WNYC's Brian Lehrer discusses the "improvement" of television programming in today's age of multiple delivery platforms.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Cell Phones, Web Spread News of Military Crackdown in Burma
The Associated Press reports on the ways that mobile technology is allowing citizen journalists report on the events in Burma, where the military regime is violently cracking down on peaceful pro-democracy protesters, including buddhist monks. In spite of the regime's efforts to keep journalists from reporting on the crackdown, mobile technologies allow witnesses to get photos & videos out to the world.
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Saturday, September 15, 2007
Miro (2) --- Public/Private Debate
Miro is also a non-profit organization. That means this software was not developed to make profit for a corporation. It was created as a "public service." For now, it's free ... kind of like PBS or Public Radio.
Miro's currently running a fund-raising campaign to help support the costs of operation. On their blog, one of the founders asks users to donate.
What really drove me to post this (besides wanting to show the way video content is being distributed nowadays) is the really interesting conversation is developing in the comments thread of the fundraiser page. Basically, it's a heated but intelligent debate about the differences between a proprietary/capitalist model of society versus an open-source/public model.
Three arguments being made:
- the leech: "I can download everything for free so why should I donate"
- the communitarian: "you should contribute because it supports a good cause"
- the capitalist: "the non-profit cause is a losing proposition, go corporate"
One final point: Miro is in a similar position as "traditional" public broadcasting (including public television and public radio). Indeed, they argue they are providing a public service that the corporate "new" media doesn't. Granted, they do not have the educational mandate that PBS had at its inception and they do not produce content like PBS stations do, but it does raise the question: should we start thinking about forming a "Corporation for Public Internet Broadcasting"? And/or what will the role of the CPB and PBS be in a convergent world, particularly vis-a-vis the emerging educational content that's out there?
Miro's currently running a fund-raising campaign to help support the costs of operation. On their blog, one of the founders asks users to donate.
What really drove me to post this (besides wanting to show the way video content is being distributed nowadays) is the really interesting conversation is developing in the comments thread of the fundraiser page. Basically, it's a heated but intelligent debate about the differences between a proprietary/capitalist model of society versus an open-source/public model.
Three arguments being made:
- the leech: "I can download everything for free so why should I donate"
- the communitarian: "you should contribute because it supports a good cause"
- the capitalist: "the non-profit cause is a losing proposition, go corporate"
One final point: Miro is in a similar position as "traditional" public broadcasting (including public television and public radio). Indeed, they argue they are providing a public service that the corporate "new" media doesn't. Granted, they do not have the educational mandate that PBS had at its inception and they do not produce content like PBS stations do, but it does raise the question: should we start thinking about forming a "Corporation for Public Internet Broadcasting"? And/or what will the role of the CPB and PBS be in a convergent world, particularly vis-a-vis the emerging educational content that's out there?
Miro (1) -- Internet TV
Miro : an open-source program that allows you to search, download, and watch video content from all over the world. Its interface is very user friendly and the video content is organized by channels, categories, tags, etc, so you can search and watch stuff that you choose.
It is a model for the future of TV/video content: watch what you want, when you want it, all from sources that are not part of "The Industry." Tap into the vast collections of user-generated content from peer-casting sites like trough sites like YouTube, BlipTV, Revver, Veoh, etc. Or download HD quality programs from professional sources that not available on your local channel line-up.
Miro is an aggregator for the vast video content being generated throughout the world. "TV" has never looked this good... oh, wait, but this isn't TV anymore!
It is a model for the future of TV/video content: watch what you want, when you want it, all from sources that are not part of "The Industry." Tap into the vast collections of user-generated content from peer-casting sites like trough sites like YouTube, BlipTV, Revver, Veoh, etc. Or download HD quality programs from professional sources that not available on your local channel line-up.
Miro is an aggregator for the vast video content being generated throughout the world. "TV" has never looked this good... oh, wait, but this isn't TV anymore!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Tim Berners-Lee on the Semantic Web
This video supplements our readings for next class, as Tim Berneres-Lee, inventor of the WWW, explains the concepts behind the Semantic Web.
Net Neutrality
Two short videos introduce the issue of new neutrality and argue why the net should remain "neutral" without limitations by ISPs. We'll discus this more in the coming weeks.
Tim Berners-Lee's position:
A perspective from Canada: here
Tim Berners-Lee's position:
A perspective from Canada: here
Monday, September 10, 2007
How Medium Changes the Message (1) - Kids & TV
A recent report on the effects of TV on children. Note how the medium changes the message.
