feel for the genre and how it appeals to its audience.

The Task:
1) Select 3 films from the list of Psychological Thrillers listed elsewhere on this blog
2) On your own or together with others in the class, view the 3 films, taking notes.
3) Write a brief summary (55 words or less) of the story and characters.
4) Write a paragraph describing the visual style of the film -e.g. does it use a lot o close-ups to create a sense of claustrophobia etc? Does it use saturated colours or a lot of light and shadow etc?
5) Describe who you think the target audience to be and why.
6)Write a brief summary of the credit info - director, producer, studio, cast (easy to find on www.imdb.co.uk)

Year 8 Poetry H/W XMAS

2007-12-14T14:39:00.000Z

How does Heaney explore the concept of death in Funeral Rites.

Critical Research

2007-12-13T20:13:00.000Z

For all you Year 13 Media Students who have even the slightest idea that things that happen in the media have something got to do with them, go and check this out. Its worth reading for the name of the Children's Secretary alone!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7134943.stm

Hellboy HomeWork

2007-12-13T19:56:00.000Z

Task

(a)To plan a complete response to the question:

How are the following used in the extract

-Camera angle, movement and positioning
-Editing
-Special Effects
-Sound
-Mise en scene

Your plan will consist of four or so topic sentences that clearly indicate the type of material you will deal with in your response.

(b) You will then choose one of the paragraphs to complete to the very best of your ability.

You should aim to write about how the different technical codes are used in the part of the extract you have chosen to focus on.

It would be helpful for you to break the extract down into key events, for example:

1. Hellboy (protagonist) reading suddenly engulfed in combat in the lift shaft.
2. we then cut to the underground station
3. the fight then begins – there are several stages to the fight
4. the monster is splattered by the train.

If you deal with the action in this way then your work will have a structure and will convey a sense of the extract to the reader. However, if you tackle the question in this manner then you will have to write about all the technical codes simultaneously. The different parts of the extract will, to a greater or lesser extent, enable you to demonstrate your knowledge of all the technical codes.

Im really sorry if I upset anyone in Mondays lesson, I really am.

Day After Tomorrow Homework

2007-12-11T19:52:00.000Z

As discussed in class today, I'd like you to write about the use of all five technical codes - camera, sound, effects, editing and mise-en-scene - in the second half of the extract. Remember, write in the present tense and try to convey a sense of the extract as it happens. By doing this you will force yourself to write about all five codes at once because the camera only makes sense when discussed in conjunction with sound etc.
It doesn't matter if you repeat detail mentioned by earlier posts. What I'm interested in looking at is how you structure your response. Can you post by next Monday night - 17th December.

Hamlet Quotations to be (or not to be) committed to memory.

2007-12-07T11:20:00.001Z

By way of comments in response to this post let us see if we can build up a series of worthwhile quotations as a resource for the A2 Hamlet exam. I will get the ball rolling.

Wise Children article question

2007-12-02T12:45:00.000Z

The question is...

Why does Jane Ogborn believe that Wise Children is a "typically 'postmodern' novel" and what evidence can you gather from the article to support this point of view?

Please post a short response by Friday 7th December.

Wise Children question

2007-11-30T08:04:00.000Z

The question is...

Whatever you need to know about magazines

2007-11-28T22:18:00.001Z

Magforum is a huge online resource tracing the history and development of magazines from all different genres. There are whole sections on men's magazines and women's glossies, with lots of useful stats on audience figures and information about changing audience demands.

X-MEN Textual Analysis

2007-11-21T12:54:00.000Z

Post your H/W here and dont forget to sign in or include your name in the response!

The Future of Gaming

2007-10-21T23:55:00.000+01:00

EA Games are looking to the console producers to come together and produce a single platform. Will it ever happen?

12-32 Gladiator H/W

2007-10-17T12:52:00.000+01:00

BBC News Editors Explain Their Decisions

2007-10-16T08:04:00.000+01:00

The BBC News site has an editor's blog, where many of the decisions made by BBC News programmes are justified and explained by the editors who made them. This is a really useful resource for the Broadcast News and Current Affairs section of the Debates paper in Year 13.

