Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Welcome
to the class blog, Ole Miss Introduction to Multimedia Writing
students! You'll soon be posting your work in this space and responding
to relevant news stories, articles and other information. Speaking of
which, while we're discussing online journalism, respond to this opinion piece
by Ben Thompson about "Why the Web Still Matters for Writing." What is
your reaction to his thoughts on the subject? How does it relate to what
we've been discussing?
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Thompson argues that the web is not "dead", as previously argued by others, but rather is changing to a mobile form of web browsing and use. I think this is completely accurate, because more often than not, people are using mobile devices for more "recreational" browsing (including news), and computers for more work-related things. This is especially true of students. A lot of this time on mobile apps is social media, which I think ties in to some of what we have been talking about in class about online news reporting. Trying to capture an audience's attention on the web is very different than in print, and on social media it's even more varied. Headlines, photos, and blurbs on social media really have to stand out to compete with other advertised news stories. Thompson suggests using apps to the advantage of news reporters, and to let the users of such apps be able to reach new and innovative content on social media and blogs. All in all, this article seems to echo what we have mentioned in class: news is just as important on the web, it is just a changing medium that needs to capture the audience's attention.
ReplyDeleteBen Thompson raises some excellent points in his article about "Why the Web Still Matters for Writing". He discusses how apps are taking over more of the users time spent on devices rather than simply using the browser option. Apps create an outlet for a single content provider to reach its audience. The "general web" allows multiple content providers to reach a broader audience. People have different interests when it comes to reading, that is why the web is a superior option. I enjoyed the points made in this article.
ReplyDeleteAlthough people may be spending more time on games and social media on their mobile devices, Ben Thompson explains that the web is not dead. Personally, I agree with this statement. Times are always changing, but change does not necessarily mean the end to what came before the latest trend. For instance, many people have claimed that newspapers and magazines were dying out. However, these publications continue to operate both in print and also electronically. They developed to fit their audience's demands in the digital age. Now, people can continue to have a printed newspaper delivered to their door or can browse the publication on a tablet or other electronic device. The web is becoming very similar to this situation. People can access websites through a traditional browser or click on a mobile application. In reality, the web is expanding with more accessibility options. Websites, programs, and applications leading to everything imaginable are now at people's fingertips at all times with mobile devices. Just as we have discussed in class, mobile devices have even created a new form of reporting that enables information to be published almost immediately online. People may spend more time playing Candy Crush on their cellular phone than anything else, but they definitely have not given up on web usage.
ReplyDeleteThompson makes an accurate statement when he claims that the web is not "dead". People use their mobile devices to search and receive news today more than ever before. For instance, every news channel has there own app; even apps that are not related to news still provides us with advertisements that will relate the information to us. Although it is harder to reach the attention of people on social media, since the advertisements on the side aren't the main focus, it is still available and beneficial. Also, advertisements on apps, such as Pandora, are auditory and require people to listen to the complete message. Over all, news is still just as important, but it is just reaching out to our generation in a different way.
ReplyDeleteThe author Thompson argues very well that the Internet and World Wide Web is not “dead”. He continues to explain how the use of technology has only increased for today’s generation. More people are on their phones and computers browsing social media sites to gain facts. People may have lots of “apps” on their phones but they have been using it for work and browsing the news and such. People now days want to find a source that can explain news but clarifies what is going on quickly and to the point instead of reading a long article about it as well. This all relates to the discussions in class because the news is still important now matter where it comes from but in today’s 21st century it’s reaching it’s audience in a different way. The Internet is just a newer and faster way to receive information for readers.
ReplyDeleteThroughout our discussion about chapter 13 in class, I noticed a trend in the necessity of adapting content to make it easier for consumers to read. Ben Thompson argues accurately that the “web is not dead”, but the content is adapting to benefit both the consumers and the writers. Thompson addresses the need for flexibility in the fast-paced world of journalism. Online publishing allows the reader to access news at any place and time. This flexibility allows consumers to read news that suits their interests and gives writers the chance to attract a new audience. Thompson also explains the importance of maintaining fundamentals in online journalism while adopting new techniques like using hyperlinks. While the way the content is presented online might change over time, the art of storytelling remains central and will allow news to thrive on the web.
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree with Ben Thompson on his opinion that the web is not "dead". He explains how the use of mobile devices are increasing with in today's generation. I agree with Thompson when he states that time spent on mobile devices has increased. The web is more accesible. Most people use their mobile devices and social media to be informed about certain things and what is going on in the news. People would rather read a short article that is straight to the point than to read a long article. Newspapers and magazines aren't used as much as they used to be. This is because print can't hold the readers attention as much as the web. News is still important no matter where it comes from, but today people prefer the social media.
ReplyDeleteThompson's statement that the web is not dead, but "fills in all the gaps" is a great depiction of how the web is used today. Even though apps seem to be the main focus on most mobile devices, which is arguably used more than a computer or laptop, the web still provides the user with more availability to freely click on a variety of different websites and topics. Thompson also points out that apps narrow in on a single channel, mainly for gaming or social media. While that is extremely useful for most users, the flexibility that the web provides us will always be needed, even if it is not being used as frequently as apps. I completely agree with Thompson's points, and I believe it relates to what we have been talking about in class in how to best capture an audience's attention. With the web, the audience can be easily distracted, so it is important to have stand out advertisements, headlines, and pictures that have the right amount of content, which is also central to the idea of the fundamentals of journalism. With news applications, publications can take advantage of centering the user to the content it wants to provide. However, other social media apps have a large range of of contributors, so other advertisements and stories have to constantly compete against one another to grab the reader's attention. Even though it would seem that the amount of apps being used will eventually cause the web to "die", I believe the extensive opportunities that the web provides for readers will always continue to be a crucial necessity for online writing.
