The media holds the power to shape opinion

While news is meant to be impartial by nature, it cannot be denied that there is usually an element of control or influence involved. It sets agendas; thrusts certain issues into the spotlight; and influences how we perceive certain events.
The media has long been regarded as the fourth estate of government, and as a result, [...]

Location, location, location… is yours clear?

One of the perks of being a journalist is the numerous invitations to attend events, which may or may not be related to the beat you cover. However, one of my pet gripes as a former health journalist was the difficulty of finding accurate directions to reach the relevant event venues.

While most PRs are pretty [...]

What’s your opinion on private web surfing during company time?

In an article titled, ‘The internet conundrum at work’, which appeared on the front page of last week’s Sunday Times Careers section, Margaret Harris explored the idea that employers are ‘enraged by private mailing and web surfing’, adding that drawing the line is not easy.
She states that while there’s no doubt the internet has revolutionised the office, [...]

Global commenting systems: making the web more social or robbing websites of value?

In the social media space, with the ever-increasing attempt to make the web more social and encourage more user-generated content, several systems have been created which allow users to comment on even those sites that do not permit comments. This is done by creating a layer over the web so that the comments are not part [...]

NASA broadcasts moon blast online

Thanks to the power of technology, people around the world were watching a live feed on NASA’s website at 13:30 South African time today. The reason for the sudden interest in the US space agency? NASA planned to crash a rocket into a crater near the moon’s south pole to kick up debris that scientists will then [...]

Do you pull or push online?

Pull versus push information delivery has come under the spotlight lately, with a growing demand for journalists to have specific information pushed through to them, and to receive content that is relevant to the beats they cover.
If you’re confused as to which is which, Berkeley University defines the difference as follows: “When a request is [...]

Finding balance in the online space

It would be an understatement to say that the online space is here to stay. It is growing at blinding speeds, and those caught up in its whirlwind must be able to keep up or be left behind. Whereas authors and musicians suffered from the web ‘phenomenon’ in the past, it appears that they are [...]

Another new Wave washes in from Google

This morning as I was scrolling through my Twitter homepage, I noticed a trend in the tweets of the more technologically-savvy of those I follow: much talk and hype about Google Wave, yet another development by the online powerhouse.
Upon further research, I found out that Google Wave is an online personal communication and collaboration tool [...]

The dangers of social media

While much has been said about the benefits of social media, there are also many dangers associated with this form of often impersonal networking – the screen-based nature of social media lends to the fact that we feel free to share information with others online – often people we have not met or would not associate [...]

SA media loves Malema

Wikipedia defines Julius Malema as follows: “Julius Sello Malema… is a South African politician, and the president of the African National Congress Youth League. He is best known for his controversial statements and speeches, and vociferous support for African National Congress president Jacob Zuma.”
Controversial statements, indeed. Hardly a day goes by that Julius is not in [...]