(i) I.P.D - Reflection

Source: www.uglorable.com

Finally.

Here come the end of my blogging journey at A to I.P.D.

Throughout the blogging experience, I have learned the importance to apply the theories of Issues in Publication and Design, to produce an effective document that will make communication productive. On another side of note, I have also come to a realization on how powerful, and harmful words & images can bring upon one.

As a blogger, it requires discipline and passion to keep your blog lively and updated. Knowing that your words, and the way you phrase your words, insert images bring about impact, a blogger should be very careful when he/she writes. Especially to be a responsible blogger, to give credit for works that are not yours. Not only that, as blogger, we should know our audience, to be sensitive to the cultural background so that our writing would not be offensive but appealing instead.

Along the journey of blogging, I have learned to applied what I have learn. To upload pictures, keeping my blog capturing, while passing out message more effectively (to emphasize the important points with red and bold font) because the readers rely on picture and words to guide them through their journey of reading your work. (Walsh, 2004)

Case studies and research in this field has made me understand better when Kress & van Leeuwen (2006) stated that 'multimodal text are analyzed in an integrated way'. A plain theory, but very true and important indeed. As I applied the theory on my blog writing, comparing it with the case studies I have done (especially the Makkal Osai's issue), somehow I am truly grateful that I have learned this principals before I launch myself into the world of writing.


Reference

Kress, G., & van Leeuwen, T., 2006, Reading images. Chapter 6: The meaning of composition

Walsh, M 2006, 'The textual shift: examining the reading process with print, visual, and multimodal texts', Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, vol. 29. no. 1, pp. 24-37

(h) High-tech politicking - a tribute to Obama

There is a saying goes, people would not care how much you know, until they know how much you care. It stressed on the importance on relationship. The bonding with one another has always been a key for the success for everything, including election.

Grigsby (in Shiels, 2008) strengthens the importance of getting connected, 'The use of mobile technology to get out the vote and get people involved is a way for the grass roots to really make an impact'. United States president seems to know this well, and wisely, he made full use of technologies which then, succeeded his ministry.

For instance, iPhone's application of 'Call friend', to pass on up-to-date news from campaign, together with videos, photos and talking points to help convince friends to vote for him. (Shiels, 2008) Also, Obama has made full use of text message when he announced Joe Biden as his choice for Vice President in a text message (SMS) to his supporters. (Spalter, 2008)

Source: The Huffington Post

Apart from that, Facebook helps to create a friendly and up-to-date Barack Obama, showing that he is ready to take the lead to change. Strengthening his vision on changes of United States -- something that the citizen have been long for. Upon explaining the relationship between individual values and media use, Besley (2008) points out that 'core values appears to be derived, learned and internalized from society and its institution (media); which then, explains Obama's victory.

Clearly as it seems, Obama's application of technology is to grab the attention of the readers. Usage of websites, Facebook, SMSes to mobile phone and updates to iPhone are means to assist and attract the reader (Walsh, 2006), making them feel involved and close to Obama. Spalter (2008) supports Walsh (2006) when he made this statement, 'it was a landmark moment not just in politics, but also in America's embrace of innovative technology' upon the news of Obama uses text messaging for informing his choice of Vice President.

Amazed, McCullagh (in Shiels, 2008) gave his opinion on Obama's usage of iphone, 'Having your friends sorted by battleground states is something I haven't seen any other politician come up with before. This is a glimpse of the future of high-tech politicking.'

In short, it is simply amazing to see how much media can benefit the society, even in the context of politic.


References

Besley, J.C., 2008, Media use and human values, Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, Vol. 85, No. 2, p. 311

Shiels, M., 2008, 'Obama uses iPhone to win support', BBC News, viewed 23 June 2009, at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7649753.stm

Spalter, J., 2008, Obama's Mobile Moment, viewed 23 June 2009, at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathan-spalter/obamas-mobile-moment_b_120819.html

Walsh, M 2006, 'The textual shift: examining the reading process with print, visual, and multimodal texts', Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, vol. 29. no. 1, pp. 24-37

(g) Get suspended! - Makkal Osai

What would you think when you see this?

"If a person repents his mistakes, heaven awaits him"

(Source: www.infernalramblings.com)

The publication permit of Tamil daily, Makkal Osai has been suspended for one month, due to the picture above. This 2007 incident happened due to the bad choice of image, I would say. Schirato and Yell (1996) has emphasized on the importance of interpreting composition: how texts shapes contexts, and contexts shapes texts. At the issue of 'Makkal Osai', upon interpreting the picture above, it is very likely that the readers will have different responses.

The government has taken action against the paper, while one the other hand, the community that should be very much offensed, stated nothing. In fact, most appealed against the ban of Makkal Osai. The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism expressed regret over the one-month suspension. It is regarded as 'unfair' over the suspension of Makkal Osai, when the council, including its Christian religious leader has already accepted the apology by the newspaper. To them, 'a warning would be sufficient,' said its president Datuk A. Vaithilingam.

