Identities and the Media: Feminism

Media Magazine reading

1) Read Playing With The Past: Post-feminism and the Media (MM40, page 64 - our Media Magazine archive is here).
2) What are the two texts the article focuses on?
Pan Am - first broadcast on ABC in 2011, is a period drama set in the early Sixties focusing on the lives of pilots and stewardesses working for the Pan American World Airline.
Beyoncé 

3) What examples are provided from the two texts of the 'male gaze' (Mulvey)?
In Beyoncé's song Independent Woman (when part of female group Destiny's Child) declaring herself as an independent woman, whilst objectifying herself for the camera and the ‘male gaze.’ The lyrics "I got beauty, I got class, I got style an I got ass....I even put money in the bank account. Don’t have to ask no one to help me out." Whilst singing these lyrics Beyoncé reinforces her ‘credentials’ by openly rubbing her chest and body, whilst playfully looking down the camera, clearly submitting herself to sexual objectification and openly acknowledging the ‘male gaze’ 

4) Do texts such as these show there is no longer a need for feminism or are they simply sexism in a different form?
Nevertheless, throughout the series of Pan Am the women use their appearance to empower themselves, frequently donning their uniforms to gain access to places they want to be, using their looks to their own advantage, and allowing the audience to find pleasure to a certain extent. There is no longer a need for feminism as women in particular have found other ways to empower themselves, although using appearance as empowerment isn't morally the right thing that is just the harsh reality. 

5) Choose three words/phrases from the glossary of the article and write their definitions on your blog.
Post-feminism – An ideology in culture and society that society is somehow past needing feminism and that the attitudes and arguments of feminism are no longer needed. 
Third wave feminism – Was a movement that redefined and encouraged women to be dominant and sexually assertive. 
Patriarchy – An ideology that places men in a dominant position over women. 

No More Page 3

1) Research the No More Page 3 campaign. Who started it and why?
Founded by Lucy-Anne Holmes and the mission statement is "to persuade the editor of The Sun to voluntarily remove topless models from Page 3 of its daily newspaper."

2) What are the six reasons the campaign gives for why Page 3 has to go?
The Guardian describes Page 3 overall as "demeaning, tasteless and unnecessary" for women to display their bodies. 

3) Read this debate in the Guardian regarding whether the campaign should be dropped. What are Barbara Ellen and Susan Boniface's contrasting opinions in the debate?
Baraba Ellen debates: It’s important to stay aware of hypocrisy, but the snobbery/autonomy arguments don’t wash. Page 3 is the Old Order – reeking of male dominance, of women as sexualised and neutralised objects (Stripping celebrities at least bring a sense of their public personalities). 
"This isn’t about puritanism, snobbery, or censorship, it’s about women being reduced to smutty sideshow turns within the context of family newspapers."
Susie states: In that scenario women’s free speech is in a) baring their boobs if they want and b) complaining about it if they choose. How can we criticise Islamic State for insisting all women cover up, and the next, er, insist women cover up?

4) How can the No More Page 3 campaign be linked to the idea of post-feminism?
If the campaign is successful then it proves that women are just more than objects in the media. It demonstrates that women can be effective and dominant for what they believe in. 
5) What are your OWN views on the No More Page 3 campaign. Do you agree with the campaign's aims? Should the campaign continue?
I believe the campaign should continue as women in the media are always seen as objects. It's time for women to be seen from a more professional view rather than sexually. This will motivate and aspire young girls to have good role models then if there is no more page 3.
6) Do you agree that we are in a post-feminist state or is there still a need for feminism?
I believe that there is a need for feminism, with many different factors. The role of a woman in society is to look after her children. However, for example in court a woman cannot choose to take full ownership of her child as there are laws to help the father. In some aspects feminism is still needed but woman already have as many major rights such as being able to vote which shows that a post-feminist state will not be the worst thing ever. 

