Twitter WORK

1. Why is respected news brands good news for Twitter?

The reason why respected news brands are good for Twitter is so it gives the brand of twitter a more professional outlook, due to the fact that they have reliable brands such as the Guardian and the Mail online signed up to twitter. 

2. Why in turn is Twitter good for respected news brands?

Twitter is good for these brands as it allows them to the traffic on the sites to increase. This in turn will mean more hits to the online page which will have advertisement. As a result, the increase in the traffic visiting these web pages bought by twitter, advertisement revenues will go up which can mean the news brands can support their print newspaper with this increase in revenue.

3. The report suggests that old and new media “are not, in fact, in direct competition, but often work extremely well together to enhance both the media eco-system and the consumer experience”. What evidence do they provide to support this idea? Do you agree with it?

The example provided is that of twitter and the ways users can experience an enhanced consumer experience for example one of the ways this can happen is through gossips or banter. A viewer of a TV show may find something funny and 'tweet' it to the 'twitter verse' that will join in the laughter or 'banter' and will create their own version or be involved in the gossip and/or banter. I believe that old and new digital media are working as a cohesive unit is far more beneficial to the consumer as they can have connected digital conversation/experience and are not torn between what they should choose to have it on.

4. On page 24/25 of the report, the focus turns to gossip or banter. What example tweets from journalists are used to illustrate this? 

Ø  Kim kardashians behind being too big for her pants 

Ø  The sales figures for a arsenal toaster 

Ø  slang commentary on an interview with Nigel Farage calling out David Cameron or 'Dave' or as the journalist refers to him 

5. Do you think the increasing amount of gossip or banter is harming the reputation of news and journalists?

I think it is harming the perception of journalist and journalism as they are now reporting on baseless and utter un professional nonsense, their standard of writing is deteriorating in order to earn money by feeding the crowd with pointless gossip and banter.

6. What does the report say about trust in Twitter and journalists (look at pages 34-39)?

It says "Almost half of all Twitter users, and almost two thirds of news brand users, say it is important that news on Twitter is verified by a respected brand. This helps build trust in the content."

7. Finally, do you think new and digital media developments such as Twitter have had a positive or negative impact on traditional newspapers?

New and digital media developments have had a positive impact on traditional newspapers as it has bought the traditional newspaper industry a new format to portray their news and in new styles and create a more regarded connection. However, the rise of UGC and Citizen Journalism has bought up the question whether journalists are needed or not as anyone can record events and post it on twitter/YouTube and compose articles and listicles on blogger and buzzfeed.

Facebook apologises over 'cruel' Year in Review clips

Title: Facebook apologises over 'cruel' Year in Review clips

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/dec/29/facebook-apologises-over-cruel-year-in-review-clips

Summary:

This article is about how the social network, Facebook apologised after it showed one user a photograph of his recently-deceased daughter in its ‘Year in Review’ feature; many others had similar complaints such as dead dog, boyfriends house burning down and a dead fathers ashes.

Facts/Phrases:

Ø  “Yes, my year looked like that. True enough. My year looked like the now-absent face of my little girl. It was still unkind to remind me so forcefully,” he wrote in a post titled “Inadvertent Algorithmic Cruelty”.

Opinion:

In my opinion, this shows how Facebook’s reliance on algorithms and formulas to make the site and app better has actually just caused many more inconveniences.  

Hacker fakes German minister's fingerprints using photos of her hands

Title: Hacker fakes German minister's fingerprints using photos of her hands

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/dec/30/hacker-fakes-german-ministers-fingerprints-using-photos-of-her-hands

Summary:

Jan Krissler, hacker, also referred to as Starbug in the hackers circle has managed to used high resolution photos, including one from a government press office, to successfully recreate the fingerprints of Germany’s defence minister Ursula von der Leyen. In a high profile stunt in 2013, he spoofed Apple’s Touched sensors within 24 hours of the release of the iPhone 5S. Using a smudge on the screen of an iPhone, he printed a dummy finger using wood glue and sprayable graphene, which successfully unlocked a phone registered to someone else’s thumb.

Facts/Phrases:

Ø  As the ACLU’s Jay Stanley told the Washington Post, “Biometrics are not secrets… Ideally, they’re unique to each individual, but that’s not the same thing as being a secret.”

Ø  Starbug agrees, telling Zeit in 2013 that “I consider my password safer than my fingerprint… My password is in my head, and if I’m careful when typing, I remain the only one who knows it.”

Opinion:

In my opinion, this highlights how new and digital media has become so advanced its helped hackers violate biometric systems. This is a simple evidence of how new and digital media can affect the audiences and the news.

Surge in illegal sales of drugs as gangs exploit ‘phenomenal market’ online

Title: Surge in illegal sales of drugs as gangs exploit ‘phenomenal market’ online

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/dec/28/drugs-medicines-sold-illegally-online-internet

Summary:

This article is about gangs using Smartphone apps and social media to sell erectile dysfunction drugs and slimming pills at low risk and high profit. The revolution of social media and the increased access to the internet through smart phones are factors that are the source to a massive rise in illicit sales of pharmaceuticals. Criminals and gangs have become accustomed to utilising social media to sell “lifestyle drugs”. The gangs operate through sites that claim to be bona fide online pharmacies with the main focus on medicines that people are reluctant to talk to their GP/pharmacy about, like Viagra.

Facts/Phrases:

Ø  This year, he said the MHRA had seized 1.2m doses of illegally supplied erectile dysfunction drugs, 383,000 slimming products and 331,000 doses of sleeping pills, tranquillisers and antidepressants – mostly originating from China and India. 

Ø  For the first time, the MHRA pursued YouTube accounts and removed 18,671 videos that directed viewers to websites offering illicit drugs.

