LECTURE 2 – “New News”

This was an interesting lecture by Dr BR which tied in nicely with the set reading for the week. His lecture focused on web iterations (which took up the bulk of the lecture), the threat news faces in the online sphere and the impact that Web 3.0 will have on the production and consumption of news.

We began by defining 'old media'. This encompasses the largely accepted and traditional forms including newspapers, magazines, radio and television. Although the platforms for these media outlets were developed in the late 19^th and early 20^th century, I think it is perhaps inaccurate to deem them “old”. I happen to turn to these forms first for news and entertainment and I suggest a large proportion of the population does as well. I think 'old media' is accessible to the masses and will continue to be in the wake of Web 2.0 and Web 3.0. 

Web 2.0, or 'new media', is largely focused around social networking sites including facebook, YouTube, Linkedin, Twitter and flickr. Dr BR also introduced the concept of “Prod-users” (Alex Bruns – QUT 2005). This term evolves out of the notion that users of Web 2.0 act as a hybrid user/producer through the production process on social media and that we become prod-users simply by using such sites. For more visit http://snurb.info/produsage.


As a user of 'new media', I am not surprised the challenges that more traditional media faces in the wake of social networking sites. Personally, I would never turn to Facebook, Twitter or YouTube for my daily dose of news. It still surprises me when I turn on Q&A (on ABC) or Sunrise (Channel 7) and twitter posts appear at the bottom of the screen. However, I admire shows like this that are diverse enough and willing to take a step forward into twenty-first century media. It definitely adds another layer of complexity and reaches out to an audience that may otherwise have ignored their show. 


As confusing as Web 2.0 sounds, we are quickly moving towards Web 3.0, also known as the semantic web, whereby online users generated content contributes to target advertising and marketing. Have you ever been browsing Facebook or using Hotmail and noticed the advertising appearing across your screen. Have you ever thought, "How do 'they' know what I'm looking for?" or "I was just looking for a handbag the other day so how does Facebook know this?" As I'm sure you know everything we do online is recorded, stored, sorted and mined for information that can be used for target advertising. This is just one layer of Web 3.0.  


 Web 3.0 means a number of things for news:

• Hyperlocalisation – news is targeted/marketed to where a person lives
• “News my way” – companies become more specific about content delivery and advertising is targeted to specific audiences
• Ignorance and a lack of “general knowledge”

Next, the lecture moved onto web news. But first, Dr BR woke us all up with his clever “jelly-bean analogy” which drew parallels between the public’s belief that we are all entitled to online news for free but how a number of publications (e.g. The Times, The Australian) have gone behind the paywall. He then asked, “What will happen if people don’t subscribe?” 


I’m not sure about the answer to this question. Web news has always been cheap and available because most people have an internet connection in their home. Why would you go to the bother of buying a newspaper when it is up online for you 'for free?' I suspect in the wake of paywalls, the public will reach the point whereby to get accurate, quality journalism, they will be willing to pay as people have done in the past. 


Call me old fashioned, by I like the feeling of turning a page of the newspaper and covering my hands with a fine layer of printing ink. It makes me feel nostalgic for past times...