Reflection

This is my first attempt of creating an academic blog, which I think it is much harder than blogging for my own non-academic blog. It however has helped me understand more publication and designing issues these current years. I had to do a lot of researches in order to understand the issues which were brought up. As a communication student, it is a must for me to learn to understand any medium that are use to communicate messages to the audiences.

I have learn to know the importance of citation and reference. Previously I thought citation is just a reference for the lecturers to check for plagiarism, however now I realise that, it is important to also respect others' intellectual properties. One has taken the effort and time to produce such work and we shall not conveniently take others' work and claim it our own.

Besides that, I find that keeping an academic blog updated is my biggest challenge. Each and every entry must be written with references and based or link to any publication theories. That means, there are lots of readings to be done before a post (approximately 200 words) can be done. I myself have spent in an average 6 hours to complete a post. I hope my updating my blog frequently can help me in improving my writing skills and the ability to do effective researches.

In conclusion, this experience of creating an academic blog will certainly help me in understanding more about publication issues and I will try to apply those theories that I've learn in my personal blog.

Last but not least, thank you for visiting 'Limit of Infinity'. Feel free to drop some comments for any of my posts.

Blogger politicians

I am a huge fan of blogs. As a communication student, I am even more interested to know current social and political issues happening locally as well as globally. Recently, I came across a political blog started just a month ago by our former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad in his own website http://www.chedet.com/, which is named after the pseudonym he used when he wrote articles for newspapers. Apparently, his blog became a phenomenon to all Malaysians since the birth of Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s blog. The news article of ‘1 million hits for Dr. M’s blog in just 30 days’ in the Star online on the 30 of May 2008 has shown the impact of his blog to the community (Samy, 2008).

Source: http://www.chedet.com/

‘People may now obtain news directly from the internet without any filtering from publishers, editors or journalists’ (IWR 2006). That is why many users believe that bloggers can provide them a wide scope of information compared to the mainstream media which is too clogged up due to the implication of printing and publishing act and licensing issues. However, although bloggers has more freedom in their publishing, they must also know to take responsibility for their own actions (Weber, 1995).

Source: http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/76e65039-65ed-45b4-81ad-61d3f993291f.html

Read more about the influence of political blogs in Malaysia in the article

> ‘New media and the changing face of communications’.

> ‘Blogger Jeff Ooi headed for Parliament’

> ‘Online campaign nets RM85,000’

Reference:

IWR Blog, 2006, viewed on 12 June 2008, <http://blog.iwr.co.uk/general/index.html>

Lane, M 2005, ‘Unblog those drains’, politicalcartoons.com, viewed on 12 June 2008, <http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/76e65039-65ed-45b4-81ad-61d3f993291f.html>

Mohamad, M 2008, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, viewed on 12 June 2008, <http://www.chedet.com/>

Samy, FA 2008, ‘1 million hits for Dr M’s blog in just 30 days’, the Star online, viewed on 12 June 2008, <http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/30/nation/20080530130012&sec=nation>

Waber, JH. 1995, Technical Editors’ Eyrie: Resources for technical editors, ‘Ethics in scientific and technical communication’, WISENET Journal 38, pp. 2 – 4, viewed on 10 June 2008, <http://www.jeanweber.com/newsite/?page_id=22>

1 April 2008, ‘New media and the changing face of communication’, the Star online: Business, viewed on 12 June 2008, <http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/1/business/20080401172812&sec=business>

2 May 2008, ‘Mahathir starts his own blog’, the Star online, viewed on 12 June 2008, <http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/2/nation/21127697&sec=nation>

9 March 2008, ‘Blogger Jeff Ooi headed for Parliament’, the Star online, viewed on 12 June 2008, <http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/9/election2008/20080309011012&sec=election2008>

28 February 2008, ‘Online campaign nets RM 85,000’, the Star online: Metro, weied on 12 June 2008, <http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/2/28/north/20457144&sec=north>

Internet for life

In today’s fast and growing technological world, the internet has not only taken its role as one of the largest source of information, it has also been replacing most of our daily lives which is generally known as the internet life. Many of us would probably prefer to live in the cyberspace due to various reasons, mainly the fact that we can lead many different lives in contrast to real life. The fact that you can be anyone you want to be in many ways gives great impressions to many of us to actually choose to have an internet life. The usual places where we can find internet lives are of course forums, gaming communities, messengers etc.

The article of ‘Online addiction’ by Wong Li Za published in August 20^th the Star Online has highlighted the effect of online games to computer users (Wong, 2007). Especially in the gaming communities, where most gamers who would spend a good 70% of the time in a day in the cyberspace socializing with different people from several parts of the world. And not only that 70% is not enough, some of these gamers would even resort to taking substances to keep themselves awake 24 hours in order be in the cyberspace. Yes, it is not wrong at all given the fact that through web space, we get the opportunity which many people from the past don’t, and that is to be able to communicate with not only one person in one country, but more or less the world. However, any form of addiction is never good and this addiction to internet life has become something that can endanger one’s life. ‘Online addicts and computer game addicts suffer from many of the same symptoms as alcohol and drug abusers: denial, secrecy, acting out, compulsion, lack of focus, and withdrawal from family and friends’ (Parrott, 2000).