Upon discussion of this issue on MalaysiaKini.com, almost all are supporting voices from Christian, that they want the ban to be lifted:

1. I appeal to all to use whatever means available to express our stand as Christians to forgive the daily, and to ask for the lift the suspension. (Lee Kian Chin, 2007, Christian)

2. It is very much regretted that such a drastic action has been taken against the daily... I would appreciate very much if more Christians could join me in prayer for the lifting of the suspension of the daily. (Peter Ooi, 2007, Christian)

3. I am Chinese and Christian and Malaysian, and I think it is outrageous that a small Tamil vernacular newspaper serving the poorest, most deprived and dispossessed community in Malaysia should be penalised for the slightest of misdemeanours. (Bangsar Brother, 2007)

(Source: Malaysiakini.com)

It thus, shows the importance of document design as text and images can caused misunderstanding among the community.

Kress & Van Leeuwen (2006) emphasized the importance of interpretation as 'composition and multimodal texts are normally analyzed in an integrated way; as the meanings of the parts is looked upon as interacting with and affecting one another, instead of separately'. If one would look at the picture, and interpret it together with the caption, it should not caused such a havoc over the community. It was of the intention to convey a message humorously, it has, however, failed miserably.

In conclusion, one should be more careful upon the choice of word and images when designing a document.

References:


Schirato,T , Yell, S 1996, Chapter 5: Framing Context, Communications and Cultural literacies: An Introduction, pp. 90- 117

Kress, G., & van Leeuwen, T., 2006, Reading images. Chapter 6: The meaning of composition

The Star 2007, Makkal Osai Suspended, viewed 23 June 2009, at
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/8/25/nation/18696017&sec=nation

MalaysiaKini.com, 2007, Makkal Osai ban out of line, viewed 23 June 2009, at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/71626

BangsarBrother, 2007, Makkal Osai: Christian do not support ban, MalaysiaKini.com, viewed 23 June 2009, at http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/71715

(f) Freedom of Speech through blogs - internet censorship issue

Blogging has been a way for people to express their thoughts and opinions. Throughout the years, the issue of freedom has been addressed, over and over again, in many countries, as well as Malaysia. The very controversial issue dwells around this

"Can censorship on traditional media applied on the internet?"

Let's take a closer look at what traditional media are and how censorship applied:
1. Television & Radio
- Delay of transmission

Well, it is almost impossible to have censorship or delay of transmission on the internet. Take the infamous Janet Jackson & Justin Timberlake's wardrobe malfunction incident for example,

Justin Timberlake ft. Janet Jackson - Rock your body

Source: youtube.com

The 'exposure' part is not censored, not cut, and nothing is done even years after the video is uploaded on Youtube.com. This all the more shows the freedom that one can have, in the internet. On the internet, what is done, is done. The censorship that is applied on traditional media, cannot be applied on internet.

Then, we have
2. Magazines & newspaper

- Most publications are self-regulated as most are under surveillance with enforcement of Printing Presses & Publication Act (PPPA), Sedition Act, Internal Security Act (ISA) and so on.

The issue raised then, can PPPA, Sedition Act and ISA be enforced on bloggers?

Apparently the answer is YES.

This is what happened when Raja Petra Kamarudin, a Malaysian blogger who runs the independent news website Malaysia Today blogged about some sensitive issues. (Hamid, 2008)

He has, however, been released several months after that. (Jong, 2008)

So even if he was arrested and jailed, the materials that he wrote, was not taken away from his blog. In other words, as much as power is exercised over him, censorship is not able to take place fully over bloggers. Though stress can be asserted, there is still freedom of speech in the world of blogging.

In addition, Walker (2006) has support this statement well with this, 'Blog is not the only one thing that could spead information. There's also email, websites, community forums, SMS, etc etc ... How many thing they could control?'

In the world that craves for freedom, it is impossible to imposed the old method, to the new trendy media. The features of internet simply do not allow means to restrict freedom. Chapman (1997) stated his point of view intelligently, 'All these features (such as anonimity and encryption)of the internet make censorship technically impossible'. Besides, blocking and censorship is interpreted as damage and error, so how is it possible to censor something that by nature, prevent censorship?

One of the most arguable point for censorship over the web, is to protect the minor against the harmful materials that is easily accessible on the internet. Thus, people tried to 'protect', by rules and laws. This is not applicable as there is just NO same standard for EVERY human being, especially in this whole wide world of internet. There is no way that one standard, can serve the global diversity.

Thus, the ball is in your hand. It is really up to your own that you do not abuse the freedom that is given to you. Yee (1997) has justiied this well, 'the global society that is the Internet has its own rules and its own methods of enforcing them -- rules and sanctions which have been developed over the decades of the Net's existence and which reflect technological and social realities in a way alternatives imposed from outside cannot'.

Blant as it is, there is simply no way that force from 'outside' of the internet, can ruled over internet.

