Recent figures show that 59% of the UK has regular access to the Internet, and only 4% of the population has absolutely no access to the Internet. It also means that we now have an E-government: The Internet is a cheap way of paying tax, etc., accessing public services and getting government information. (This applies to both central and local government.)
Satellite TV
Here is a timeline for the history of Satellite TV in the UK. My source for this was, Source: http://www.sky.com/skycom/article/0,,90000-1079033,00.html
These are the effects that Satellite TV has had on the country;
- There is a wide choice to what we watch: about half of all UK viewers have access to multi-channel TV.
- There have been high profits for BSkyB (after years of loss-making while the system was developed).
WAP Technology
This is technology and software, which conforms to a series of international commercial agreements called the Wireless Application Protocol. These agreements standardize specifications and systems for linking different technologies such as e-mail, the Internet and mobile phones. They are part of the accelerating process of media globalization. WAP technology allows instant images and information to be transmitted worldwide. Which is just yet another way for visual news to be quickly spread amongst millions.
Electronic Typesetting
This is a new media technology. It is the production of books, newspapers and magazines using computers. It replaced the old system of manual typesetting, where a clever craftsman called a compositor fitted each letter of each word of a newspaper or book into a special frame. This took a very long time and was not easy or cheap. Electronic methods also replaced the manual techniques such as screen-printing and lithography, which were used for printing photographs. It came about in 1980. It has many effects the positives ones are;
- It saved money, replacing print-workers with machines.
- It improved the accuracy and presentation of newspapers.
- It saved time: the news in newspapers is now much more up-to-date.
The negative effects are;
- Small newspapers went out of business or we retaken over.
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One company, News International (which owns the Sun, the Times and a number of other important newspapers – and Sky TV) benefited loads.
- It caused very bad strikes in 1981 at Wapping, East London.
Information gathering technology increases the power of media by-
- Getting news to the consumer fast.
- Operating in all parts of the world.
- Fast, vivid news influences both public opinion and politicians, who are often forced to comment.
These technologies include;
- Digital cameras
- Digital camcorders (some small enough to be
- Hidden)
- Cheap home video cameras with which members of the public are often able to film major disasters before the press and TV crews get there
- Better sound recording mobile phones
- WAP technology (sending pictures through phones) satellite communications
- Language monitoring services
- Computerized translations
- Surveillance techniques (e.g. intercepting phone and radio ‘chatter’).
The public opinion is more influenced when information is vivid, immediate and well presented. For example, the media coverage of 9/11 enabled Bush and Blair to sell the idea of war in Afghanistan and Iraq to their people. Innovations in information-presenting technology include:
- Interactive TV services
- Better picture quality (e.g. from LCD or plasma screens)
- Better sound quality
There have been many changes in media technology. Most recent changes in their technology mean that; news gets to us almost as it happens. Also, our own culture is strongly influenced by that of America, which predominates many of the programmes and films that we watch on TV. There is also an increased risk of the media being used by governments to influence public opinion. There is more media diversity – more TV channels means more television for minority groups and people with special interests.
The Media mainly affects events such as Disaster relief and charity appeals, reporting of inner city riots or paedophile pressure groups. And also reporting individuals accused of crime that are later found innocent.
There are three main ways that the media can affect events. This is a diagram of the ‘media amplification spiral’.
The idea states that certain kinds of events such as rioting and hooliganism can be stimulated and made worse by sensational coverage of the media.
An example of how the media affects events is the Madeline McCann disappearance. The McCann’s daughter went missing on the evening of Thursday, 3 May 2007 in the resort of Praia da Luz in the Algarve, Portugal. It was the Mccann’s themselves that got in touch with the newspapers to report the suspected kidnapping. With the help of the Media, they have been able to publicise Madeline’s disappearance worldwide. Millions of newspapers printed pictures of the little girl and information on her, and a phone number to ring if anyone had any information. The media set up a charity fund to help the McCann’s in the search for their daughter and enabled millionaires to hear about their cause and sponsor them. So the media has definitely helped to progress their search.
However this has also helped the media. By reporting this case, it has helped them to sell papers and made them millions. So both the McCann’s and the media have benefited from, the attention.
The Media use sensationalism to sell stories. The more sensational the story, the more papers are sold. Sensationalism is a manner of being extremely , loud, or attention grabbing. It is especially applied to the emphasis of the unusual or atypical.