Source: http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/64f9721b-d5d3-41fb-9fbc-a2a278e94dd3.html

So what is this thing that keeps these people to have such an addiction to it? The key here is the rewards they get when being in the cyberspace world. For example; let’s take a regular Joe who is working a regular job in real life, you have to work for 8 hours a day, 6 days a week in order to get a measly payroll every month which is not even enough to cover your expenses with the added stress from family and friends. Given in the cyberspace, you don’t have any worries, if you failed, you restart or sign up a new identification and start all over again and it is as simple as that. That is probably one of the key factors why people are addicted to internet life.

Although internet life may be dangerous, there are however still benefits which we can achieve by having an internet life. The solution to this is one must always bear in mind to separate reality and fantasy. The internet life may be a good training ground for people who have problems in socializing or people who would want to improve their socializing skills. Besides that, the internet life also benefits us in terms of knowing more first hand information from different people in different parts of the world. Internet life has both pros and cons and the way to work around it is to be moderate. Have an internet life, but don’t let it take over reality. Another article entitled ‘Taking control’ by Nasa Maria Entaban from the Star online will be a good reference for gaming addicts who likes to practice healthy gaming habit (Entaban, 2007).

Reference:

Entaban, NM 2007, ‘Taking control’, the Star: youth2, viewed on 12 June 2008, <http://thestar.com.my/youth2/story.asp?file=/2007/9/26/youth2/18978912&sec=youth2>

Parrott, L 2000, ‘Acknowledgements’, Helping your struggling teenager: A parenting handbook on thirty-six common problems, Zondevan, viewed on 12 June 2008, <http://books.google.com.my/books?id=Bs1_tUtyiRkC&dq=online+addict&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0>

Singer, A 2006, ‘Bill won every game but was still a loser’, politicalcartoons.com, viewed on 12 June 2008, <http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/64f9721b-d5d3-41fb-9fbc-a2a278e94dd3.html>

Wong, LZ 2008, ‘Online addiction’, the Star online: TechCentral, viewed on 12 June 2008, <http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2007/8/20/technology/20070820113810&sec=technology>

Internet television

I am a television addict since I was very young. I still remember those days when I need to rush home from school in time so that I could catch my favorite Hong Kong dramas. Now, I no longer have my freedom and time to watch the television like how I did during my schooling period, due to the busy working lifestyle. So I turned to internet television, which I can watch free television shows online, anytime and anywhere to fulfill my cravings for watching television programmers.

Unlike conventional broadcast television which the viewers are bound to watch the programmers that are scheduled to be broadcasted to the viewers; internet television allows viewers to choose the shows they wish to watch from a list of programmers it offers. John Naughton mentioned that 'Broadcast TV is a 'push' medium: a select band of producers (broadcasters) decide what content is to be created, create it and then push it down analogue or digital channels at audiences which are assumed to consist of essentially passive recipients', wheres the web is a 'pull' medium. 'Nothing comes to you unless you choose it and click on it to pull it down on to your computer. You're in charge.' (Naughton, 2006)

Internet TV is not something new, but the usage of it has been improved by the existence of broadband connections. The technology of streaming TV content on the Net is still very much in its infancy (Tan, 12 July 2007). Reviewing an article by Tan Kit Hoong, entitled ‘Watching TV on the Web’ published in the July 2007 The Star newspaper, which has introduced a few internet television websites, such as AZUREUS VUZE, Joost, MiTV, World IP TV, Astro Broadband and Veoh TV.

Source: www.vuze.com

Source: www.joost.com

Source: www.worldip.tv

Source: http://video.astro.com.my/

Source: Veoh Tv Beta

The rapid growth of Internet television usage also provide an alternative medium for corporate companies to place their advertisements. Internet television is much easier and cheaper alternative to publish content. The article 'Charting the Future of Internet TV' by Adam Gerber will further elaborate the future and prospect of advertisement in internet television channels.


Reference:

Astro broadband tv, viewed on 12 June 2008, <http://video.astro.com.my/>

Gerber, A. 2006, iMedia Connection: Connecting the Marketing Community, ‘Charting the Future of Internet TV’, viewed on 12 June 2008, <http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/8035.asp>

Joost, viewed on 12 June 2008, <http://www.joost.com/>

Naughton, J 2006, guardian.co.uk: The Observer, ‘The age of permanent net revolution’, viewed on 12 June 2008, <http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2006/mar/05/newmedia.broadcasting>

Tan, KH 12 July 2007, the Star online: Tech Central, ‘Watching TV on the Web’, viewed on 12 June 2008, <http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2007/7/12/prodit/18236970&sec=prodit>

Vuze beta, viewed on 12 June 2008, <http://www.vuze.com/app>

WorldIP.tv: World of interactive tv online, viewed on 12 June 2008, <https://secure.worldip.tv/en/>

Malaysian Bloggers and Journalists March for Press Freedom

Few days ago, Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur was stormed by bloggers and journalist from all around the country, holding Malaysian flags and shouting slogans for only one purpose. They demanded for more press freedom from the Malaysian government (The Star Online, 2 June 2008). There have been too many issues about press freedom being highlighted in the countries, especially in the recent years, where blogging trend is getting more and more popular to the Malaysian society.

