A Brief History of Mass Media

The media is changing at an ever increasing pace.  Every year, new media technologies reframe the way audiences engage with and interact with the media. The increasing availability of new media has upended traditional media paradigms that have existed ever since the beginning of mass media communication.
QUESTIONS
What are the 3 major eras of mass media?
What technology has defined each era?
What is the major difference between the new media age and the electronic age?

The Impact of New Media on Traditional Forms of Media

Samrtphones Vs Traditional News Media
In the past, News Media outlets would sit on a story for at least 24 hours while they curated and formulated the narrative. Now, smartphones have allowed everyday citizens to report the news as it happens, creating an appetite for instant gratification. Have a read of this short article and answer the questions below:
  1. How have smartphones changed the way that the news is produced and consumed by audiences?
  2. What are the benefits and drawbacks of mobile journalism?
  3. What are meant by the terms 'citizen journalist', 'globalisation' and 'instant gratification'?
  4. Can you find two examples online of
    1. A citizen journalist who has misrepresented the truth AND
    2. A citizen journalist who has exposed the truth?

Streaming  vs Traditional Television
In the past, Traditional broadcast television could be considered an oligopoly, where a handful of media owners controlled the content and viewing habits  of Australian TV audiences. Since the advent of streaming in the mid 2010s, out relationship to traditional broadcast television has changed dramatically. Watch the video below and answer the following questions:
​
  • How has television changed in Australia since 1956?
  • What is meant by the term 'watercooler TV?'
  • How has streaming changed the consumption and viewing habits of Australian TV audiences? Give 5 examples. you will find more examples here
  • Given what you now know about how streaming changed the TV industry - try to list 3 ways that you think music streaming may have changed the music industry and the consumption habits of audiences.

​

The Social and Ethical Issues of Social Media and Emergent Technologies

New media technologies always present a new range of social, ethical and legal issues. The ever changing and expanding nature of the internet and the many platforms, applications and tools it provides make mitigating potential issues very challenging.  For this unit of work, it is important to understand the different issues we will be exploring.
Social Issues - issues that effect the way we relate to each other and the world around us. 
Ethical Issues - issues that are morally questionable. They may challenge traditionally held values or standards.
Legal issues - issues that may break or contravene a country or region's laws.

The Social Dilemma

As we watch The Social Dilemma as a class take thorough notes of
  1. What are the statistics presented in the movie?
  2. What are the social issues presented in the film 
  3. What are the ethical issues presented in the film?
  4. What Legal issues are presented in the film?

Humane Technology

The end of the documentary discusses the rise of humane technology as a method for combatting many of the social and ethical issues created by social media. Humane Technology is any technology aligned to human needs rather than benefitting from human vulnerability for profit.
  • Can you think of any human technology currently on your phone? What is a piece of software or function that gets you off your phone? Causes less addiction? Actually benefits you?
  • How is BeReal an example of humane technology? What is it trying to undo? How is it doing so?

​

Virtual Reality Short Films
​IT Float and Refugee Crisis

Using our VR headsets and your phone, watch the following 2 VR movies and then respond to the following questions
  1. How was your consumption of (viewing) and reception of (reaction to) the movies above effected by the use of VR?
  2. How do you think VR may disrupt the traditional methods in which movies are produced and consumed?
  3. What are the current limitations of VR film-making?

TASK 
 Find a current innovation or technology that has the potential to change to the way a traditional industry, software, process, etc works.  Prepare an oral and visual explanation and demonstration of the technology to be presented in the next class. Your explanation should cover the following points:
  1. What is the industry that could be effected? What has held back that industry from evolving or growing?
  2. How could this new technology change a particular area of a traditional industry? what is its potential?
  3. What new technology is being used do drive this innovation?
  4. Can you demonstrate visually how the technology works?
Some examples may include
  • Dall.E artificial intelligence disrupting traditional photo editing industries and software applications like photoshop
  • AirBnB disrupting traditional hotel industries
  • AlphaGo machine learning disrupting traditional board game industries
  • Uber or other ride share apps disrupting the taxi industry