LETS REFLECT

A reflection on the process of creating a weblog...

What skills you gained regarding writing to an audience?

I found writing a blog to be a really refreshing alternative to writing an academic essay or article. Blog writing is a much more conversational style of writing, and really lets you delve into the opinions and mind of the writer. Writing to an audience through my blog allowed me to give my side of media issues and express what my thoughts were on these specific topics. It's a great feeling to know that the people reading this blog, are reading exactly what I think. There is no beating around the bush, so to say, I get straight to the point on what I think about an issue, and I would hope my reader appreciates that in a blog. 

What skills did you gain regarding design?

I am a big fan of simplicity and minimalism when it comes to designing a product. I like things to be neat and tidy, which also reflects how I live day-to-day. However, being an assignment, I wanted my blog to be one that stood out amongst the others. I attempted to keep colours to a minimal and all in the same scheme. Although this is a professional blog, I wanted my personality to be reflected in it's design, therefore the chosen colour of yellow, being a colour I associate with happiness, really gives it that edge. I wanted my heading to be bold and standout, after all it is the first aspect of a page a readers eyes go to. Clear headings of each posts assist readers in knowing what they are reading, and pages on the top of the page offers not only a professional aspect to my blog, but also an outlet where my readers can direct themselves to other links or aspects of the blog. 

What did you think of the process?

I thoroughly enjoyed making a blog, especially as a journalism student I think it was a great way to start up a portfolio of my professional work so that future employers can see my work. While I am also the author of my personal blog LOVER OF THE KING, having a professional blog is crucial for writers of today. I really looked forward to coming to class each knowing we would be working on our posts, and design is an aspect I enjoyed immensly. 

What is your view on blogging?

Being a blogger before this exercise, I really enjoy the concept of blogging. It's an outlet where I can escape to each night and write about things other than my course work. It acts almost like a scrap book where I can document all things that inspire me everyday, as well as just my thoughts on specific issues. It's free and easy to work, and a great platform to practice writing. It would be silly not to use such a great outlet to exhibit professional work too. 

Reference: http://www.lover-of-the-king.blogspot.com.au/
Image source: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/blog-like-a-pro-in-three-easy-steps-assess-decide-do.html

ARE E-READERS THE NEW BOOK?

The tactile pleasure of worn pages between your fingers is hard to replace. But when it comes to encouraging people to embrace the written word, e-readers (electric readers) trump their physical counterparts. 

While there are people who still love to open a book or magazines, and skim the glossy pages, there is a generation of today who get greater pleasure in switching on their latest smart gadgets to unveil the world of an 'e-reader'. For those who aren't familiar with this term, an e-reader (also referred to as an e-book) is a book downloaded to the format read from a screen.

Rising in popularity, E-readers are signalling that it may be be impossible to imagine a world with traditional books sometime in the not-so-distant future. Being faster, more environmentally friendly, and just technologically forward, e-readers enables users to read books electronically at the touch of a button no matter where they are in the world. '

Since the development of the iPad, or other tablet-like gadgets, e-readers have become increasingly popular. I was actually introduced to the e-reader notion last year when a family friend bought me a book to read from Dymocks online and which allowed me to read it as an e-reader. Much to my surprise, there are thousands of national and international titles of books and magazines available to be purchased and read as an e-reader available on Dymocks website.  

While I don't think the world of printed books and magazines will diminish, I just think e-readers is the perfect addition to our advanced society. Technology is moving faster today than it ever has, and it's only fitting that we move and adapt to it. 

Reference: http://www.bitrebels.com/geek/the-great-debate-e-books-vs-the-printed-copy/
Reference: http://www.dymocks.com.au/Google-eBooks/Google-eBooks.aspx
Image Source: http://www.cnet.com.au/ebooks-and-e-readers-faq-339305065.htm
Image Source: http://www.cnet.com.au/ebooks-and-e-readers-faq-339305065.htm

A WELL DESIGNED DOCUMENT

Following on from a previous post, I have re-designed the poetry poster applying Diana Reep's principles of design.

Completely restructuring the layout of this poster, I ensured that the written text and its presentation work together to provide readers with information they need in a clear and logical order. I chose the image of a girl thinking because I thought it worked well with the concept of poetry, as it requires substantial thought. The fact that the image is black and white, I believe allows the information on the page that is important to stand out. It also enhances a relaxed feeling, something that poetry is.

The colour scheme I used are all in sync with each other. They all flow together with the image, which doesnt cause any clashing to occur, unlike the previous document where the eye didn't know where to look first.

