Weekly New Digital Media - 22.05.17 (75)

Netflix is hiring a new VP of global policy as part of its big expansion in Europe

https://www.recode.net/2017/5/21/15669426/netflix-hiring-global-policy-expansion-europe 

                                   



As part of its fast-growing Amsterdam hub, Netflix is seeking a new vice president of global public policy, a major regulatory role that will focus on media ownership, net neutrality, competition, tax law and other issues percolating throughout the European Union and beyond. A spokeswoman for Netflix also confirmed Libertelli’s departure, adding in a statement: “[G]iven the role's global profile and our global expansion, the idea is to find a replacement more centrally located to oversee teams in Asia, Europe and US.” many in the tech industry, Netflix has had its run-ins with local European privacy regulators. It’s also watched as the European Commission’s leading competition cop, Margrethe Vestager, has scrutinized local pay-TV deals, probed U.S. tech giants’ tax practices and investigated online platforms. EU regulators have weighed in recent years whether to force video-streaming companies to dedicate 20% of their offerings to Europe-made content. Some in the industry, including Netflix, have raised red flags with such strict quotas. And the region itself only this year eased some rules so that EU citizens can access their favourite TV shows and movies when they travel to neighbouring European countries. Before the change, licensing restrictions rendered it impossible to view the same content across EU borders.

In my Opinion: Netflix is growing, it is becoming a well known streaming service that offers pure entertainment to its users. By Netflix expanding can only mean more opportunities for them in terms of the shows that are created but it could also mean that regulations that Netflix would have to follow because of which country they might be. Although a lot more international markets are becoming interested in Netflix, the amount of Netflix has paid subscribers has also increased, which supports that the shows/entertainment that Netflix provides, it pay worthy. 

Weekly New Digital Media - 22.05.17 (74)

Facebook fined £94m for 'misleading' EU over WhatsApp takeover

                         

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/may/18/facebook-fined-eu-whatsapp-european-commission 

Facebook has been fined €110m (£94m) by the EU for providing misleading information about its 2014 takeover of WhatsApp. When Facebook took over the WhatsApp messaging service in 2014, it told the commission it would not be able to match user accounts on both platforms. Facebook staff knew in 2014 that it was technically possible to link WhatsApp phone numbers with Facebook users’ identities, contrary to their public statements about the merger.

[] fine could have been more than twice the size, as competition authorities are able to fine rule-breaking companies 1% of annual turnover, which for Facebook was $276m (£211m) in 2016
[] French data watchdog fined Facebook €150,000 on Tuesday for failing to prevent users’ data being accessed by advertisers

In my opinion: I think that Facebook can not be trusted nor can the audience believe what is says, Facebook can be seen as a company that is profit driven and do not really care about their social responsibility. Although Facebook have tried to control the problems they are facing, they just need to keep it consistent and look at all the alternatives when introducing a new update to users. 

Weekly New Digital Media - 22.05.17 (73)

Facebook and Twitter 'harm young people's mental health'

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/may/19/popular-social-media-sites-harm-young-peoples-mental-health 

                     

The four platforms have a negative effect because they can exacerbate children’s and young people’s body image worries, and worsen bullying, sleep problems and feelings of anxiety, depression and loneliness, the participants said. Instagram has the most negative impact on young people’s mental wellbeing, a survey of almost 1,500 14- to 24-year-old found, and the health groups accused it of deepening young people’s feelings of inadequacy and anxiety. Social media such as Snapchat, Facebook and Twitter are also harmful. Among the five only YouTube was judged to have a positive impact. These reasons are a growing concern among politicians, health bodies, doctors, charities and parents about young people suffering harm as a result of sexting, cyber-bullying and social media reinforcing feelings of self-loathing and even the risk of them committing suicide.

[] YouTube scored very badly for its impact on sleep but positively in nine of the 14 categories, notably awareness and understanding of other people’s health experience, self-expression, loneliness, depression and emotional support

In my opinion: Social media is becoming a concern for the individuals that are consistently on those sites as it can make them conscience about themselves because of the how the people on the Internet represent themselves can be seen as something that is not true. I feel though as this is something that can be controlled as for example how many times young people consume on the social media platforms to decrease their  exposure to mental illness 

Weekly New Digital Media - 17.05.17 (72)

Twitter swings for the streaming fences with new 24/7 live sports and news TV service 

http://www.pcworld.com/article/3193699/streaming-services/twitter-swings-for-the-streaming-fences-with-new-24-7-live-sports-and-news-tv-service.html 

                                     


Twitter has announced a new 24/7 free streaming video service that will broadcast an array of sports, news, and entertainment programming to its users as it looks to expand beyond 140-character comments. BuzzFeed, Bloomberg, The Verge, Live Nation, and IMG Fashion are among the dozen partners Twitter announced for the new around-the-clock service, which will provide exclusive content, live games and events, and breaking news. This could be a way to solve Twitters issue to grow its user base and revenue streams, Twitter is already a platform of choice for "as it happens" for anything this enhances the advantages it has over Facebook when reacting to a live event. 

In my opinion: I think that streaming is becoming so popular, social media sits are finding it so important to add this new convention to their site to keep updated with their audience but offer exactly what they want so they would be always loyal to the social media site. Streaming services are becoming popular because it is interactive with the audience, it is a live feed and updates audiences of what things "as it is happening" which audience find pleasure in as they get their information on the go and insistently. 

Weekly New Digital Media - 17.05.18 (71)

iPlayer catchup service will require user login within weeks, says BBC

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/may/11/iplayer-catchup-service-will-require-user-login-within-weeks-says-bbc-tv-licence-fee-evasion 

                           

BBC have announced that IPlayer users would need to enter a password to access the online catchup service within the few weeks or so that are coming up. The BBC have also denied the move their part of the crackdown on TV licences evasion but they have said that with having users access the IPlayer with a email addresses registered to an account it may help identity those using service without paying. The on the demand service will notify users with a message saying "will soon need to sign in to watch" encouraging them to do so already before the deadline in few weeks but also making their users aware before hand. The purpose of doing so was said that the service will become more "more personal and relevant to you (the users/audience)." The BBC also hope to tailor programmes suggesting to users based on their pervious choices and allow the users to watch a programme on one device before picking up where they left off on their tv. This  changes come after rules introduced last year made watching or downloading BBC programmes through the iPlayer illegal without a TV licence.

