Media1TraditionalvsNew(1)
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School
Corozal Junior College**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
VKA 92
Subject
Communications
Date
Dec 19, 2024
Pages
21
Uploaded by GrandDanger15822
illum.e2023 General Paper1
illum.e2023 General Paper2
© illum.e2023 General Paper3 ForewordThe media serves many purposes in today’s society, the most important of which is keeping the public informed of important and current issues and news. Due to its wide reach, the media serves as a bridge between the authorities and the people, and also between people. With this almost completely international reach that the media has, it has to exercise responsibility in providing the people with objective and accurate facts respectfully and with the public’s best interests in mind. However, today, the media still lacks responsibility in being a fair bridge between the world and the people, misusing its rights and ability to further biases and/or commercial interests. The media has the ability to influence, due in part to people's trust in the validity of the news, is often exploited for commercial interests, although in certain states, the government is the power behind the media. Part 1: DefinitionsMediarefers to the large and currently abundant forms of information and mass communication. Traditional Media, or Mainstream Media, is Media that has been commonplace in society for a long time due to its effectiveness in fulfilling peoples' need for information. It is often more palpable and established in nature, as seen from various established newspapers, broadcast television news networks and radio stations. New mediais any media – from newspaper articles and blogs to music and podcasts – that are delivered digitally. From a website or email to mobile phones and streaming apps, any internet-related form of communication can be considered new media. It is a much more chaotic and possibly anarchic form of mass communication, but also convenient and accessible. New media includes social media, STOMP, NowThis News, Mothership and the internet in general. Social Mediais the spread and sharing of personal information and/or to create and share content, or to participate in social networking. This includes platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. In recent years, we have also seen the rise of platforms on social media who offer curated content which are more ‘moderated’ or ‘just’, depending on which side of the spectrum you belong to. For example, the ‘Critical Spectator’ on Facebook, which is run by a polish national, offers generally pro-government perspectives (which had been slammed by certain people), and was in the news for being taken down by Facebook for violating its policies during the 2020 Elections in Singapore. Part 2: Core Media Concepts and Theories At a glance, 2.1 Media Effects (Albert Bandura) 2.2 Semiotic Theory (Roland Barthes) and Structuralism (Claude Lévi-Strauss)2.3 Theories of Representation (Stuart Hall) 2.4 Fandom Theory (Henry Jenkins) 2.5 Postmodernism (Jean Baudrillard) 2.6 End of Audience Theory (Clay Shirky) 2.7 Agenda Setting TheoryWhether it is written, televised, or spoken, mass media reaches a large audience. As such, it inevitably has an influence on the way people think, resulting in the generation of social norms and stereotypes. This makes mass media's role and effect in shaping modern culture central issues for study. The media theories are the concepts and models that can be used to describe media and its impact on society, culture and economics. The media is not only moulded by society’s ever-evolving values, but it also continues to exert influence on culture and society. The media thus has a few key concepts: All messages are constructed, utilising a creative language with its own rules. Media messages have all been assembled by someone, be it a single person or a large organisation. The messages and values embedded in this particular piece of media are those of the people who created it. Media has embedded values and point of views. Since all media messages are constructed using the creator’s own ideologies and values, media messages from different creators will have different ideas embedded in them. The ideas embedded in each piece of media come
© illum.e2023 General Paper4 from the creators’ own experiences (Semiotic Theory by Roland Barthes), and since everyone’s experiences are different, we can expect that each media message should be different as well. The media message's construction isn't only based on the creator’s own ideas and ideologies, but also on a pre-defined set of rules for that particular type of media (Structuralism by Claude Lévi-Strauss). A photographer uses camera angles, lighting, and lens length to get her ideas across, while radio producers use voices, sound effects, and music to get their ideas across. Each type of media must adhere to its own set of rules in order to construct the intended message. Different people experience the same message differently. Everyone has different backgrounds and life experiences, be it in terms of education, socio-economic standings and even cultural upbringing. These differences influence our interpretations of media messages, causing different people to have different media effects (Albert Bandura). Recognising that there can be multiple interpretations of the same message allows us to build respect for different cultures and appreciation for minority opinions, which is critical in today’s increasingly multicultural world. [Ways of Seeing by John Berger in Arts and Culture] The media is ever-changing, dependent on both the stakeholders and the audience. The media changes based on what the audience wants to see and other stakeholders’ own values and beliefs. As such, the media filters and gives certain content priority (Agenda Setting Theory by Max McCombs and Donald Shaw), creating a simulated reality (Theory of Postmodernism by Jean Baudrillard). As this simulation continues to deviate from real life, we begin to create unrealistic expectations of ourselves, and start to pressurise ourselves into conforming to the “norms” in the simulation [See normative ethics]. This becomes a never-ending cycle, where the new norms that we create perpetuate a more extreme form of the simulation. Now, the audience is more active in “speaking out” to the media (End of Audience Theory by Clay Shirky/ Fandom Theory by Henry Jenkins), allowing them to shape the development of the media in the future. 2.1 Media Effects (Albert Bandura) Media effects relate to mass media and media culture's effects on an individual or an audience's thoughts, attitudes, and behaviour. As such, Albert Bandura created the 'Media Effects' theory which focuses on the idea that media can directly 'implant' ideas into the mind of audiences, as well as how audiences acquire attitudes, emotional responses and new styles of conduct through modelling ideologies. Put simply, in Bandura’s mind, the relationship between the audience and mass media was the epitome of ‘monkey see, monkey do’. To support this, Bandura conducted the “Bobo Doll Experiment”, where children watched a video of an adult acting aggressively to a bobo doll. Another group watched an adult play with the doll non-aggressively, and it was eventually concluded that the group of children watching the aggressive adult emulated the adult’s behaviour when presented with similar toys in the form of hurting the Bobo Doll. The effects of media on people are apparent – social behaviours and perceptions can be picked up from simply watching media content. In today’s context, the public attention toward mass media is directed toward the fear of mass media producing improper thoughts and behaviours in its viewership. For example, violence and gore is a common theme in contemporary media. Some critics argue that representations of this kind often elicit violent acts such as school shootings and terrorism. In 1999, the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado saw two teenagers killing 13 people at their high school, and after the attack multiple media products were blamed, including the first-person shooter game ‘Doom’ and the film ‘Natural Born Killers’. Such forms of media products potentially produce behaviours such as violence or physical aggression and may potentially lead to audience members to imitate those forms of behaviour [Will Smith/ Games]. 2.2 Semiotic Theory (Roland Barthes) and Structuralism (Claude Lévi-Strauss) Roland Barthes argues that media products communicate a complex series of meanings to their audiences through a range of visual and technical codes, comprising the proairetic (suspense building), symbolic, hermeneutic (interpretation), semantic and cultural codes. This is the Semiotic Theory. After many years of codes being repeated in the form of online media, advertising, and newspapers for example, their meanings have become generally agreed upon by society, forming social norms and stereotypes. Proairetic and hermeneutic codes builds suspense in the audience, while symbolic and semantic codes are a form of “show-not-tell” that encourages readers to make inferences from the media. In most instances, creators also take advantage of the cultural code, relying on a shared knowledge when they incorporate cultural elements into texts, which are then interpreted by the audience. However, the meaning a creator is trying to convey may be lost when the audience does not possess an appropriate cultural understanding. On the other hand, structuralism is the school of thought developed by the French anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss in which cultures, viewed as systems, are analysed in terms of the structural relations among their elements. All media products have an underlying structure, and knowledge of this structure helps us to analyse them. Rather than encompassing the elements (i.e., semiotics) within a set of material, it considers the relationship between these signs and the meaning behind it. He also ascertained those structures are subject to transformations: the rules
