Category: Week Five

Throughout Digital Media Literacy I (MCO425), the vast amount of knowledge I have learned on ranging topics have really interest me. My favorite topic to learn about so far has been deep fakes. Despite being an avid user of social media and always browsing the internet, I never knew that deep fakes even existed. Maybe I’m just more oblivious than most, but the whole idea of deep fakes seems like something out of a James Bond movie, so I was quite surprised when I watched a video regarding it! 

Deepfakes and Deep Media: A New Security Battleground : Kyle Wiggers, a writer with a background in artificial intelligence, offers a unique insight on deep fake videos and text patterns and how to look into them for the less obvious signs that they are fake. He discusses the ongoing battle that other technological companies face to create a software that can immediately identify the culprit fakes and further remove them from the internet. The struggle currently lies with the creators of these deep fakes, “There is minimum risk to the actor of getting caught. Because of the low risk, there is little deterrence to creating deep fakes.”, unfortunately resulting in the continuous creation of them. (Source provided by venturebeat.com)

The Societal Impacts of Deep Fakes : David Vandergrift, an artificial intelligence journalist and author, discusses the ‘hard to fathom’ results of deep fakes. The potential for AI to generate media from scratch seems to only recently become a concern despite its long road here. The lack of knowledge the public has regarding deep fakes is concerning, most technology cannot 100% accurately discover a deep fake as of now. The fear of using deep fakes for political attacks for the upcoming 2020 election is ever present as well. There is no safety for anyone who does not have the proper education regarding deep fakes. (Source provided by americaninno.com)

The Challenge of Deep Fakes : An Intel Brief discusses the proliferation of social media and accessible software technologies available to anyone seeking to manipulate images and videos. With unlimited access and real world consequences threatening essentially everyone, the pressure to handle and eliminate the situation top priority for some technological companies. States such as California and Texas (Maine to follow) have already enacted bills making the creation of, “deceptive videos intended to influence voting in U.S elections” illegal and punishable by law. (Source provided by thecipherbrief.com)

The Real Downside of Deep Fakes : Nigel Phair, influential analyst of technology, crime and society, discusses the struggle of needing to question everything with more and more deep fakes popping up online. Considering social media users share millions of images and videos everyday deep fakes are becoming more apparent and harmful to users. Deep fakes are, “the product of artificial intelligence or machine learning.” and in order to protect consumers, education on the topic is key. (Source provided by ia.acs.org.au)

I just watched the most interesting deep fake today, coincidentally. If you haven’t seen it you should totally check it out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OJnkJqkyio (It’s Back To The Future)

When it comes to the environmental debate regarding whether it truly is a crisis or not, the media is littered with various sources. Everything from blogs posts, to articles, to videos, and even trending on social media. When it comes to discussing the crisis on hand it is important to have credible reliable sources. Some articles and videos I have found very interesting and helpful regarding the crisis and its debate are listed below:

Ignore the Fake Climate Debate : This article discusses both the ‘alarmist’ and ‘deniers’ of the climate crisis, including Greta Thunberg and Donald Trump. Along with talks of emissions, economic growth, and advancing technology, this source is full of credible information. (Liked provided by wsj.com)

Nike’s New CEO and Social Issues : Speaking on issues regarding climate change and innovation along with the company’s environmental impact offers a unique perspective on the crisis and large companies impact. (Link provided by businessinsider.com)

A Decade of Cleaner Air Ended in Controversy :  This articles discusses the air quality throughout the decade along with new challenges and questions about where priorities should lie following the upcoming decades. (Link provided by publicsource.com)

Why is Climate Crisis so Controversial to some People? : Disbelief, doubt, and questioning surrounds the climate crisis and this article discusses why it is often hard for those to believe in it. It also showcases unique scientific evidence. (Link provided by globalnews.ca)

Most Americans Don’t Consider the Environmental Impacts of Food Choices : A study conducted by Yale University discusses the link between food choices such as meat compared to plant products and the overall impact on the environment. The survey conducted found that many consumers lacked information regarding the environment crisis and often disregarded plant based choices. (Linked provided by ecowatch.com)

Regarding my social media use, I can’t say my sources have changed to much. While this class as definitely taught me both unique and informative information, by habits have stayed pretty regular. But I can say, I look into many more articles authors for credibility and expertise. Too often I read information without any regard for correct information. Checking the credibility of the author and website give me a great piece of mind.