Burntwood Students Win Magazine Pitch!!

2007-10-12T07:55:00.001+01:00

A group of Year 13 Media students went to BBC Worldwide yesterday for a workshop on magazines. During the course of the day they had to come up with ideas for a new magazine and pitch the idea to the good people at the BBC. Using the wealth of knowledge they had gleaned from their Lifestyle Magazines unit in Year 12, they stole top prize from all the other schools in attendance and bagged a few HMV vouchers.

Look out for the students concerned at whole school assembly on Wednesday 17th October.

Make a name for yourself - make a film!

2007-10-11T21:32:00.001+01:00

Channel 4 and Cancer Research UK are looking for ideas for short films about smoking and why it's not the best way to pass the time. You're all full of bright ideas so why not give it a go. You may well end up making the film with the support of Channel 4. For more details go to the website - click on the title of this post.

yet another Media Glossary

2007-10-02T21:54:00.000+01:00

Try this link -it's a good one to increase your ability to engage with Media texts in the required manner.

When you get to the page look to the left and in the index box, click the EA button and hey presto!

http://www.cultsock.ndirect.co.uk/MUHome/cshtml/index.html

Hamlet homework 13:52

2007-10-02T19:22:00.000+01:00

KING CLAUDIUS

Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death
The memory be green, and that it us befitted
To bear our hearts in grief and our whole kingdom
To be contracted in one brow of woe,
Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature
That we with wisest sorrow think on him,
Together with remembrance of ourselves.
Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen,
The imperial jointress to this warlike state,
Have we, as 'twere with a defeated joy,–
With an auspicious and a dropping eye,
With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage,
In equal scale weighing delight and dole,–
Taken to wife: nor have we herein barr'd
Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone
With this affair along. For all, our thanks.
Now follows, that you know, young Fortinbras,
Holding a weak supposal of our worth,
Or thinking by our late dear brother's death
Our state to be disjoint and out of frame,
Colleagued with the dream of his advantage,
He hath not fail'd to pester us with message,
Importing the surrender of those lands
Lost by his father, with all bonds of law,
To our most valiant brother. So much for him.
Now for ourself and for this time of meeting:
Thus much the business is: we have here writ
To Norway, uncle of young Fortinbras,–
Who, impotent and bed-rid, scarcely hears
Of this his nephew's purpose, –to suppress
His further gait herein; in that the levies,
The lists and full proportions, are all made
Out of his subject: and we here dispatch
You, good Cornelius, and you, Voltimand,
For bearers of this greeting to old Norway;
Giving to you no further personal power
To business with the king, more than the scope
Of these delated articles allow.
Farewell, and let your haste commend your duty.

Using examples in your answer, how would you describe the performance of the King in his first appearance in the play. You may want to focus on:

the use of figurative language
the tone and how it changes
how Claudius' kingship is represented
Email me on gringle@tesco.net if your not sure of any part of the question.

Independent Media in a Time of War

2007-10-01T21:34:00.000+01:00

From what you saw of the documentary in today's lesson P3 Mon 1st October, how successful do feel TV news is as a method of disseminating information.

Has downloading killed the album?

2007-09-28T15:33:00.000+01:00

An interesting question is posed on the BBC 6Music site - are we witnessing the beginning of the end for music albums? Do you value your album collection? Are tracks better appreciated as part of an album or do you all use the shuffle function on your iPod or MP3 player. Many artists (e.g. Travis, Ash, Prince) are beginning to acknowledge that the downloading of tracks has fundamentally changed the way audiences listen to music and have decided to either do away with or give away albums.

12:31 media home work

2007-09-27T19:05:00.000+01:00

Stuart Hall has argued that the meaning an audience gets from a text is determined by their cultural backround and that there is no fixed meaning. How far do you agree with these ideas in terms of what you know about Audience theory?

