Busybee33 signing off

Thanks for reading my blog, it's been an interesting journey.

I look forward to having a few weeks off before undertaking the next unit in the quest to complete my degree!

cheers,
Beth

Week 13 - global voices online

What an interesting blog, the Globalvoicesonline.org one is.

For anyone out there who is passionate about blogging or citizen journalism, this site boasts all that and more.

There are so many events and issues that constitute news around the world however, many of the stories on this site are not picked up by mainstream media.

The sites aim is to 'shine a light on places and people other media often ignore'.

By continuing to focus on stories that affect real people or issues that readers are genuinely interested in, the global voices online site will always have an audience.

I find it amazing that during the US Presidential Election campaign, the major headlines that make the news are quite trivial - at least to me.

Thank heavens for sites like GlobalVoicesOnline.org, which posts articles that actually mean something.

An example of this is a story about John McCain that might affect some Americans' decision to vote.

An interesting post about McCain meeting with a known Chilean dictator a few years ago might strike a chord with some undecided voters.

It appears that he has recently criticised those who would meet with any dictator without pre-conditions, when in fact he himself did exactly that a few years ago as a US Congressman.

This information actually relates to the campaign and is worth reading.

Whereas certain sections of the media waste time discussing Sarah Palin's pregnant, teenage daughter or her designer clothes, the focus is not on the real life issues that are affecting people today.

When you want to know what is really happening around our world, take a look at globalvoicesonline.org.

Week 12 - buzzmachine

When looking at Jeff Jarvis' 'Buzzmachine' blog, I instantly felt a sense of relief.

I guess you'd call it relief because it was a blog that I could relate to straight away

The language was conversational and easy to understand, and the balance of images and text is easy on the eye when looking through his posts.

The posts are not too long that I lose interest, but not too short that there isn't enough information in each one.

I agree with many of the other students in ALJ301 when they say that short blogs that make a point are what keeps people coming back to read the blog again.

To me, Jeff's posts are fascinating and display just the right amount of wit and attitude.

I've never met Jeff, but I feel like when I read his blog, he's having a conversation with me, and more importantly, I understand what he's trying to tell me.

I feel like he's taking me on journey through his journalism career, and I am along for the ride.

I enjoyed his video on the shortcomings of internet penetration and speed in the USA.

It was brief (30 seconds) and to the point; just enough time to get his message across and not bore anyone who is watching.

I also really enjoyed his post about visiting Germany and the thrill of seeing his famous quote 'What Would Google Do? (WWGD), up in large print for all to see.


When looking at some other industry blogs such as www.journalism.co.uk and STOMP I feel overwhelmed.

There is too much to look at and click on, I don't know where to start.

On the UK journalism site, there is an overload of information on the front page, with too many choices of where to go next.

Together with flashing images or logos, as seen on the STOMP site - whether they be advertising or not, they don't encourage me to stick around and read.

I'm sure others would disagree with my thoughts about these two sites, but that's the beauty of blogs, you can express your own opinion freely.

I agree with Jeff when he says he likes the blogosphere so much because it allows him to talk with people whose opinions don't align with his views.

So here in this blog, I can give my opinion, or share my point of view and know that anyone who reads it, can agree or disagree, and then move on.

Week 11 - 'Innovations in newspapers'

Just when I thought I'd seen enough blogs for a while, I took a look at Juan Antonio Giner's blog 'Innovations in Newspapers'.



This blog offers intelligent and insightful opinions on various topics from China's preparation for the Olympic Games to the US Presidential Election.

The first thing that struck me about Giner's blog was the writing style in each post.

It is exactly as the lecturer suggested the writing style in a blog should be, when I asked for feedback on my own blog.

Each sentence is started in a new paragraph, which makes it easy to write and very easy to read.
Another aspect of Giner's blog I was intrigued by was the archives section, which starts in June 2005.

I was under the impression that blogging was a relatively recent activity however Giner has been blogging for over three years.

