HAS THE INTERNET BECOME A FAILED STATE?

Article in The Observer by John Naughton:
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/nov/27/has-internet-become-failed-state-crime-cyberspace

FAKE NEWS...

FAKEW NEWS is big business...but creates a very confusing world!!
https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2016/nov/23/heres-the-truth-fake-news-is-not-social-medias-fault
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/38053324
Facebook on the defensive! Article from Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2016/11/21/fake-news-is-just-the-beginning/
BBC FAKE NEWS article:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-37983571
Brilliant Channel Four News segment:
https://www.channel4.com/news/fake-news-in-macedonia-who-is-writing-the-stories

YEAR 13 Thursday 24th November 16.

Today's session considered issues related to regulation. Resources from the previous Y13 blog entry were used as a stimulus for class discussion. We also watched a couple of these media texts:
Phones for U...many complaints but complaints upheld by ASA:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2oL_gXECtg
Cyberbullying advert:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLAm-4uqeDU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXkQ2pN7Mx0
The class discussion considered WHY media texts are regulated. We will be creating a written response to the question: CAN MEDIA REALLY INFLUENCE HUMAN BEHAVIOUR?

The last group of essays were a little light on specific detail and this next essay needs to offer clear evidence of independent research and very specific textual reference.

HOMEWORK: Students need to visit the last blog entry and peruse some of the recent posts to fishymedia.

YEAR 12 15th/18th/22nd Nov 16.

The first of these sessions sessions contained a discussion of three texts that became a homework. The second session considered how media could be used to create social change and the third session was a consideration of the cross-media study and how e-media can be used to promote a documentary film. The class considered the e-media used to promote last year's Academy Award winning documentary CITIZEN FOUR:
https://citizenfourfilm.com
and then we considered the role of the print media:

After this consideration of the cross-media study, the class attempted the following critical analysis:
HOW IS THE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY REPRESENTED in this media text?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aw966AqgCA

HOMEWORK: Produce a written response to the question. Please read the exemplar material that I have glued into your books. Your work needs to reflect this level of detail. This is a representation question so must deal with Preferred Reading. How is the advertising being criticised? What is STOP FUNDING HATE hoping the industry will recognise? Students must explore how media forms are used to shape this representation.
Also...select your film documentary and your hybrid-documentary for the cross-media work.

YEAR 13 Mon 21st Nov 16.

This session looked at two key questions. The first question was a Section B type question:
ANDREW KEEN has stated that the rise of NEW DIGITAL MEDIA has caused 'cultural chaos and moral decay...we are dumbing down our culture...everyone is talking and no one is listening.'
TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS PERCEPTION OF NEW DIGITAL MEDIA?

Students can answer this question in any way they like. I want students to show mw that they have developed a wide range of media knowledge. This question could easily link to:

• The idea that Media is not dumbing down and is in fact inspiring and informative. The BBC's PLANET EARTH 2 is an incredible piece of media. Reference was also mede to Charlie Brooker's BLACK MIRROR which is available on Netflix. Brooker talks about how his series explores the potential of technology in this Newsnight interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m45wLFQ6t7Q Here is the trailer for the new Black Mirror: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDiYGjp5iFg Reference was also made to WESTWORLD which is another great drama that explores the nightmare potential of   technology. Here is the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zZcBv0gPK0 Furthermore this is the golden age of documentary and many of these films are challenging social issues and attempting to create a fairer and more equal world. For example llegal, a Brazilian documentary film made in 2016, explores the fight for a girl suffering from epilepsy to access the drug required to dilute her symptoms and dramatically improve the quality of her life and this film helped changed the social policy of the government. Class discussion also considered how the audience uses shows such as the X Factor and I'm a Celebrity in a way that challenges the idea that media is dumbing down.
• Class discussion considered the nose of non-mainstream media and social media. We will continue this discussion in the next few lessons.

The second question was CAN MEDIA REALLY INFLUENCE HUMAN BEHAVIOUR?

