Author Archives: Dantje
Reflecting on the Media’s portrayal: The Coal Seam Gas Epidemic
The media is a very powerful device that has be ability to place issues and events that occur in society under the media spotlight, whether it be on a local, national, or global scale. The media acts as a transmitter, whether it is printed, published online, or broadcasted on television; information is relayed to the public that they then decode themselves. However, practices of the media can result in certain issues and events having greater significance placed upon them, meaning they are perceived to be of greater importance. Examples of this are front page stories in newspapers, and breaking news stories on primetime broadcast news programs. This method of supply consequently diverts attention away from other stories, and they are then deemed to be of less importance by the institutions relaying them, therefore altering societal opinion in relation to the level of importance.
This can be quite problematic, as companies such as Fairfax and News Corp in Australia. Between these two institutions, they own the majority of newspapers, radio stations, and magazines in circulation. This enables them to infect the public with their own bias ideologies across many news mediums and communication streams. As a result, public opinion can be swayed at a more prolific rate, as they are able to correlate their own bias stances on news via multiple media mediums – however this is not always the case. Throughout my following of the Coal Seam Gas issue I have looked at many different types of media, in an attempt to gauge just exactly how the media is communicating the issue to the public. Certain broadcasting corporations such as the ABC have maintained coverage of the coal seam gas issue, since the story initially surfaced onto the media scene. In my first post The Coal Seam Gas Rush, I draw attention to the fact that the corporation has an entire section of their website dedicated to the Coal Seam Gas (CSG) issue, which lists factual data and is constantly updated whenever new stories surface, giving readers a heightened understanding of the issue. Furthermore, an article in the Australian, reports how the ABC was recently forced by the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association to take down content from their website. This example clearly underlines how significant the ABC considers the issue to be.
My second post focused on Coal Seam Gas in the Illawarra, closely examining the region’s newspaper The Illawarra Mercury, and how the issue was reported on. My research for this blog post found that while the newspaper generally reported on new developments regarding the issue, both on national and local levels. However, I also discovered that even though it is considered to be quite a high-profile story within the region, updates and developments on the issue commonly find themselves placed in latter pages of the newspaper. Consequently this can result in a lack of significance being placed on the issue by the readers. Furthermore, the post highlighted that this also may be a result of print media heavily relying on shocking headlines such as “Grandmother’s body in wardrobe: man pleads guilty” to draw readers into purchasing the paper. Predominately this trend was quite common all of the print publications I looked at; however other forms of media such as websites on the Internet had much more freedom, as the webpages were exclusively devoted to putting the issue under the media spotlight.
Online media websites such as Coal Seam Gas News which I talked about in my blog post “The Internet – Stamping Out CSG?”, is a prime example of online media exclusively focusing on one issue continuously. My research found that the website features regular updates and also runs a live twitter feed to further keep members of the public up to date on the issue. This online publication approaches the CSG issue from a fairly neutral standpoint, stating factual information, allowing for readers to independently form opinions on the matter. The main aim of this website is to raise awareness about the issue, rather than bellowing out bias opinions like traditional media outlets may seek to do.
Overall I found that the media, depending on how the outlet and style of reporting, generally dictates how audiences will react and decode the information given to them. Reputable companies such as the ABC and companies owned by larger corporations such as Fairfax Media and News Limited play crucial roles in drawing attention to these issues and keeping them under the media spotlight long enough to have the issue deemed significant by the public. However, significance of local issues reported on by local media outlets can sometimes see a lack of significance placed on the issues as there is a distinct lack of coverage, meaning that important contemporary issues such as the CSG one may be overlooked by members in the community.
Responsibilities of Media Outlets: Generating Awareness.
My last post looked at the shocking truths the media was revealing by interviewing those most affected by coal seam gas mining epidemic – the citizens living in the mined areas. The 60 Minutes program on Channel 9 also portrayed shocking stories of companies building gas extractors on land belonging to everyday people, much like you & me. Furthermore, it highlighted the fact that Government mining officials themselves do not even know the full effect that this new type of mining will have on the environment, which is one of many reasons that makes this issue so prevalent.
