Screen vs Print Design (The Differences)

According to Nielsen (1999), print design often focuses on the information which enhances the reader to read the information. While web design focuses more on providing choices to the readers through hypertext.

(Source:http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRSXAY0yW2LdQ-6XQKcqoMMwDjMQL_0CeZxEr0uIRl8KoUkmYL8usikyVhf)

(Source:http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTjzJBH2MqVaFvZ26_3ZkXBgWo2mqHNx3mZVGF2KIomfJf-WMOFGZjzRg)

By looking at two images above, there are many differences between the design, layout, format, and the writing structure.

The layout shown in the picture from magazine is organized and it is obvious that much attention was paid on the layout. As such, print design goes under 2-dimensional (Nielson, 1999). In the picture, the layout was neatly separated with exact length and size.

Screen design practices the N-dimensional aspect, which refers to the hypertext navigation which enhances user to move around for information. Hence, the web image layout seems spreading all over the page. At the top and bottom, there are several sections which branches out for further linking. The layout for the hypertext tends to be less significance. However, web design focuses more on the linking navigation and the appearance of links.

While the writing structure in magazine picture is lengthy. Added that one might not understand because the chosen of words which is bombastic. According to Nielson (1997), the word chosen for print documents are pompous. As seen in the second picture, the words are short, concise, colorful and easy to be understood. According to Nielsen (1997), waiting is unpleasant; hence, the short writing structure attracts reader’s attention.

The design for print document is organized. The position of the image is neat at the top and the bottom. For web design, despite of the messy organization, it is a good design due to the theme of blue colour. This catches the eyes of readers.

In conclusion, they are both distinctive, having their own advantages and disadvantages. However it is a win-win situation as both communication tools are improving simultaneously in their way of conveying message.

(295 words)

References:

• Nielson, J & Morkes, J 1999, Differences Between Print Design and Web Design, viewed 11 April 2012, < http://www.useit.com/alertbox/990124.html>.
• Nielson, J & Morkes, J 1997, Concise, SCANNABLE, and Objective: How to Write for the Web, viewed 11 April 2012, < http://www.useit.com/alertbox/990124.html>.
• Hilligoss, S & Howard, T 2002, Visual Communication A Writer’s Guide, 2nd edn, Longman Publisher, United States.

The use of YouTube over the Traditional Broadcast

(Source: http://jebswebs.net/blog/2010/05/captioning-youtube-videos/)

(Source: http://www.real.com/resources/tv-online)

According to Naughton (reuters, p. 5), internet has influence the society throughout the world. The growth of broadcast TV is declining ever since the emergence of new media such as YouTube which provide videos across the internet. According to Hanson and Haridakis (2008), YouTube enhance the viewers to access, watch and share videos more conveniently. Hence, it serves as a freedom of choice to the society.

As such, in this 21st century, every individual live in a society which indeed depends on the latest information and trends in order to lead us to a correct direction in every aspect including entertainment, love life, health issue, career and so on so forth. Nevertheless, traditional broadcast do provide information and serve entertainment to the public. However, when it comes to transparency and censorship, traditional broadcast is definitely the rebuff.

Another way of saying, traditional broadcast is controlled by people or companies who shape our beliefs and decisions. According to a video by Caryltv (2008), companies like Time Warner and Viacom own and control 95% of the information society receive daily. Whereas YouTube practices the theory of shared, not owned content. Sharing utilities are widely available in YouTube; it also enhances a better transparency rather than being controlled of what should be displayed by dominated companies.

Broadcast is one way communication. It does not have the approach of open participation, communal evaluation. Whereas YouTube serve as a two way communication which audiences, viewers are free to give opinions and to share knowledge. As a conclusion, YouTube definitely serve a better transparency and freedom of choice compared to traditional broadcast, therefore it is a trend among the communities.

(272 words)

References:

• Rayuso 2008, Hub Pages, Mass Media Influence on Society 86, San Francisco, viewed 11 April 2012, < http://rayuso.hubpages.com/hub/Mass-Media-Influence-on-Society>.
• Krishnasamy, N 2009, Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development, Traditional Media,Malaysia, viewed 10 April 2012, <http://www.aibd.org.my/node/1226>.
• Naughton, J 2006, Blogging and the emerging media ecosystem, viewed 12 April 2012, < http://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/fileadmin/documents/discussion/blogging.pdf>.
• Hanson, G & Haridakis, P 2008, ‘YouTube Users Watching and Sharing the News: A Uses and Gratifications Approach’, The Journal of Electronic Publishing, vol. 11, no. 3, viewed 11 April 2012, < http://quod.lib.umich.edu/j/jep/3336451.0011.305?rgn=main;view=fulltext>.
• Snurb 2007, Produsage:Key Principles, Sydnedy, viewed 11 April 2012, <http://produsage.org/node/11>.
• Snurb 2007, Produsage: Necessary Preconditions, Sydney, viewed 11 April 2012, < http://produsage.org/node/12>.