[] "By matching email addresses we may be able to identify someone who has told us they don’t need a TV licence while at the same time having signed in and watched iPlayer,”

[] BBC was still considering whether a verification system was required for the iPlayer so licence fee non-payers could access content for free.

In my opinion: I think that what BBC on demand service have considered to identify users that either do or don't have a TV licence with an email address account makes thinks much easier because it causes a lot more stress for both audiences and the broadcast to find out things and since other on demand services like ITV also require users to sign in, users wouldn't take things so different or find it any less different from other on demand services. I also do think that this can help audiences to put trust into the demand service as they are proving personal information, but it also help them to be "more personal and relevent" to its users. BBC's technique of personalising and tailoring programmes for users can help them meet the audiences needs/preferences, encouraging them to maybe use BBC Iplayer a lot more and have positive image about the broadcaster. 

Section B practise question

"Does your case study suggest that new and digital media have had a positive impact by offering audiences a more diverse range of values and ideology?" [48 marks]

The internet or new and digital media itself can be a big platform for users to share and contribute to the values and ideologies they believe or challenge, this allows the internet platform to offer a diverse range as this can come from any person from anywhere, whether this has a positive or negative impact, this will be something that I will be discussing. 

A Marxists would argue that as they believe that even though audiences are in power in terms of users sharing different and diverse range of values and ideology; the impact is nothing and yet to be seen as a negative thing. Marist tend to to reinforce the role of media in the reproduction of the status quo. Gramsci’s theory of hegemony would reinforce this as it states that dominant ‘media conglomerates’ feed audiences the necessary information.  It suggests that audiences are not empowered through the development of new and digital media as the dominate and higher class "rule and control" the media. An example of this, is the Arab Spring revolution in 2011, this was a protest for democratisation that that agreed with the pluralists views, as audiences took to Twitter to voice their opinions about this. However, an Marxists would argue that even though audiences had done a protest and took to social media to voice their opinion, no changed happen, the result of all the audiences taking part, nothing changed in the media. So even though new and digital media have given audiences a platform to share their values and ideologies that they really feel something strong about, the new and digital media would allow a change to happen because of the elite being in control. 

A pluralists would argue that institutions would allow us as audiences be more involved in the media and news especially, the option of online comments under some news issues allow the audiences to have their point and opinion across to the professionals but other viewers to engaged themselves with and have a discussion with, if they agree or disagree, this allows more diverse debates and issues to comment and discuss about. This supports the pluralists view about how the new and digital media is a positive platform that encourages audience to share their own values and ideologies. Audiences are seen as capable of manipulating the media in variety of ways according to their proper need and dispositions, it will be enabling them to 'conform, accommodate, challenge or reject' (Gurevich et al) this theory suggest that the classless society can do this. An example of this is through UGC. Through the use of new and digital media, audiences are becoming more active, they are willing to challenge the powerful, in terms of UGC, audiences are using social media sites such as Twitter, and using trends and hashtags to raise awareness about issues to a wider audiences; audiences are taking control and being powerful to how they are questioning the powerful. The audiences are using new and digital media to their advantage, speaking about ideologies and values that wouldn't be challenged or spoken about till new and digital media was developed, examples such as police brutality. 

Citizen journalism has become an importance from the developments in new and digital media; posts and hashtags trends have allowed issues to become popular and raised to wider audiences. For example, one of many powerful movements online was the “Blacklivesmatter” this was one of the social media campaigns that engaged a lot of diverse communities especially the black community to come together to raise awareness about police brutality, people had all shared their opinions about this issue through a lot of different ways, the hashtag allowed this matter to come heard off, protests had started, but people also posted up their own videos sharing police brutality happening in their areas, despite however many diverse and different values and ideologies are shared on the intent, on an issue that is important, users of the internet do try to make it so it has a impact at least of the internet but also hoping it makes a change in the world too.

However, there is also a side when new and digital media has offered audiences to share their values and ideologies and that is through Youtube. Within Youtube, “vlogers” and “youtubers” have been growing since the developments of the digital media, of course, youtubers create and share their own content, which is UGC, to their millions of viewers, they are expressing their own values and ideologies. This can have a negative impact at times because those values and ideologies can be harmful and can send out a wrong message. A Youtuber called “Sam Pieper” was blocked and alerted that he couldn’t use his youtube account because of all the negative reports that had been filled out against him, he had very sexual content that didn’t treat females’ right, very disturbing to watch. Thankfully new and digital media has enough control to take over when something has a negative impact on the audiences. However, within the Internet, users of the Internet are exposed too a lot of things, a lot of audiences are using the internet for their own advantage, in particular within news, or even new related stories as well as videos of such vital but extreme behaviour can be shown on the internet without it being censored, graphic images and posts are visual for a lot of the audiences, this can have such a negative impact because it desensitises audiences, especially the younger audiences as they are the main  audiences of the internet, there is less censorship and fewer gate keeping than traditional media, digital media does offer audiences a platform for diverse range of values and ideologies but some people do take advantage of it as use it negatively which then impacts the internet overall.

However, new and digital media can have a positive impact by offering audiences a more diverse range of values and ideology is because of globalisation. The internet is like a “global village” shows like The Simpsons or even Keeping Up With The Kardashian are being watched and spoken about globally, developments of the interment such as “memes” have also caught the attention of a lot of users on the internet globally, where users are getting on the same trends or talk about the same things because users can get influenced very easily online as well as believe things every easily, this can make audiences seem like they are more passive than active. The new and digital media may offer a lot of diverse and alternative values and ideologies, but uses catch on very quickly and therefore can share a lot of similarities with each other but can be diverse due to the cultures some audiences share or where they are in the part of the world. Passive audiences believe things very quickly without double-checking the facts and the resources, which can have a negative impact, fake news is rising and becoming an issue on the internet especially on social media sites; Facebook is in pressure of controlling their users to not post any fake news because that’s where it has started from. This has given the internet such a negative impact because it shows that yes audience’s may be in control in certain things and other things is the elite but are they really protecting the audiences and offering a positive platform for audiences to share their values and ideologies no matter how diverse they are? I don’t really think so. The control is to wide and can be with anyone to be fair.