My main sources for news still remain ABC15, AZFamily, and MSN. While these news websites may contain both bias and incorrect information, it is second nature for me to look on these websites for articles. Old habits die hard, I guess. Other sources of information I go to are Twitter and following my favorite reliable journalist. This is a new tactic of getting information for me, I previously didn’t often use Twitter; but it has turned into a great resource to obtain specific journalists work. Overall, I believe my media consumption has increased since I wrote my first post, but I think it’s a good thing because I’m reading better credible sources and looking into topics I like.

After five weeks of digital media literacy class I have learned a few things:

1. My digital media consumption is fairly average given my age.
2. I’m not nearly as smart as I think, at recognizing sponsored content.
3. I should be a better contributor.

With this in mind as I set off to accomplish this week’s task of curating sources on my chosen topic of Harry and Meghan.  I kept the top two things i have learned in mind. This allowed me to make the third point concerning contributing,  as well rounded as possible.

Here are five places I found current solid information on Harry and Meghan.

1. Their website, SussexRoyal, is filled with current solid content. The site had quite a few question and answer sections concerning Harry and Meghan’s exit that spoke to first hand facts. The transparency surrounding important issues such as finances and royal responsibilities was refreshing.

2. Their Instagram is also filled with not only photos but also a newly released video about Meghan’s stint as a guest editor for British Vogue. According to their personal website they hope to share more on social media without the constraints of the royal family media requirements.

3. Harry and Meghan make great fodder for the morning talk shows. The Today Show is doing a good job of covering whenever something large or small happens and include video clips from the show that focus on the couple. Just this week they covered two major stories concerning a trip to Stanford and how they fired their staff of 15 people in the U.K.

4. The Guardian offers a nice British spin on the issue. You can find a good mix of opinion and fact pieces. They are clearly labeled as such and allow the reader quite a bit of thought provoking content. Today, an opinion piece concerning women bashing Meghan was well written and full of content I had not seen in other places.

5. I would be remiss if I did not include the BBC as a good source for finding factual unbiased Harry and Meghan information. They do not have a large amount of content because they do not cover small stories about the couple. They do have a nice folder if you want to reminisce about their wedding.

While I have learned some things, I would have to admit my media consumption is fairly unchanged since the start of the class. I find myself still starting my day with social media such as Facebook and Twitter. I then jump to my New York Times daily update email to get my news. I still watch the news at 5 P.M. to get a quick local recap and I close my nights with scrolling through social media before bed.

The one change that has occurred since staring this class is my consumption of British news outlets like BBC, The Guardian and the Daily Mail.  In finding the information for today’s content, I went to all of these and ultimately chose two as good sources.  Since it was a work day for me, this was a solid chunk of my media consumption. I did take the opportunity to peek at a BBC article about the environmental impact of a vegan diet.  I found some scary new facts about oyster mushrooms that may keep me away from all fungi in the near future.  While mushrooms are out, the BBC may be in for a new media source.

With the vast amount of information on television programs and the rich history of the medium itself, it is important to find quality resources that examine the history of vintage TV, not just as a product, but as a relic of the 20th century media landscape. Television history parallels every page of a history book, and there is always something new to learn. Here are, in my opinion and in no particular order, the most comprehensive resources on the cultural and societal influence of vintage TV programming. These resources also cover the largest range of vintage television topics, and give the greatest insight from a variety of reliable sources.

1. It’s About TV
A blog written by historian and writer Mitchell Hadley, this well-crafted, daily-updated site chronicles vintage television through textual analysis, essays and interviews, as well as scans from old issues of TV Guide. The site’s special focus on how vintage television programs mirrored our lives, was also the subject of Hadley’s outstanding book, The Electronic Mirror: What Classic TV Tells Us About Who We Were and Who We Are (and Everything In-Between!).

