PSN Now Has 70M Monthly Active Users; PS Plus Hits 26.4M Members #75

PSN Now Has 70M Monthly Active Users; PS Plus Hits 26.4M Members

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/psn-now-has-70m-monthly-active-users-ps-plus-hits-/1100-6450250/

This article talks about The PlayStation Network now has 70 million monthly "active" users, Sony has disclosed. Sony revealed the new figure as part of its latest Corporate Strategy Meeting for FY2017, which was released today [PDF]. A slide (below) shows the 70 million number but does not mention how Sony defines what it means to be "active" or when the number was reached. It likely covers at leastPlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita.

I believe that as a result of new and digital media the gaming industry has thrived with sony taking advantage of these technological advances. Paid subscriptions ensure that sony profit from people being able to connect online despite previously being free. This could potentially be to compete with the cheaper computer gaming services and other gaming insitutions.

Up to 70 News Corp Australia photographers made redundant #74

Up to 70 News Corp Australia photographers made redundant

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/may/15/up-to-70-news-corp-australia-photographers-made-redundant

This article talks about how up to 70 staff Up to 70 (staff) photographers from News Corp Australia titles have been informed that their positions have been made redundant. This comes as Rupert Murdoch's Australian papers have embraced an outsourcing model. This new one involves to a greater degree a 'cross breed display, comprising of a centre group of photographic pros, supplemented by independent and organisation ability.' Fairfax Media, another Australian media organisation, has additionally stepped up with regards to cut expenses by cutting 125 columnists on both the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age daily papers. News Corp's endeavours to cut expenses are connected all the more so with its printed daily papers, which purportedly draw in only a small amount of the publicising income that they once did.

I believe that Redundancies in customary media associations are only a reality of what's a dying medium today. Individuals prepared in ranges like photography and only news-casting when all is said in done are presently ending up to be put out of their occupations for the basic reality that e-media has assumed control. It'll be intriguing to see regardless of whether this prompts a decrease in the nature of news stories throughout the following couple of years.

Regulation of election campaigning via social media can be improved #73

Regulation of election campaigning via social media can be improved

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/may/16/regulation-of-election-campaigning-via-social-media-can-be-improved

This article talks about 'Genius' Europe campaigner Gina Miller is actualizing Facebook's publicizing in focusing on voters in both Labor and Conservative seats. Her battle gathering, Best for Britain, is doing this through conveying diverse messages to various voters in various seats. This is a piece of what is thought to be a 'computerized ground war' that is being battled by both of the principle parties via web-based networking media. Data chief, Elizabeth Denham, on Wednesday seventeenth propelled an investigation into the work on notice imagine a scenario where parties sent politically-charged data to individuals in light of their individual information it could be illegal. This isn't really in recommendation that Miller's battle is doing this, however her crusade involves distinctive advertisements being sent to various gatherings.

I believe that Gina Miller's usage of new and digital media to target advertising is a foresight into what we're more likely than not going to be seeing in terms of political campaigning in the future. People/institutions will implement social media which acts as fundamentally more effective advertising in order to mobilise votes for things like elections and referendums.

STAFFORDSHIRE BECOMES FIRST UK UNIVERSITY TO OFFER A DEGREE IN ESPORTS #72

STAFFORDSHIRE BECOMES FIRST UK UNIVERSITY TO OFFER A DEGREE IN ESPORTS

http://www.esports-news.co.uk/2017/05/18/staffordshire-university-esports-degree/

This article talks about how Staffordshire University has presented the three-year course, which incorporates arranging your own business esports occasion, throwing, PR, advertising, finding out about the specialized/generation angles and making strategies for success for your own particular esports organization.  Understudies will likewise 'investigate the way of life of esports, its gathering of people, classifications and fanbase'.  To get on the course, understudies will require 112 UCAS focuses (BBC A-levels or a DMM BTEC).  The course guarantees to give members 'a chance to contend in occasions in the UK and abroad's and take one of six grant openings worth £2,000 to subsidize their vocation in esports.  Staffordshire University - which as of now offers amusements outline and improvement courses - says it will have an 'a devoted Esports Lab and Pro Gamer preparing office' with all the most recent industry standard programming and equipment.

I believe that this shows how new technology has forced older more traditional institutions to adapt to making peoples life choices more in-tune with what the world is like today. The growth of esports means prize pots for each event exceed millions of pounds and thousands of more people are becoming more involved so it's fair that a uni has adapted and made this a course. 

Fake news or not, the future belongs to Facebook #71

Fake news or not, the future belongs to Facebook

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/may/14/fake-news-or-not-future-belongs-to-facebook

This article talks about The coming of Trump, moreover, has turned fake news into a litany of media lousiness. Fakery can be an excuse for failure in defeat and a digital strategist’s inflated reason for success. Legislators looking for work hate finding an area of operation so big and – as the head of the Commons culture committee says – “totally unregulated”.