Overall I think that there are some case where the new and digital media can I have positive impact by offering audiences a more diverse range of values ideologies as a lot of users of the internet can understand and learn new things online about things but I think there is more negatives and then the positives of new and digital media offering audiences a more diverse range of values and ideologies, and the main reason is because of the control that has been spread out and can’t be limited as the internet is so advanced, users are knowledge enough to know how they can use the power to their advantage.

Weekly New Digital Media - 10.05.17 (70)

'The Crown Effect' could see British tourist boom

                                  

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/26/crown-effect-could-see-british-tourist-boom/

Britain can be see a growth of tourists coming into the country now more often because of "The Crown" on Netflix, fans have said that they are inspired to visit their home in real life, a study has suggested. “Those holidaymakers who are more likely to visit today than 12 months ago are doing so for a range of reasons including the effect of UK operators’ advertising campaigns, the attraction of British TV programmes that have gone global and a case of simply having more money available to spend on holidays from which the UK is set to benefit.”

[] More than one fifth of tourists  planning to come to the UK said television programmes such as The Crown had helped persuade them - 10,000 holidaymakers were included in this research.

[] 63 per cent of international tourists claim to be more interested in the UK than in previous years.

[] 22 per cent of them cited television shows, which appeared to have a particular effect on Chinese and American tourists.

In my opinion, I think that due to the British television programmes, they portray certain values and ideologies that represent only a very few of the population of those who actually live in Britain. (high class) The fact that we have the Royal Family, could be why so many tourists are inspired to come in and see as it seems so highly and gives the look of Britain being so expense and the "perfect" because of the dominant representations that are showed. 

Weekly New Digital Media - 10.05.17 (69)

Rupert Murdoch confirms £11.7bn Sky bid

                                      

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/dec/15/rupert-murdoch-sky-bid-pay-tv 

Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox has formally lodged its £11.7bn bid to take full control of Sky, as minority shareholders call for transparency on how the pay-TV company’s independent directors came to accept the offer. He would then however need an approval for the deal, this bid would allow him to have a control of pay TV operation in the UK, Germany and Italy, this adds on to his ownerships of the Times, Sunday Times and Sun as well as the radio group TalkSport. Some shareholders have expressed their joy of Murdoch getting the acceptation as this would "give greater conficerene in the independence of the committee in the bid process" whilst other shareholders expressed their concerns because of the terms of the deal, they said that "robot safeguards to protect Sky's Future probity under full ownership of Murdoch. Karen Bradley has 10 working days to decide, she has said Ofcom to do an investigation to determine whether Murdoch will have too much control over news media in the UK.

[] Murdoch need to gain regulatory approval for the deal, which values Sky at more than £18bn.

[] Fox has not raised the initial £10.75 per share offer.

[] Sky chief executive, Jeremy Darroch, and the finance chief, Andrew Griffith, are in the line for £40m payday. 

In my opinion, I think Murdoch is taking control of every news outlet now that has become big, the amount of business in news he owns, I think its enough, his ideologies and values have been very dominate through those ownerships that he currently has. With him taking over Sky, they could be a chance where customers of sky may move on from them because of what sort of news and ideologies may then be expressed in the news of Sky. 

MEST3 PPE - Learner Response

www: good attempt to incorporate Marxism + pluralism in section B
ebi: Ensure you finish with a conclusion that answers the question.  

2) Did you succeed in meeting or exceeding your target grade for A2 Media? If not, how many additional marks do you need across Section A and Section B to achieve your target grade?

No I didn't, I needed 4 more marks to meet my target grade. 

3) Read through the mark scheme. Pay particular attention to pages 6-8 that have suggested content for each of the questions in Section A. How many of these potential points did you make? Did you successfully answer the questions? The original question paper is here if that is helpful.
Q1: I had mentioned 3 of the potential points in the mark scheme. 
This question wasn't answered as successfully because didn't have enough time to write more if I wanted to keep in time with my time management. 
Q2:I had managed to get 3 of the potential points in the mark scheme.
This question was the best one out of the 3 question in section A. I had given an example and spoken about the two products, giving specific examples and link back to the question roughly.
Q3: I had mentioned 4 of the potential points in the mark scheme.
This question was okay, but for me to gain more marks, I needed to get more paragraphs in and more examples - wider debates and examples. 

4) Which was your strongest question in Section A? Why did you do better in that particular question? Note the number of marks each question is worth.
My strongest question out of the 3 was question 2, the reason for this was because I had given specific examples and focused on the question. I had provided examples, with some theories but it would have been better if i had included more paragraphs and spoken about the wider examples rather than specifically focusing on the products, I could have gotten better makers. 

5) Which was your weakest question in Section A? Again, try and identify why this happened. Did you misinterpret the question? Did you run out of time? 
My weakest question was question 1, even though I had given examples and spoken about both products, i didn't write enough, I need to make attention to time and write much faster. I also need to make sure that I develop my points even more to make them specific to the question and show critical autonomy.

6) Now look at pages 11-12 of the mark scheme for Section B - New/Digital Media paying particular attention to the suggested essay content on page 12. How many of the broad areas suggested by AQA did you cover in your Section B essay? Did you successfully answer the question?

Q6: I had answered 3 of the board areas that were suggested. This question was okay, it was a "good essay essay" (level 3). I could have answered the question better by providing better wider examples and writing much faster so I wouldn't run out of time. 

