Virgin Media to back Big Brother

Mark Sweney
Wednesday March 21, 2007
MediaGuardian.co.uk

Virgin Media has been confirmed as the sponsor of Big Brother 8 with the company's mobile arm to be the main service promoted.

Virgin Media has signed on for the main summer series - as revealed by MediaGuardian.co.uk - but not next year's Celebrity Big Brother version.

Channel 4 has not yet announced if there will be a Celebrity Big Brother in 2008. However, it is understood that Virgin Media will be given first refusal on extending the sponsorship if the trouble-laden show runs without a hitch this summer.

"Of course we had worries [about this year's Celebrity Big Brother], we would have been foolhardy if we didn't," said James Kydd, the managing director of marketing at Virgin Media.

"We spent a lot of time talking to Channel 4 about how they were sorting out their internal processes to make sure there wouldn't be any sort of escalation again. But Big Brother is always controversial, it is the nature of the beast. We just wanted to be reassured that there wouldn't be a situation that got out of control again."

Carphone Warehouse pulled out of its £2.5m a year sponsorship of Big Brother following the Shilpa Shetty racism row in January.

The Big Brother sponsorship package includes branding and advertising opportunities across TV, video-on-demand, online, radio and mobile.

"The sponsorship will be split between our mobile and media services," added Mr Kydd. "What Big Brother does is give a fantastic opportunity to bring to life quadplay in action and the core 16-34 demographic BB reaches is a bullseye for mobile. Virgin Mobile will be the lead sponsor
but we will absolutely push Virgin Media messaging."

http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,,2039130,00.html

My Opinion:
As you can see, the media conglomerate, Virgin, owned by Ricahrd Branson, is now challenging Murdoch's BSkyB and FOX Telvision networks. By placing a bid into the near enough dead, Big Borther, trying to revive it and find some profit margin within it. I think it should have ended there and then; there was too much conflict as a result and that in order to prevent anything else like that to follow, refrain from producing the show. I do think though that its good to see some potential competition now for Murdoch, and it will be interesting how he challenges Branson. The other day I saw a billboard for the t.v. series Lost, with a caption saying, "Virgin Media has dropped it but you can still catch the hit series Lost on Sky One", so it can be said that the competition has already begun.

Most TV sets can't get digital

Press Association

Wednesday March 14, 2007

MediaGuardian.co.uk

More than half the television sets in the UK are not compatible with the digital signal, the latest data shows.

By the end of last year, 48.5% of the UK's 60 million televisions could receive digital - up from 39% in 2005, according to the regulator Ofcom.

The upturn comes ahead of the national switchover from the analogue signal to digital, which will be phased in between 2008 and 2012.

One million UK homes got digital TV for the first time during the last quarter of 2006, Ofcom data shows.

More than three quarters (77.2%) of the UK's 25.3 million TV-owning households have at least one digital television set - up from 69.5% at the end of 2005.

Many of those households have more than one set, which accounts for the higher percentage of analogue-only televisions.

Ofcom's Communications Market report says 2.4 million Freeview devices were sold in the last three months of 2006 - more than in any previous quarter.

That figure includes nearly a million sets with integrated digital tuners plus 1.4 million Freeview set-top boxes.

BSkyB gained around 160,000 new subscribers during the last three months of 2006, taking its customer total to nearly eight million homes, Ofcom's report says.

Cable companies expanded to around 38,500 new households in the last three months of 2006.

My Opinion:

I own a freeview box and no matter where it place in the house, the signal strength recieved is still low. It's annoying the fact that analogue signal amplifyer still had no impact and truthfully found out that it is a waste of money. I only purchased it as it is a one set fee and you gain numerous channels, some good such as Sky One, E4 and Film Four, channels that i regularly watch. It's now just siting there collecting dust. The whole idea of the switch over as well, I totally disagree with as it is not fair on people, especially if all areas are unable to recieve the signal. It renders the other secondary and tertiary t.v. sets as un-usable as a freeview box would have to be purchased, but what is the point if you can't recieve a signal on them. Unless signals are boosted that is the only way that the idea will catch on, as pictutre quality is improved vastly. However as analogue aerial is still required to go into the back of the box, signal strength will be effected by weather, and can cause disruption to viewing, where probably further complaints will be made.

