Harvey Weinstein journalist on Channel 4 (9)

US journalist behind Harvey Weinstein story to get a show on Channel 4


The US journalist who revealed that Harvey Weinstein faced allegations of sexual abuse stretching over decades is to present a new late-night show on Channel 4. Ronan Farrow published an 8,000-word article in the New Yorker earlier this week in which 13 women made detailed allegations against the film executive. Farrow is the son of the actor Mia Farrow and the film director Woody Allen, and used to work in the Obama administration. Channel 4 said the programme intended to offer a “satirical take on the UK as seen through the eyes of America”

• “This is part of our wider strategy of identifying new and emerging talent – on and off screen – who we can build satirical and topical formats around.”
• Ed Havard, the head of entertainment at Channel 4, said the combination of Soshefeigh, Farrow and Smithberg “taps into some of the strongest satirical and journalistic pedigree in the US, and we’re excited about the possibility of bringing that perspective to a UK audience.

I think this is a great idea as good quality journalism will be available through a moving media text. 

How has social media saved socialism (8)

How was social media saved socialism?

Forget the idea that Twitter and Facebook are bad for democracy. Bubbles can be beneficial, and help emerging movements unite against the elites. Socialism is stubborn. After decades of dormancy verging on death, it is rising again in the west. This article looks at how socialism is gaining popularity again and exactly why that is. It explains how social media has acted as a powerful weapon for Jeremy Corbyn. 

• Jeremy Corbyn just led the Labour party to its largest increase in vote share since 1945 in the UK
• the British election saw the highest turnout in the last 25 years
• it’s one of the most crucial and least understood catalysts of contemporary socialism

I feel that notion of digital platforms, like social media, have become increasingly more important in creating a politician's image whether that be positive or negative. I find it ridiculous that some politicians try and disregard it rather than use it to their advantage. Politicians like Jeremy Corbyn demonstrate just how powerful it is.

The White Privilege of the “Lone Wolf” Shooter (7)

The White Privilege of the “Lone Wolf” Shooter

The article looks at the mass shooting in modern American history. As tens of thousands enjoyed a music festival on the streets of Las Vegas, 64-year-old Stephen Paddock of Mesquite, Nevada, was perched 32 floors above them in his Mandalay Bay hotel room. Paddock had 19 rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammo A few minutes after 10 p.m., Paddock opened fire on the unsuspecting crowd. The article explores the way the shooter was investigated once it was realised he was white.  He was declared a “lone wolf” before analysts even started their day, not because an exhaustive investigation produced such a conclusion, but because it is the only available conclusion for a white man in America who commits a mass shooting."Something is deeply wrong when people feel a sense of relief that the shooter is white because they know that means they won’t suffer as a result." For people of color, and especially for Muslims, the treatment is often different. Muslims often get labeled as “terrorists” before all the facts have come out.

• At least 58 people are dead and over 500 more wounded

My opinion on this is similar to the stance the writer of this article also has. I feel that the media reacts entirely different to this kind of news as soon as they find out the perpetrator is not Muslim. This is behaviour is not justifiable, terrorism should not be reversed to a certain group of people because of their religious beliefs.

Build The Wall

The article, Build The Wall, is available here on the Columbia Journalism Review website.

1) Summarise each section in one sentence:

• Section 1 (To all of the bystanders reading this…)

Discusses how content needs to be payed for.

• Section 2 (Truth is, a halting movement toward...)

Looks at how we need a paywall.

• Section 3 (Beyond Mr. Sulzberger and Ms. Weymouth…)

Debates the positives and negatives of having a paywall. The positives outweigh the negatives.

• Section 4 (For the industry, it is later than it should be…)

Looks at the possible scenarios in which journalism may change with the digital revolution.

2) Summarise David Simon’s overall argument in 250 words.

David Simon suggests that content needs to be paid for; paywalls are necessary for online publications. For there to continue to be free, high-quality journalism, it cannot go unpaid for. If we fail to realise this, this free information's reliability and quality will significantly drop. This is why we need to fund this kind of data through some kind of subscription system. Again, if not, the concept of news and its value will decrease. People won’t value it as much. However, if it is paid for, people will feel that they are getting their money’s worth for high-quality journalism. Gradually, this means there will be a profit seeing as the demand for the news will always be relevant. If all news becomes something that needs to be paid for, it will become more valuable in society. 

3) The New York Times added a paywall in 2011 - two years after David Simon's essay. Read this summary of the New York Times's paywall - why does the writer suggest the NYT's paywall was successful?
The NYT was so successful, accord to David Simon, because of their high quality, in-depth journalism. Their paywall involved a subscription model which allowed users to view 10 free articles a month, however, once this limit was reached, they would have to pay for the content. 