Use examples from each theoretical perspective to support your points.

(about 200 words)-due first lesson week beginning 1st October.

You may want to include references to:

Hypodermic Syringe Theory

Uses and Gratifications Theory

Two Step Flow Theory

Reception Theory

BEWARE! Your Search Engine is working you out

2007-09-22T12:19:00.000+01:00

You friendly-wendley search engine, the bestest friend you have is really a spy. The term 'spyware' conjures up images of evil programmers hell-bent on destroying the world. On the other hand, when we think of Google we think, 'Oh I LOVE Google, it helps me everyday!' What you really should be asking yourself is - at what price this help?

Follow the link and learn more.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/6972079.stm

Who is watching Mediawatch? Critical Research / Debates Paper

2007-09-21T20:01:00.000+01:00

I suppose its hard to argue against an organisation that believes swearing and violence, as well as misogeny and stereo typing are BAD THINGS! I would be really interested to know what you think of this article, 'NEW CALL TO CUT MEDIA VIOLENCE', and the site in general.

http://www.mediawatchuk.org.uk/

The Debates Paper

2007-09-18T21:30:00.000+01:00

All you Year 13 Media types - I know how you just love cowboy films so check this one out! No really people you need to start getting some western type films into your diet so that when the Genre unit (debates paper) comes around you will be quick on the draw. Till then pardner, put the cattle on and have a nice cup 'a cawfee! (The film is called 3-10 To Yuma)

http://arts.guardian.co.uk/filmandmusic/story/0,,2168098,00.html

Where's the bias?

2007-09-17T17:36:00.000+01:00

This one has had me scratching my head. If you click on the title of this post it will bring you to a blog connected to the Guardian newspaper. It concerns an article on the BBC's Newsround site. There have been lots of accusations that the article is biased because it seems to either blame America for the attacks of 9/11 or justify al-Qaeda in some way.

This feeds into the article we've been reading in class recently around the issue of freedom of speech and the representation of all views in the media. Is the BBC being biased here by explaining the position of al-Qaeda or is it merely trying to fairly represent the views of all those involved in the story of 9/11? Do the accusations of bias have anything to do with the language used in the article or the way the sentences are structured ( the esteemed Mr. Graham, he of Room 81, the English corridor, thinks this may just be the case).

Psychological Thriller Titles

2007-09-10T13:20:00.000+01:00

First of all, welcome to Year 12 Media. As promised, here is an initial list of psychological thrillers you could start to watch in your own time. I will add to this list as you and others make recommendations. Most of these are fairly accessible and mainstream. We may also look at some of them in class.
The Silence of the Lambs
Copycat
Arlington Road
Pacific Heights
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
Basic Instinct
Dead Ringers
The Birds
Rear Window
Vertigo
Someone to Watch over Me
Blue Velvet
What Lies Beneath
Sea of Love
Internal Affairs
No Way Out
Narrow Margin

I refer you to Fatima's comment attached to this post for a more exhaustive list of film titles.

Blair takes on the "beastly" media

2007-06-12T23:41:00.001+01:00

Relevance - Freedom of the Press & Broadcast News
Tony Blair made a speech today, reflecting on the state of the media. At one point, he described it as a "feral beast." Obviously this implies that, at times, it is out of control and needs taming. There is loads of stuff on this all over the web, especially on the BBC website. You could look at any number of places to find commmentary on it, including the BBC's political correspondent's (Nick Robinson) blog - http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2007/06/feral_media_my.html
If you'd rather listen to a debate about it, go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/programmes/drive.shtml and select "Listen Again Tue" for today's programme (this will only be available until Friday or so). Then skip forward to 2:30:30 to get to start of a report on the speech. They interview a prominent Labour MP, Gerald Kaufman, and the editor of the Independent newspaper, Simon Kelner. It's a perfect opportunity to get a sense of two sides to a debate (it gets a bit feisty) and of how politicians feel the urge to control the press - especially when it is unkind to them.
You can also read the whole of Blair's speech at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6744581.stm - he says interesting things about Broadcast News as well.
The more you can refer to speeches like this in your answers the better chance you have of succeeding - it shows that you are truly engaged with the live debates and not just rehashing the notes given out in class.