Weekly Homework

First driverless buses travel public roads in the Netherlands

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/01/28/first-driverless-buses-travel-public-roads-in-the-netherlands/

The article is about how in Netherlands there are buses that can now drive themselves and passengers on specific routes preprogrammed  into the buses computer. it can take six passengers and has been trialled down a 200m stretch of road with six passengers on board.

• six passengers down a 200m stretch of street  in the first trial of its kind. 
•  maximum speed of 25 kilometres per hour
• The WEpod team intend to equip the vehicle with additional technical equipment such as cameras, radar, laser and GPS to track the environment the vehicle will travel in.
• regions in the Netherlands from May 2016 onwards

In my opinion this shows how far technology has come as we are now able to take people around on public transport without the need for a human driver. However this also shows that maybe we are becoming too reliant on technology and are expecting too much of it.

Apple issues global recall for AC power adaptors after ‘electrical shock risk’

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jan/28/apple-recalls-electrical-shock-risk-power-adapters

The article is about how Apple is recalling chargers used between 2003-2015 due to the fact that they can be dangerous and give electric shocks to users. This was also with Apple's travel kits. It was only the two prong adaptors that got recalled. 

• The affected adapters were made between 2003 and 2015
• use a two-prong plug into the power socket
• used across Europe, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, New Zealand and South Korea
• Apple two-prong wall plug adapters may break and create a risk of electrical shock if touched
• Apple said it was aware of 12 incidents involving the fault

This is an example of how no technology companies can guarantee no faults. this shows no technological giant even Apple is fault free and shows the faults in new and digital that can happen and put customers at risk.

Post Colonialism : Edward Said

1) Summarise the three theorists we have looked at: Alvarado, Fanon and Said.

Alvarado - looks at four key themes in racial representations: exotic, dangerous, humorous and pitied.
Fanon - typical black stereotypes which infantilize,  primitivize, decivilize and essentialize
Said - Edward Said looks at Orientialism - the west are more superior to the exotic/dangerous east

2) Watch the opening of Yasmin (2004) again. Does it offer a positive or negative view of British Muslims? To what extent does it reinforce or challenge Edward Said's theory of Orientalism - that the west is superior to the exotic or uncivilised east?

In the opening of Yasmin, there are both positive and negative stereotypes presented. For instance, the positive aspect comes from the prayers the young boy recites which shows how he's carrying out traditional Islam values. Furthermore, in the beginning the old man washing off graffiti on a shutter which has racist words on it is shown in a positive way as the old man calmly washes it away and doesn't have a violent reaction to it. The negative aspect comes from the main protagonist Yasmin who goes against her own culture. In the clip, Yasmin undresses herself out of her hijab and traditional clothing into jeans and a jumper. This shows how Yasmin is hiding her culture. 

From Edward Said theory, it is evident that Yasmin prefers western culture and values. Her job is on the other western side and this could impact the way she feels about her own culture as she feels much free when at work in comparison to where she lives. Overall, Said's theory is reinforced in showing that the west culture is superior. 

3) Finally, choose THREE clips for EACH of the theorists and explain how you could apply that theory to the clip. Pick a selection of clips on YouTube from TV, film, music video or advertising and embed them in your blog before writing your analysis under each clip. Note: this means you need NINE clips in total on this blogpost.
Alvarado 
Topboy: this clip shows how gang culture is a big issue in the UK. It represents black britishgangs in particular.  This analysis also reinforces Alvarado’s Theory of dangerous/pitied (1987). The characters are victims of their environment. In “Top Boy (2011)”, Dushane and Sully represent black people to be ’dangerous’ as they are associated with gangs, violence and drug-use. But, Ra’nell represents the ‘pity’ category as he is left to provide for himself as his mother is taken into a mental hospital.

