As a blogger, we need to understand how to make a good document and design. It includes how to make a good layout, choose the right style of writing, punctuation and many more.
Theoretical position that i develop is i come to understand the importance of social semiotic in designing a document for publication. Sign, symbol, picture and word represent meaning in the society.
And to design a blog, blogger needs to be sensitive about the culture. It is very important to respect each other in the society by not putting offensive image as Tempo and Makkal Osai did.
Beside that, a blogger needs to be sensitive about ethical issue. It prevents the case of Harry Potter Author who claimed copyright for her work against Vander Ark website.
Another area for a blogger to understand is good design making. As Nielsen (1997) said web users can not use wordy writing style as most users do not read. Windschuttle (1988) stated that document needs to have headings so readers know the flow of the topic discussed.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Media/ Publishing Issues - fourth issue
4. Harry Potter Authors Wins Copyright Claims
JK Rowling has won her claim that a fan violated the her copyright by publishing Harry Potter encyclopedia.
JK Rowling had proven that Steven Vander Ark`s ``Harry Potter Lexicon`` would cause her irreparable harm as writer. RDR books last year stopped the publication claiming copyright infringement. JK Rowling claimed that it just copied her work so it was a plagiarism.
The website attracts about 1.5 million page views per month and contributions from people all over the world. RDR Books said it was not violated the law because he just includes description and commentary of individual names, places and spells from the stories and they will pay the damage too.
According to Copyright Law of United States of America, section 107 stated that the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright.
But in this case, the Harry Potter Lexicon website includes not comment but description of JK Rowling`s works and it uses the names from JK Rowling`s books too.
Then in that Act about subject matter to copyright includes literary works. It defines literary works include pictures and words. So this website used the names from the books then it is considered infringement of copyright.
Beside that, it provided the description in which according to the Act, publication can use the description as it can be used for other people which they can perceive, communicate and reproduce.
Vander Ark needs to be careful about using names and descriptions from other people`s work such as JK Rowling`s Harry Potter series. He must have the permission from the real author to prevent a claim of copyright infringement. Pay attention to the law is important.
Reference List:
Copyright Law of the United States of America, U.S Copyright Office, viewed on 16th June 2009,
http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#105.
Harry Potter Author Wins Copyright Claims 2008, cbsnews.com, viewed on 16th June 2009, http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/08/entertainment/printable4426302.shtml.
JK Rowling has won her claim that a fan violated the her copyright by publishing Harry Potter encyclopedia.
JK Rowling had proven that Steven Vander Ark`s ``Harry Potter Lexicon`` would cause her irreparable harm as writer. RDR books last year stopped the publication claiming copyright infringement. JK Rowling claimed that it just copied her work so it was a plagiarism.
The website attracts about 1.5 million page views per month and contributions from people all over the world. RDR Books said it was not violated the law because he just includes description and commentary of individual names, places and spells from the stories and they will pay the damage too.
According to Copyright Law of United States of America, section 107 stated that the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright.
But in this case, the Harry Potter Lexicon website includes not comment but description of JK Rowling`s works and it uses the names from JK Rowling`s books too.
Then in that Act about subject matter to copyright includes literary works. It defines literary works include pictures and words. So this website used the names from the books then it is considered infringement of copyright.
Beside that, it provided the description in which according to the Act, publication can use the description as it can be used for other people which they can perceive, communicate and reproduce.
Vander Ark needs to be careful about using names and descriptions from other people`s work such as JK Rowling`s Harry Potter series. He must have the permission from the real author to prevent a claim of copyright infringement. Pay attention to the law is important.
Reference List:
Copyright Law of the United States of America, U.S Copyright Office, viewed on 16th June 2009,
http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#105.
Harry Potter Author Wins Copyright Claims 2008, cbsnews.com, viewed on 16th June 2009, http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/08/entertainment/printable4426302.shtml.
Media/ Publishing Issues - third issue
3. Makkal Osai suspended
The newspaper is suspended because they put the image of Jesus holding a cigarette and a can of beer in the front page of newspaper. And in the photo, it has a caption written: ``If someone repents his mistakes, heaven awaits him``.
