Screen vs Print document design

Friedman (2008) states sophisticated instruments do not often provided by traditional techniques in customizing print layouts whereas web users could not control over typography which mean how text appears because the structure of wed page are mostly determined by web browser. Nielsen (1999) explains there are 3 main differences between screen and print design in term of dimensionality, navigation, Response Time, Resolution, and Canvas size:


Dimensionality
Print document design- Its layout is 2 dimensional and readers can easily choose and turn the page. Printed document such as posters and newspapers often created in fixed canvas size.

Screen document design- Its web design is 1-dimensional, N-dimensional and small amount of 2-dimensional layout. Users are able to scroll the page up or down throughout their reading experiences. However, placement of elements of web page has been limited by HTML text and page can only be adjusted based on different sizes of window.

Navigation
Print document design- Page turning provide a simple interface for readers. However, Web design consists of limited page turning and therefore, readers do not perceive it as design elements.


Screen document design- Hypertext navigation consists of major web design components which require people to consider the appearance of links, hyperlink, visualize user's location and information architecture. Besides, user's experiences are dominated by the 'look and feel' of websites as they are able to browse around the world. It will generate strong emotional effect rather than having readers to focus seeing the page. 


Response Time, Resolution, and Canvas size
Print document design- It enable faster speed so that readers can turn the newspaper pages within a second. Huge size of visible space in newspaper is created to make a clear and organize layout for reader to go on reading. Yet, the quality and type of images are not as sharp as the resolution of a web page. 


Screen document design- It often provides small canvas layout due to limited screen size. Besides, screen document has word count limit because impatient online users are possibly scan rather than read the whole document.

Example of print document design, the Guardian newspaper: 

Source from smashing-magazine.com

The printed newspaper above used multiple colors to balance the contrast between legibility and visual appeal. Different news contents is separated under different headings (see the right column) to have an organize structure. Besides, the main picture at center place also supported the content and headline.

Example of screen document design, my weblog:

The first image is used to provide visual effects in order to attract reader's attention. Whereas, the second image is used to explain the discussed theory so that readers can have better understanding on the topic. Online users could have interactive movement as they can click into whatever links at the side bar for further readings. 

Lastly, Benetos (2005) states content and presentation designs must be regarded in shifting text from one medium to another. He believes good writing, design and text choices are driven by strong reflection of purpose, intent of content and the needs of readers.

References
Nielsen, J. 1999, Differences Between Print Design and Web Design, viewed 24 August 2011,
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/990124.html


Friedman, V. 2008, Award-Winning Newspaper Designs, viewed 24 August 2011,
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/02/11/award-winning-newspaper-designs/


Benetos, K. 2005, Design considerations when writing: print vs screen, viewed 21 August 2011,
http://tecfa.unige.ch/staf/staf-k/benetos/staf13/per5/lire.html

New form of media publishing

Source from new-wavemedia.com

Naughton (2006) describes that people in the past were uncreative and passive due to the lack of publication opportunities and interactive tools. Unlike today, every users can be online journalists via blogging that has been powered in many ways by social media such as Youtube,Twitter, Facebook, alternative online newspaper and so forth. According to Scott Rosenberg (Catone, 2010), explains a new home for minutiae around the blogosphere such as status updates, shared links, passing observations and authorize blogs for longer form, more valuable writing are now provided by social media. 

‘What's a video worth if a picture is worth thousand words’

Source from digitaltrends.com

YouTube, allows internet users to upload and share video contents with the world. Comscore (2011) states YouTube.com is ranked as the top online video content property in April with 142.7 million unique viewers in Google site. 

Youtube has been utilized as a medium to promote and publicize the presidential candidates as well as celebrities. According to Nord (Kindblom, 2009), parties and politicians distribute unfiltered information via Internet to the citizens without having to pass the needle eye of journalists and editors. For instance, Barack Obama announced his candidature by posting short video on his homepage during 2008. This can also encourages the interpersonal relationship between these people with the audiences. 

Hanson and Haridakis (2008) mentions YouTube is more than a substitute for the traditional TV news delivery system. Users are allowed to replay or select specific contents which they may have missed on TV. However, this new form of media presents real challenge dealing with copyright issue. According to Bromberg (Bentley, 2007), states any videos that violating Digital Millennium Copyright Act will be taken down by YouTube authority.

Walsh (2006) explains multimodals contain meaning that is communicated through different modes while affordance lies in how the words are used in the text. For instance, visuals and graphics contexts such as YouTube videos can be attached to our online blogs in order to it more attractive and understandable to readers.

