Wednesday, 28 February 2007

I have seen the promised land! - Computer Assisted Research and Reporting for Dum-dums!











After countless hours of mind-boggling, unbelievably frustrating Internet and library searches – I finally located the population statistics for Grahamstown, East London, Bloemfontein, and Johannesburg! (Waits for thunderous applause) Turns out, they were on Statistics South Africa (see my favourite links) the whole time. The key, in the end, was to dig and burrow deep into the site’s sinister web of “freely-accessible” government information. For a while I felt as if I were traipsing through a desert, looking for any sign of life, a spring of hope among the arid land of population statistics. But, the effort proved fruitful and I am satisfied …

Locating the information for this assignment, as you may have gathered by now, was the most challenging aspect of the practical exercise and 90% of the battle. The crime statistics were relatively simple to locate. The South African Police Service website (see my favourite links) was straightforward and accessible, and the information easy to download. The one aspect that may hinder citizens from accessing the crime statistics is that they are only available in a downloadable .pdf format. This may prove problematic to users who do not have access to .pdf readers such as Adobe Reader on their computers.

The population statistics were eventually located on Statistics South Africa. The site was not easily accessible and the information difficult to come by. When the statistics were eventually located, they were only available in Excel format, which again proves problematic for citizens who do not have Microsoft Excel, or similar programmes, on their computers. The second problem that arose was that the names of the cities were not given, instead their respective codes were used, e.g. EC101. Having located the statistics, I then had to locate the municipality code lists and then find the cities I needed. The names of the cities are also recorded differently and for someone who is not familiar with the name changes this may pose yet another challenge. For example, Grahamstown is listed as Makana, East London as Buffalo City and Bloemfontein as Magaung. See what I mean by tangled web? It is also essential to note that the latest population statistics available are from the 2001 census. This does pose a problem to our data results, as we are comparing 2006 crime statistics with population statistics recorded five years earlier.

Recording the data in Microsoft Excel was like a breath of fresh air. With the skills I had already acquired from a previous lecture, it was simply a matter of recording the numbers accurately and double-checking them. From the graphs, I was shocked to find that with regard to rape, murder, assault with intent, and malicious damage to property, Grahamstown (yes, the town that I currently call my home!) is the most dangerous city per capita. This is a potentially viable story idea.

Using spreadsheets for statistical analysis is a useful tool for making sense of endless reams of data provided by government and municipal officials. Story ideas may very well be embedded within these pages of seemingly senseless information. The results of my analysis have shown that there is a promising story idea already lurking – why is Grahamstown’s crime rate so high?

Not always easy to access, and not always easy to understand, one may go so far as to question the apparent transparency of our government with regard to facts and figures. There is, evidently a need for a simple and easy means by which to access and understand online data and South Africa has a long way to go.








Monday, 26 February 2007

Rock, Hard Place, Me ...

Okay, so my latest assignment for Jude has resulted in me very nearly ripping my fingernails off: South African population statistics are SO HARD TO FIND!!! Officials who may stumble into this blog - run for your lives!!

I found the crime statistics very easy to come by (my thanks to the SAPS who actually provide a democratic service to the people - bravo!). As for the rest of the statistics, based on a subtle hint from Jude, Ntokozo and I trapsed down to the Rhodes University library in an attempt to access the most recent population statistics for the various South African cities.

IMPOSSIBLE!!! There are oodles of stats surrounding provinces and race and gender etc..., but nothing on specific towns. As of 11pm I was still looking, but alas to no avail. So, I decided to make one last post before ending it all ... fare thee well bloggers ....



Seriously, I am just being a tad dramatic, delirium has set in ... see you all again soon

Cheers
"Frustrated and Suicidal"

Sunday, 25 February 2007

600-word critical discussion of my introduction to new media and journalism studies

Over the past two weeks, our new media class has been introduced to the various facets of “new” media and journalism studies. This has been completely foreign terrain for all of us and it has been a whirlwind tour thus far. Despite the great deal of information that has been flung in our general direction, however, we have managed to obtain a general understanding of the significance of “new” media, specifically with regard to the current and future role of journalists within this digital medium.

