New forms of media publishing

Although the internet has been around for decades, it is still considered a new media, as much of its usage is still unexplored and many are still benefiting ever since it was open to the public.

But as mentioned in the previous post the amount of internet users are raising at a tremendous rate that they double their amount in such a rapid rate that blogs alone have reached over 57 million in October 2006. Other means of media such a Vlogs has also boomed in the amount of users.

Not only that, these days people who have been "nobodies" in their lives are able to shine without means of getting on to the television, they now can use Vlogs such as Youtube where they are able to post outrageous things which they have done in hopes of gaining popularity and acceptance by reader and/or viewers.

With a few success by those who have been passionate at posting on their sites, there was always the saying "Who knows you might be the next star one day (on Youtube)?"

Most importantly, new media has allowed users and producers to communicate with each other more directly compared to other medias. This is because the audience are playing an active role in selecting things they like and dislike. With such a list, producers are able to anticipate the move in trends and be one step ahead in providing the users with what they need.

Designing for online vs. print

Print media has been around for decades, but now in this new age, the emergence of the internet has led to a shift in design from print to online. There are many reasons for this shift and some examples are local newspapers which have online newspapers, this is because the internet can be considered "free" as the cost of it isn't high compared to conventional methods. More over, the internet is instantaneous which allows real time news and at the same time cover a large audience.

Print Media



According to Kress and Van Leeuwen (1998), the print media focuses more on text which is their main means of conveying messages other than pictures.

Online Media



On the other hand, online media allows readers to play in an active role as they are required to click on links to find out more information. Thus at the same time allow designers to figure out, what the audience would like to read. With these interaction between readers and designer, both parties would be able to benefit from each other.

Hence a more active audience compared to print media.

Although....

According to Jakob Nielsen (1997), people rarely read Web pages word by word; instead, they scan the page, picking out individual words and sentences. Nielsen (1997) also said "In research on how people read websites we found that 79 per cent of our test users always scanned any new page they came across; only 16 percent read word-by-word."

Therefore, weblogs have to employ scannable text by using:-

• highlighted keywords (hypertext links serve as one form of highlighting; typeface variations and color are others)
• meaningful sub-headings (not "clever" ones)
• bulleted lists
• one idea per paragraph (users will skip over any additional ideas if they are not caught by the first few words in the paragraph)
• the inverted pyramid style, starting with the conclusion
• half the word count (or less) than conventional writing

However, even with all of the above, if a blog is not credible, readers would not take it seriously and assume it as a ranting from someone who has nothing better to do. Thus it is crucial for the information portrayed on the website to be linked and sourced from credible sources. This allows the readers to find that the blog is credible and at the same time making the blog objective.

Thus, both online and print medias have their pros and cons, but the complimentary of both medias creates a greater source of information.

Reference

Kress, G & van Leeuwen, T 1998, ‘Front pages: (the critical) analysis of newspaper layout’, in Approaches to media discourse, eds Bell, A & Garrett, P, Blackwell, Oxford, pg. 186-219.


Nielsen, J, 1997. How Users Read on the Web. Viewed on 30 April 2008 at http://www.useit.com/alertbox/9710a.html

Classification of blogs

Subject matters

Technorati defines blogs in 6 different categories which are:-

1. Business
2. Entertainment
3. Lifestyle
4. Politics
5. Sports
6. Technology

Devices:-

Moblog - Mobile (phone) blogging

Media Types:-

Vlog - video blogs (such as Youtube)
Linklog - Collection of blog networks
Sketchlog - Collection of sketches and dravings (such as Deviantart)
*WARNING*
Splog - Spam blog (Fake blogs for promotion purposes)

There are also other blogs which have a combination of styles which makes them hard to categorize. Otherwise known as hybrid blogs, can be identified by their purpose.
Such as the topics discussed in the blogs, the style of writing (formal or informal), format and audience.

Personally, the audience is the most crucial for all blogs as the main goal is to have people to read on the blog and contribute in turn. Thus the best interest of both parties would be achieved.
Therefore the right topics, style and format is crucial to attract the targeted audience.

Hence, with the targeted audience achieved, a community would begin to form around the blog which shares their same interest and contribute to it. Slowly as readers begin to leave comments, they begin to open up and contribute more. Which according to Cedar Pruitt (2005), the Pew study cites a rapid increase in the number of blog readers who leave comments, meaning that more and more people are becoming accustomed to participating in the social discourse that occurs in the "blogosphere."

An example of these blogging communities is http://www.usj.com.my/ , where communities in the area are able to get more information of their surroundings such as the new OCPD in Subang Jaya Police Station and other issues which interest the community.

How to create a blogging community?
Much rather it is the community which makes it a blogging community.
Although there are ways to help achieve this, which is by targeting the audience in the community. By understanding the needs of the community and being able to cater to those needs, the community would then realize the importance of the blog in their lives and begin to contribute towards it.

Reference

Pruitt, C, 2005, The Blogging Phenomenon: Who? How? Why?, Digital Divide Network, Retrieved 2 May 2008, from http://www.digitaldivide.net/articles/view.php?ArticleID=86

Blogs as current phenomenon & effects on community

For years mankind has kept a record on issues which are important to them, thus the development of history.
But there is also a more personal record which individuals keep, which is their diary or journal.
These days with the advancement of technology, we now have the internet which allowed it's users to upload information into their online diary (Tawa 2001) which is accessible worldwide (as long as you have an internet connection).
But the internet is accessible by people worldwide allowing others to view our "online diary" or otherwise known as free-style blogs which Ozawa (2001) calls it as a blog which focuses on the author's personal life.
Thus a new trend has arise where bloggers are seeking attention rather than posting their true personal stories. Therefore, the purpose of a blogosphere where bloggers can share their opinions may have changed over the years.

According to Technorati (technorati.com, 2008), which have been tracking blogs since March 2003, the current size of blogosphere in October 2006 have surpassed 57 million blogs.



Many people would wonder how could a community be affected by blogs, as most of them are just rantings of what someone did the day before.
But there are also political blogs which enables individuals who wish to express their freedom of speech which they couldn't have done through other means.
This is because mainstream medias are usually regulated by the government which prevents these individuals from reaching the public.
Thus the best alternative they have would be the internet, where hopefully people who are concerned of the same issue are able to meet on the internet and discuss better means to solve the problem at hand.
The same would go for social and business blogs although they are not prevented from voicing out in mainstream medias.



Reference

Ozawa, Ryan Kawailani (2001) journal vs. weblog. Diarist.net, August 4, 2001. Retrieved December 11, 2001, from http://www.diarist.net/guide/blogjournal.shtml


Tawa, Renee (2001) Personal Web Logs put a face on a faraway disaster; Heartfelt commentary that mass media don't provide boosts the popularity of 'blogs.' Los Angeles Times: Southern California Living; October 14, 2001, Sunday Home Edition, Part 5, p. 1

The purpose of my blog

The idea of where heads clash, literally means the exchange of ideas from individual to individual.

Why? This is because each individual may see things from different perspectives and angles.
Thus by gathering all the perspectives and angles, we are able to see an overall picture of the "issue" at hand.

Although most of the issues would be about communication, and issues in publication and design.

Therefore, opinions from academicians and practitioners in these field are highly appreciated, but opinions from the public are also crucial in the search of the "overall picture".