Global Media News

Global Media News Webcast #7: March 29, 2012

Listen to the Global Media News Webcast!

Global Media News is a weekly webcast covering media news from around the world.  This webcast is a production of  Media Studies students from the SUNY College @ Old Westbury.

This week on GMN:

• Homeless Social Media?
• Private Bankers & Social Marketing
• Pakistani Censorship of the Web
• Privacy Debate in the UK
• Mad Men's Audience
• KONY 2012:  Behind the video . . .
• UK's Guardian Invading America?
• Miss Universe Candidate Uses Twitter to Protest Exclusion

See you next week for more breaking media news!

Listen to our webcast streaming live every Thursday @ 11am EST.

Can't listen live? Our next webcast will be posted by 2:00pm, Thursday, April  5, 2012.

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Mad Men Gets Highest Personal Views (Final Revision)

The hit series "Mad Men" on the AMC channel just recently made their own personal all time highest views. This surprisingly, high viewed series takes place during the 1960s and revolves around the advertising business. The show involves some sharp, offensive humor and takes you back to the old fashioned, traditional view of the man and woman's places in life. While they expected to appeal to an older and more educated audience, they pulled in over a million viewers in the 18-49 age group. Even with these high views, Mad Men still did not get the top views for the channel. "AMC’s “The Walking Dead” concluded its run this month with its own most-watched episode, which attracted nine million viewers."

"Well, after a 17-month hiatus, the proverbial red carpet has been rolled out for the two-hour season premiere. There has been non-stop media coverage of the arrival of Don Draper (Jon Hamm) and the rest of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce." Mad Men is expecting to keep rising from here on out, especially with thier fifth season quickly approaching. There is such secrecy on the abouts of the fifth season, but this keeps the people going. The secrecy is keeping the audience guessing and wondering, which is enhancing the probable views for season five. This season is guarenteeing a large view count. Who knows, it could top its high views once more.

The audience is very excited about this show because it is something new. We aren't used to this type of show which makes us want more and more. It is new and exciting for viewers. Also, critics don't have much bad word to say about the show, very uncommon to come across. This means that in the media world, this show may just be "indestructable."

Comedians begin selling their comedy albums on their personal websites, part of proceeds donated to charity

Louis C.K., a popular stand-up comedian began selling his comedy album on his website for just $5, while donating a portion of his profit to charity. This album does not come with any type of Digital Rights Management or electronic copy protection whatsoever. Many people speculated that this may not go over well for the comedian; a single person can purchase the CD and copy it as many times as he wants to give out for free. This was not the case, however, as Louis C.K.'s endeavor was a huge commercial success. 

Not only was the comedian successful with his sales, just a few months later, two other A-list comedians, Jim Gaffigan and Aziz Ansari, began selling their albums online with a similar plan and business model as well as donating a portion of their proceeds to charity in a similar fashion to Louis C.K.

With other comedians following in his footsteps, Louis C.K.'s larger influence on the comedy business is yet to be known. Perhaps, if many more comedians begin to hop on this trend, comedy may end up taking a turn for the hardcore. Comedians will no longer be answering to a network, or a producing company about what is off-limits for thei comedy specials. They will be able to talk about literally whatever they want, no matter how offensive.

What can this new rising trend of album sales be telling us? It may signal the coming end of record companies; if a few comedians can make large amounts of records sales completely on their own without the marketing of a record company, how long will it be until the most popular bands begin leaving their record companies to begin independent digital distribution website?

Is Giving your Facebook Password a Part of the Interview?

    Is giving your Facebook password  a part of the job interview? According to the Huffington Post a job applicant in Seattle was asked for his facebook password during his interview to override his private facebook account.   For employers it's simple, Facebook is playing a major role in people's lives and a comment said by someone on facebook could ruin the companies image locally and abroad. Employers want an individual who would represent their company in a positive manner and not one who will tarnish their reputation.  In an interview with the Huffington Post Captain Mike Harvey analyzed the importance of social media, "In the past, we've talked to friends and neighbors, but a lot of times we found that applicants interact more through social media sites than they do with real friends," said Capt. Mike Harvey. "Their virtual friends will know more about them than a person living 30 yards away from them." 

