.: Reflection :.

First of all, I would like to thank Miss Jenny for teaching me the subject of Issues in Publication and Design. To be honest, this is my very first experience to own a blog. The features such as tools and other graphical user interface are user-friendly than i thought. After attending IPD class onwards, it has totally changed the way how I read on an articles and its content in a journal or any information's.

Throughout this semester, I have learnt a lot on the rules and regulations when it comes to how to publish a documents using a proper texts and pictures to deliver the message out to the audiences, (Schriver, 1997). Document design by (Walsh, 2006), select a suitable audiences or readers by (Putnis and Petelin, 1996).

Besides that, the content in the blog stands an important role to deliver the message out to the audience. Due to the issue of publication in Malaysia is limited, bloggers in Malaysia have limited freedom to voice out their thoughts and they will need to think twice before putting words or pictures in their blog.

In all, Issues in Publication and Design (IPD) is a beneficial subjects to learn. For those people who are interested in blogging, webpage design, and even for people who wants to start up their online business, I strongly suggest you to learn Issues in Publication and Design and Good Luck !

References:

1. Putnis, P & Petelin, R 1996, Professional communication: principles and applications, Prentice Hall, Sydney.
2. Schriver, KA 1997, ‘The interplay of words and pictures’, Dynamics in document design: creating texts for readers, Wiley Computer Pub, New York, pp. 361-441. 
3. Walsh, M 2006, “The textual shift: examining the reading process with print, visual, and multimodal texts”, Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, vol. 29. no. 1, pp. 24-37.

.: Media Trend :.

On 2 February 2011, Rupert Murdoch has launch a new iPad-only newspaper named The Daily as a new media. 'Information relay on an interactive medium', (Chun and Keenan, 2006) which can be replace with the traditional newspaper nowadays. 

According to Murdoch, the owner of an iPad can buy the apps thru the iPad features and select a story and off to read where it is just exactly like a newspaper. New York Times or The Washington Post newspaper normally cost $2 per edition . Nevertheless, for a subscriber to The Daily they just need to pay $1 per week or $40 per year to access to The Daily to read news. Reading news on electronic gadget is much cheaper compare to a newspaper.

With the advance technology, many people are shifting to electronic devices such as iPad, iPhone, Blackberry, notebook and extra to read news. According to (Kress and Van Leeuven, 2006), all these electronic devices contain text, sounds, graphic and even text to deliver the message to the readers or audiences (Walsh, 2006). To some people, electronic gadget is very convenience for them. But, to some people it may not be the case for others. Why? It is because some reader prefers to read the news on electronic gadget while some reader prefers to read the news from the newspaper just like old times.

Source: Youtube (Introducing The Daily-iPad)

Reference : 

1. Chun, WHK and Keenan, T 2006, New Media Old Media: A History and Theory Reader, Routledge, London.
2. Kress, G and van Leeuwen, T 2006, ‘The semiotic landscape: language and visual communication’, Reading Images,pg.16-44.
3. Trotter, Chris. 2011. The Cento. Ipad-only newspaper furthers media trend [online]. [Accessed 15 November 2011]. Available from: http://www.thecento.com/news/2011/feb/17/ipad-only-newspaper-furthers-media-trend/
4. Walsh, M 2006, ‘The ‘textual shift’: Examining the reading process with print, visual and multimodal texts’, Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, vol.29, no.1, pg.24-37.
5. Watchthedaily. 2011. Youtube. Introducing The Daily [online]. [Accessed 16 November 2011]. Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHILJBw-104

.: Advertising Ethics :.

On 2 August 2011, Media Prima Bhd has received massive criticism from the community saying it is a racist and worst advertisement that they have seen due to the series for the Ramandan commercials on the channel 8TV in Malaysia. After that, the Chief Operating Officer Ahmad Izham Omar announced the apology on a blogging site which is Twitter 'I apologise to everyone offended by the 8TV ads. They were not meant to offend any one in any way. We're sorry for the misinterpretation', (Ahmad Izham Omar, 2011).

