Global Media News

How Twitter Is Changing The Definition Of Free Speech

    As Twitter evolves into one of the top social networking platforms that over 200 million monthly users use, there grows a new definition of free speech. The application has become more popular with the explosion in population of smart phones. The list of users grows each day, therefore changing how people speak and obtain information on a daily basis. (The Guardian)

Twitter has become one of the leading methods of distributing breaking news. One of the most notable users is the US government. They use Twitter to deliver breaking news to the mainstream media. The government also uses twitter to stalk people who are suspicious of any crime. The NSA is even reported to hack into peoples accounts without their consent. Users start to question if the freedom of speech act is slowly fading away with the social network age.

Journalists and bloggers often create an account to distribute their articles through tweets. By doing this it hits a new area of readers. Not everyone has the time to surf the internet or read a newspaper. So Twitter gives people a chance to follow their favorite writers in the palm of their hand. (Twitter)

Another remarkable attribute is that it gives the ordinary person a chance to become an amateur broadcaster, without even having a real job. But some people take that privilege and use it to spam the Twitter newsfeeds. Some people make fake accounts with other peoples pictures and information. By releasing tweets that aren’t factual, it could actually be hurtful to the person’s image and very believable to the gullible reader. The explosion of Twitter over the last seven years has been more than anyone would have ever expected. As time goes on, the government invests more money into surveillance to watch over what people post. But with the government gathering more information from its citizens unconstitutionally, there starts a debate on what the future holds for our limited rights on freedom of speech.

Are Smartphones and Tablets Better for The Visually Impaired Than Braille?

Everyday most of us are lucky that we can see the things around us. For some this is very difficult. Braille was invent in the 19th century to help the visually impaired read and be able to live a somewhat normal life. Well, we are now in the 21st century and things have changed drastically. Technology plays a big part in this transformation but for the visually impaired it seemed almost impossible to stray away from the tradition braille. Not anymore, according to The New York Times; advocates for the blind say the devices [smartphones and tablets] could be the biggest assistive aid to come along since Braille was invented in the 1820s.

How can this be possible? Well even though someones sight might be gone, what about their hearing? Well Apple and Google have developed Apps that have more assistive features plus Google Android and Apple have pre-installed tools do better assist everyone.

Google’s latest releases of its Android operating systems have increased its assistive technologies, specifically with updates to TalkBack, a Google-made application that adds spoken, audible and vibration feedback to a smartphone.

Think about it! The visual impaired can have a smartphone or tablet read anything to them. They can also use their voice to answer phone calls or do specific tasks such as writing. Not only does the phone simply come with these features but you can also buy Apps that read money or the colors of things around you.

There are apps that can help people see colors, so pointing their phones at an object will yield a detailed audio description of the color, like “pale yellow green” or “fresh apricot.”

Almost every smartphone and tablet it equipped with voice commands and even people with perfect sight use this tool. So, now the visually impaired do not have to rely solely on braille they can use the newest technologies just like everyone else! Technology just keeps getting better and better and this opens up many opportunities for the visually impaired.

 

The Advancement of Technology and the Crucifixion of Public Figures

America is a country that is known to have an obsession with Hollywood. Once sex or anything sex-related is added to the equation, many become not only fascinated but highly critical. Whether it's a celebrity sharing photos of themselves in which certain body parts are exposed or engaging in graphic sexual acts, sharing anything of the like is a habit that the media takes advantage of to make profit. Much to the chagrin of these individuals, their private lives becomes something of public interest even more so. 

Eliot Spitzer, Anthony Weiner, Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton, and Vanessa Hudgens are only a few of the public figures who have been unfortunate enough to have their sexual habits plastered in tabloids. The hooker-patronizing Spitzer's credibility was questioned when the issue of whether or not he should resume his political career-following disclosures that he was a client in a prostitution ring- in the political atmosphere since his resignation.  

In regards to Spitzer, Howard Rubenstein, the public relations impresario, tells The New York Times, “Most people faced with that kind of disgrace would disappear off the face of the earth for a longer period of time but there is a lot of curiosity about him. And he is a publicity steamroller.” 