However, is this illegal? According to the Robert Collins a corrections officer employers demanding facebook passwords is an evasion of privacy rights. Collins added “To me, that’s still invasive,”  Robert Collins also latter added, “I can appreciate the desire to learn more about the applicant, but it’s still a violation of people’s personal privacy.” According to the Washington Post many applicants some applicants are agreeing to the employers demands as many don't want to risk losing a potential job.

This incident has sparked a debate and now two US senators are joining in. According to TIME, senators Chuck Schummer and Richard Blumenthal are asking an attorney to see if this violates US law. Both senators have stated that this is a violation of privacy and goes against certain acts such as the Stored Communications Act. The question is how much rights do we have through the internet and other new media developments. In an interview with TIME attorney Catherine Crump said, "“I think it’s going to take some years for courts to decide whether Americans in the digital age have the same privacy rights." It's going to be interesting to see how social media develops into our daily life.

Here is a video dealing with the issue

 

Mad for Mad Men

Apparently absence made the audience grow a little more fond of the long awaited new season of AMC's 'Mad Men'. According to The New York Times the new seasons debut episode bought in it's largest audience ever. After a long awaited year and a half the viewings reached 3.5 million. In a yahoo article it says that this high amount of watchers is a 21% growth over the seasons past 4 seasons. Although at an all time high, unfortunately, the viewings didn't top the whopping 9 million viewers of the show, The Walking Dead. Regardless, still pretty successful I'd say. Apparently the season premiere had many twists to it leaving the audience anxious for more. The Huffington Post breaks down all that happened and everything new in the seasons two hour long first episode.  Fans are more than eager for the new season, and the media is jumping at the epic ratings of the show after its return from hiatus. 

 

Youtube Revolution

   

     How many times in history has a website caused so much drama that a national revolution started to break out?  The answer to that would be not that many.  However,  Jason Russell who is one of the founders of the organization "Invisible children", recently put up a video that went viral on Youtube about Joseph Kony, a Ugandan Warlord and his idea to stop him.  This video Russell created put an emotional toll on everyone.

    This Youtube video that Russell created discussed the horrors that have been happening in Uganda over the past two and a half decades and at the end of the video he proposes an idea to help the country.  Once he told the public that he would be selling  action kits with posters and bracelets many people began donating money to this fund.  

    These kits being sold, have posters in them that all the people that bought them will hang up on the night of April 19/20.  This is to get the attention of the National government to help spread awareness and concern.  

    An employee of Russell, Jedidiah Jenkins said that Russell truly has the knowledge “to digest the vision of Invisible Children handed down from the collective leadership and articulate it, expand it, and build the world we hope to see in 100 years…" 

    The reason that this Youtube video is such a huge media spectacle nation-wide, is because it is the first time that a civilian has made the public aware of situations that are occurring outside of the United States and has successfully began a revolution to help bring about change in the world.  Russell has truly utilized the internet to his advantage to get the publicity that he needed for his organization.
    Although this Youtube video was a hit, it did have its flaws and the biggest one happened just recently when Russell was just arrested for public nakedness.  Ironicly enough there has been a youtube video submitted of his actions as well that has caused a change in his fan base views toward him.  This just shows how social media can not only start a revolution, but it can also begin to take one down as well.  I guess well all have to wait till April 20th to find out how much his followers still support him.

An Extreme Makeover for New York City Taxi Cabs

The New York taxi cab will be re-inventing itself this upcoming year as Nissan releases the NV200 as the new taxi. Like the above ad says, the cars will remain yellow, but the type of car and manufacturer of the cars will change. According to New York Times reporter Stuart Elliot, Nissan is launching an advertising campaign to inform New Yorkers of the changes. Elliot states:

"there are plans to give passers-by near the Javits Center foam fingers that can be used to hail cabs rather than root for sports teams. There will also be giveaways of gift cards worth $15 to apply toward cab rides." 

By handing out foam fingers and gift cards, Nissan is making sure that as many people as possible are being informed of the new taxis. Not only is the company sponsoring giveaways, it is also using "billboards, events, social media, promotions and signs"- Elliot. 

The reason for the amount of publicity used is so that the company can really inform consumers about their new line of cars, which are all newer, more updated versions of existing models. The taxi advertisements will allow consumers to be aware of the new model, and then proceed to think about other possible models of cars. This will make them more receptive to the advertisements for the everyday cars, which could potentially create more customers.