The ministry said Makkal Osai has contravened a permit under the subsection 6(1) of the Printing Press and Publication Act 1984. After the day of publication, Makkal Osai stated that it was mistakenly insert by graphic artist. However, many organisations were not agree to it. MIC sent police report to Makkal Osai. Then Prime Minister himself stated action must be taken to anybody who flaw the law even though Christian organisation had accepted the apology.
Again, offensive image can not be used in publication. This newspaper added the caption and it makes it worse. The newspaper did not respect Christianity because they put Jesus with a can of beer and cigarette.
The Printing Press and Publication Act 1984 (2006) stated that publication can not use offensive print. It is contravened the permit given by the Government.
Picture and words are related as it stated by Schriver (1997, p.399). People want pictures to explain words. And document designers need to choose the right image to convey the message.
In this case, Makkal Osai supposed to choose wisely the image to convey the message they want people to know. That picture and the caption are linked to each other but since it is offensive so it is prohibited because it flew the act and can make people angry even though Christian organisations had accepted the apology.
Reference List:
Law of Malaysia : Act 301 Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 2006, The Commissioner of Law Malaysia, viewed on 16th June 2009,
http://www.agc.gov.my/agc/Akta/Vol.%207/Act%20301.pdf
Makkal Osai suspended, 2007, theStar.com.my, viewed on 16th June 2009, http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/8/25/nation/18696017&sec=nation.
Schriver, KA 1997, Dynamic in Document Design: Creating Text for Readers, viewed on 16th June 2009,
http://catalogue.library.unisa.edu.au/vwebv/search?searchArg=schriver&searchCode=GKEY|*&limitTo=LOCA%3DElectronic+Resources&recCount=10&searchType=1&page.search.search.button=Search.
The newspaper is suspended because they put the image of Jesus holding a cigarette and a can of beer in the front page of newspaper. And in the photo, it has a caption written: ``If someone repents his mistakes, heaven awaits him``.
The ministry said Makkal Osai has contravened a permit under the subsection 6(1) of the Printing Press and Publication Act 1984. After the day of publication, Makkal Osai stated that it was mistakenly insert by graphic artist. However, many organisations were not agree to it. MIC sent police report to Makkal Osai. Then Prime Minister himself stated action must be taken to anybody who flaw the law even though Christian organisation had accepted the apology.
Again, offensive image can not be used in publication. This newspaper added the caption and it makes it worse. The newspaper did not respect Christianity because they put Jesus with a can of beer and cigarette.
The Printing Press and Publication Act 1984 (2006) stated that publication can not use offensive print. It is contravened the permit given by the Government.
Picture and words are related as it stated by Schriver (1997, p.399). People want pictures to explain words. And document designers need to choose the right image to convey the message.
In this case, Makkal Osai supposed to choose wisely the image to convey the message they want people to know. That picture and the caption are linked to each other but since it is offensive so it is prohibited because it flew the act and can make people angry even though Christian organisations had accepted the apology.
Reference List:
Law of Malaysia : Act 301 Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 2006, The Commissioner of Law Malaysia, viewed on 16th June 2009,
http://www.agc.gov.my/agc/Akta/Vol.%207/Act%20301.pdf
Makkal Osai suspended, 2007, theStar.com.my, viewed on 16th June 2009, http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/8/25/nation/18696017&sec=nation.
Schriver, KA 1997, Dynamic in Document Design: Creating Text for Readers, viewed on 16th June 2009,
http://catalogue.library.unisa.edu.au/vwebv/search?searchArg=schriver&searchCode=GKEY|*&limitTo=LOCA%3DElectronic+Resources&recCount=10&searchType=1&page.search.search.button=Search.
Media/ Publishing Issues - second issue
2. Facebook makeover leaves some devotees fuming
The new design lets Facebook members use tabs to give priority to fresh pictures, messages, or "feeds" on main profile pages and compartmentalise mini-applications and "static" information such as curriculum vitae.
