Assignment 5

Dear Students!

We are now one week into the new term – so time to get back to the Critical Media Studies again! Please make sure that you read notices on your blogsites - there are a number of students whose links to their site are not given clearly, so that I cannot reach them from my site - PLEASE SET THAT RIGHT.

Just to summarise how far we are, what has already been achieved:
In July and August the topics we were working with were:

1. Definitions of “media”, “news media” and “new media”;

2. Free speech and the freedom of the press;

3. Censorship

4. Blogging as a form of “new media”

Please go to your course outline and see how these topics fit into the bigger picture.
My suggestion is that we arrange for two workshop-style meetings during October to discuss and integrate all the sections of the work, and do some planning and preparation for the exam in November. Then I will also help with integrating the various sections of the coursework.

You completed FOUR assignments during the course of last term.

Here is your next assignment – the fifth in the course, the first of this term!

In the course outline you will see that one of the aims of this course, is to reflect on how the news functions as “a means of linguistically and discursively constructing the identities of individuals and groups”. Please look at the readings I left for you – copies to be made from originals left with Mrs Williams: particularly the work of Ron Scollon and Jean Aitchison, should give you an idea of what we refer to when we talk of how the media “constructs identity”.

To help you with this concept I will suggest the following:

Think of what you know about, e.g. Barak Obama, Nicholas Sarkozy, JacobZuma.
Think of what you know about Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, Caster Semenya, Patrick Swayze.
Think of what you know about Wayne Rooney, Serena Williams, Nelson Piquet jr.

So which of these individuals have you met?
Why do you support some and perhaps really not like some others??
How do you know these people?
Clearly the media have constructed identities of each of these ‘celebrities’.
As media students you need to ask how much of what is given to us fits who the real person is.
And you are not allowed to just say that “the media” are so terrible, the journalists are such manipulative cheats – “they” mislead the public, they have a hidden agenda, they want to cloud their readers mi9nds, etc. – That is too simple an explanation. And it is stereotyping in anunhelpful manner.

Next, think about groups of people:
- the Americans, the Palestinians, motorcyclists, Hollywood filmstars, Bollywood filmstars.
How have their identities been constructed? Can you ‘unpack’ all the salient and not-so-salient components of their identities?

If you were to become a serious blogger – what kind of personal identity would you give yourself on your blog?
See for example what Penelope Trunk says of personal blogging:
“Storytellers, memoirists, journalers, bloggers — anyone who talks or writes about himself or herself in a public forum — is faced with the dilemma of how much to reveal about oneself.” (http://astoriedcareer.com/2009/07/difficulty-not-talking-about-t.html)
When you are writing, you are always selecting what to say, what to imply, what to just leave out – either because you think it is not important, or because you don’t like it, don’t want to be boastful, don’t want to make a bade impression, etc.

So, here is your assignment – an essay of 2000 words, due on Monday 28 September at 16h00 on your blogsite:

1. 1. Read the attached document by Loseke – you will need to refer throughout to concepts and categories that she introduces.
(file:///M:/My%20Documents/CA%20docs/UWC%20media%20st/narrative%20identity.pdf)

2. 2. Refer to the attached article that appeared in the New York Times of 4^th September.
Show how the identities of Berlusconi and editor Dino Boffo are discursively mediated and constructed in this particular article. Consider speicifcally what is directly given, what is implied, what is completely muted.

Best wishes!

ASSIGNMENT 4 - DEADLINE 27 August 2009 16h00

This assignmetn has THREE TASKS numbered (1), (2) and (3).

Here is an interesting article on what media studies is about: you are advised to ask why one would attend a journalism or media studies course.

One commenter says you have to ask is the interest academic, or is it a desire to attend a "trade school" to improve journalism skills and get a certificate in the end.

There is a nice distinction between writing and reporting.

Take a look: http://ow.ly/ky3A

Note that this is a blog, written by??? (1) Tell me who the writer of this blog is.

(2) Give me a 400 word summary of the content (no cutting and pasting of citations from the text).

THEN note that there are comments. That is what blogging is about: not just pasting your stuff on the web and hoping that some unknown somebody will just zoom in and read and applaud. Bloggers usually have specific themes, they put out information and opinions, but it is only really worth the effort if there is going to be some comment - people who find it worth the time to write further and develop insight, ideas, etc.

SO - read these comments, see how this is done. Although some write very long responses, generally, comments should be short messages.

FINALLY go to the blogs I have linked here:

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/08/19/semenya-told-to-take-gender-test/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tomfordyce/2009/08/semenya_left_stranded_by_storm.html

The bloggers have topicalised an international athletics event with a South African in the centre.

I am sure you know what it is about! If not -hmmm - you haven't been following the news!!

(3) Read it, give me YOUR COMMENT in no more than 60 words! If you have not done blog comment before, I would prefer you to send your comment to me first - then after consideration we can venture into directly posting on the bloggers' sites.

You have to give YOUR OWN comment - so, perhaps you must write your own response before you read all the comments given on the BBC blog. Your comment can refer to what another has written, but may not just be somebody else's that you copy! Write this as soon as possible - you know how quickly news gets dated - by next Thursday this particular news item will not be the same - some issues will already have been resolved, and then the discourse will have shifted!

