I am addicted to Addict-o-matic!

The online module and the visit of Kathryn Corrick has opened my eyes to the possibilities on the internet. Before the module I regularly used the internet but I now see my usage was restricted to only a few of my favourite websites, for example Sky Sports and Digital Spy. 

Throughout the module I have learnt about applications like Twitter and Flickr, though I have not signed up to either site yet it is definitely something that I would consider to contribute to in the future. 

I have also signed up to Google Reader, where I have added RSS feeds for entertainment, gadget and sport news. Though I like the idea of google reader I have failed to use it a lot since I signed up. I regularly check news online but I tend to visit the sites directly rather than using Google Reader.       

Kathryn Corrick, the digital media and communications consultant, who visited our online journalism class introduced us to many new web applications including AirMe, Qik and Fix My Street.  One site that particularly appealed to me was Addict-o-matic. When I surf the internet I tend to search YouTube, Google News etc.. for news and videos on a specific person or subject so I found Addict-o-matic extremely useful because it collated all the search results onto one easy to read page. 

I will no longer have to spend hours (and my precious internet usage levels) searching for videos of X Factor or EastEnders on YouTube or scrolling through the endless amounts of search results that Google News produces. Addict-o-matic will make my digital based life a lot easier.

Though I will not use all of the applications that I have learnt about, certain internet sites like Addict-o-matic will definitely be useful in the future, they will make my time spent web browsing easier and more efficient.   

(Image from Los Angeles Times)

The X Factor Final

I have decided to write a follow up article about the X Factor since the show finished last weekend. When I first commented on the X Factor back in November I ranted about the exit of the very talented Laura White in week five. 

After Laura's exit, public common sense did seem to kick in and the less talented Daniel and Rachel then left the competition. But in week 8 I was very disappointed when my personal favourite Ruth Lorenzo left the competition. The public seemed to fall back into old habits by voting through Eoghan, who has more the cute factor rather than the X Factor.    

After Ruth's exit I still watched the competition but I was fast losing hope that the most talented contestant would win. After the unique, but in my opinion annoying Diana Vickers lost out in the semi-final, the final line-up of Alexandra, JLS and Eoghan was revealed. 

As a self-confessed addict of the competition I was dreading the thought that Eoghan would win, purely because I felt that my votes for talent would be wasted and the X Factor format would die further with a victory based on popularity rather than talent. 

But I was pleasantly surprised when the most talented finalist left Alexandra won the competition, beating boy-band JLS in the final two. It may have taken 10 weeks, but talent did eventually prevail. Though in my opinion it was weeks too late. All I kept thinking was what an amazing final it would have been it the competition was purely based on talent; a Ruth, Laura and Alex final would have been amazing.   

Above, Alex's reaction after learning she won the X factor!

(Image from gigwise.com)

Online module analysis

After completing the online journalism module I have decided to reflect on what I have learnt over the past weeks.

Before I started online journalism I regularly used the internet, though I have to admit I just visited the same websites everyday. I had heard of blogs but I never ventured out into the blogging universe, the closest I had got to blogging was writing a hello post on my Myspace and Facebook pages. 

I instantly enjoyed writing blogs because it allowed me freedom to write about what I wanted in a more conversational and open style (compared to the stricter style required in news stories). I found the blogging process easy to understand after my first few posts (for example linking and posting images and videos).

After setting up my blog I then started to post blog articles for both class exercise and assignments. I enjoyed writing the news blog because I felt comfortable with the style of news writing, though I felt the article could have been improved by adding more personal opinion. I then went on to contribute to our group blog, and now for something completely different and write my feature, My 5 days of Christmas feature. (I have analysed both in separate articles so I wont repeat myself!).      

I also found the guest visits of both Neil McIntosh and Kathryn Corrick interesting and helpful. Neil McIntosh's talk on online journalism and its future was particularly enjoyable, and it was interesting to listen to the ideas of a professional who worked within the online journalism industry.  

Overall I enjoyed the online journalism module, though the six weeks seemed to have gone very quickly! The module has helped expand on my knowledge of blogging and the online services and applications the internet provides. I feel that I have expanded my writing skills by working online and I hope to carry on blogging through my personal blog; Big Blog, Little Blog (though I plan to change the blog name after I can think of something better!).  

Why I love my new Ipod Touch!

(Image from megaleecher.net)

My early Christmas present this year was a brand new iPod Touch. As a gadget-mad girl I have been drooling over the iPhone ever since its release in the UK but unfortunately for me the price tag on the pay as you go deal and the pay monthly tariffs have always put me off.

Even though I had my heart set on the iPhone I have convinced myself that the iPod Touch is just as good, just the iPhone without the phone part. And since i bought it over a week ago I have not been disappointed.