References

Naughton, J. 2006, Blogging and the emerging media ecosystem, viewed 22 August 2011,
http://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/fileadmin/documents/discussion/blogging.pdf


Cathone, J. 2010, a Look Back at the Last 5 Years in Blogging, viewed 23 August 2011, 
http://mashable.com/2010/08/03/last-5-years-blogging/


ComScore 2011, comScore Releases April 2011 U.S. Online Video Rankings, viewed 23 August 2011
http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2011/5/comScore_Releases_April_2011_U.S._Online_Video_Rankings


Kindblom, L. 2009, Analysis of Video Filmed Speeches Published on the Internet in the
American Democratic Party Primary Election, viewed 23 August 2011,
http://ac-journal.org/journal/2009/Winter/Articles/110408%20Analysis%20of%20videofilmed%20speeches.pdf

 

Walsh, M, 2006. The ‘textual shift’: Examining the reading process with print, visual and multimodal texts

ftp://124.42.15.59/ck/2010-12/165/050/398/561/The%20%20textual%20shift%20%A3%BAExamining%20the%20reading%20process%20with%20print,%20visual%20and%20multimodal%20texts.pdf


Hanson, G & Haridakis, P. 2008, YouTube Users Watching and Sharing the News: A uses and Gratifications Approach, viewed 23 August 2011,

http://quod.lib.umich.edu/j/jep/3336451.0011.305?rgn=main;view=fulltext


Bentley, L, 2007, YouTube: Dealing with Social Networking's Copyright Issues, viewed 25 August 2011,
http://www.itbusinessedge.com/cm/community/features/interviews/blog/youtube-dealing-with-social-networkings-copyright-issues/?cs=22383

Types of blogging communities & methods to build blogging communities

How to interact with other counterparts?

source from moneymakingboy.blogspot.com

Blogs have taken new dimension in forming online communities which is known as blogging communities, it provides opportunity to socialize, share messages within a group and increase traffic to your own blog and site. According to Kinkeldei (2007), blogging community is defined as,

‘Blog communities aggregate the individual and independent blogs of a number of people 

with a shared interest – the same cause, similar political views, business interest, etc’

She also mentions blog communities transmit idea of sustaining communication and connections of a social network amongst distinct groups of people with an akin mindset. 

Bloggers,

Hines (2011) proposes it is beneficial to create own loyal community base as it drives more traffic to your site, generates income by charging readers entry fees or privileges contents. Building community can be done through visit and comment on others' blog, active comment bar such as Livefyre and Disqus, share and link posts to others' blogs and social networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter and RSS for further discussion and to show interactive. 

White (2006) explains there are 3 types of blogging communities:

The Single Blog/Blogger Centric Community

This is also known as 'the one blog' which own by one owner and organization but involves multiple authors writing in a blog. Readers are able to comment and know the blogger as well as other commentors. Commentors can also get to know each other by sharing their individual information through private e-mail, MSN and etc. Basically, only central blogger can control power over community by setting topic, rules and norms of engagement. Therefore, community would split if that particular blog was shut down unless there is alternative way formed by these members. 

The Central Connecting Topic Community

This is a rich network formation because readers are able to view different perspectives on an issue linked by common topic and passion. Personal details be shared through private e-mail and MSN as they are not always shared on blog to public. Basically, community are linked by blog rings and hyperlinks in form of blog rolls, tagging, blog posts, trackbacks, comments and aggregated feeds. Both power and identity is distributed and manifested through relevance, quality or amount of entertainment across community. Sub-communities are formed easily because they are not only access to one blog.

The Boundaried Community

This community emphasizes on the social connections and networking. Members who register and join the community are given chance to create a blog. Bloggers can easily access to other sites by utilizing tool such discussion boards, social networking features, wiki and instant messaging. The owner of blog has power to impose rules on the community. However, power is exercise by bloggers in three different ways which are frequency of posting, how many comments a blogger obtains help to determine his/her popularity and visualize relationships with wider audiences by using social networking tool.  

source from 1malaysia.com.my

The picture above shows the personal website of Malaysia current Prime Minister, Dato Sri Najib Razak and his site would probably fall under the boundaried community. He updates and shares his posts in frequent within the use of pictures and reflections. It emphasizes more on social connections as he allows non registrants to join the discussion and post their comments to his blogs. Moreover, his uses social networking tools, blog poll, and tag to visualize relationship with his readers.

References

White, N, 2006. Blogs and Community- launching a new paradigm for online community?, viewed 21 August 2011,

http://kt.flexiblelearning.net.au/tkt2006/edition-11-editorial/blogs-and-community-%E2%80%93-launching-a-

new-paradigm-for-online-community

Kinkeldei, B, 2007. Whitepaper blog community: Forging Connections and Promoting Growth Through Blog Communities, viewed 21 August 2011,

http://www.21publish.com/pub/21publish/blogging-whitepaper.pdf


Hines, K. 2011, How to create your own social networking community, viewed 25 August 2011,
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-create-your-own-social-networking-community/

Classification of Blogs and Opinion about The Most Appropriate Classification Approach

As the blogging phenomena exploded, Simmons (2008) believes that diversity of individual publishing on World Wide Web is reflected through the inventing of new words to blogs. 

Martha (2011) has come up 5 types of blogs to show how various blogs focus on different niches.

• Corporate blog- An official blog that consists of culture, strategies, purpose and information of specific organizations.

• Niche blog- Fix type of stuff blog which offering information on certain topic, endorsing reader to visit another website which intend to sell and promote products or service.

• Personal blog- A blog commonly shares and writes about personal life experiences by using personal and emotional language, and therefore, each post can be different from others. Example, Kennysia.com

• Review blog- A blog that share, discuss and comment the review about certain products and services.