Daily Mirror Iraqi Abuse Photos

2007-05-23T16:20:00.000+01:00

Click on the title to read more about the sacking of the Daily Mirror's editor, Piers Morgan, following to publication of faked photos which alleged to show British soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners. Lots of issues here - should the Mirror have published the pictures in the first place (whether they were fake or not) or should they have refused to publish them on the basis that they would be protecting the national interest by safeguarding British troops in Iraq? Once they knew they were fake, why did Piers Morgan still claim that "we published the truth.....We have revealed a can of worms. If the government chooses to ignore that, it is entirely a matter for them."

YouTube - the right to reply.

2007-05-14T08:02:00.000+01:00

Year 12 and 13 - this is worth looking at. Amazing footage of a BBC Panorama reporter loosing his cool with a representative of the Church of Scientology has been posted on YouTube. You can click on the link above to see the clip, together with how it was reported by BBC News 24. This raises the important point of how sites like YouTube offer those who are reported upon the opportunity of a more enhanced reaction to how they are represented in the media. The Church of Scientology filmed the reporter's interview and have now been able to show the world footage which may never have seen the light of day were it not for sights like YouTube. It is likely that the BBC would have edited out the angry reaction of its reporter. Because of such postings, the audience are now able to see much more of the "whole story" than previously, thereby empowering the audience in terms of deciding upon issues. It also diminishes traditional news media outlet's (like the BBC) role as gatekeeper to what we can and cannot see. It will be interesting to see if Panorama now includes this footage in its report (tonight 8.30 on BBC1). Look at the way BBC News 24 presents the story; it seems to try to excuse the behaviour of its reporter by discussing the pressures he was under at the time.

Why Blog?

2007-05-11T07:33:00.000+01:00

The University of Essex have published a report examining why people read and write blogs and the nature of the culture of blogging. Its conclusions demonstrate just how habit forming many new media technologies can be. Some of the respondants in the study admitted to being "addicted" to blogging.
There isn't necessarily anything too novel about this. For years critics have accused traditional media like television of being addictive. However, what is new about the nature of the habit of blogging is how it grows. With television, the habitual viewer tends to switch on and passively feed their habit (at least physically, it is harder to assess if they are actively engaging with the content mentally). This study finds that there is a link between the reading and writing of blogs. Reading blogs seems to provide the motivation for writing blogs. It is doubtful that watching TV provides the motivation for the majority of viewers to make television programmes.

Year 13 Press Regulation - Privacy Vs. Public Interest

2007-05-02T14:33:00.000+01:00

This is an interview with a judge from the European Court of Human Rights outlining how judgements are reached when deciding on cases where someone feels the press has invaded their privacy. It's even laid out in an accessible questions and answers format - ideal for you poor stressed out things!

Interactive TV - A Swindle?

2007-04-23T20:44:00.000+01:00

The most basic form of interactive TV is viewers phoning in to programmes. It's also potentially the most profitable for the TV companies. BBC's Panorama programme has uncovered just how profitable and potentially corrupt this form of interactivity can be.

On the commercial channels, like ITV and Channel 4, callers can often pay up to £1 per call. Their calls are usually handled by an outside telecommunications company - in the case of GMTV this was a company called Opera. Panorama revealed that Opera was choosing winners from the GMTV competition callers before the lines were officially meant to close, meaning that many callers were continuing to call in, thinking they might win, when they actually had no chance of doing so. This is similar to selling raffle tickets and then not putting them into the drum to be drawn out. It's alleged that this could have amounted over £12m pounds being defrauded from viewers who called in. GMTV has apologised for this and claims to have had no knowledge of the alleged fraud.