Kidulthood: The use of gangs and the mise en scene (dressing up like gangsters) represents young teenagers as not being able to fit into the proper society therefore they commit crimes, this generates the dangerous element. Another example of how teenagers in London are represented in the opening of Kidulthood is being kind and caring. This is shown when the young girl dies due to the result of bullying, and after she dies the other characters in the film feel pitied. 

Anuvahood: this movie contains the humorous element consistently throughout and is used mainly with the main character Adam Deacon, The banter amongst the group is funny and relatable and as a result gives the movie a quirky edge as well as the street image it intentionally portrays. 

Fanon

Adulthood: this movie is the sequel to Kidulthood and looks more in depth into drugs and crime therefore making the theme of Fanon's decivilize more apparent by showing the characters as gangsters and pimps. 

Skepta - Shutdown: this music video links to Fanon's essentialize factor apparent as the people in the video all look similar. Especially through the concept of the black and white costume colour scheme to show that the people are all united. 

Ill Manors: the film uses Fanon's theory through the props, the use of guns signify drug and gang culture which links to the key factor of decivilizing by showing the representation of gangsters and pimps in the UK.

Said
East is East: this movie is accurate is showing the difference of western and eastern cultures. In the movie, the father (who is pakistani) marries a british white woman. This is a major culture difference and the kids show this as they are brought up around strict pakistani family values, one of the sons is about to have an arranged marriage but escapes to be with a british woman evidently following in his fathers footsteps. 

Bend it like Beckham: this movie is shows culture clash humorously as an Indian family in London tries to raise their soccer-playing daughter in a traditional way. Unlike modernised elder sister Pinky, who is preparing for an Indian wedding and a lifetime of cooking the perfect chapatti, Jess' dream is to play soccer professionally like her hero David Beckham. Wholeheartedly against Jess' unorthodox ambition, her parents eventually reveal that their reservations have more to do with protecting her than with holding her back. When Jess is forced to make a choice between tradition and her beloved sport, her family must decide whether to let her chase her dream. 

Anita and Me: Meena Kumar, a 12-year-old Sikh girl, lives with her family in the predominantly white, working-class, fictional mining village of Tollington in the Black Country in 1972. Meena meets Anita, a white, 14-year-old girl whom Meena comes to idolise. However, Meena finds it harder and harder to fit in as her Indian heritage keeps on resurfacing, and Anita's new boyfriend proves to hold strong racist attitudes toward those he regards as "darkies". This movie is good in presenting the differences between eastern and western culture. 

Weekly Homework

Shops can track you via your smartphone, privacy watchdog warns

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jan/21/shops-track-smartphone-uk-privacy-watchdog-warns

The article is about how shops can tarck shoppers using the unique identifier through wi-fi. The technology is use to see how customers use the store and is also used to give specific offers to each person. The technology is used outside of shops in airports, transport hubs and even using city-wide Wi-Fi networks. 

• The technology, which has been available for the last couple of years in some form, is capable of tracking a smartphone using the unique identifier that it broadcasts via Wi-Fi
•  It is the same as that used by beacons which track smartphones using the unique Bluetooth identifier
•  every smartphone puts out when the wireless communications service is switched on.
• The difference between Bluetooth-tracking beacons and Wi-Fi tracking systems is that the modern smartphone leaves Wi-Fi on, even when manually switched off for data connectivity, as a way of pinpointing its location

In my opinion this is an example of how modern day technology is being used more and more against the audiences it is built for and even invading privacy in many cases. This show that new and digital media is not all good and is used for things we don't even know about.

News Corp denies rumours company wants to buy Twitter

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jan/20/news-corp-denies-rumors-twitter-acquisition

The article is about rumors that Newscorp wanted to buy Twitter or at least a stake in it. The article is about how Rupert Murdochs company denies these rumors saying that they are not buying Twitter and say that the rumors are just rumors.