7) Read the Examiner's Report in full. For each question your answered, would you classify your response as one of the stronger answers or one of the weaker answers the Chief Examiner discusses? Why? What could you do differently next time? Write a reflection for EACH question in the paper: Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q6 OR Q7.
Q1: would classify this question to be a weaker answers - provide more examples, specific references and developed answers.
Q2: would classify this question to be the stronger answers - provided other examples - explained how audiences were encouraged to agree with set of values - clear focus on the question. 
Q3:Would classify this question to be answered in weaker answers as i didn't really consider the "Should" part of the question. To better, I could have provided a balanced argument, as still did make references in which platforms are used by audiences and the impact of it, I could have made this a little more clear. 
Q6:I would classify this question to be stronger response but not fully as I didn't really write about that wide of examples but spoke about what has been happening in the world and the developments of the media from the traditional media. I had included few examples of theories but it would have been better of course by providing more examples and theories but developed points. I need to work on my time management skills too as I didn't write a conclusion either. 

8) Choose your weakest question in Section A and re-write an answer in full based on the suggested content from the Examiner's Report. This answer needs to be comprehensive and meet the criteria for Level 4 of the mark scheme. This will be somewhere between 3-6 well-developed paragraphs (depending on the question/number of marks available).

Q1: What media language techniques are used make each product appear authoritative and trustworthy?

Product 1 uses media techniques like sound to appear authoritative and trustworthy. The way product 1 uses sound to do this by both diegetic and non diegetic sounds, the instrumental music that appears at the very start of the advertisement till the end changes quite frequently according to what is happening on the screen. For example, when the protagonist is seen retelling his hardship moments, sound of the instrumental music is quite low and mellow allowing the audiences to feel involved and trust what they protagonist is saying. The parallel sound was in sic with the visuals, supporting the prognosis to sound authoritative and powerful now that he has found his 'luxurious' home and his success through it. The dominance of the male protagonist allows the advertisement to be authoritative already  as because of his costume - suite and tie, the expense and classiness . Furthermore, the authority and trust also comes from the settings that are shown to the audience, by the protagonist showing his working life in the heart of London, shows the empowerment, showing the audiences to believe and trust his success story. When showcasing the apartment, in a mid-close up shot, making the audiences see the stainless tables, expensive furniture and what seem like a top apartment in the heart of London makes the audience see that the protagonist's wealth and what good of a luxury lifestyle he lives in, could allow the audience to make it their aim too be there too someday. 

In terms of product 2, he use of the camera work: close up and mid- close up shows us that we can trust what has been said and shown on camera. At the start, the audiences are shown how a guy has the camera  hand held,  this simple camera work reinforces the truth because as there isn't a big production going on, it encourages the audiences to trust what has been shown because it is not caring about the quality but its more showing the truth and the reality of the problem that occurred. In addition, it shows how 3 females are setting down to what looks like a living room, the technique of setting of a home shows trustworthy content and authoritative is because the audiences can see it as that despite the MP buying out the stake homes, people are still able to live in a home environment despite the problems they are showing, the setting of home is empowering the audiences because it could be showing that the 3 females are still in charge and giving up despite what has been happening. 

Weekly New Digital Media - 03.05.17 (68)

Netflix's new rating system is confusing

                            

http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/91865403/netflixs-new-rating-system-is-confusing 

In Netflix's old rating system, it had showed 5 stars next to the show/movie the viewer wanted to watch, 5 starts meant "must-watch" whilst one star demonstrated the film wasn't as popular or much liked. While it also mattered who had awarded the stars, it was easy to understand the system.The company said it felt stars were old and that the new system was better at making suggestions for viewers. So now when you rate a show you give it a thumbs up or thumbs down instead of a score out of five. Netflix then uses an algorithm to suggest shows you may like. It does this by giving each show a percentage rating, which indicates a likely match. The problem is when users feel like watching something different. You're reliant on the percentage match rather than being able to judge it for yourself based on a rating. However, part of the reason why Netflix changed the system is because relying on anonymous ratings is problematic and is open to all kinds of abuse. The most well-known ploy was to give certain types of shows (such as stand-up comedy) one-star reviews so Netflix would not feature them in its recommendations to you. Netflix's new matching system will stop this type of behaviour affecting a show's rating.

In my opinion, I think that the changes are developments of Netflix for their streaming service to be more personalised to the user rather than justing things that they are not into. This could be then seen as Netflix reinforcing the 'echo-chambers' as it will only suggest things that users have previously watched or what the user wants to see. The changes of Netflix's rating system could be difficult to trust as said as above. 

Weekly New Digital Media - 03.05.17 (67)

Google and Facebook bring in one-fifth of global ad revenue

                              

Google and Facebook attracted one-fifth of global advertising spending last year, nearly double the figure of five years ago, research shows. Internet-only media companies are getting ahead of the online advertising market, while traditional news publishers have fallen far behind and been forced to make cutbacks. Google faces a growing boycott from major advertisers including the UK government, Marks & Spencer and McDonald’s, and has promised an overhaul of its advertising policies. Many of the companies involved in the boycott discovered their advertising spend was being used to place banner ads over YouTube videos from groups such as Britain First, indirectly funding extremists. Digital platforms funded by internet ads dominate the top 30. Most of the media owners in the ranking – 20 out of 30 – are based in the US. The US dominates for several reasons: it has the biggest ad market, US companies have invested the most in extending their reach abroad and Silicon Valley innovation has powered the growth of internet advertising.

[] Twitter is the fastest-growing media owner, increasing ad revenue by 734% between 2012 and 2016.

[] Google, owned by parent company Alphabet, is by far the biggest media owner in the world and attracted $79.4bn (£61.5bn) in ad revenues in 2016, three times more than the second-largest

[]  Facebook, which pulled in $26.9bn, according to Zenith. The previous year, Alphabet took $67.4bn of ad revenues and Facebook $17.1bn.

[] The largest traditional media owner is US broadcasting and cable television company Comcast, which was third with $12.9bn in ad revenues in 2016, up from $11.5bn the year before.

[] Two companies increase their advertising duopoly by earning a combined $106.3bn, nearly double the figure of five years ago

[] both companies 20% of global advertising spending last year, up from 16.3% in 2015 and 10.6% in 2012.

