The Role of New Media Writing in Occupy Central

In Jan 2011, the power of new media writing was demonstrated thoroughly by the uprising in Egypt and Libya. Facebook and Twitter are credited to the rebellion without a clear leader, but a distinct goal. Even though some credit these social networking tools for inciting the turmoil, others believe that they have nothing to do with the rallies. However, even the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron did think of enacting censorship on Facebook and Twitter. It seems as if the power of new media writing really deserves our attention.

Since 17th September2011, the Occupy Wall Street movement has been gaining the momentum across the world, stirring hundreds of thousands of demonstrators to air their grievances against financial and social inequality. Over 1500 cities have joined the occupy rally and hundreds of "Occupy Communities" have been created in most of them. Certainly, there is no exception of Hong Kong. The local protestants have been setting their camping tents on the floor of HSBC Main Building in Central, building their own community for two weeks. And most importantly, they engage in Facebook to spread their messages and encourage others to join them.

Then how do the power of new media writing influence social movement? It is beneficial that people as observers can report the reality to mass, which may not be covered in the traditional media. Those traditional media which may take a opposite political orientation against the protest would only pay attention to the superficial issues without reporting the underlying messages. Whereas loads of on-line media instead of traditional one act as the role of reporter, revealing the reality with no distortion or selective retention. For instance, Hong Kong In-media as a citizen journalism website. As I mentioned before, every content on Facebook hits an average of 150 friends. This would be an efficient tool to spread messages to mobilize people to join the social movement. In this sense, new media writing play a much more important role than traditional media in reporting news and mobilization due to its openness.

In additional, multi-modality of new media writing enhances the attractiveness of content. As everybody knows, multi-modality enables content creator to embed video clips, images, or hyper-link in the text, which can draw a fuller picture of the message. And, content creator can also touch audiences' emotion via video easier than text does. Moreover, multi-modality improves the verifiability of content. Social Record Association, one of the local example, is an organization providing video streaming and social activities' recorded video. This is important while rumour or smear spreads on protestant by political opponents.


To be cont'd

The Age of New Media: How do we read?

If you are being asked "How much do you read daily?" or "When do you read?", you would probably answer like this, "Um...I have no idea" or "During my commute to school of course". These questions introduce a new phenomenon sweeping all over the world - Micro-reading.

                                                                           Image: The U.S. Army

Micro-reading is a brand-new term you may not have heard of, but an accustomed practice you engage in every day. With the emergence of weblog ten-something years ago, human beings used to write in prose consisting of hundreds or thousands words for expressing. However, following the worldwide popularity of Facebook, Twitter, and even Weibo in Mainland China, we tend to share content, no exception for emotion, information, or trivial matters, on social networking websites in shrinked text. For example, it is restricted to 140 characters in every single tweet on Twitter. This practice is also known as Micro-blogging which differs from traditional weblogs in that its content is much smaller in actual size. Back on topic, Micro-reading refers to a new form of reading, which relies on new media. It is characterized as shrinked and small in number of words, like Micro-blogging. In our fast-paced world, in particular for Hong Kong, micro-reading is commonplace. We spend our rubbish time to read news, email, or micro-blog on any electronic gadgets, which can be associated with fast food in reading. The rubbish time I mentioned above may be the time you are commuting, waiting for lift, on the escalator, waiting your meal to be served, and so on. You may also observe people watching YouTube, updating her status on Facebook, or Reading news from Apple Daily on train. This article may not explain well, but this is what Micro-reading is.

                                                                                Image: SparkCBC

However, there is doubt that it was induced at the same time as Micro-blogging did.  To be precise, I would say it occurred at the time at which internet emerged. Accompanying the popularity of the Internet, every user has an equal chance to express. And this information explosion brings to loads of content converging on the mind of human being. For instance, there are more than 1.5 million pieces of content shared daily on Facebook, and each of them can clock up an average of 150 friends! Some scholars termed this as Information Overload. But why do information overload makes us engage in micro-reading?

From psychological perspective, with tons of messages available, we always unconsciously apply what is called selective attention to filter out any distractions. In short, we only pay attention to what interests us and requires less effort from us. And yet, not every single piece of content we receive is interesting to us. Then how can we tell the exceptional case of uninteresting content? Let's move on to the next discipline - "How do advertisers grab your attention?". Advertisers make every message as attractive as possible, namely lesser words,  brighter colours, exaggeration and so on, in order to gain your attention regardless of your interest. This printed ad may be how they work in a sense of "As attractive as possible". Hence, from the opportunity for everyone to be creator on the Internet to writing in most "attractive" way to draw audience's attention, that is exactly what most of the new media creators do and why we read in such mode.

                                                A famous Transport for London's ad regarding Selective Attention

New media has been certainly shaping how we think, we do, we relate, and we give meaning to everything in our life. Here I wish to reveal the factual issue that how we read has been altered. Micro-reading can be associated with an inevitable trend, which I cannot say it is good or not. But please do not overlook its impact. It shapes not only the numbers of words in content, but also how we spend our time. 

"It's easy to miss something you're not looking for"

My Digital Life as a "Musician" in Local Band Scene

It is my belief that I can't live without Facebook, like most internet users do, whereas there is something different from others in my situation.

Since I am on vocal of a local indie band, it is needed for me, like other indie musicians, to do some marketing thing on Facebook. Why Facebook? I must say, there is no other more effective platform for them to promote. You may suggest newspaper, magazine, CD shop, or even television? Their music may not be your cup of tea, which makes those channels ineffective, and those promotion methods are not economical. Ten-something years ago, indie musicians had their inter-personal network, which allow them to promote their debut album or gig via word of mouth, which is time-consuming and ineffective. Following the emergence of Internet, Facebook dominates the methods they use in spreading messages, perfecting the indie band scene. Some may ask why not forum or weblog. The key point is that Facebook connecting your friends, no matter he is interested in local band or not, differentiates itself from weblog and forum. It can promote to the further level, letting those who merely listen to Canto-Pop music have a chance to explore more.

A poster of music gig posted on Facebook from CityU Band Society.

Back on topic, as I mentioned above, I stay tuned with Facebook on the ground that information regarding local indie bands only exists on Facebook, no matter I post or receive. Apart from indie band scene, I think Facebook accommodates most subcultures with platforms to promote, discuss, and share of course.

YouTube, undoubtedly, acts as FREE "MTV channel"

If you are interested in knowing more about local indie bands, please visit here. Give yourself a chance to experience LIVE MUSIC.