The aim of this question was to encourage students to consider issues related to media REGULATION and MEDIA THEORY.

The resources below will be used in the next session to generate class discussion:

Banned Gucci Advert 2016:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfeWiXTpdjA
Banned Carlsberg Advert 2016:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkT_K7F2Jsk&spfreload=5
Banned Morrisons advert:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az2P9G7tdEs
Banned Ryan Reynolds BT advert:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PxKcOYiJDg
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/oct/12/bt-ryan-reynolds-ad-banned-virgin-media

Banned Poster campaigns:

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/sep/28/anti-begging-posters-banned-nottingham-city-council

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/apr/29/beach-body-ready-ad-faces-formal-inquiry-as-campaign-sparks-outrage

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/oct/05/sainsburys-bank-credit-card-ad-banned-asa

This was not banned...but perhaps....what do you lot think?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTRzixd_Psw

New Amazon Prime Advert....What do you think?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PQhjTM9lvY

This film is always referenced when discussing media influence...Clockwork Orange:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faML0QvVb2A

WHY DO WE NEED MEDIA REGULATION??

Post-Leveson Inquiry....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37758497

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21797513

YEAR 13 Mon-Thu 14th/17th Nov 16.

These sessions included a discussion of the SECTION B essay and an attempt at a timed essay relating to the Presidential campaign films of Clinton and Trump. The Thursday session was a consideration of CONTEMPORARY MEDIA ISSUES AND DEBATES. The discussion involved a consideration of...

• THE FILMS OF KEN LOACH and whether media can change society.

• The belief that modern journalism is losing credibility because it is too concerned with offering ideological balance rather than challenging lies!! Is investigative journalism dead?? Remember, it was THE GUARDIAN journalist NICK DAVIES who uncovered the HACKING SCANDAL that inspired the Leveson Inquiry. Strangely, this DAILY MAIL journalist questions Davies' motivation. See link below:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2745700/The-man-did-British-Press-STEPHEN-GLOVER-says-reporter-Nick-Davis-media-hating-zealot-journalism-troubling-suspect.html

39 journalist have dies so far this year as they have been investigating truth around the globe. 11 journalists have died reporting the War in Syria. Not all journalists sit in an office and spin lies! This bloke was a bit of a hero...TIM HETHERINGTON...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4W97bmAHSo.....He died in Libya in 2011 when covering the conflict in this country.

• To what extent technology is liberating human creativity.
• How technology is being accused of invading our privacy.

THE BIG TASK THAT STUDENTS NEED TO CONFRONT FOR HOMEWORK IS THE FOLLOWING ESSAY TITLE:

Developments in New Digital Media means that audiences can now have access to a greater variety of views and values. To what extent are audiences empowered by these developments?

Potential Essay Structure:

• Address the inference within the title that we live in such a pluralist media world that it is difficult for mainstream media to influence the audience with a narrow and bias representation of national and global events. A contemporary media belief is that NDM has inspired an explosion of non-mainstream news portals that has diluted the power of mainstream news institutions. Reference to Marxist theory?
• The next paragraph needs to provide examples of the non-mainstream news platforms and consider whether access to The Canary, The Young Turks, Paul Staines, or Breitbart news has empowered the audience. Has access to the different views and values of these organisations inspired a more informed audience? Has choice increased the ability of the audience to make objective and informed political decisions? Hypermedia Seduction Theory?
• The next paragraph needs to deal with the explosion of social media. Twitter??? More access to views and values...or prejudice, trolling and mindless abuse???Are we closer to truth?? READ THAT FANTASTIC ESSAY I GAVE YOU FROM LAST YEAR'S COURSEWORK. Note the comments about BUZZFEED. Is Buzzfeed trivialising news? Empowering the audience? 
• Perhaps reference to FREEVIEW and the fact that the narrow Northern European view of the world can be challenged as we now have access to Al Jazeera, Russia Today, Press TV etc...
• The final section needs to deal with with the idea that all this DEEPLY MEDIATED choice is just exposing the audience to more examples of PROPAGANDA. BAUDRILLARD??? Is the audience being empowered? Read the POST-TRUTH articles I have posted to the blog. They will help you construct a PROPER EVALUATIVE A LEVEL conclusion. 70% of Donald Trump's statements of FACT have been found to be LIES...so what chance does the audience have of being empowered by truth when the media are reporting lies as truth? Perhaps both mainstream and non-mainstream media need to challenge the views and values of politicians and political commentators to ensure that the audience is being empowered by factual information rather than being bombarded with emotionally loaded lies!!! WHAT SAY YOU? Perhaps audience empowerment is a complete myth. Perhaps ANDREW KEEN'S comments are correct....

