Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Newspaper killed the radio star?
If The Guardian are now offering daily podcasts (including a media-specific one) where does the newspaper end and the radio broadcaster begin? The newspaper's decision to construct a recording studio in its offices states very clearly how seriously the new venture is being taken. This is further illustration of the way in which NMTs are providing institutions with opportunities to diversify their output. Other examples to consider are the crossovers of gaming and film as well as TV/mixed interactive content.
Essay question
To what extent are new media technologies more interactive for audiences than traditional media technologies?
This should be blogged by midnight 31st March. Answers shouldn't take much more than 30 minutes, should include plenty of examples and make reference to the key concepts.
This should be blogged by midnight 31st March. Answers shouldn't take much more than 30 minutes, should include plenty of examples and make reference to the key concepts.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Film downloads: not on iPods, though
Universal are trialing permanent downloads as a way of satisfying the demand of audiences for films to be made available over the internet. Music downloading has proved the potential for digital distribution, although the decision to restrict the downloads to PCs and Windows seems odd; without those fancy iPods, would Apple has exceeded 1 billion downloaded tracks? Now iPods are doing video, a potentially huge audience is going to be frustrated...
Yet more on social networking
It used to be the case that anyone using technology was a friendless geek who was helping contribute to the destruction of society as we know it. Not anymore: if you've got an internet connection and your age ends in '-teen' then the chances are you're social networking. Sites to investigate in particular are bebo and myspace. Just watch you don't get hooked.
Online of course now doesn't have to mean on a computer: 3G phones seem to make a difference to users' social and media habits - which includes production as well as consumption. (The last link has some very useful statistics.)
Sony is hoping for a bit of the network action when PS3 is launched, further evidence that the future of media is online, even if TV is still the dominant medium.
Online of course now doesn't have to mean on a computer: 3G phones seem to make a difference to users' social and media habits - which includes production as well as consumption. (The last link has some very useful statistics.)
Sony is hoping for a bit of the network action when PS3 is launched, further evidence that the future of media is online, even if TV is still the dominant medium.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Key concepts
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Digital media 'empowering users'
The BBC has a detailed report on the Financial Times Digital Media conference which puts forward the view that the expansion of technologies such as blogging and cheap video editing has resulted in a shift in traditional attitudes to the media. This is very useful for considering the impact of NMTs on both audiences and institutions. The argument comes back to the same sticking point, though: there will always be a place for professionals who are good at what they do; anyone can produce media texts which can be accessed by a wide audience but that's no guarnatee of quality.
Monday, March 06, 2006
Look at me, look at me
Last Thursday The Guardian had a useful article on social networking. Anyone who's spent much time online will know that forums, blogs and personal websites make up a large proportion of the internet's content. (As one student said to me: 'If you're not on myspace you're no one.') No longer is your social contact limited to those who live in the same street (okay, the same town or city); the internet has allowed communities to be constructed around interests rather than geography. Given the passive nature of TV watching its surprising that it's still seen as more acceptable than online gaming an chatting online. The navel-gazing encouraged by the possibilities of personal web publishing is difficult to ignore, however.
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