This is how a "tv" web site reports the findings:
ABC7Chicago
Consider: Watered down? Why? Is it really in their interest for your kids to stop watching TV?
This is how it was reported by Reuters news service (who provides news stories to various news outlets like Yahoo, newspapers, and on-line news providers like Environmental News Service) read here
This is how it was reported in the USA TODAY blog
(notice the informality)
This is how the scientific journal Pediatrics from the American Academy of Pediatrics reports it: abstract of article
Here is a previous article in Pediatrics on similar topic:
Children Adolescents and Television
This is how a "tv" web site reports the findings:
ABC7Chicago
Consider: Watered down? Why? Is it really in their interest for your kids to stop watching TV?
This is how it was reported by Reuters news service (who provides news stories to various news outlets like Yahoo, newspapers, and on-line news providers like Environmental News Service) read here
This is how it was reported in the USA TODAY blog
(notice the informality)
This is how the scientific journal Pediatrics from the American Academy of Pediatrics reports it: abstract of article
Here is a previous article in Pediatrics on similar topic:
Children Adolescents and Television
Sunday, September 9, 2007
media-opoly
This "TV Funhouse" video aired on Saturday Night Live some time ago. A lighthearted take on at a serious issue - so serious that NBC supposedly prevented it from replaying on re-runs of SNL. We'll be addressing the issue of media consolidation on several occasions in class.
For a more serious take on some of the consequences of media consolidation, read these reports from respected PBS journalist Bill Moyers.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Developments in Learning
Two interrelated stories relating to education & convergence.
Curling up with a nice... laptop?
Two new E-book Projects launching.
How will kids get that nice red apple for teacher ... online.
Virtual Schooling Growing
In following with the class introduction (the "Big Picture"), consider the changes in cultural paradigms, interpersonal relations, social structures that these developments imply. Consider the profit motive behind these. How does it shape these evolving "industries" that are so central to our culture? Who benefits? Who is left out?
On a more personal level, would you want your kids to read e-books? To go to an on-line school? Why? Why not? At this point of personal fear of change (i.e. your concern that they won't get something you got with more traditional schools), at this point is where you find & experience the very changes in cultural logic that we are addressing in class.
Curling up with a nice... laptop?
Two new E-book Projects launching.
How will kids get that nice red apple for teacher ... online.
Virtual Schooling Growing
In following with the class introduction (the "Big Picture"), consider the changes in cultural paradigms, interpersonal relations, social structures that these developments imply. Consider the profit motive behind these. How does it shape these evolving "industries" that are so central to our culture? Who benefits? Who is left out?
On a more personal level, would you want your kids to read e-books? To go to an on-line school? Why? Why not? At this point of personal fear of change (i.e. your concern that they won't get something you got with more traditional schools), at this point is where you find & experience the very changes in cultural logic that we are addressing in class.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Thompson across platforms
Tonight on NBC's Tonight Show w/ Jay Leno, Fred Thompson announces his candidacy for the Republican nomination. Thompson's official web site will post his official announcement online at 12:01am 9/6.
Earlier in the evening, prior to this announcement being braodcast on Leno, Thompson ran this "pre-announcement" ad during the Republican candidates' debate which aired on FOX. The candidates criticized Thompson for not joining them to discuss the issues.
Note how the various media have been mobilized and utilized and how quickly the blogs buzz.
As we'll discuss in class later in the term, Barack Obama and other politicians have been using the web very effectively for a while. But it's impressive to see a made-for-tv campaign "event" unfold with all its Hollywood-inspired coordination and drama... all from the comfort of your computer screen.
Magazines: This week's Newsweek cover story
Mainstream News Sites Report: yahoo/ap
Blogs: Politico, Drudge Report
Earlier in the evening, prior to this announcement being braodcast on Leno, Thompson ran this "pre-announcement" ad during the Republican candidates' debate which aired on FOX. The candidates criticized Thompson for not joining them to discuss the issues.
Note how the various media have been mobilized and utilized and how quickly the blogs buzz.
As we'll discuss in class later in the term, Barack Obama and other politicians have been using the web very effectively for a while. But it's impressive to see a made-for-tv campaign "event" unfold with all its Hollywood-inspired coordination and drama... all from the comfort of your computer screen.
Magazines: This week's Newsweek cover story
Mainstream News Sites Report: yahoo/ap
Blogs: Politico, Drudge Report
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