The first significant debate that we encountered in our introduction to “new” media was the use of the word “new” when describing digitalised media. Lister (2002) interrogates the “newness” of digital media, stating that the term “new” media arises out of the modernist belief that views social progress as a direct result of technology. If one adopts this approach, one could view the development of technology and the subsequent rise of digital communication as “new”. Marshall (2004) however asserts that new forms of communication are only partially determined by their technology and are largely shaped from social and cultural conditions. It is possible to view a range of new characteristics when examining “new” media and journalism studies, such as a new way of representing the world through the creation of virtual environments, and a new relationship between media producer and audience (Lister 2002). However, one could argue that “new” media is not so much the introduction of new characteristics, but rather an improvement of more traditional mediums, described as “remediation” (Lister 2002:39). Kawamoto (2003:4) concurs with Lister's view, defining digital journalism as a “juxtaposition of old and new concepts”. “New” media do draw on traditional mediums of print, radio (audio) and television (visual) in the production and dissemination of news.

When examining the significance of “new” media and journalism studies, it is essential to highlight that the course is comprised of two facets: a practical and a theoretical facet. Both are equally significant in the pursuit of understanding and the gaining of knowledge surrounding “new” media. Lister (2002) asserts that technology cannot be separated from questions of practise, specifically with regard to how the technology is utilised and how content is generated. It is, therefore not sufficient to merely learn about the unique characteristics and practical skills of “new” media, but it is also necessary to examine “new” media from a theoretical perspective. Journalists and media workers need to obtain a greater understanding of the social, cultural, economic and historical facets of “new” media in order to fully exploit the potentiality of the medium and to do so responsibly.

An example would be the examination of the shifting power relations that has emerged with the increased popularity of “new” media. The heightened interactivity of digital media provides users with more power and agency with regard to media consumption and production, in which they possess more control and ownership than in traditional media forms (Marshall 2004). Users also have increased power in their ability to produce their own media through the use of blogs. Marshall (2004), however, questions the extent to which users are in control of “new” media practices. Described as the democratic medium, “new” media are understood to provide all people with the power over the means of production, however Marshall (2004) asserts that, much like traditional media, power and control is still concentrated in the hands of the elite minority. Users exercise their agency through the use of computer programs that have been designed by “new” media computer programmers. As a result, it is the computer programmer that determines the way people use computers and the level of interactivity and agency that users are able to access are confined to the boundaries of the program.

“New” media also needs to be critically examined with regard to the role of the journalist. Kawamoto (2003) highlights the dilemma of the journalist in the age of digital media, where anyone with access to the Internet can produce and publish news. Critical media studies may be utilised in determining the legitimate sources of news and information and discussions surrounding the integrity of journalism (Kawamoto 2003).


On the whole, the digitisation of media production has resulted in a variety of unique opportunities for the journalistic field (Lister 2002). Arguably one of the most unique opportunities of “new” media, that has already been mentioned, is its potential for interactivity between users and the media production process. The Internet has reconstructed many patterns of communication, allowing new communities to form through activities such as blogging and emailing (Marshall 12). “New” media is secondly a primarily multimedia form that is not confined to aspects of time and space like traditional media. As a result, media texts are no longer confined to a particular medium (Kawamoto 2003). One is, therefore, able to produce and access a variety of media around a single story or issue. For example, one could not only read an article, but could also listen to a live interview with an important source. Digitised information can also be disseminated at high speeds, thus enabling the production of news to be more immediate than other mediums. Updates can be made more frequently, ensuring the most current information is always available. The opportunities of “new” media also extend beyond the dissemination of news, and include the gathering of information (De Wolk 2001). Computer Assisted Research and Reporting (CARR) provide a unique opportunity for journalists to improve their quality of news gathering through the use of innovative analytical and technical tools (Kawamoto 2003).

There is still a great deal to learn about the field of “new” media and journalism studies, however the significance of our course has been highlighted through the discussion of the debate regarding the “newness” of “new” media, the prominence of the need to critically interrogate the various social, cultural, economic and political aspects of the practical application of “new” media, such as the concentration of power and the unique opportunities that digital media provides media producers and consumers.

Works Cited

De Wolk, R. (2001). Introduction to Online Journalism: Publishing News and Information. Allyn and Bacon. Boston

Kawamoto, K. (ed). (2003). Digital Journalism: emerging media and the changing horizons of journalism. Rohman and Littlefield:Lanham.

Lister, M. (2002). New Media: A Critical Introduction. Routledge: London.

Marshall, D. P. (2004). New Media Cultures. Oxford University Press: London.

Thursday, 22 February 2007

The New Media Journalist and XHTML

I have just completed my first practical assignment for new media, whereby I had to utilise basic xhtml. It was a little complicated at first, but having read the online resources that were supplied, the process became easier and - dare I say it - fun.