ANDREW KEEN....Is the internet killing journalism?

http://fishymediaresources.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/andrew-keen-internet-critic-any-media.html

Great Keen extract from Radio Four.....'the internet is not democratising our culture...it is resulting in cultural chaos and moral decay...we are dumbing down our culture.....everyone is talking and no one is listening'.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGG1QKG6AjQ&feature=related

A post-truth world????

http://fishymediaresources.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/a-post-truth-media-world.html

HOMEWORK: Complete the essay.

A POST-TRUTH MEDIA WORLD.....

What is a post-truth world?
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/nov/15/post-truth-named-word-of-the-year-by-oxford-dictionaries
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jul/12/how-technology-disrupted-the-truth
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/24/opinion/campaign-stops/the-age-of-post-truth-politics.html?_r=0
http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21706525-politicians-have-always-lied-does-it-matter-if-they-leave-truth-behind-entirely-art
Michael Gove and his great line...'I think the people of this country have had enough of experts..'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGgiGtJk7MA

FILM and SOCIAL CHANGE....Ken Loach

Cathy Come Home....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xky8ZqhNAlo
I Daniel Blake Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4KbJLpu7yo

BREIBART...

Breitbart media.

http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/

WHY IS THIS NON-MAINSTREAM NEWS PLATFORM SUCH BIG NEWS??

Stephen Bannon...what an interesting fella!
http://www.dailywire.com/news/8441/i-know-trumps-new-campaign-chairman-steve-bannon-ben-shapiro#
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/14/steve-bannon-white-house-racism-fear
Check out this charming man..Breitbart Senior Editor...:
https://www.channel4.com/news/milo-yiannopolous-questioned-on-donald-trump-and-stephen-bannon

CHOMSKY...

CHOMSKY...WHY PROPAGANDA WORKS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVguNJ3kLqY
WHO RULES THE WORLD TODAY...Channel Four News:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2lsEVlqts0
CHOMSKY ON SNOWDEN:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvwxYb4RCAA

ONE FOR THE TEACHERS...

Andrew Marr interviews Noam Chomsky about the media and propaganda. I remember watching this a long time ago when it was first broadcast on BBC 2. I remember thinking Andrew Marr was an arrogant and deluded fool...'Chomsky as anarchist'???  Watch this and see what you think:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suFzznCHjko

STOP FUNDING HATE CAMPAIGN...

LEGO removes advertising from THE DAILY MAIL:
http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/lego-ends-daily-mail-advertising-amid-stop-funding-hate-protest-1-4285942
STOP FUNDING HATE 'BRANDJAMMING':
https://www.creativereview.co.uk/stop-funding-hate-brandjamming-john-lewis-christmas-campaign/
BBC Article:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/37035283/stop-funding-hate-campaign-urges-companies-to-drop-newspaper-adverts
THE STRANGE CASE of GLENN BECK...advertisers removed their support for his segment on FOX NEWS...and he was removed!! Up until losing advertising revenue the institution offered total support for his views.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/advertisers-deserting-fox-news-glenn-beck-2009-08-14
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/14/business/media/14adco.html
STOP FUNDING HATE FILMS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kQd2mBo1J4
The emotive one!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aw966AqgCA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tj6ohDxRZmc

This is an extremely interesting topic for any student of media. The UK print media seems filled with hate and fear and is forcing a very narrow ideology on the people of the UK. How can UK business place pressure on these institutions? THEY CAN REMOVE THEIR ADVERTISING.
LEGO'S decision is extremely interesting.