In my opinion, I think it is unfair how Internet- only media companies are getting all the marketing ad whilst traditional media is falling behind. I understand that yes, traditional media is dying out and it is mostly because of the developments of the NDM and also the audiences but traditional media is still viewed and consumed by the audiences, maybe not as much as the online media companies but it still happens. Print media is struggling even more because of the paywall they have to keep and demand from there audiences whilst intent only media companies don't have to face that issue.  Twitter and Facebook get a lot of criticism on how they control their sites and yet they are not taking responsibilities of the social community but there sites too, which is unfair. Internet only media companies have it easier to get away with things than traditional media; in my opinion.

Ignite presentation notes

Ladan - Twitter 
- source of information + audiences discussion 
- "Euromaidan"
- "Blacklivesmatter"
- wars due to social media - Syria - not a platform to make a change 
- "Black twitter" - community to challenge the negative representation 
- ABC1C2 - Midclass, urban and social class
- Social media doesn't always represent the truth
- Echo-chambers 
[Twitter is where users discuss what they think and want to happen but in reality the opposite outcome happens - never truthful - everyone wanted in, in brexit but the results were out]

Abayomi - Spotify
- online e-media 1999 
- 2010 streaming came popular 
- Millennials 
- People would listen/access to it rather than own it
- CD/DVD/ fell by 8 million 
- VGC - can create playlists (public)
- Marxist - "Great leveller"
- Pluralists - audience active and powered
- 75% of 60 million users have free trial 
- Pareto's law - only popular artists are listened too 
[Streaming is being very popular, very accessible and convenient to use rather than the traditional way, there is much more interactivity between the artist and the user.]

Amrit - Instagram 
- share images in a easier way 
- Facebook bought Instagram - 2010 - audience data 
- 18 - 29 - 59% - work and highly paid
- UGC is yours and mostly used - audiences construct your own identity 
- Marxists - want the rich lifestyle - constructing a dream not reality {hyperreality}
- Americanisation - main audience 
- Privacy issues - regulation + censorship 
- WhatsApp are owned by Facebook 
[Similar to Ladan's, social media is a construction of reality, users are not real to their followers and what they post, its more of what they want the world to represent themselves]

Sunny - Social media - democracy 
- narrative rather than facts - social media on politics 
- UGC- meme generator - really helped to engage audiences into politics and the USA elections
- Social media has a lot more demographic views 
- Fake news - pope backing trump 
- Cambridge analytical - refined the campagin 
[ social media has a lot of influences and power to make users decisions and therefore make users non active and easy to influence, this defeats the view of users being empowering and active]

Callum - Gaming 
- 37 years ago 
- new Activision - 2007 
- 37 million views - 3.5 million dislikes (most unliked video)
- 5.1 million on COD
- UGC not really on this industry 
- 31 million in UK playing games - Teasers on snapchat 
- Hyperdermic needle - passive 
- Techno-panic 
[Gaming has a lot of influences and impact on traditional media; the audiences are growing]

Katie - Documentary genre - Making a murder 
- Marxist - inject views on others
- Pluralists - allows people to be more open 
- cost effective 
- leaving out facts - more narrative 
- Youtube - UGC - making own narrative
- Americanisation - there values are shown 
- domestic audiences 
- tend to reach a large audience
- 750,0000 a day on The Crown 
- Lack of regulation 
- NDM has changed traditional documentary
[documentaries are being created differently, trying to make what society is reflecting, challenging issues and debates; audiences pleasures as this is moving on from traditional documentaries] 

Harkrain - Film viewing 
- Doesn't produce being movies - Loingate
- Hunger games distributed
- BC1C2DE - cheaper and convenient for them due to the age groups 
- Pricing 
- Adaptable + portable [advantages]
- quality can vary [disadvantages]
- Marxists - power lies with distributors 
[the way movies are being consumed are different and is now becoming in favour of demographic groups]

John - Apple Music 
- $14.99
- more than 100 countries 
- Artistis complain - easy access to music 
- 76% in the 2016 in USA on demand music streaming increased
- The global record has rose to 68.9% 
- 89.3 million on Apple {Drake - More Life}
- 9.3 million on Spotify {Drake - More Life}
- NAPSTA - traditional streaming service - shut down because they didn't pay the artists
[large consumptions globally, streaming is becoming much more popular, this is due to the technology that is developing]

Weekly New Digital Media - 26.04.17 (66)

’13 Reasons Why’ has been named 2017’s biggest show on Twitter

             

http://www.nme.com/news/tv/13-reasons-why-is-2017s-biggest-show-on-twitter-2058848

13 reasons why tells the story of a teenage girl who reveals the reasons she committed suicide through a series of tapes sent to members of her peer group.  This show has got a lot of criticism, last week, an Australian mental health charity warned that 13 Reasons Why contains “dangerous content”. Actress Shannon Purser – Barb from Stranger Things– has said she thinks the show isn’t suitable for some more vulnerable viewers. However, this new Netflix original has gotten in the interest of the audience as so many people have spoken about it but also binge-watched it. 

[] 13 Reasons Why has more than 11 million tweets – more than any other show in 2017

Everyone is talking about the new show that has Netflix has produced. The show that addressed mental health and issues surrounding suicide, it helps raise awareness. Personally for me I understand the issues that 13 reasons why show and why they are adderessing the issue but for me personally, i think they have went the wrong way with it, as it can see that Hannah "takes the easy way out" as she doesnt really talk to no one about the issues she's facing when she had a lot of people to do that with but instead it can be seen she wasnt taking suicide as a serious matter. A lot of memes have also been created from 13 reasons why and a lot of people are creating jokes out of it and missing the point of the main message. 

Weekly New Digital Media - 26.04.17 (65)

Google acts against fake news on search engine 

                    

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/apr/25/google-launches-major-offensive-against-fake-news

Google announced its first attempt to combat the circulation of “fake news” on its search engine with new tools allowing users to report misleading or offensive content, and a pledge to improve results generated by its algorithm. The company had said that this would help and allow users to complain about any misleading, inaccurate or hateful content in its autocomplete functions, which then pops up to suggest searched on the first few characters that the users have typed. They said this would also refine its search engine to “surface more authoritative pages and demote low-quality content.” Google will also allow users to make complaints about its “featured snippets” – Google’s name for the boxed-out answers that appear at the top of searches for common queries.