© illum.e2023 General Paper5 governing them are simultaneously structured and structuring. At the same time, structures are self-regulating, bounding and maintaining the system in question. Both Barthes and Lévi-Strauss considered the importance of myths which are stories and legends, passed down from generation to generation[See National Identities / Invented Traditions by Hobsbawn]. They teach us why the world is the way it is, and also offer clues and instructions on how we behave. For Barthes, the myths of modern society can be found in media products, whereas previously we would learn that from legends. Now we are more likely to discover social norms and values from advertising. For Barthes, a myth is a widely held belief which is reinforced and exceeded through the media language. Similarly, Lévi-Strauss saw myths as processes that further help to explain how social order is maintained through the continuous production of meaning. Being discursive as well as cognitive entities, myths can be understood as deep structures of culture that are articulated in discourse, exchanged in communication, and enacted in social structures. This can be seen in the Theory of Gender Performativity, proposed by Judith Butler. While there are biological differences dictated by sex, our gender is defined through the series of performances that are constructed through a series of daily acts and expressions. These performances include the ways we walk, talk, dress and so on. Gender performativity is hence not a singular act, but a repetition and a ritual, resulting in no actual gender identity behind these expressions of gender, but rather an outlining of social norms reinforced through dominant patriarchal ideologies. The media continues to project what someone should be like onto the audience without giving any room for expression, resulting in the formation of misconceptions and hence myths. These myths eventually become what we believe to be true, restricting some individuals from who they truly are, forming social norms and stereotypes. In general, it is imperative to recognise that all media messages are constructed, and that things the media present are not natural, but rather carefully manufactured cultural products. Creators select what is included or excluded from the narrative, aiming to create an emotional experience that looks like reality but is not reality. By doing this, the media is able to frame the “reality” that becomes the standard for the rest of us, which we uncritically accept as the truth [hence the need for media literacy in our world today]. There are values and messages that creators embed within the media, making it such that there is no value free media. All media carry messages about who and what is important. It is important to take note when creators turn a generalisation (i.e., a flexible observation) into a stereotype or truth(i.e., rigid conclusion). This makes it imperative to locate alternative sources of both news and entertainment and be able to evaluate these alternatives for their own embedded messages and values to ensure that one is understanding facts and not others’ bias. These values within the media affirm the existing social system and its stereotypes, making it difficult for less popular ideas to gain traction, especially if they challenge commonly accepted beliefs. 2.3 Theories of Representation (Stuart Hall) Stuart Hall states thatrepresentations are constructed through media language and reflect the ideological perspective of the producer. He argues that is that there is not a true representation of people or events in a text, but rather many ways these can be represented. Producers then try to ‘fix’ a meaning, or way of understanding, to these people or events in their texts. This is often manifested in stereotyping, as a form of representation, reducing people to a few simple characteristics or traits. The relationship between representation and the media is governed by codes. Stereotyping is useful as the audience are motivated to conform to these norms, allowing producers to easily construct media products and for audiences to easily decode them. Where there are inequalities of power, stereotypes are common as subordinate or excluded groups are constructed as different or ‘other’. In many ways, representation builds on other schools of thought. For instance, the Feminist Theory (Liesbet van Zoonen) shows how gender is constructed through codes and conventions of media products, and how the idea of what is male and what is female changes over time. Often, women’s bodies are used in media products as a spectacle for heterosexual male audiences, which reinforces patriarchal hegemony. Meanwhile, subaltern theories [those marginalised or oppressed/ ‘history from below’/ ‘subterranean history’] like Paul Gilroy also exemplifies how stereotypes form and are further reinforced by the media. Media producers are guilty of using binary oppositions to reinforce Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) people and characters as 'others'. 2.4 Fandom Theory (Henry Jenkins) Fan culture, or fandom, is a term which describes communities built around a shared enjoyment of an aspect of popular culture, such as books, movies, TV shows, bands, sports or sports teams, etc. Fan cultures are examples of participatory cultures. Participatory cultures involve fans acting not only as consumers but also as producers and creators of some form of creative media. Though most fan cultures, including sports fans and fans of music groups, have elements of participatory culture, media fandom in particular encourages creative expression and artistic production by its participants.
© illum.e2023 General Paper6 Media scholar Henry Jenkins contrasts participatory culture with consumer culture, suggesting that fans “poach” from popular media, appropriating ideas from the text and rereading them in creative ways that are not fully intended by the media producers, for their own uses. Unlike the generic audience or the classic spectator, fans are active participants in the construction and circulation of textual meaning. Fans construct their social and cultural identities through borrowing and utilising mass culture images and may use this ‘subcultural capital’ to form social bonds. When fan interaction with media becomes a social activity, fans can create spaces where they can critique prescriptive ideas of gender, sexuality, and other norms promoted in part by the media industry, reversing norms and stereotypes. 2.5 Agenda Setting Theory (Max McCombs and Donald Shaw) The agenda-setting theory is built on psychological and scientific grounds, built on the notion that the mass media sets the agenda for what people should care about. The increasing media coverage of a story causes the memory to be stored more prominently in the mind. It argues that there are three related agendas: media agenda, public agenda and policy agenda. ● Public agenda setting: when the public determines the agenda for which stories are considered important ● Media agenda setting: when the media determines the agenda for which stories are considered important ● Policy agenda setting: when both the public and media agendas influence the decisions of public policy makers The theory hinges on 2 main assumptions. The first is that the media filters and shapes what we see rather than just reflecting stories to the audience. An example of this is seeing a sensational or scandalous story at the top of a broadcast as opposed to a story that happened more recently or one that affects more people, such as an approaching storm or legislative tax reform. The second assumption is that the more attention the media gives to an issue, the more likely the public will consider that issue to be important. Another way to look at it: Mass media organisations aren’t telling us what to think or how we should feel about a story or issue but are giving us certain stories or issues that people should think more about. News reports are made in a way that the importance of a news is perceived through the given importance and attention to that particular piece of news by the media producer. This may result in the misperception of any topic or issue to be more or less important than other news, solely based on the reporting frequency and style adopted by media corporations. This allows media outlets to possess the potential of public opinion manipulation. It also demonstrates the tremendous impact media has in moulding public opinion [See Security Theatre by Bruce Schneier]. 2.6 Postmodernism (Jean Baudrillard) Baudrillard argues we live in such a media saturated society that media images dominate and distort our perception of the world around us. In postmodern culture the boundaries between the ‘real’ world and the world of the media have collapsed and that it is no longer possible to distinguish between what is reality and what is simulation. Therefore, in this postmodern age of simulacra, audiences are constantly bombarded with images which no longer refer to anything ‘real’, pushing us into a situation where media images have come to seem more ‘real’ than the reality they supposedly represent. This concept is referred to as 'hyperreality' [See perceptions of beauty]. Baudrillard’s theory is good for identifying accepted cultural norms which are completely manufactured by societyand challenging them. These accepted ‘normal’ patterns of behaviour or belief can also reveal the underlying bias (which could be political) which exist in these texts. It can also be used to challenge consumerist culture, and by extension, capitalism. Furthermore, portrayals of society wherein strange, unbelievable behaviours are accepted as normal can also be explored using this theory. 2.7 End of Audience Theory (Clay Shirky) In the ‘old’ media, centralised producers addressed atomised consumers; in the ‘new’ media, every consumer is now a producer. ‘The Audience’ as a mass of people with predictable behaviour is gone. Now, behaviour is variable across different sites, with some of the audience creating content, some synthesising content, and some consuming content. The ‘old’ media created a mass audience, while the ‘new’ media provides a platform for people to “speak back to the media” and provide value for each other. This is accomplished through comments sections, internet forums, and creating media products such as blogs or vlogs. As such, the media is never stagnant and will continue to evolve in the future, according to the reality that consumers want to see, and the new audience does not just consume media, but instead produces it as ‘prosumers’.
