Archive for the ‘Media issues’ Category

A tale of woe … or fevered imagination?

The vast majority of the world’s population will NEVER visit an online discussion forum. They don’t care. (More important things to do etc.) Those who do (visit, and care) can be divided into a few categories from lurkers (who look but don’t post) to occasional and regular posters, to fanatical networkers and naked self-promoters who […]

Dedicated to my friends at PropertyTalk …

Remember who and what you’re fighting for: the readers, the community, your independence. Turn your speakers up and sing with Johnny Cash. Look inside and find your courage.

Ad-supported site … or ‘supporting’ the advertisers? A case study.

An interesting debate is rumblng about the use of Ad-blockers on web browsers… Ars Technica’s Ken Fisher laid out his case “Why Ad Blocking is devastating to the sites you love” including this section which got me thinking: My argument is simple: blocking ads can be devastating to the sites you love. I am not […]

Erring on the side of ‘simple’

A police investigation into ‘stolen’ or ‘leaked’ emails from the Leader of the Opposition’s office reveals just how slack so-called computer security can be… until we have reason to beef it up. I bet they’re more security-conscious now! “While it is accepted by the experts interviewed that external hacking can never be fully eliminated, ‘hacking’ […]

When propaganda turns into ‘demonizing’ …

Sometimes a zealot can go ‘too far’ …. even for his/her own supporters. I’ve seen it in political debate. I’ve seen it in business. The ‘object’ of the exercise — the debate, the contest of ideas — becomes somehow personal, and the ‘campaign’ can start to lose focus. It can be like a blood lust […]

That’s a LOT of page views … (and SPAM & bots)

JESS3 / The State of The Internet from Jesse Thomas on Vimeo.

Quite a good quiz

Quiz: prime ministers v the media From The Guardian… Prime ministers and journalists have often had a difficult relationship. As Lance Price reveals in a new book, Where Power Lies: Prime Ministers v the Media (from which these quotes are taken), the two sides have been criticising each other, in similar terms, for years. This […]

“Buzz kills privacy” – ooooh!

So you don’t like Google Buzz? Turn it OFF, then, and stop complaining: Nightmares for Gmail users as Buzz kills privacy – NZ Herald : “Of course, those still dissatisfied can simply turn off Buzz. There’s a small link to do so at the bottom of the Gmail inbox page.” Duh. UPDATE: – a bit […]

A three horse race to rule over the global distribution of digital content … Apple in front by a nose.

Worthwhile evaluation from someone who knows the publishing game better than most — and from more angles. Why Apple’s iPad is shaking things up with Amazon and Google from Martin Taylor’s e-report — digital publishing downunder When Apple launched its long-rumoured iPad tablet computer late last month, it fired a major salvo in the battle […]

The rise (and fall) of the value of online advertising

Following a report on Apple boss Steve Jobs pitiching the iPad distribution channel to NY newspaper chiefs… The highlighted bit (see below) about online advertising space being (a) infinite in supply and therefore (b) valueless accords with my thinking (although I am not a genius, nor all that experienced). I’ve done some online advertising and […]

“Bringing a large dose of common sense into the equation…”

Somebody thinking clearly about the internet copyright ‘three strikes, you’re disconnected’ proposals: An Australian judge has ruled that ISP iiNet is not responsible for its customers breaking copyright laws. (Of course it will be appealed!) Aussie ISP strikes landmark blow in copyright war By Pat Pilcher NZ Herald Thursday Feb 4, 2010 Aussie ISP iiNet […]

The state of the media

Oh, this is very funny … a true spoof. The cliches fall like autumn leaves. (Pwah!) I have a serious book somewhere called Bending Reality: The state of the media (James Curran) which, among other things, discusses the compromises and distortions those in the news media routinely can and do make in the effort to ‘package’ […]

One smart person

“Elisabeth Murdoch touts social networking” CEO says youths willing to pay for premium experiences By Elizabeth Guider The Hollywood Reporter Jan 27, 2010, LAS VEGAS — Emphasizing the need for the TV industry to put on its “hard hats” and rebuild the biz for a new era, Elisabeth Murdoch offered up a blueprint which put […]

iPad? Yeah. OK, probably. Why not?

Yes, I’ll probably get one of these. It looks useful, and some of the applications seem like an improvement. Apple does lead the world in industrial design (the ‘cool’ factor), and this shows it again. An e-book reader should have a high quality colour screen, in my opinion. Is it a ‘game-changer’, as pundits are […]

Unintended consequences

A fair minded person seeks to put themselves in the other person’s shoes … I find myself doing that more and more. (… and I’m not saying, ‘Aren’t I wonderful?’ by that comment, I assure you.) I would hate for some of the things I’ve said about the activities and behaviour of others to be […]