Blogs vs. Wikis

Similarities and Differences

In ways that they are both the same is how they are meant to provide information on a specific topic. Usually blogs and wikis hone down on one main focus. Both blogs and wikis give the user(s) the freedom to have any topic, theme, etc. Another similarity is that both blogs and wikis allow the user to edit their texts after posting or publishing. Finally, blogs and wikis are a good way to network and interact with your community.

The way the blog and wiki is used is different. Blogs are used by one person. Wikis are sometimes used by a group of people who edit each others texts and add their own input. Format of the two are different as well. Blogs are read in postings and wikis are read in documents. Blogs network by reading, commenting, and linking with other blogs. Wikis network by having others read, edit, and update the document.

Convergence in today's networked world

This transformation of old to new media is essential in many aspects. For one, it helps business to connect with those most important to them; employees and customers. In a NY times article called "Wal-Mart Tastemakers Write Unfiltered Blog", Michael Barbaro discuss how Wal-Mart created a blog where employees and customers were able to comment on their opinion of items Wal-Mart shelved. By doing this, Wal-Mart is able to receive feedback on their merchandise from the people most important to them. Through this blog, employees, customers, and management are able collaborate their ideas on improving Wal-Mart.

A New Use for Wikis

In today's day, wikis are already being used in so many fields. A new way wikis may be used is through apps on mobile devices such as cellphones and iPod devices.

Cite

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/03/business/03walmart.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&adxnnlx=1267215043-37EaAxDhfJALJVD5OdXouw

Old vs. New

Today's new media differentiates from old media in the sense of options, access, control, modification, and distribution of the source. A good example of this is the transformation or evolution of journalism. Old media's journalism would be to write or print an article on paper. New media's journalism would be blogs. By blogging, you're able to mass distribute your information to people all over the world via the internet. With your printed article, say in a newspaper, you're generally limited to having your article read by those in a city or town. Also with blogging, you're able to have more control of what the blog looks like in terms of design and appeal. Not only that but you're able to include links and videos which newspaper articles can't do. In this sense, new media provides more options than old media.

A good example of new media is TMZ.com. TMZ is the new media of tabloid magazines. TMZ is now the hottest celebrity news website out. What's essential to providing news is how fast can the information be relayed to the people. TMZ is always on top of their game, so much that when Michael Jackson's death hit the news, TMZ had already published a post on Michael Jackson's condition, six minutes before he even died. This is a clear example of TMZ's (new media) advantage over tabloid magazines (old media). TMZ is able to relay information at a much faster rate then magazines, especially when magazines generally produce one issue every week or month and need to be paid for.


Cite

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jun/26/michael-jackson-tmz-scoop

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jul/01/tmz-celebrity-media-gossip-site

Project Description

In my project, I intend to discuss the effect blogging has in this new media world. In this new media world, it is obvious that more and more people create blogs, express their interests, ideas, and creativity. Many times this opens up new doors for those looking to network in the area of their interest.

I also intend to discuss a new form of blogging, video blogging. This is commonly found on Youtube and is becoming a phenomenon where more and more people desire to make a channel and vblog.

In this project I most certainly will discuss the the advantages and disadvantages of blogging.

What is New Media?

New Media is the exchange of information through digital instruments. The internet is what makes this all possible. The internet is vital for people to connect to each other and have the ability to communicate from any two places in the world. As more and more people are able to access the internet, new media is also growing. Examples of new media are email, instant messaging, chat rooms, blogs, wiki, voip, etc. Characteristics which new media embellishes are communication, collaboration, community, creativity, and convergence.

New media is stirring up a revolution from old media. These forms of new media allow for people to proliferate information on demand from the comfort of their choosing.It allows for globalization and the ability to grasp the community all from one place. This makes the world a smaller place and easier for the user to commerce information via the world wide web. New Media plays an important role in business, creative arts, politics, and advertising.

New York Time had an interesting article on how old media is being enhanced into what we now know as new media. In their article, "Who needs a Tv? I'm watching on a Laptop", Laura Holson discusses how television is old media now that people have the accessibility to watch television on their computers via the internet. It seems that this new media technology can replace television because it enables to user to watch the show of their choice at the time of their choosing by simply visiting the appropriate web site. One website which standouts in this discussion is Hulu.com. It has a large variety of shows with a large library of episodes with minimum commercial breaks. Also Hulu allows you to pause, skip forward, or go backwards while watching an episode. This you cant do with a regular TV set.

Cite

Prof. Rachel Adler, "What is New Media?" http://baruchnewmedia.com/notes/n_whatisnm.htm

Holson, Laura "Who Needs a TV? I'm Watching on a Laptop" http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/04/technology/personaltech/04basics.html?_r=1&emc=eta1