Global Media News

Verizon Tech News Site Bans Stories on U.S. Spying

 Verizon is getting into the news business. What could go wrong?

Is Vine good for journalists?

     Vine is a mobile video sharing app. It allows its users to create and share six second videos. The videos loop continuously and are posted online. Vine is owned by Twitter. It can be used to show action and explain stories. Journalists use Vine to share videos of breaking news as it is happening. 

Upshot Journalism

     Upshot was created because of new opportunities being created for journalists due to the spread of digital data and the Internet. 

  

Twitter Partners with IBM

    Twitter and IBM have announced a partnership. This partnership will transform businesses to understand their markets, customers, and customers. 

    

5 Ways Journalists Use Pinterest

    Journalists and news organizations are looking for different ways to connect with their readers. They are seeking to be involved in a more visual social media content.

Apps are Saving Lives in Israeli!

Israel has been a big part of app creation worldwide. Many of these apps have been changing the lives of people. Recently there has been a string of new i-Apps that helps keep the lives of the Israeli citizens safe in this time of the war. One new app that emerged during Israel's  time of crisis is the Color Red App.

The Times of Israel reports:  

"The application, which is not an official warning system, is the brainchild of 13-year-old Beersheba resident Liron Bar. Bar provides constant reports on missile attack warnings, known as Color Red alerts, and rocket strikes in the south on his Facebook page as well."

This is just an all around great app for a Israeli people. The Color Red App gives the user time a warning whenever a missile is launched find a shelter. The app was created by 13 year old Liron Bar an Israeli teenager. The extra time the app provides could be the difference between life and death for the Israel citizens. The Israeli government suggest everyone should have this app on their mobile device. The next question is what do the people of Israel do after they are warned off a missile threat? The citizens of Israel uses the bomb shelter app.  

 

Ynetnews.com reports:

"The GPS-based app assists a citizen fleeing from rocket fire to locate the closest bomb shelter or secure area, providing the fastest route to it. Updates from the emergency authorities are also provided in real time. The app enables anyone to add information about available shelters which are not yet listed on the app."

This second app that  locates the closest  bomb shelter using the GPS in the mobile device. This simple idea again has the power to save many lives. During bomb threat  times people tend to panic and get lost and confused with app guides people in the right direction to the closest shelter where they can be safe. There are many other apps that save lives in Israel these are just two of them. Apps are making the lives of many easier everyday and in this case the apps are saving the Israeli's people lives. 

 

 

 

Live Mapping the Kenyan Elections

After the violence during the country's 2008 election, Kenyan tech company Ushahidi formed and developed a platform for mapping the violence. With the upcoming 2013 election in Kenya, the company has again mobilized with the program Uchaguzi - a mapping tool which allows both local citizens and "global helpers" to visually present data about the election in real time.

Uchaguzi is a citizen initiative which utilizes tools like Facebook and Twitter to get the word out. There are various Wikis for the project which allow users to share information and work together. The stated goals of the project are to: "share the information from the crowd, verify details and respond."

According to an article in Project Pan-Africa, violence is once again expected during Kenya's upcoming election. The article says that a lead investigator of the previous election's problems, Johan Kriegler, warned that "violence could recur every five years if measures were not put in place."

Uchaguzi is, according to its Twitter page, "Using technology through partnerships to empower citizens to protect their elections." They are mobilizing in advance of the election in order to be prepared and efficient when election day arrives. According to Hivos, "The project’s technology platforms provide a neutral and secure space through which citizens can channel their voices directly to authorities."

Uchaguzi is a citizen-run tool which allows both citizen journalists and ordinary people to provide information on potential problems and to bring them to the attention of the authorities. This seems like a very useful project and one which will hopefully help to quell unrest and make the election a smoother, less violent event.

TUGG and You Shall Receive

Ever wish that a movie you really wanted to see was playing at a near by theatre or even playing in theatres at all?  Thanks to movie executive Nicolas Gonda, such a thing can be possible.

Gonda created a movie distribution business, known as Tugg, to allow movie goers to choose what movie they want to see at a theatre near them.  He stated, according to Buffalo News, that:

 "In the past, movie theaters have been forced to be somewhat narrow in their programming, now, with Tugg, they can be as diverse as the interests and the imaginations of the people in their communities."

What the service entails, as explained on its website, is finding a movie you want played, get the required amount of people to attend, via social media, and viola you're watching your chosen movie on the big screen. 

According to the Huffington Post, "it's a win-win for consumer and movie theater."  The consumer is able to see a movie they want to watch without going far and the theatre is guaranteed a full house and great profit.

Since its beginning in March of 2012 , the service has partnered with well known movie franchises such as AMC, Regal, Cinemark and Rave Cinemas.  Yet, because it is only a newborn company, the choice to view certain films anywhere, are in short supply.  At least for now.  

Many have expressed their admiration towards Nicolas Gonda and Tugg for using the Internet and social media as a means of influencing and enhancing the movie goers experience.  As more and more people find out Tugg, I feel it will change the movie theatre experience for the best.

Spotify: Reaching Out to the Global Market

At a press event in New York City the founder and CEO of Spotify, Daniel Ek, announced that they will be partnering up with the beverage giant, Coca Cola.  The purpose of the unlikely partnership is to promote the music service on a global scale as well as advertise Coca Cola to bring up revenue.

To join forces with a hundred plus year old company that is known world wide would be considered by many as the collaboration of a life time.  Yet, Ek expressed that, "this partnership is just as important as the Facebook relationship for us" as reported by PC Magazine.

As for Coke, they are no strangers when it comes to working with the music industry.  According to Ad Age, they've have been using music to attract the younger crowd due to this demographic:

"teens are projected to represent one-third of the global population by 2020. The U.S., China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria and Pakistan are expected to have half of the teen-age population by then."

This statement clarifies why Coke would want to work with Spotify.  In addition, ABC News reporter Tina Trinh, further explains Coca Cola's logic to working with Spotify:

"By renewing its focus on technology and aligning itself with a music service used by young adults, Coca-Cola is attempting to stay relevant to young consumers and their changing musical tastes."

In the coming months, Daniel Ek also announced that they will be adding brand apps onto their Spotify desktop app to allow its users access to new music.  They've made plans to work with Coca Cola, McDonald's, AT&T and other brands as they expand their business to the global community.  

One could say that Spotify is lucky to work with these well known companies, but i feel they are lucky to work with Spotify.  Although, these companies that are collaborating with Spotify are much more known, Spotify's business caters to the majority of the population whether they are well known or not.