2(d):New forms of media publishing

The improvement of media technology makes life much easier for people nowadays. Back then, radio and newspaper is the only way for people to get the latest news. But today there are many new forms of media to deliver message and news such as facebook, blog and twitter. These new media are interactive methods of communication that requires the use of Internet. With the existence of social networking sides, it is faster in helping broadcast of news or information. We able to get the news within minutes or hours as normally we only get our news a day after an event happened. Besides, these new media is no longer a one way communication; it involves the process of exchanging messages, focusing on the interaction between the sender and the receivers.

Facebook and twitter is not just only just grouping friend together, twitter is now rather more of a communication service than a true social network because it focuses on creating a stream of information that resembles a conversation. Besides, facebook allow us to share trending videos and news around. Often some people who never read news and probably don’t know what’s going around the world, they actually get to know some of the shared news through facebook. Certain news that we read from newspaper about accident or fighting, sometimes we able to watch its’ video that had been captured by someone or CCTV on youtube which can aid the news by showing clearer sight of what happen. Also, these new media allows people discuss the issue by dropping a comment regarding about how they feel or think of the news.

This is a car accident news on Youtube, Ferrari taxi fatal car crash in Singapore. We able drop comment and discuss about the tragic news.

This is a video from Facebook, a husband who hit his pregnant wife in their shop. It shows a clearer view of how it happens compared to the newspaper.

Reference:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJxmqObbOA4
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=102017999950924

2(c) How do readers perceive blog credibility & how do you build credibility for your blog?

There are millions of blogs in this world and the sad truth is when someone visits a blog, they decide whether they should read or run in a few seconds. Thus credibility will play a vital role in whether your blog is successful or not. Reference.com stated qualities that make up what is known as credibility include the education or experience to back up one's claims of expertise. It is something that is earned and acquired over time. Credibility is more like a linear scale on which others give you a rating. How do readers perceive blog credibility? It will depend what elements from your blog is attractive enough to catch their attention stop by, whether is your interesting stories, your expertise, your blog design, or you have such information/facts that worth their time to read, and etc.

It is important to build qualities that will make people visit to your blog again. The quality can be based on numbers of elements. The writing skills and design of blog is vital. For example, some writers write it in a way that able to create sense of humor even is expressing in the form of text. Besides, title of the blog post must be catchy to grab one shot look attention. Also, writer who writes about fact and truth will create more credibility as readers expect a lot of honesty with product information, brands, issues, what they usually can’t see from the magazine or news. Futhermore, a blog with nice and unique design certainly caught people attention to stop by and further take a look of your content. In addition, you can provide links to other community at the side of your blog to allow readers have the options of reading other popular blogs other than yours. We can also provide a chat box for discussion. Chatbox does perceived blog credibility. Sometimes even a reader didn’t drop a comment to your blog, they still tend to take a look of what people have talked about in the discussion box.

A very nice blog design.

Spot the Chatbox as well as links to other communities at the right side of the blog.

(Malaysia famous blogger http://www.chuckei.com/)

Reference:
http://www.reference.com/browse/credibility?s=t
http://diythemes.com/thesis/trust-triggers/

2(e) Screen vs. print document design

Screen design and print document design can be very different although both of them have mutual extraction eg: type of color, text, size, and graphic use. The easiest way to see the differences is comparison between the online news and the ink print newspaper.

Print document design

Screen document design

Firstly, we can look at the color. Screen design definitely attract more people looking at the pictures and graphics because it has more vibrant color compare to print document. Besides, it has higher resolution and thus provide a clearer outlook to the audience.

Secondly, the writing structure. For the screen design, we can write it in any way or style that we like. And for the font size, it can be adjust to how big or small you like. Unlike the print document design, they have to follow the procedure of formality in terms of the design and style.

Thirdly, for the screen design, we can put hyperlink in some sentence for further information. Besides, we can also insert along video and music to enhance the news as well as a chatbox for people to leave comment about how they feel, or suggestion regarding about the news. However, many people still like to read newspaper in the old ways which is printed way because if we read from screen computer, we have to scroll up and down and this tend to make us read slower. Print newspaper have a well-organized system in its layout which enable reader to read on it without any hassle because it content is usually fit into a specific size of paper such as A5 with words and picture only.

2(b)Classification of blogs & opinion about the most appropriate classification approach

There are many blogs out there and for each and every blog, their design and style as well as content are different. Sometimes is hard to classify them into a particular category. As we can see from wordpress.com, they have highlight a few blog categories that are popular such as the personal blog, business blog,  politics blog, sports blog, how to-tips and reviews blog, expertise blog, gadget blog and so on. However, some blogs may have classified as violate blogs such as blogs with the primary purpose of driving traffic to affiliate programs and get-rich-quick schemes, blogs that promoted private copies of ebooks, movie and music, and scraper blogs which is blog that take content from other blogs and re-publish it without permission.

In my opinion, classifying blog using subject matter will be easier for people to find information eg: politic, history, fashion, law, device. For example if your blog is about mobile, make up tutorial, fishing, or pets care, people can easily search what they want from Google; just type in the subject you are searching with the word blog, then list of blogs that related to the particular topic will appear. Overall, determine the purpose of your blog before you get started and consider what you hope to accomplish and what is the best platform will be for your particular type of blog is the best way of classification approach.

This is an example of subject matter classification. I type in dog care in the search, and this blog is one of the blog that appear in the related blog list.

Reference:
http://funstufffordogs.wordpress.com/
http://ezinearticles.com/?There-Are-Many-Different-Types-of-Blogs&id=1958111
http://en.wordpress.com/types-of-blogs/

2(a): Blogs as current phenomenon & benefits of blogging to the community

Blogs are widely used as a communication tool in the worldwide today. People create blog to share their thoughts, interest and knowledge with others. Blog is also used by companies to display their thought of leadership and expertise. From the 2011 blogging statistic, it is stated that there are estimated of 164 millions blog in the world and the US has about 49% of the blogging population worldwide. Below is some interesting fact regarding blog.

Besides, blogs are now considered an important part of companies’ participation online and no longer the preserve private personal blogger. Blog is a nothing but a free website and it is definitely the cheapest way of sending messages out to the community for the marketers.  In addition nowadays for businesses, many of them also use weblogs to publish and advertise their product to attract more customers.

The benefit of blogging is that people can share their personal information and experience with people across the world. Those who have read your blog post can drop a comment or opinion and this can actually provide the blogger extra information or suggestion for reference neither its good or bad feedback to improve further. Besides, businesses can use blog to promote their products or services to increase of brand awareness and exposure. Those who are don’t know the particular function of certain products or services can actually get a good description from your business blog. Generally, blog act as a great advertising and communication tools without a single cost and some blogs can even help you to earn money if your blog has loads of traffic.


Reference:
http://www.rightmixmarketing.com/right-mix-blog/blogging-statistics/

Purpose of my blog

The purpose of starting this blog is to discuss media and publishing issues. In this blog, we will also able to see phenomenon and benefits of blogging. People who are interested in the related topic about designs as well as students and friends who are taking this course are expecting to view this blog.