To conclude, I shall end with what the author of 'The Blogging Revolution', Antony Loewenstein has said,

'So the filtering process(from regime) in a place like China is sophisticated to the point where a lot of websites are blocked. People can always find a way around it, and I suppose one of the things that amazed me in the writing of the book was that regimes in some ways are fighting a battle (of restricting freedom of speech online) they can never win. You can block websites, you can put people in jail, you can do all that kind of thing, as they are doing in every country I went to, but ultimately, as clichéd as it might sound, people's freedom will actually speak out in the end, despite all the restrictions that may happen.'
(Loewenstein, 2008)

References:

1. Chapman, G., 1997, Censorship: Opposing Viewpoints, Greenhaven Press Inc, San Diego.

Hamid, J., 2008, Malaysia blogger in jail over sedition charges, viewed 20 June 2009, at http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKLR29580020080506?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0

2. Jong, R., 2008, Course release of Raja Petra, The new straits time online, viewed 20 June 2009, at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Friday/Frontpage/20081107100630/Article/index_html

3. Loewenstein, A., & Funnell, A., 2008, The Blogging Revolution, viewed 20 June 2009, at http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2008/2351985.htm

4. Walker, P., 2006, Malaysia's Mission Unbloggable, Guardian.co.uk, viewed 20 June 2009, at http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2006/dec/05/malaysiablogb

5. Yee, D., 1997, Internet censorship: an Australian Press Council Seminar, Electronic Frontiers Australia, viewed 20 June 2009, at http://www.anatomy.su.oz.au/danny/freedom/APCspeech.html

Youtube.com, 2006, Justin Timberlake ft. Janet Jackson - rock your body, viewed 20 June 2009, at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOLbERWVR30

(e) Emoticons & Email Ettiquette

Emoticons (smileys)

Emoticons, or as some people refers as 'smiley', birth forth on the 19 September, 1982, when Scott E. Fahlman, suggested to his university colleagues that 'when they make a joke online, they should put a little sideways smiley face at the end of it'. (Fahlman, 2007) What caused Professor Fahlman with this brilliant little idea, was the communication breakdown over the University's online buletin board. Due to the lack of body language and tone-of-voice cues that we normally use, when using text-based online communication, people have the tendency to interpret a message not as the sender intended.

With this, Professor Fahlman came out with these two little characters.
:-) = just a joke
:-( = should be taken seriously
The idea was to indicate the seriousness of the text-based online communication only. Here is the text posted when the first emoticon appeared online.

Little did he knows that these would evolved, and soon :-) bring the meaning of happy, pleased, while :-( bring the meaning of frustation, angry, and sad. Soon, others emoticons were invented and has become like this...


It is colourful, and more expressive than just plain colon, hyphen and left parenthesis. This has, of course, out of Professor Fahlman's prediction when he invented these. 'It didn't seem like a big deal at the time', said Professor Fahlman.

What does not seems like a big deal to Professor Fahlman, has become something that people relied on heavily, to make communication so much more effective. Emoticons give your recipients an idea of your mood and therefore there are no misconception. (eHow, n.d)

Email

Email has become part of everyone's life. With the convenience of email, we can easily convey our message to anyone regardless of the boundary of space and time.

The Australia government's department of Broadland, Communication and Digital Economy listed out the advantages of email, ending with this, 'Email has changed the way we communicate - how we share our ideas and information. It has, revived the short letter as a means of getting in touch with each other and can also act as an effective advocacy tool, and helo to build online communities'. (The Australia government's department of Broadland, Communication and Digital Economy, 2008)

Funnell (2007) confessed that he has been known of sending out 'angry' email when the email was meant to be 'not angry'. This then, brought in the joint of emoticons and email.

No doubt, email has been good to the society, with the help of emoticons, both would work out to provide a great means of effective communication, as that is what communication is all about -- the recipients get the intended message of the sender. The concept is well collaborated with Kress (2006), stressing on the significance of words and images upon interaction with a composition.

In short, there is no right or wrong in the world of internet. It is only a matter of effectiveness. Thus one should be clear of when and what to do, with the freedom given. Such as not to use emoticon upon writing a formal email, as to show the formality; but to use some emoticon when communication is to the purpose of social.

Hence, enjoy using emoticons to express yourself! :-)


References

1. eHow internet editor, n.d, How to use emoticons in emails, viewed 21 June 2009, at http://www.ehow.com/how_2190722_use-emoticons-emails.html

2. Fahlman, S., 2007, Emoticons & email ettiquette, Media Report, viewed 21 June 2009, at http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2007/2064342.htm

3. Fahlman, S., n.d, Smiley Lore, viewed 21 June 2009, at http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~sef/sefSmiley.htm

4. Funnell, A., 2007, Emoticons & email ettiquette, Media Report, viewed 21 June 2009, at http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2007/2064342.htm

5. Kress, G. & van Leeuwen, T., 2006, Reading images, Chapter 6: The meaning of composition

6. The Australia government's department of Broadland, Communication and Digital Economy , 2008, The benefits of email, viewed 21 June 2009, at http://www.e-strategyguide.gov.au/make_email_work/benefits_of_email