My purpose for the latest media article was to provide a clear picture of the issues surrounding carraige fees for local TV broadcasting signals.
Leading up to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission public hearing which began on Nov. 16, two opposing campaigns tried to sway public opinion. Conventional broadcasters including CTV, Global and CBC entered a coalition to "save local TV," while cable and sattelite providers lashed back telling people to "stop the TV tax."
Many of my friends outside the media seemed very confused about the subject, and they were not alone in wondering which side to believe.
I spoke to Wade Moffatt, the general manager for CTV Regina, as well as a spokesperson for Access Communications to hear both sides of the story. Moffatt said most conventional broadcasters are losing revenue and without the right to negotiate with cable companies to charge a fee for their signal, as many as 30 local TV stations could close in Western Canada.
Tasha Lupanko, from Access, argued that cable companies should not have to pay because they actually add value to local TV broadcasters because they are carried in basic cable packages which reach a wide audience.
Cable and satellite providers are calling the fee for carraige proposal a "TV tax" because it would force them to pay to broadcast local signals even though they have always been free to everyone. If this is implemented, they say cable rates will have to increase. Meanwhile, conventional broadcasters are calling for regulation of cable fees to make sure consumers do not bear the brunt of this expense.
The Local Programming Improvement Fund has also been a key point brought up by both sides. This fund requires cable and satellite providers to pay a levy of 1.5 per cent on their profits to support local television stations. However, this fund was only a temporary measure put in place to save local broadcasters from closing last year when the industry was in economic downfall.
So I ask you. Should cable companies pay to deliver local signals? Or should conventional broadcasters find a different way to fix their business model?
After deciphering the misinformation campaigns of both sides, I think you will find that the truth lies somewhere in between.
To read my full article go to:
http://www.jschool.ca//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=204&Itemid=1
About Me
- Musing Journalism Student
- I grew up in a small town, dreaming of becoming a professional writer. Today in my final year as a journalism student at the University of Regina I am living on the edge of realizing this dream. After working in a weekly and daily newsroom I have faced the tough realities of life as a reporter. In this blog I will try to offer insight into the state of media today and how it impacts the world as we know it. My philosophy as a writer is to tell stories for the purpose of bridging the gap of understanding between people.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Does social media really matter in a civic election?
Last week our entire journalism class was set loose with simple instructions; cover the Regina civic election and find a new angle. Needless to say, Wednesday Oct. 28 was a very busy evening for all of us as we scrambled to find interviews and waited for results from the polls.
I chose to write about the use of social media in this election campaign and I found that over-all it didn't have a major effect on votes or voter turn-out.
For the first time the City of Regina promoted a civic election through Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. I talked to the man behind this idea, Phillipe LeClerc, an interactive communications officer for the city. He was very happy with the 6,000 views generated by the YouTube videos of each candidate, and 300 fans on Facebook. He was hoping to attract young voters through these sites. Unfortunately only 27 per cent of eligible voters actually turned out for this election, so the success of this idea is pretty difficult to measure.
I also spoke to several candidates who used blogs, facebook groups and other online media forums to explain their platforms to voters and generate support. Heather McIntyre, who ran for council in Ward 2, said she thought the public was more engaged by this form of media than the mainstream media suggested. She lost the race to incumbent Jocelyn Hutchinson, but only by a margin of 4 per cent.
Fred Clipsham, an incumbent for Ward 3, never set up a website, instead he relied on tried and tested methods to win the election. When I asked him why he didn't branch out into social media he had a pretty fair answer.
"You have to come out of your house and get involved (because) the community is outside your door,” he explained.
Clipsham did say he thought about building a website for the election, but never really got around to it. He believes talking to people face to face is the best way to engage them.
Social media may have attracted more interest from the younger demographic of voters, but one question remains. Did that screen time actually motivate anyone to leave their houses and vote that day?
To read the full story and other election coverage, visit Ink online. http://www.jschool.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=40&Itemid=55
I chose to write about the use of social media in this election campaign and I found that over-all it didn't have a major effect on votes or voter turn-out.
For the first time the City of Regina promoted a civic election through Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. I talked to the man behind this idea, Phillipe LeClerc, an interactive communications officer for the city. He was very happy with the 6,000 views generated by the YouTube videos of each candidate, and 300 fans on Facebook. He was hoping to attract young voters through these sites. Unfortunately only 27 per cent of eligible voters actually turned out for this election, so the success of this idea is pretty difficult to measure.
I also spoke to several candidates who used blogs, facebook groups and other online media forums to explain their platforms to voters and generate support. Heather McIntyre, who ran for council in Ward 2, said she thought the public was more engaged by this form of media than the mainstream media suggested. She lost the race to incumbent Jocelyn Hutchinson, but only by a margin of 4 per cent.
Fred Clipsham, an incumbent for Ward 3, never set up a website, instead he relied on tried and tested methods to win the election. When I asked him why he didn't branch out into social media he had a pretty fair answer.
"You have to come out of your house and get involved (because) the community is outside your door,” he explained.
Clipsham did say he thought about building a website for the election, but never really got around to it. He believes talking to people face to face is the best way to engage them.
Social media may have attracted more interest from the younger demographic of voters, but one question remains. Did that screen time actually motivate anyone to leave their houses and vote that day?
