tradional media vrs new media

Not too long ago, journalism was something reserved for a select few with the training and resources to break and proliferate compelling news stories - a system that many still consider to be the most accurate and reliable way to get their news. However, that basic idea, and crucial societal function, is experiencing a fundamental shift.

As daily Internet usage becomes increasingly universal, suddenly people have started going online, specifically to social media networks like Reddit or Facebook to get their news and print media syndications have begun to die off as a result. Nearly 60% of people use Facbeook as a recurring news source while magazines like Newsweek struggle to move a substantial number of magazines. The abandonment of print media was referred to as one of the biggest shifts in journalism and media outlets were forced to adapt to changing trends or face extinction. However, in light of recent events, it seems clear that people are not only changing their mind about where to get their news, but also who delivers it to them.

Citizen journalism refers to a wide range of activities in which ordinary people contribute information or commentary about news or events (citizen journalism; www.educause.edu/eli). Without the participation of the citizenry, there would not be anything called citizen journalism. The traditional media which hitherto was the sole custodians of news and information did not allow audience participation and this made the audience dormant. The traditional media is known for its legacy in the old ways of disseminating information to its audience. It involves the use of various media such as radio, television, newspapers or books. The information delivery is one way with little or no audience participation.

The social media is referred to as the means of interaction in which users create, share, and/or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks. Examples of these virtual communities include: Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. These sites would not have been made possible without the development of web 2.0 technologies. Web 2.0 technology, which is an improvement on web 1.0, brings on board user generated content. This encourages users to be interactive with technology. The new media is defined as a 21^st century “catch all” term that is related to the internet and the interplay between technology, images and sound. (www.newmedia.org). The new media has the characteristics of being manipulated, networkable, dense, compressible, interactive, and being often digital in nature. It does not include feature films and television unless they contain technologies that enable digital interactivity. (www.newmedia.org).

The new internet or social media has allowed the development of devices that enhance user interactivity. This new development is what has given rise to the ever increasing population of citizen journalists. It is very possible that the near future may witness the extinction of print media corporations; in favor of digital media corporations. Though many people still read news online that has been produced by traditional outlets, many users are now expressing that they feel the traditional outlets are 'too slow' or that their reporting has 'too much of an agenda'. While this attitude towards traditional media has been around for a long time, the prevalence of mobile devices that can record pictures, video and have constant internet connections, combined with the growing popularity of social networking sites have actually made it possible for people to produce and share news themselves .The term new media has been used contextually from time to time. It’s a cloud of technologies, skills and processes that change so quickly that it makes it a bit difficult to define. Cell phones in the 1980s were called new media but today this same term can apply to only a few digitally interactive cell phones such as Samsung Galaxy, Windows phones and Blackberry Phones. Certainly the new media has been an improvement on the old media and has improved on daily human interactions.

The activities of citizen journalists with the help of the social media have in a way affected the dominance of the traditional media outlets in terms of content and production of news information. What goes into information gathering and dissemination in the traditional media house entails a lot, it involves a lot more people than individuals who have the benefit of the new media. Now, the news making process is much easier than it was. The citizen journalist does not require a camera man, sound engineer, an editor, a writer and all that it takes to generate news; simply put the citizen journalist can be all this himself.  He or she uses tools that make it easier for him to upload news related content to the web.

The new media encourages audience participation than the traditional media houses. Applications such as blogs and wikis have made it possible for individuals to generate discussion. User friendly applications have helped formed virtual networks which people create and share news content with their virtual followers. People nowadays do not wait for the next day’s dailies to catch what is in the news; They rather jump on to social networking sites to check the news.

There’s only one way for the traditional media to survive and that way is to adapt to this new trend. They have also taken advantage of the new media to encourage users to submit content. CNN i-report invites comments from viewers. The BBC has a dedicated social media staff which is responsible for these contributions and check the veracity of the content submitted by these users. The traditional media houses have embraced this challenge by also operating online, training online reporters and engaging in crowd sourcing. Major news networks have online pages, facebook pages, twitter pages and blog accounts that feed the online market, The BBC for example out-doored 60 blogs in 2005 including that of ace political reporter, nick Robinson. Mechanisms have also been put in place to filter the news that comes in as libel laws cover internet. The BBC invited images of the dramatic snowfall in February to see what readers were expecting.

PAWPAW.....A CONTRACEPTIVE?

PAWPAW SEEDS AND FOOD

Pawpaw, botanically known as Carica Papaya is one of the cheap fruits that survive better in tropical areas throughout the world. It is specie of the caricacea family. Carica papaya is oval shaped and normally green, yellow, orange or greenish-yellow in colour. Pawpaw undergoes a maturity period of a year.

