Definitions of media words such as convergence and more

Thaddeus

1.    Convergence definition

Media convergence is the merging of mass communication outlets such as print, television, radio, the Internet along with portable and interactive technologies through various digital media platforms.

Early convergence

An example of early convergence is when mobile phones first came out they were just ordinary phones but then they started to have digital cameras as part of them. Phones have converged even more since. Modern up to date smart phones also have games as part of them and have access to the internet.

Present day convergence.

An Example of present day digital convergence is Sky. When Sky started it was a subscription TV broadcaster but now it provides internet service, phone service, on demand TV and Now TV.

Another example is print media. Now you don’t have to buy newspapers you can just read them online on the internet.

Interactivity definition

Interactive media refers to products and services on digital computer-based systems which respond to the user’s actions by presenting content such as text, moving image, animation, video, audio, games, etc. It is also where people can interact with each other in present time.

Ways that digital technology is interactive

IPad are digital technology and you can use them by touching it with your fingers because it reacts to the touch of your fingertips which makes it interactive.

Another example of interactivity is Twitter. People can inform people immediately about events which may be happening live by using their phones to update people about the events via Facebook and Twitter.

Examples of ways we have consumed the media from interactivity

1. Businesses don’t have to hold physical meetings in rooms instead they can do it over the internet on video conferences which makes it much easier.

2. People at events can video what is going on and take photos then upload it to their media pages such as Twitter.

3. And people can keep up to date with the news by 24 hour news channels such as Sky news.

Personalisation

We personalize our technology so it is easy for us to use and because some software may not be useful for you at all so you may not want it. You may just have an iPad or a phone so you would want to put all your media on to that device.

Benefits and drawbacks

Thaddeus

1.

Horizontal interrogation

In a business horizontal integration is a strategy where a company creates or acquires production units for outputs. One example would be when a company acquires competitors in the same industry doing the same stage of production for the creation of a monopoly. Horizontal integration occurs when a company decides to merge, acquire or take over another company in the same industry and at the same stage of production. Disney's acquisition of Pixar or the merger of Exxon and Mobil are both great examples of horizontal integration. In both examples, two companies of similar size and operation, operating in the same industry, combined to form a stronger company.

Benefits

. Cuts out competition from companies in the same field

. It helps companies grow larger

. They will have a wider audience to sell their products too by hopefully attracting customers of a company that another company has acquired.

Drawbacks

. The worst disadvantage the company can face is a possible reduction in overall value.

. Legal action over the takeover

. The audience might not like the new big companies’ products and preferred it more when there were separate companies offering more choice.

2.

Vertical interrogation

In microeconomics and management, vertical integration is an arrangement in which the supply chain of a company is owned by that company. Usually each member of the supply chain produces a different product or (market-specific) service, and the products combine to satisfy a common need.

Benefits

.Enables you to invest in greatly specialized assets. 

.Lower Costs of Transaction.

. You control the supply lines

Drawbacks

.The suppliers can’t sell their products and branch out themselves as they are supplying there products to the company which owns them.

. Less of a choice for consumers as all the suppliers owned by a company cannot produce for consumers themselves.

Co-operatives.

The media cooperative is a relatively new form of cooperative.. Media Cooperatives are a special form of service cooperative, in which customers and service providers usually unite to oppose the pure profit motive.

Benefits

, Lower prices of products

. It is controlled by the members

Drawbacks

They might have to sell to niche market because they might not be able to stand up to big companies.

. More ethical so they may miss out on opportunities because they don’t agree with the policies of some companies or governments.

Codes of practice

Codes of practice is a set of written rules which explains how people working in a particular profession should behave.

Reasons for codes of practise

.This is so it can help stop false advertising.

.Stop biased news reporting

.Stops the news telling lies and forces the news to tell both sides of a story

.Controls the size of media companies to stop a monopoly becoming to large.

Unlawful practise

Unlawful practise is getting information and selling media products illegally

Examples of unlawful practise

Fake advertising

Selling illegal or fake products

Gathering information in illegal ways such as hacking into peoples phones

Censorship

Censorship is deciding where something is suitable for someone by their age. This is by movies, games, magazines etc.

Examples of censorship

.A game like call of duty would be censored to 18 aged people or over because of the content.

. Films have different age categories by what content is in them.

. Some news stories may be censored by the government because of the content.

Working independently

Working independently means working by yourself and it allows you to come up with your own ideas. Everything you do will be produced by you only on blogs, websites, Facebook, Twitter etc.

 Working collaboratively

Working collaboratively means working with others so you can produce more ideas because lots of different people will have lots of different strengths and different ideas to input.

Working with a client

Benefits

.Working with a client you know that you are going to get paid

.Working to a brief so you have a idea of what you need to produce

.Working to a time table so you know when the works needs to be done by

Drawbacks

. It might restrict your creative input

.You might find the work boring

. You might find it hard to meet the deadline of the work 

Film sector

Thaddeus O'Connor-Dunphie

Film sector

Characteristics of mainstream films

The characteristics of mainstream films can easily be noticed, one element of production may be the director. In mainstream films, the directors behind them are normally very well-known and multi-award winning. For example, Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson and James Cameron. These are directors who have directed some of the most well-known and highest grossing films of all time, this therefore, immediately shows that it’s a characteristic of a mainstream film as they appeal to a very wide audience which will result in a larger audience and more money. Another production factor is the casting of A-list actors and actresses. The top actors charge a very high amount of money which independent budgets can’t afford. This is why it’s rare for A-list actors to be casted in an independent film. Special effects is also what makes a mainstream film an example of this is Avatar, you can see some amazing special effects which add a huge sense of thrill and excitement to a movie.

Characteristics of independent films

The characteristics of independent films are easily noticeable too. These films usually have unknown actors and directors, the complete opposite of a mainstream film. They would not have as much special effects as a mainstream film as they would be working on a much lower budget. In addition to this these films do not aim to make sequels just the one film unlike main stream films. We can also see differences in the marketing process between the two film types. Mainstream films are marketed in a much more public way as opposed to independent films. This, again, comes down to money. The mainstream companies such as Universal and Paramount can afford to advertise the movies through a variety of media. They use trailers on television and the internet, adverts, billboards, adverts in magazines and newspapers, posters, adverts on buses and they advertise on large websites on the internet such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. They will also show trailers of the film pre-release in cinemas before a film. This isn’t possible for independent films again due to their more modest budget. The main way we see independent films marketed is through film award ceremonies such as the Cannes Film Festival and the Oscars. The film which wins, for example, best independent film, will immediately generate a huge amount of public awareness for itself due to it winning a prestigious award. This will make viewers want to see this award-winning film and will normally result in a high intake of money and a healthy profit.

Characteristics of niche films

Niche is when you can see that one portion of the audience clearly overwhelms all of the others… even when you hope that it will expand past that group. The idea of the “quadrant” has been around forever, but has really lost its meaning, as it is not nearly specific enough in the recent market. The “niche” is a section of a quadrant. It doesn’t have to be defined by age or sex, but when you look at each niche, they usually are one sex or the other, one age group that bulges outside of historic ideas, etc.