NDM Story #48 Daily Star's Page 3 ads banned for being 'sexist' and 'offensive'

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/mar/25/daily-stars-page-3-ads-banned-for-being-sexist-and-offensive

An advert by the Daily Star for a competition offering readers a chance to win a date with a Page 3 model has been banned by the Advertising Standards Agency after they found it to be “sexist, offensive and socially irresponsible”. The newspaper, which named itself the “official home of Page 3 babes” after the Sun stopped publishing photos of topless models in January, offered a prize of a visit from two “Star Babes” to the winner’s workplace. The ad said: “We’re all skint, shivering and face the prospect of politicians droning on for months ahead of this year’s general election, so we decided it was time to cheer up Britain. And what better way than with the help of our fantastic Page 3 girls?”

I believe The Daily Star are finding ways to keep their audiences as The Sun recently stopped publishing photos of topless models. They are trying to compete and keep the topic of women in newspapers as it is highly debatable in recent news. 

NDM Story #47 Where will Fleet Street be in 2025? A long way further right

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/mar/15/fleet-street-2025-further-right-newspaper-circulation-abcs

Statistics show The Sun ended February with an average print sale of 1,941,000 a day – some 9% down on the same six-month period last year. So if that rate of decline continues on trend, it will be selling just over 1.2m in five years and around 760,000 in 10. The Mirror had a 922,000 record in February and a percentage decline of 7%. Make that 640,000 in five years and 450,000 in 10. The Mail – with Paul Dacre retired at last, I guess – is sliding currently by only 5%. That gives it 1,280,000 or so in five years and a 990,000-ish figure in 10: add a few bulks to keep the million. Print may have less and less economic clout, but it will still have some headline salience as the ballot boxes open Upmarket a bit, the Telegraph has a 493,000 print figure and a 9% decline rate: so just over 307,000 in 2020 and 190,000 in 2025. The Guardian, on 179,000, posts a decline of 10%: so 105,000 in five years and 62,000 in 10. The Independent, at 61,103 now, can anticipate 38,000 and then 22,000. And the Times, with only a 2% decline record, will see its current 393,000 head towards 320,000 over a decade.

Statistics prove the decline of the newspaper industry is still taking place. Sales and figures for news cooperation's are down and I believe it will continue until traditional news is banished overall. 

Identities and the Media: index

1) Identities and the Media: Reading the riots

2) Post-colonialism: Destiny Ekaragwa film analysis

3) Post-colonialism: theory and clip task

4) Feminism: post-feminism article

5) No More Page 3 research

6) Feminism: waves and feminism and online activism

7) Collective identity and the media

NDM Story #46 Snapchat 'worth $15bn' after Alibaba invesment

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/mar/12/snapchat-worth-15bn-after-alibaba-invesment

Alibaba is investing $200m in Snapchat, propelling the notional value of the photo-messaging app to a stellar $15bn (£10bn). The funding from the Chinese ecommerce company, first reported by Bloomberg, means that Snapchat’s worth has increased by $5bn in a matter of months. It dwarfs the $3bn offered by Facebook for the company in late 2013. It puts the four-year-old company into the top ranks of privately held startups. Evan Spiegel, Snapchat chief executive, declined to comment, but said: “We are famous for not talking about the future.” Snapchat adds entertainment and news with Discover More. With Snapchat blocked in China it is unclear what immediate value the startup would bring to Alibaba, which handles more online commerce than Amazon and eBay combined.

In my opinion, it is shocking that a social media app can be worth so much, considering it's lifetime has only been four years compared to other sites such as Amazon and EBay which have been running for much longer. However, social media is a big thing and is more powerful due to new and digital media. Therefore those who are able to invest in it are taking the opportunity. 

Collective identity

Read the Media Magazine article on collective identity: Self-image and the Media (MM41 - page 6). Our Media Magazine archive.

1) Read the article and summarise each section in one sentence, starting with the section 'Who are you?'

• Who are you: we are all involved in constructing an image to communicate our identity.

• I think, therefore I am: how we perceived ourselves and how we presented ourselves was based on the social constructs.

• From citizen to consumer: identity could be constructed in terms of an externalised image.

• The rise of the individual: dominant values help shape how we see ourselves; and by the late 1960s and 1970s the notion of individualism began to take hold.

• Branding and lifestyle: branding is the association of a ‘personality’with a product.

• Who will be we: we have more control over our public image now than ever before.

2) List five brands you are happy to be associated with and explain how they reflect your sense of identity.

New Look: most of my clothes are from this shop which I wear daily.

Vera Wang: Their 'Princess' is my favourite perfume, worn daily.