[] Results would allow Google to change the way pages were ranked in search results.

In my opinion, all the attention that is coming towards fake news and how mainstream companies will try to fight it, is becoming quite important to the audience. Google being a high search engine have done a good job to make sure that the company is interactive with tis audiences, there audiences have a way to communicate to them about anything they see that they don't like or is inaccurate. The new tool that they have introduced is a step to reducing fake news or tackling the problem, audience are active and are being in charge with reporting what they see instead of ignoring it. As what will be reported by the users, the results would allow Google to change the way the pages were ranked in the search results making less users accessing the site, so that way there would be less chances of users crossing fake news or content that makes them upset, inaccurate or even misleading.

Ignite presentation

Independent Case Study

Case study research tasks
The basics

Your chosen industry: Film

Your chosen case study (i.e. text/institution etc.):  Netflix streaming (Tv series) (The Crown + 13 Reasons Why) 

Have you received approval for this case study from your teacher? Yes


Audience

1) How has new and digital media changed the audience experience in your chosen industry?
A lot more audiences now stream films through the internet or through streaming services like Netflix or Amazon Prime, those that are now more legitimate whilst some who stream film through other sites. Audiences  experience has become more worthwhile and comforting at their own homes, they have more access to what they want to watch, whenever and wherever too. Now its just not getting to see films in the cinema but more on the internet for free. New and digital media has allowed audience to access film in various new platforms, opening new discussions and allowing film to become interactive. 

2) Has new and digital media changed the way the audience consume your chosen product?
Yes, as mentioned above, films are now becoming more accessible on the net, for free hence why not many people now go to cinemas to watch the movies. Digital media has become more apparent and an easier access to anything online esspecially films. I think this has been done because people, the users of the internet can put on content and getting away with posting links of downloads for people to see the movie for free or at least at a lower price which of course is beneficial but risky at the same time.  

3) Has the size of the audience changed as a result of new and digital media?
The size of the audience is becoming more dramatic and increasing as the days go on. In the olden times it was very selective people who could go to the cinemas and watch the movie they wished too (mostly the rich and middle class.) But now, it doesn't matter on what the demographic audience it is, and what platform the film is accessible in, a wide range of more audience now are accessible to it. The convenience of film is becoming much more apparent to any audience through any platform of new and digital media. 

4) What are the positive changes new and digital media have brought to the audience of your case study? 
Audiences now have much more greater choices, they have a choice to where they want to watch the film, it can be either watch it in a cinema or wait till it comes out on DVD or now which is much more the way of watching the movie online either streaming it on official websites and streaming services or through the internet for free on certain websites. Each different platform of new and digital media is becoming an easier to access for a large audience now, the convenience and the availability is much more in the benefit of the audiences rather than the industry because it does limit down their profits that the movie will make. The movies also last very long online, giving the audience choice till when they want to watch it and when by, there is no date of taking the movie down but through traditional media like going to the cinema, most of the time the audiences would be given a limit amount of time they could access the movie in the cinema at certain times whilst the online doesn't. Having to access the film online free would be the biggest benefit for the audiences. 

5) What are the negative changes new and digital media have had on your chosen audience? (E.g. quality of product etc.)
Sometimes, if audience do not watch the movie online through official streaming services but decide to watch the movie on online websites for free or download a link to watch a movie, it can be the case that sometimes the quality of the movie can be very poor but because it isn't legitimate or official, this can be the case of watching a movie through the internet. Another downside of new and digital media have had on film is that sometimes the websites would say in the title of the movie a user would like to watch but when going actually on the page, the movie isn't there and its something else, so it can be seen that some people would just 'clickbait' a page for making money.  In my opinion, I think that the biggest disadvantage of new an digital media on film is that the audience never know if the link of the internet website is legitimate and trustworthy, mostly not but since official streaming services cost which some people cannot afford, some peoples choices would be then to count on the internet link for the movie they want to watch whether the quality is good or bad.

6) What about audience pleasures - have these changed as a result of new and digital media? 
The audiences pleasures have changed through the results of new and digital media is because audiences enjoy the avaliablity they have through watching the movies online whenever they want and wherever, most of the time within streaming services like Netflix or Amazon Prime audience can watch the most updated but also then a "throwback" movie of their choice (if still available) on the services whenever they want. Both tv series or films, the availability is there for audience. Through the results of new and digital media, in films, they have also now discussed or mentioned the impact of new and digital media in films directly, the audiences pleasure can be increased here because audience could feel somewhat more connected and create identifications because it is what they also use and understand of. The issues or matters discussed which wouldn't normally would have done traditionally but i think now since the times have moved on, people are becoming braver to what content they create, and proving much better entertainment but also informational content to the audience such as the original Netflix series "13 Reasons Why."

7) What is the target audience for your chosen case study? Write a demographic/psychographic profile.
Netflix have said "demographic targeting is irrelevant", they have said their streaming service is for everyone and anyone - "interest is what matters most." Although the shows they create originally i would suggest that they would target more of B,C1,C2,C1,D, and E, the range is quite various and thats purely because what they create can fit for anyone because of the board issues or drama series they produce. For films though, I would feel though as if only C2,C1, D and E would still watch them on Netflix rather than go to the cinema to what i think A and B would do, they wouldn't mind paying money to watch a new film at a cinema. 