But why do we have so many of these phone-ins in the first place?

Mark Thompson, director general of the BBC, claims that it's down to audience demand - many viewers like to interact with programming in this way so the BBC provides them with this opportunity. I suspect that in the BBC's case it's as much about competition as audience demand - so many of the commercial channels do it, thereby creating expectation amongst the audience that programmes will include such opportunities.

For commercial channels it's as much linked to a much bigger problem (created by the growth of other new media technologies like DVRs and the internet) - the decrease in advertising revenue. For a channel like ITV, who traditionally made all its money from advertising, the chance to make money from viewers using premium rate numbers to call in is too good to pass up. In fact, they've developed whole new digital channels to benefit from this new revenue stream (way of making money) - the quiz channel, ITV Play. According to Panorama, ITV Play made £8 million in its first year of operation, while the total prize money given out was £20,000.

Year 13 Press Regulation - Is Privacy More Important Than Freedom of Expression?

2007-04-16T14:00:00.000+01:00

As promised, click on the title above to go to the Guardian article on the Loreena McKennitt case. She's a folk singer who successfully prevented a (former?) friend from publishing large parts of a book about their relationship, claiming that it invaded her privacy. This sets an important precendent for future cases that might be taken on these grounds. What will it mean for all those "kiss 'n' tell" stories that are the lifeblood of the Sunday tabloids? How might it affect the earning potential of all the WAGs an wannabe WAGs? How will the audience survive without salacious tales of footballers and pop stars misbehaving? More seriously, will this mean that public figures will be able to behave in a very hypocritical manner without ever being held to account for it? Imagine a situation where an evangelical bishop was able to block a story about a homosexual relationship on the basis that it invaded his privacy, while every Sunday he preached about how wrong homosexuality is.

Minority Report Almost a Reality

2007-04-16T13:28:00.000+01:00

This one covers both NEW MEDIA (Year 12) and BROADCAST NEWS (Year 13). Before I go on, a reminder to sign up for the Media Guardian online - it's free and only by doing so will you be able to access this story. I know it takes time but it's time well spent.

The 3 mobile network will soon be sending its users personally targetted ads when they choose to watch news and sports updates provided by ITN. Here we're moving away from the idea of niche audiences, let alone mass audiences, and towards the concept of individual audiences. You may have seen Tom Cruise's character in Minority Report being bombarded with ads designed specifically for him. This is a classic example of how new media technologies offer even greater personalisation of media consumption and experiences.

From a news perspective, this carries all sorts of potential consequences. It increases competition for other traditional broadcast news providers like the BBC. However, it also shows that established news providers like ITN are inscreasingly turning to new technologies as a way of reaching audiences, expecially younger audiences (read the article to see the types of stories that may typically be sent to customers' phones. Within this there is also a threat to the role of broadcast news in helping to create informed citizens. News plays an important function in society. By informing the audience about events in our local and global community, the news empowers us to make more informed decisions about how we want to be governed and how we want to relate to other members of our community. If, however, we increasingly receive personally tailored news updates (by choosing the types of stories that are sent to our mobile phones, e-mail or Yahoo / MSN homepage) we will lose touch with the wider range of stories offered through longer news bulletins on traditional news outlets (e.g. 10 o'clock news on BBC 1 or the Channel 4 news), thereby becoming less well armed when it comes to making decisions about who to vote for or even whether it makes any difference to buy fair trade coffee or not. This is also true of those people who increasingly rely on blogs to find out what's happening in the world because they feel mainstream news media is just too, well, mainstream. By relying on blogs, or even newspapers for that matter, that they feel represent their perspective, they are reinforcing that particular perspective and limiting themselves to certain amount of information. Of course, some would argue that they read a range of blogs, which of course would overcome this difficulty. However, there is the issue of time - how many people have the time to devote to properly informing themselves in this way? So, I guess what all this boils down to is a question of whether you think the traditional broadcast news outlets still have a role to play, and if so how important a role?