© illum.e2023 General Paper7 To back this up, the Uses and Gratifications Theory asserts that people use media to gratify specific wants and needs. Unlike many media theories that view media users as passive, the Uses and Gratifications Theory sees users as active agents who have control over their media consumption. The media takes advantage of the consumers’ wishes, wants and desire to consume as a means of constructing the reality that we want to see. However, the End of Audience Theory can and should be criticised. Arguably the media industries are just as exclusionary as they always have been, and audiences are less 'producers' than 'unwitting advertisers',promoting pre-existing products through retweets, fan accounts and derivative vlogs that could never be financially successful without aggressive monetisation[Consider the influencers of our time]. Part 3: Why Traditional Media is no longer relevant in society todayAt a glance: 3.1 Traditional Media reports non-objective views due to government propaganda and censorship 3.2Traditional Media falls behind in terms of speed and convenience 3.3 The cost of production of Traditional Media remains unchangingly high unlike the low barriers of entry for New Media 3.4 Digital advertising has reduced the relevance of Traditional Media in society 3.1 Traditional Media reports non-objective views due to government propaganda and censorship. As compared to New Media, Traditional Media is mostly controlled by the Government, almost all content is heavily moderated and often censored in order to be deemed “suitable” for public viewing. Journalists in mainstream newspapers in many parts of the world would scarcely be allowed to criticise the government directly or indirectly or speak out against the status quo without being suppressed or censored in some form. ● Authoritarian or partly democratic governments tend to limit press freedom to curb the publication of dissenting views and criticism of political ideologies. Out of 180 Countries in the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2021 World Press Freedom Index, Singapore ranks 160, behind Kazakhstan and Sudan, with Iraq at 163 and North Korea at 179.In 2022, following various world events and the invasion of Ukraine, Singapore rose in the rankings at 139, although little has changed. The fact file by RSF states that ‘Singapore boasts of being a model of economic development but it is an example of what not to be in regard to freedom of the press, which is almost non-existent’. The Indian press does not enjoy extensive freedom: It was ranked at 150 for the constant police violence against journalists and attacks by political activists. Following the landslide victory of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party in 2019, the media has faced greater pressure to toe the party’s line. Aside from curbs on media press, authoritarian regimes also impose restrictions on the media, such as books and films. ● Every year, the Singaporean Government holds the National Day Parade (NDP) to celebrate Singapore’s Independence from Malaysia on the 9thof August 1965. This opportunity is taken to further the reinforcement of Nationalism and Patriotism with the annual NDP songs: which are highly effective forms of propaganda, to further the notion that Singapore is a great country by singing praises about the nation’s growth and shift public focus away from anything negative about the country. It appears as an annual public relation reset, during and after the NDP, where everyone is seemingly filled with pride. It is surprising how uncharacteristically patriotic people become at that time of the year. ● According to a Gallup-Knight survey, fewer than half of all Americans could think of a news source that “reports the news objectively.” Political partisanship had, apparently, eroded trust to the extent that respondents to a “media trust scale” rated their belief in the news at an abysmal 36 out of 100 (2021). The state of traditional media has eroded to the extent that it is a far cry from its supposed glory days when the press was the hero behind Watergate and the Pentagon Papers, and when integrity and independence mattered to journalists and publishers. (Media Bias Chart)
© illum.e2023 General Paper8 3.2 Traditional Media falls behind in terms of speed and convenience Traditional Media is slow, and unable to fulfil the constant human desire to live more conveniently and adapt to the hectic pace of life we are used to. We keep wanting faster Wi-Fi, faster transport, faster streaming, faster everything. If you want to watch the latest news immediately, you can switch to online platforms instead of waiting till a specific time for the news broadcast. ● For instance, newspapers are printed once at the start of the day and are hence limited in terms of the latest developments that unfold later. The news in the papers also fail to satisfy everyone, since some people may be looking for articles or content that may be more relevant or interesting to them, as opposed to the general news that the daily papers deliver. ● According to Los Angeles Times, ticket sales from the U.S. and Canada in 2022 were down 35% from the pre-pandemic year of 2019, hitting the lowest rate of attendance since 1998. The number of Cinemagoers have been in steady decline over the years, with more opting for faster and On-Demand options such as Netflix, Disney+ or Amazon Prime. Such subscription services provide ease in streaming, where viewers can access a myriad of entertainment options at any time at their own convenience without needing to reserve or book physical seats in theatres within fixed cinema timings. ● Podcasts continue to be a growing favourite category among Singapore audiences, according to Singapore Press Holdings. In 2019, radio stations received a 15 per cent growth in the number of listeners who tuned in to podcasts, which are more content-heavy programmes. Not only can listeners choose topics of their choice on demand, but they can also turn to SPH podcasts easily on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music. One such popular Straits Times podcast in 2022 would be “Why we are all going to eventually catch Covid-19” featuring Professor Teo Yik Ying, the dean of the NUS Saw Swee Hock of Public Health. Besides allowing listeners to gain valuable insights by professionals, podcasts are easily accessible and convenient to listen to on the go. 3.3 The cost of production of Traditional Media remains unchangingly high unlike the low barriers of entry for New Media The high expenses of producing content in traditional media can stem from the rigorous editorial, fact-checking and research processes, which is required to ensure accurate reporting. On the other hand, new media outlets can leverage on the low barriers of entry, or costs to enter the industry, and enjoy the reduced costs. These additional costs means that the traditional media outlets will always be disadvantaged when it comes to delivering news coverage on the ground as citizen journalists are able to provide authentic, raw coverage of events with little editorial delay. As the access to social media can give almost anyone a voice online, civilians who experience events first-hand can leverage these platforms and may be the first ones to document and post about their authentic experiences, which may be perceived as more reliable and easily accessible by other users. ● In the 2019 annual report of The New York Times, the total cost stood at US$1,578,002. The cost of raw materials, of which newsprint expense formed a significant component, made up approximately 5% of the total operating costs. In the report, the New York Times newsprint stated that the cost of distributing, and printing newspapers depends on multiple factors, such as currency volatility, tariffs on certain paper imports from Canada into the United States as well as social issues such as labour unrest and transportation issues which could affect the availability of newsprint supply. On the other hand, new media companies or companies which leverage on new media do not have to worry about newsprint are able to avoid such volatility in their production cost. ● British broadcasting corporation’s (BBC) content spending in the United Kingdom amounted to £1,498 million in fiscal year 2019/20. The cost of production has always been high, with £1,623 million and £1,58.3 million being spent in total in fiscal year 2018/2019 and 2017/2018 respectively. The TV channels with the highest amount of spending over the years are still CBBC and BBC Two. ● Cinema operators have to account for a myriad of economic factors, including the need to pay staff wages, maintain premises and upgrade amenities while still splitting ticket revenues with studios. With economic volatility, the funds required to stream a movie in a theatre has been increasing. Compared to digital streaming sites like Netflix and Disney+, where there is mostly only the cost to host streaming servers, traditional cinemas hence become less competitive. Netflix generated $24.9 billion revenue in 2020, a 23.8% increase on the previous year. It has reported higher revenues each quarter for more than a decade. On the other hand, the revenue for cinemas has been following