• Twitter’s shares, which rose as much as 14%, pared some gains and were up 5.2% at $17.55
• A spokesman for News Corp said there was no truth to the rumors
• Twitter trades at 28.12 times forward earnings
• peer median of 36.06
• Facebook has a PE of 33.08
• LinkedIn Corp’s is 52.64

In my opinion if this is true and Newscorp is planning to buy Twitter then it is an example of how New and digital media is taking over traditional media institutes including one of the most well known ones, Newscorp. This shows that the future of news is online and that traditional means like print will eventually become a thing of the past.

January Essay Learner Response

WWW: focuses mainly on the question and some understanding demonstrated 
EBI: lacks substance, very little reference and examples of news 


2) Read through the mark scheme. Of the six different statements, write which you think is currently your strongest and which is weakest. Explain WHY and, for the weakest, what you are going to do to improve in that area.

Strongest - A good essay, showing good critical autonomy.

Weakest - A clear individual case study, with range of examples.

3) Read through the exemplar A grade essay. What does this essay offer that yours does not? Identify THREE things you can take from this essay to improve your own responses in future.

• It offers a comprehensive plan for the essay to show the examiner that the candidate know what he/she wants to speak about in the essay. 
• it introduces the case study very briefly which I did not do therefore missed out on marks there.
• it has a very wide range of recent examples making her arguments very strong in order to show the examiner that he/she have done their research.

Improved paragraph: 

A marxist approach to audiences being a producer/consumer of news would be that trusted brands, such as the BBC, maintain hegemonic control over audiences. Through Pareto's law that 80% of the media is controlled by 20% of large organisations. The BBC is the main source of news audiences go to in order to consume news. Although the audience can leave comments on online articles and express their personal views, the BBC have the ability to remove any content they desire. Advances in technology allow audiences to consume a variety of news but doesn't allow audiences to respond/react to it as there ultimately is a limit as the BBC want to maintain a strong image. 

Weekly Homework

Spread of the internet has not conquered 'digital divide' between rich and poor-report

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jan/13/internet-not-conquered-digital-divide-rich-poor-world-bank-report


The article is about how the rapid spread of internet among the masses has still not got rid of the digital divide between the rich and poor and how it has not created as many jobs as thought. The report tells of how the internet is the fastest spread technology ever but is unable to create a place where there is no digital divide.

• the number of people connected to the internet has more than tripled in the past decade, from 1 billion to an estimated 3.5 billion
• By comparison, 4 billion people – or 60% of the world’s population – had no access to the internet
• use an e-commerce platform to sell goods domestically and export to 120 countries

In my opinion this shows that the internet cannot solve the worlds problems and although incredibly popular in first world countries, in developing countries a lot of people don't even know of it's existence and just because we all see it as normal over half the world doesn't have it.

Bug displays chrome users porn hours later on Apple computer 

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jan/14/nvidia-chrome-blames-apple-chrome-incognito-mode-diablo

The article is about how a bug in Apple's operating system caused incognito mode on Google chrome to display pornographic content on the loading screen of a computer game being loaded by someone who had viewed it hours earlier.

• Pornography splashed across the screen when loading a game
• This issue is related to memory management in the Apple OS, not Nvidia graphics drivers
•  It breaks the operating system’s user boundaries by allowing non-root users to spy on each other
• 
  

In my opinion this shows that no technology is capable of not having any bugs and even one of the most prestigious technology companies in the world, Apple, had a major malfunction that caused this problem and shows that technology is never 100% reliable. 

Post - Colonialism

To what extent can we apply the theories of Alvarado and Fanon to Ekaragha’s work?