This makes me think I have had my head in the sand as far as being aware of certain aspects of multi-media journalism.

At least I am on the right track now adding posts in my very own blog!

One of Giner's earliest posts showed his thoughts on the future of news...

'THE FUTURE OF NEWS IS…BIGGER, GLOBAL, ACCESSIBLE ANY TIME, ANY PLACE,THROUGH ANY DEVICE, TRANSPARENT, PARTICIPATORY: A CONVERSATION, NOT A LECTURE. EDITED FOR MORE, NOT LESS. FUNDED THROUGH A VARIETY OF SERVICES AND ACCESS POINTS. RELIANT ON SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP. AUTHENTIC. TRUST IS THE NEW TRUST.

AND THE FUTURE OF NEWSPAPERS IS …SMALLER IN STAFF, FORMAT, INFLUENCE,ATTENTION, PROFITS [...]'

Giner was thinking ahead when he put this in his blog back in 2005, as this summarises much of what we have learnt in 2008.

Response to week 10 'Who found my mojo'.

I love the fact that as this unit has progressed, so have the different tools used for journalism that we have looked at.

Until recently, I wasn't aware that mojo's existed to the degree that they do. In many countries they are growing in numbers and may soon be commonplace in place of the traditional journalist.

I understand that technological improvements in the mobile phone are ever-evolving; however I didn't think that they would be good enough to be used solely for reporting or broadcasting a news story.

If I were mobile journalist, I would be more than happy travelling around with just a mobile phone in my pocket, knowing I had the only tool I needed to report and broadcast breaking news.

It makes sense that the more simplified the tools are to use, the easier it will be for journalists to capture a story as it happens and then get it back to their news desk immediately.

As a journalist, the ability to multi-task is crucial.

The ability to record an interview and commentary on a mobile phone and then transmit it back to the news desk for broadcasting without the use of others such as a cameraman, alleviates the use for multiple persons to be dispatched to a potential story.

And for the bosses in the office, this would equate to a cheaper way to run the business.

Response to week 9 'Five videoblogs that do it right.'

I really enjoyed the reading on video bloggers or vloggers, as it was a simple and interesting introduction into the world of video blogs.

The videos that were mentioned in the story were quite varied, but it gave me a good taste of what is out there.

I always thought that Youtube was video blogging, however I can now see the difference in quality between the more amateur vlogs on Youtube compared with the likes of 'Alive in Bahgdad'.

In my experience, video bloggers use video as a new way to vent, or rant, or simply give their opinion on something.

However with the examples given in the reading, I can see how vlogging can be used as a more interactive reporting tool.

I really enjoyed the video on the fuel crisis in Bahgdad as I wouldn't normally see something like that broadcast.

It gave a different view of what is going on over there, other than the images of war that I see on the news.

Similarly the Rocketboom video gave me an insight into some of the issues in the world that I didn't have any clue about.

So, in the interest of trying new things, here is my own vlog in which I tried to think of something interesting or inspiring to say, but ended up with a late night blurb!

Response to week 8 reading 'STOMP'

I was under the assumption that Singapore was in touch with the modern world when it came to the media and it appears they are recognised for their journalism.

However I must admit to being amazed that the Straits Times online, multimedia and print (STOMP) site has so many hits as it's not what I would look at.

My initial reaction to the website was that it looked like one of those nasty advertising pop-ups you sometimes get when surfing the net, and they just keep on annoying you over and over again (to scared to provide a link in this post!)

I found that the loud colours, font style and animation on the site resembled an adult content site, almost pornographic.

There is so much going on; you don't know where to look.

I'm certainly no prude, but the site didn't look like something I would look at and decide to read on.

When browsing the site, I was stunned that stories like 'Who's got the nicest bum in Singapore' would be what readers think is important news.

To me it screamed bad taste.

Then there was the story about a commuter who refused to give up her seat on the train for a pregnant woman.

