Media Thoughts

Kim Hollamby lecture

2005-11-14T16:10:00.000-08:00

Kim Hollamby, Head of Electronic Media at IPC.

Kim’s lecture revealed to me how much emphasis IPC places on online media. But then he would, it’s his job.

That aside, IPC does make more of an effort than other publishers to run websites alongside magazines, rather than just having them as off-shoots from them. The primary importance of a website, for IPC, is to increase subscriptions and to maintain customer loyalty. But websites can also provide valuable functions which the magazines themselves cannot. News is much more applicable to a website than it is to a monthly magazine because of it needs to be new and fresh, or it’s not news. A website can also contain in-depth information and archives given that there is virtually limitless space online.

I was gladdened to take from the lecture the overall impression, however, that magazines still have primacy over their online cousins. Long live the magazine option!

Defence Academy Course, 3 November

2005-11-14T13:43:00.000-08:00

My brief requires me to write about the lecture delivered by Richard Burton of the Daily Telegraph, but I missed the lecture as I was attending the Media and Operations course at the Defence Academy. So I suppose I'll write about that instead.

Unfortunately, I'm not really about to talk about that either as something called 'Chatham House Rules' applies! This basically means anything I heard over the two day course is off-the-record and I may not acknowledge any speakers. This seems a shame because there were many interesting lectures delivered with very honest sentiments voiced.

So, an overall perspective then. It was encouraging to see how much emphasis the military now places upon the need to supply the media with accurate and fast information about conflicts. An officer at the academy described the media as the world's most powerful non-lethal weapon. Wars cannot be fought for a sustained period without the support of the general public, which relies on the media for information.

My overall impression was that military personnel (I'm basing this on the officers I met, all of which ranked either Major, Squadron Leader or Lieutenant Commander, depending on which branch of the services they were in) do not dislike the media, but they are wary of it. They realise that the media has a different agenda to theirs and that it is better to keep reporters close and feed them information in a controlled manner.

Below are two questions which I specifically wanted to ask to students at the Defence Academy.

1. Do you have to agree with all political decisions to function effectively?
A mixture of answers.

One officer told me that he had never disagreed with a political decision and that he hadn't yet been forced to ask that question of himself. He has fought in Timor, Iraq and Palestine.

Another soldier said that he did not agree with the decision to invade Iraq and that that was the opinion of most of the officers and men under his command during the conflict.

A student of the course told me that some political decisions he had agreed with, whilst others he didn't, but he could still function effectively as a professional because his loyalty to his men and regiment and government let him do so.

2. Is the traditional structure of the military appropriate in a time when an enemy of the Crown is most likely to be a terrorist group, rather than a regular army or state?
One overall opinion

All those asked said that the organisation worked very well, that numbers were being scaled down but that the forces were becoming more specialised and better suited to the tasks. For example, the reduction in numbers of the RAF was balanced by the increased efficiency of the aircraft themselves at hitting their targets. One Eurofighter 'Typhoon' can do as much damage today as sixteen Harriers during Gulf War I.

Further, a merger of the branches into one defence force was not needed. This has happened in Canada and the overall view was that it had not worked because the forces had lost their senses of identity and some of their pride. A very senior officer told me that the British armed forces work extremely well together, better than any other military force in the world. I don’t think this was boastfulness, rather an understanding of the need for cooperation, given the relatively small size of the military.

Amanda Powell

2005-10-27T10:50:00.000-07:00

Amanda Powell's presentation about online media on the BBC made me realise how unrewarding I find online news. I do appreciate that the BBC offers the most recent news and I make use of the service provided, but I do not choose to read online in depth.

Statistics abound revealing how internet users read 50 percent less onscreen and spend significantly less time consuming text - as little as two seconds per story, according to some research. Amanda Powell revealed, in response to my enquiry, that a news story can be posted on the BBC website only ten minutes after information has been received.

Internet users are therefore consuming more news more quickly but in less depth and what they consume has had less thought spent on it. The internet has allowed news to become much less restricted and open to opinions from all, which has both a negative and a positive influence on media. Like anarchy, the internet cannot be controlled and this is both frightening and stimulating.

Media Thoughts

2005-10-23T15:46:00.000-07:00

Gladiator is a very cheesy film and I know this, but I still love it! Why?!

England v Poland review

2005-10-13T08:23:00.000-07:00

Everyone seems to be jumping on the Crouch-bashing bandwagon, despite the fact that the last two games he has appeared in he has actually played well. Much like the roasting Eriksson has recieved for the past two wins. Ok, so Crouch hasn't actually scored yet this season (which makes it pretty amazing he keeps being selected to play for his country) and England haven't played at their best, but I think there's more to it than that.

Crouch gets picked on because he's big and lanky. Every mistake he makes sticks in the mind. Every time he plays a good ball he looks silly and that's what people remember. But he DOES play some good balls and he DOES hold it up well. Try watching him without a prejudiced eye next time. Eriksson is not from England (shock horror!) so the classic Englishman naturally distrusts the man! Even though he has just led England to qualify at the top of the group! How much longer will he have to prove himself for? For ever, I'm sorry to say.