The changes are motivated by feedback from users as well as a trend toward people flooding the internet with videos, pictures, and musings they want to instantly share, said Facebook vice president of marketing Chamath Palihapitiya.
Walsh (2006, p.30) stated that internet sites vary in the modes they use including combining words and images with logo, menu bars , hyperlink and many more. It is useful to navigate users, to attract them and maintain their interest. So when facebook changed their layout, it is meant to assist users of facebook to have easier access to it. For instance, the Facebook members use tabs to give priority to fresh pictures, messagers or feeds on main profile pages. The California Firm also said it is faster and more streamlined that before.
Even though many may think it is not convenient, Facebook still maintained the change because people may be not get used to the new layout. Once they know about the layout and features, they will like it.
For online layout, publishers have to keep it simple and tidy with useful information provided. The layout also must be convenient for users to use.
Reference List:
Facebook makeover leaves some devotees fuming, 2008, ABC.com.au, viewed on 16th June 2009, http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24328928-15318,00.html.
Walsh, M 2006, `the Textual Shift: Examining the reading process with print, visual and multimodal texts`, Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, vol.29, no.1, viewed on 16th June 2009, http://search.informit.com.au.ezlibproxy.unisa.edu.au/fullText;res=AEIPT;dn=149631.
Media/ Publishing Issues
1. Indonesian weekly apologises over Last Supper Soeharto cover
The cover for the February 4-10 edition of Tempo featured a sketch of Suharto, who died last month, taking Jesus Christ's central place at a table surrounded by his three daughters and sons instead of apostles, triggering complaints from Christians.
On page two of Koran Tempo, a daily published by the same outfit as the weekly, a large headline over an apology read, "Tempo Magazine Apologises," with a subheading: "We had no intention of hurting Christians." They said they just inspired by Leonardo`s painting not in the context or concept of the event of the event told in the Bible.
This case happens because publication basically can not use offensive image as the cover or put it in the publication especially about religion. Religion is a matter of privacy and it is a sensitive issue. When Tempo had a sketch about Soeharto in the picture of Jesus last supper, it was considered offensive as Soeharto is a Moslem and the picture was in Christian context.
Offensive image can cause public angry because it is considered as not respecting each other religion so we need to be careful in choosing pictures in publication. Walsh (2006, p.29) stated that images have effects that are different from words. So the picture can cause people to think that it is to hurt Christians but actually it was just a picture that Tempo inspired from Leonardo`s painting.
Reference List :
Indonesian Weekly apologises over Last Supper Soeharto cover 2008, AFP, viewed on 16th June 2009.
Walsh, M 2006, `the Textual Shift: Examining the reading process with print, visual and multimodal texts`, Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, vol.29, no.1, viewed on 16th June 2009, http://search.informit.com.au.ezlibproxy.unisa.edu.au/fullText;res=AEIPT;dn=149631.
Monday, June 15, 2009
New Forms of media publishing
New media publishing changes the traditional way to broadcast news. Several types of tools are used such as:
- Media types of blog
1. Moblog; i.e. Jo Ito
2.Vlog; i.e. Josh Leo`s Vlog
3. Photolog; i.e. Chu Chu`s Photolog
- Youtube
- Online newspaper; i.e. The New Straits Times
Youtube may be the most popular media of publishing. People use it as tool for advertising, political campaign, creating awareness campaign and many more. For instance, Earth Hour campaign is published in Youtube. For political, the election night of President Barack Obama is published in Youtube.
Kress (1997, p.56) stated that visual text brought to electronic era have some advantage as it is easier to control in sense that sound can be added and combined with text when in paper, it can not be done that way. Some people do not like to read so when publishers bring up the news or issue to Youtube for example, people can be reached through video. Sometimes it is more enjoyable to get news from video than read.
Another example is online newspaper. For those people who do not have time to buy newspaper or lazy to buy, they still can get news online. It is more convinient nowadays as technology such as internet is part of the lifestyle.
Reference List:
Earth Hour 2009, video recording, Youtube.