In Australia, these types of stories are usually seen on programs like Today Tonight and A Current Affair which are under the delusion that they are providing quality journalism.

In the case of STOMP, I would have to place it in the same category as these 'pretend' current affairs shows.

It might be their idea of journalism, but to most intelligent people, it's almost comic.

Response to week 7 reading 'Which is the best free photo gallery editor?'

There are not too many people who don't own a digital camera these days. So when someone yells 'quick! get the camera', there is nearly always one handy to capture a funny moment as it happens. I for one keep my camera in my nappy bag, because having two kids under the age of two means the nappy bag is with me at all times!

When looking at the best free photo galleries available to use, I went with Google owned Picassa. It's hard enough keeping up with all the user names and passwords I have, so for me Picassa was an easy choice as I already have Google accounts set up so there was no need to remember more passwords.

Those of you with kids will understand that being a mum, of course the only photos I have on hand are of kids and family. I was surprised by how user friendly Picassa was to upload the photos and then to embed them into the blog. Anyway, here is my first attempt.

Response to week 6 reading 'New tools for reporting.'

With all the various tools available to writers these days, it's almost impossible not to get caught up in trying to make each piece more superior than the last. And while writing for me is more like a hobby, rather than a career choice, I am slighly overwhelmed by all the tools available to help me create the perfect story.

Although I do feel slightly out of the loop, because I thought del.icio.us meant something yummy tasting and twitter is the sound a bird makes. How wrong could I be?

For me the del.icio.us concept is a new favourite friend. Now I can be anywhere in the world and find all my favourite bookmarks in the one location. In the past it's been so frustrating working on both a PC and a notebook, because I have had to save my favourite pages to both. Well, not any more. Now all my favourite bookmarks can be found in one easy place - del.icio.us!

Although I've heard the buzz word 'Podcasting' for the last few years, I've never really been interested in how it can help me in my daily life. However, as an off-campus student and part time worker, I have learnt how invaluable podcasting can be. I no longer waste two hours on the train going to work, instead I listen to the iLectures from Deakin Services Online. And if I miss my favourite radio show during the day, I can listen to it later that night or the next day if I want.

So it seems that my little writing 'hobby' has stepped up a notch, with so many more tools to help me write my next masterpiece!

Response to week 5 reading 'Ohmynews in South Korea'.

The ingenious creator of Ohmynews, Oh Yeon-ho really was thinking ahead when his idea for an online news site came to life in 2002. What a fantastic idea to create a space where stories or articles are gathered from a vast array of sources all over the world.

Oh's idea that 'every citizen is a reporter' was revolutionary and has only snowballed since then. The concept of providing a platform for any would-be journalist to display their writing talents has proven hugely successful with over 60,000 citizen reporters who provide content. The success of the site is evident with reviews that highlight its appeal.

Director of OhmyNews International, Jean Min says that the goal is to combine traditional journalism with citizen journalism. In the case of OhmyNews, the 65+ fulltime staff must be able to perform multiple roles. Reporters need to know how to edit and editors need to know how to write. It's not about just being a reporter and submitting a story and then moving onto the next one. Community journalism is unique therefore everyone needs to be multi-skilled to adapt to the medium.

While speaking at the Media 08 conference in Sydney in March this year, Jean Min discussed the success of OhmyNews and how important it is to understand your audience because at the end of the day, they are the content.

Response to week 4 reading Free! why $0.00 is the future of business.

I am an advertising company's dream...It's not as though I intentionally go out to spend money, but that is exactly what happens when I see something that screams 'free' - it just sucks me right in. And I know I'm not Robinson Crusoe there.

It could be as innocent as a cereal box at the supermarket, which says 'buy this 5 kg box of rice bubbles and you receive a 'snap, crackle, pop' children's calculator for free!' Once I've bought the box home (that will take our small family about six months to eat) I notice the small print, where I have to send $5 for postage & handling costs, so it's not really FREE after all!