-Newspapers see Facebook and Google eating what’s left of their future as the digital giants devour 90% of advertising growth

I believe This article talks about what is a very fascinating perspective on what Facebook could resemble later on. With the circumstance that has tailed it in the previous couple of months, in regards to things like fake news and furthermore the "eating up" of promotion income, the expectation advanced for the eventual fate of Facebook is not unfeasible by any methods. The absence of a worldwide agreement for instance is an expansion of what we see now as far as how the deception is managed.

Liveblog: Bungie's 'Destiny 2' Grand Gameplay Reveal Event #70

Liveblog: Bungie's 'Destiny 2' Grand Gameplay Reveal Event

https://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2017/05/18/liveblog-bungies-destiny-2-grand-gameplay-reveal-event/#313d2a8e4f3f

This article talks about how hundreds have flocked to LA for Bungie’s Destiny 2 gameplay premiere, and I expect at least a few hundred thousand to be watching online when the stream begins at 10 AM PT with a pre-show kicking off an hour before that.

I believe that this event is pioneering as it was live streamed on the IGN youtube channel for hundreds of thousands to watch online as well as a live studio audience. This gives audiences direct information on the game wherever they are in the world, the stream was also uploaded as a video by various game news channels like DATTO. Direct options for audiences to give feedback and talk of a future beta. Fans at the event also got to play the game early- selected parts and record the gameplay for others to see.

Facebook Live: Zuckerberg adds 3,000 moderators in wake of murders #69

Facebook Live: Zuckerberg adds 3,000 moderators in wake of murders

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/may/03/facebook-live-zuckerberg-adds-3000-moderators-murders

This article talks about Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, has a promise to accumulate 3,000 extra substance commentators and furthermore put resources into apparatuses to help expel content conflicting with group models all the more quickly for the informal organization. This comes after the gushing of shootings, assaults, murders and attacks that have gone ahead on the system in the course of the most recent few months, with these live communicates as yet being perceptible to clients in the wake of being spilled. This can happen in light of the fact that what's really depended on to examine substance is the 1.86 billion clients and a group of individuals at Facebook which survey revealed posts, retroactively expelling bringing them down from the site. So with this, on top of the 4,500 profound group that is now there, Zuckerberg means to include 3,000 throughout the following year 'to audit the a huge number of reports we get each week, and enhance the procedure for doing it rapidly.

I believe It creates the impression that later on, Facebook will see itself be a recipient of a significant powerful heap of feedback whether it's from the general population or even governments. To begin with it was restriction, then it was fake news and now it's the speed at which they expel shocking substance. While Zuckerberg has made the promise of acquainting another 3,000 substance commentators with the system, he'll presumably need to complete this rapidly as the substance simply doesn't appear to quit coming in.

Does your case study suggest that new and digital media has had a positive impact by offering audiences a more diverse range of values and ideologies? (48)

Does your case study suggest that new and digital media has had a positive impact by offering audiences a more diverse range of values and ideologies? (48)

Developments in new and digital media (NDM) in the 21st century has lead to NDM having both positive and negative impacts on offering audiences a diverse range of values and ideologies. The surge in user generated content (UGC) in recent years could be argues as both a positive and negative impact of NDM. Moreover, social media amongst other platforms undoubtedly offer audiences a wide range of value and ideologies but the extent to which they have a positive or negative impact will be discussed throughout the essay.

Firstly, some would argue that UGC does have a positive impact as a result of NDM. For example, the Arab spring protests which began in 2011 were heavily documented via social media, facebook in particular. It wasn't news teams reporting on it first but rather ordinary citizens who posted updates to facebook and organised protests on facebook as it was an essential tool to gather momentum.

 Furthermore, blogs which attract 18 million people per day are something that a pluralist would argue strengthen the range of values and ideologies. This concept of citizen journalism and allowing people to voice their own opinions. Social media like facebook and twitter make this possible as well as blogger and thousands of other sites. However, citizen journalism can also be just as easily fabricated and is easily shared via social media. For example, during the us election 20 fake news stories largely in favour of Trump were circulated on facebook over 30 million times, and this can be very damaging for democracy. Although, citizen journalism allowed for the prosecution of the police officers involved in the beating of Rodney king in 1994. Without the citizen filming this and reporting it the police officers would never have been tried.Moreover, as citizen journalism grows the amount of professional journalists decreases as pluralist would argue that this means more opinions are being shared but this is hurting professional journalism and possibly democracy as citizen journalists aren't being paid to tell the truth. None the less, the lack of gate keeping and regulators for citizen journalists can be quite damaging for democracy.