News Values

1. How Would You Priortise these News Vaules

The Times- Saturday 10th February 2007

Frequency- 'a sculpted trapeze dress by designer Paul Costelloe, who opens the London Fashion Week tommorrow'

Threshold- 'A million motorists embarrass road price ministers'

Unambiguity- 'Return of the tycoon'

Meaningfulness- 'England's one-day wonders'

Reference to elite nations- 'British soldier'

Negativity- 'Twice as many poles living in Britain than officials think'

2. What is gatekeeping?

Gatekeeping is the selection and ordering of news broadcasts on TV or the selection and planning of a newspaper layout. Gatekeeping is controlled by the editors who are responsible for their chosen medium.

3. What do we mean by bias?

Bias is a term referred to when taking a particular one-sided viewpoint on a issue or subject despite arguements against. For example, in a football/or sport world cup English citizens/background will support England because they're bias and have an affiliaition to England and don't consider arguement subjectively about the realistic chances of England winning. In the media, a story is mediated from a writers beliefs and the reader/audience is forced to identify with that viewpoint. For example, an political writer will be influenced by their political ideologies no matter how subjective they're meant to be

Dictionary definition: 'A bias is a prejudice in a general or specific sense, usually in the sense for having a preference to one particular point of view or ideological perspective. However, one is generally only said to be biased if one's powers of judgment are influenced by the biases one holds, to the extent that one's views could not be taken as being neutral or objective, but instead as subjective. A bias could, for example, lead one to accept or deny the truth of a claim, not on the basis of the strength of the arguments in support of the claim themselves, but because of the extent of the claim's correspondence with one's own preconceived ideas'

Cult Of The Celebrity

1. How Much celebrity-driven media do you consume? Do you consume these texts in spite of the celebrity focus or because of it?

I don't tend buy magazines and newspapers solely for gossip on celebrities. If there's a big story going around then I will be interested and may purchase a text to find out more information. I do find though that when I'm waiting around and there's a magazine or tabloid lying around, I will generally read the celebrity stories rather than any others, to fill time. If there's an article based on a particular celebrity that I have an interest a may purchase the magazine or paper that is covering their story, otherwise I tend to gain news from other mediums, mainly the internet and television.

1. Looking at an edition of a national tabloid, in what ways are celebrity related stories represented in this edition? Account for these representations.
   

I looked at 'The Sun' from Wednesday 28th Feb 07. The main celebrity-related story is on Victoria Beckham- 'My glam life in LA by Posh'

The article discusses Victoria Beckham's new-impending life in LA following David Beckham's move to US Major League Soccer. In the article Victoria's glamour is highlighed and her star status with her attending Elton John's post-oscars party. It is also describes how she has been searching for a £10-million home but yet to find the dream one. The article has no real message or portrayal of Victoria but puts her in a position that the reader would aspire to be in. However, she and her husband are attacked for being brandished the 'world least green celebs' linking to their lack on environmental care by owning 13 cars.

Using the comparison of these two texts as your starting point ‘explore the media issue and debates which they raise’. (1 hour)

Gil Scott-Heron’s ‘The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’ and ‘Your Revolution’ by DJ Vadim featuring Sarah Jones, raise main issues that are debated about within the media. Both artists have a strong view point in their beliefs and project their values and ideologies to the audience. In a sense, the initial response after listening to or reading the lyrics is shock, due to directness of them. The use of colloquial language gets the point straight across, with the use of derogatory terms, contributing to this ‘shock-value’. Many issues arise from the artists’ statements and will be explored in detail in this essay.

