A Comparison of Views
Assignment 2: Pick a popular news story and find at least three forms of media (i.e. Website (print), Podcast (audio), and MPEG (video)) that are disseminating the story. Write a one-page analysis of the pros and cons of each medium.
There are some stories that seem appeal to people more in words than on TV and so it is the other way around. In trying to decipher the meanings behind nutrition and food/drink labels, it is more interesting on screen. Sitting through a minute or so of audio information behind footage of the celebrity seems better than seven paragraphs of print.
People like to connect what they are being informed of to their own lives, so while print may offer pictures unlike audio/Podcasts, video footage is more captivating to a viewer. It shows actual people and actual objects that people can deal with, such as cereal boxes. Also, seeing a page of print can prove more daunting, while the length of a video is not always directly revealed. And there is hardly anything written that cannot be spoken. Video provides the obvious advantage of showcasing what a writer takes so much effort to portray in words. It is nice for the viewer to be able to physically see the food products and the nutrition label in real time along with numbers and other data in a manner more interesting that with print.
In a way, however, visuals can be considered negative, for the tone of voice and facial expressions of the CBS host Rene Syler and her guest, Elisa Zied of the American Dietician Association, can act as convincing factors. Print can certainly be one-sided, but at least it is without the added bias that audio and video can offer. Also, not having video footage with audio can serve an audience in that they can focus solely on the content and not on irrelevant visuals. People in the video make an effort to look good on TV, such as the woman with her long blonde hair and the host with her cute pink shirt, and their appearance can distract viewers from the real point of the story.
As far as getting credible information from an outside source, it may depend on the medium whether or not the person is willing to offer any info at all. They may be uncomfortable having their face shown on screen and may rather give a name, or vice versa; they may prefer to have their picture taken but give no name. Providing information to be broadcasted or used in audio form is safe for the source and can still be considered credible for the writer/reporter. Seeing the guest on the show makes it easier to believe she is real and what she is saying is true while merely hearing the Podcast voice is less credible. How do we know the voice is that of Vanderbilt University’s Dr. Russell Rothman? Then again, print is no more believable that way either.
While audio seems to have its disadvantages when compared to video and print, it can be cheaper than the other two. With audio one does not have to worry about video montages or formatting. Audio is most expensive as far as equipment and processing; video and print can be posted easily on the Internet. However, audio information cannot be printed for convenience, while pictures and writing can.
But all in all it depends on the preferences of the individual what medium he or she will choose to get informed.
Podcast: http://audio.cbsnews.com/2006/09/22/audio2035653.mp3
Video: http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=1914973n
Print: http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/ap/2006/09/27/ap3049738.html
:)
There are some stories that seem appeal to people more in words than on TV and so it is the other way around. In trying to decipher the meanings behind nutrition and food/drink labels, it is more interesting on screen. Sitting through a minute or so of audio information behind footage of the celebrity seems better than seven paragraphs of print.
People like to connect what they are being informed of to their own lives, so while print may offer pictures unlike audio/Podcasts, video footage is more captivating to a viewer. It shows actual people and actual objects that people can deal with, such as cereal boxes. Also, seeing a page of print can prove more daunting, while the length of a video is not always directly revealed. And there is hardly anything written that cannot be spoken. Video provides the obvious advantage of showcasing what a writer takes so much effort to portray in words. It is nice for the viewer to be able to physically see the food products and the nutrition label in real time along with numbers and other data in a manner more interesting that with print.
In a way, however, visuals can be considered negative, for the tone of voice and facial expressions of the CBS host Rene Syler and her guest, Elisa Zied of the American Dietician Association, can act as convincing factors. Print can certainly be one-sided, but at least it is without the added bias that audio and video can offer. Also, not having video footage with audio can serve an audience in that they can focus solely on the content and not on irrelevant visuals. People in the video make an effort to look good on TV, such as the woman with her long blonde hair and the host with her cute pink shirt, and their appearance can distract viewers from the real point of the story.
As far as getting credible information from an outside source, it may depend on the medium whether or not the person is willing to offer any info at all. They may be uncomfortable having their face shown on screen and may rather give a name, or vice versa; they may prefer to have their picture taken but give no name. Providing information to be broadcasted or used in audio form is safe for the source and can still be considered credible for the writer/reporter. Seeing the guest on the show makes it easier to believe she is real and what she is saying is true while merely hearing the Podcast voice is less credible. How do we know the voice is that of Vanderbilt University’s Dr. Russell Rothman? Then again, print is no more believable that way either.
While audio seems to have its disadvantages when compared to video and print, it can be cheaper than the other two. With audio one does not have to worry about video montages or formatting. Audio is most expensive as far as equipment and processing; video and print can be posted easily on the Internet. However, audio information cannot be printed for convenience, while pictures and writing can.
But all in all it depends on the preferences of the individual what medium he or she will choose to get informed.
Podcast: http://audio.cbsnews.com/2006/09/22/audio2035653.mp3
Video: http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=1914973n
Print: http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/ap/2006/09/27/ap3049738.html
:)
posted by Sara @ 1:05 PM
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