However, another Marxist view would suggest that audiences are not empowered with developments in new and digital media and are, according to the theorist Gramsci are dominated by one social class who maintain and enforce hegemonic control. Moreover, Debotton- another theorist would claim that ,’news outlets need their audiences to be frightened in order to get through to us’ this, along with Gramscis theory fully supports the Marxist argument as it is clear that in tabloid news and tv news bad news of pain and destruction is frequent and the balance between this and good news is heavily leaning towards the bad and one would get the feeling that this is what the media institutions want us to see and usually end up creating a moral panic. This would suggest that audiences are not empowered. Furthermore De Botton also said that we have ‘narrow minded news’ meaning the news is bias and as consumers we aren’t empowered to change it and are essentially spoonfed the information that the large media conglomerates want us to see for instance companies like Google and the mail online are earning 100’s of billions over the course of several years, and this supports the Marxist view and indicates that audiences aren’t empowered and also suggests NDM is having a negative impact on peoples beliefs and values.

Moreover, from another viewpoint, as far as News utilization the E-media stage has been a critical help in allowing to the greater part of the start up and 'bungalow Industries' who need to create news content and allow ordinary people to have a wider range of views and values. The web and all the more particularly online networking (Facebook, Instagram) can be depicted as the "Mechanical blooming of the way of life of flexibility, individual development and entrepreneurialism" (Castells, 1996) in light of the fact that for a crowd of people it not just gives them much more wellsprings of news to browse, which is supportive of pluralism as Pluralist's consider society to be comprising of contending gatherings and interests, none of them overwhelming constantly; however it likewise gives them a stage which is to a great extent out of state control so they can report and discuss news stories continuous. However this might be an issue in a few states where the Government in control has to a greater extent a Marxist view and confines access to perspectives which conflict with there possess philosophies, for instance Russia and China have now both gone into assentions about firmly extending there firewalls to limit and screen content over the Internet. This obviously is a Marxist view and unmistakably demonstrates the perspective of an industrialist society as being one of class control. Doing a reversal to take a gander at how groups of onlookers devour media, specifically; where they see there News on the Internet as taking a gander at the OFCOM report of national review insights it expressed that around 43% of individuals who utilize the Internet for their News utilize online networking destinations, for example, Facebook and Twitter. Facebook and Twitter are both locales which many set up news associations use to exhibit there news yet it is likewise a stage for subject columnists who compose what they see and this is the reason online networking has such high client activity since groups of onlookers can believe this and not acknowledge the standards of an overwhelming society which is the thing that they may get when taking after bigger news associations. Subsequently, another pluralist point of view paretos law can be disregarded with Negropontes theory,’ the monolithic empires of mass media are dissolving into an array of cottage industries’ this is suggesting that consumers now have a significant amount of sources to instead of using the select few chosen by their own government which unfortunately in countries like north korea is still the case.

UWL lecture notes

-7/7 bombings
Adam stacey phone recording underground

- Mobile witnessing-black lives matter
social media important role

-Paris attacks 2013             Terrorism-political agenda
                                              sometimes institutional racism over use of this word in the media


- Arab uprising 2011
     social media used as an organisation tool

- Gaddafi death
     documented over social media- where news first emerged

- Graphic content
     'dehumanising' to victims
      question authenticity

- Libya movement- day of rage Facebook page

-Newcastle chronicle (local newspaper)
    Seagull news story
      drop in quality of news as a result of NDM

- 80% of news circulation during time of EU referendum was pro-Brexit

-Facebook, 1 billion daily users
-Youtube, 1 billion daily users
-Twitter, 350 million users per day

-2015 year that people spent more time on the internet rather than watching tv

MEST3 PPE - Learner Response

MEST3 PPE - Learner Response

1) Type up your feedback in full (you do not need to write mark/grade if you do not wish to).

Total 65/80 A- Above target grade= credits x2

WWW: Excellent critical autonomy & clear, concise writing 

EBI: A bit more needed on the news case study in section B 

2) Did you succeed in meeting or exceeding your target grade for A2 Media? If not, how many additional marks do you need across Section A and Section B to achieve your target grade?

Grade boundaries for complete paper (out of 80): Exceeded target grade, can gain more marks in section A 

A* = 75; A = 65; B = 55; C = 45; D = 36; E = 25.

3) Read through the mark scheme. Pay particular attention to pages 6-8 that have suggested content for each of the questions in Section A. How many of these potential points did you make? Did you successfully answer the questions? The original question paper is here if that is helpful.