Gone Too Far Trailer 

Alvardo believes that there are 4 main things that are displayed in a racial representation, Pitied, Exotic, Humorous and Dangerous. In the movie trailer, pitied is shown when the family are shown living in a council estate flat. humorous is shown when the brother comes out of the car whilst a funny beat type music comes on in the background, the camera is moving from bottom to the top as it shows that the brother has come straight from Nigeria and is wearing sandals with socks which shows humour to the audience as he is shown not to be fitted in in the society. Also the mother appears to be quite funny as she has a Nigerian accent whilst talking and mocks the main son, and then he bangs into a lamp post without looking where he is going and falls down and in the end of the trailer when the brother is talking to the brother in the burger shop saying that he is Nigerian after every sentence and when he says when he eats his burger and the staff member from the burger shop copies what he says which also shows humour to the audience as shows that other people are mocking him. Exotic in the movie trailer when the pretty girl walks up to the boys and is dressed up wearing make up gives a good impression towards the boys and in the shop when she kisses one of the boys shows seduction towards the audience and she asks the boy "if he wants more of that." Lastly, dangerous is shown when the girls boyfriend hit the ball on the boys head and says to stay away from his 'girl'. Fanon's theory that black women are 'putting on a white mask' can be seen in the trailer as the girl who is shown to be  exotic has full make-up on, fake hair piece and dressed all girley compared to her friend who is shown to be plain and simple. 

Identities and the Media: Reading the Riots

How did the language and selection of images in the coverage create a particular representation of young people? 

The coverage labels the youth as "out of control" which reflects how the young people have no restrictions. The background image shows a teenager in a tracksuit which emphasises how the people taking part in the riots are from middle class backgrounds. 

Why does David Buckingham mention Owen Jones and his work Chavs: the demonisation of the working class?

In his recent book Chavs, Owen Jones points to the emergence of a new form of class contempt in modern Britain. The working class, he argues, has become an object of fear and ridicule.

What is the typical representation of young people – and teenage boys in particular? What did the 2005 IPSOS/MORI survey find?

 A 2005 IPSOS/MORI survey found that 40% of newspaper articles featuring young people focused on violence, crime or anti-social behaviour; and that 71% could be described as having a negative tone. 

How can Stanley Cohen’s work on Moral Panic be linked to the coverage of the riots?

Stanley Cohen analysed media coverage of an earlier generation of ‘riots’ – the pitched battles between gangs of mods and rockers (and the police) on beaches in the South of England in the mid-1960s. Cohen argues that the media talked up the disturbances into a bigger ‘moral panic’. In a moral panic, he writes: a condition, episode, person or group of persons emerges to become defined asa threat to societal values and interests; its nature is presented in a stylized and stereotypical fashion by the mass media; the moral barricades are manned by editors, bishops, politicians and other right-thinking people; socially accredited experts pronounce their diagnoses and solutions; ways of coping are evolved or (more often) resorted to; the condition then disappears, submerges or deteriorates and becomes more visible. 

What elements of the media and popular culture were blamed for the riots?

It was rap music, violent computer games or reality TV that was somehow provoking young people to go out and start rioting.

How was social media blamed for the riots? What was interesting about the discussion of social media when compared to the Arab Spring in 2011?

The rioters were also seen as somehow skilful enough to co-ordinate their actions by using Facebook, Blackberry and Twitter. The Sun, for example, reported that ‘THUGS used social network Twitter to orchestrate the Tottenham violence and incite others to join in as they sent messages urging: ‘Roll up and loot’

The riots generated a huge amount of comment and opinion - both in mainstream and social media. How can the two-step flow theory be linked to the coverage of the riots? 

As previously explained that thugs influenced the organisation of the riots it's evident that their view influenced many other young teenagers to take part. Also, it's clear that new media have created many more opportunities for people to have their say.

Alternatively, how might media scholars like Henry Jenkins view the 'tsunami' of blogs, forums and social media comments? Do you agree that this shows the democratisation of the media?

I agree with the fact that ‘Big Media’ – of powerful, centralised corporations controlling media – is now finished: hierarchical, top-down communications have been replaced by a more egalitarian approach. But it's useful to consider that new media are simply providing more opportunities for ignorant people to mouth off about whatever happens to have annoyed them that day. 

What were the right-wing responses to the causes of the riots?