Samsung: My phone is a Samsung Alpha, which I use on a daily basis.

Skull candy: My headphones are this brand, which I use every day.

Ugg: My favourite boots which I wear to school due to the comfort.

3) Do you agree with the view that modern media is all about 'style over substance'? What does this expression mean?

Postmodern critics see the construction of identity through media representations as being shallow, leading to a culture that values ‘style over substance’. I do agree that this is taking place due to the media e.g. magazines putting so much importance on factors such as beauty over intelligence, which influences audiences and creates role models, especially for young people.

4) Explain Baudrillard's theory of 'media saturation' in one paragraph. You may need to research it online to find out more.

'Media saturation' looks at the fact that high cultural value being placed on external factors such as physical beauty and fashion sense over internal traits such as intelligence or compassion. This has been reinforced through the media. For example, magazines show skinny models and reality TV shows such as Keeping up with the Kardashians create role models for young people and girls in particular. Young people therefore look up to these celebrities and feel that they should look like them or be like them as that is societies 'norm'.

5) Is your presence on social media an accurate reflection of who you are? Have you ever added or removed a picture from a social media site purely because of what it says about the type of person you are?

I do not believe I have ever been such a keen social media user. I do have Instagram, however do not pay attention to Facebook and Twitter. I post pictures that I like and that I feel reflect me or an event that I have enjoyed.

6) What is your opinion on 'data mining'? Are you happy for companies to sell you products based on your social media presence and online search terms? Is this an invasion of privacy?

Data mining allows corporations to create products designed to meet the needs we reveal in our personal information. I do believe that data mining needs to take place to some extent in order for companies to find out what is trending and ways in which they can meet customer demands. However, companies should look at social media overall and not go onto peoples profiles in order to find out information. However, it can be argued that people choose whether they want to make their private or not. If it is not private then it gives an impression that people are happy with anyone to look at their profile, including companies. 

NDM Story #45 Why some Indians want to 'Ban BBC'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-31751035

The BBC Storyville film 'India's Daughter' focuses on the brutal gang rape and murder of a student on a bus in Delhi, an incident which reverberated around the world and led to widespread protests about the safety of women in India. A court in Delhi has blocked the broadcast of the film in India, and Indian home minister Rajnath Singh has promised an investigation into whether "norms have been violated" for the filming. Just like on mainstream media, the debate on social media is focused on an interview with one of the four rapists sentenced to death for the crime. In the interview, he expressed no remorse and blamed the victim for fighting back. On Twitter and Facebook, those opposing the documentary has been tweeting #banBBC the hashtag has been mentioned more than 13,000 times in the last 24 hours. A few others have been using the hashtags #boycottbbc, #banbbcasap and #banbbcinIndia.

This story being featured in a BBC documentary has caused much controversy and anger. I do not believe that it should be taken so far as to ban BBC, however I do not believe that the BBC should have been so explicit when revealing the facts about the gang rape. 

NDM Story #44 Anger over new powers for Turkish authorities online

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-31665109

Last year Turkey entered the headlines for briefly blocking Twitter and YouTube. Now, with both unblocked, activists are using them to highlight a new set of concerns about internet freedom. Scan the world's most popular Twitter hashtags, and the chances are some of them will be in Turkish. Many of them will also have a political bent: social media is heavily used by all sides of the spectrum in Turkey to push their side of the argument. Many of those who participated in the Gezi Park protests in 2013 largely organised on social media are not happy. They don't buy the government's defence of the law, which is that courts need to approve any actions within 72 hours, and say Turkey's track record makes them weary. Twitter's recent Transparency Report disclosed that 90% of all the tweets taken down were in response to requests from the Turkish government (the US made the most requests for account information, mainly in relation to criminal investigations).

Twitter has massively become a trend in recent years, especially in the media. I believe that people should use the social networking site to their full advantage as it allows opinions and voices to be heard. Especially through the power of hashtags and the impact it can have. Many protesters have done this recently. 

NDM Story #43 BBC licence fee good for at least another decade, says director general

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/mar/02/bbc-licence-fee-10-years-director-general-tony-hall?CMP=share_btn_tw

The BBC director general has said the licence fee funding mechanism is good for at least another decade, while welcoming proposals that would modernise the universal levy for the internet age. After an important speech setting out ambitious plans for the “reinvention” of the BBC, Tony Hall welcomed last week’s report from the Commons culture, media and sport committee that said a universal household levy could replace a fee based on television ownership in the long term. “The most important thing is that the committee gave the licence fee at least 10 years. I think it will go beyond that but they said 10 years.”