Q1: 

• Use of narrative voiceover

• Use of soundtrack to establish tone

• Use of self-contained narrative that resembles a Hollywood film

• Use of differing production values

• Use of direct address

• Use of hand-held camera to suggest immediacy

• Use of interviews involving residents in New Era estate

• Role of Russell Brand as celebrity figure

Q2:

• Development of coherent set of values and beliefs that can be seen in all products created by

individual institutions

• Use of language to establish authority

• High production values to establish tone, mood and atmosphere

• Repetition of values, meaning that dissenting voices don’t often get heard

• Limited opportunity for audiences to provide instant feedback

• Moderation of feedback by media producers

• Presentations of fact rather than opinion

Q3:

• Role of the media in our everyday lives

• Responsibilities of the media in catering to a wide variety of opinions

• Differences between public service broadcasters and privately owned media institutions

• Opportunities for audiences to express their own values and beliefs

• Changes in media technology / impact upon audiences and producers

• Role of audiences in providing feedback to media products

• Role of government in democratic societies

4) Which was your strongest question in Section A? Why did you do better in that particular question? Note the number of marks each question is worth.

Q1- 6/8

Q2- 8/12

Q3- 9/12 

I got more of the recommended points for Q3 which meant that was my strongest question in section A, although a variety of points were used throughout section A.

5) Which was your weakest question in Section A? Again, try and identify why this happened. Did you misinterpret the question? Did you run out of time? 

Q2 was my weakest question, i believe this was due to the lack of theory or ideologies in this question.

6) Now look at pages 11-12 of the mark scheme for Section B - New/Digital Media paying particular attention to the suggested essay content on page 12. How many of the broad areas suggested by AQA did you cover in your Section B essay? Did you successfully answer the question?

Q6:
• Historical role of media producers

• Recent developments in new and digital media

• Impact upon, and responses of, traditional media producers

• Changing demands of audiences

• Different situations in different mediums and on different platforms

7) Read the Examiner's Report in full. For each question your answered, would you classify your response as one of the stronger answers or one of the weaker answers the Chief Examiner discusses? Why? What could you do differently next time? Write a reflection for EACH question in the paper: Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q6 OR Q7.

Q1- I would say mine was one of the stronger answers as i included many media language techniques and stayed largely focused on the question. For next time i could have a more balanced argument over the two topics in the question

Q2- This was my weakest question and although i included points that had been suggested i also made the mistake of not including enough on other texts which is what i will do next time.

8) Choose your weakest question in Section A and re-write an answer in full based on the suggested content from the Examiner's Report. This answer needs to be comprehensive and meet the criteria for Level 4 of the mark scheme. This will be somewhere between 3-6 well-developed paragraphs (depending on the question/number of marks available).


Q2:
Media products encourage the audience to agree with views and values by using various techniques. For example, in media product 2 the two-step flow model is evident in that the Trews report are reporting on the issue of the new era housing estate of which various other newspapers have already commented on.  The trews report is an example of the two-step flow model as they inform audiences on issues already reported on but from a different perspective.

Furthermore, another way media products can get audiences to agree/engage with is via the concept of the hypodermic needle model. For example, in the past news outlets, especially print would have been the main source of news and mainly involves the views of opinion leaders- editors of the newspapers.  These are hegemenously printed on the front pages of which and people woild tend to believe and agree with this as it vaugley represented their own political opinion. The Marxsist perspective suggests audiences are passive but now-a-days print newspapers aren't considered the most dominant medium.

As a result the internet and social media have developed and created online echo-chambers, which can be seen to encourage audiences to agree with a certain set of values and beliefs. For example people on twitter follow people with the same or at least similar values or beliefs as them. For instanc, news institution on twitter would post different stories from a perspetive based on what side of the political spectrum they are on. And people genrally follow these and listen to them poltically.

Call of Duty WW2 revealed: COD 2017 World War 2 trailer, Zombies and Pre Order news #68

Call of Duty WW2 revealed: COD 2017 World War 2 trailer, Zombies and Pre Order news

http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/gaming/796669/Call-of-Duty-WW2-reveal-Start-time-COD-2017-live-stream-trailer-release-date-watch

This article talks about when Call of Duty WW2 will be released- on Friday, November 3, and will be launching on PS4, Xbox One and PC - no metion of a Nintendo Switch launch has been made. Call of Duty WW2 follows US 1st Infantry Division through the European theatre of the war, missions will include the D-Day invasion of Normandy, as well as the Battle of the Bulge. The article also mentions how the trailer and information has been revealed which was via a livestream on youtube, a place where much call of duty content ends up anyway so there was a pre-exsisiting platform for their audience to view it on.

