Weekly new digital media story

Pornhub launches record label 'Pornhub Records'

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/pornhub-launches-record-label-pornhub-records-9754692.html

Pornhub has smoved into the music industry, announcing its own record label and beginning the search for an official "anthem", seeking acts aimed at an adult audience.

"We've always seen a strong music presence from the beginning of Pornhub," head of PR and marketing Matt Blake told Billboard. "Artists upload their own stuff, like uncensored tracks and R-rated versions of songs. Some people come in and upload exclusive videos, so it creates a buzz for them."

The site has already been used by artists to release music, as popular American rapper Coolio returned after a long absence by releasing his song's "take it to the hub" video through the site. As well as established artists the site is now also clearly looking to find and promote their own talent.

In my opinion this news story clearly highlights the power of new and digital media, as a site like pornhub has gained the power through the internet to now be able to launch a record label and move into a new aspect of the media in the music industry. Without new and digital media not only would pornhub not exist, but it would have no where near the capacity to launch a record label, something only the internet has made possible.

News institution providers

News Corporation or News Corp. was an American multinational mass media corporation headquartered in New York City. It was the world's second-largest media group as of 2011 in terms of revenue, and the world's third largest in entertainment as of 2009.

Newspapers they own: 

• The Sun
• The Times
• Sunday Times
• Press Association
• News Corp Australia and several international companies.

BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online news coverage.
The department's annual budget is £350 million; it has 3,500 staff, 2,000 of whom are journalists.








The Guardian, formerly (1821–1959) The Manchester Guardian,  influential daily newspaper published in London, generally considered one of the United Kingdom’s leading newspapers.

The paper was founded in Manchester in 1821 as the weekly Manchester Guardian but became a daily after the British government lifted its Stamp Tax on newspapers in 1855. “Manchester” was dropped from the name in 1959 to reflect the newspaper’s standing as a national daily with a positive international reputation, and its editor and editorial staff moved to London in 1964.

The paper is owned by the Scott Trust, which also owns the Guardian Media Group.

The Guardian have made losses in recent years. The National Newspaper division of GMG, which also includes The Observer, reported operating losses of £49.9m in 2006, up from £18.6m in 2005

The paper's readership is generally on the mainstream left of British political opinion























 

Weekly digital media story

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/digital-media/11103767/Murdoch-renews-hostilities-with-Google-over-contempt-for-copyright.html

Murdoch's Newscorp accuses Google of having "overwhelming power"

Rupert Murdoch has intervened in a European row over the power of Google, with News Corp accusing the search engine of being "contemptuous of intellectual property" and having "cynical management" that provides "a platform for piracy and the spread of malicious networks".

In a letter to Joaquin Almunia, the European Commissioner at the head of a long-running investigation of allegations that Google abuses its dominance of the web search market to crush competition and exploit publishers, Robert Thomson, chief executive of News Corp launched a scathing attack.

He said: "There is no doubt that the case is one of profound significance for many media companies in Europe but also for the people of Europe, whose ability to access information, independently and meaningfully, is put at risk by the overwhelming power of Google.

"The company has evolved from a wonderfully feisty, creative Silicon Valley startup to a vast, powerful, often unaccountable bureaucracy, which is sometimes contemptuous of intellectual property and routinely configures its search results in a manner that is far from objective.

"The shining vision of Google’s founders has been replaced by a cynical management, which offers advertisers impressively precise data about users and content usage, but has been a platform for piracy and the spread of malicious networks, all while driving more traffic and online advertising dollars to Google."

In my opinion I don't think Google can be accused of having too much power considering Newscorp publishes the Wall Street Journal, The Times and The Sun. I think Murdoch is instead angered and jealous of the power Google now has as a result of new and digital media, power he used to hold when print was the dominant media. Google are simply running their business by adapting and selling advertisements to users, we cannot criticise a company for trying to make money, which is inevitably their aim, as it is every other company's, including newscorp; Google have simply exploited a money making strategy that is not available or as fruitful to newscorp, which it not Google's fault.

"The last 20 years have been more significant in terms of media and its role in society than the whole of the previous 200 years"

In my opinion media has become far more significant in it role in society in the last 20 years than the previous 200 years. The main reason for this is the lack of technology that existed more than 20 years ago. There was not enough immediate access through old media such as newspapers and radio for news to possibly have a role in society. However now with digital media, news is instantly accessible through digital media, whether it be online news sites or news through social networks such as twitter and facebook, The news is regularly fed to us even if not looking for it on social feeds on sites such as facebook and twitter.

New and Digital Media exam question feedback

Grade B  - 33/48

WWW:

• Some excellent arguments and looked at both sides of the debate.

EBI:

• Not enough depth - touch upon some interesting issues but move on without fully exploring them.
• Check details: conservatives won the 92 election (case study) and Pareto's law known as the 80/20 law.
• Media theory and more examples needed for A grade.

LR:

• Does a wider variety of views mean higher quality?

I think that a variety of views does mean higher quality to an extent. Being exposed to new views through digital media, as opposed to being fed he same views again and again by newspapers allows us as individuals to look at all these opinions and then form our own. Things such as blogger and Twitter are the new media that allow people to express their views and opinions which in turn help others decide theirs, while also helps people understand other people's points of view.