Following the release of ‘The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’ (1971), by 1972, the media was predominantly owned by the white and wealthy in society, therefore enforcing upon a western and white cultural ideology through media texts. This conforms to the idea of the Effects Theory, which states that the audience take a passive approach into reading a media text, therefore the values and ideologies of the ruling class, the hegemony, are indoctrinated in the audiences’ mind, manipulating them into thinking from one specific view point. It is these values and ideologies that are injected into the passive audience, whereby the hypodermic needle model is applicable and evident. What Gil Scott-Heron intends to achieve from this song is to argue and challenge these theories, that wrong stereotypes are being presented to audiences. “You will not be able to plug in, turn on and cop out”, suggests that you need to stand up and be counted for, and that “The revolution will not be brought to you by Xerox”, means you need to make a difference, conjugate and form your own opinions. The “Revolution” in the title is reference to liberisation amongst blacks, and “Televised”, reference to revolution for black equality to whites.

As the media is predominantly white, “The revolution will not get rid of the nubs”, is a parody of advertising keeping you in control. This idea complies with that of Marxism, where we live in a capitalist society. Capitalism is based on the profit motive, and that under capitalism, profits are generated by exploiting workers, in this case, black people. When applying Marx’s theory to the song it is evident to see the two social classes; the working class i.e. the black society, and the bourgeoisie i.e. the white dominated media. It is the hegemony of these white people that exclude the representation of the black minority and the anxieties that advertising promote to them, “The revolution will not be right back after a message about a white tornado, white lightening, or white people”. Through the process of colonialism we see how the representation of black people have developed, where at first they were victimised, then became successful in the entertainment industry, and finally are now see as a savage and negative force, “There will be no pictures of you and Willie May pushing that shopping cart down the block on the dead run / Or trying to slide that color tv into a stolen ambulance”. This is evident in other texts such as Michael Moore’s ‘Bowling For Columbine’ (2002), where his mockery through the animation section of the ‘fear of the black man’ and also through the insert of the television series ‘Cops’ where every suspect seemed to be a tall, black, middle aged man.

By the end of the song, a more up lifting and positive tone is induced. “The revolution will put you in the driver’s seat”; that only you can make a difference. “The revolution will be live”, suggests that it is time to start something new, and to challenge the hegemony of white society.

‘Your Revolution’, by DJ Vadim featuring Sarah Jones is far more explicit than Gil Scott-Heron’s ‘The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’ in terms of the language that is used. On the other hand, its main similarity is that the artist again is arguing a strong view point. Whilst Gil Scott-Heron was debating on the issue of equality between black and white people in society, Sarah Jones topical issue is that of the equality between males and females. As this is a post-modern text released in 1998, she makes reference to Scott-Heron’s track through the usage of “Revolution”.

Her song is a critique on black media, a feminist attack on macho values typical of rap music. She argues that the black society within the rap and hip-hop culture are not representing themselves in a positive way, and therefore bring it upon themselves when stereotypes are asserted and believed by the public. It is this culture which functions as a degenerative disease, lowering the status of black youths, and makes them a target for politicians and law enforcement authorities. The dress code that comes with the culture has now become iconographic to the status of that person, and also led to the restriction of visiting certain public places, i.e. banning if ‘hoodies’ in shopping centres.

She challenges the misogynistic and patriarchal values of males associated with that particular culture. “The real revolution ain’t about bootie size”; that sex and using your sexuality is irrelevant to becoming successful and wealthy. Jones’s viewpoint here can be considered to agree with that of a pluralist. In Pluralism, society is viewed as a system of competing interests, where none of them are predominant. In this case, women have the ability and same capability of men and therefore can compete with them in the work place in order to be a success instead of resorting to objectifying themselves.

The text can be considered as a pastiche, where it combines other texts. For example, the intertextual reference to rap star L.L. Cool J, and parodies elements of his song, “Doing it and doing it and doing it well”. The ideology of sex and selling yourself is the way to be successful is due to the hegemony of the ruling within this culture, and now has become part of the norm, whereby these stereotypes are accepted. Jones offers an alternative voice that challenges the black male in this culture, and is trying to educate the females within it. The constant repetition of “Your revolution will not happen between these thighs”, is constantly addressing these women; that they will not be liberal by sleeping around but by working hard.