Reep suggest that colour should be used to help a reader move through specific information. Therefore, the orange used, gives the page a pop of colour, and highlights the information they reader wants to find out. This colour change helps them know exactly where to go to find it. The orange isn't too bold and in your face, but also stands out, and doesnt make this document seem so blan.

Personally, the documents that catch my eye are the simpe ones, with great images and as little writing as possible. This is what I tried to create with this document.

On the first document the font used was an alarming issue. It was hard to read and not appropriate for the certain role is was taking. I have changed the font of the title 'Calling All Poets' from a cursive to a bolder, clearer font. The other text of the page is also clearer to read, and bold so it stands out against the white background. I capitalised and changed the colour of the headings to allow them to be clear and also stand out.

Overall, I believe when comparing the previous document, to this, Diana Reeps principles really do help in creating a well produced document that gives away the effect it deserves.

Reference: Reep, D. 2006. 'Technical Writing: Document Design', 6th Edition, Chapter 6, pp; 133-172,  New York: Pearson/Longman

MEDIA ISSUE: TOO MUCH THINTEREST?

First it was dedicated 'pro-ana' websites, now 'thinspiration' is eating up Tumblr, Pinterest and Instagram, despite the best efforts of these sites to stop it. 

For those not familiar with this milestone term, thinspiration consist of photos, tips and angst-ridden quotes meant to provide visual inspiration and motivation for those looking to wittle their bodies down to a size zero. It's nothing new, but as it spreads across the internet, an increasing number of social-media sites are attempting to put a lockdown on it. However, this lock down doesn't seem to be doing the job it's set.

My Opinion:

When I trawled through various thinspiration Tumblr blogs, I came across 'Skinny Maybe Please', a blog full of hundreds of images of painfully thin, barely dressed women with concave stomachs, thighs as small as arms, and protruding collarbones and ribs. Some pictures are of professional models, others are just normal girls taking selfiess on their phones. Pages and pages of harrowing pictures and interlaced with text posts proclaiming "Skinny girls don't eat", as well as tips and tricks to make sure you don't succumb to that greatest of evils- food. 

Skinny Maybe Please Tumblr is considered to be 'thinspiration', the disturbing practice of posting pictures of underweight women on social media sites like Tumblr and Pinterest to remind and encourage its creators. Although I have come across the notion of pro-ana websites in the past (since they gained momentum in the late 90s), this time around, thinspiration (or 'thinspo') blogs have added disadvantage of being viewed and used by my generation - a generation stoutly devoted to their broadband internet connection. These communities, born out of shared motivation and a life lived online, now have the potential to reach countless women worldwide. 

Of course, not every user on Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram or Twitter is posting images or even seeking out thinspo images, but seeing as though we can't control or predict what will come up in our feeds, it doesn't mean it won't affect you. Just being on Facebook last night was when I was first introduced to the 'thinspiration' world. I saw in my Newsfeed that a friend liked a photo linked to the 'thinspiration' group on Instagram, although I hadn't 'like' the page per se, doesn't mean I am blinded to the content uploaded on there. 

Given that we now spend hours and hours online every day, what chance do we have of eliminating these images from our screens and minds?

Reference: http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/03/29/thinterest-when-social-networks-and-body-image-collide/

Image source: http://indulgy.com/post/U75HuUErK1/thinspiration

Image source: http://www.ioniannews.com/features/article_c23e7d38-0da3-11e2-9b67-0019bb30f31a.html

CLASSIFICATION OF BLOGS

The blogging world is so diverse, full of different people blogging for completely different reasons.

As a blogger myself, I generally see the three main reasons why people blog is to speak their mind, share expertise, share expeirences with family and friends as well as make money and creating a business. Bloggers create their blog because they feel it's the most effective medium to get their message across to their intended audiences.

According to blogger Tom Haskin, there are four specific categories which a blog can be classified as: 

1. Distraction blogs - commonly used to post about personal experiences and lifestyles

2. Archive blogs - shares expertise, ideas, solutions and strategies

3. Conversation blogs - fequently share and exchange idea or thoughts regarding any topic to get information

4. Democratic blogs- made for publics that enjoy discussing political issues

Within these four sectors of blogging, there are a range of political blogs, fashion blogs, personal blogs, photograph blogs, moblogs  (short for mobile blogging such as Flickr) and many more.

An example of an archive blogging community is Geneva's DIY blog A Pair and a Spare. Geneva offers her expertise as a DIY fashion blogger, where she shows her readers how to create the most desirable and on-trend fashion and lifestyle projects.


Differently, Anything Goes is an example of a democratic blogging community. David Havyatt offers his readers his thoughts and opinions on Australian politics and public discourse.