Amoral youth - amoral, uneducated, unparented, welfare dependent, brutalised youngsters took part in the riots.  Particularly the idea of the welfare state: too much permissiveness, he argues, has bred a generation of young people with no respect for their elders and betters, and no ‘moral compass’.For some right-wing commentators, it is parents who are principally to blame for this situation; while others, such as Katharine Birbalsingh, blame schools for failing to instil discipline and respect for authority – especially, according to her, in black children.

What were the left-wing responses to the causes of the riots?

Such commentators point out that the UK has one of highest levels of inequality in the Western world. They argue that it was unsurprising that most of the disturbances erupted in areas with high levels of poverty and deprivation. More specifically, they point to the cuts in youth services (Haringey, the borough in which Tottenham is located, recently closed 8 of its 13 youth clubs), rising youth unemployment (which is now over 20% in the 18-25 age group) and the removal of the Education Maintenance Allowance. While these are valid arguments, they also appear to look only to youth as the cause. 

What are your OWN views on the main causes of the riots?

In my opinion, I believe that unemployment is to blame for the riots and the closure of community centres. If the youth, especially from working classes, were given the opportunity to have jobs then the riots wouldn't of happened as the youth would be more concerned about work than protesting. There is also inequality and the riots were bound to happen one day but the fact that the death of a black man, Mark Duggan prompted the riots, Although it was meant to start out as a peaceful protest, the influence of social media and promoting the riots caused mass outrage, 

How can capitalism be blamed for the riots? What media theory (from our new/digital media unit) can this be linked to?

The link between the rioters and the bankers and politicians. The rioting, is argued by Peter Osborne (a right-wing writer for Daily Telegraph) states that: "it has become acceptable for our politicians to lie and to cheat… the sad young men and women, without hope or aspiration, who have caused such mayhem and chaos over the past few days… have this defence: they are just following the example set by senior and respected figures in society." 

Were people involved in the riots given a voice in the media to explain their participation?

On all sides of the media debate, there was a rush to instant judgement – or at least instant opinion. 

What is your own opinion on the riots? Do you have sympathy with those involved or do you believe strong prison sentences are the right approach to prevent such events happening in future?

Widespread anger and frustration at the way police engage with communities was a significant cause of the summer riots in every major city where disorder took place; in my opinion the police are at fault.

WeeklyHomework

Self-driving cars hog the road at CES

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jan/07/self-driving-cars-hog-the-road-at-ces

The article is about how new cars have been announced at the CES in Las Vegas that drive themselves and can even give commands to your house to do things like turn on the front door light or open the garage door. The cars are always connected to the internet and is being developed by Ford.

• voice-activated Alexa and Echo assistants into Ford’s cars, which would enable drivers to connect to their home systems and ask the car to open the garage door, start the engine or turn on the light above the front door.
• Carmakers sold more units in the US than ever before in 2015, with the car industry now worth $2.3tn (£1.57tn). 
• But the transportation industry was $5.4tn
• “We are a long way from the finish line of fully autonomous cars”
• Many experts believe full adoption of autonomous vehicles will not happen until 2030.

In my opinion technology is moving forward very fast in this new and digital age which means that we have to go along with it, however technology in my opinion is making people more and more lazy with the things it can do in replacement for things we humans normally do for ourselves, like shopping or driving.

Google, Facebook and Twitter among internet giants attacking 'snooper's charter'

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/google-facebook-and-twitter-among-internet-giants-attacking-snoopers-charter-a6801576.html

This article is about ow the big technological giants such as Google, Facebook and Twitter are arguing the new bill that gives them powers to record all data from peoples computer, including web browsing and social media. Also the bill states that it requires these companies to assist them in hacking into smartphones and computers.