Since this issue hits members of society the hardest, I thought that it may be a good idea to seek opinions of local residents living in the Illawarra community, testing their knowledge, awareness and levels of concern of the issue. This led me to asking two of my family members what they knew about the issue, how they were made aware, and their opinion on the matter. Each person interviewed was from a different demographic, the first being my grandmother, aged 87. Generally, she did not know all that much about the issue, having only heard about local efforts protesting against the issue. However, when I informed her of other undertakings being carried out by coal seam gas miners, she felt it was an atrocious and despicable act. The second interviewee was a member of generation Y, and also a university student. This person was baffled when I poised the question as to how they felt about coal seam gas mining, and I had to first explain the process before they were able to voice their opinion on the matter.
Overall, I strongly think that it is the media who is at fault for the lack of awareness that I discovered when conducting my interviews. Increasingly more and more extraction stations are being constructed, and more families are being driven from their homes and properties. I think the media has a responsibility to be placing the issue under the media spotlight for a sufficient time period to generate enough awareness because horrors of the coal seam gas industry are creeping closer towards our doorsteps.
Reflecting On Convergence
Throughout this vigorous session I have published several blog posts focusing on the topics and issues that concern convergent media practices in my subject BCM112. As per the assessments’ requirements, I have chosen what I feel to be my three strongest blog posts, which are listed below.
Transmedia Storytelling – A Collective Effort.
The first post I have chosen is one I pieced together in week 6. This post explains the practices of Transmedia storytelling, primarily focusing on on blockbuster franchises. It also explores how this practice allows audiences to experiences worlds that are not just a single story, but also multiple stories that collaborate into one big pervasive one. This post draws upon information from both the lecture and supplied readings in the tutorial guide, for the relevant week.
The conclusion lands at the notion that transmedia storytelling is forever changing the way we as viewers engage with entertainment, and in the era of collective intelligence, it (transmedia storytelling) is the ideal visual platform to build on this practice.
Collective Intelligence: Fuelling the Flames of Online Discrimination?
This week’s topic was of heightened interest to me, as online discrimination is a contemporary issue in our society, and is showing no signs of slowing down. This post exclusively looked at the detrimental effects online abuse can have on individuals and social groups.
My research led me to discover that hate speech is not a form of free speech, and while everyone is entitled to an opinion, trollers and flamers generally pay no attention to the matter being discussed in online areas such as forums and Twitter. Furthermore, online campaigns such as #mencallmethings are doing all they can to raise awareness and combat the issue.
Citizen Journalism: Giving Power To The People.
This week’s topic was also of interest to me, as the rise of citizen journalism through technological advances is something I am quite fascinated by. Prior to my research I remained quite static on my opinion that there were few negatives surrounding this style of journalism. However, I was unaware of the true span of citizen journalism and how something as simple as ‘retweeting’ a post can be considered practice. I found that while Civic Media may increase user participation, it challenges the journalistic code that the profession swears by, causing problems for journalists everywhere.
Collective Intelligence: Fuelling the Flames of Online Discrimination?
The Internet has helped a new kind of global public sphere to manifest in the ever-changing digital age. The Internet is a powerful tool, as it combines user participation with its unmatched networking capabilities However, online participatory culture can also have detrimental effects on individuals and social groups.
It is not an uncommon to hear of individuals being targeted and discriminated against in the online community due to their gender, sexual-orientation, race and of course, appearance. These practices are most common on online social networking sites, such as Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr. Given that the very backbone of social networking involves sharing personal information, voicing our free speech and personal opinion, it is no wonder that cyber-bulling has become a common practice in the cyber realm; given that there are no visible or immediate consequences for the keyboard warriors living amongst us.
The Internet is a place for collective intelligence to blossom and grow, however Youtube videos such as the ‘Search Racist. Jews.’ was created to elucidate the sheer crudeness of ideas that can be formed through this collaborative effort that we have all come to love and cherish.
Anonymity is a major factor in the amount of misogyny that women experience online. Dreher (2012) shed light on a campaign named #mencallmethings aimed at highlighting the number of people on twitter posting abusive misogynous emails and posts sent to female bloggers online.