Besides that, Ahmad Izham Omar which is the former 8TV chief executive try to comfort the audience or community to 'cool down' and not to 'examine critically' on the commercial which showing how should a Non-Muslims behave during Ramadan bazaar. He select a Chinese girl to become the main actor in that three commercials which includes eating in the public, the tone of voice is loud that attract other people attentions and the way she dress is revealing. 

The Ramadan commercials which is also represent the Hari Raya advertisement for 2011 have been stopped being aired on channel 8TV after the massive criticism or disapproval from the community of Non-Muslims. 

Looking at the pictures in realms of realizations of ideology position, (Kress and Leeuwen, 2006). The sign or visual are usually based on culture. Producer need to double check and look in on every aspect to confirm the message is not offensive and on the right track before deliver out the message to the audiences.

 Source: Youtube (News: Malaysia TV station Ramadan Ads sparks debate - 3 August 2011)

Reference : 

1. Ahmad Izham Omar. 2011. Favstar.Fm. The Best Twitter [online]. [Accessed 16 November 2011]. Available from: http://favstar.fm/users/AhmadIzhamOmar 
2. Kress, G and van Leeuwen, T 2006, ‘The semiotic landscape: language and visual communication’, Reading Images, pg.16-44.
3. Themalaysianinsider. 2011. Media Prima pulls out 'racist' Ramadan ads [online]. [Accessed 16 November 2011]. Available from: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/print/malaysia/media-prima-pulls-out-racist-ramadan-ads/
4. Youtube. 2011. News: Malaysia TV station Ramadan Ads sparks debate [online]. [Accessed 16 November 2011]. Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke7p5rp-nbI

.: The Power Of Online Video :.

With the advance technology nowadays, due to convenience, most of the readers or consumer using their electronic gadget to view the news thru online video as part of their daily life. 'Research shows that online media has clearly become a video programming network', (Simon, 2011) which also include Television, Magazines, Newspaper, Radio, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.

As the years goes, the statistic for online video has increase rapidly to 33 percent. Due to the hectic life, consumers nowadays prefer to watch news over the electronic gadget compare watching a long article in magazine or newspapers. They also can just easily access or jump to other news just by one click away, it is so much convenience and save time. According to Kress and Leeuwen (2006), visual literacy can transform from the old style to a new style.

Besides that, the CEO of D S Simon also says that, 'Most of the media has converted into online video due to following the media trend nowadays', (Simon, 2011). Hence, the statistic for television stations is much lower due to they have their own broadcast online. Nevertheless, for those who are doing in advertisement or wants to advertise the product thru online video. This is a great opportunity to do so.

                       Source: Youtube (Paralympic park to showcase their glory)

                Source: Youtube (D S Simon Releases 2011 Web Influencers Survey)

Reference : 

1. Kress, G and van Leeuwen, T 2006, 'The semiotic landscape: language and visual communication', Reading Images, pg. 16-44.
2. Simon,Douglas. 2011. WebMediaBrands Inc. 85% Of Media Websites Now Use Online Video To Cover News [online]. [Accessed 16 November 2011]. Available from: http://socialtimes.com/85-of-media-websites-now-use-online-video-to-cover-news_b60505
3. Youtube. 2011. Paralympic park to showcase their glory [online]. [Accessed 17 November 2011]. Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPG_S-9WZgc&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLEE438AEF5F1AA148

.: Photojournalism Ethics :.

On 10 May 2011, an Orthodox Jewish newspaper apologised to Hillary Clinton (US secretary of state) and Audrey Tomason ( Counterterrorism Director) for remove them from a picture digitally where Barack Obama and his employees gathered together in a round table observe the raid that has killed Osama bin Laden by navy Seals.

The newspaper named Di Tzeitung by Brookyln state that the picture does not release illustration of women. Besides that, they also said that the photo editor did not read the 'fine print' picture that comes from the White House and strongly restrict to make any changes on the picture, (Bauder, 2009). According to (Patterson and Wilkins, 2008), photojournalism can also consider as visual coverage. Nevertheless, the newspaper Di Tzeitung already sends their apology and regrets to the White House and the US department state.

Therefore, in Manhattan there is one editor who discover why Brooklyn newspaper has modify or make a changes on the picture is due to the belief of Orthodox Jews that it is shameless to show a picture of a women. They also demand that women should appreciate for what they are on the Jewish laws.