“Does television drive culture, or reflect it? Did the cathode ray tube of the old RCA console act as a looking glass into the future or a mirror reflecting the present? The answer, as is almost always the case in questions like this, is ‘Yes.’” – Mitchell Hadley

2. The Paley Center for Media
A television and radio archive, museum and organization dedicated to providing the public with knowledge of media’s past, and it’s ever-growing influence. The museum’s two locations provide many public resources, including exhibits, events, discussions, screenings, and a library where one can view the thousands of television programs in their archive.

“The Paley Center for Media, with locations in New York and Los Angeles, leads the discussion about the cultural, creative, and social significance of television, radio, and emerging platforms for the professional community and media-interested public.” – The Paley Center for Media, Mission

3. Television Obscurities
Fellow Millennial Robert Jay’s extensive history of television’s most forgotten programs, and the forgotten influence that many obscure and well-known programs have had on our world. The site contains vital information about lost programs and detailed Nielson ratings that cannot be found anywhere else.

“It is my personal belief that our television history is a history of us. Over the decades, television shaped our society while also being influenced by changes within society.” – Robert Jay

4. Encyclopedia of Television
Written and compiled by Chicago’s Museum of Broadcast Communications, this giant four-volume book set, which can be found in the reference sections of many universities and public libraries, is the quintessential resource for all things vintage TV and beyond (though the most recent edition was published in 2005, it’s vintage TV sections stay relevant).

“It is simply indispensable for anyone seeking information or perspective about a medium that has shaped our nation like no other. It is the Britannica for television.” – Jim Longworth, tvparty.com

5. Pioneers of Television
An excellent 16-part television documentary series produced by PBS, “narrated” by over 200 of television’s most influential and popular stars, as they discuss the contributions their programs have made to entertainment and to society. Recollections and firsthand accounts of television’s successes and failures give this series a unique, informative edge.

“Few television programs really challenge the genre into which they are delivered, developing cult followings or fundamentally morphing the expectations of viewers. But the pioneering programs profiled here did more than light up the small screens with hours of entertainment: They confronted our stereotypes, questioned our core values and made whole generations of viewers re-examine the limits of our humanity.”

After spending the past few days reading articles, blogs, scrolling through social media, watching videos I have created a list of some of the most eye-catching, noteworthy media about the NFL.

What now for Antonio Brown? Answering the biggest questions around his release

This was a great article about what lead up to Antonio Brown’s release from the New England Patriots.  It gives a lot of information of what happened, what could happen next for his future and why it happened.  This article was written by Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler for ESPN.

Graziano: How NFL players are taking control, and what the league could do next

This article put a great perspective on how NFL players are starting to gain more power in the league when it comes to their contracts.  “It’s a growing trend of NFL players taking more control of their own contract situations than they traditionally have thought they could. And if you think the league isn’t alarmed about it, you’re wrong.” This article was written by Dan Graziano. I came across this article on Twitter.

After a rash of NFL quarterbacks go down with injuries, many are wondering whether Colin Kaepernick will get the call. pic.twitter.com/6S4FfeNOzb

— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) September 21, 2019

This tweet is important because it deals with a controversy that has been going on for a while in the NFL if Colin Kaepernick will be picked up by a team.  With all the QB injuries, many wonder if he will get a call from an NFL team.  This is a tweet by The Daily Show.

"Tom Brady has lapped Wayne Gretzky and Michael Jordan."@ColinCowherd on why Brady is the greatest team athlete of all-time pic.twitter.com/MSeIVUGEI7

— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) September 18, 2019

This tweet is Colin Cowherd talking about how he believes Tom Brady is the greatest team athlete of all-time.  It is noteworthy because this has been a debate going on for a while and he does a great job of using facts to back up his argument.  This video was from his show but then tweeted by The Herd.

Andrew Luck Sets Tone for Players Affected by Mental Health

This is a podcast by Conor Orr and Jenny Vrentas that deals with how mental health does affect NFL players.  Andrew Luck retired very early in his career because of it.  “Not only do we have Andrew Luck talking about the cycle of pain and rehabilitation that he went through, and that’s something that informed his decision to retire at the age of 29.” This is very prevalent so it gives a good insight into this topic.  I found this podcast on SI.com