Reference: http://growchangelearn.blogspot.com.au/2007/03/four-value-propositions-of-blogs.html
Reference: http://apair-andaspare.blogspot.com.au/
Reference: http://davidhavyatt.blogspot.com.au/
Image Source: http://growchangelearn.blogspot.com.au/2007/03/four-value-propositions-of-blogs.html

MEDIA ISSUE: PAYING FOR ONLINE CONTENT, A SUCCESS OR FAIL?

Rupert Murdoch's "paywalls" at News International have not won over the hearts of many fans in the past few years. Advertisers don't like it and analysts are unconvinced.

The Herald Sun launched a paywall around its content in March, the second title in News Limited's stable of newspapers to do so. The Australian's paywall, launched last year, is now citing 30,000 paid subscribers. Fairfax Media has not announced paywalls for any of its titles with the exception of a long-running subscription model for The Australian Financial Review.

Recently in an article from The Australian, it has been shown that the newspaper industry's turn toward "paywalls," that is, charging for online access, has been a hit with at least one important constituency: investors. Newspaper stocks are up 50 per cent to 80 per cent in the past year.

My Opinion:

Despite this recent success, as a consumer of the media, I still havent accepted the reality of paywalls, and seem to find paid content to be down right anoying, for lack of a better word. While I always thought the internet was meant to fall perfectly in line with the lifestyles of people on the go, having to pay for everytime you want to read an article is a very time consuming task.

Simply by just scrolling through The Australian's online website, a site now conquired by the concept of paywalls, to read more than four lines of an article requires me to log in and purchase the remainder of the story. I ask myself the question, if newspapers in the future cease to exist, what will happen to the older generation who dont have access to the internet to get their news, and better yet, and online credit card to pay for it?

Although subscribing to The Australian website only costs $2.95 a month, it seems the consumers are winning in a way because they will be spending less than they would if they bought the newspaper from the local newsagency. I believe the problem with charging for online content, is the hassle of actually taking the time to fill out membership details and have to give away private credit card information.

Reference:http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/online-charges-a-hit-with-investors/story-e6frg996-1226496862644
Reference:http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/has-rupert-murdochs-paywall-gamble-paid-off-2067907.html
Image source: http://www.commonfloor.com/guide/how-to-pay-your-property-tax-in-mumbai-7412.html

ISSUES IN DESIGN: PRINT VS ONLINE

Well over a decade into online distribution, readers and the publishing industry alike continue to debate the wisdom of these two politics. It seems there are many different issues when designing for print as opposed to designing online.

With reference to Roger Parker (2003), when designing for web distribution there are certain elements which need to be kept in mind. Today, more and more documents are intended for web site distribution.

Some of these documents will only ever be read on the screen and never be printed. As hardware and software costs continue to drop, and new technologies such as computing and wireless devices gain popularity, more and more documents can never be "printed" in the traditional sense.

The continued proliferation of documents intended for web documents intended for website distribution brings up several readability issues.

According to Roger Parker (2003), onscreen reading is far more difficult than reading a printed document because of the different ways a readers' eyes encounter a message. Onscreen reading involves 'projected light'. Readers are, in effect, staring into the lens of a slide projector which increases eye fatigue.

On the other hand, reading a printed document involved 'reflected light'. The letters stand out agaisnt their background because the black letters and white background absorb different amounts of light. As a result, the contrast range is not as prevalent, so there is less chance of eye fatigue.

Another difference in issues between print and onscreen reading, according to Roger Parker (2003), involves the limited amount of text visible at a time on screen. When reading a printed document, readers can see the entire page-typlically a vertical rectangle. Without physical activity-scrolling through the page or moving their head. Onscreen reading, however, typically reveals only a horizontal rectangular view of part of a page. This makes it harder for visitors to get a "big picture" view of what they're reading.

Roger Parker (2003) suggest that when designing for web distribution, you should avoid multicolumn layouts, reduce line length, adjust line spacing, indicate new paragraphs, use subheads and sidebars to long documents into manageable, bitesized chunks, use white space to subdivide and organise a document, use typographic contrast, add text hyperlinks, avoid thin, ornate typefaces, consider ture type fonts, use colour with restraint, keep readers informed by using headers and footers, keep designs as simple as posible and avoid complicated side effects, and finally, design your document so that the reader will not have to constantly scroll to read important information. By following these suggestions by Parker, it will enable you to create publications that canbe easily read onscreen as threy can be read off-screen.

Reference: Parker, R. 2003. 'Looking Good in Print', Designing Documents for Wed Distribution. Chapter 14, 5th Edition,  pp. 265-293, Scottsdale, Ariz: Paraglyph Press