In all, White House has no comment on the removal of the women which release the picture.

   Source: Di Tzeitung Jewish Newspaper was digitally remove Hillary Clinton and Audrey Tomason

                  Source: Guardian News and Media Limited (The Original Picture)

     

Reference : 

1. Bauder, J 2009, Media Ethics, Greenhaven Press, Michigan.
2. Guardian News and Media Limited. 2011. Orthodox Jewish paper apologises for Hillary Clinton deletion [online]. [Accessed 17 November 2011]. Available from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/10/jewish-paper-apologises-hillary-clinton
3. Patterson, P and Wilkins, L 2008, Media Ethics: Issues and Cases, 6th edition, McGraw-Hill, New York.

.: Screen Vs. Print Document Design :.

According to (Walsh 2006), a word that forms into a sentence is called print-based text. Images which appear on electronic devices that come with words are usually called multimodal text.

What is print-based text? Books, newspaper, magazine normally appear in traditional print-based text. Nevertheless, multimodal text are images combines with texts, hyperlinks, videos, logos, menu bars and etc which allows readers to read through Internet sites. 

Designing a page for print document and screen, it is very important on how you select a suitable font. According to (Rob 2008), it is a great thing to establish a brand and look which is recognizable to your customer using a simple font. Example: Arial and Times New Roman can be easily readable on the hard copy.

Through the screen, web fonts are easily understandable and yet easy to read.

Verdana or Georgia fonts normally chosen by the web designer to design the web cause of it smoothness appear in pixels and readable compare to others.

 

Print Document Fonts: Times New Roman

 

Screen Document Fonts: Verdana

According to (Hilligoss 2002), the layout of print document has three alignments. Left alignment represent the standard for the body text in document which appears to be objective. Right alignments normally are use for some expressive documents. Centre forms will forms a formal and conservative tone like event invitation.  

Balance : Symmetry

Weblog with Balance : Symmetry format

According to (Farkas, 2005), Print document is a form of hierarchical. From a wide topic shape into more detailed information. Links stands an important role for navigation in the screen document with sentences of words.

 

Screen document with Hyperlink

References: 

1. Farkas. 2005. Explicit Structure in Print and On-Screen Documents [online]. [Accessed 29 August 2011]. Available from: http://www.ablongman.com/mycomplab_content/pdf/long_hilligoss.pdf
2. Hilligoss, Susan. Howard, Tharon. 2002 . Visual Communication A writer's guide. Second Edition [online]. [Accessed 29 August 2011]. Available from: http://www.ablongman.com/mycomplab_content/pdf/long_hilligoss.pdf
3. Rob. 2008. Web vs Print : Fonts [online]. [Accessed 29 August 2011]. Available from: http://arrowquick.com/blog/2008/03/02/web-vs-print-fonts/
4. Walsh, M 2006, ‘The ‘textual shift’: Examining the reading process with print, visual and multimodal texts’, Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, vol.29, no.1, pg.24-37.

.: New Forms Of Media Publishing :.

Today, we can easily get the latest news through new media (The Web) in just one click. The web is a place where new forms of media are being published. Example: blogs, social networks like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, online newspaper and etc ... The community or readers can just easily get information in a blink of an eye. According to (Naughton 2006), Internet and software tools are the latest combination of media nowadays.

Multimodal text has gained more readers attention compare to traditional print-based texts. Hence, it also entertains the readers with sound and animation (Walsh 2006). Besides, readers also can view documentary, video of interviews, entertainment, news in written text nowadays which makes their reading more interactive and interesting.

                            

"Follow Me (Twitter)"

In this century, twitterjournalism.com has opened a new form of media publishing where Twitter has definitely challenged the traditional journalism. Breaking news, interviews and assurance has been used in ReadWriteWeb. Besides, traditional journalism has also included Twitter in the discovery (Kirkpatrick 2008).