The iPod's sleek design and touch screen technology make the gadget both attractive to look at and easy to use. I have always been a fan of touch screen technology and though some people may find it hard to use I personally love to use the touch screen interface (though the dirty finger marks all over the screen are hard to avoid).

The features of the iPod have also impressed me. Applications like maps and weather are always useful and the photo, music and video storage is an improvement that I have enjoyed using after losing patience with my old iPod mini.

Though my old iPod mini was slowly failing me, its failure was not the only reason I decided to ask for a new iPod for Christmas. I must admit that as an internet geek, as someone who regularly sits infront of the computer screen for hours, I dreamed off being able to check the internet, YouTube and my emails on the go.

Though I have had problems with accessing a wi-fi service since I have purchased my iPod I am greatly looking forward to spending hours watching Youtube videos on my new, shiny iPod Touch. It may not have been the gadget of my choice for Christmas but the iPod Touch is definatly a great Christmas present.

My 5 days of Christmas Feature: Final thoughts

After finishing my last blog post I wanted to take some time to reflect on my blog feature. My initial idea was a Christmas themed blog, called My 5 days of Christmas feature. I chose this theme because I personally love Christmas and I felt it allowed a lot of different styles of content and articles.

I wrote five blogs; one news piece, one personal opinion article, a travel type piece and two christmas based recommendation articles. I was pleased with all the articles that I posted for my blog, although I struggled to find ideas for my final blog entry so I came up with the personal opinion article on why I love Christmas. 

My favourite post was the expensive Christmas presents post. I enjoyed writing this post because it was fun to research and it was a more light hearted fun post, compared to the news post before it. I was pleased with the style of writing that I followed throughout my feature because I tried to maintain a conversational style that both informed and drew on my personal opinion and experiences.  

My target audience would be quite broad, from housewives looking for Christmas ideas to bored office workers. I tried to target a broad audience in my feature by keeping the articles varied and not targeting a specific audience.

In terms of competition I found that there are quite a few christmas blogs, but a lot of the blogs that I found were personal experience blogs about Christmas, for example Santa Claus Blog.  I feel that my blog overs a wide coverage of many different topics of Christmas, though on reflection the general theme of Christmas may have been a too wide topic to cover. 

My 5 days of Christmas Feature: Why I am like a kid at Christmas!

Some may say that the novelty of Christmas wears off for those over 10 years old, but I have to disagree. I am 19 years old and I still act like a five year old kid at Christmas!

The magic of Christmas for me is not just the presents (though they are a nice surprise after the Christmas dinner in the afternoon) but the food and the family aswell.

For the past 19 years my Christmas have all started the same, though I get up at 8am now rather than 5am when I was younger. Even though I tell my mum every year that she does not need to do me and my brother a stocking she still does (though I think deep down she enjoys buying the presents just as much as we enjoy opening them).

After having a champagne and smoked salmon breakfast (it is not as posh as it sounds, just another family tradition) we open the presents and then go see family for the rest of the day. I enjoy every part of Christmas, though the party games do start to wear thin after 19 years (there are only so many times you can play town, road, river without getting bored!).

As you may have already guessed from this post and the posts before it I love Christmas. Though we follow the same family traditions every year and the day seems to go so quickly I look forward to Christmas day throughout the year. I will always act like a little kid at Christmas, well it is the only time I am allowed to!

(Image from Vermont Christmas Trees)

My 5 days of Christmas Feature: Christmas Day TV

When the family have finished munching on turkey and Christmas pudding, the presents have been opened and all thats left to do is help with the washing up then it must be time to sit down in-front of the television, but what is on to entertain us on Christmas Day?

At 6pm Doctor Who fans get their Christmas dose of David Tennant as the BBC screen the Doctor Who Christmas special, The Next Doctor. In the special the Doctor travels back to Christmas Eve 1851 where comes face to face with familiar foe the Cybermen and another doctor!

This is followed by Strictly Come Dancing's Christmas special at 7pm (BBC1). Though the outcome of this year's contest is still undecided (as I write this) the Christmas special sees the return of former winners and contestants including Alesha Dixon, Jill Halfpenny and Kelly Brook.

My final choice is EastEnders (BBC1 8pm & 9pm). As per normal we get a double dose of Christmas joy on Albert Square and 2008 sees the truth spill out over the spuds as Sean finds out about Amy's paternity and Nick returns to visit his mother Dot.

 

But if none of the above take your fancy then the return of Top of the Pops at 2pm and a Christmas Day movie selection including Harry Potter and Shark Tale are sure to keep you entertained.

(Image from The Sun)