Personal media use and Production Diary;
Figure 1. Graphical representation of my media usage over 10 logged days.
The chosen categories
of media that were logged create an accurate representation of my media usage
over 10 days (as represented by Figure 1). Figure 1 suggests that the medium most
used is texts/calls followed by iPod usage; then Facebook, Tumblr and Other
(internet usage). These most used mediums of media have in fact been accessed
by my iPhone. My interaction with the media takes place mainly ‘on the go’,
accessed through apps and accessories on my iPhone. About a month ago I
upgraded from a basic phone to a smart phone and joined the 44.2% of fellow
Journalism students that owned one. The acquisition of an iPhone has completely
changed the way I interact with the media. For example, before owning a smart
phone, I would read the newspaper daily to check the headlines of the day.
However, Figure 1 shows that my newspaper usage has been reduced to a fairly
low amount with my internet (other) usage being fairly high as this is now where
all my news reading occurs. It is this convenience of Sydney Morning Herald and
The Age applications on my smart phone that has turned my bus trip to university
into my news reading time. Furthermore, my usage of ‘Free to air’ television is
fairly low; however all of it consists of watching part of The Project in the evening. I still read the print copies of the
news paper on occasion; however the majority of it has all been moved to
electronic mediums. I am a person that needs to be entertained; I have a short
attention span and I find it hard to listen to full programs about facts and
events. I am part of the growing demographic that appeals to shows like The Project where I can be informed with
the news as well as being entertained, thus explaining my use of ‘Free to air’
television. Comparing this to the survey suggests that this use of electronic
mediums for information is common among most students and it can be said that
this demand for both information and entertainment is shared among other
journalism students.
My usage is mostly
using online and smart phone where as it seems that most students use that television
broadcast for this. My relationship between ‘old media’ is slowly decreasing as
it is being replaced with ‘new media’, in particular Web 1.0 and 2.0. This media
usage is not uncommon (I have a pretty similar media usage to the rest of my
peers with 71.1% using television and 67.8% using the web to gain access to the
news) especially when it comes to Journalism and Communication as I do not rely
on newspapers for news anymore, instead I use the internet and sometimes
television. I do however, believe that if I did not own a smart phone and have
the easy access to the internet; my interaction with print media may be
different. Furthermore, this relationship to media can be linked to the idea
that I, along with most of generation Y, have a demand for instantaneous
information and the internet (and smart phones) allow access to this. Instead
of waiting for the headlines in the Courier Mail the next day, as soon as I
hear news, I can research it and be informed immediately.
Figure 2. Graphical representation of media production over 10 logged days.
Our media usage and
production depends on the behavioural patterns of the consumer. Depending
mostly on our likes and interests, our usage will change. My relationship with
books as a part of ‘old media’ only still exists because of my interest in
theatre and as a Drama student, am required to read plays weekly (displayed in
Figure 1). However, without this interest I highly doubt this relationship
would exist. Furthermore, as I enter University life, I have had little time
and few opportunities to spend time with friends from high school, and as I
value these friendships and wish to stay in contact with these people, I use text
and calls to remain connected with these people (displayed in both Figure 1 and
2 the prominent use and production of Text/Calls).
My internet usage and
production is not the same as the majority as noted in the survey. Most users
spent most of their internet usage on Facebook, Emailing and general surfing.
However, when I use the internet I am mainly blogging; mostly through Tumblr
and Blogger (see Figures 1 and 2). From this it can be said that I use the
internet as a source of writing publication and a medium in which I can
personalize and utilize to express my views and my reactions to the media. I
use blogging as a way in which I can write my thoughts regarding news issues
and as such, there is a direct correlation between my media usage and
production. I produce most of my media in response to my consumption of it.
When I read about a certain issue in the news, or come across something online
that strike a chord with me, I turn to blogging and express my views. This
shows my behaviour patters behind my usage and production of media and shows
that my relationship with journalism is not one sided; when I consume media, I
sometimes feel the urge to produce and contribute.
Figure 3. Percentage graph of media usage.
Figure 4. Percentage graph of media production.
Figures 3 and 4 show
the dominance that the internet plays in my media usage and production. This
corroborates with the survey of my peers and suggests that they use the
internet more than another other form of media, being at least 2-3 hours a day.
My media usage and production is similar to what is suggested by the survey. My
majority of media usage is through ‘new media’ in particular, the internet. I
no longer rely on print media to access information and news but instead use
the internet and my smart phone. This pattern suggests and supports the idea
that people seek to be informed almost instantly and the internet supplies
their demand, where there is always a delay with print media. This information
also suggests that with a large majority of students aged 17-20 using internet
as their primary source of information use and production, that it seems this
is where generation Y’s relationship with journalism is focused on. Furthermore,
I believe this is where the focus of journalists should be to their consumer as
there seems to be little consumption of ‘old media’ but rather a boom in the
use of ‘new media’. Even though this may enhance the decline of print and ‘old
media’, from the patterns seen in the survey, and assessing my relationship
with journalism and communication, there is now little demand for such media,
but rather a demand for instantaneous information with ‘new media’.
Media Usage Log
Media Production Log
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