With our digital artefacts for BCM114 up and running following our pitch assessment it is time to reflect on how in fact the idea of the digital artefact really came to life through inspiration from other YouTubers of the likes, how the artefact was set up and built, reflecting on the ideas that are discussed in the lectures and materials in context to the artefact.

Inspiration that was built for the digital artefact was mainly from three various Instagram influencers and YouTubers across Australia and America. This was the beginning of the artefact progress. Influencers such as Alex Hayes, Jamie O’Brien (JOB) and Tyler Hanley. These influencers all have one thing in common, this being vloggers of everyday life, commonly surfing.

This was the way in which Ricardo and I wanted to follow for our Digital Artefact too. Attached is a screenshot of Alex Hayes Instagram account. With common interests to me which basically includes spending time outside in our surroundings and enjoy time with friends it was a perfect idea to do.

From inspiration we began making the artefact, creating the YouTube account and Instagram.

Before this we had to brainstorm a name in which was suitable for both Ricardo and I, with a brainstorm we came up withRAQFILM as it is both simplistic in name and easy for a foreigner to pronounce. This was all apart of the ideating of a group project that we both could do and come up with a name that resembles both of us straight from the name of the account.  Then created the Instagram and Youtube channels.

Observing the audience in which these influencers have gathered and create content for was key in striving to help build our own. Through simplistic actions such as seeing most liked and viewed videos to reading audiences feedback in the comment sections, because whether trolls or fans everyone likes to voices their opinion. This audience base is predominately surfing and adventurous viewers who can relate in a way to the content their watching and aspire to assimilate. By posting taster videos and snippets of videos as social utilities it has been made easy to help understand and observe the audience through their engagement and comment feedback.

So with this in mind a clear trajectory is in place for how and where the D.A will go, a insightful YouTube/ Instagram account that conveys outdoor adventures and lifestyles of myself and Ricardo in the local Wollongong area. Creating engaging and visually appealing content we hope to make entertaining for the viewer.

“Where does the television we watch come from” ?                                                                            “What does it tell you about the world in which you live in” ?

Week 2 of the commencement of the BCM 111 course we learn’t about the media in which we are exposed to constantly and where it actually comes from. Making us take a step back to realise, what does it tell us about the world we live in? When watching TV it is not usually a question that comes across my mind. The media around us not only affects us but the way in which the world around us acts so. Does this mean we should restrict the amount of television we are exposing ourselves to ?

Television is everywhere, with an antenna connection or stable internet connection we are able to stream TV anywhere. Ability to catch up and watch popular TV shows and movies that majority of the time for the average Western person is from Australia, America or UK. Exposing us to properties of financially wealthy countries ignoring the reality of life around us. This is due to the fact that financially wealthy countries are able to actually produce channels and media funds unlike third world countries. Therefore being the biggest influencer to cultures around the world.

For me, the media in which I watch on a day to day television basis is shows such as Love Island UK, Suits US and the vast range of Netflix movies on exposure. One thing they all have in common, they’re all heavily American or UK based. Therefore meaning it flaunts to viewers th

e lives of well off individuals with high paying jobs depicting a false reality. As television is becoming so much more used this day and age it is heavily exposed to a younger audience. Ultimately conveying to these children a lives that is not in fact far from reality. Pulling them further away from cartoons and to rather shows like “stranger things” and “home and away”. Is this a good thing though ?

People all across the world are exposed to television platforms and media wherever they are. Causing an addiction like pull towards them. With the ability to put restrictions on TV programs it is essential that we do so for younger generations and how its influencing them. It is also key to not become ignorant in ourselves to the world around us and become caught up in this dystopian lifestyle of financial well-being all across the world with no worries.

For my digital artefact I intend to participate in a grouped project with another peer (Ricardo Rodrigues) to film various day in the life short montages. I will be the one to film and edit these various films and upload to Youtube, where Ricardo will take over the social media branches of Instagram and Facebook. I intend to film the montages through my own personal camera, a Nikon D5200, a GoPro Hero 6 series and edit the films created through either iMovie or Final Cut. This project is relevant to users as it is a space for people to watch and enjoy a snippet of day in the life of various people in the Wollongong area.

What does being global mean ? and how are we to know that we ourselves to know that we are being global ? Does one become global simply by listening to American created movies or by listening to k-pop ? Can we be classified being global in our interactions and engagement with other cultures ?