Kress, G 1997, Page to screen: taking literacy into electronic era, Allen & Unwin, New South Wales, Australia, viewed on 15th June 2009, http://www.library.unisa.edu.au/webservices/fedoraldap/default.aspx?bibid=558359.
- Media types of blog
1. Moblog; i.e. Jo Ito
2.Vlog; i.e. Josh Leo`s Vlog
3. Photolog; i.e. Chu Chu`s Photolog
- Youtube
- Online newspaper; i.e. The New Straits Times
Youtube may be the most popular media of publishing. People use it as tool for advertising, political campaign, creating awareness campaign and many more. For instance, Earth Hour campaign is published in Youtube. For political, the election night of President Barack Obama is published in Youtube.
Kress (1997, p.56) stated that visual text brought to electronic era have some advantage as it is easier to control in sense that sound can be added and combined with text when in paper, it can not be done that way. Some people do not like to read so when publishers bring up the news or issue to Youtube for example, people can be reached through video. Sometimes it is more enjoyable to get news from video than read.
Another example is online newspaper. For those people who do not have time to buy newspaper or lazy to buy, they still can get news online. It is more convinient nowadays as technology such as internet is part of the lifestyle.
Reference List:
Earth Hour 2009, video recording, Youtube.
Kress, G 1997, Page to screen: taking literacy into electronic era, Allen & Unwin, New South Wales, Australia, viewed on 15th June 2009, http://www.library.unisa.edu.au/webservices/fedoraldap/default.aspx?bibid=558359.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Classifications, methods and types of blogging communities
Classifications
People make blogs for different reasons. Therefore, types of blogs are different. It is divided into four categories:
1. Subject matter
- Political blogs; i.e. Jeff Ooi
- Fashion; i.e. I am Fashion
- History; i.e. The History Blog
- Law; i.e. The Wall Street Journal Blogs
2. Device
- moblog; i.e. Jo Ito
3. Media Type
- Vlog; i.e. Josh Leo`s Vlog
- Linklog; i.e. Jennifer`s Link Log
- Sketchlog; i.e. Jose Villegas
- Tumblelog; i.e. a shot of JD
4. Status of publishers
- Business blog; i.e. Health Business Blog
- Corporate blog; i.e. Google Blog
With various types of blogs, some blogs look unique. It has distinctive style to make web users like to read. It depends on style, topic, format and audience. To determine whether it is unique blog or not, Funnel (2008) stated that people look at the topic or issue mainly and the design in it such as the photos also the topic is about political or news or just a diary.
People can read a blog when they have free time and when they find the topic is good and interesting they will keep opening the blog and read. In my opinion, what make a blog unique is the topic itself. Design can be simple but what most readers look for is the content of the blog. But it does not mean design and format is not important.
Building blog community method
Blog community is built based on shared interest and stronger group turns that interest into passion. People leave comments when they read one`s blog. And from there, if they find they have same strong interest then those people can make a blogging community. They can make one blog for themselves to share their interest with others. For example, the Dublin Community blog. This blog tells about what happens in Dublin and their experience there. They put pictures and videos to support it. This blog is made based on same interest among the authors.
Blogging community also can be created through the permalink and tags.
Types of blogging community
There are three types if blogging community stated by White (2006); one blog centric community (design, technology), boundaried community (make a blog then become close to each other because of the discussion board, social networking and instant messagin built in) and topic centric community ( they linked to each other with hyperlink and more to networking). For instance is MySpace.
Power in boundaried community based on the ability of the owner to impose rules on community. It consist of three ways.
One way is frequency of posting. Blogger can decide when to post and frequent posting puts a person`s blog higher in the list. Then another way is popularity or interest. It is measured by how many comments bloggers get. If his blog is famous, lots of comments will be there.
And last is social networking tools to help bloggers associating each other. Users need to add people and approve it so they can chit chat or exchange news or anything in their friends list. Users also can choose to show or not to show their social network in MySpace ecosystem. Users can put video, music and photos that their friends can make comments. From these activities, users can become a community.
