Lecture Two

The second lecture of JOUR1111 focused on the topic of “New News.”  In particular, Dr. Redman outlined the progression of the Web from Web Iterations, to Web 1.0, Web 2.0 and lastly to the very modern concept of Web 3.0. Essentially, the principal difference between these forms of Web is the targeted demographic. Web Iterations also known as the ‘old media’ focused predominantly on companies. In comparison, Web 2.0 or the “New Media” had a more socially-orientated focus. Lastly Web 3.0 (also known as the Semantic Web), the current stage we are at now, concentrates on the individual. Web 3.0 can be customised and manipulated to suit the needs of the specific individual.

The effect of the ‘Semantic Web’ on the news, Dr. Redman prophesised in the Lecture, would be hyperlocalisation – a specific content delivery to the individual. Negatively, this could lead to wide-spread ignorance and a lack of general knowledge. I find this notion quite disturbing really because as history poignantly indicates ignorance can breed racism, discrimination and sexism.  

We ended the lecture by asking the question of whether society’s sense of entitlement to free, instant news will be the death of Journalism? Historically, web news has always been cheap and available but now it is time people began to pay as, without funding, the field of Journalism may cease to exist. Rupert Murdoch plans on dealing with this issue by implementing a subscription model in regards to News Corporation and News Ltd. Murdoch believes that people will be willing to pay for quality journalism if value can be added. Such value is added by giving members of these newspapers and magazines privileges that non-members do not have access to.

Rupert Murdoch