© illum.e2023 General Paper9 a downward trend. Especially with the digitalisation of our world, there is bound to be a paradigm shift from watching movies in cinemas to online streaming sites.3.4 Digital advertising has reduced the relevance of Traditional Media in society In the past, advertisements were usually broadcasted to reach a wider audience and promote brand awareness. However, companies today are adopting targeted digital marketing tactics to cater to more people in our current dynamic screen environment to keep their advertising messages more personalised and immersive. It has even become harder to distinguish advertisements from reviews, as paid content reviews become more prevalent in the online space. The cheaper cost and higher data from digital advertising have become more attractive to businesses who once advertised regularly in newspapers. Digital marketing becomes the preferred substitute for advertisements in newspapers. ● Advertising on Instagram can disguise itself as product reviews by Instagram influencers who may create content to promote the sales of a particular product or service. These social media celebrities can build their individual narrative surrounding the sponsored product, giving users the impression that it has been tried and tested by a famous or reliable figure. Online users who consume similarly sponsored content, may find it more relatable as well and become more motivated to purchase such services or products. It is also possible to start advertising from as low as $1 a day or $0.20 for cost-per-click options on these social media outlets, which make them more viable and accessible for any small businesses and even individuals to reach audiences. ● Boasting about more than 2 billion monthly users, Facebook has a greater outreach than the combined viewership of several media outlets combined. Given that a quarter of the world’s population is registered on the platform, businesses would want to take advantage of this unparalleled opportunity to reach virtually anyone and everyone. To add on, the consumer data obtained from digital advertising can provide valuable statistical insight and analysis on the effectiveness of a business’ marketing tactics, which is on the other hand tedious and difficult to collect via traditional media outlets. ● Traditional media outlets still charge a high fee for advertising costs. MediaCorp introduced a new pricing structure in 2019 based on a Cost Per Thousand (CPM) model where the rates are still high. The Average Spot Rate for 30 seconds can go as high as $3,594 for Channel 8 and $1,526 for Channel U during Prime Time. Part 4: Why Traditional Media still has a place in society todayAt a glance: 4.1Traditional Media provides unrivalled accuracy and credibility 4.2The general objectivity and depth of Traditional Media encourages civil discourse and makes leaders more informed about issues4.3 Traditional Media can provide accessibility to news and information for the underprivileged and people who cannot depend on new media 4.4 Traditional Media attempts to keep itself relevant by adapting and evolving 4.1 Traditional Media provides unrivalled accuracy and credibility Traditional media outlets present an authoritative, legitimate source of information, which are fact checked and accredited by official government sources. They also have a formidable economic clout that gives them access to far more resources, from manpower on the ground to experienced editors. In addition, traditional media correspondents are usually given approved access to different official presentations or announcements. Traditional news media has editorial oversight – a certain amount of filtering always done, ensuring that the information it releases is up to par. Moreover, traditional news media such as CNN, BBC or even Channel News Asia in Singapore have a reputation of trustworthiness to maintain, forcing them to always ensure that their content is largely credible and up to standards. ● The New York Times has over 1,700 journalists reporting from more than 160 countries each year. BBC News is the world’s largest broadcast news organisation and has over 120 hours of radio and television output each day, with 48 newsgathering bureaux and over 2000 correspondents around the world. All in all, BBC News reaches more than 260 million viewers on TV, and 150 million listeners on radio.
© illum.e2023 General Paper10 ● Researchers from Reuters Institute tracked the online news consumption of 1,711 people aged 18-65 across mobile and desktop devices throughout the 2019 UK General Election. BBC News was by far the most widely used online source for election news, as it was accessed by 44 percent of respondents during the course of the election. BBC News was the main destination for election results and its news app was by far the most used app in the UK. Most news consumption came from websites committed to impartial coverage and those that made no party endorsement. This attests to the reliability of traditional news outlets, which act as a trusted and objective source of information for the population. ● News stories that involve court proceedings require a team of law correspondents who are well-versed in court language to help report about court prosecutions. For instance, in the reporting of the Parti Liyani case, an ex-maid who was accused of theft from her employer Mr Liew Mun Leong, traditional news outlets such as The Straits Times served as the most reliable and updated sources of information. Other news media outlets would take reference from these articles and use it to publish their own reports. Not everything that we see in new media can be trusted. The prevalence of fake news has increased recently with the rise of social media, and this misinformation has gradually seeped into the mainstream media. Several factors have been implicated in the spread of fake news, such as political polarization, post-truth politics, motivated reasoning, confirmation bias, and social media algorithms. ● In October 2016, a story claimed that "tens of thousands" of fraudulent ballots had been found in a warehouse in Ohio. The ballots had supposedly been cast for Hillary Clinton and were found inside sealed ballot boxes that would be counted alongside real election ballot boxes. The story, first published online by the Christian Times Newspaper, was disproven by Snopes – but not before it went viral. One website's version of the story was shared with over 6.1 million people. 4.2 The general objectivity and depth of Traditional Media encourages civil discourse and makes readers more informed about issues Newspapers provide thoughtful analyses from a variety of viewpoints that effectively drive discourse. To give up newspapers is to give up the perspectives that enable us to be aware of our context and concerns in the background of global events that occur. Traditional media, as an established institution, not only has the legitimacy to engage these leaders to present their ideas, but more importantly, provides a platform to publicise these views. This furthers political discourse, which is undoubtedly even more necessary in a time when new media seems to be encouraging people to retreat into their political ‘bunkers’, firing shots at one another but refusing to step out on the battlefield. ● Newspapers have great spheres of influence to bring distinguished scholars and experts to bring new perspectives and ideas to the viewers. The Straits Times routinely invites luminaries like Tommy Koh, Ambassador-at-Large, and Fareed Zakaria, an eminent journalist-turned-academic to comment on domestic and international affairs alike to invoke discussion and reflection. One example would have been the debate between former Ambassador-at-Large Bilahari Kausikan, top diplomat Chan Heng Chee and Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam, on the issue of Singapore’s foreign policy stance towards China, that played out in the Opinion section of The Straits Times. The debate was heated but each side was able to meaningfully engage with each other’s views. Unlike traditional media, new media sources particularly those on the internet perpetuate the ‘Cult