While the dark side of online participatory culture may harbour many negatives, campaigns such as #mencallmethings are taking steps in the right direction by raising awareness of the issue in the fight against identity-based discrimination online. However, I firmly believe that for as long as anonymity exists on the Internet, online discrimination will always remain a problem due to the participatory nature of the beast.
References:
Dreher, T 2012, ‘#mencallmethings: Identity and Difference Online’, lecture, BCM112, Convergent Media Practices, University of Wollongong, delivered 07 May.
StopRacismUCT 2010, Search Racist. Jews., accessed 08/05/2012, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBjQX3sfSRo
Edited 11/05/2012
Citizen Journalism: Giving Power To The People.
Prior to the digital age, mainstream media and news outlets were almost exclusively regarded as the only form of acceptable and informative sources of information. The media was streamlined, both through print and television, and a very sanitized method of reporting was used, however there has been an apparent shift in the balance of news dissemination within traditional news media outlets.
Today, in the midst of the digital age, we are seeing more and more news reports (especially world news), being reported on with the aid of citizen journalism. I have previously blogged about the powers of citizen journalism, and its ability to give the voiceless. Raw, unedited footage has the power to allow viewers to engage with the content more, and to focus less on the bias little spin whichever news corporation is trying to spurt out with the story. This type of media is referred to as Civic Media, as it increases public participation enabling the exchange of meaningful information, and increases the agency of a citizen (Mitew, 2012).
This new style of journalism in the digital age is challenging the practices of old, and I think it is a very positive step towards a more transparent relay of contemporary information within society. Gatekeeping is the practice I refer to, and it has been defined as basically the manipulation of information in order to make it appropriate for the news media realm (Lewis et. al. 2010, pp. 164-165). I also feel that there is a correlation between gatekeeping and sanitized reporting, as they both share similar principles.
When thinking about citizen journalism, while it has become increasingly more prevalent with online media outlets and television, the world of print media remains just as rigid as it previously was. Overall, citizen journalism, aided with technology has created a gateway for those who were once considered to be the audience, to wield the powers of the media, relaying news to fellow citizens, at their own volition.
References
Lewis, C 2010, ‘Thinking about citizen journalism: the philosophical and practical challenges of user generated content for community newspapers’, Journalism Practice, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 163-179, accessed 01/05/2012.
Mitew, T 2012, Citizen Journalism, BCM112, Convergent Media Practices, University of Wollongong, delivered 02 May 2012.
Edited 10/05/2012
The Pros of Torrenting
At this point in time, in the digital age, it is generally an accepted practice that most of the musical content we consume is mostly downloaded on torrent websites such as The Pirate Bay and Demonoid. These new practices has created a new community in the digital world, allowing for users to trade, share and download content from multiple genres, that are sometimes not available from mainstream media outlets.
Advances in technology, combined with music’s arrival on the digital stage has ultimately spurred on the collaborative effort to create file-sharing network on the Internet making music available to all. While this practice is considered illegal throughout the world, I do not believe it is entirely immoral or unethical. Before the digital age, musical content was mostly available through mainstream outlets, such as the radio, television, or buying the content legally. This meant that there was a limited amount of content available for people to access and engage with.
This new culture, fuelled by user empowerment and produsage, is highlighting the importance of convergence and the benefits it possesses. Torrent websites along with Youtube and music sites such as Spotify allow for people to share, communicate and engage with musical content in a way that was not previously possible.
Coal Seam Gas: The Horrors of ‘Fracking’
This week, I’ve chosen to take a closer look at the television program 60 minutes Australia, broadcasted on the Nine News Network. In June 2011, 60 minutes aired a segment on their show named “The Coal Seam Gas Land Grab”. The report outlined the harsh realities of the booming industry all over the country. While this segment may be close to 8 months old, I still feel it holds dire relevance to the Coal Seam Gas Issue, as what some have called an epidemic, remains a currently contemporary news issue.