4) The Washington Post followed with its own paywall in 2013. Read this article about the launch of the Post's paywall. List one strength and one weaknesses of newspaper paywalls that the article discusses.  

One strength of the paywall is that the content paid for will be more valued. One weakness is that they will lose a lot of readers.

5) Read this Guardian comment by AC Grayling piece on the state of journalism that was published the year before David Simon's essay. What references to new and digital media can you find in AC Grayling's argument? Overall, do you feel the comment piece is positive or negative about the influence of new/digital media on the newspaper industry?
Even though the article does make mention of the more negative aspects of the influence of new and digital media on the internet, it's shown that the positives are still valued more than them. In essence, we 'just have to put up with this.'

6) Finally, what is your own opinion? Do you agree that newspapers need to put online content behind a paywall in order for the journalism industry to survive? Would you be willing to pay for news online? Critical autonomy is the key skill in A2 Media - you need to be able form opinions on these issues.
Personally, I feel that the idea of a paywall is a damaging feature to add to reading the news. It will damage the industry as people use the news online because of it's cheap, quick accessibility.

NDM: The decline of the newspaper industry

The future of newspapers

Read this article from the Economist on the future of newspapers.

1) Do you agree with its view that it is ‘a cause for concern, but not for panic’?
I do agree with the idea of it being  ‘a cause for concern, but not for panic’. This is because although the newspaper industry is dying, its main service (news) is still widely popular. The way in which we access the news has just changed. The concern is still here, however. This is not only because an entire industry is fading away but also a specific way of reporting is also leaving us. There is a decline in how reliable the sources of news we access are, this leaves audiences vulnerable to fake news. 

2) The article is 10 years old - an eternity in digital media terms. Have the writer's predictions come to pass? Use statistics from your Ofcom research to support or challenge the writer's argument.
The writer's predictions have become a reality. People are buying less newspapers now than ever before. This is supported by the fact that most newspapers bought are actually freesheets. The only way the newspaper industry is alive is through using digital forms of newspaper and through selling free newspapers, depending on adverts to keep them running.

• 94% of users use social media to keep track of the news

3)The Economist suggests that high-quality journalism in the future will be backed by non-profit organisations rather than profit-seeking media corporations. Is there any evidence for this?

4) How is the Guardian funded? 
News organisations around the world can no longer rely solely on advertising and sales revenues. The Guardian Media Group looks beyond traditional sources of funding, the backing of third parties who are willing to support the Guardian’s journalism while respecting its editorial independence and freedom enable the coverage of important subjects that may too easily be neglected elsewhere. The Guardian works with a number of private foundations around the world who support specific projects

What do major stories from the last year such as the Panama Papers suggest about how investigative journalism is conducted in the digital age?
history's biggest data leak - Panama papers

Twitter's new addition (6)

Brevity is the soul of Twitter. We don't need 280 characters to say that

Twitter has announced a major change. The social media platform decided to bring a new addition to twitter - it's increased character limit on tweets. From 140 characters, it has been increased to 280 characters. The article bears a negative stance towards this new feature. It explains how brevity of Twitter will be ruined as people herd to Twitter when breaking news hits because of how quick it is to understand what is happening. If this feature is taken away, Twitter's best  

• If Twitter let's things like this happen, before we know it, the company will double the limit again to 560
• The brevity of twitter will be ruined

Personally, I don't like this extended tweet length idea. I completely agree with the writer's outlook. Although it allows users to be more expressive and say more - sometimes less is more. In other words, part of twitter is users trying to condense their tweets and say what they're saying in the most simplistic way. If this feature is taken away, the thing that makes Twitter so unique is taken away.

Glamour Magazine's Business Model changes (5)

Glamour magazine goes digital-first and cuts back print editions

The British edition of the fashion title Glamour is to implement a digital-first strategy under which it will print a magazine twice a year and merge its editorial and commercial operations. The changes will affect only the UK product – one of 17 produced under the Glamour brand. Jobs losses are expected as a result of the change to a “mobile-first, social-first” format, though the publisher declined to say how many. Glamour consumer moves to a different rhythm than the one who bought the magazine when it launched in 2001. It is a faster, more focused, multi-platform relationship.

The business model change demonstrates a change in society. It shows how we have moved on from print to digital forms of media. I think this is an extremely intelligent move as the 2 year publication of the magazine means the publications will hold a larger brand value - their products are seen as more of a luxury.