As a new media journalism student, my course is comprised of two components: the theoretical and the practical. It is essential when studying the theoretical aspects of digital journalism that we think about the practical elements and vice versa. As a result, my practical assignment needs to be interrogated in theoretical terms and so I discuss the question:

Why do you think a new media journalist should understand and use xhtml?

With the rise of digital communication, online journalists find themselves straddling the line between the traditional world of print and broadcast journalism, and the “new” digital world of the Internet. As a result, new media journalists do not only have a responsibility to uphold traditional journalistic practices, but should also endeavour to exploit the potential of their online medium. To be an effective new media journalist, it is therefore essential to learn simple computer language skills such as xhtml, otherwise known as eXtensible hypertext markup language. De Wolk (2001) argues that by mastering a computer language, new media journalists will be able to produce online journalism that fully exploits the potentiality of their web pages. xhtml enables new media journalists to gain a basic understanding of web page design, which will aid them in publishing articles of a high standard. With a stricter syntax than its predecessor html, xhtml allows for more consistent, well-structured web pages that are easy to maintain, edit, convert and format (Peck 2002). Unlike html that supplied users with a fixed set of elements to use, xhtml utilises xml, known as eXtensible hypertext markup language that makes new ways of inserting content and programming possible. As a result, a new media journalist who is able to master xhtml can create a web page that is innovative and then draw on elements from other xml languages, including those developed by the World Wide Web Consortium for multimedia (Richmond 2000). Peck (2002) holds firm that in order to learn xhtml, one must not be afraid to get one’s hands dirty. Becoming reliant on editors such as Oxygen or Mimulus is problematic in that if your Web page does not work, you will not have sufficient knowledge to correct the issue. Similarly, De Wolk (2001) recommends that journalists utilise raw markup languages, like xhtml, when starting to learn, as it will enable new media journalists to experiment and try new and daring things as opposed to adhering to editor templates. xhtml is also said to be a portable markup language that is able to extend to other devices such as cellphones (Richmond 2002). With the future of web access pointing firmly in the direction of these devices, by learning xhtml new media journalists are ensuring their place in the future of digital journalism.

Resources
Peck, N. 2002. XHTML Web Design for Beginners: An Introduction. Retrieved February 23, 2007 from World Wide Web:
http://www.miswebdesign.com/resources/articles/web-design-xhtml-1-2.html

Richmond, A. 2000. Introduction to XHTML: Why do we need XHTML? Retrieved February 25, 2007 from World Wide Web:
http://www.wdvl.com/Authoring/Languages/XML/XHTML/why.html

Xhtml Tutorial:
http://www.webheadstart.org/xhtml/

Wednesday, 21 February 2007

What is a blog?

I have just finished my assignment on what is blogging for Brad and I thought I would post it here for all you interested readers. It just gives you all out there in the depths of cyberspace some idea of the work I am doing:

The rise of digital media in the late 20th and early 21st centuries has led to the emergence of a phenomenon whose popularity has grown from mere dozens in 1999 to millions by 2005 (Jensen 2003). The word is on every Internet user’s lips – blogs.

A web log, or blog, may be understood as a user-generated web-based publication where entries are made in an informal journal or diary format (wikipedia 2007). Blogs function in a number of ways, but primarily operate as a platform for users to comment and record their thoughts regarding a specific issue, and publish them over the Internet. Over the years, however, blogging has grown from a mere online record of a person’s thoughts to a “credible means of news dissemination and discussion” (wikipedia 2007). Bloggers have become media producers, but how does the journalism they produce compare and differ to conventional print and broadcast journalism?

In a democratic society, the media generally function to provide citizens with the information they need to make informed decisions about their society and a blog, as a platform for media production, functions in this way. However, blogs go beyond this function and differ greatly from conventional journalistic practices.

Arguably the leading difference between conventional journalism and blogging is that conventional journalism does not promote citizen participation, and has come under much criticism for its fortress-like media practices (Rosen 1999). Conventional journalism does not provide media consumers with the opportunity to comment on and discuss news issues. Blogging, however, promotes the participation of citizens in the media. One could argue that blogs are an example of citizen’s journalism whereby citizens are called upon to play an "active role in the process of collecting, reporting, analyzing and disseminating news and information" (wikipedia 2007). Through its highly interactive nature, blogs give agency to individuals, motivating them to debate, discuss and question news issues. Conventional journalism, I would argue, promotes passivity on the part of its audience, while blogging promotes action.