Then there's the cliche I succumb to the most 'buy one get one free'. So instead of buying one top, I'll get two for the price of one. Never mind they bump the price up for the first top so you are really paying for two anyway.

My most recent visit to the supermarket found me buying 2 x 10 litre cans of olive oil because they were 50% off, meaning I was getting two for the price of one. My husband thinks I'm insane as it will take us a year to get through all the oil - ha, but look how much money I saved us!!

Just last Sunday, the Melbourne Herald Sun had a small add on the bottom of the front page declaring 'FREE PETROL'. Looking inside, the article said 'your chance to win free petrol'. But think of how many people would have seen the front page and bought the paper? The term FREE on it's own is enticing, but put the word 'petrol' with it and watch the newspapers fly out the door.

My biggest time waster at the moment is facebook. I just can't seem to tear myself away from it, searching for long lost school buddies, checking out the photos of someones new baby, it's never ending. But is it really free? I consider the fact that I'm logged into the internet for 10 hours a day not 'free'.

This obsession with facebook is costing me $79.95 per month just in internet access costs. (I know I can get cheaper broadband and that I'm getting ripped off - long story, for another time). Then there are the clever advertisements down the left hand side of the page. I'm scared to click on them, because the one and only time I did, I apparently asked someone to send me an email every week telling me how I can win a greencard to the USA. So you see, FREE doesn't really mean FREE at all. Oh, hang on, I found one example...here.

Response to week 3 reading - user-generated content

So anyone who has a mobile phone can now become a journalist?

That seems like a kick in the guts to all those students who spend years earning their Journalism degree!

I understand that with a mobile phone, 'news' or an event can be immediately accessed, but do citizen journalists actually have a clue about what the public want to see? It seems they do.

It is apparent to me that the majority of any user-generated content that is sent to news desks is during or after a major event or incident.

Or when Mother Nature reminds us she is still in charge with unusual weather events.

Some websites, including theage.com support user comments on all articles. Once a website opens up to user comments they're on the way toward citizen-journalism.

It seems that photos or video provide the most of user-generated content.

Sites such as Flickr that had the world's first photographs or the Australian Embasy bombing in Jakarta in 2004. And again in the London bombings in 2005.

It has become apparent that if one just happens to be in the vicinity of a catastrophe, then you might be an accidental journalist who can email or SMS the footage to a newsdesk.

Response to week 2 reading on Convergence

I haven't read a hard copy newspaper for months, and very rarely do I watch the news or any current affairs programs on television.

I'm on my PC nearly every day and theage.com is my home page, so I sit at the PC to have a look to see what is happening in the world each day.

This is because reading and watching takes time. Time I don't seem to have any more.

The only time I get to myself during the course of a day is an hour or so during the afternoon (when children are taking a nap) or an hour or so at night once they are asleep.

So as this precious 'me' time is exactly that - precious - I find the quickest way possible to do certain things, such as finding out that day's world events.

It's not just the mum's and dad's who have become time-poor.

I'm sure most people are in the same boat. I can see why mobile internet has become so popular. Why wait till you get home to watch the Olympics, when you can now watch it on the train ride home.

In a generation where you can pay someone to do your shopping, clean your house or book your holidays, it's easy to see why people look for the convenience factor.

However I do wonder what the affect convergence has on the older generation (I'm talking age group 65+).

The oldies I know look forward to buying the paper and sitting down to read it and do the crossword.

I know they would struggle to read an article on line, not only because they aren't computer savvy, but because their eye sight is not what it used to be!

Squinting at the screen just to try and read a few words, I think they would give up altogether if a video clip started playing.

I'm in my early thirties and I find it annoying trying to read articles that are continuously navigating to other pages on the net. If this is the way journalism is headed, how will the older folk cope with it?

As if my life wasn't hectic enough, I'm now trying to blog each week! Not sure where to start except that I quite enjoy talking, so I figure this is talking online.