Understanding The Three Types of Blogging Communities

‘Blogging Community’ refers to a group of individuals who involve themselves through the use of online blog (White, 2006). A blogger is an individual who publishes his or her stories or news in specific interests and niches. According to White (2006), bloggers can create their own community through various ways, including the use of comments and by sharing the same interest.

(Source: http://tihane.wordpress.com/2006/12/24/3-blog-community-paradigms/)

There are three types of blogging communities. First is the Single Blog/Blogger Centric Community,which is the group of members who will comment and get to know the other commentors as well as the owner of the blog, and enlarging the community.

(Source:http://tihane.wordpress.com/2006/12/24/3-blog-community-paradigms/)

Second is the Central Connecting topic Community. This blogging community shares the same interest and act as community of each and everyone among themselves. They are bloggers as well as the readers.

(Source: http://tihane.wordpress.com/2006/12/24/3-blog-community-paradigms/)

Third is the boundaried communities. This blogging community are often being offered to create their own blog. They often has other social networking sites, hence they are the communities mostly within their circle of friends.

One good example is the ‘Lim Kit Siang for Malaysia’ blog. This blog has built a community through the use of ‘Central Connecting topic Community as well as boundaried communities’. The blogger build his blogging communities by sharing the same interest as like many other readers as to go against the Malaysian Government which serve as the main concern in the blog. Thus, individuals will often read the blog and joined as member. The blogger also uses social networking sites such as facebook and twitter to build his community. The blogger have his circle of peers, hence people start to follow his stories in blog, slowly turning as the communities.

(279 words)

References:

• Agarwal, N, Liu, H, Tang, L & Yu, PS 2008, Identifying the Influential Bloggers in a Community, University of Illinois, Chicago, viewed 11 April 2012, < http://www.public.asu.edu/~ltang9/papers/WSDM08-influential.pdf>.
• Haines, B 2012, About.com Online Business Hosting, 6 Ways to Build Your Blog Community, New York, viewed 11 April 2012, < http://onlinebusiness.about.com/od/blogging/a/sixaysbuildblogcommunity.htm>.
• Robertson, I 2006, ‘The Knowledge Tree’, Australia, viewed 11 April 2012, < http://kt.flexiblelearning.net.au/tkt2006/edition-11-editorial/blogs-and-community-%E2%80%93-launching-a-new-paradigm-for-online-community>.
• Siang, LK 2012, Lim Kit Siang for Malaysia, blog.limkitsiang.com [blog], viewed 12 April 2012, < http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2012/04/06/bersih-3-0-necessary-due-to-haste-in-holding-polls-ambiga-tells-ec/>.

Two Blogs Classifications

As a matter of fact as to compare the types of blog classification systems, I have chosen two blogs which are ‘A Taxonomy of Blog’, and ‘Fieran Abhorsen for further comparison. Referring to ‘A Taxonomy of Blog’, I personally think it is being classified as the ‘News Blog’, whereas for Fieran Abhorsen, it goes under the ‘Diary Blog’.

One of my methods of defining the classification is through ‘topics’. As such, looking at those topics by ‘A Taxonomy of Blog’, it often contained contents or posts which are most likely to update the audiences and public. As compared to the Fieran Abhorsen, Fieran Abhorsen covered many personal stories such as travelling, career, and daily life.

Besides topic, I had too observed the format of the blog. For A Taxonomy of Blog, they have various types of news in different aspects including science, environment and sports; every section was placed in different columns. For Fieran Abhorson, it does not have different aspects of news, but straight to the posting of one’s daily life.

Besides that, the style too conveys an idea of what type of blog classification they might be. In A Taxonomy of blog, they have different editors or writers and the style of writing were bombastic, this easily tells the audience in which this is a serious blog. And by reading the style of Fieran Abhorsen, one can feel relax through the visual and the background color. Added that the style of writing in Fieran Abhorsen blog seems more laid back and easily understood.

(250 words)

References:

• Abhorsen, F, 2010, Thoughts, moods, moments of a dreamer, Fieran.blogspot.com, [blog], viewed 12 April 2012, <http://fieran.blogspot.com/?expref=next-blog>.
• Desai, P, Shah, M 2010, Machine Learning: Classification of Blogs, viewed 11 April 2012, <http://www.cis.upenn.edu/~priyank/projects/Classification_of_Blogs.pdf>.
• Radio National 2008, The Media Report, A Taxonomy of Blogs, Australia, viewed 11 April 2012, <http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/mediareport-1999/a-taxonomy-of-blogs/3186686>.