In conclusion, both texts have to ability to raise many issues occurring in society today. They are direct in projecting their views whereby many of the media theories are applicable to these texts. Social and political contexts are addressed and aid the hegemonic constraints; however it is debatable whether these will breakdown. Will there be equality between black and white? Will there be equality between males and females?


Gurveer Ubhi

ITV fed up with 'negative' talk, says Elliott

Tara Conlan

Thursday February 15, 2007

MediaGuardian.co.uk

The ITV director of drama, Nick Elliott, says the broadcaster is "fed up with being talked about negatively" and pulling out all the stops to restore its position as "the nation's most popular channel".

Unveiling ITV's new Jane Austen season, Elliott said that "about a year ago ITV could never be mentioned without putting the words 'beleaguered' or 'ailing' after it", but now things were changing.

"We're fed up with being talked about negatively. We're very determined to have only positive, good interesting things said about ITV. We've been working hard towards that goal of restoring ITV to the nation's most popular channel. I don't think it's a boast we can't justify," said Mr Elliott.

He said the ITV drama department had "cleared out a lot of old series", making way for new programmes such as Inspector Morse spin-off Lewis and the forthcoming John Prescott-based drama Confessions of a Diary Secretary.

The Jane Austen season - which features new productions of Mansfield Park, Persuasion and Northanger Abbey and a repeat of Emma, starring Kate Beckinsale - was one of the first things Simon Shaps approved after he became director of television at ITV.
Elliott said he wanted to do an Austen season because each generation needs its own version of the classics.

"About every 10 years all the great stories need retelling. These films will be very much 2007 films. With Laura [Mackie] and Sally [Haynes] we've asked and pushed the production team to make them young."

Mr Elliott said ITV dramas were having a good run, pointing out Wild At Heart was drawing big audiences and Coronation Street is up six points.

He also highlighted that Trial and Retribution has just finished its run and BBC1's Life on Mars had only just managed to draw with its rival in terms of audience share.
The Jane Austen season features stars such as Billie Piper, Anthony Head and Jemma Redgrave alongside the cream of young British acting talent.

Spooks star Rupert Penry-Jones' position as a successor to Colin Firth seems assured thanks to his brooding performance and a lingering kiss with co-star Felicity Hawkins in Persuasion.
The Jane Austen season will air on ITV1 mid-March or April, along with a behind-the-scenes show on ITV3.

ITV has other classic adaptions in the wings, including A Room with a View and Sense and Sensibility - both of which are being adapted by Andrew Davies.

Comments:

ITV has lost alot of its audience but i do find they only air boring programmes. I rarely watch it and only if the footbal or F1 is showing. ITV 2 and 3 however do show more films and sometimes you might find something on there that interests you. I feel that though competition is really high and that ITV will end bankrupt if nothing new and innovative is created.

Self Evaluation

Attainment = 1
Been to all lessons and think that I have provided a high quality of work since the begining of the year.

Effort = 2
Haven't contributed in all lessons but when I want to make a point, I will say it. Handed in homework in time etc.

Punctuality = 2
I do come late to lessons, but I don't take the ****. I normally am five minutes late max and if any later and do have a genuine reason.

Submission and Quality of Homework = 2
The blog work is not up to date because of internet problems so i won't argue no more, but the standard of work is high.

Ability to Work Independantly = 1
The majority of the time I do work on my own because I don't sit with my friends, and at home if I know something has to be done, I'll do it.

Quality of Writing = 1
I feel confident about my writing ability and think that it is at a high standard. I clearly indicate that I am able to write to an accurate degree.

Organisation of Media Folder = 1
If there's one thing I'm proud of it's my folder. I have seperate sections for the different modules, where all the handouts are up to date and annotated on.

Oral Contribution in Class = 3
Like i said before, i don't so much because I let other people get on with it, and then I really can't be bothered, but if i want to stress a point, I will open my mouth and speak.