The content revealed includes 

-Base Edition and Digital Base Edition

-Digital Deluxe Edition – Season Pass and more

-Pro Edition – Season Pass, collectible SteelbookTM and more

I believe that this was an interesting strategy to do- live-streaming the trailer as it has never been done, it was streamed on twitch via activisions account and the call of duty channel on youtube. Currently un-certain of offical viewing statistics but this will probably happen again for future call of duty reveals. Also, the live stream included several developers answering audience questions live and offering analysis on the trailer. 

Google and Facebook bring in one-fifth of global ad revenue

Google and Facebook bring in one-fifth of ad revenue 

This article talks about how Online advertising has overtaken television to become the world’s largest ad medium, according to data and analysis agency Zenith. Online advertising has overtaken television to become the world’s largest ad medium, according to data and analysis agency Zenith. Twitter is the fastest-growing media owner, increasing ad revenue by 734% between 2012 and 2016.

I believe that paretos law is clearly reinforced here with the minority of media producers controlling the majority of revenue (advertisement) which is unfair for other media companies struggling to survive online. This is also damaging to print media which is also struggling online as they are forced to go behind paywalls 

MEST3 Section A: revision task

MEST3 Section A: revision task

Task 1: List 10 stories/debates/examples that you could use for the Identities and the Media question. 

1- http://everydayfeminism.com/tag/fem101/

Everyday feminism programme

2- http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-inbetweeners/on-demand/44002-001
The Inbetweeners

Coming of age drama set in Crete – post school holiday

 Rites of passage Pluralistic representations – a range of diverse
representations

Challenging notions of collective identity

Cultural stereotyping and issues of marginalisation

 Social commentary on ‘fitting in’ in society

3- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1478964/
Attack the Block

MEDIATED REPRESENTATIONS THROUGH COMEDY (DILUTION) 

AUDIENCE IDENTIFICATION – URBAN SOUTH LONDON, PLUS COMING OF AGE THEMES 

NOTIONS OF THE TEENAGE STREET GANG DEFINES MEDIA AND COLLECTIVE IDENTIT Y – COMPARE WITH SHIFT Y, ILL MANORS,  KIDULTHOOD/ADULTHOOD

 BASEMENT JAXX SOUNDTRACK – AUDIENCE IDENTIFICATION 

WHO DO THE ALIENS REPRESENT?  YOUTH AS ANTI HEROES – HOODIES V ALIENS  

THEMES – RESPONSIBILIT Y, CONSEQUENCES, RESPECT AND MORALIT Y 

URBAN CULTURE – THERE ARE SCARIER THINGS OUT THERE THAN ALIENS: SURVIVAL, DRUGS, GANG CULTURE, MUGGINGS

4- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snapchat

-Photos,videos...text options available

-10 second time limit

-750 million photos/videos per day

- Intended to counteract the trend of users being compelled to manage an idealised online identity

- Flags up issues of immediacy and fragmentation

5- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0

-Web 2.0 allows users to create their own content

-In the form of blogs or youtube or various other websites

-Autonomy to audiences to create their own content and express their own identity

6- https://www.webroot.com/gb/en/home/resources/tips/ethics-and-legal/the-societal-costs-of-digital-piracy

- Internet identity has led to further moral panics of ‘youth as
threat’ – piracy, illegal downloading, hacking…

7- http://www.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-identities-and-the-media-rob-miller-2015.pdf

- Explores youth and delinquency – hysteria

-Psychological horror but exploring a lack of morals and
ethical code – the ‘good’ are killed

-Again, as with A Clockwork Orange Brett ‘wins’

- Do the children outwit the adults? Possible social comment?

- Are Jenny and Steve ‘punished’ for their sexuality?

8- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1760967/

- Ill Manors can be linked to the identity of the youth since in it, we more often than not see representations that align with what Acland discusses of the youth represented as deviants within society. 

This can be seen with the numerous occasions in the film that we see young people being the perpetrators of a variety of crimes.

 As well as this, the music video for 'Ill Manors' shows off large groups of the youth as being harbingers for public disorder with how the way in which they're rioting in the street. 

9- https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/series/laura-bates-on-everyday-sexism

-Laura Bates everyday sexism project-Feminism 

10- http://www.itv.com/jeremykyle

-Identity of working class people and usually younger people 

Ignite presentation summary

Ladan: Twitter/social media 
-Spread of hysteria
- Globalisation interconnection
- accelerating process of Americanisation
- ABC12 range of Twitter audience
- 15 million active users in the UK

Abayomi: Music streaming/Spotify
- Majority of users are Millennials
- Audiences empowered by more choice
- 75% of audience use free trials
- Artists have more autonomy over their content

Amrit: Social media/Instagram 
- 150 million users by 2013
- Main audience 18-29 59%
- Cultural barriers
- Globalisation good for advertisement