Marlo Thomas of The Huffington Post believes there is a double standard and states, “Imagine a woman public official, spicing up her business trip with a rendezvous with her favorite male prostitute. Would a confession help? Would a vow of rehab do the trick? Not on your life. Scarlet A's would be tattooed on their foreheads.” She goes on to add, “There are those who think that the private lives of candidates are none of our business. But when those candidates ask us for our attention as they explain their plans for how they will represent us, no one should be surprised at our interest in how they represent themselves.”

Weiner’s mistake was not only the cheating, or tweeting but the fact that he lied despite his knowledge of digital evidence. To believe that in our high-tech world, one could actually get away with it is ludicrous. Politicians aside, Tiger Woods along with the aforementioned celebrities, have had their fair of public scrutiny when their sexual acts (sexting, videos and the like) made headlines. Some assume that these actions are done in order to further one’s status in the public eye. 

Global Media News Webcast #2: September 26, 2013

New Media Newsroom

Global Media News for Thursday, September 26, 2013

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

This week on Global Media News: 

• Citizen Journalism: Snap Shots of Disaster
• Covering Police Brutality with Smart Phones
• Newspapers Confronting Social Media
• Scoop.it:  A Social Publishing Platorm for Journalists?
• FaceBook Rights & the Supreme Court
• Barrett Brown:  Jailed for Journalism?
• Social Advertising: Gaining Ground?
• Journalists Using Social Media to Promote Content
• Finger Print Lock Busted:  iPhone 5S Security Hacked?

Listen to our next webcast from the New Media Newsroom  streaming live on Thursday, October  3 @ 11am EST.

Can't listen live? Our next webcast of the season will be posted by 2:00pm, Thursday, October 3, 2013.

Subscribe Now!

Instagram A News Outlet

Court Rules "Like" Button on Facebook is Protected by Constitution

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously decided that clicking the "Like" button on Facebook is considered a freedom of speech and is protected under the first Amendment. This ruling overturns a previous ruling from a lower court, saying it is not protected.

Using the "Like" button on Facebook is a popular way for users to show admiration towards something, whether it's a status update, picture, or posted article. Other users can see what people liked a certain picture or status and that is how this lawsuit started. Daniel Ray Carter Jr. was fired for "liking his boss's political opponent on Facebook." Carter, a Virginia deputy, was fired, along with five other employees.

Carter was fired for "not supporting" his boss, Sherrif B.J. Roberts, of Hampton. Last August, Facebook decided to side with Carter and his plantiffs, saying their First Amendment right should be protected. The original lawsuit said the likes were “insufficient speech to merit constitutional protection.” Chief Judge William B. Traxler Jr. disagreed and overturned the ruling about 18 months later.

This ruling affects journalists in the future that may have similar instances in showing support for rival journalists at rival newspapers. It also affects employees in other fields that were fired or punished for a similar action. There are instances, especially on Facebook, where articles are shared between people or "Liked" based on subjects, opinions, or personal interest. What if a story on the Newsday page was liked by a New York Times employee?

Now, journalists won't have to worry about losing their job over something as trivial as a "Like" on Facebook. In a world where there is more sensitivity than ever, it's a relief that there is still integrity about expressing one's opinion, whether it's done in person, in print, or on social media.

When Breaking News Becomes Wrong News

 

Initial reports by CNN, NBC, and CBS reported the name of one of the three suspects in the Washington Navy Yard shooting while scrambling to pinpoint the exact number of deaths, according toPaul Farhi of The Washington Post . These suspects and numbers fluctuated throughout the day. Why is the news getting their info wrong? 

 The bottom line: Reporters are clamoring to break news without fact-checking their sources just to say they were first. 

 

How Jounalists Can "Scoop It"

Scoop.it is a "social magazine" where people can make web pages of topics they find interesting or want to share.

Scoop.it has only been around for about two years but has already exploded with over seven million users. Similar in concept to Pinterest, Scoop.it is a wordy Pinterest. Pinterst is known for its pictures, collages, and story boards and now Scoop.it is doing a similar thing but the collages are articles and interesting news and information in a cool way.

This description alone could not sound more perfect for journalists. Scoop.it is an incredible platform for journalists to not only showcase their own work and articles but also for newspapers as a whole to have their own Scoop.it.