© illum.e2023 General Paper11 of the Amateur’ (Andrew Keen) where non-experts share their knowledge and viewpoints as if they are true established experts.● In 2020, The Straits Times (ST) held a special edition of its Big Story panel discussion to focus on the COVID-19 outbreak and what lies ahead for Singapore. Moderated by ST senior health correspondent Ms Salma Khalik, the panel comprised four experts: Associate Professor Kenneth Mak (Director of Medical Services at the Ministry of Health), Professor Leo Yee Sin (Executive Director of the National Centre for Infectious Diseases), Professor Tikki Pangestu (visiting professor at NUS Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and former director of the World Health Organization’s research policy and cooperation department), and Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang (Programme Leader for Infectious Diseases). They discussed the high probability of an increasing number of cases worldwide, and the impending long course of the epidemic, among many other things. ● In the wake of the Arab Spring, where several Gulf states like Tunisia and Egypt attained freedom from decades of dictatorial rule in stunning coups, many papers such as Al Jazeera, which specialises in Middle Eastern affairs, have begun to question its premises by highlighting the true ramifications of these uprisings which began in 2011. These uprisings were more than just a fight for democracy, as it led to years of bloodshed and social unrest. In these situations, objective reporting on events is undeniably crucial for people to understand what is happening. ● The well-known Watergate scandal was made known to the public thanks to investigative reporters who revealed the crimes of and abuse of power by President Richard Nixon, who eventually resigned. Though great distrust towards the American presidency remained years after the investigations, such reporting is crucial in uncovering truths and driving national discourse about what is taken for granted, serving as an important reminder to American citizens to be critical about their leaders. This era was seen as a hey-day of journalism, serving as an important pillar of democracy.’ (Fourth Estate) 4.3 Traditional Media can provide accessibility to news and information for the underprivileged and people who cannot depend on new media Local print newspapers are mostly accessible to everyone regardless of age, background, or status. In Singapore particularly, the ageing population creates a context in which newspapers will continue to be necessary as a source of information. In the last 10 years the percentage of the elderly in the world has risen to make up 10% of the population, and this number stands to increase as those born in the era of the baby boomers in the 1950s approach retirement. Having grown up in a different age and having had access to newspapers in their print form for many decades, they are not likely to change their preferences for printed media as a primary source of information.
© illum.e2023 General Paper12 ● Even within ‘digitised economies’ such as the US and Singapore, large swathes of the elderly demographic remain digitally illiterate and are still primarily reliant on the newspaper among other forms of traditional media for information. This figure exceeds 90% in those aged 65 and above in Singapore as shown by a 2014 nationwide poll by Gallup, foregrounding the digital divide that exists. The digital outcasts in such digitally connected countries also include low-income families without Internet connectivity and the differently abled. For this group of people, newspapers therefore act as the primary and trusted staple source of information to understand current affairs. ● According to the 2019 data by Nielsen, Milieu Insight and Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), the SPH’s five radio channels, which includes English stations as well as Chinese stations, reported a higher volume of listeners in recent years. The 6.8 per cent increase in the total number of radio listeners to 2.25 million people in 2019 is a testament to the rise of radio as a way to access information. Radio’s notable influence over their audience is also reflected in how nearly 80 per cent of Money FM listeners said they bought products after listening to its recommendations in 2019. This suggests that radio has not been replaced, and that a number of people still rely on traditional media. ● Not every country has easy access to the Internet or advanced and accessible technologies. In Tajikistan, for instance, the gigabyte of traffic costs $6.50. In Mauritania, the average cost of the Internet is $768.16 per month. Other countries, such as Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and China block major digital platforms like Facebook and Google. For markets with limited digital accessibility, traditional media remains the most viable source of information, regardless of the propagated subjectivity and biased reporting. 4.4 Traditional Media attempts to keep itself relevant by adapting and evolving To combat redundancy, the mainstream media is embracing the Internet as an alternative platform for them to share news and stories with their readers. By using new forms of media to generate attention and interest for the content covered by the mainstream media, traditional media can still remain relevant to the masses. ● When Monica Baey took to Instagram to express her frustration over the light punishment for sexual assault perpetrators in NUS in 2019, news outlets conducted their own investigative news reports to provide the public with useful legal information to help readers form their own opinions. In a way, social media complements traditional news sources, since featuring stories that appear on social media can shed light on important topics of debate. ● Traditional news outlets are also able to take advantage of social media by incorporating viewer input about current issues into their articles. BBC News is one such news company. They invite viewers to share their opinions on Twitter via their platform called “BBC Points of View”, where they can gain feedback about their news programmes to improve their production. ● The Guardian has significantly expanded its online presence in recent years, and the journalistic quality of their pieces shine through even in its digital form, resulting in it being nominated for the coveted accolade of “the world’s most independent press” in a Reporters Without Borders conference. Through this medium they are able to gain feedback from readers, which would otherwise have been challenging. ● Singaporean newspapers like The Straits Times and news network Channel News Asia (CNA) have taken to social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Tiktok, and YouTube to reach a larger audience. The Straits Times also has an Instagram account dedicated to giving local F&B businesses more attention by highlighting unique cuisines and stories in Singapore’s food scene. Such platforms enable the sharing of multimedia between users and invite people to express their opinions online about the latest news.