Sunny: Elections/US
- Narratives on social media
- UGC, meme generator for Trump easily spread over the internet
- Fake news dilution of information
- Russian interference hacking Democrat party
- Cambridge analytical

Katie: Documentary/ Making a murderer/Netflix
- Cost effective, no payments for distribution
- Piracy damaging to industry
- The Crown £750000 in one day for an episode
- Marxism and pluralism debate over where the power in the industry lies
- Lack of regulation

Harkiran: Film production/ Lionsgate
- Mini Major producer...21 jump street
- older cinema
- cinema admittance down 5.1%
- Marxist suggests power lies with distributors

Khadija: Netflix
- Audience C2 C1 E
- Highly Americanised
- social media promotion easy
- almost 100 million subscribers

John: Streaming/Apple Music
- Globalisation, available in more than 100 countries worldwide
- On demand streaming rose 76% in US
- Drake having more than 89 million streams
- Streaming revenue rose 56% in the US

 

FIRST EVER CALL OF DUTY WORLD LEAGUE'S (CWL) GLOBAL PRO LEAGUE PRESENTED BY PLAYSTATION® 4, KICKS OFF TOMORROW IN COLUMBUS, OH #66

FIRST EVER CALL OF DUTY WORLD LEAGUE'S (CWL) GLOBAL PRO LEAGUE PRESENTED BY PLAYSTATION® 4, KICKS OFF TOMORROW IN COLUMBUS, OH

http://investor.activision.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=1022164

This article talks about The first-ever Call of Duty World League Global Pro League starts tomorrow. And how over the next 10 weeks the top 16 Call of Duty professional teams from around the globe will face off across two stages of competition, each offering $700,000 in prize purses. Placements in the Global Pro League will dictate seeding in the grand finale of the Call of Duty year, the Call of Duty World League Championship, where another $1.5M will be on the line, bringing the total CWL prizing to $4M for the year.

- $700,000 in prize purses

- $4M for the year

I believe that the esports industry especially with call  of duty is growing significantly. This is evident with the increasing prize pot for winning these events, currently it is at $4million. When the tournaments first began the prize pot would have been below $100k but now as the tournaments and call of duty has been exposed to globalisation the rest of the world can now get involved and this has meant the size of the events have increased but also the prize pot. 

Shelly Palmer: TV May Actually Die Soon #65

Shelly Palmer: TV May Actually Die Soon

http://adage.com/article/digitalnext/tv-die-stay-tuned/308618/

This article talks about FANG (Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, Google/YouTube) and how it is about to take a huge bite out of traditional network TV (ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox), and the media business will never be the same. To understand the profound implications of the recently announced NFL on Amazon Prime or YouTube TV, it may help to understand the economic engine that drives traditional commercial television.

I believe what this article is saying is true to an extent as TV is a slowly declining medium. FANG, is an increasingly important medium especially amongst millennials and is even more important for companies as the data collection possibilities are great. As a result the amount of companies not approaching TV companies and going online or to FANG instead the industry is slowly deteriorating. And although the article suggests it will die sooner i believe it could last slightly longer as TV news especially can be credited more than online news at the moment.  

Treyarch Teasing ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops 3’ with Snapchat #64

Treyarch Teasing ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops 3’ with Snapchat

https://gamerant.com/call-of-duty-black-ops-3-teaser/

This article talks about how call of duty used there already existing game and snapchat to promote their next game. A game update for Black ops 2 (The current Treyarch game at the time) had an update which put scan-able images of the snapchat logo in some of the multiplayer maps which people soon found. This was then scanned and took them to Treyarchs new snapchat which revealed several 10 second teasers of blurry designs which sure enough got fans hyped. And although not everybody got to see the teasers on snapchat they were widely shared on other social media like facebook instagram and twitter. Moreover, youtubers who's channels are directly linked to call of duty content shared it to their millions of subscribers which generated further hype for the game, despite not being released for many many months.

I believe that this was an interesting strategy as typically we only see the use of twitter but the use of snapchat in this instance set off a chain reaction for other social media. Also, the use of an older call of duty also generated smaller amounts of hype for that game and could potentially have boosted sales in the short term. It would have also meant people pre-ordering the game based on this small amount of footage.

Google 'may build an adblocker into Chrome #63

Google 'may build an adblocker into Chrome

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/apr/20/google-chrome-adblocker-feature

This article talks about A future version of Google Chrome may include a built-in adblocker, designed to prevent the most intrusive online adverts from being displayed on users’ computers and smartphones by default. According to the Wall Street Journal, Google could announce the feature within weeks, but the specifics are not yet set in stone, and the company may yet scrap the entire plan.