Due date Thursday 27 August 2009 16h00

ASSIGNMENT 3 - DEADLINE 13 August 2009 16h00

HERE ARE THE BLOG SITES YOU HAVE TO VISIT:
1. Look at the left hand column - see which blogs were most read, what they say, what comments they elicited:
http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/

2. One that topicalises the Swine Flu epidemic: read carefully, and remember - there are mostly at least two sides to a story - so if one says the whole thing is just pharmaceutical companies wanting to make a fast buck, there will be another that says hang on -- its a dangerous virus and it is costing some money to get the vaccine out!
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/Swine_flu/article6737507.ece

3. A sport blog - you have to see how that works! For more than just soccer ...;) - one from a UK perspective, one from an SA perspective
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog
http://southafrica.worldcupblog.org/

4. Something on the Arts - here a guy who comments on films:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/anthony/
http://indiefilmbloggersmovie.blogspot.com/

Question 1
For each of the 6 sites that are listed here you have to tell me
-- who is the blogger - who does the site "belong to" -- and who is doing the writing.

Question 2
Give me a paragraph with a profile of ONE of the bloggers you have come across in these blogs.
DO NOT just cut-n-paste from their profile.
Write your own paragraph stating what it is in the person's profile that qualifies him/her best to do the work as blogwriter.

ASSIGNMENT 2 - DEADLINE 6 August 2009 16h00

First read my introduction, second read the relevant literature, third answer the two questions given below in your blog.

Your blog this week has to be completed and posted by Thursday 6 August at 16h00.
For this assignment you do the following:

Find the Coetzee and Barendt readings made available to you, and aquaint yourself with the concepts 'freedom of speech' and 'censorship'.
Note that 'freedom of speech' is defined as a basic human right, and is one that is also entrenched in the South African Constitution and Bill of Rights.

You will notice that 'freedom of speech' is not an unlimited right, i.e. people should be free to speak their mind, and as an extension, people should be free to publish their knowledge, insight and opinions in the media without fear of prosecution; however, if free expression means injury to anther person or group, as e.g. in hatespeech - then it has some limitation: you cannot in the process of speaking your mind defame or criminally offend (by crimen iniuria) another person or institution.

Censorship is a form of silencing people - state censorship can disallow some forms of political debate (then the state may be accused of violating democratic rights of its citizens); state censorship can also forbid the publication in the media of certain kinds of information -- e.g. they may forbid publication of state secrets in time of war, or - as was the case in the 1980s in South Africa - they can forbid the publication of any reference to (or picture of) persons that they regard as enemies. Did you know (e.g.) that it was illegal back then to publish any picture of Nelson Mandela, and similarly it was illegal to cite anything that Oliver Tambo may have said or written? (So, treasure the freedom we have gained since then!!)

Now, consider how state censorship can forbid public debate in the media on election results following a national poll that was not, in general democratic terms, "free and fair". Recent news reports on elections in Iran claimed that such censorship made it very difficult for those opposed to the new government to debate the process and to voice their protest. If there are only state controlled media - i.e. the state owns and oversees all radio, television and newspaper reporting - open discussion, fair exchange of ideas, is disallowed. EXCEPT ... that with new media ... there are now ways around this kind of censorship that were formerly not possible.

The questions you have to answer in your blog:
1. What are the limits of state censorship that have been made clear by recent events of state oppression in Iran.

2. Refer to the two websites (a blog and a report from an e-version of BBC) cited below, and go to the You Tube clip of which the link is given. Make sure that you read the full stories AND the comments that they drew.
(a) Explain how the use of 'new media' in these two cases enabled protest/criticism that would formerly not have been heard.
(b) Also, if a person or institution feels that use of new technologies has defamed them - what recourse do they have? How can they expect the injury to their good name to be repaired?
http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/index.php/smashed-guitar-youtu-4850/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8173731.stm

Readings and Assignment - WEEK 2 (1)

1. Congratulations: 12 students have signed up as followers of the lecture-blog titled CMS interactive - that's great!

2. I am very impressed with 6 of you who also already have created your OWN blogs - and I want the other 6 to do the same as soon as possible - even today!
If you are not certain how to do this, there are at least two options, namely (i) go to http://www.blogger.com/home - some place in the top right hand corner you will find a link that says "create a blog" - click on that ... and follow the instructions; (ii) ask a friend to help you ... 6 have already got it right, so there are guys who can advise you!

3. I have given some personal responses to those who posted their assignment on "blogging as a form of 'new media'. General comment will go out as soon as I have received work from all.

4. There have been a few queries about what exactly I am going to expect of you - what you have to do in this course - I am busy typing up a nice regular word document, which I shall send through to you via ms Williams before the end of the day (which is Wednesday 29th July!).
That will give you more than just the "one step at a time" that the blog does - I realise a nice course outline and overview will help a lot - so, its on its way!

In the mean time - keep blogging ... this one is learning by doing!

Good luck, and enjoy!

Critical Media Studies - 2009

Readings and Assignment - WEEK 1

1. In follow-up to the first lecture we had in June, you need to make sure you have a clear understanidng of

Definitions of the media, and of news
Various modes of news production and representation

Media: various instruments used in circulating news, information ... also entertainment
News: recent events that meet a set of 'selection criteria' - already discussed
(see Fowler 1991)

Modes of news production and representation: audio (radio), visual (print, i.e.
newspapers and magazines), multimedia (sound and text and visuals,
i.e. TV and i-net)

2. Also in follow-up to the first lecture, you are to register as followers of this blog, so that I can receive a weekly report from you ON THIS BLOG.

3. And finally, you are to follow the link provided on this site to create your own blog.
Thus you will be working directly on my blogsite, AND you will be writing your own blog.


4. There are readings available with Mrs Williams, from
Coetzee, J.M. 1996. Giving Offense – essays on censorship. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

These readings are an introduction to the TOPIC

Freedom of Speech : Freedom of the Press

This is the topic for week 2 - so you need to prepare the reading in order to make good sense of the work that will be introduced next week.

I'll be checking my site as from Thursday 23 July when I expect to see all class members registered as followers on my blogsite.

Enjoy the adventure of using New Technology!