Reference List:
Funnel, A 2008, A taxonomy of blogs, ABC Radio National, viewed on 12th June 2009, http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2008/2372882.htm#transcript
White, N 2006, Blog and Community - Launching a new paradigm for online community?, the Knowledge Tree, viewed on 12th June 2009, http://kt.flexiblelearning.net.au/tkt2006/edition-11-editorial/blogs-and-community-%E2%80%93-launching-a-new-paradigm-for-online-community.
People make blogs for different reasons. Therefore, types of blogs are different. It is divided into four categories:
1. Subject matter
- Political blogs; i.e. Jeff Ooi
- Fashion; i.e. I am Fashion
- History; i.e. The History Blog
- Law; i.e. The Wall Street Journal Blogs
2. Device
- moblog; i.e. Jo Ito
3. Media Type
- Vlog; i.e. Josh Leo`s Vlog
- Linklog; i.e. Jennifer`s Link Log
- Sketchlog; i.e. Jose Villegas
- Tumblelog; i.e. a shot of JD
4. Status of publishers
- Business blog; i.e. Health Business Blog
- Corporate blog; i.e. Google Blog
With various types of blogs, some blogs look unique. It has distinctive style to make web users like to read. It depends on style, topic, format and audience. To determine whether it is unique blog or not, Funnel (2008) stated that people look at the topic or issue mainly and the design in it such as the photos also the topic is about political or news or just a diary.
People can read a blog when they have free time and when they find the topic is good and interesting they will keep opening the blog and read. In my opinion, what make a blog unique is the topic itself. Design can be simple but what most readers look for is the content of the blog. But it does not mean design and format is not important.
Building blog community method
Blog community is built based on shared interest and stronger group turns that interest into passion. People leave comments when they read one`s blog. And from there, if they find they have same strong interest then those people can make a blogging community. They can make one blog for themselves to share their interest with others. For example, the Dublin Community blog. This blog tells about what happens in Dublin and their experience there. They put pictures and videos to support it. This blog is made based on same interest among the authors.
Blogging community also can be created through the permalink and tags.
Types of blogging community
There are three types if blogging community stated by White (2006); one blog centric community (design, technology), boundaried community (make a blog then become close to each other because of the discussion board, social networking and instant messagin built in) and topic centric community ( they linked to each other with hyperlink and more to networking). For instance is MySpace.
Power in boundaried community based on the ability of the owner to impose rules on community. It consist of three ways.
One way is frequency of posting. Blogger can decide when to post and frequent posting puts a person`s blog higher in the list. Then another way is popularity or interest. It is measured by how many comments bloggers get. If his blog is famous, lots of comments will be there.
And last is social networking tools to help bloggers associating each other. Users need to add people and approve it so they can chit chat or exchange news or anything in their friends list. Users also can choose to show or not to show their social network in MySpace ecosystem. Users can put video, music and photos that their friends can make comments. From these activities, users can become a community.
Reference List:
Funnel, A 2008, A taxonomy of blogs, ABC Radio National, viewed on 12th June 2009, http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2008/2372882.htm#transcript
White, N 2006, Blog and Community - Launching a new paradigm for online community?, the Knowledge Tree, viewed on 12th June 2009, http://kt.flexiblelearning.net.au/tkt2006/edition-11-editorial/blogs-and-community-%E2%80%93-launching-a-new-paradigm-for-online-community.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Blog....Blogging
Blog is a short term of `web-blog`. Blog (What is a blog?, 2009) is different with another forms of web as it has many links to other sites. These statement also supported by Drezner & Farrel (2004, p.7). Duncan (2005) stated that the first time blog is used is by John Barger of the webblog RobotWisdom (robotwisdom.com) in December 2007.
What is a blog? 2009, HNN, viewed on 10th June 2009,
http://hnn.us/articles/1572.html.
Why Blog?
