Screen vs. Print Document Design

Readers of documents these days choose a very direct approach in reading as most of them might not, in some cases, read from start to end. According to Hilligoss (2002), most readers currently prefer to scan as a tool to complete their thoughts for relevant findings.

According to Nielson (1999), three out of the six steps in differentiating print and screen/web designs, such as:

1.)   Dimensionality

2.)   Multimedia and Interactivity

3.)   Navigation

As stated by Nielson (1999) print media is made up of 2-dimensional layouts, which makes it achievable for people to turn tangible pages.

(Source: Google Images, 4freephotos.com)

On the other hand, screen designs are a 1-dimensional layout where readers get to experience scrolling between different pages by just a click or a drag of their mouse.

(Source: Google Images, Downloadstock.net)

As for multimedia and interactivity, screen media would benefit more than print media in a sense of user engagement. Although print media can contain pictures that give influence to a reader, screen or web media allows readers to provide their comments on the following subject, news or issue (Nielson 1999). This provides readers with audience interaction where practical feedback can also be obtained.

(Source: Google Images, gettingtoyesfaster.com)

Lastly, in terms of navigation, print media’s feature is simple page turning, where readers benefit with a simple printed outline. As for online media, it benefits readers with its convenient and specific navigation through websites.

Although online media represents a better medium to some comparing to print, it does not mean that print media is no longer required; it represents an essential tool of communication despite its traditional features. In my opinion, I believe both mediums are beneficial in their own way and are crucial in the world of communication.

References

• Holligoss, S 2002, Visual Communication: A Writer’s Guide, Clemson University, viewed 24 August 2011, <http://www.ablongman.com/mycomplab_content/pdf/long_hilligoss.pdf>.
• Nielson, J 1999, Differences Between Print and Web Design, Useit.com, viewed 24 August 2011, <http://www.useit.com/alertbox/990124.html>.

New Forms of Media Publishing

As stated in my second blog post, the usage of blogging continues to explode in growth. As stated by Kress and van Leeuwen (2006, p.36), new understandings are brought about in the semiotical landscape due to the modernization, multiculturalism, technology and communication in media. Thus, the modes of social media will continue to expand. Day-by-day, new forms of communication mediums in the social network are emerging.

(Source: O’Neill, n.d., makeuseof.com)

In the words of micro-blogging, an example of a breakthrough platform would be Twitter. According to O’Neill (n.d.), Twitter represents a social platform that allows users to write and broadcast short messages to their followers.

Although it seems more like sending a mobile text, Twitter is known for its unique benefits to bloggers and the media. Firstly, it serves as a medium that provides news where many media outlets have their own authentic account which functions as an online newspaper. 

(Source: Twitter.com, 2011)

Secondly, bloggers are able to support their blogs by using Twitter’s website called ‘Twitter Feed’. By the use of this, bloggers are able to ‘tweet’ their posts automatically through Twitter where it serves as an efficient method of promoting their webpages (O’Neill, n.d.).

Lastly, Twitter also provides credible methods of clarification. Most organizations and brands use Twitter as a medium to communicate and interact with consumers. This certainly shows its benefits towards the industry of Public Relations.

(Source: Twitter.com, 2011)

According to Naughton (2006), the unique and multifaceted modes of the relationship between online media and traditional journalism will develop to be beneficial to each other. In such a fast-moving era we all live in, the effects of these two powerful mediums are already starting to complement each other. 

References

• Kress, G & Leeuwan, V 2006, Reading Images: The Grammar Of Visual Design, Routledge, New York.
• O’Neill, M n.d., The Complete Guide to Twitter, Makeuseof.com, viewed 24 August 2011, <http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:kf9YILoM5r4J:manuals.makeuseof.com.s3.amazonaws.com/twitter-guide.pdf+twitter+pdf&hl=en&gl=my&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiMKa92dpj5vnBDHl43ercpzos_Lva6g2ULzogBnMpPzUHWSPTCGELT04Rj_oxIRusOs8hiXyHNAbwyySysV20X2w_mPCpcx2BJnU-CBaUjfJSJ0J7EN5rJoP6F8DYWRdrALwfL&sig=AHIEtbSAWRW15Rf9sxJBsf0LE5O_gKfg1g>.
• Jantsch, J 2009, Using Twitter for Business, Duct Tape Marketing, viewed 24 August 2011, <http://www.johnjantsch.com/TwitterforBusiness.pdf>.
• Naughton, J 2006, Blogging and the emerging media ecosystem, Reuters Institute, viewed 24 August 2011, <http://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/fileadmin/documents/discussion/blogging.pdf>.