To read the full story and other election coverage, visit Ink online. http://www.jschool.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=40&Itemid=55
Monday, October 19, 2009
A Look on the Bright Side for Print Reporters
TOP TEN USES FOR NEWSPAPERS IN A DIGITAL WORLD
Let’s face it in this day and age the most convenient way to get your news is online. With every story available instantly on a computer screen, who besides print journalists can see the benefits of ink and paper?
After pondering this question I came up with the ten most practical reasons why people do need newspapers.
1) To save your eyes from the constant glare of a computer screen.
Even with small font sizes, reading the paper can probably save you from annual increases in your glasses prescription.
2) Kindling to start a fire.
3) A cheap substitute for wrapping paper.
Also useful as a packing material.
4) A cheap substitute for a fly-swatter. And much easier to find.
5) Cleaning windows, for a streak-free shine that wipes away spots left by the bugs you kill.
6) Employment opportunities for enthusiastic young people. I’m not talking about journalists, I mean kids with paper routes. How else are they supposed to make money to buy iPhones?
7) House training puppies. Newsprint soaks up those yellow puddles perfectly.
8) As a prop for a play set in the past.
9) For seniors to cut clippings of their grandchildren. While said grandchildren use newspapers to make paper-mache.
10) Finally, the most obvious reason to keep newspapers around… to draw moustaches on pictures of people who don’t have moustaches.
Let’s face it in this day and age the most convenient way to get your news is online. With every story available instantly on a computer screen, who besides print journalists can see the benefits of ink and paper?
After pondering this question I came up with the ten most practical reasons why people do need newspapers.
1) To save your eyes from the constant glare of a computer screen.
Even with small font sizes, reading the paper can probably save you from annual increases in your glasses prescription.
2) Kindling to start a fire.
3) A cheap substitute for wrapping paper.
Also useful as a packing material.
4) A cheap substitute for a fly-swatter. And much easier to find.
5) Cleaning windows, for a streak-free shine that wipes away spots left by the bugs you kill.
6) Employment opportunities for enthusiastic young people. I’m not talking about journalists, I mean kids with paper routes. How else are they supposed to make money to buy iPhones?
7) House training puppies. Newsprint soaks up those yellow puddles perfectly.
8) As a prop for a play set in the past.
9) For seniors to cut clippings of their grandchildren. While said grandchildren use newspapers to make paper-mache.
10) Finally, the most obvious reason to keep newspapers around… to draw moustaches on pictures of people who don’t have moustaches.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
What is the Public's Right to Know?
Who knew that the last week in September is Right to Know week across Canada?
Until this year I had no clue that there is an international day designated to raise awareness about freedom of information laws, let alone that it is celebrated for a week in my own country.
While interviewing Saskatchewan's Information and Privacy Commissioner Gary Dickson, I heard a lot about the ideals of government transparency. He said the laws giving all citizens access to documents are an important tool to keep governments accountable for their actions. Naturally this job often falls to journalists to reveal issues the public has a right to know.
I talked to Dan Zakreski ,an investigative journalist with CBC Saskatchewan to get a clearer picture of access to information legislation.
He told me that accessing information is a lot more complicated than it used to be. For example, reports on workplace fatalities used to be a phone call away, but now he has to submit a request form. This process can take a long time - a short commodity for journalists working on a deadline.
Describing a worst-case scenario, Zakreski said he has been waiting for two years to get the results of an Environment Canada report on a sewage spill in Saskatoon.
He thinks the tighter regulations are meant to give government officials tighter control over the release of information.
"No one ever got fired for NOT talking to a journalist," Zakreski noted.
Releasing information works the same way, every document must be approved.
This is something to consider the next time you wonder why a news article seems to be missing information. Journalists can always ask a question, but that doesn't mean the person they are talking to will give a complete answer.
To read my complete story, check out the online version of INK newspaper at www.jschool.ca.
Until this year I had no clue that there is an international day designated to raise awareness about freedom of information laws, let alone that it is celebrated for a week in my own country.
While interviewing Saskatchewan's Information and Privacy Commissioner Gary Dickson, I heard a lot about the ideals of government transparency. He said the laws giving all citizens access to documents are an important tool to keep governments accountable for their actions. Naturally this job often falls to journalists to reveal issues the public has a right to know.
I talked to Dan Zakreski ,an investigative journalist with CBC Saskatchewan to get a clearer picture of access to information legislation.
He told me that accessing information is a lot more complicated than it used to be. For example, reports on workplace fatalities used to be a phone call away, but now he has to submit a request form. This process can take a long time - a short commodity for journalists working on a deadline.
Describing a worst-case scenario, Zakreski said he has been waiting for two years to get the results of an Environment Canada report on a sewage spill in Saskatoon.
He thinks the tighter regulations are meant to give government officials tighter control over the release of information.
"No one ever got fired for NOT talking to a journalist," Zakreski noted.
Releasing information works the same way, every document must be approved.
This is something to consider the next time you wonder why a news article seems to be missing information. Journalists can always ask a question, but that doesn't mean the person they are talking to will give a complete answer.
To read my complete story, check out the online version of INK newspaper at www.jschool.ca.
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