Different individuals have different answers to the question. People blog because they want to share their stories or some people do blogging to make money from it. Blog is not only tools to write stories about their dogs, cats, and gossip any more but also to reach wider audiences for spreading the business.
the Blogging Phenomenon
Blog can be used not only for writing stories but also for politics and even to advertise the products or services from companies as like in Blogger application, it has an option called AdSense for advertisement and also because blog can be used to reach wider audience as blogs are used by many people today.
How does blog have influence in politics? To answer that,we can consider term`blogosphere`. As stated by Drezner & Farrel (2004), it is a distribution of readers across the blog and interaction between significant blog and traditional media.
According to them, most of blogs are written in English. Blog is easy to enter. Although some blogs are old enough about five years old, the growth rate of blogging increased when Pyra Labs invented user-friendly Blogger and available for free through the website www.blogger.com and make blog in just ten minutes.
Blogosphere has grown rapidly. It is estimated there will be 120,000 new blogs (Technorati, 2008) created everyday. The growth can be seen from the explanation below.
(Source : Technorati, 2008)
In Asia, blogging is a trend. A study conducted by Microsoft; `Blogging phenomenon sweeps Asia` proved that (Technorati, 2009) half a population online in Asia have blogs. People spend more than three hours for blogging and mostly they are female (55%). Asia`s blogosphere is charged by youth with half of all bloggers under 25 to 24 years old.
The research showed that blogging is used to maintain and build social networking and express themselves.
Ooi (2006) stated that in Malaysia, political blogs are low in popularity except in Malaysia. Then there is a list of top 50 most influencial blogs in Malaysia that proved blogging is a hit including personal, technology and political blogs.
Then we move to Europe, Europe (2009) stated that around 3% (or 4 million) European internet users, actively write blogs. Bloggers in Europe are young, early adopters of new technologies and heavy internet users. Blogs are now considered as trusted source of information for European. In France, 90% of respondents familiar with blogs. In Germany, 55% have heard of blogs, 58% in Italy and 51% in Spain.
Blogging communities
Blog is beneficial to the community whether it is for political, social or business.
Reference List:
(Source : Technorati, 2008)
In Asia, blogging is a trend. A study conducted by Microsoft; `Blogging phenomenon sweeps Asia` proved that (Technorati, 2009) half a population online in Asia have blogs. People spend more than three hours for blogging and mostly they are female (55%). Asia`s blogosphere is charged by youth with half of all bloggers under 25 to 24 years old.
The research showed that blogging is used to maintain and build social networking and express themselves.
Ooi (2006) stated that in Malaysia, political blogs are low in popularity except in Malaysia. Then there is a list of top 50 most influencial blogs in Malaysia that proved blogging is a hit including personal, technology and political blogs.
Then we move to Europe, Europe (2009) stated that around 3% (or 4 million) European internet users, actively write blogs. Bloggers in Europe are young, early adopters of new technologies and heavy internet users. Blogs are now considered as trusted source of information for European. In France, 90% of respondents familiar with blogs. In Germany, 55% have heard of blogs, 58% in Italy and 51% in Spain.
Blogging communities
Blog is beneficial to the community whether it is for political, social or business.
- Political
- Advertising
- Business
- Social
Reference List:
Drezner, DW & Farrell, H 2004, the Power and Politics of Blogs, American Political Association, viewed on 10th June 2009, http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/11-28-2006/0004480819&EDATE.
Duncan, R 2005, a Short History of Blogging, the Blog Herald, viewed on 10th June 2009, http://www.blogherald.com/2005/03/06/a-short-history-of-blogging/.Europe 2009, European Travel Commission, viewed on 10th June 2009, http://www.newmediatrendwatch.com/regional-overview/103-europe?start=7.
Ooi, J 2006, `Microsoft: '64% of Malaysian bloggers are female`, Screenshots, viewed on 10th June 2009, http://www.jeffooi.com/2006/12/64_of_malaysian_bloggers_are_f.php.
State of Blogosphere 2008, Technorati, viewed on 10th June 2009, http://technorati.com/blogging/state-of-the-blogosphere/.
http://hnn.us/articles/1572.html.
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