ReplyDeleteI think Thompson’s opinion that the web is not dead is an accurate statement. While I do agree that most everything we do today revolves around our phones and apps, we still cannot disregard simple pleasures, like the Internet. It is a lot more accessible than looking things up on ones phone. When searching for something that needs more depth and explanation, that is when the web should be used. Simple things that can be searched easily are perfect for smart phones. I also think that Thompson’s point about variety, and how using single apps you are still only getting the point of view from the writers used for that app. When I think about what we are talking about in class, I think about several things. First, how almost everything is becoming digital and smartphone accessible only, like how the one newspaper fired all of their photographers and opted for using cellphones for pictures only. I think that apps are very convenient and useful, but Thompson was correct when he said the web is not dead. Both the web and apps will be around for a long time to come.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Thompson's opinion that the web is not dead. As the accessibility of computers has grown over time, so has the range of tasks computers are able to perform. Smart phones are a huge antagonist in this so-called death of the web, and it is evident that most everything people do is on their phones. I think people simply buy in to the old Apple App Store slogan: "There's an App for that". Why go through pages of a Google or Yahoo search, when there is an app that does the searching for us?
ReplyDeleteAll that being said, there is still a place for the web. Nowadays, it is almost impossible to scroll through Facebook or a news app without clicking on a link to a separate web page. The statement Thompson makes about the web "filling in all of the gaps" could not be more true. There are some forms of writing, such as blogs, that are drastically incompatible with an app format. The key in Thompson's article, that Flurry left out in the chart, is that the web and apps are meant to work in conjunction. This relationship between the two enhances apps, and keeps the web alive.
As far as the in-class discussion, this relates because it shows how news media and reporting continue to evolve to suit the times. Reporting is becoming an adaptive medium, changing to become more user-friendly, easier for the consumer to access and understand. The web is the prime landscape to house this adaptation.
Thompson's article "Why the Web Still Matters for Writing" explains that, even though a recent Flurry report says 86% of web users' time is spent on apps versus 14% spent on browsers, web writing is not dead. Thompson is an independent blogger. He explains that this study doesn't distinguish between his views that come from Twitter or other apps versus being in their browser. He also explains that online news as a whole is growing, so even if the percentage within that pie shrinks a little, you still end up with more pie. He says that the most interesting thing is the "democratization of publishing," which we have talked about throughout the semester. Being your own editor, fact-checking so you don't get sued for libel, and coming up with your own story ideas are all becoming more and more important because your news outlet may be being an online blogger; or, even if you work for a major newspaper, so much more is online that there are time restraints. You may have to post before your editor gets to see it in order for your story to be relevant and timely. We've also talked about the many different online forms journalism can take. Thompson points out that whether it is in a browser, through twitter or youtube, or through an app, readers are still getting online news. The web is definitely still relevant for writing.
ReplyDeleteBen Thompson wrote "Why the Web Still Matters for Writing" to explain how the web is not dead. However, he argues that users are not spending their time using the Internet to find their needs but just simple downloading apps instead. He explains the addictiveness of apps instead of using the computer because it is with us everywhere we go. The web covers different opinions and outlooks to different interest. It has a very wide variety unlike apps. Apps have a single outlook or service that reaches a specific need. Now, the web is at the palm of any individual, which gives us quick access to any information. However, apps can be convenient because your information is quicker and easier to find. For example, Google, Facebook, and Gmail are popular websites that have their own app. This is for their users’ convenience. I agree with Ben Thompson’s facts about the web today, but everyone is trying to find information now quicker and easier.
ReplyDeleteBen Thomson makes many great point in the article “Why the Web Still Matters for Writing” regarding why the web is not dead. In my opinion as well there is no way for the “web to be dead” when it seems to be at its prime. From the facts provided it even gives direct proof that 86% of people on their phones are on apps such as Facebook in this case. In this day and age your phone is something that never leaves your side and people are constantly updating and browsing social media. It seems that news on the web has a much stronger and significant impact when passed on through these apps, as it is immediate or found by being shared from friends or family. New is just being distributed in a different way in today’s day and age.
ReplyDeleteBen Thompson makes an interesting point in the article "Why the Web Still Matters for Writing" commenting why the internet is not dead. If you think about it, it's hard for the web to be dead. Even though most of us use apps on our mobile devices, without the actual web setup there would be no apps for us to use. I personally still use the web based form of most sites I have apps for. There are many things you can't do on the app you can from the website. Having the app is actually a glorious thing! For websites that don't have apps they will probably get looked over or forgotten. If you have an app of a certain site you will be more inclined to go to the web based forum for it.
ReplyDeleteSaying that the web is dead does not make any sense. Just because apps have been created that make it easier to peruse a certain area does not mean that the web is dead. Sure, studies might show that people are not on their browser as often as they are on apps but that just means that someone found an easier way to get people to their site. People still spend three percent of their time on news apps and that seems like a pretty good amount of time spent on the news related to the overall time spent on the phone. It also does not make any sense because some browser pages are clunky and hard to use on the internet but the app versions are much cleaner and easier to navigate. People will always be trying to find an quicker, easier, and better way to do things so if apps that still use the internet are the way to go then that is what it takes. The web is not dead.
ReplyDeleteThe web not being dead is also apparent in news professions right now. Many news companies are debating whether or not to just go completely digital. Reporters are having to become more skilled in using cameras and video recorders because now everything comes with a picture or a video because it will end up online. With how much reporting is changing the internet is the best place for it to go because of its supreme flexibility.