-  Google, which makes 86% of its revenue from advertising

-On mobile “pop-up ads, prestitial ads, ads with density greater than 30%

- Its standards were set in place after “comprehensive research” involving more than 25,000 participants.

I believe to an extent this is useful as it would make peoples online experience a lot smoother. Although, much of google's revenue comes from advertisement and this would be blocking that. Nonetheless, it is a better alternative than the 'hardcore' adblockers already available online which are severely affecting Apples profits.  

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News Corp Australia sacks most of its photographers and subeditors to cut costs #62

News Corp Australia sacks most of its photographers and subeditors to cut costs

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/apr/11/news-corp-australia-sacks-most-of-its-photographers-and-subeditors-to-cut-costs



This article talks about Rupert Murdoch’s Australian tabloids are making the majority of their photographers and subeditors redundant in a radical cost-cutting move designed to keep the ailing newspaper business afloat. The director of editorial management, Campbell Reid, said the restructure of the traditional newsroom was needed to “preserve in print and excel in digital”. The Daily Telegraph, the Herald Sun and the Courier-Mail are set to lose dozens of staff each – the Queensland masthead alone will cut 45 – although the company is not revealing the total number of job losses.

The demise of the print stage is simply something that we'll proceed and keep on seeing later on. Simply a week ago, Fairfax Media excessively declared cuts that'll make many writers and picture takers lose their business to help shave off $30m from the yearly publication spending plan. While these moves will help the enterprises that attempt them to remain above water, something we can anticipate that at any rate will some level is decreases in the nature of the media we're getting. 'Publication ability' is something that'll be significantly more hard to show which could conceivably reduce a key mainstay of news itself.

UK internet ad spend passes £10bn as Google faces YouTube row #61

UK internet ad spend passes £10bn as Google faces YouTube row

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/apr/12/uk-internet-ad-google-youtube-mobile-video-tv

This article talks about the Internet advertising spending surged above £10bn in the UK last year as companies more than doubled the amount they spent on mobile video ads.The year-on-year increase of 17% on 2015 comes as many advertisers have pulled campaigns from Google and youtube after it emerged that some ads have been running around inappropriate content such as extremist videos. Hundreds of advertisers have “paused” spending on Youtube – where 400 hours of videos are uploaded every minute – which has pledged to tighten controls on where ads appear, such as by banning them running on accounts with fewer than 10,000 viewers.

• Internet advertising spend surged above £10bn in the UK last year
• Year-on-year increase of 17% on 2015
• 400 hours of videos uploaded every minute on YouTube
• Last year’s increase, the biggest since 2007, was fuelled by a boom in mobile ad spend, which rose by 51% to £3.9bn

 With web promotion spending/outperforming £10bn, proceeding with the pattern of development found as of late, it's apparent that the web is the place the "eyeballs" are. It'll be fascinating to check whether this proceeds throughout the following couple of years and furthermore what advancements will be ensured things like improper substance can't be spread by sponsors

MEST3 Independent case study: New/Digital Media

MEST3 Independent case study: New/Digital Media

Audience

1) How has new and digital media changed the audience experience in your chosen industry?

It has overall increased and improved their experience. New and digital media greatly increases attention for a game which means more players and an overall better experience.

2) Has new and digital media changed the way the audience consume your chosen product?

New and digital media just means new generations of consoles developed from an already existing machine, and each game has began to get more futuristic although this has angered much of the community. Enhanced graphics and general quality of games are improved each year for the consumption of the product. 

3) Has the size of the audience changed as a result of new and digital media?

Yes. 20million+ players registered to Destiny alone. Just one of activisions titles (research current COD numbers)

4) What are the positive changes new and digital media have brought to the audience of your case study? (E.g. greater choice, easier access etc.)

More platforms to consume the product on, larger player bases=more profit...development of microtransactions...esports mlg 

5) What are the negative changes new and digital media have had on your chosen audience? (E.g. quality of product etc.)

often we see an increase in the price of games and micro transactions become increasingly expensive. To some people the quality of the product has decreased but to others in-terms of online connectivity and server quality it has greatly increased.

6) What about audience pleasures - have these changed as a result of new and digital media? 

Audience pleasures have changed slightly as it is no longer just used for entertainment purposes, some of the titles are factually accurate and considered educational but also an increase in the competitiveness of gamers has prompted esports development. 

7) What is the target audience for your chosen case study? Write a demographic/psychographic profile.

Activision offers such a variety of games but typically the target audience would be males from 18-44 roughly with the focus being on North America and then Europe.

Institution

1) How has new and digital media had an impact on ownership or control in your chosen industry?

Merge with vivendi in 2008 becoming Activision-Blizzard

3) How has new and digital media changed the way institutions produce texts?

It happens in generally the same way just with updated technology.

