The following comment was made on a post in Cassandra Brown's blog.
Well said! I can see both the positives and negatives to citizen journalism. Axel Bruns (2008) stated in his piece Wonderful Wikis? that a wikis success all depends on "...whether there's an active, diverse, and sufficiently intelligent community of users." There is certainly an active and diverse range of users however intelligence may be lacking in some cases. There has been much discussion on the wiki and whether its information is reliable. I believe it is a fantastic source for a quick reference but as universities believe it is not reliable enough to base a paper on. This is this very reason why people deter from using wikis (the fact that any old person can change and shape an entry) however that is the very reason wikis are wikis! One must remember though that in the case of providing others with information, even experts can be wrong.
As you have said a lack of gatekeeping is one of the negatives that coincides with citizen journalism but it does allow for more viewpoints. I believe collective knowledge and intelligence is definitely better than the opinion of one or two professionals. I also agree that there is a lot of useless information out on the web but I believe that as more and more people collaborate in these communities the worthless information is eventually filtered.
Bruns, A. 2008. Wonderful wikis?. http://snurb.info/node/797 (Accessed May 12, 2008).
Monday, May 12, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
My comment in response to Elyse's blog "The Future is User-led"
The following comment was made on a post in Elyse's blog.
I too have read the paper written by Axel Bruns titled "The future is user led" and agree with what you have written. I believe Produsage is important in today's society and with the establishment of Web 2.0 and collaborative programs everyday citizens have been given the opportunity to become not only users but producers.
Bruns (2007, 1) believes that this collaboration would not have been possible if not for Generation C. This new generation of users have the skills, abilities, interest and enthusiasm to use the technologies available which has facilitated in the success of Produsage. I completely agree! Without this drive and enthusiasm, collaboration and content creation online by the World Wide Web users would cease to exist. The online news and information would simply be created by professionals of the industry that only show us one or two perspectives/opinions. A shift from the industrial forms of production to a more democratic online environment has allowed everyone to add their ‘two bobs worth’. I myself am a Produser, not simply because of university but because i have this drive and enthusiasm to create my own content, develop my own opinions and collaborate with others.
Bruns. A. 2007. The Future is User-Led: The path towards Widespread Produsage. http://snurb.info/files/
The%20Future%20Is%20User-Led%20(PerthDAC%202007).pdf (Accessed April 23, 2008).
I too have read the paper written by Axel Bruns titled "The future is user led" and agree with what you have written. I believe Produsage is important in today's society and with the establishment of Web 2.0 and collaborative programs everyday citizens have been given the opportunity to become not only users but producers.
Bruns (2007, 1) believes that this collaboration would not have been possible if not for Generation C. This new generation of users have the skills, abilities, interest and enthusiasm to use the technologies available which has facilitated in the success of Produsage. I completely agree! Without this drive and enthusiasm, collaboration and content creation online by the World Wide Web users would cease to exist. The online news and information would simply be created by professionals of the industry that only show us one or two perspectives/opinions. A shift from the industrial forms of production to a more democratic online environment has allowed everyone to add their ‘two bobs worth’. I myself am a Produser, not simply because of university but because i have this drive and enthusiasm to create my own content, develop my own opinions and collaborate with others.
Bruns. A. 2007. The Future is User-Led: The path towards Widespread Produsage. http://snurb.info/files/
The%20Future%20Is%20User-Led%20(PerthDAC%202007).pdf (Accessed April 23, 2008).
My response to Kate's blog "Share, Remix, Reuse — Legally (Online Content Sharing and the Creative Commons)"
The following comment was made on a post in Kate's blog
The copyright issue is definitely a concern when it comes to participatory culture. I completely agree that there are two types of control online in regards to content creation: chaos and total control.
One has to remember that with all content creation there will be some sort of control. Just like the music industry, songs that were produced decades ago are being reworked and remixed into new songs for our generation; of course legal issues have been resolved in order for the songs to be used.
This obstacle to overcome is very similar to that which online users face in their participatory culture or environment. Online communities are an output of this creative content whether it is original or reworked.
I believe content should be shared and modified. Who knows what could be created. One person may start something but never finish it while others may just need that push start or initial idea to inspire them. However in saying that I can also see how one would want some rights reserved. How can you ever attain recognition for your work if others are constantly claming it to be their own? It’s a ‘Catch 22’.