Reference :

1. Kirkpatrick. M 2008. How we use Twitter for journalism. ReadWriteWeb [online]. [Accessed 29 August 2011]. Available from: http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/twitter_for_journalists.php
2. Naughton. J 2006. Blogging and the emerging media ecosystem [online]. [Accessed 29 August 2011]. Available from: http://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/fileadmin/documents/discussion/blogging.pdf
3. Walsh, M 2006, “ The ‘textual shift’: Examining the reading process with print, visual and multimodal texts,” Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 24-37. 

.: Blogging Community :.

First of all, what is blogging community? Blogging community is a group of people who have the same interest which allows them to interact or share information with each other on the latest blog post.

To have an active blog, one blogger needs to have a blogging society so that it can gain wider coverage and gain more readers to read in one’s blog (Improbulus, 2005).

Besides, installing RSS (Really Simple Syndication) into your computer or sign-up for web-based services can take you to different websites which you are interest in. Hence, join other established blogging community and be active by commenting on their discussion. (Denise 2009).

Blogging society listed in three types as below (White.N 2006):

• ·                     The Single Blog / Blogger Centric Community - Blog which might have multiple creators or is owned by one person.

•   Topic Centric Community – Same interests drive the blogs and connect together within the society and create membership.

 

• ·                     Boundaried Community- A person can modify or compile their blog on their platform.

According to White’s (2006), Community and blogs is a foundation to blogger centric community and single blog. For Example: kennysia.com. He is the creator for the community and the blog. If the creator decides to shut down the blog, the community will be dissolve due to the social group has restricted source.

Reference :

1. Denise. 2009. How do you build community? [online]. [Accessed on 28 August 2011]. Available from: http://www.blogher.com/how-do-you-build-community 
2. Improbulus. 2005. ‘Technorati tags: an introduction,’ A Consuming Experience, 21 February [online]. [Accessed 28 August 2011]. Available from:http://www.consumingexperience.com/2005/02/technorati-tags-introduction.html
3. White. N 2006. Blogs and community-launching a new paradigm for online community, going communal, edition 11 [online]. [Accessed on 28 August 2011]. Available from:http://kt.flexiblelearning.net.au/tkt2006/edition-11-editorial/blogs-and-community-%E2%80%93-launching-a-new-paradigm-for-online-community

.: Classification Of Blogs & Opinion About The Most Appropriate Classification Approach :.

In general, there are many varieties of blogs on the World Wide Web nowadays. All these blogs are being classifies to be put in their own group depending on the topic is being discussed. Roger von Oech from creative think, there are four types of blogs categorized as below:

1.              Distraction blogs - a shared on-line journal where people can post diary entries about their personal experiences and hobbies. Example : (Jack and Mandy blog jackandmandy.blogspot.com )

2.            Archive blogs - motivate by other’s people passion to pursue or achieve target together. People share same interest or benefits together. Example : (blog.archive.org/2011/05/12/physical-archive-launch)

3.            Conversation blogs - There are some question for readers or audiences to participate for people to comment and suggest their own ideas. Example : (www.ragan.com/SocialMedia/Article/10_easy_ways_to_kill_your_blog__43466.aspx)

4.            Democratic blog - Motivated by them in the social dynamics and their imagination future. Example: (http://chedet.co.cc/chedetblog/ )

According to Margeret Simmons who is a freelance journalist and an author, blogs are classified into nine different types of blogs in the following:

1.            Pamphleteering blog - group of individual or an individual put out a brief political issue or social movement discussing at their own point and then compare their point of view to create different type of readings.

2.            Digest blog- Usually from other blogs but sometime in mainstream media, tend to summarise, point or to collect material from a place just beneficial for readers in "finding things".

3.            Advocacy Blog - motivate a specific point of view on a particular case to others point of views.

4.            Popular Mechanics blog- source on how things work on stuff with mechanics.

5.            Exhibition blog- blog post from craftspeople, artists, writers, which bring their work to wider connections.

6.            Gatewatcher Blog – watch closely on the media. Media are the gatekeepers because they decide what story to be published.

7.             Diary blog – personal lives of people publish in blogs. This is done on the computer nowadays, it just like writing a "book" of diary.

8.             Advertisement blog - Commercial companies use blogs to promote the product to the public.

9.              News blog- breaking news usually maintained by bloggers who attend media conferences .They blog about the issues and provide a bit of their opinion without being obvious.