Types of Blogging Communities & Methods to Build Blogging Communities

A blog community is defined as an accumulation of different blogs that provide in-depth discussions and information for people within a group (Kinkeldei 2007). It encourages quick networking and spreading of knowledge for other readers.

There are three types of blogging communities as stated by White (2006), which are:

(Source: White, The Knowledge Tree, 2006)

One Blog Centric Community – A community that revolves and is moved by a single blogger.

Topic Centric Community – A community where the subjects of relevance brings its bloggers together.

Boundaried Community – A community that is shaped by a society of bloggers from a social platform.

An example of a blog that practices the One Blog Centric Community is Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s blog. The former prime minister of Malaysia stated in a recent interview that he had 20 million guests on his blog (New Media and The Informed Citizen 2009).

As Mahathir’s blog generated that many viewers, it is most understandable that he had taken these steps to make his blog such an influential one:

1.)  Write More To Get More Remarks – Mahathir represents a blogger who is constantly active in blogging who writes at least 3 blog posts a week. This gives readers a reason to visit his blog.

2.)   Create Interesting and Comprehensible Content – Mahathir made the content in his blog interesting content incorporating matters of prominence.

3.)    Identify The Most Trendy Content – As the former prime minister of Malaysia, Mahathir still blogs about issues and important matters relevant to the country. Thus, he should be able to identify which of the posts that he writes conveys the most significance to his readers.

References

• White, N 2006, Blogs and Community - launching a new paradigm for online community, The Knowledge Tree, viewed 24 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, Blog Communities: Forging Connections and Promoting Growth Through Blog Communities, Whitepaper, 21publish, viewed 24 August 2011, <http://21publish.com/pub/21publish/blogging-whitepaper.pdf>.

• 2009, Interview with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Former Prime Minister of Malaysia, New Media and The Informed Citizen, viewed 24 August 2011, <http://www.paradigminfinitum.com/Interview%20with%20Tun%20Dr%20Mahathir%20Mohamad.pdf>.

• Mahathir, M 2011, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Blogger, viewed 24 August 2011, <http://mahathir-mohamad.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-08-14T17%3A37%3A00%2B08%3A00&max-results=1>. 

• Yoskovitz, B 2007, 8 Steps to Growing Your Blog Community One Person At a Time, Instigator Blog, viewed 24 August 2011, <http://www.instigatorblog.com/8-steps-to-growing-your-blog-community-by-1/2007/01/09/>.

Classification of Blogs & Opinion About The Most Appropriate Classification Approach

(Source: Technorati, 2010)

The first classification provided by Hellbound Bloggers divides bloggers into the following segments:

1.)   Corporate Blog – Functions as an informative blog for an organization.

2.)   Niche Blog – Discussions for a specific subject. Eg: Music, photography, opinions, etc.

3.)   Personal Blog – Sharing information as a hobby for fun.

4.)   Forum Blogging – To exchange and share general blogging matters.

5.)   Review Blog – Where products and merchandises are evaluated and reviewed.

The other classification by Martha Simons discusses that blogs are classified in:

1.)   Pamphleteering Blogs – For people to discuss their views on a particular matter of importance.

2.)   Digest Blogs – A blog that displays collected information from other blogs and mediums.

3.)   Advocacy Blogs – Comparable to Pamphleteering Blogs, but usually with own views from an interest group.

4.)   Popular Mechanics Blog – To educate and guide readers on particular subjects.