Pawpaw has not been one of my favorites since childhood but little did I know the wonders I was missing until now. I’m positive there are millions of friends out there who take in pawpaw just because of its delicious taste without any idea of what they stand to benefit. Hence it is worth it to share my discoveries with the world.
Primarily, pawpaw contains a rich amount of folate, dietary fiber, papain chimopapain enzymes, vitamins A, C and E and a little of iron riboflavin, thiamine and niacin. The main functions pawpaw performs in the human body include the capability to strengthen the immune system to prevent regular colds and flu. It also assists with nausea and constipation and can be used externally for treatment of skin wounds.

Carica papaya breaks down protein into amino acids to make digestion easier. This is highly advantageous for the aged because less digestive enzymes are produced as man ages.  As a remedy for smokers, the danger of emphylsema (a chronic lung disease is reduced) due to the high
vitamin A pawpaw contains.

The seeds, fruit and stems of pawpaw are all used for curative purposes but the most amazing factor I discovered is the abortifacient and contraceptive properties of pawpaw.  Green seeds contain phytochemicals that interferes with progesterone .The intake of green pawpaw seeds daily cuts a man’s sperm count to zero. Advantageously, sperm count becomes normal when the seeds are not taken and it comes along with no side effect.    (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papaya).

 Strokes, heart attacks and diabetic heart diseases can even be prevented by taking in pawpaw daily. If  I were you, I would get off my seat and go pawpaws hunting right away. As you make the eating of pawpaw a habit, don’t forget to educate friends on it as well. Eat pawpaw everyday and grow healthy always. (Read Healthy Living, written by George. D. Pamplona-Roger,( M.D.) published in April 2009 or visit  roachway.com.au) for more information.

SOLANUM INCANUM (LOCAL GARDEN EGGS)

By Akua Anima Boahen

Kwau Nsusua

“Solanum  Incanum” is a member of the egg plant species. It is native not only to West Africa but to the continent as a whole. It is commonly known in Ghana as “Kwau nsusua or abeduro”. Again,it is called “thorn apple” because of the thorns on the plant and "bitter apple" because of its taste.

The plant matures within an estimated period of three months. It does not really require intensive nursing or a specific climate condition to mature. In most cases farmers intentionally do not plant it. The plant is mostly dispersed by animals or wind and naturally undergoes maturity process.

Though cheaper and easier to come by people hardly give it recognition due to ignorance. Some farmers even destroy it when found in their farms. Only a few people purchase it and these people do so because it is prescribed by a doctor for the treatment of one disease or the other.

Did you know that this simple, cheap and unrecognized vegetable can perform lots of wonders in the human system? Solanum incanum when consumed provides vital nutrients including vitamin A, C, D, E6, magnesium, calcium and iron. Most importantly, it also serves as a natural blood donor without any side effect. Finally, it is used for the treatment of sore throat, “ cutaneous mycotic”  infections and other pathological conditions. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum_incanum)and (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC429651/)

Well, I have already told you enough on ” Solanum incanum” so whenever you see these little green vegetables, don’t just pass by, just get some for only 20 or 50 pesewas, plant some at your backyard and save money. 

MEAT AND ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT INFECTIONS

Originally, the use of antibiotics in farm animals was to be delivered under the prescription of a veterinarian for treatment of diseases. Unfortunately, modern livestock industries feed their farms with antibiotics haphazardly due to commercial interests. Antibiotics are mixed with the feed of livestock to make them grow bigger and faster. According to the Food and Drug Administration, 75% of antibiotics given to animals are not fully digested. This makes human prone to Antibiotic -Resistant infections when we consume meat.

Antibiotic-Resistant is a worldwide public disease that occurs when strains of bacteria in the human body become resistant to antibiotics due to improper use of it. The two common types of bacteria that can easily become resistant to antibiotics are “Staphylococcus”and “Enterococcus” which affect the skin and intestine respectively.

How often do you   take meat? The tendency of an individual being infected by this disease depends on his consumption rate. The higher a person consumes meat, the higher the risk and the lower the consumption rate; the lower the risk of being affected. Few people have personal meat farms they eat from, thus majority of the citizens who eat meat purchase from these industries are at a greater risk.

Symptoms of this disease are hardly identified. People can live with it for years without knowing. The best way for an individual to identify his/her status is by verifying from a hospital. Currently, the United States Of America, the Centre For Disease Control (CDC) carried a research and revealed that 23,000 people are killed by Antibiotics _ Resistant Infections, yearly.  

  

Your world tomorrow can be determined by what you consume today. Antibiotic _Resistant Infections is real and killing many so from today, beware of the meat you eat. Do not allow society to influence you into thinking that the intake of plenty meat signifies good living. If you can’t stop taking meat, just cut down the rate of consumption. Be wise and save your life!