For me, I listen to music and movies that are majority based in America such as Hip-hop and movies that are heavily created in Hollywood. So for me, a person based in Australia that connects and interacts with media from America does that mean I too am global? Although I may interact with media from another country being America this does not mean I am global, due to that fact that these two countries may be different locations but both share the same culture, traits and trends as Australia.

Me, Carl Querin, a University student from University of Wollongong (UOW) studying and heavily researching the global idea of media and how humans use media in my course Communications and Media. As the world becomes more educated on media we are now exposed to more cultures and trends from across the world. This means it is easier then ever for us to explore and connect and with other cultures but juts because we see and learn about other cultures does that really mean I am global ? But this concept of me being global truely is the idea of interaction and experiencing these other cultures, beliefs, trends and consuming. The culture of Australia is heavily influenced very much so by its multi-cultural surroundings.

With the awareness of other cultures in our ever-so developing world of media it is essential that people begin to learn and interact with other cultures, beliefs and trends. With this in mind I too am going to begin to experience and discover media from other countries around the world. With the knowledge in which I have gathered about the various media cultures around the world and being awaken to the idea that there is more then just Americanised movies and songs. Therefore become more global in myself.

Throughout the entirety of the Visual Communication and Design course for semester 1 I was taught new ways and techniques in creating and manipulating images. Through the guidance of software systems such as Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator, in changing and image from its original format for example changing an images colour through hue and saturation or the use of image tracing for example. These skills that I adapted to enabled me to then take on the next task on the agenda, this being Task 2.

Task 2 as quoted from the subject outline to “Visual Problem Solving (building upon skills from Task 1). Response to a design brief – studio based project. Conceptual (research, ideate, prototype, refine)” and finally come away with the skills to “• Show consistent and critical engagement with the subject matter. • Demonstrate use of media, materials and processes with skill. • Present work that is imaginative and innovative”. This task was both skill testing as well as very hands-on. Task 2 became a reflection on our skills in the various softwares and how we put all this into a practical booklet. A booklet that conveyed a monogram that we thought of, created and designed on illustrator. Two pieces of writing that showed in our setting for sense knowledge taught to us through weeks 9 and 10 through the InDesign software, including one of each typographic category i.e Grid, Text, Alignment and Signals, for example “Composition 1: Use of a two column Grid, Left aligned, 10pt on 13pt, Garamond, using Drop Capital.”  Lastly, the inclusion of a ransom quote thought up of from a designer or typographer.

This task has taught me not only the basics of the differences between Serif and Sans Serif and the various categories that are apart of typography to the fundamentals behind monograms and its design of letters that are made up of things such as initials or a brand-mark. This was not although easy, along the course of this task I found myself face challenges in which I required help and/or another opinion of how I was going about what I was up to in the task. For starters I struggled to really find a way to intertwine my initials (CQ) into a monogram that perceived this design and artistic look of letters put

 built together. With many trialled examples of thoughts and ideas such as shown in figure 1. I initially thought of something such as the C flowing into the Q to create an intertwined and artistic appearance about the image, but this did not convey any negative and positive spacing as required. Then I came up with technological looking design, the C next to the Q. This logo still conveyed a sense of connectivity with the letters and I knew I could then use a negative and positive spacing. Next was whether I wanted a shield like box around the logo. This quickly was a ditched attempt from peer opinion and my unsure attitude towards it. To finally settle of the monogram in which is included in my booklet. My next struggle point was the ability to find letters that went with the colour scheme I wanted for my ransom quote. I had to search through around 10 magazines finding the perfect letters for my chosen quote of “Don’t mistake legibility for communication” by David Carson. Then once this was overcome the way in which I would display them on the A4 piece of paper. This had to be a stacked form with the words flowing down the page together. These were the three trails I made.

Skills and knowledge in which I have been able to take forward due to this task is the understanding of how type works and the meaning of a message through its type. The ability to understand the technicality between monograms that company’s themselves use. Most importantly the software skills involved in design. I have gone from knowing absolute basic in changing and editing a photos colour and brightness etc to now being able to completely change and manipulate letter forms and images to a better or more interesting format. I enjoyed this course greatly as I was able to gain more in-depth knowledge on softwares I have always wanted to work with.