Year 13 Issues and Debates Sample Questions

2007-04-16T12:59:00.000+01:00

As I mentioned in the revision session this morning, you can click on the title above and go to the Mark Scheme for the Janauary exam of this year. There you will find the questions that were set for the Issues and Debates paper, including the one we went through in class, together with bullet points on what students might include in an answer. Practising answering the questions can be a great way to go through all your notes and refamiliarising yourself with the material. Most of all you should be practising structuring your responses.

Have Apple Bitten Off More Than They Can Chew?

2007-04-03T08:14:00.000+01:00

The EU Commission (that’s the part of the European Union that regulates business and protects consumers in Europe) has started an investigation into the way that Apple allegedly limits the choice of music consumers who use iTunes. According to European Law, consumers should be free to buy the same product from anywhere in Europe, thus allowing them to shop around for the best price. However, if you use iTunes in Britain you can only buy from iTunes in Britain, meaning that you pay 79p for a track, compared to 66p if you were able to buy it from iTunes in France. Apple claim that their hands are tied by the record companies who supply them with the tracks. This is a classic example of how the internet has allowed institutions like Apple and the big record companies to take advantage of the lack of regulation aimed specifically at the internet. The regulators (in this case the EU Commission) are having to play catch up in an effort to protect consumers.

Do Rights Matter – What is DRM?

2007-04-03T08:12:00.000+01:00

The BBC has an excellent article explaining exactly what is meant by Digital Rights Management. This is a key issue in the age of the internet and has major implications for how institutions continue to make a profit from the media content that audiences consume.

Can Gaming Kill the Cinema Star?

2007-04-03T08:08:00.000+01:00

Computer games have come a long way since the Pong and Space Invaders. Where they were essentially a series of lines and dots on the screen, today’s games have almost cinema quality graphics and sound; so much so that many movie franchises like James Bond and Star Wars have extended their brand with a catalogue of computer games. Whatever the quality of the visuals and sound, however, games have, up until now, never been able to offer the audience the same depth of characterisation, quality of dialogue or compelling narratives as cinema. So while games may offer the audiences more interactivity than a movie, their ability to become a truly immersive experience has been limited by these shortcomings. Keen to develop new audiences, and improve the experience of existing one, the games industry is now looking to Hollywood screenwriters to help them overcome these problems. Click on the title above to read more about this and ask yourself whether games will eventually replace cinema as a mass entertainment form.

The Key Questions In Media Packed Into One Article

2007-03-12T21:42:00.000Z

Mark Lawson uses the recent TV phone line scandal to ask many of the key questions in Media Studies in one tidy article - (I very much doubt this was his intention but it does anyway.) This isn't just relevant to New Media but also to Broadcast News and Contemporary Issues in British Broadcasting in Year 13. Most of all it addresses the big issue of Audience Theory - what is the nature of the relationship between the audience and the producer? He claims that the phone scandal, and the public's reaction to it, challenges the commonly held view that the audience today is a sophisticated and media savvy. He also discusses the different conceptions of the audience that are revealed through the recent Virgin Media and Sky row - with Rupert Murdoch and Sky seeing the audience as a mere consumers and television as just another product to be sold rather than some kind of cultural artifact that contains meaning for the viewer, "their status more akin to that of guest, student, even patient." He raises the issue of "trust" and how news programmes have sold themselves on the basis of their trustworthiness. However, is this now possible when so many people feel they can trust blogs more than traditonal news outlets like the BBC and NBC (in America)? Are blogs to become the main news source for the next generation? If so, what impact will this have on our shared cultural understanding? In an increasingly personalised media world, will we ever feel connected to those around us?

One Man And His TV Broadcast

2006-12-05T07:47:00.000Z

Jeff Jarvis details how inexpensize and easy it is for an individual to create their own television output using sites like YouTube, a digital camera and iMovie. He does warn, however, that while the audience can become the producer, the quality of his programming may not yet compare to the that of the BBC or Channel 4 (though have you seen Hollyoaks in the City?)