3 Targets:
- catch up with blog work
- start getting more research on independant study
- contribute to discussions more

MED 1
Analysis of Tabloid Front Cover (The Sun): MIGRAIN Practice

Tabloid newspapers are generally small in size, are aimed at a less intelligensia/ middle classed audience, and tend to follow a political side; are either right or left wing. They are also described as the popular/gutter press as they generally contain celebrity stories and gossip. Also they can be sub-categorised further into "red tops", which contain soft news and often sensationalise the reader.

The Sun in masthead/30p/Tuesday, October 18th, 2005

Main Stories:
1) Trial of Joanne Lees
2) Victoria Beckham modelling
3) £2bn Lotto scandal
4) Jon Gaunts views on drug users

Main focus is Victoria Beckham (main image). £"bn Lotto Scandal with the biggest headline.

Red top masthead stands out, cathes the eye, draws in reader.

Colourful pic of Victoria Beckham again draws attention.

Large bold headlines in sans serriff easy to read and also the use of capital in SCANDAL, emphasises word and interests reader.

Most of space on page taken up by headline or pictures.

Lottery Logo used showing what article is about

Headlines are short, hard, monosyllabic, straight to the point.

Barely half a column devoted to text of article.

Sex drugs and murder are main focal points in Joanne Lees article.
£2bn Scandal main focal point.
Victoria Beckhams frock/ style if dress main focal point.
Focal points reflects intelligence of the readers.

Story 1 reflects Joane Lee's view point
Story 2 refelcts publics' view point on scandal
Story 3 reflects The Sun's view point
Story 4 refelcts Jon Gaunt's opinion on drug users

Quotes from Tory MP Edwards and Jon Gaunt - makes info seem reliable and trustworty

Articles rarely contain interviews, very biased and opinionated articles

Vocab used is symbol, often containing alliteration and puns
Certain words stand out when placed next to each other and give different view points to the article
Sentences are short with standar vocab
Sentence structured to show only one side
Language is very exaggerated and emotive
Langage and style reflect bias of paper

Target audience:
Middle class (the language)
Any race/religion (no mention of racist views)
Male'Female (articles on fashion and current afairs)
Average person that works on a "9-5"
Youngsters (article on drug users)

Audience is expected to believe what is told to them.

The play on the words and images makes the audience see what the story is about but won't make them see another side to the story being told. The image of Victoria Beckham is urely for gossip-females, and her in a revealing piec of clothing attracts males.

The audeice will read the text passively in their free time, on their breaks etc, its just to entertain and inform them on the story.

Rupert Murdoch indoctrinates his ideolgies onto reader - hw oens the paper.
Hegemony

MED 1:
Oil of Olay

The purpose and function of this advert is to persuade its audience to buy the Oil of Olay product. It informs the audience on the availability of the product and also educates them on its scientific background which has been strenuously thought out to ensure that the best possible product is made so that the best possible results are achieved.

This facial product advert is published in Cosmopolitan, a popular magazine aimed at a young to middle aged audience, fitting into the demographic classes of A-C. The magazine also contributes to showing models of different ethnicities. The fact that the Oil of Olay Company is multi-national signifies that it aims its product to people all over the world, ensuring a multi-ethnic band, of females from young to old.

The model featured is portrayed as being in her early forties, therefore this specific product can be seen to be aimed at women aged in their late thirties, early forties, when signs of aging start to occur. She is attractive, therefore satisfying the audiences’ aspirational pleasures, as if they buy this product, they will look as beautiful as her.

The setting is in a hotel room, signalling that this woman is always on the go. This represents her as independent. Again this is re-emphasised in the fact that there are no men. This induces a feminist tone whereby women can get along fine without the use of men, and can be satisfied without sexual intercourse. Again, the audience will aspire to this single, independent lifestyle on the go, and also another niche audience of divorced women is recognised, as they can make themselves look beautiful by using the product.

The actress is clothed in a silk robe, signifying her wealth, and also that she can afford an expensive looking hotel room. Again this represent the demographics of working to middle classed women who desire to be like her, and can achieve it by using the product.