Ø  Gangs that sold counterfeit drugs stood to make €200-€500 (£390) for every single euro invested. 

Ø  In 2010, the World Customs Organisation estimated that the global market for counterfeit drugs was worth $200bn (£130bn), putting it ahead of prostitution. The combined heroin and cocaine markets are worth $160bn. 

Opinion:

In my opinion, the revolution known as Internet has given birth to a world of freedom and opportunity, that has benefitted the working class as they are able to get there voice out and stand out rather than become a sheep to the shepherd known as our government. With the benefits of the internet and new and digital media there have also come consequences in this case being the rise of drug crime, where the risk is low and the profits are high.

Gmail blocked in China

Title: Gmail blocked in China

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/29/google-gmail-blocked-china-great-firewall

Summary:

This article is very clear as it simply states that after the months of disruption to Gmail with an anti-censorship advocate, Gmail has been blocked in China. There has been a large number of cut off with Gmail addresses in China, in accordance to GreatFire.org. This site is a China-based freedom of speech advocacy group. Google’s transparency report has shown real-time traffic to Google has dropped in China. Nearly all of Google’s services have been heavily disrupted in China since June. China maintains tight control over the internet, quick to act against any signs of dissent or challenges to the ruling Communist party’s leadership. China has the world’s most sophisticated internet censorship mechanism, known as the “great firewall of China”.

Facts/Phrases:

Ø  “I think the government is just trying to further eliminate Google’s presence in China and even weaken its market overseas,” said a member of the group who uses a pseudonym.

Ø   “Imagine if Gmail users might not get through to Chinese clients. Many people outside China might be forced to switch away from Gmail.”

Opinion:

In my opinion, this article highlights the key debate of censorship and how new and digital media has assisted in the promotion of censorship. Originally, print and broadcast was censored in China in order to maintain control over the population of China; however the internet revolution prompted a ray of light in order to encourage more freedom and less censorship; however the Chinese government has managed to block out nearly all foreign companies. This is ironic as Google, known as an institution that has ruled over the internet with an iron fist is being denied of growth.  

PlayStation Network and Windows Live hack could be a hoax, experts say

Title: PlayStation Network and Windows Live hack could be a hoax, experts say

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/nov/21/playstation-network-hack-hoax-experts-say

Summary:

This article is about how the hacks of the Sony PlayStation Network, Microsoft Windows Live and 2K games may be a hoax as they are only just a collaboration of old hacks put together and that the hacking group known as DerpTrolling, may be living up to their name as trolls. Rik Ferguson, vice president of security research, explains that a majority of the data has cross over with data from previous breaches, especially ones associated with Adobe one.  

Facts/Phrases:

Ø  Hackers are claiming to have broken into the Sony PlayStation Network (PSN), Microsoft Windows Live and 2K Games to leak over 5,500 usernames and passwords.

Ø  A hack of the PSN would be the third intrusion into the service since a major attack in 2011, which saw 77m accounts stolen and the online gaming service taken offline for 24 days.

Ø  “Dear Internet, the following is a very small portion of Lord Gaben and the rest of his crews glorious raids across the high seas of the Internet,” the Derp hacking group said in an alleged data dump of over 2,100 PSN, 1,400 Windows Live and 2,000 2K account. “Let this be a warning to all. Nothing is safe from Derp.”

Opinion:

In my opinion, this article highlights two major debates, the first being privacy as there is no certainty of whether we are safe online, may it be gaming with Sony and 2K games or e-mail accounts on Windows Live. The quote “Privacy maybe an anomaly, now over” (Vint Cerf) which is evident in this case as no one is safe from hackers and online thieves. The second being the accuracy of information online is yet again being called in to question, as no one is can actually guarantee whether there have been hacks or not.   

Argos enters the mini-tablet market with a £100 Windows 8.1 machine

Title: Argos enters the mini-tablet market with a £100 Windows 8.1 machine

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/dec/22/argos-mini-tablet-windows-christmas-shopping

Summary:

This article is about Argos selling windows tablets at £100 which is significantly cheaper and that being said they are selling the tablets at a loss, in order to gain a competitive advantage over Tesco, Sainsbury and staples along with other stores too. They are offering different things, like a terabyte of space on the One Drive cloud storage.  The article then does a soft ware review and delivers a verdict on the tablet. The star rating given is 3.5/5. The pros of it are: great value, especially if you want the Office bundle. It looks feels and works better than you’d expect from a £100 tablet. The cons of it are: poor battery life, and limited selection of Windows Store apps. Other constraints – RAM, storage, screen resolution etc – are excusable at the price.

Facts/Phrases:

Ø  Most of the new 7in and 8in Windows 8.1 tablets have very similar specifications. Usually they have a quadcore 1.33/1.83GHz Intel Atom Z3735G processor with Intel HD graphics, 1GB of memory and either 16GB or 32GB of eMMC Flash memory storage (eMMC is slower than SSD, but still fast).

Ø  The multi-touch screen has a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, and there are 2 megapixel cameras front and back, plus one or two tiny loudspeakers. The main connections are a 3.5mm stereo jack, a microSDHC memory card slot, microUSB OTG and HDMI ports, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.

Ø  The Bush MyTablet has an 8in screen, 32GB of storage (24GB free), and only one speaker. It measures 215mm x 123mm x 8.6mm and weighs 330g, so it’s tablet-sized. The top edge has an on-off button and a Windows Key button, separated by a volume rocker.

Opinion:

In my opinion, this article portrays how new and digital media has presented the change in which monolithic empires have dissolved in to cottage industries, demonstrating a more pluralistic society where there is more choice.