• The draft Investigatory Powers Bill unveiled last year includes a requirement for internet firms to store records of data relating to people’s web and social media use for up to a year, and domestic communications providers will be required in law to help officers hack into suspects’ smartphones and computers.
• Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Twitter and Yahoo criticised plans to force firms to help security services hack into devices as “very dangerous”
• They stated that “as a general rule” users should be informed when the Government seeks access to data.

In my opinion the government should not have the right to have access to everything we do on the computer and especially our social media. The fact that the government can even get this bill anywhere is appalling and should definitely not be given powers to force companies to hack into our devices.

Weekly Homework

Apple Pay could soon let people pay others through a text message or a phone call

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/apple-pay-could-soon-let-people-pay-others-through-a-text-message-or-a-phone-call-a6792686.html

The article is about how it is believed that Apple is developing a method of payment that allows users to pay other iPhone users through text or phone calls  that will be integrated into Apple software allowing user to pay each other much quicker and much more conveniently. The new method will use Apple pay to work.

• The company has filed for a patent that shows the company exploring options for sending money over its text messaging service, iMessage
• The patent suggests that Apple will add a button to text messages that will allow people to send money with just a click
• a little button could appear in the corner of the message screen allowing people to quickly make a payment 
• The tool will probably make use of Apple Pa

This is an example of how technology is making our lives much easier but could also be putting a danger in front of our personal data and the system could go wrong and cause a lot of problems for users. For example it could send money to the wrong person and could also be hacked more easily than other methods.

Charity launches website to give people 'greater control over their death'

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/charity-launches-website-to-give-people-greater-control-over-their-death-a6794321.html

The article is about how people can now go on this website and allows its users to decide their treatment when they are dying. The website takes users through different scenarios should their health deteriorate and gives them the option to refuse treatment and is legally binding for doctors to follow. A copy can be printed and used to give treatment if the patient is unable to do so.

·          Anyone who completes the document, known as an “advance decision” – detailing how someone can refuse a specific type of medical treatment or drug at some time in the future – will have greater control over their death

·         in response to growing concerns about how few people were planning ahead for end-of-life  treatment should they lose the ability to make their own decisions

·         The website will take people through different scenarios that they may encounter if their health fail. 

This is an example of how new and digital media is increasing on impact of our lives and is being used more and more frequently in our serious decisions  showing that the impact new and digital media is having on its audience.

BBC hit by widespread outages taking website and iPlayer offline

www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/dec/31/bbc-suffers-widespread-outages-taking-website-and-iplayer-offline

The article is about how the BBC suffered a problem in which all digital services became unavailable to users for a period of time. Suspicions of a hack were floating around however BBC is denying this with the response that it was a technical error and had nothing to do with a hack.

• denial of service attack (DDoS) but the BBC press office repeated that it was “a technical issue” 
• down detector indicating major issues from around 7am on Thursday
• The website was showing 500 error code page
• it came back online shortly before 11am

In my opinion this shows that no new and digital media service is safe from technical errors or hacks. The article also tells me that people have become very dependant on new and digital media methods of watching just TV and lose their minds when it goes away shows how far we have come from only being able to watch TV on TV.

Microsoft to start notifying victims of 'state sponsored' hacking

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/dec/31/microsoft-will-tell-you-if-youre-hacked-into-by-a-government-after-failing-to-do-so

The article is about how Microsoft are going to notify hotmail account users when they believe they are being hacked by governments due to the China hacks that compromised 1000 hotmail accounts. Customers will be notified when Microsoft believes they are being hacked by nation hackers to help protect data.

•  Chinese authorities allegedly compromised over 1,000 Hotmail accounts.
• Joining other US technology companies – including Google, Facebook, Yahoo and Twitter – Microsoft said that the change in policy was designed to help users protect their data.
• Hotmail email accounts had been hacked into by elements linked to Chinese authorities over three years starting in July 2009, but did not tell users.

In my opinion this should have been done way before these hacks were committed and it shouldn't have taken a hack across Hotmail before Microsoft told their users that their private data could be in danger.