5.)   Exhibition Blogging – Specific blogs for a particular hobby/interest.

6.)   Gatewatcher Blog – Analyzes media as a watchdog.

7.)   Diary Blog – An intimate blog for writers to share personal matters.

8.)   The Advertisement – Advertising and marketing blogs.

9.)   News Blog – An online medium for newscasts.

Although both methods have their own ways of classification, they have similarities as well. For instance, Hellbound Bloggers’ Niche Blog shares a similarity with Martha Simons’ Exhibition blog.

In my opinion, I would say Martha Simons’ clarification method has a better arrangement method compared to Hellbound Bloggers’ as it provides a more clear and comprehensive understanding in distinguishing different types of blogs. Aside from that, Hellbound Bloggers’ classification offers a less specific distinguishing method for the categories where they could actually be distributed more thoroughly in Martha Simons’ method of classification.

References

• Simons, M 2008, A taxonomy of blogs, The Media Report, viewed 23 August 2011, <http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2008/2372882.htm#transcript%00>.

• VanFossen, L 2007, Is Your Blog a Conversation Blog or Answer Blog?, The Blog Herald, viewed 23 April 2011, <http://www.blogherald.com/2007/07/27/is-your-blog-a-conversation-blog-or-answer-blog/>.

• 2011, What is Blogging & Types of Blogs [DETAILS], Hellbound bloggers, viewed 23 August 2011, <http://hellboundbloggers.com/2011/02/27/types-of-blogs/>.

Blogs as a Current Phenomenon & Benefits of Blogging to The Community

The current situation of the blogosphere in the year 2010 has taken the next step forward in expanding with the influence of various social media tools (Soble 2010). Maven (2006) stated that the number of bloggers multiply by two times in every six and a half months.

A vital component in the trend is the expansion of the use of mobile blogging. According to Soble (2010), 25% of the blogosphere this year engages in blogging through smartphones and tablets. The emergences of micro-blogging websites have grown to be significant in the blogging community.

The graph below by Jalichandra (2010) displays the why bloggers practice micro-blogging:

(Source: Technorati Media, 2010)

Micro-blogging, such as Twitter or Facebook has moved towards a more beneficial phase from just social networking websites. According to Jalichandra (2010), a survey of 7,200 bloggers conducted by Technorati provided results that Twitter is being used by 73% of people whom blog for hobby and 88% of career bloggers.

In Malaysia, a country with little freedom of expression, the trend of blogging widely serves as a democratic medium for writers to have political discussion (Sandra  n.d.). It can be a place for dissent and a substitute source for news. Whereas in India, most of the blogger community prefer reading blogs that provide information about technology (Dikshit 2006). Therefore, there are many uses for blogging.

Conclusively, in an emerging technological era, journalists and established media houses will continue in producing content. But the massive development in blogging will continue to grow and soon might bring an end to traditional writing.

References

• Soble, J 2010, State of the Blogosphere 2010 Introduction, Technorati, viewed 23 August 2011, <http://technorati.com/blogging/article/state-of-the-blogosphere-2010-introduction/#ixzz1VwRZkgyg>.

• Jalichandra, R 2010, 2010 | STATE OF THE BLOGOSPHERE, Technorati Media, viewed 23 August 2011, <http://techcrunch.com/2010/11/03/state-blogosphere-2010-slides/>.

• Sandra, S n.d., Blogging in Malaysia: Hope for a New Democratic Technology?, Faculty of Information and Media Studies, University of Western Ontario, viewed 23 August 2011, <http://www.cprsouth.org/wp-content/uploads/drupal/Sandra_Smeltzer.pdf>.

• Dikshit, S 2006, Interesting blogging trends in India revealed in new survey, The Hindu, viewed 23 August 2011, <http://hindu.com/2006/11/28/stories/2006112800452200.htm>.

• Maven, R 2006, Blogosphere doubling in size every six months, Econsultancy, viewed 23 August 2011, <http://econsultancy.com/us/blog/150-blogosphere-doubling-in-size-every-six-months>.