The advertising campaign is run by Rob Schwartz who is the chief creative officer for the advertising company TBWA/Chiat/Day. Schwartz stated that Nissan is "really trying to develop fresh ideas." From the looks of it, Schwartz is making sure that the company gets a completetly new look just by the advertisements that are coming out.

The actual taxis are said to be much more comfortable than cars in use today. According to New York Times reporter Michael M. Grynbaum, the cabs will include many perks: "The seats are outfitted with cushy headrests and a textured covering, and airplane-style reading lights are installed overhead." Once more New Yorkers find this out, they will begin looking specifically forward to the new Nissan vans, which will generate more public transportation. If Nissan correctly advertises, and makes all the right moves, New York City could potentially redefine what a taxi really is.

 

The Miss Universe Canada Finalist Disqualifed for being Transgender

Jenna Talackova was disqualified from competing in the Miss Universe Pageant for Canada because she was not born a female. Although the rules do state that you must be a naturally born female Talackova wants to sue according to the Huffentoning Post. Looking at Talackova you would never guess that she was a man. Here's a picture:

Jenna Talackova has always been very open with her being transgender and has been reported saying "she is a woman wiht a history", the history being the change from male to female. This history is what has caused her to be kicked out of the running for miss universe for Canda.

This is bad press for the Miss Universe even though they had this to say according to the Huffenton Post,

"Talackova was disqualified because "she did not meet the requirements to compete despite having stated otherwise on her entry form. We do, however, respect her goals, determination and wish her the best."

Although disqualified for disobeying the rules, Talackova is stating that it is "discriminatory and unjust." As stated with an interview with CTV News blog. Talackova is going to Twitter to get support.

By using the media Talackova may just force a change upon the competition. The use of the media that Talackova is on, which is mostly the web, is showing the change from paper and pen and sit ins to immediate signing and support, like that of twitter. I think that by using her fame in the tran-sexual community, Talackova may be able to change the rules.

Syrian Government's Attack on Reporters in Homs, Syria

A french reporter for the French newspaper Le Figaro, 31 year old, Ms. Bouvier was injured in a shelling attack. This shelling attack was the same attack that killed the two Western journalists, Marie Colvin of The Sunday Times of London and Rémi Ochlik, a French photographer. This french reporter on thursday made a video for a cease-fire and evacuation for urgent medical attention. 

This  journalist and many others had taken a great risk entering the besieged city and report on that part of a government crackdown that has left thousands of civilians dead. This assault on the media center where these journalist and reporter were working has brought serious international problems for  President Bashar al-Assad and his forces. Activist claim that the satellite transmitter may have been targeted for them to strike the building. 

The President Nicolas Sarkozy of France called this "the journalists’ killings “murder” and repeated demands that the Syrian government stop attacking peaceful demonstrators and allow humanitarian aid from abroad." 

In London, France’s foreign minister, Alain Juppé, said that France has asked the Syrian Government to organize a rapid evacuate for Ms. Bouvier and any other foreign journalist working at the center. According to the  Agence France-Presse, "What’s happening in Syria is more revolting, more shameful and scandalous every day." But the funny thing is that the Syria Government denies targeting the civilians or the journalist. 

Nickelodeon Finds Success in Bringing Back 90's Shows

Nickelodeon has recently found huge success in broadcasting canceled shows from the 90's on their channel, TeenNick. In just the first night they had more than doubled their ratings from the night before. According to the Vulture, 

" Last week, a repeat of Malcolm in the Middle on Teen Nick drew just 33,000 folks under 34. But Monday night, an episode of All That brought in 265,000 nostalgists. Likewise, an Undeclaredrerun brought a mere 3,000 viewers 18–34 when it aired at 1 a.m. a few weeks back; Clarissa attracted 189,000 folks in the same demo, around 60 times as many viewers. But the nineties block didn't just improve upon Teen Nick's averages — it also crushed some impressive competition on other networks."

It really comes as no surprise that Nickelodeon has found success in their "bring back the 90's" endeavor; people on the internet have been rallying Nickelodeon for reruns of nostalgic shows fromt their childhoods for years, even forming a group on Facebook with more than 1.2 million members.