© illum.e2023 General Paper13 Part 5: Why New Media has becoming increasingly relevant in society todayAt a glance:5.1 There is greater freedom for creators and for information sources on New Media5.2 New Media serves as a platform for progress5.1 There is greater freedom for creators and for information sources on New Media On the Internet, anyone has the power to create their own content and share their own truths with others. Online, information is largely unmoderated and uncensored, where users can access the information that they want. With the power imbued in everyone to spread information, virtually every topic is up for discussion. Alternatively, more specific or otherwise unreported news can also be published online. ● YouTube channels such as PewDiePie have billions of views, and Soundcloud has precipitated the rise of wildly successful young hip-hop artists such as Lil Pump and Chance the Rapper. With the rise of streaming platforms like Twitch, and video-sharing platforms like Tik Tok, new media personalities are minted on a daily basis to provide information and opinions on both mundane and important things in life, ranging from make-up to fitness tips to even political commentary. ● With a mobile ownership rate of over 160%, most readers have the power of recording and broadcasting information about events of interest in their communities from their very fingertips. The rise of citizen journalism can be attributed to how pervasive mobile phone usage is in most countries. With the escalation of Russia-Ukraine conflicts, Ukrainians have taken to the internet to document their own journeys. A flood of real-time videos across Facebook, Telegram, TikTok and Twitter has blunted Kremlin propaganda and rallied the world to Ukraine’s side as it fights to defend its democracy from a military behemoth. It has also potentially saved lives: Ukrainians have raced to disseminate defensive strategies, plot escape routes and document the brutality of a raging clash. Providing a different perspective, Singaporean actor Ix Shen has been giving Singaporeans updates on how things are going via his social media platform, sans the mass media news filter – achieving an intimacy that is often almost lost despite the non-stop 24-hour wall of coverage. He has become an accidental and foremost war correspondent at the frontlines, a role that otherwise would not have been filled given the risks. Additionally, on the Internet, one could easily access materials that convey harsh and uncomfortable truths about the world that would otherwise likely never be surfaced in the mainstream media due to the fear of panic, or for its political viability. ● New Media companies also report on the hardships and humanitarian crises of countries all around the world such as the concentration camps for the Uighurs in China, racism globally, and the persecution of minorities. ● Conspiracy theories, while extreme at times, are bodies that put pressure on the elite and incumbent government. As a result of the constant scrutiny the elite face from the investigations of conspiracy theorists, the elite are more likely to self-regulate or be exposed for unethical practices. Conspiracy theories can thus be
© illum.e2023 General Paper14 thought of as alarm systems for weaker groups within society: they help to address threats emanating from stronger groups, as seen from how Woodward and Bernstein excavated the Watergate scandal. The existence of groups of sceptics that question the authorities, and with the use of new media to quickly disseminate such information, is a check and balance. Conspiracy theories incentivize good behaviour by the powerful: if the powerful conspire, someone will be watching, investigating, and publicising. 5.2 New Media serves as a platform for progress A majority of users on the widely used social media sites such as Instagram and Twitter are very progressive, projecting modern ideas and views. This leads to these sites being a strong platform for change and to call out the injustices in our world, which should no longer be in modern society. ● After decades of dissatisfaction and institutionalised racism, the Black Lives Matter movement sparked rapidly after the death of George Floyd in police custody, with the now viral video of police officer Derek Chauvin putting his knee on Floyd’s neck and ignoring Floyd as he says, “I can’t breathe”. Internationally, social media is a platform utilised to bring attention to the prejudice that modern American society still holds towards the African American community and other ethnic minorities after all these years. Similarly, Breonna Taylor, an African American medical officer, was killed by police officers in 2020 after a botched raid on her house. Her wrongful death sparked outrage and demands for a police reform. ● The Hong Kong protests in recent years have led to a lasting change in the age of Twitter when everyone is a leader, a follower, a broadcaster and a critic, and compromise becomes nearly impossible. First used as a tool for the Umbrella Movement (Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement in 2014), the 2019 protests saw a heightened awareness of cybersecurity and an increased understanding of how to effectively communicate with the medium. Both protesters and the government used images of police brutality and/or protester brutality to win the hearts and minds of people on social media. This was taken one step further when the Milk Tea Alliance was created – made up of netizens from Thailand, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Originally an internet meme, it evolved into a cross-national protest movement pushing for democracy and human rights as a ‘leaderless protest movement’. The hashtag #MilkTeaAlliance was heavily used by protestors in the August 2020 pro-democracy protests. Furthermore, following the China-India skirmishes, India has been added into the alliance in some form, with Masala Chai as their representative variety of milk tea. ● In Singapore, influencer Dee Kosh has had multiple allegations of propositioning male minors for implied sexual acts. With the coming forward of the victims, most of the public rallied to their side in order for Dee Kosh to face the consequences of his actions. Similarly, in 2018, Eden Ang was accused of sexual harassment and sexual assault by multiple females. Once again, the online community rallied against him to face the consequences and not to be immune as a publicly liked persona. Interestingly, Dee Kosh was one of the most vocal and active in the “cancelling” of Eden Ang. This would further dig the hole for Dee Kosh later when allegations against him arose. If social media had not been a platform for people to call out these wrongdoings, they would have likely gotten away scot-free due to being in positions of power and wielding the ability to emotionally manipulate loyal fans. This was the
© illum.e2023 General Paper15 case historically when men in power with strong reputations could easily be shrouded in scandal but not actually face any consequences. This is often referred to as “Cancel Culture”, which has both its strong benefits and challenges. ● A group of parents who aim to drive a mindset shift among all in Singapore, started Life Beyond Grades, a social media campaign in Singapore created to alleviate the increasing pressures of the hard focus on academics on children. ● The #MeToo movement, which gives victims a platform to publicise allegations of sex crimes to fight against sexual abuse and sexual harassment, has galvanised people across the world to think about harassment in the workplace. It has also given women permission to share their most difficult experiences, highlighting how disastrous such experiences can be. After many women stepped forward with sexual harassment allegations against Harvey Weinstein under the #MeToo movement, the scandal triggered many similar allegations against powerful men around the world and led to the ousting of many of them from their positions. By giving women a platform to share their stories, they are able to stand up for and to demand justice for themselves and in the future, prevent harassers from thinking that abusing women is acceptable. Part 6: Despite its benefits, New Media has brought about its challenges as wellAt a glance,6.1 There is a prevalence of Fake News on New Media which makes it problematic6.2 There is also a general lack of objectivity on New Media which provides slanted perspectives to issues6.3 The ‘Courage’ of Anonymity prevalent on New Media, and leads to negative consequences6.4 Cancel Culture for all its possible benefits, is led by and carried out in New Media, which brings wide ranging implications 6.5 New Media, while bringing impact, may lead to Clicktivism 6.6 New Media provides audiences with an exposure to shocking content6.1 There is a prevalence of Fake News on New Media which makes it problematic Due to the lack of moderation and chaotic nature of the Internet, content that is uploaded could very likely be fabricated or exaggerated for sensationalism and to go viral. Fake news has become widespread due to a lack of gatekeepers or fact-checkers to ensure its accuracy. According to the UNESCO World Trends Report in 2017-2018, the roots of fake news lie in the loss of confidence in traditional media, low levels of critical thinking and news literacy, together with malicious actors and shifts in business models. ● During the 2016 US Presidential Elections, a Facebook post of Pope Francis endorsing candidate Donald Trump was circulated more than a million times. Interestingly, a concurrent investigative scoop by The New York Times on Trump’s tax returns was only shared 200,000 times in comparison. This reflects the immense reach of fake news, even being more widespread than more factual reports due to its “must-share” quality. In the months