The mood of the actress, shown by her expression signals to the audience that she is in a much happier state of mind living this independent lifestyle, and states she “feels stronger”. Again this shows how the product is needed to obtain this permanent perfect lifestyle.

The medium close up of her face, with the aid of subtle lighting, shows that her skin is in a healthy condition, and therefore is achievable, and makes the product more appealing and believable; that it actually works. The pakshot in the bottom right hand corner again informs the audience on what the product looks like, and that their eye will follow from the face of the model to the product and back again, emphasising that it works.

Propp’s theory can also be applied whereby the actress is the princess or even hero, and that when she goes to bed, she wakes up younger. Again this narrative fulfils the audiences needs as they can achieve younger healthier skin, effortlessly, without needing to resort to expensive cosmetic surgery. The evidence is right in front of their eyes.

Their slogan at the end “Love The Skin Your In”, at the bottom presents the company’s morals and values, that you should be comfortable with who you are. However, this can be considered to be quite ironic, as the audience cannot love the skin they are in as it is perceived by the advert that you must use their product in order to achieve healthier looking skin. The audience in actuality can only “Love The Skin They Are In”, if they have and use the product, resorting to a permanent façade that they will use in society.

Audience Profiling

Demographic Profiling
- The most basic form of identification for target audiences is demographic profiling.
- This way of grouping an audience defines them is terms of age, class, gender,
geographical area, economic status and religion.
- It is a simplistic way of defining audiences.

I would define myself as a seventeen year old, male, middle classed, from West London (Southall), Punjabi in culuture, British Indian in nationality, following the Sikh faith.

Psychographic Profiling
- Audience are categorised and targeted through their needs and desires
- This is far more effective for advertisers, broadcasters and publishers
- Advertisers link the ideologies of the product to those of the consumer, generating
better empathy and bonding with the brand

My psychographic profile would have to be that I am a very open minded individual, oppinionated and believe in equality and that everyone's entitled to their oppinion/freedom of speech. In terms of the Cross-Cultural Consumer Characteristics, I would class myself as an individual. Despite wearing labelled clothing, I don't feel that I need to, to fit in with the norm. I wear what I want to becuase I want to, make my own decisions and follow myself, set my own trend and standards. When I shop I don't neccesarily shop by label but for what looks good, I am not as easily manipulated as the advertising agencies seem to think. It just so happens that labelled clothing is designed better. Some people go after crazes that come out every now and again but I don't tend to follow. In terms of the The Life-Matrix Segments I would say I am Tribe Wired and Fun-Atics. I don't really aspire to anyone portrayed in the media but set my own targets to achieve and aspire to. I can only be myself and like who I am, my life, the people I know etc, and no-one else can be like me apart from me.

Ban on possession of child abuse images planned

Mark Sweney

Wednesday December 13, 2006

MediaGuardian.co.uk

The government plans to ban the possession of computer-generated images of child abuse.

The move is one of a number of initiatives announced today at the first meeting of the task force for child protection on the internet.

The measures are aimed at protecting young children from sex predators who may use social networking websites to find victims.

"There is no higher purpose for government than to protect children," said the home secretary, John Reid, who chaired the meeting.

"To that end I am currently consulting cabinet colleagues about how we might ban the possession of computer-generated images of child abuse, including cartoons."

He added that while such images are often found stored alongside illegal material held by paedophiles, and it is illegal to distribute them, it has been "entirely legal" to possess them.

The task force also announced that early next year it intends to introduce a safety kitemark to show that parental control software, which prevents children from accessing unsuitable internet material, meets industry agreed minimum standards.

Jim Gamble, the chief executive of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, said that while the internet is a "fun" and "educative" place, it is also a "public place where dangers lurk and where child sex offenders will follow young people as they would in the real world".

The task force has also commissioned training packs for prison, probation and social work professionals on the benefits and dangers of the internet and online communications services, such as email and instant messenging, and how sex offenders use them.