The copyright issue is definitely a concern when it comes to participatory culture. I completely agree that there are two types of control online in regards to content creation: chaos and total control.
One has to remember that with all content creation there will be some sort of control. Just like the music industry, songs that were produced decades ago are being reworked and remixed into new songs for our generation; of course legal issues have been resolved in order for the songs to be used.
This obstacle to overcome is very similar to that which online users face in their participatory culture or environment. Online communities are an output of this creative content whether it is original or reworked.
I believe content should be shared and modified. Who knows what could be created. One person may start something but never finish it while others may just need that push start or initial idea to inspire them. However in saying that I can also see how one would want some rights reserved. How can you ever attain recognition for your work if others are constantly claming it to be their own? It’s a ‘Catch 22’.
My response to Isha's blog "Anti-Piracy: Save the Musician or Save the Record Company?"
The following comment was made on a post in Isha's blog.
This is a topic close to my heart and i have actually written a blog on the very issue of peer to peer programs in relation to piracy.
Digital music, peer to peer programs and piracy may seem a great issue in the music industry; however through my research i have found that these factors have actually increased the sale of music both in-store and online. As you have stated, the music industry has been crying poor over decreased CD sales. They may have decreased however they are being replaced by online purchase of digital music. Statistics have shown that in many cases the illegal downloads (through p2p programs) have led to legal purchases of music and music products. As you have stated there are many reasons why consumers choose to purchase and share music online - music is simply a click away.
Abramson (2005, 2) stated in his piece The Computer Ate My Industry that “to this day, the record companies continue to collect royalties from consumers who purchase the album, perform the song, or quote its lyrics." Next time the music industry cries poor they should think about the greater scheme of things. Where we would be without p2p file sharing?
Abramson, Bruce. 2005. The Computer Ate My Industry in Abramson, Bruce, Digital pheonix, Massachusetts: MIT Press, pp.203-240.
This is a topic close to my heart and i have actually written a blog on the very issue of peer to peer programs in relation to piracy.
Digital music, peer to peer programs and piracy may seem a great issue in the music industry; however through my research i have found that these factors have actually increased the sale of music both in-store and online. As you have stated, the music industry has been crying poor over decreased CD sales. They may have decreased however they are being replaced by online purchase of digital music. Statistics have shown that in many cases the illegal downloads (through p2p programs) have led to legal purchases of music and music products. As you have stated there are many reasons why consumers choose to purchase and share music online - music is simply a click away.
Abramson (2005, 2) stated in his piece The Computer Ate My Industry that “to this day, the record companies continue to collect royalties from consumers who purchase the album, perform the song, or quote its lyrics." Next time the music industry cries poor they should think about the greater scheme of things. Where we would be without p2p file sharing?
Abramson, Bruce. 2005. The Computer Ate My Industry in Abramson, Bruce, Digital pheonix, Massachusetts: MIT Press, pp.203-240.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Content creators and users of the future!!
Web 2.0 has opened many windows for everyday citizens to not only view content but create it. A term used to describe people actively using and producing content is ‘Produsage’ coined by the famous Axel Bruns.
With the combination of web 2.0 and the various programs and shareware available to its users, Produsage and collaboration is just a fingertip away. Bruns (2007, 1) describes the technological shift of collaboration from “…static to dynamic content, from hierarchically managed to collaboratively and continuously developed material, and from user-as-consumer to user-as-contributor.” With the establishment of programs such as Flickr, YouTube, Myspace, wikis and many more, people have been given the ability to create their own news and information.
Zetter (2007) states that “Much has been made of the new wave of citizen journalists and their ability to capture on camera phones dramatic events like the massacre at Virginia Tech long before mainstream media arrive at a scene.” Technology today has given people the ability to record moments and incidents that would not normally be captured. News and information provided by online new services, television and radio seem to only provide what is deemed necessary by its journalists. More often than not our news is gatekept and important facts and issues are omitted. However with the flick of a wrist an everyday person can record an important event taking place on a mobile and stream it to websites such as YouTube for all to view.
"...News bloggers and citizen journalists have shown persistence and determination both in uncovering political and other scandals, and in highlighting the shortcomings of professional journalism as it investigated and reports on such scandals" (Bruns 2007, 1).