In my opinion it is positive that the TV license fee is going to stay the same for the next 10 years. This gives people more security as they do not have to worry about the fee increasing.

NDM Story #42 PM faces being 'empty-chaired' as TV debates are expected to go ahead

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/05/pm-empty-chaired-broadcasters-set-to-go-ahead-debates

Broadcasters are expected to press ahead with the TV election debates and believe they have legal grounds to “empty-chair” the Tories on the basis that they turned down a reasonable invitation to attend. Channel 4, ITV, Sky and the BBC were discussing “a final offer” from No 10 on Thursday, under which David Cameron would attend one debate with the leaders of six other parties held the week before parliament’s dissolution. Cameron, criticised by other political parties for his reluctance, said he was only seeking to break the logjam created by the broadcasters’ handling of the debates.

This story is political and it is no surprise that there is a disagreement among the MP's.

NDM Story #41 Should Britain introduce electronic voting?

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/feb/26/should-britain-introduce-electronic-voting

The problems with our current, resolutely 19th-century method of running elections should be obvious. Votes can be miscounted, misread, or even simply misplaced. Counts consist of thousands of people across the country, paid overtime to stay up all night manually sorting and counting those votes. When they go wrong as happened in Tower Hamlets during the 2014 local elections there’s no easy way to trace the problems back to their source, and no easy way to fix them other than simply restarting the count. Electronic voting machines are used in some of the world’s biggest democracies, including Brazil, India, and the Philippines, to get around some of these hurdles. The machines come in all shapes and sizes, from small touchscreen devices to larger units with physical buttons and a printed ballot paper on the front.

Although traditionally, votes are done through ballot boxes. I believe it would be a good idea to invest in electrical voting as it may even mean that more people get involved e.g. young adults who may not have been interested before. However, by using technology although the counts may be more accurate, there may be a way to manipulate the votes through the machines.

Feminism online: recent examples

Ched Evans: petition to prevent convicted rapist playing

1) Summarise this example for the rest of the class in one paragraph

Ched Evans is an ex footballer who used to play for Sheffield United and was convicted for rape three years ago. When he came out of jail he received the opportunity for a signing to Oldham Athletic. However, radical feminist Jean Hatchet created an online petition to stop the signing and received over 21,000 supporters within 24 hours.

2) What was the initial incident or situation that sparked this example?

The rape committed by Ched Evans and the fact that he was trying to go back into a high profile career.

3) In your opinion, is this an example of a valid campaign or something of a witchhunt against people who are not doing any serious harm?

I believe this is a valid campaign as Ched Evans committed a crime by raping a girl. By trying to go back into a high profile career, Ched Evans is reinforcing the fact the that you can go back into a good job regardless of what you have done as long as you have power. However, by creating the campaign, Jean Hatchet was able to challenge Ched Evans along with thousands of supporters.

3) Caitlin Moran: Twitter silence

1) Summarise this example for the rest of the class in one paragraph

The movement is a Twitter trend called #TwitterSilence, and it involves an ironic day of quiet in protest of women's inability to speak out on Twitter without incurring some form of abuse. The idea belongs to controversial feminist Caitlin Moran, who said "I just wanted to do a thing" on Twitter before going dark around midnight.

2) What was the initial incident or situation that sparked this example?

The organiser of a campaign that put Austen's picture on the latest British banknote.

3) In your opinion, is this an example of a valid campaign or something of a witchhunt against people who are not doing any serious harm?

I do not think that this is a valid campaign or something of a witch hunt in my opinion. I believe it was carried out more as an experiment to see how powerful Twitter can be and how it changes when females are not involved in commenting or uploading anything.

4) Emma Watson: HeForShe gender equality campaign

1) Summarise this example for the rest of the class in one paragraph

The HeForShe campaign fights for equality as Emma Watson stated ''I was appointed six months ago and the more I have spoken about feminism the more I have realized that fighting for women’s rights has too often become synonymous with man-hating. If there is one thing I know for certain, it is that this has to stop.''

2) What was the initial incident or situation that sparked this example?

Emma Watson faced experiences which made her feel unequal to men such as, ''at 14 she started being sexualised by certain elements of the press, at 15 her girlfriends started dropping out of their sports teams because they didn’t want to appear “muscly” and at 18 her male friends were unable to express their feelings.'' At this moment, she decided she was a Feminist.

3) In your opinion, is this an example of a valid campaign or something of a witchhunt against people who are not doing any serious harm?

I believe it is positive that she is speaking out and fighting for gender equality. It is an issue that affects millions of people, not only in the US or UK but around the world. By speaking up, it encourages others to speak up as well and gives them confidence and will power that they may not have had before.