In my opinion, I think that Margaret Simmons classification is more complete and much easier to categorize in the classifications of blogs. These are the main blog contents most people write about and bring people together due to their interest group and to expand their social network.

Reference :

1. Oech. R.V 2007. A taxonomy of blogs [online]. [Accessed on 28 August 2011]. Available from: blog.creativethink.com/2007/03/a_taxonomy_of_b.html
2.  Simons. M 2008. Towards a taxonomy of blogs [online]. [Accessed on 28 August 2011]. Available from: www.apo.org.au/commentary/towards-taxonomy-blogs-0

.: Blogs As Current Phenomenon & Benefits To The Community :.

A blog is an online journal for a person to share or express their personal feelings, opinions, interests, moments and some uses blogs as a tool to earn a side income to promote their own businesses and etc... Nowadays, almost everyone life have a blog. It’s either one is a blogger or one refers to blogs. This has become a current phenomenon. Hence, technorati is known as a platform for its state of blogosphere reports, analysing the trends of blogs since year 2004.

In the picture below show the number of bloggers worldwide:

According to Technorati.com :

"The growth for mobile blogging has tremendously increased as a trend nowadays. Almost 25% of the blogger use mobile blogging with smart phone and most of the table count on to hit on a wider coverage. 40% of the report showed that blogger has adapted to a new type of blogging which is much abbreviate and more casual.”

Trends In Malaysia

The blogging trends in our country, Asia (Malaysia) tend to blog about food, politics, entertainment, technology and even personal blog. Malaysia is a country which is strictly controlled by government and information are bounded by rules. Nowadays, reader tend to turn on to blogs to look for information instead of just believe and observed everything in media reports.

For example, in Malaysia. Our most popular or influential bloggers is Kenny Sia. He blogs with passion and always fills up interesting pictures about his travels and his everyday life. Some people even pay him money to travel and blog about some specific places.

Another example of Malaysia famous political blogger named Jeff Ooi, which provides readers with information that media might has "Overlooked". Nevertheless, there are plenty of online food blogs and boutique blogs which are for business purposes use.

The Benefits

Nowadays, political blogs are very common and widespread in US and Iran meanwhile business blogs can be seen growing in Malaysia. In Iran, blogosphere provide reliable news source for them to protest for their own rights.

 In US, blog can be associate with online forum due to they shift into democratic society (Hughes. D 2009).In our county Malaysia, the rate of online shopping increase actively due to citizens goes to shopping just to pastime (Rajkumar.B 2010). To conclude, every blog has its benefits to the community. For example: Fifty most influential blogs in Malaysia, (Gaman, 2007).

Reference : 

1. Hughes, Dave. 2009. Blogging's global impact and the future of Blogging [online]. [Accessed on 28 August 2011]. Available from: http://technorati.com/blogging/article/day-5-twitter-global-impact-and/page-2/
2. Best blog asia. 2011. Most Influential Bloggers in Malaysia [online]. [Accessed on 28 August 2011]. Available from: http://www.bestblogs.asia/influential-bloggers-malaysia.php
3.  Rajkumar TR, Bharath. 2010. State of online shopping in Malaysia and Singapore [online]. [Accessed on 28 August 2011]. Available from: http://www.articlesbase.com/ecommerce-articles/state-of-online-shopping-in-malaysia-and-singapore-1857921.html
4. Sobel, John. 2010. Technorati Media. State of Blogosphere 2010 Intruduction [online].[Accessed 28 August 2011]. Available from: http://technorati.com/blogging/article/state-of-the-blogosphere-2010-introduction)
5. Gaman. 2007. 50 Most Influential Blogs in Malaysia [online]. [Accessed 15 November 2011]. Available from:http://www.sabahan.com/2007/02/06/50-most-influential-blogs-in-malaysia/

.: Purpose Of My Blog :.

The purpose of developing this blog is for me to discuss issues related to publication and design nowadays.

This blog can help to improve and communicate with other people who have interest about the current media publishing and design issues by applying relevant theories in it. My target audience are my fellow classmates as well as my IPD course lecturer to asses and comment on my discussion.