However an issue that arises from being exposed to so many views can lead to people coming across extremist ideologies and then following them. A recent example is the Jihadist and extremeist Islamic views being spread on extremist websites, leading to people becoming extremists and fighting in countries such as Syria.

New and digital media- Google article

1) Why has Google led to the decline of the newspaper industry?

The article claims that Google has led to the decline of the newspaper industry because it has stolen potential advertisers from newspapers. Advertisers now find it much more convenient and cheaper to advertise on online on Google and sites such as Craigslist to market their products in the ever growing and popular internet as opposed to the old fashioned newspaper advertising which may no longer be able to appeal to their chosen markets, for example advertising a new toy or video game is highly unlikely to be effective in a newspaper. 

2) Do you personally think Google is to blame for newspapers closing and journalists losing their jobs? Why?

I personally completely disagree that Google should be blamed for the decline of newspapers and newspaper income as Google can not be blamed for effectively running their business. Google are simply the first company to exploit the popularity and power of the internet by allowing advertising on it. They have revolutionised the way advertising is done and cannot be blamed for keeping up with modern technology and making profit, as that is their main goal, the same way it is the main goal of most newspapers. No one can blame a company for making too much money, the same way no one can blame a company for reinventing themselves in order to keep up with the latest technology and trends. If Google had not started online advertising it was bound to be done by someone eventually, simply because the internet has grown so rapidly and newspapers are now an old form of media.

3 New/digital media news articles

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/sep/13/facebook-under-fire-drag-queens-real-name-rule

Facebook under fire from drag queens over 'real-name' rule

Many in the drag-queen community are angered by a new Facebook requirement that user accounts must be operated under “real names”.

The performers say Facebook has forced them to use their legal names if they want to continue to access and use their accounts.

One drag queen said in a Facebook post the policy was “unfair, hurtful, discriminatory and an invasion of privacy”. As a result of the policy her account is now under her legal name, which had previously been largely unknown to fans and friends.

The tech giant’s policy is resurrecting controversial questions about privacy on Facebook, as some observers argue that such “real-name” policies can be harmful to groups such as victims of abuse or activists.

Facebook’s name policy says a profile name “should be your real name as it would be listed on your credit card, driver’s licence or student ID”. It also says that forcing people to use their real identities helps keep the social network safe.

More than 6,800 people have signed the petition against the new rules

Key facts: 

• Social network demands performers use their legal names

• 6,800 sign petition, arguing policy can be harmful

My opinion: In my opnion I don't think Facebook should need to make it necessary for all people to make their profiles use their legal name as I don't see it being a major security issue. Facebook could fairly easily identify a person from their profile if someone was regarded a real threat, by tracking that users activity and tracing it to their computer for example. However if making legal names a requirement will seriously help detect threats then I do think it should be implemented. However I don't think there is any real way Facebook can implement this rule effectively as people can still easily use accounts with fake names.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/minecraft-bought-by-microsoft-for-25bn-as-creator-notch--says-im-not-a-symbol-9733826.html

Minecraft studio Mojang bought by Microsoft for $2.5bn

Microsoft has announced that it has purchased Mojang, the Swedish studio behind the popular game Minecraft, for $2.5 billion (£1.5bn).

The best-selling title, which has been downloaded more than 100 million times since its launch in 2009, brought Mojang more than $100 million in profit last year and is one of the most popular games of all time.

In a statement published on Mojang’s site, the company: “Yes, the deal is real. Mojang is being bought by Microsoft,” adding that Minecraft has “grown from a simple game to a project of monumental significance” and that Mr Persson “doesn’t want the responsibility of owning a company of such global significance.”

Key facts: 

• Microsoft buys Minecraft creators Mojang
• $2.5 billion (£1.5 billion)
• 100 million downloads
• $100 million profit in 2013
• Mojang owner felt he had too much responsibility and stress

My opinion: In my opinion Microsoft being able to buy Mojang so easily highlights just how powerful and what a global giant they are in the media, as they can buy almost any company they want. It is actions like this and other media giants suh as Apple buying Dre beats and Facebook buying Snapchat that perhaps do not allow smaller media companies to become major powers like Apple and Microsoft as they simply buy them out. 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/iphone-6-and-iphone-6-plus-record-breaking-four-million-units-preordered-in-24-hours-9733740.html

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus: 'Record breaking' four million units pre-ordered in 24 hours

Apple has announced that it has taken more than four million pre-orders for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in 24 hours, setting a new first day record for the company.

Apple said the sales were “the biggest advancements in iPhone history,” although it’s not yet certain how this compares to sales of last year’s iPhone 5s and 5c, which collectively sold more than nine million units in just three days.

The company added that a “significant amount” of pre-orders would be delivered “beginning on Friday and throughout September” but that many pre-orders were also “scheduled to be delivered in October”.

Some pre-orders in the UK disrupted by the closure of Phones4U after the company went into administration.

Key facts: 

• Record amount of pre orders for new iPhone 6
• Over 4 million pre orders
• iPhone 5 sold 9 million units in 3 days
• pre orders in UK disrupted by closure of Phones4U