© illum.e2023 General Paper16 leading up to the election, the top 20 fake news stories had more shares, reactions, and comments on Facebook (8.7 million engagements) than the 20 top hard news stories (7.3 million engagements), according to a Buzzfeed analysis. ● An investigation which saw Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifying before a joint Senate Committee in 2018 was sparked by the fear that fake news spread on Facebook affected and swayed the election results of 2016. Although social media does play a big role in driving fake news to people’s screens, experts who study fake news believe it is hard to determine exactly how much such articles affect elections. According to a 2017 study by researchers from NYU and Stanford, more than 40 percent of visits to 65 fake news sites are directed from social media, compared to around 10 percent of visits to 690 top US news sites. ● In April 2020, there was also a fake news message sent across WhatsApp in Britain, which claimed that black, Asian and minority ethnic communities were at greater risk of dying from COVID-19. The message also criticised hospitals and told people not to send loved ones to hospitals because they will be unlikely to return home alive. Another notorious one was the misinformation regarding 5G causing COVID-19, which led to the burning of various 5G towers in Britain. ● In April 2020, Berlin-based German politician Andreas Geisel claimed that a shipment of N95 masks ordered from 3M’s China facility were intercepted in Bangkok and sent to the United States instead. This led to an uproar, but it was later revealed that these masks were instead bought from another dealer (allegedly German or Chinese) at a better price. This then led to another uproar due to how the original news was misused to cover up Berlin’s inability to obtain protective equipment, and to blame others for domestic mishaps. 6.2 There is also a general lack of objectivity on New Media which provides slanted perspectives to issues A trend observed in New Media outlets is that most sources of information published are highly opinionated and are catered to reinforce the views of different groups of people, as opposed to delivering the unadulterated and untwisted “truth”. Just like traditional media sources, new media outlets are likely to have their own agendas and viewpoints, and even more so since they are largely unregulated (echo chambers). ● Non-traditional news sites such as Breitbart consistently peddle right-wing propaganda. Even social media is filled with groups firmly on either side of the political spectrum: Notably, the r/Conservative and r/Liberal subreddits on reddit have over 900k and 100k subscribers, forming echo chambers where a person only encounters information or opinions that reflect and reinforce their own. As such, the worldview of such people is severely limited to their own beliefs, making it hard for future change. Similarly, Facebook shapes the news consumption of their conservative users dramatically. In months when a typical conservative visited Facebook more than usual, they read news that was about 30 percent more conservative than the online news they usually read. Though news and potential for discourse is available in new media, due to the high degree of customizability of these platforms, users are kept in a “filter bubble”. Due to in-built algorithms, users receive content of a fixed nature, reinforcing their own biases. ● There are multiple examples out there since new media platforms are easy to set up (or also loosely defined). In Singapore, the New Naratif, which strives for democracy, freedom of expression, and freedom of information in Southeast Asia, was founded by historian Thum Ping Tjin and freelance journalist Kristen Han. While the
© illum.e2023 General Paper17 objectivity of their articles may be questionable, both Thum and Han have been known for their views which tend to clash with the Singapore government’s stance. ● According to a 2017 study by NYU, moral or emotional words used in tweets increased virality by 20 percent on average. Similarly, another study by Pew Research Centre highlighted those posts reflecting ‘indignant disagreement’ received nearly twice as much engagement (shares and likes) compared to other content on Facebook. This, as supported by the arguments of Yale psychologist Molly Crockett, together with the online, non-face-to-face nature of new media means that people are a lot more likely to join an outrage mob and take on a side by publicly ‘liking’ or joining condemnations with the proliferation of such inflammatory posts online. 6.3 The ‘Courage’ of Anonymity prevalent on New Media, and leads to negative consequences On the Internet, it is extremely easy to hide your identity to do more unsavoury deeds without fear of any repercussions. This anonymity brings out the worst in humanity as we look past the veil of civility and see the children that so many adults truly are. This is also known as the ‘online disinhibition effect’. Essentially, being online lowers your inhibitions. This often results in people either behaving meaner or opening up more online than they normally would in face-to-face conversations. When people act meaner online it can lead to hostile online environments, which is what researchers term as ‘toxic disinhibition’. Cyberbullying is greatly reinforced by the cover that the Internet provides. It’s easy to insult or belittle someone when you’re not actually talking to them or viewing their reaction. The Internet has taken away the human aspect of conversation and instead, is rife with spineless badgering. Anyone who has been through the comments in social media would know very well that productive argument is nearly impossible between strangers online. It is incredibly rare to be able to change someone’s mind on the internet. Instead, it leads to a battle of insults in which there is no winner. ● There are destructive comment sections on social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube and Reddit, where users can leave their opinion below posts. Comment sections across the internet have gained a reputation for being rude, argumentative, and being generally described as "toxic", and have been known for frequent arguments and disagreements. For example, there are often heated discussions within the comment section of Instagram account @wakeupsingapore.This may be due to the fact that those with strongly held beliefs are more likely to comment and reply to others when the comments section is widely opposed to them; likewise, users tend to stay silent when their views are widely supported. Furthermore, thanks to the internet's principal element of the ability to stay anonymous, many people realise they can be more aggressive to others without fear of real-world accountability. ● In 2018, Talking Point by MediaCorp revealed that three quarters of youths in Singapore said that they had been bullied online, where almost all the victims did not inform their parents, and did nothing in response. This was despite the fact that the incidents did have a negative impact on their lives. ● In 2016, psychological scientists Adam Zimmerman of Florida International University and Gabriel Ybarra of the University of North Florida studied aggression in players of an unwinnable game. “Social modelling” was shown to have a large effect on their behaviour. Anonymous participants responded more aggressively when they witnessed examples of aggression, and less so when they did not. ● A 2012 study by psychological science researchers in Israel found that when students were anonymous and hidden from each other in an online chat, verbal aggression among participants was very high. This aggression plummeted to almost none when a video put the two partners in eye contact. In any conflict where the identities of those involved are known, there will always be social pressure on them to work towards reconciliation. But anonymity absolves the conflicting parties of the need for reconciliation. So, the anonymity afforded by social media, while facilitating a freer expression of views, tends to consolidate and aggravate existing conflicts. 6.4 Cancel Culture for all its possible benefits, is led by and carried out in New Media, which brings wide ranging implications Cancel culture is a phenomenon in which a large group of social media users attempt to “cancel” a public persona, organisation or something by embarking on a witch hunt to sully their reputation, career, and by extension, life. With its roots firmly within the US Civil Rights movement and Black Twitter, cancel culture has gained mainstream attention in recent years.