More freedom: Journalists and bloggers gathering at Dataran Merdeka to press for more press freedom during the “Walk for Press Freedom” event.
(Source: The Star Online, 2 June 2008)

Bloggers criticize the lack of press freedom in the country, as it is the fundamental requirement for a democratic country to have the freedom of speech, yet there are still too many limitations for journalists as well as bloggers to express their thoughts. Sedition Act, Official Secret Act (OSA), Internal Security Act (ISA) and Printing Presses and Publications Act are their primary fear. There has been a drastic drop for Malaysia in press freedom ranking by 32 spots to 124 in the worldwide press freedom ranking index released by Paris-based watchdog Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF, Reporters Without Borders) (Beh, 2007).

Issues which are consider as ‘sensitive’ could not make it to the daily papers and now, even internet, so called a ‘free media’ to the people, its freedom of press is restrained by the Government. The Government is now aware of the influence of online media to the citizens, especially after the losing of two-third majority of seats in the parliament by the ruling Government party Barisan National. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak comment on the issue, he said that 'he acknowledged that the Government had overlooked the impact of engaging the new media during the recent general election which was a new dimension in winning over public opinion' (Habib, 27 May 2008).

In year 1997, Malaysia announced a no-censorship guarantee for the internet. It was at that time trying to attract investors to its proposed Multiledia Super Corridor (MSC). Our former Prime Mininster Tun Dr. Mahathir promised investors that the MSC would have 'the world's best soft infrastructure of supporting laws, policies, and practices', including a 10-point Multimedia Bill of Guarantees. One of its guarantees read: 'Malaysia will ensure no censorship on the internet.' However the Bill do not guarantee internet users completely, where users can still be charged is seditious or libelous content is published to Malaysian audience, while many are still debating the subjectivity of sedition. Besides that, activists could never be sure how long the government would honor the no-censorship guarantee (George, 2005).

In my humble opinion, I think this is a risk we need to take and worth to take. Oscar Wilde has a quote like this, 'disobedience, in the eyes of anyone who had read history, is man's original virtue. It is through disobedience that progress has been made.' (Wilde, 1881) Afterall, according to the code of ethics, 'a journalist should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information' (Code of Ethics, 1996). This is what journalists and bloggers are asking for, the freedom to do so. However, a writer should take responsibility on what he or she has written, as what Jean Waber said, 'I think that all ethical questions boil down, at some point, to accepting personal responsibility for one’s own actions, not hiding behind ‘I was only following orders’ or ‘that’s not my job’ or some variation on that theme.' (Waber, 1995)

Below are some of the cases arose in our country regarding press freedom issues.
> Malaysiakini raided by police over a publication deemed to be seditious
> Editor of Harakah arrested and charged with seditious

Reference:

Beh, LY. 17 October 2007, Drastic drop for Malaysia in press freedom ranking, ‘Malaysiakini’, viewed on 5 June 2008, <http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/73670>

Gan, S. 28 January 2008, The Day They Took Away Our Computers, ‘Wordpress.org’, viewed on 5 June 2008, <http://www.worldpress.org/Asia/919.cfm#down>

George, C. 2005, Media, Culture & Society, ‘The internet’s political impact and the penetration/ participation paradox in Malaysia and Singapore’, viewed on 9 June 2008, <http://mcs.sagepub.com.ezlibproxy.unisa.edu.au/cgi/reprint/27/6/903>

Habib, S. 28 May 2008, Government to engage bloggers in cyberspace, ‘The Star Online’, viewed on 8 June 2008, <http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/28/nation/21376112&sec=nation>

Swarts, W. 2000, Press Crackdown, ‘Wordpress.org’, viewed on 8 June 2008, <http://www.worldpress.org/Asia/1390.cfm>

The Star Online, 2 June 2008, Journalists, bloggers walk to press for more freedom, ‘The Star Online’, viewed on 8 June 2008, <http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/2/nation/21425908&sec=nation>

Waber, JH. 1995, Technical Editors’ Eyrie: Resources for technical editors, ‘Ethics in scientific and technical communication’, WISENET Journal 38, pp. 2 – 4, viewed on 10 June 2008, <http://www.jeanweber.com/newsite/?page_id=22>

Wilde, O. & Pearson, H. 1973, De Profundis and Other Writing, ‘The Soul of Man under Socialism’, Penguin Classics, viewed on 9 June 2008, <http://books.google.com.my/books?id=ANYo1XCPqt4C&pg=PA22&lpg=PA22&dq=disobedience,+in+the+eye's+of+anyone+who+had+read+history,+is+man's+original+virtue.+It+is+through+disobedience+that+progress+has+been+made&source=web&ots=FOBV3Dfveo&sig=-sq4YYQyZwUNpkJV2KClviJ_Vak&hl=en>, pp. 22