Unlike other news stories and pieces I have analysed, this particular one interviews residents, lawyers fighting the case and fat-cat mining executives trying to justify their reasoning for breaking onto people’s properties in order to mine this hazard gas. The report also reveals the devastating effect this is having on families in communities, and also impacts on health, such as cancer and neurological disorders.
Cases in Queensland of water supplies leaking gas, and wells bursting into flames in America were also being reported on. The program also sheds light on the hydro-fracturing process, which is something I was unaware of up until now in my research. Also known as ‘fracking’, it is a process where water, sand and millions of gallons of toxic chemicals are injected into the earth at high pressure, in order to extract the gas. It is also revealed how mining companies possess all of the power, as government legislation supports them in whatever they choose to do.
Overall the programme addresses the shocking truth about the issue and how little is known about the consequences of the process, in an informative non-bias manner.
References:
60 Minutes Australia, Fracking – The Coal Seam Gas Land Grab, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PELxZ3K2o0c, accessed 21/04/2012
Out of Character: ‘Geek-ism’ Is Here To Stay
World of Warcraft
There was once a time when fantasy freaks and gaming geeks would in many ways have to conceal their love for the games they played and the lore they praised. However in recent times, it seems there has been a dynamic shift of acceptance within society for these once labelled nerds who were lamented as creatures with no social skills or attributes for acceptability in society.
Like many others I’m sure, I myself once had to conceal the fact that I was an avid computer gamer, spending my weekends as a teenager competing in various video games in tournaments online and at LANs around the country. Even today I still wonder as to how people will react if they were to discover this fact about me.
In recent years, Electronic Sports (eSports) along with many other facets of the digital world, have become much more acceptable within society, and they are now challenging the notion that gaming geeks and lovers of fantasy themed content are no longer outcasts of popular culture. In the world today, engaging with video games, gaming consoles and fantasy art has generally become an accepted practice, and there has been a convergence of the ideologies behind these practices.
The popular massive multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG) World of Warcraft is estimated to have over 12 million registered users in Europe and North America alone, making it one of the most popular games of all time. The game (like many RPGs) offers users a level of escapability, as it creates a digital realm where one can explore, complete quests, socialise with others and trade gold in exchange for goods and service. This type of interaction can allow users to disengage with their own world as they are being subjected to another, which can be beneficial, depending on the individual. Having played the game myself for many years, I know first-hand how addictive WoW can become, and how rewards and achievements made within the game are based on how much time is spent playing.
Transmedia Storytelling – A collective Effort
According to Henry Jenkins, transmedia storytelling is the process where key parts of fiction are separated in a certain way across multiple platforms for the purpose of creating a unified and organised entertainment experience for viewers. This compiled method of storytelling enhances a viewer’s experience as it can challenge them in many different ways, often leaving audiences captivated and curious about these complex narratives that completely differ from more classical, predictable narratives.
An example of transmedia storytelling in practice would be a comic books later being turned into films. Jenkins (2007) highlights how the graphic novel Batman published by DC acted as the base for the success of the films, which were owned and released by Warner Brothers. The comic book acted as the base for which the film generated so much of its success from, as the transmedia storytelling allowed the comic book to in a sense come to life, in a way that appealed to viewers on multiple platforms. Mitew (2012) reminds us that this form of storytelling frees the stories from the channels they are connected to, meaning there are more entry points, ultimately allowing for more points of engagement for the audience.
Transmedia narratives allow for audiences to experience a world that is larger than a single story. Mitew (2012) displays data explaining how transmedia involves telling multiple stories over multiple mediums, which together combine to tell one bigger story. Transmedia storytelling is the ideal visual platform for the era of collective intelligence (Jenkins 2007), and it is forever changing the way we engage with entertainment.
References:
Jenkins, H 2007, Transmedia Storytelling 101, accessed 03/03/2012, http://henryjenkins.org/2007/03/transmedia_storytelling_101.html
Mitew, T 2012, Transmedia narratives, BCM112, Convergent Media Practices, University of Wollongong, delivered 02 April 2012.
Edited 10/05/2012
The Internet, An Abyss 