• [Mainstreamers - seek security - follow latest trends, "family brands", mostly likely younger audience (teens/young adults)]
• [Explorers - seek discovery - search for new experiences + challenges. TV series on Netflix can increase their views and challenge them?, wanted to try new brands - young people]
• [Reformers - seek enlightenment - make independent judgements, accepts complexity - TV series on Netflix originals can increase that, new content on recent issues. Adults, young adults and also teens possibly] 
• [Strugglers - seek escape - brand choice reflects impact and sensation - all audiences mostly likely, escape in to other characters and their own reality] 

Institution

1) How has new and digital media had an impact on ownership or control in your chosen industry?
Netflix has an effect by new and digital media because it increased the chances of Netflix being allowed to be more accessible for their audiences. Netflix is available across a range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and internet enabled television. This is an example of technological convergence, where two or more technologies combine in one new device/ platform/ application. For Netflix, technological convergence offers greater audience pleasures through increased accessibility and user convenience. Netflix has able to gain control because now they are able to create and have the budget to create their own original content, With House of Cards, Netflix was not only able to establish itself as the leading on-demand television network, but also as a legitimate entertainment brand. Traditionally, original drama has been produced and distributed through television networks and institutions, and is a mainstay of television institutions. 

2) What impact has new and digital media had on ownership in your chosen case study?
Netflix has been given opportunities to create their own content, which Netflix has then created their own ownerships but also put up movies of audiences all time favourites but also new releases of new movies that have came out. Netflix is more of a distributor for those movies that are up. Netflix was not only able to establish itself as the leading on-demand television network, but also as a legitimate entertainment brand.

3) How has new and digital media changed the way institutions produce texts?
Netflix now also produce their own texts, many that fit the younger audience but mostly they produce content that fits their large demographic group of audiences. 

4) How has new and digital media changed the way institutions distribute their product?
Netflix is available across a range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and internet enabled television. This is an example of technological convergence, where two or more technologies combine in one new device/ platform/ application. Netflix have established a new and secure model for on-demand internet streaming of television products. Netflix have made it known that they are keen to develop their own content rather than bulk-buying in existing content; current contracts with Nickelodeon and MTV do not look as if they will be renewed.

5) How might new and digital media threaten your chosen industry?
I don't think new an digital media has threatened Netflix but new and digital media has provided the service to grow for the better and increased their opportunities they've received. A lot more audiences are using this service since it is cheap, reliant and accessible. Competitors of Netflix may be a threat but they can never be a damage to Netflix because of how it is growing and what they are creating is still in the interest of the vast majority of the audiences. They are producing tv series that will grasp that audiences attention and make them interested. Netflix understands there audiences, they know how to grow for the better through new and gorilla media. 

6) How has new and digital media changed the way your chosen industry is regulated? 
I don't think new and digital media has changed the way Netflix is regulated because once the users have signed up to Netflix, all of the content is provided by Netflix without giving warnings or asking the viewer the age rating permission. Netflix put the trust in the viewer and makes them in charge of what they watch on Netflix - appropriate or not, it's up to the viewer. 

UGC

1) What examples of user-generated content can you find in your case study?
Netflix haven't really got any examples of user generated content because they are a streaming service, they only upload the latest movies/tv series or of their own original content but viewers are not much involved in the making or with any content that Netflix streams on its service. 

2) How has UGC changed things for audiences or institutions in your chosen case study?
- 

Marxism, Pluralism and Hegemony

1) What would be a Marxist perspective of the impact of new and digital media on your chosen case study?
A Marxists view on Netflix would be that the elite are providing the audiences the information or entertainment they see fit to the audience or demonstrates the "reality of society" when creating their own original content. They would suggest that audience wouldn't know if it would be entertainment worth watching or actually information they should take in.

2) How would a pluralist view the impact of new and digital media in your chosen industry?
A pluralists view of Netflix would say that the content that Netflix is creating can be seen as proving informational content to the audience that is actually important to address issues like what 13 Reasons Why has done. By putting on various of different films on different categories, Netflix is its own and not controlled. Audiences are in more controlled to what they chose to watch because of the fact that Netflix allows users to create their own profile that fits what they want to watch, even Netflix would recommend to the viewers to what they may enjoy because of what they have watched. 

3) Are there any examples of hegemony in your chosen industry or case study?
I don't think there are much examples of hegemony on Netflix. When it comes down to Netflix creating their own original content they either address issues that should be addressed, or they represent the current society, being modern and not narrow minded. Netflix's content is there for the audiences to pick up on and for audiences entertainment, its not demanding or dominating their particular views or state groups over others. 


Globalisation

1) How has globalisation impacted on your chosen industry or case study?
Globalisation has impacted on Netflix, this American based company that is  providing on-demand internet streaming media in the north and south America, Scandinavia, the Caribbean, UK & Ireland. Just like LoveFilm in the UK, in the USA they also provide a DVD-by-mail service. Netflix wasn't launched in the UK as a service until 2012. However, the brands awareness grew in their success in streaming original programming and support of independent film distribution. “the world’s leading internet television network” (that's how the institution describes themselves.) Netflix is accessible globally more or less and they are trying to be global within their accessibility. 

2) In your opinion, has globalisation had a positive or negative impact on your chosen industry and case study? Why?
Globalisation has had an positive impact on Netflix but overall in films too because it is allowed audiences to access films much easily, audiences are more opened to what they watch and consume, they are more active, films are providing that. The fact that this is a global impact, its much more positive because it shows how powerful the recent developments in the media but also the technology has been in. It can also be been as this has given audience much more power because of the accessibility but the fact that how things can be accessible through such a large audiences in different countries.
 
3) Can you find examples of cultural imperialism in your case study or industry? (The 'Americanisation' of the world)
Netflix is an American based company, there content is created in America and the values are showed crossed to the audiences. Majority of the movies also that are put on Netflix are Americanised because simply because of locations, the characters but most important American values are portrayed. 

Social media

1) How has your industry or case study used social media to promote its products?
Netflix promotes its original content by proving audiences previews or trailers of the show on their social media pages to create awareness about the show. Also Netflix also gets the cast members to also promote it to their followers online and get the word across of the new show. Most of the time through having people speak, promotes it and having actors/actress promote it themselves helps increase the promotion too. Netflix's twitter account also promotes a lot of their products, this can be simply tweeting about the latest episode of the series or sharing and re-tweeting what other audiences are saying. 

2) Provide examples of how your case study has used social media and explain the impact this would have on audiences.