Scoop.it is basically boiled down into the use and benefit of three points; creating a simple web page for a single topic, publishing a magazine for people with similar interests, and curating tools to create a page that is constantly updated with the latest items on the topic.

Scoop.it is based around what they call topics.  A Topic is the page that they generate for you with a permanent URL and title. The page allows you to "scoop" from suggested content, which is like re-pinning a picture or re-tweeting a tweet. Scoop.it does this based on keywords you enter and will then recommend content that you might want to add to your topic.  

Journalists can have one page with a topic solely on politis they have written or feature stories or whatever they like. They can have a page for similar journalists or articles that add to the news of one of their article topics. Scoop.it can be a great frame for journalists work and really enrich the news in so called social media.

When Will Apple Learn?

Credit: Business Insider

Every time a new Apple product comes out there seems to always be an issue. This time around Apple tried to be one of the first to use fingerprint technology in the new iPhone 5S. Sounds great right? Well what happens to ones privacy if a hacker gets your fingerprint?

According to BBC Tech News, Apples website states that there is a 1 and 50,000 chance of two separate fingerprints being alike. So basically they are saying it cannot be done!

"Apple does not suggest that Touch ID is a total replacement for traditional passcode security, simply a more convenient way of unlocking the phone" Convenient or a liability?

A fingerprint can be found on virtually anything. So what happens when a experienced hacker gets a hold of your iPhone and finds your fingerprints all over the phone? Well a day after Apple released this model of the iPhone it was done! So much for it not being possible Apple.

BBC also states, Germany's Chaos Computer Club claims it "successfully bypassed the biometric security of Apple's Touch ID using easy everyday means".

BBC Tech News also states that:

 The website istouchidhackedyet.com, set up by Nick DePetrillo and Robert Graham,
lists a number of people offering rewards - including one for $10,000 from IO
Capital, a venture capital company - "to the first person who can reliably and
repeatedly break into an iPhone 5S by lifting prints (like from a beer mug)."

In my opinion, it is very good to have the best and newest technologies but maybe some things are better left unchanged. The chances of someone knowing your passcode to your phone is very slim but getting your fingerprint might be easier. Think about it, how many things do you touch in one day? Every time you touch something with your hands you are leaving a fingerprint behind. Now hackers can just make a copy of it and use it to unlock your iPhone.

There is a very thin line to what people want private and what they do not. Even though we live in a society of social media and the Internet, there are still some things better left unshared. So, Apple just made it easier for hackers to invade whatever privacy we still have even though they say that there technology is very safe!

 

Smartphones Leading The Way For A New Method Of Photojournalism

    As time goes on smartphones are becoming more accessible to areas of society in the United States. People don’t need to have large amounts of money to buy masses amounts of camera gear to be a photographer. But with the latest technology in smartphones and photography apps, at least there’s a chance to pretend. As smartphones increase in production there comes a new generation of photojournalism that we have never seen.

 “Smartphones are able to capture and transmit in breaking news situations now more than ever. In those situations, a smartphone allows you to respond quicker and distribute images immediately. There are technical deficiencies, but that’s being improved as we speak,” said University of Oregon photojournalism instructor Sung Park. (The Daily Emerald)

Back before cell phones cameras, taking photos was a hassle. Even with the latest camera technology, editing and sharing photos requires access to a computer with editing software and an internet connection. But With a smartphone it lets you change that. Smartphone technology changes everything, it compacts all the work of manually doing photo editing into one device in the palm of your hand.

Many people across the world are using the access of the internet on their smartphones to upload pictures and expose any unsettling problems that are going on around them. When hurricane Sandy hit the beaches of New Jersey many people were uploading the pictures of the destruction that didn’t hit the news headlines yet. By showing thousands of different photos it gave the public outside of the devastated zone a different perspective on the aftermath of hurricane Sandy.

People are using smartphone apps such as Instagram for photos to help gain the attention of critics. By using apps they can edit photos by adding filters to the pictures. Previously to the smartphone there never been a device that could alter an image on the spot and upload it to their viewers. Everyday more people are having access to this and it will change the world of photojournalism dramatically. (The Guardian)