YEAR 12 Friday 11th November 16.

Today's session was a lesson that closes our precise focus upon Section A of the exam. After this session we will change the focus to the demands of the Cross-Media Study. The class were asked to consider THREE questions in response to THREE texts.

WHAT DO WE LEARN ABOUT THE BBC AS AN INSTITUTION?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92bmDq2h92Q
HOW ARE MEDIA FORMS USED TO ENGAGE THE VIEWER?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4_6hVPyKZw
HOW IS FILM BEING REPRESENTED?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIawNRm9NWM

HOMEWORK: Prepare for the timed writing task. The next session will expect students to produce a written response to the three questions. We will discuss the skills that you are expected to display before moving into a 40 minute timed response.

YEAR 13 Thursday 10th Nov.

Today's session considered the Section B essay that we will be completing next week that is concerned with new digital media empowering the audience due to the increased access to different VIEWS and VALUES. This is a big essay because it deals with one of the central issues in contemporary media. This being the idea that mainstream media ideology has had its influence diluted by the explosion of non-mainstream media that have used new platforms such as YOU TUBE to access large audiences.
The rest of the session considered the content of two films from the recent American Presidential campaign.
Clinton film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy8HRdlLGCQ
Trump film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1EuZ5ObQp8
The class were asked to consider the question:
How is Donald Trump represented in these two texts?

HOMEWORK: Research content for the essay and prepare to answer the Trump question as a timed response in the next session.

YEAR 12 Tuesday 8th November 16.

Today's session was an introduction to the CROSS-MEDIA STUDY. This will be the SECTION B of the exam paper. Students were introduced to the notion that this section of the course will demand that they select a DOCUMENTARY FILM which they will compare with a HYBRID-DOCUMENTARY. In the session I introduced students to two documentary films. Click on links below.
Maidentrip Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PCbn1T2Tfw
Twinsters Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1txduZwL2Yg
I Believe In Miracles Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4_6hVPyKZw
STUDENTS NEED TO SELECT THEIR OWN DOCUMENTARY FILM. THE FILM MUST HAVE BEEN RELEASED WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
Here are some examples of HYBRID-DOCUMENTARY.
One Born Every Minute:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES0h3L0yPYQ
Educating Yorkshire trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NQGPVv1wDU
Gogglebox watching Educating Yorkshire:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vbQoBpIqfI
24 Hours in A and E Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glThFK3qyQU
BBC Human Universe Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq2DEJzyoas
BBC Planet Earth Two:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92bmDq2h92Q
SO YOU NEED TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS FOLKS. Students will be expected to be aware of how their texts use broadcast, print and e-media to promote the film and access the target audience. How do the different cross-media platforms link to ensure the success of your media texts?

HOMEWORK: Choose your texts.

This is the link to my Humber Street Sesh 2016 film. Watch this film and ask me any questions you wish about how I constructed this media text. Does documentary capture TRUTH? The documentary form used to be termed 'ACTUALITIES' to describe this genre of film-making. Significance?

https://vimeo.com/190356843

YEAR 13 Monday 7th Nov 16.

This lesson considered the SECTION B question that has been the focus of the last couple of sessions. This is not an area that students are particularly comfortable with so I want to make sure that ALL students know exactly how to answer this 'news and views' question.
Students were also asked to consider the bias nature of the UK's mainstream media. Click on resource below:
http://fishymediaresources.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/our-pressa-new-low.html
Class discussion considered the fact that our mainstream print media seem to have a very narrow political focus and seem to be bias towards a right wing ideology.
The session then moved on to consider Donald Trump and his representation.
The two texts below will be considered in the next session. The question will be:
HOW IS DONALD TRUMP REPRESENTED IN THESE TWO TEXTS?
Clinton Campaign film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy8HRdlLGCQ
Trump campaign film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1EuZ5ObQp8

HOMEWORK: Complete the REGULATION research.
I may also refer to these resources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37908096
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/nov/09/prince-harrys-plea-to-newspaper-editors-has-slim-chance-of-success
HAS LEVESON had any impact on our print media?