Produsers not only create news but collaborate with many other people on different information sources such Wikis. A wiki’s content is controlled by its producers. They decide on the nature of the content, changes to be made, updates, etc. There is no higher power or authority figure involved. It seems everyone gets an equal say in content and can change what others have written. Wiki’s are “…based on the collaborative engagement of (ideally large) communities of participants in a shared project” (Bruns 2007, 3).
Web 2.0 and collaborative programs have driven Produsage which would not have been possible if not for Generation C. This new generation of users have the skills, abilities, interest and enthusiasm to use the technologies available which has facilitated in the success of Produsage (Bruns 2007, 1).
References:
Bruns, A. 2007. News Blogs and Citizen Journalism: New Directions for e-Journalism. http://snurb.info/files/News%20 Blogs%20and%20Citizen%20Journalism.pdf (Accessed April 23, 2008).
Bruns. A. 2007. The Future is User-Led: The path towards Widespread Produsage. http://snurb.info/files/ The%20Future%20Is%20User-Led%20(PerthDAC%202007).pdf (Accessed April 23, 2008).
Zetter, K. 2007. Kent State Recording -- Citizen Journalism Before YouTube. http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/
2007/05/kent_state_reco.html (Accessed April 23, 2008).
Friday, April 18, 2008
Is The Establishment of P2P Programs Killing the Music Business?
Today’s music industry is extremely competitive. Many fear that the introduction of digital music and piracy are killing the industry (Jobs, 2007). I don't believe this to be entirely true. There are many positive outcomes as a result of music piracy and peer to peer programs.
Peer to peer (P2P) programs such as Kazaa and Bearshare have become a growing concern for music companies as these technologies enable people to copy and distribute music easily without permission from record companies, producers, etc. There is much emphasis put on the digitization of music that many forget that there are other forms of piracy going on where performers sing copyrighted songs without permission whilst profiting from the performance.
There have been many concerns about the fast growth of technology and that it may be ruining the music business on a financial scale. However financial statistics show that the music business is booming. Record sales may have decreased however they are being replaced by online purchase of digital music. “To this day, the record companies continue to collect royalties from consumers who purchase the album, perform the song, or quote its lyrics” (Abramson 2005, 2). The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (2007) states that there has been “a significant shift in consumer preference towards obtaining singles in digital formats…and although the value of the wholesale market for physical products declined during the year, that decline was significantly offset by the growing digital market.” The music industry is also gaining from the profitable and increasingly popular mobile phone market.
These P2P programs don't damage the music industry and don't decrease sales. In many cases they leads to legal purchases of music and music products from both in-store and over the internet (for example Bigpond and iTunes online). Many people choose to download music rather than through purchasing in-store. Online purchases are made mainly because of availability, convenience and price. P2P (peer to peer) music exchange is the preferred option of the customer as music is simply a click away (Piracy, 2007). Free and flexible music sharing within “fair use” guidelines is essential to a healthy music culture. “If we were to have to deal with the music oligarchs directly, the experience would be so toxic that 100 percent of the world would turn into Kazaa downloaders in 30 days” (Doctorow 2005). Napster, a program which allowed users to download music illegally, actually improved album sales. Instead of only pirating music, many people felt motivated to go and legally purchase the album (Abramson 2005, 29).
One major issue consumer’s face is the Digital Rights Management system. A large proportion of the recording industry has not been happy with the usage limits imposed on users and wish to diminish the flexibility with which individuals can use digital music (Baruh 2006, 67). However I believe that tightening the Digital Rights Management is certainly not a suitable solution to piracy. If music sharing becomes too difficult, consumers will be forced onto illegal channels where there are no restrictions on music downloads.
P2P programs such as Kazaa, Bearshare and Limewire are certainly not a major cause for concern in the music industry. The sale of music is still on the rise in digital form despite the decrease in single sales. Downloading music on the internet has also led to the legal purchase of albums both in store and online. I believe these programs are essential for a healthy music culture and the music business.
References:
Abramson, Bruce. 2005. The Computer Ate My Industry in Abramson, Bruce, Digital pheonix, Massachusetts: MIT Press, pp.203-240.
Baruh, L. 2006. Music of my own?: the transformation from usage rights to usage privileges in digital media. In Digital media : transformations in human communication, ed. P. Messaris and L. Humphreys, 67-78. New York: Peter Lang Press.
Doctorow, C. 2005. Sony's EULA (End-User License Agreement)is worse than their rootkit. Boing Boing: 1 page. http://www.boingboing.net/2005/11/09/sonys_eula_is_worse_.
html (accessed 18 April, 2008).