4) How has new and digital media changed the way institutions distribute their product?

There are now more distribution methods as a result of new and digital media, in-store distribution remains prominent but online and digital copies of games is on the rise. Online platforms like steam have developed as well as playstation-plus which allows for online connectivity with the game and is an important way of distributing games as there are often discounts which entice more people.

5) How might new and digital media threaten your chosen industry?

For an industry that thrives and lives online it is difficult to find a way that it would threaten it but if they don't make a sufficient amount of sales based off of poor advertising or other flaws then the industry could be threatened.

UGC

1) What examples of user-generated content can you find in your case study?

Activison in some games like call of duty- Black ops series has developed technology that allows people to design their own maps and modes to be able to play on PC.

Sometimes, the company notices what people think of the game and suggested content via youtube or reddit and can implement this.

2) How has UGC changed things for audiences or institutions in your chosen case study?

UGC isn't that prominent in this industry so it hasn't really changed things as the professional develop the game and its quite difficult for ordinary players to change aspects of it by themseleves.

Marxism, Pluralism and Hegemony

1) What would be a Marxist perspective of the impact of new and digital media on your chosen case study?

Marxist may critique video games produced by Activision like the Call of Duty series which it would suggest is too violent and doesn't encourage and healthy and sociable lifestyle.

2) How would a pluralist view the impact of new and digital media in your chosen industry?

A Pluralist would generally accept Activison as they strive to make a profit and have succeeded as a result of new and digital media

3) Are there any examples of hegemony in your chosen industry or case study?


Globalisation

1) How has globalisation impacted on your chosen industry or case study?

Globalisation has meant

2) In your opinion, has globalisation had a positive or negative impact on your chosen industry and case study? Why?

Global market- expected to grow to $118.6 bn by 2019 this is suggesting globalisation has had a positive imapct on the gaming industry.

3) Can you find examples of cultural imperialism in your case study or industry? (The 'Americanisation' of the world)

In the call of duty games americanisation is abundantly evident... Shows off american military might and almost all of the characters are American. Black ops 1 shows america winning fight against enemy-Cuba.

Social media

1) How has your industry or case study used social media to promote its products?

Black ops 3 teasers on snapchat

Twitter daily updates

2) Provide examples of how your case study has used social media and explain the impact this would have on audiences.


3) Is social media an opportunity or a threat to your industry and case study?

It can be both as fake news and leaks over new games can be a threat to the industry as it spreads quickly online and video are difficult to take down. Although, it can be an opportunity as 100% confirmed news can also spread quickly and generate a lot of hype.




Theories

1) What media theories can you apply to your chosen industry and case study? Select THREE media theories and explain how they are relevant to your case study. Note: these can be ANY of the theories we have learned over the whole of Year 12 and 13.

Blumler &Katz’s

fictional texts offer escapism for their audiences

 Richard Dyer’s utopian solution theory

 Offering audiences a perfect idea in contrast to ordinary life 

Hypodermic needle model 

 Consumers directly influenced 

 passive 

 violence learnt 

 Marwick (2008)  ‘technopanics’ 

Issues/debates

1) What media issues and debates can you apply to your chosen industry and case study? Select THREE media issues/debates and explain how they are relevant to your case study.

No Russian- mw2 mission where civilians are killed in a terrorist attack

Black ops 1 mission  Fidel Castro (body double) killed by US soldiers-  Cuba angered 

Anders Behring Breivik

Norway terror attacks 2011

Call of Duty training 

Psych evaluation to reveal deeper underlying issues  

Online advertisers struggling in todays environment #60

Online advertisers struggling in todays environment

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/05/online-advertising-social-media-facebook-google-youve-been-ad

 This article talks about the trouble with digital technology, though, is that for a long time it encouraged us to believe that this law of nature had been suspended. Take email as an example. In the old days, if you wanted to send a friend a postcard saying: “Just thinking of you”, you had to find a postcard and a pen, write the message, find a stamp and walk to a postbox. Two days later – if you were lucky – your card reached its destination. But with email you just type the message, press “send” and in an instant it is delivered to your friend’s inbox, sometimes at the other end of the world. No stamp, no expense, no hassle.

-And so the advertisers’ money, diverted from print and TV, cascaded into the coffers of Google and co. In 2012, Procter & Gamble announced that it would make $1bn in savings by targeting consumers through digital and social media.

I believe that While this raises the issue of protection occurring, organizations like Google can use it and determine a high measure of advantage from it. With this current it's exceptionally likely that web based promoting will proceed as opposed to stagnate. In the meantime however, the way that it's presently realized that bots are included in the business makes you doubt how valuable advertisements online really are. Is activity rolling in from real individuals, or just machines?