ORWELL WAS RIGHT...MADNESS!!!

In 2008 Donald Trump said this....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q76rxpKm3m4
What do we learn about media and politics through this clip????

MONEY SPENT ON MEDIA in Presidential Campaign:
http://heavy.com/news/2016/08/hillary-clinton-donald-trump-how-much-has-have-spent-on-campaign-advertising-ads-commercials-spending-groups-money-august/
The Deplorables:
http://adage.com/article/campaign-trail/trump-ad-clinton-viciously-demonizing-hard-working-people/305809/

OUR PRESS...A NEW LOW?

YEAR 12 Fri 4th Nov 16.

Today's session considered how media forms are used to shape the representation of DONALD TRUMP.
The question the class were asked to discuss was:
How is Donald Trump represented in these two campaign films?
Text One:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy8HRdlLGCQ
Text Two:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1EuZ5ObQp8
HOMEWORK: Complete question.

YEAR 13 31st Oct/3rd Nov

TRUMP CAMPAIGN VIDEO One:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJPxtcx4dyo
Trump video Two:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1EuZ5ObQp8
Hilary Clinton campaign film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy8HRdlLGCQ
Hilary Clinton Campaign film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCqFCCgU1xk
Mirrors...Clinton campaign film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHGPbl-werw

The last two sessions have involved the consideration of the question:
'Developments in NDM mean that audiences can now have access to a greater variety of views and values.'
To what extent are audiences empowered by these developments?
Class discussion considered the idea that non-mainstream media is challenging the representations being presented by mainstream media. One of the key contemporary media debates is whether mainstream media is losing its authority due to the explosion of online News/Opinion sites.
Here are links to the non-mainstream sites that we discussed this morning.
OWEN JONES:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSYCo8uRGF39qDCxF870K5Q

PAUL STAINES:
https://www.youtube.com/user/guidofawkes
THE YOUNG TURKS:
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheYoungTurks
The Artist Taxi Driver....Chunky Mark:
https://www.youtube.com/user/chunkymark
The Trews:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvoqQT41wos
THE CANARY:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3aQBsXR4i7sMcrc_LI1pgQ

The resources posted above can be used as reference material in the essay that we will be constructing in the very near future. Does this non-mainstream media challenge the authority of mainstream media?

I also asked students to research an area of media regulation. We considered:

• OFCOM
• CLEARCAST
• THE BRITISH BOARD OF FILM CLASSIFICATION
• ADVERTISING STANDARDS AUTHORITY
• THE LEVESON INQUIRY
• THE PEGI SYSTEM
• NEWSPAPER REGULATION
• YOU TUBE
• TWITTER

Each student was given a research task. Next Thursday students need to hand me an A4 sheet of information that clearly explains the role that your regulation research area plays in protecting the public from inappropriate content.

Questions that you need to consider when constructing your A4 sheet:

When was the regulatory body set up? What are the powers of this area of regulation? Provide examples of this regulation and then offer a brief overview of any 'problematic issues' that surround your specific area of media regulation.

HOMEWORK: Consider content for the essay and check the links I have posted here. Research content for your REGULATION sheet. Any problems...speak to me on Monday.

Watch the Trump and Clinton videos at the top of this blog. We will be discussing the content in the next lesson.

YEAR 12 Tuesday 1st Nov 16.

This session was a return to the classroom and considered how media forms are used to shape meaning. The class considered the mini-cooper viral video before considering the opening to DEXTER. The class discussed how meaning is being shaped before producing a 15 minute response to the Dexter introduction.
Mini Clubman Media exam text:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9UlaKOIdZg
Skins Series Two:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF0L-xparmI
American Horror Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c3VVJb562Y
DEXTER Opening Credits:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej8-Rqo-VT4

HOMEWORK: Complete the creative task.

YEAR 13 31st Oct 16.