Jobs, S. 2007. Thoughts on music. http://www.apple.com/hotnews/
thoughtsonmusic/ (accessed 18 April 2008).
Piracy, KCB102. 2007. Queensland University of Technology, Online Learning and Teaching Web site: http://ltfiledown.qut.edu.au/
download.asp?rNum=3684969&pNum=4138&fac=CI&OLT
WebSiteID=KCB102&dir=sec&CFID=32063&CFTOKEN=
53200348 (accessed 18 April 2008).
The International Federation of the Phongraphic Industry. 2007. What is piracy? http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_views/
what_is_piracy.html (accessed 18 April 2008).
Peer to peer (P2P) programs such as Kazaa and Bearshare have become a growing concern for music companies as these technologies enable people to copy and distribute music easily without permission from record companies, producers, etc. There is much emphasis put on the digitization of music that many forget that there are other forms of piracy going on where performers sing copyrighted songs without permission whilst profiting from the performance.
There have been many concerns about the fast growth of technology and that it may be ruining the music business on a financial scale. However financial statistics show that the music business is booming. Record sales may have decreased however they are being replaced by online purchase of digital music. “To this day, the record companies continue to collect royalties from consumers who purchase the album, perform the song, or quote its lyrics” (Abramson 2005, 2). The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (2007) states that there has been “a significant shift in consumer preference towards obtaining singles in digital formats…and although the value of the wholesale market for physical products declined during the year, that decline was significantly offset by the growing digital market.” The music industry is also gaining from the profitable and increasingly popular mobile phone market.
These P2P programs don't damage the music industry and don't decrease sales. In many cases they leads to legal purchases of music and music products from both in-store and over the internet (for example Bigpond and iTunes online). Many people choose to download music rather than through purchasing in-store. Online purchases are made mainly because of availability, convenience and price. P2P (peer to peer) music exchange is the preferred option of the customer as music is simply a click away (Piracy, 2007). Free and flexible music sharing within “fair use” guidelines is essential to a healthy music culture. “If we were to have to deal with the music oligarchs directly, the experience would be so toxic that 100 percent of the world would turn into Kazaa downloaders in 30 days” (Doctorow 2005). Napster, a program which allowed users to download music illegally, actually improved album sales. Instead of only pirating music, many people felt motivated to go and legally purchase the album (Abramson 2005, 29).
One major issue consumer’s face is the Digital Rights Management system. A large proportion of the recording industry has not been happy with the usage limits imposed on users and wish to diminish the flexibility with which individuals can use digital music (Baruh 2006, 67). However I believe that tightening the Digital Rights Management is certainly not a suitable solution to piracy. If music sharing becomes too difficult, consumers will be forced onto illegal channels where there are no restrictions on music downloads.
P2P programs such as Kazaa, Bearshare and Limewire are certainly not a major cause for concern in the music industry. The sale of music is still on the rise in digital form despite the decrease in single sales. Downloading music on the internet has also led to the legal purchase of albums both in store and online. I believe these programs are essential for a healthy music culture and the music business.
References:
Abramson, Bruce. 2005. The Computer Ate My Industry in Abramson, Bruce, Digital pheonix, Massachusetts: MIT Press, pp.203-240.
Baruh, L. 2006. Music of my own?: the transformation from usage rights to usage privileges in digital media. In Digital media : transformations in human communication, ed. P. Messaris and L. Humphreys, 67-78. New York: Peter Lang Press.
Doctorow, C. 2005. Sony's EULA (End-User License Agreement)is worse than their rootkit. Boing Boing: 1 page. http://www.boingboing.net/2005/11/09/sonys_eula_is_worse_.
html (accessed 18 April, 2008).
Jobs, S. 2007. Thoughts on music. http://www.apple.com/hotnews/
thoughtsonmusic/ (accessed 18 April 2008).
Piracy, KCB102. 2007. Queensland University of Technology, Online Learning and Teaching Web site: http://ltfiledown.qut.edu.au/
download.asp?rNum=3684969&pNum=4138&fac=CI&OLT
WebSiteID=KCB102&dir=sec&CFID=32063&CFTOKEN=
53200348 (accessed 18 April 2008).
The International Federation of the Phongraphic Industry. 2007. What is piracy? http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_views/
what_is_piracy.html (accessed 18 April 2008).
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