© illum.e2023 General Paper18 Cancel culture is often sparked by a view or action that goes against the values of the majority or is generally considered to be abhorrent. Such reasons can range from using non-politically correct terms, to casual misogyny, to allegations of sexual assault. When it comes to cancel culture, facts from both sides are never truly black and white. ● Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling faced intense criticism from her own fans after she began to voice transphobic beliefs, including criticism from Harry Potter’s lead actor, Daniel Radcliffe. ● After high-profile documentaries exploring allegations of decades of sexual assault against each of them were released earlier this year, both R. Kelly and the late Michael Jackson saw increases in streams of their music. However, some celebrities, whose crimes have encompassed allegations of rape and sexual assault and became impossible to ignore, like Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, and Kevin Spacey, have effectively been cancelled. ● In 2020, Xiaxue’s claims that she was a victim of a witch-hunt orchestrated by a ‘woke crowd’ sparked a bigger discussion on cancel culture, particularly since she her claims on being a victim has been pitted against her a self-proclaimed ‘stabby provocateur’ personality and the fact that she had shared contentious posts about Islam, Bangladeshi migrant workers, obesity, transgender people, and others in the past. The incident began when she posted remarks against Sengkang GRC MP Raeesah Khan, which led to an online campaign and viral petition against Xiaxue for her past actions, which many believe were reflective of racism, bigotry and hate. Brands such as Fresh, Reebonz, Brother Singapore have publicly distanced themselves from Xiaxue, and the online video network Clicknetwork TV (where Xiaxue hosts her Guide to Life series) have dropped her as well. ● While commonly attributed to the left-wing, cancel culture has been present in conservatives for much longer. For instance, in Singapore every year when the Pink Dot rallies are held or when there are calls for the repeal of Section 377A of the Penal Code, there is always a counter-petition or protest by the conservatives and traditionalists of Singapore attempting to “cancel” new and progressive changes in society. 6.5 New Media, while bringing impact, may lead to Clicktivism Clicktivism is the practice of supporting a political or social cause via means such as social media or online petitions, but involving little effort or commitment. It could be in the form of retweets, likes or crowdfunding and is increasingly common in digital platforms today where many simply want to jump onto the bandwagon (similar mindset to cancel culture) to appear ‘woke’ and attentive of social issues. With the click of a mouse, one can display support to certain social causes without having a deep understanding of the matter. It is a low-cost and low-risk way of being seemingly involved. Critics posit that such superficial awareness often fails to culminate to a large tangible impact. Nonetheless, while clicktivism is not the silver bullet in enacting societal change, it has helped to spread cognizance to a larger audience and could be a good complement to actual activism. A similarly used term will be ‘Slacktivism’ which combines the words "slacker" and "activism" to refer to simple measures used to support an issue or social cause involving virtually no effort on the part of participants. Slacktivism critics contend these actions are merely for participant gratification because they lack engagement and commitment and fail to produce any tangible effect, in terms of promoting a cause. •The Late Late Show, hosted by James Corden, includes a “Spill Your Guts or Fill Your Guts” segment which forces celebrity guests to choose between answering a tough question or eating something “unusual” and “disgusting” from a different country. In a few episodes, he features Asian delicacies including balut, century old
© illum.e2023 General Paper19 eggs, and chicken feet, which are often regularly eaten by Asians. In response to this, Tiktoker Kim Saira posted a viral video that called Corden out for the segment’s racial and cultural insensitivity. After the video, Saira created a petition on Change.org to remove the segment from the late night talk show, and gathered 47,715 signatures. Due to the likes and shares on her Tiktok video that has helped to boost the popularity of the petition, Corden has confirmed that the show will pivot away from foods that are culturally insensitive. •SHEIN, a popular online fast fashion company, was being boycotted after accusations of design thefts and labour exploitation were made known to the public. Several influencers took to social media sites like Instagram and TikTok, with the #cancelshein garnering 1.5million views. Such instances show how clicktivism could have a positive impact. However, it is not always the case that clicktivism can translate to actual actions being enforced to address social issues. •90-year old uncle Mr Ng Teak Boon who sells ice cream outside Sim Lim Tower has garnered some public attention after some people have posted about his plight and bad business on Facebook. However, despite many people knowing about this issue and showing their sympathy in the comments section, it is reported that business still remains poor. •Local humanitarian organisations have also been critical about slacktivism. Non-profit organisation Crisis Relief Singapore organised a campaign in 2014— “Liking Isn’t Helping”, with images of war, flooding and earthquake aftermath composed together with thumbs up “liking” hand signs. It aimed to spread the message that having numerous virtual likes on a social media post will not help those facing crisis in their everyday lives, unless it spurs action outside the screen. This social issue campaign has won a Gold Lion in Press category at Cannes Festival.
© illum.e2023 General Paper20 6.5 New Media provides audiences with an exposure to shocking content Due to the absence of moderation and efficient censorship, users and viewers of New Media are exposed and at risk of stumbling across unsettling or disturbing content that they never intended to find, although sometimes this can be deliberate, in turn, transmitting graphic content and information to unwitting audiences. ● Beginning in 2014, The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, now commonly known as ISIS uploads beheadings of journalists and many others. Though efforts are made to take down these videos and images, they are inevitably archived by users and are kept in the more elusive corners of the internet, which are still prone to accidental discovery. ● On the 15thof March 2019, two consecutive mass shootings occurred at mosques in a terrorist attack in Christchurch, New Zealand. The single gunman live-streamed the first shooting on Facebook. The video was then reposted onto LiveLeak and YouTube. The video had been viewed 4000 times before being removed on Facebook and 1.5 million uploads of the video and images from it had been blocked. ● In February 2020, a soldier in north-eastern Thailand killed at least 21 and wounded at least 42 while live-streaming part of the rampage on his Facebook page. During the rampage, he added statements such as "No one can escape death" and "Should I give up?" In a later post he wrote, "I have stopped already.” In one Facebook video -- since deleted -- the assailant, wearing an army helmet, filmed from an open jeep saying, "I'm tired... I can't pull my finger anymore" and made a trigger symbol with his hand, AFP reported. The soldier was apparently angered by a property deal gone sour. Part 7: Evaluation – New Media vs Traditional Media - A Fine Balance of Both?In today’s age of technology, some have argued that traditional media is slowly losing its place to new media. The increased use of digital media is changing people’s everyday lives and the way they connect and collaborate in the broader societal context, at work and in civil society. Much of the impact of this heightened use is beneficial to both individuals and society – it has enabled unprecedented levels of communication, social interaction and community building across boundaries of time, place, and social context. It is also empowering individuals and speeding up the democratization of knowledge. However, traditional media still remains relevant today, especially for stakeholders who are unable to keep up with new developments in the media. Legacy (old/traditional) media still accounts for a significant amount of news consumptionby older generations as well as those in underdeveloped parts of the world who have failed to come full circle in embracing mobile and digital technology. Nonetheless, traditional media continues to evolve to not lose out to new forms of media. The media itself, be it new or old, also changes with the desires of the audience and the motivations of those in charge of the media. Especially with new forms of media, like that of social media, an unprecedented amount of information is being churned out at every second. It is difficult for platforms to pick up on all these information; media platforms have to consistently sift out pieces of information to give priority to base on current social trends before highlighting this information to the audience. Yet, today’s audiences are becoming increasingly active, with more online platforms that allow them to express their opinions. They process the information they see, and come up with their own interpretations of it, forming the basis of new norms within society and a feedback loop for the media. Media in any form, will remain integral to humanity, be it for the arts and entertainment to appease the soul of humankind and make life a little bit more worth living, or to remain informed and be opinionated individuals of society, having your own thoughts and ideas. Media should not tell you how to think or what to think, but to give you the ideas and information in order for you to think for yourself. We cannot stop the rise of new media; with each day it grows more popular and traditional media slowly loses its hold on the world. In order to preserve the benefits of both, Traditional media should learn to adapt with new media and live in harmony, as opposed to being rivals. Traditional media should also be less strict and stringent, while new media requires more appropriate levels of moderation. Video/additional links for Media 11) How craving attention makes you less creative | Joseph Gordon-Levitt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VTsIju1dLI 2) 5 Ways Social Media is Changing your Brain: https://youtu.be/HffWFd_6bJ0 3) The Chinese Doctor who tried to warn others about COVID: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-51364382
© illum.e2023 General Paper21 4) Donald Trump banned on Social Media: https://indianexpress.com/article/world/what-happened-when-donald-trump-was-banned-on-social-media-7349289/ 5) Jover Chew: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/jover-chew-and-mobile-air-staff-charged-over-cheating-cases-at-sim-lim-square 6) Press Freedom Index: https://rsf.org/en/singapore