Game On

2006-12-04T08:25:00.000Z

The Science Museum has a great exhibition on the history and future of video games running from now until February 2007. It's a great opportunity to play games going back to the 70's and to trace the development of technology, especially the graphics and sound, over the years. There's also the opportunity to play with the latest, most interactive games like Nintendo's new Wii system. What you'll notice is how much more immersive games have become over the years. As the graphics, sound and gameplay develop, players become more involved in the world of the game. Some would say that this is a bad thing, leading players to become detached from reality and those around them. However, the development of online gaming allows players to experience this virtual world with others from all over the world - increasing our connectivity. Even if you don't get to the exhibition, you should check out the museum's site to find out more (follow the link in the title of this post.

YouTube Proves Its Worth

2006-10-10T08:24:00.000+01:00

YouTube has just been bought by Google for a small fortune, proving the popularity of watching video online rather than through your TV. Google are likely to have been attracted to YouTube because of two things: its current popularity earned through viral publicity and the distributon deals it has signed with Universal Pictures and CBS television in America. The signing of these deals are a clear sign that the big traditional media institutions are convinced of the future of online, bitesize viewing, where viewers watch their favourite programmes or movies online rather than on the couch.

SFX Media Blog

2006-06-12T09:05:00.000+01:00

The good people over at SFX College have their own media blog, which is well worth checking out. It covers more than just new media and carries links to a wide range of media related articles.

Blogs Breaking News

2006-05-05T08:28:00.000+01:00

All you keen news watchers and politicos out there are sure to be aware that the government is under even more pressure because of the failure to deport foreign ex-cons. Well yesterday it got even worse when it was revealed that someone who is now a suspected terrorist is among those the government (the prison service) failed to deport. This was the lead news story across most of the broadcast news yesterday. And where did the story originate from? A blog. Admittedly the blog is attached to an establish political magazine, The New Statesman, but the fact that it exists and is considered important enough for broadcast journalists to read is further evidence of the way that the internet is changing both the way media is produced and consumed. Established or traditional media outlets are increasingly turning to new media as a way of maintaining their status within the media market. The New Statesman is a weekly magazine but by allowing its journalists to publish blogs it allows audiences to access its content on a daily basis and develop a reputation for breaking news as well as commenting on it.

http://www.buzzmachine.com/

2006-04-10T12:53:00.000+01:00

This blog has lots of discussions around the whole phenomenon of blogging. It includes discussions around the issue of citizenmedia.

Why Sky and My Space are new family members

2006-04-10T12:38:00.000+01:00

ITV bought the Friends Reunited website and Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation (owner of Sky, Fox, 20th Century Fox, The Sun, The Times, the list goes on) bought My Space, among countless other popular websites. If you want to know why, this article gives just one reason - advertising revenue. It's expected that the amount of money spent on Internet advertising will exceed that spent on news press advertising during this year. So you can see why traditional media companies want to get in on the internet act.

You Make The News

2006-04-10T12:30:00.000+01:00

This is a real crossover story - relevant to New Media Technologies in Year 12 and Broadcast News in Year 13. You may remember all those great pictures from inside the tube tunnels after the London bombings last July. Obviously they weren't taken by the BBC, Sky or ITN's news crews. They were taken on the video enabled mobile phones of the survivors of the crash. The idea of an ordinary member of the public (citizens) generating such pictures (content) for news programmes is what has become known as the growth of citizen reporters or journalists. They make the experience of watching the news all the more powerful and immediate for the audience and could have a significant impact on the financial resources of broadcasters (who needs to employ all those journalists and camera crews when the public can do their job?). There are, though, signifcant issues to resolve -the two As - accuracy and access. The 3 mobile phone network is trying to resolve the access issue (read the article for more on this) and claim that broadcasters have to do their bit to ensure that the citizen generated content is truthful and accurate (a cornerstone of news reporting).