Year 12 - Introduction to NDM: reading and blog task

1) Read the first two articles. Write one paragraph on each summing up the key aspects

The first article is talking about the way that young people are using social media and how they balance it out.The article also consists of explaining how popular culture is taught more in schools rather than vital or social issues and the effects of the media. There is also ways that the media is used differently both at home and in school and the common differences between the two ways that they are used. Social media is a big part of peoples life's in today's society and this is mainly with the younger generation and how people socialise through social networking.
Certain problems arose with the researchers received before even carrying out the study as the two key principles that researchers have to address are: will do research harm anybody? And do the people being researched consent to being involved? The researchers assumed that they would change issues that may increase; however when in fact carrying out the study most of what has been said in the media was not revealed, such as the issues of online abuse.

The second article is about the new Periscope app that was recently released earlier this year. Periscope is an app that was purchased by Twitter and there are concerns about the safety of peoples privacy on Periscope. There are also things that are really positive about this such as being able to teach students in a class about another country or culture and being able to contact someone who have give this insight and information straight away because they are easy to access due to the use of Periscope.

2) Now read the A2 A* essay. Why do you think it was so successful? 

 I believe the A2 essay was successful as it instantly creates a media debate which is not biased. It states one advantage and counter argues it with a disadvantage in clear detail about Spotify, with the addition of their opinion. It includes a lot of media theories which help exaggerate and back her point alongside the use of media terminology which is applied appropriately.

3) Finally, answer this question in a well developed paragraph on your blog: How has digital media changed your life in the last 5 years (for positive or negative)?

The media has changed over the past 5 years in a positive way by introducing more advance technology so that its easier to access things on online. This has had an impact on everyone's life as they are able to spend less time looking for the things that they need. Although, this can be a disadvantage as they would be spending more time as it is time consuming, it has also had an impact on things such as TV, print media and radio as more people are online and not consuming media as much in those ways anymore causing a significant decline.