New forms of media publishing

The web is a place where most new forms of media are published. Few examples are blogs, vlogs, mirco-blog and etc. The web is described as a ‘pull’ medium because the audiences are the ones in charged of what they are interested in reading or watching. This helps to provide information to the consumers more effectively as it is harder for company to keep secrets. When a product has flaws, chances that it might appear on blog, newsgroup or email list is very high. The credibility of the brand will degrade. This leads to an example of internet as an interactive media as reviews are usually provided by consumers themselves. (Oyanagi.M 2010)

Audiences are no longer just passive receiver. They are no longer just consuming but producing as well. For example, YouTube famous phrase ‘Broadcast yourself’ had definitely bring many amateurs to a professional level. Justin Beiber is the latest talk of the town when it comes to youtube stardom. He was discovered when his mother started posting videos of him singing at the age of 12 for his friends and family to see. Three years later he was discovered. (O’neill.M 2010)

Besides just being discovered, consumers are practically ‘journalist’ these days. Especially in Malaysia, when the mainstream media is no longer a trustworthy news source, readers turn to other alternative media example blogs. Even though there may be many vanity blogging without literacy, there are still many that blogs on current and useful information. A new study released by PR week and PR Newswire (Lacono.E & Skerik.S 2010) stating that 52% of bloggers surveyed consider themselves as journalist. Other than just blogs, Twitter is now often a place for breaking news and consumer trends. 64% of blogger and 36% of reporters is said to use twitter as a research tool for stories. (Rao.L 2010)

Recent article by the Malaysian Insider stating that political battleground is changing from blog to Twitter. (Zahiid.S.J 2010)There seem to be a decrease in blog traffic while an increase in micro-blogging sites due to the short status updates that makes it more attractive. Few examples of Malaysian leaders had taken the step of being ‘in’ with new media are Anwar, DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang, UMNO maverick Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, PM Datuk Seri Najib Razak and etc. They are two different things, Twitter gives the snippets while blogging gives in-depth information. So, they use twitter to promote their blogs! (Zahiid.S.J 2010).

Referencing

1.       Lacono.E & Skerik.S 2010, Online Convergence Continues – Journalists Tap Social Media; More Bloggers Associate Work as Journalism; PR Practitioners Increasingly Leverage Online Opportunities, 2010 PRWeek/PR Newswire Media Survey: Longer Hours, Heavier Workloads Persist; But Fears Over Further Job Erosion Moderate, viewed on 19 April 2010,<http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prnewswire/43321/ >.

2.       Naughton.J 2006, ‘Blogging and the emerging media ecosystem’, viewed on 19 April 2010, <http://reuteursinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/about/discussion/blogging.html >.

3.       O’neill.M 2010, Is youtube the new American idol? ,viewed on 19 April 2010, <http://www.socialtimes.com/2010/04/is-youtube-the-new-american-idol/ >.

4.      Oyanagi.M 2010, Vol.22 – What Distinguishes Internet/Web From Traditional Media? , viewed on 19 April 2010, <http://megoyanagi.thoseinmedia.com/2010/02/21/vol-22-%E2%80%93-what-distinguishes-internetweb-from-traditional-media/ >.

5.       Rao.L 2010, Study:52 percent of bloggers consider themselves journalist, viewed on 19 April 2010,<http://techcrunch.com/2010/04/01/study-52-percent-of-bloggers-consider-themselves-journalists/ >.

6.       Zahiid.S.J 2010, Blogging is so yesterday, politicians turn to twitter, The Malaysian insider, viewed on 19 April 2010, <http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/52749-blogging-is-so-yesterday-politicians-turn-to-twitter >.