The examples of posts that i have posted of Netflix promoting its own series would impact audience in much positive way but also increase further awareness about the show itself. As shown Netflix itself on its Instagram page have so many followers as well as on its twitter page. The fact that The Crown has its own twitter page shows that they have a big fan base who are interested in the show, promoting and posting things about the show to the audience would keep them connected with the show but also it will most importantly increase awareness about the shows. Furthermore for the case study that I have chosen when promoting the shows, Netflix does use synergy to represent the shows, this is definitely through broadcasting the two main protagonists, or using the same front cover for all platforms, audiences can then therefore create identification with the brand but also the shows despite whatever platform they are in on social media. 

3) Is social media an opportunity or a threat to your industry and case study?
Social media is an opportunity to both my chosen industry and case study because not only it is free promotion and can awareness about the show much easily to a wide range of people quickly but also because it allows discussions to be opened, people talking about it themselves. Netflix isn't in a threat when they promote their own shows on social media because even through promoting the trailer of the shows for example, not other streaming service would be able to copy or use that on theirs, what makes Netflix different than other streaming service and prevents being a threat on social media is because of their original content that they are proving to such a large audience anyway. 


Statistics

1) What statistics can you find to illustrate the impact new and digital media has had on your industry or case study? For example, in news, the UK newspaper industry sold more than 12m copies a day in 2001 but in 2014 it was below 7m.

2) Looking at these statistics, what impact has new/digital media had on institutions in your chosen industry? 
New and digital media has impacted on Netflix in much of a positive way rather than negatively, this is because from looking at just the graph above, it shows the consumption globally that Netflix have gained through the recent years and it is contributed from new and digital media. This can be simply due to the accessibility that viewers can have through the internet to go on Netflix if not downloaded through Apps on devices or other platforms that now Netflix is available on. Netflix have gained so many subscribers throughout the years which is only a positive for them and can help them bring a larger revenue too.

3) What has the impact been for audiences? These may be positive and negative.
The impact on audiences have also been positive because they have consumed a lot of content on Netflix, from the sighers above, it shows that clearly the audience enjoy the content that is on Netflix right now because 100 million of audience audience are watching Netflix per hour and these statistics were updated at 2015. The negatives to this is that audience would be depending on the service very much, if there is a problem in the service, users would be disappointed as they wouldn't be able to access Netflix nor be able to watch their shows/movies. Audience are able to enjoy Netflix's content at their very most comfort environment on whatever device they want to watch there shows/movies on. 
Theories

1) What media theories can you apply to your chosen industry and case study? Select THREE media theories and explain how they are relevant to your case study. Note: these can be ANY of the theories we have learned over the whole of Year 12 and 13.

- The increased personalisation offers the gratifications of personal identity and social interaction (Blumler & Katz), as users feel that they are able to tailor media schedules to their own tastes, while still participating in a viewing community through the rating and recommendations. The profiles will enable Netflix to gather more detailed information about its subscribers and their viewing habits. This will enable the institution to make more informed choices about films and TV programmes to offer. “The way we’re using that data is to keep [subscribers] happy. And the way to keep [subscribers] happy is to let them watch more stuff,” (Todd Yellin, Netflix).  This will enable the institution to make more informed choices about films and TV programmes to offer. “The way we’re using that data is to keep [subscribers] happy. And the way to keep [subscribers] happy is to let them watch more stuff,”

- Dependency theory (Rokeatch and Defleur) : They had suggested that people rely on the media for information determine their decisions, and this can be used in movies and shows as well. Even though it is for entertainment, audience can make what they watch, fit what need to feel or what they want to get out of it, obviously this an be different for any audiences. But for example, The Crown would send out more of a political message to the audience whilst 13 Reasons Why is more of educational purpose of suicide but it also had other genre in it like romance. Audience can rely and depend on shows/movie to determine their decisions on feelings too such as fear, anxiety and or happiness. 

- Levi-stauss; representation theory: they had suggested that representations in the media are informed by ideology. The set of beliefs and values of the producer of the text and this can be true because the whole point of a text being produced or the case studies that I am looking into both hold powerful message especially for 13 reasons why. The Crown can be seen as a entertainment and the audience can also get an insight to the royalty life but the texts have messages to get across to the audiences that they want to get the audience to know, hence why producers produce texts with a certain ideology. 

Issues/debates

1) What media issues and debates can you apply to your chosen industry and case study? Select THREE media issues/debates and explain how they are relevant to your case study.

- Historical (S(H)EP) - in the past, streaming services weren't available and that can be due to the digital media not being so popular back then and audiences had to get DVD's or go to the cinema to watch the movies they wanted to that had recently released. Now because of the developments in the new and digital media, audiences are now recognising the opportunities online and are making a use of it, but Netflix have been already doing this since the 1997 but didn't get recognised or didn't go big till the 2000's and that was because of the digital media. Netflix now has also providing its audiences the opportunity to watch Netflix on different devices such as phones, tablets, apps on different devices etc. 
- Economical (SH(E)P) - Instead of paying for cinema tickets that cost £8+ for an individual, Netflix offers its audience a free trial for a month, if its the audiences first time on the site but once the month is over, Netflix Netflix when it launched in the UK would have gotten what is now the Standard package – HD and two screens – for £5.99 per month. Since the deals are better with Netflix and cost efficiency, audience are then encouraged to go along with the streaming service. 

- Social ((S)HEP) - Word of mouth is so easy to get audience to do and especially on Netflix, specifically about their original series. Many people have got wider audiences attention on Netflix because the content that they create is new and something that is entertainment to audiences, hence why Netflix is growing because they are producing content that is interesting, new and creative. Everyone then would talk about the shows, create "memes" on social media, creating the interactions between the audiences and the shows is what increases Netflix's opportunities to grow. 

Wider examples and secondary texts

1) What other texts or institutions are also relevant to your case study? What would be good secondary texts or examples to use to support the findings of your independent case study?
 I have chosen 13 reasons why and the crown for my in depend case study with Netflix being the same institution.  But Amazon Prime can be also a institution to talk about because it is Netflix's competitor, though they don't create their own content. Amazon Prime also offers audiences movies, various different categories for there wide range different audiences, they also require audiences to pay £5.99.