Looking at new media tools we cover grounds of video blogs which are also known as moblogs as they incorporate mobile phones to cover and distribute media projects. Podcasts while they are not the most popular form of media tool are being used more and more by people who have access to the internet. A podcast in its simplest form is a series of digital media files which are distributed over the net using syndication feeds for playback on portable media players and computers.

The term podcast refers to either the broadcasted content itself or the method to which it is syndicated. On a site found on Google search: ‘Podcasting dead or alive? Trends spotting marketing indicators’ published August 30th, 2008 by Tally Weiss, it discusses who is downloading podcasts in the US and why. Within the post it also discusses that podcasting has not become a major form of mass media nor a routine communication form of everyday life. The major influences for the use of podcast were broken down into three categories: Gender, age and previous internet experience. The results found included –

http://www.trendsspotting.com/blog/?p=455

Gender:
Men continue to be more likely than women to download podcasts; 22% of online men compared with just 16% of online women report ever having downloaded a podcast. However, men and women are equally likely (3%) to download podcasts on a typical day.

Age:
Younger generations have more fully embraced the technology, their percentages nearly doubling since 2006: ages 18-29 are the heaviest podcast users – 27% have ever downloaded a podcast.

Previous internet experience:
Users with six or more years of internet experience are significantly more likely (22%) than those with less online experience (13% – for 4-5 years experience, 11% for 3 years or less) to have ever downloaded a podcast.

]]> http://groupalj301.edublogs.org/2008/09/24/media-tools-podcasts/feed/ 0 http://groupalj301.edublogs.org/2008/09/05/group-blog-mojos-leading-the-way/ http://groupalj301.edublogs.org/2008/09/05/group-blog-mojos-leading-the-way/#comments Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:27:58 +0000 groupalj301 http://groupalj301.edublogs.org/?p=6 A recent article published in ‘The Australian’ by Lara Sinclair has outlined the growing use and rise of Mobile Journalists (Mojo’s) throughout today’s cut-throat industry. It has been reported that multi-million dollar news agency ‘Reuters’ is leading the way in such a field, sending more than 40 journalists at a time off to complete their daily duties.

Mojo’s are at the forefront of the list of constant ’new technologies’ being introduced to the Journalism sector at large. Studying in such an area now requires an intense understanding of Mobile Journalism and its denominations of shooting footage, taking stills, recording audio, writing text and sending information and completed stories .

Professor Stephen Quinn (aka ‘OUR TUTOR’) is quoted throughout the piece on his credible knowledge of the topic. “There are three reasons mojos will spread. Everyone knows how to use a mobile phone. Prices are coming down. And they’re with you all the time. The audience has already got them. Journalism needs to be up with the audience, not following behind. ”

However the high quality of traditional video cameras and equipment used at present could not be replaced by the mobile phone at this stage in time. Reason being, although current mobile phones produce active vision it tends not meet the high definition standards of the tailered audio/visual gear mentioned earlier.  

This time is dramatically closer than some may believe. Mobile phones in which will be able to create and shoot such emenence are expected to be available in as little as 2 years.

To further understand this topic and the article referenced log on to:

www.theaustralian.news.com.au   

Through class we have been talking, engaging and using new forms of media. In doing so we have discussed the benefits that this new technology has on the media industry and aspiring journalists. However I thought it would be relevant to cover the negative aspects of digital media and the constraints that it imposes on individuals.

Within the article: 9 Reasons Digital Media Products Are A Bad Deal For Consumers-

It discusses that while consumers can watch TV on their iPods, download sports highlights to their cell phones, and take vast libraries of music with them wherever they go it may not be a necessarily be a boon for consumers.

When consumers buy digital music, movies, or television programs from iTunes, Amazon, and most other digital content sources, they are ultimately paying more, getting less, and being forced to make platform decisions with long term implications.

Within the article are the 9 reasons as to why most digital media products are a bad deal for consumers:

1. Digital media prices are too expensive when compared to traditional media products. iTunes album prices are generally $2 to $3 below the price you would expect to pay for a discounted CD.
2. Consumers supply their own bandwidth and physical media. In the era of digital downloads consumers are now bearing the costs of manufacturing and distribution. Meanwhile media companies are still including those costs in the price of their digital products.
3. Packaging not included. When you buy a digital media product physical artifacts are obviously not included. Where the price of digital media products is lower than physical media products, the corresponding price differential is usually not enough to make up for the fact that the product does not include any of the traditional packaging.
4. Product extras are frequently missing. While digital albums may provide bonus tracks, digital movies usually don’t include the DVD extras.
5. Platform lock-in. Thanks to proprietary and incompatible DRM systems almost all digital media products released by major studios require consumers to choose a platform and lock-in to the selected platform.
6. Shorter product life-span. Digital media products arguably have a much shorter product life-cycle and will require more frequent replacement than physical media products.
7. No returns. Ever try to return a song to iTunes? Can’t be done. Sure, they might let you re-download the track if there was something wrong with the source file, but in general digital products cannot be returned in the same way physical media products can.
8. No resale value. In the good old days you could take your used CD’s down to the nearest record store and sell them for cash or credit. When you buy digital media products that’s not an option. The traditional Right of First Sale has been stripped away in the digital age.
9. Fair use restrictions. Most digital media products come with a variety of limitations designed to restrict their usage. Depending on the source, you may or may not have the ability to make a copy for personal use.

So when we consider these infringements we should ask ourselves, Is digital media the direction we should be heading, furthermore can we afford to move in that direction?

We’re all aware that pictures speak much louder than words. Images of gangland members carrying the coffins of their friends and family who died due to their lifestyle are damning and should have a lasting affect on other members of the criminal community. As future members of the media we must make the distinction between a photo that captures an important moment/important person versus a photo that is used to make a high volume of sales.

Lastly, the group also discussed whether it was a good or bad thing to have pictures of victim’s family members mourning at a funeral. In a time of genuine sorrow and discomfort, is it fair and morale to put these pictures on major news networks and all over the papers? This goes for families and friends of all types of victims, not just gangland related. The flip side to this argument is that pictures of grieving relatives give the story a harder, more real angle. Something to ponder as the semester continues…  

CAMM

Talk about a knock to your confidence and a definate scare tatic!

It is extremely daunting to be each week faced with a different prospect that will in turn become a part of our day to day experiences as writers or newly introduced ‘mo-jos.’

This week…step by step we were introduced to the concept of producing and putting together slide shows displaying a range of images to music and captions. Last week…it was ’jaz-jams’ and their ability to write/publish stories whilst on the road.

What’s next? It is understood that we live in a ‘new-age’ world where constant improvements and upgrades are being made…but how many more can we be bombarded with? If information and data can be recieved, reported and read in a matter of minutes after it has occured…how much more advanced and better can it get?

As individuals the thought of leaving our comfort zone as University students where we constantly try to make ends meet in order to get on the right path and achieve something to date is quite daunting. Let along to be faced with the constant changes and progression that makes up the industry in which we are wanting and willing to enter.

Stay Tuned.