Blogs also differ from conventional journalism in that they are produced by users for other users. The majority of bloggers are not qualified journalists and are producing news as citizens (Jensen 2003). Blogging is essentially a conversation between citizens and, as a result, is solution-oriented (Marlow 2004). Conventional news reports concentrate on publishing information on news issues, without necessarily thinking about the solutions. By stimulating commentary and debate, blogs do not only discuss the problem, but also potential solutions.

Another difference between blogs and conventional journalism is that, unlike conventional journalism, blogs are not obliged to adhere to ethical codes of conduct. While print journalists have to answer to the Press Ombudsmans Code and broadcast journalists are held accountable to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA), blog users are so vast and numerous that there is no current means by which to regulate the information they publish. This has negative consequences in that it allows bloggers to fabricate facts and, as a result, the credibility of information posted on blogs is questionable.

Conventional journalism primarily utilises one medium by which to communicate news to citizens, be it print, radio or television. Blogs, however, support the use of multimedia, providing a user with a number of ways to consume news from a single platform. This serves to enhance the quality of information that users can access and provides them with a more holistic view of the news. Blogs also have special tools, such as feed readers, that allow users to access information that is only of interest to them. Instead of reading through an entire newspaper or listening to an entire news broadcast, bloggers can utilise feed readers to link to issues that are most interesting to them (Marlow 2004).

Blogs, while sharing a similar function to conventional journalism in democratic societies, differ greatly in a number of ways. As the popularity of blogging continues to rise, there may be a shift away from conventional, fortress-like journalistic practices to a more citizen-oriented approach to news coverage.

Works Cited
2007.“Citizen’s Journalism”. Wikipedia. Retrieved February 20, 2007 from the World Wide Web:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_journalism
2007.“Blogging”. Wikipedia. Retrieved February 20, 2007 from the World Wide Web: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blogging
Jensen, M. 2003. “Emerging Alternatives: A Brief History of Weblogs”. Columbia Journalism Review , no 5. Retrieved February 20, 2007 from the World Wide Web: http://www.cjr.org/issues/2003/5/blog-jensen.asp?printerfriendly=yes
Marlow, C. 2004. “Audience, structure and authority in the weblog community”. MIT Media Laboratory. Retrieved February 20, 2007 from the World Wide Web: http://alumni.media.mit.edu/~cameron/cv/pubs/04-01.pdf
Rosen, J. 1999. “The Action of the Idea: Public Journalism in Built Form”. T. Glasser (ed). The Idea of Public Journalism. New York : Guilford Press.

Sunday, 18 February 2007

Welcome bloggers!

Hi there! I would officially like to welcome everyone to my FIRST blog! I hope you have as much fun on it as I have had setting it up and I invite you to join me as I get to know the intricacies of blogging. I am a novice, so bare with me as I learn the ropes!

For my first official entry, I thought that I would briefly explain the name I have chosen for my blog. "Clouds in my coffee" is actually a phrase sung in the Carly Simon song 'You're So Vain'. When I first heard the song, for some reason, that phrase struck a chord. For me, when I hear Carly Simon sing "I had some dreams there were clouds in my coffee" I get this image in my head of a woman sitting in her bathrobe at the kitchen table early in the morning, staring into her morning cup of coffee. Despite being trapped in the 9-5 daily rut of her working life, she still harbours childhood dreams and hopes for the future. I guess that kind've describes me in a way... oh and I am a little vain, so the title is quite apt!

"New" Media

Why, you may ask yourselves have I waited so long to start up my own blog when it has become apparent that I have such a natural gift for it (sorry - there's that sarcastic humour)! Well, I have to admit that it is actually part of the course I'm studying.

For those lazy bums who have not taken the time to view my profile, I am a fourth year journalism student specialising in New Media (which we have just been learning is not actually new, but merely a remediation of media) Anyway, it has to do with the Internet and I am so excited to be learning and expanding my range of knowledge.

Last year I studied writing and editing and while interesting, was not stimulated, so I decided to give New Media a whirl and after a week of free falling through the introductory lectures I am officially hooked!

So, bottom line - I will be posting a lot of information about New Media as I learn - some of it will be part of my course work and some of it will just be me whinging, whining and procrastinating (which I am not doing now - btw) *looks sheepishly around the room to see if Jude or Brad are watching*

Ciao for now!