New forms of media publishing

Media publication has evolved over the years. From broadsheets to tabloid spread to magazine to online publication. With the evolvement and discovery of new technologies, we often find ourselves challenged to break boundaries and explore the unknown and to better the current situation just to make life ever more comfortable.

Hence, no exception for media publications. For instance, the major publications in Singapore have turned to the new media to engage and possibly lure new readers to its site. Most dailies in Singapore now have an online publication site on top of their broadsheets.

For instance, The Straits Times has an online site, which provides a much in depth, and interactive read. Readers are allowed to comment in real time on the online ST forum page, thus interacting with the other readers and writer on their views.

It is understandable why these publication giants moved into the online niche to expand their viewership. The Internet is a vast medium and with the current technology, it is accessible practically anywhere and on most gadgets such as the laptop to mobile phones. This is a bonus for the new age readers. Back then, we used to pay about a dollar to get our papers. Today, with just a click of a button we can get a variety of publication on our computers or phones. Amazing isn't it...

Print vs Online

Print or online. It’s the obvious case of the 'Chicken and Egg' theory. Which comes first?

Some may argue that it is indisputable that print came about earlier than online design, but to design print, most of the planning and the work are usually done online. That is just my thought on it, might not be true.

My point is the principles of designing for print or online has many similarities, although most web designers may beg to differ. Both have to appeal to the target audience.

The Guttenberg Diagram (right) has been the chosen guide for many designers for their work.

There are certainly differences in designing for print and online. Each designer have to not only consider the appealing factors for their target audience, they will also have to master the nature of their artform. What do I mean by that? The artist will have to understand the properties and behavior of his canvas, only then he can translate his vision onto the canvas seamlessly. A good print designer will not be able to produce a good functional website with the principles of print design.

The main difference between print and online is the type of canvas the designers are working on. I found one website that gives a much detailed breakdown of the differences between the two media type. Click here to read more.

Image source:

http://spanring.eu/blog/2006/03/05/social-explorer-simplicity/gutenberg-diagram/

Blogging Communities

What is blogging community? Is it a community of bloggers or is it taking ur blog to the community?

It can be both depending on how you view it. It natural for bloggers that shares the same interest and passion on certain topics will follow other fellow bloggers of that genre. Hence they form a small community of niche bloggers. Sometimes, some bloggers may be more passionate and fervent in their chosen genres and wishes to publicize it to the community. For others, it may be to increase traffic to their site.

Bensen (2008) shares some tips on taking your blog to the community. Some new bloggers, myself included, will just continue posting new reads and expect other readers to stumble upon our blogs and be a follower. After reading Connie Bensen’s (2008) article, I realized that there is actually more to blogging than just putting up new post at your site. You have to be proactive in contributing on other’s blogs or outreaching to new community blogs. That way, you can expect higher site traffic on your blog in time.

Reference:

Bensen, c. (2008, July 6). Taking your blog to a community. Retrieved December 24, 2009, from Problogger: http://www.problogger.net/archives/2008/07/06/taking-your-blog-to-a-community/