The training packs were developed by childrens charities the NSPCC and NCH.

"The growth of the internet means that we all have to be alert to the threats and dangers online and work together so that children are fully able to take advantage of the great benefits it offers in safety," said John Carr, an internet expert at NCH.

My View

I think paedohile should be castrated and locked away for life. I don't know what posses people to become like that but it just isn't right. The fact that the internet is so vast, it's going to be difficult to track every paedophile and porn abuser, however the fact that the government has started to something about it is great. I couldn't believe though that it was legal to posses child pornography, but illegal to distribute it. As I want to study psychology at degree level, one aspect of criminology to analyse the criminal and to determine their motive for crime; whether they simply did it for the sake of it or whether there is some psychological technicalities. It just goes to show you how fascinating the human mind is, that something can trigger the brain to start up murders, paedophilles and so on.

http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=34760076&postID=116606033190853705

Uses & Gratifications

Quick Definitions
- That audiences make choices about how and when they consume media texts.
- Audience is constructed of active individuals, consuming texts for own individual reasons.

Blulmer and Katz:

Diversion
I used to use Dawson's Creek as a programme for escapism as it was just picking up on relevant things at the time. Till this day I still watch friends and think that also allows me to escape from the streesful life I live. I think I use sitcoms and mostly films to help me escape from the harsh world we live in for just a few hours.

Personal Relationships
This should be interesting as I don't know where to begin. But nevermind that. Again similar to the above, alot of the time I find that I subconciously find some link to me and the protagonist suffering on screen. It's a habbit. I think this is because I'm quite a pessimist and only think negative thoughts, so immediately relate, sympathise with whoever's on.

Personal Identity
I don't think I construct my own identity, however wish to have those as cool people on screen. For example, after watching The Godfather, I would wish I would be like Michael Corleone, the don, or Tony Montana from Scarface. Obviously I know I won't act upon these urges, and therefore again can be seen as a form of escapism.

Surveillance
I try and regularly watch the news but never do. In terms of stuff like documentaries then I would have to say I am a big fan. BBC 1's Planet Earth is brilliant, and all the issue related ones on Channel 4 and Five are just as interesting as well as informative. It gives you something to talk about in the morning.


Denis McQuail:

Information
Again similar to surveillance I generally watch documentaries and gather information that way rather then watching the 6 'o' clock news. I rarely do watch the news and only do to find out the weather or if there is something big that's going on. Also I use the Sky Sports News channel to find out updates in the Premiership. The radio also in the background may give me some news updates and I really shouldn't have but stopped buying The Guardian daily, that really kept me to up to date.

Learning
I used to record the GCSE Bitesize programmes if hey were relevant but other than that I don't really gain knowledge from the t.v. The only other source is the internet, where I use google to find out the relevant websites for my research.

Personal Identity
Again like before, i don't apply myself to one specific person in the media. It would be to the characters on screen in films. And I think is done subconciously for the purpose of escaping my dull, boring mundane life.

Integration and Social Interaction
I relate to characters on screen and really put an emphasis on putting myself in their shoes, living their life, being a part of that fictional world portrayed in the film or sitcom or whatever. I don't find it as a major subsititute, where I am aware that I want to watch this film or programme to escape, it just happens when watching it. I do feel that the films seen and programmes watched definately achieves the water-cooler effect, programmes such as Lost and Desperate Housewives and previously Freinds. To some extent Eastenders does but had more effect back in the day. Television also helps to start a conversation in the family household as well.

Entertainment
Films and sitcoms are my form of entertainment. I hardly wtach anything other than Friends, The Simpsons, programmes on Trouble and films. They are the best form of escapism. You identify with characters on screen, you forget about your stressful worries and just enjoy what is infront of you on the screen. I must have seen every episode of freinds at least twice or even three times and don't get sick of it because I lose myself each time I watch an episode. If there is a particular emmotional film, I ain't ashamed to say that i can show my feelings, and if I cry, then I cry. I don't watch tele now to fill time, but becasue I want to watch specific programmes, and work around these times.