However, Simons (2008) has come up with variant names on blog classification and classifies into 9 types which are: 

• Pamphleteering blog- A blog usually published by numbers of authors that cover many topics in which Individual or group of individuals express and argue their perspective for a cause, respond to the fact reported in mainstream media or other blogs. 

Example: Andrew Norton

• Digest blog- A blog act as guidance so you can click on the link and access to other websites. It usually summarizes and collects material from mainstream media or other blogs on a single topic issues.  

Example: Fair Go Fairfax

• Advocacy blog- A subset of pamphleteering blog which focusing on particular point of view on particular issue. It is established by vested interest group, advocacy group, commercial organization and political party.

Example: Telstra

• The Popular Mechanics blog- A blog that provides collection of advice and training in specialist's field. Some of these blogs can earn money from advertising.

Example: Popular Merchanics

• Exhibition blog- A blog also known as 'vanity publishing' that are normally maintained by writers, artists, craftspeople who aim to show their creative works to wider audiences. 

Example: Artistemerging

• Gatewatcher blog- A blog where specialists, expertises or particular knowledge of public events hold the account of 'gatekeeper' of traditional media. 

Example: Possum Comitatus

• Diary blog- A personal blog usually established by majority people in writing news, photo and information.

Example: Lee ming (listed in one of the top 10 hottest blogger in Malaysia by Nuffnang)

• The Advertisement blog- Less honest kind of blog because commercial companies pay bloggers to boost their products and services. 

Example: Nuffnang.com 

• The News blog- A small category of blogs cover or report breaking news in depth which normally contributing to journalism.

Example: guardian.co.uk

In conclusion, I think Simons's classification method is better because she able to categorize blogs into specific types based on different blog contents. Her article has been well defined and analyzed within the use of supported examples and clear explanation.  

References
Martha 2011, What Is Blogging & Types Of Blogs [DETAILS], viewed 20 August 2011,
http://hellboundbloggers.com/2011/02/27/types-of-blogs/


Simons, M. 2008. A taxonomy of blogs, viewed 20 August 2011,
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2008/2372882.htm#transcript

Blogs as current phenomenon & benefits to community

source from problogger.net

Blog is defined as:

 ‘A Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer’ (Merriam-Webster online)

(Statistic on Technorati.com)

Blogosphere in current decade has changed the communication flow and how information is shared and accessed. Pingdom (2011) states there are 152 million of blogs on the Internet over 2010 tracked by BlogPulse. Based on chart below, it showed blogs are more trendier in western countries compared to Asia-Pacific region. 



source from digital buzz blog

Smeltzer (n.d) describes the state of mainstream media in Malaysia is mainly owned and controlled by ruling coalition within enforcement of restrictive laws such as Printing Presses and Publications Act, etc. Hence, mainstream media such as TV, newspapers and radio agencies have to practice self censorship which certainly leads to limited diversity of information, voices and opinions. 

However, citizens are given opportunity to receive uncensored voice out their opinion though alternative media. Smeltzer (n.d) explains Malaysian political blogs is aimed to confront the mainstream media and status quo control by serving spaces for bloggers to share information, circulate news, discuss issues and events with their readers. 


As a result, Barisan Nasional lost its general election in 2008 due to disinterest access to cyberspace. According to New Straits Times (Smeltzer,n.d), Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said that:

‘We didn’t think it was important. It was a serious misjudgment. We thought that the newspapers, the print media, the television were important but young people were looking at text messages and blogs. (The influence of alternative media) was painful. But it came at the right time, not too late’

This shows the power of alternative media in influencing a nation's lives which traditional mainstream media can barely keep up in modern democratic world. According to Habermas (Thornton, 1996), normative notion of public sphere is part of social life whereby citizens could exchange view on important matters such as issues of political concern discussion in order to form public opinion so to achieve common good. 

Indeed, bloggers are able to communicate and interact with wider audiences from different countries. Blogs encourage sharing of expertise and knowledge, exchanging of views in forum or discussion board. Besides, bloggers can make money either by selling or promoting products and services for certain organization. 

References

Pingdom 2011, Internet 2010 in numbers [Internet], viewed 20 August 2011, 

http://royal.pingdom.com/2011/01/12/internet-2010-in-numbers/

Sani & Zengeni (n.d), Democratisation in Malaysia: The impact of Social Media in the 2008 General Election, viewed 20 August 2011,

http://asaa.asn.au/ASAA2010/papers/Sani-M_Azizuddin_M.pdf

Thornton, A. 1996, Does Internet create democracy, viewed 20 August 2011, 

http://www.zipworld.com.au/~athornto/thesis2.htm


Smeltzer, S.C (n.d), Blogging in Malaysia:  Hope for a New Democratic Technology? viewed 20 August 2011, 
http://www.cprsouth.org/wp-content/uploads/drupal/Sandra_Smeltzer.pdf

Purpose of the blog

This site aims to discuss how important of weblog as social media platform in sharing information and how people are being affected in term of perception and attitude on different phenomena through blog sphere. Besides, all internet users especially bloggers and media students are targeted to understand the implication of weblog, publication issues and effect of designation.