As the word fake news is starting to become a hot topic amongst the tongues of journalists and news anchors across the world, has it made you question what they really are talking about? It is in the name of the subject “fake news” but what does this come down to and how can practitioners avoid being caught up in this?.

SO WHAT IS FAKE NEWS/ADS ?

Fake news is, as quoted from the Cambridge dictionary ” false stories that appear to be news, spread on the internet or using other media, 

usually created to influence political views or as a joke:” This an ethical issue that more commonly is seen in social media. Fake news creates a ripple affect when created. It persuades a viewer to a false realisation or belief through the writing material and too has been found to ruin individuals reputation and persona.Social media platforms are now one of the best ways for a company to get their advertising material across to its target market as social media is so widely used. These platforms although have an obligation to check the legibility of the material put up.

 WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR MEDIA SITES ALLOWING FAKE NEWS/ADS?

Media platforms such as twitter, Instagram, Facebook and many more major go to social mediums create a mass of revenue from advertisement. Without the adequate monitoring of fake advertisements that creep its way into the media platforms are at threat of losing money every time a user clicks on the fake advertisement says the ACCC. A person that has been involved in a fake ad scam that depicts them wrongfully can sue both the company creating the advertisement as well as the social media platform that allows the advertisement for defamation.  In Australia celebrities are constantly associated with fake ad scams that are put on social media platforms that claim that these individuals use and endorse their product, most commonly these being weight lose pills and skin care. Facebook and Google have been found to be the worst offenders in allowing this fake ads on their sites landing them in deep trouble. These platforms retaliating in reassuring advice to those affected saying ““From January to March 2018, we took down 837 million pieces of spam, nearly 100 per cent of which we found and flagged before anyone reported it,” Ms Sanda told Sydney Morning Herald.

AFFECTED BUT WITHOUT A FIGHT

As fraud companies use the face of well-known celebrities, using staged quotes never even spoken by the celebrity themselves. Well up until now Eddy McGuire, TV show host of Millionaire Hot seat and AFL Footy Show . A company in which claimed to profession in the issue of erectile dysfunction and treating this disorder with supplements. Mr McGuire’s own personal reputation was in jeopardy to this fake ad on something that I’m sure no one would want to be publicly displayed to the world

and even his own colleagues. It wasn’t the company although that Mr McGuire threatened legal action against, it was Facebook. As stated previously, social media platforms are being paid to have these adverts on their sites but this means they too have the mandatory obligation to monitor what is actually going up and whether it is non – fictitious. Eddy McGuire and his legal team took action against Facebook and their claimed statement to fake ads “it reviews sponsored material”, threatening legal action for defamatory comments if Facebook did not admit its wrongs and fix the ability for fake adverts to be allowed onto Facebook. Facebook declined to comment but had a spokeswoman for the company outlined that it did not accept any misleading or false advertising but would remove any content that was false in regards to Mr McGuire.

WHAT’S BEEN LEARN’T?

The Eddy McGuire case in which found him perceived in a pharmaceutical supplement advert has been one of the first ever celebrities to take action against these fake advertisements. Many celebrities have ignored or just dismissed the issue with a removal request from the social media platforms but Mr McGuire took threat and action to Facebook against his personal attack. This case has been beneficial in tackling down this issue of social media platforms allowing fake adverts onto their sites. Platforms now are to remove any misleading content (advertisements) straight away upon upload. Platforms will find lose of income every time a user clicks on the advertisements and those who are inflicted upon are able to sue platforms for defamation charges.

WARNING TO PRACTITIONERS!

Practitioners in both the social media industry and advertisement need to be aware of the implications and ramifications if they break ethical codes of practice. Advertisers must ensure their ads are 100% liable and back up claims and quotes that they make in advertising material. A person cannot use pictures or names in advertising material as they are not covered under freedom of the press otherwise they can be sued against by the individual whose identity is being used https://www.marketingprofs.com/ea/qst_question.asp?qstID=12714 . Social media sites too must caution what is put onto their sites and remove any misleading or false advertisement that may slip onto their sites immediately.

Fake news and advertisements are a cruel and dishonest perception on an individual. It is a harm against ones reputation and persona. Fake ads are a cheap and easy ploy for companies to bring in customers by using false celebrity endorsement. As fake news/ads are such a talked about topic in the push for awareness against them it is important that we really know what they are and how to identify them before we are influenced. Now that your knowledge has been better understand you too can identify what really is a fake news/ad.