Benefits of e-newsletters

Newsletters are a publication that is short and compact, used to disseminate information about a particular area of interest to a specific audience (Bear, 2007). E-newsletters work the same way but electronically, online. Personally, I feel that using e-newsletters will benefit organisations in these ways:

COST EFFECTIVE

Producing e-newsletters are cheaper compared to its print counterpart. Wilcox & Cameron (2006; p.375) said that print newsletters will cost up to 50 cents a piece while the e-newsletter probably cost less than 5 cents. Therefore, it would be beneficial for organisations to distribute newsletters online, as they get to disseminate information to its publics at a less cost. Organisations such as MarketQuiz (2007) that helps produce e-newsletters for other organisations; said that ‘e-newsletters costs 90% less than traditional newsletter’.

TIMELINESS

With e-newsletter, distribution would be a really fast process, compared to a print version as the internet allows e-newsletter to be sent out almost instantly (Wilcox & Cameron, 2006; p.375). Professor Ian Walker from Warwick University has found through a series of equation that time literally is money (CNN.com, 2002). Therefore, e-newsletter would be beneficial as its timeliness will help save cost for the company in reaching its key publics effectively. Not to mention, audiences – me included – love quick accessibility.

VISUAL ATTRACTIVENESS

The visual attractiveness of an e-newsletter is more interesting as it can include moving graphics and pictures compared to its print counterpart which only produce a 2-D still-image. Nickerson (1968) said that pictures or graphics have the ability to evoke interest in the audiences as well as affect their ability to recall it (Shriver, 1997; p.407). In fact, I prefer graphics as the movement looks more attractive and it helps me engage in the reading.

 

References:

Bear, JH 2007, ‘Magazines vs. Newsletters – What is the difference between magazines and newsletters’, viewed on 27 May 2007; [internet], http://desktoppub.about.com/od/newsletters/f/magnews.htm.

CNN.com 2002, ‘Time is money, professor proves’, viewed on 27 May 2007; [internet], http://archives.cnn.com/2002/TECH/science/05/29/time.money/.

MarketQuiz 2007, ‘Advantages of electronic newsletters’, viewed on 26 May 2007; [internet], http://www.marketquiz.com/marketing/services/newsletters-adv.asp.

Schriver, KA 1997, ‘Dynamics in document design: creating texts for readers’, Ch. 6, p.407, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York.

Wilcox, DL & Cameron, GT 2006, ‘Public Relations: Strategies and tactics’, 8^th edition, Pearson Education Inc, United States.

Internet freedom: cyber-bullying?

When the internet was introduced, it was thought to be a chance at a world without borders. However, this belief is being scrapped out sooner than we know it. Several countries have enacted laws to control the freedom of speech on the internet; some, controlling the usage of internet altogether such as the ones enforced in Afghanistan, Cuba and even China (Stroehlein, 2006).

Why, you may ask?

 

Jeff Ooi (above): Malaysian blogger, being sued for defamation

For some countries like Malaysia, the government believes that internet (blogging) laws will help to maintain the integrity of internet users, as to not disseminate lies over the internet (Hah, 2006). With bloggers such as Jeff Ooi (picture above) being sued for defamation (Sohan, 2007), perhaps the government is concern over the effects of complete speech freedom on the net.

This brings up another focus which is cyber-bullying. Is complete speech freedom on the internet contributing to cyber-bullying?

As I have seen before, some bloggers uses their blog to bad mouth someone else or publish things that might not be necessarily. I have even read a blog-fight whereby people set up blogs specifically to criticise and have a fight of words with someone else (the blog name shall remain nameless). Should internet laws be enacted to prevent this sort of blogging?

Although I feel the necessity for some form of control over this type of bloggers, it worries me that internet laws may be used to eliminate internet freedom altogether, thus, cancelling out this form of alternative media that is otherwise very useful.

Therefore, I believe that internet users should appreciate the internet as a borderless world and use it appropriately and wisely, not for cyber-bullying.

 

References:

Hah, FL 2006, ‘Cyber law mulled to block lies in blogs’, viewed 6 June 2007; [internet], http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/12/3/nation/16212999&sec=nation.

Sohan, AA 2007, ‘Defamation suit to test the limits of freedom of speech in cyberspace’, viewed on 6 June 2007; [internet], http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2007/1/20/itedit/20070120121945&sec=itedit.

Stroehlein, A 2002, ‘Censorship wins out’, viewed on 5 June 2007; [internet], http://alternet.org/story/12965.

Purpose

This blog intends to discuss matters relating to document design and publication; touching on aspects and issues related to them.

This blog cater to readers who have keen interest and concern in document design and publishing issues. As the world evolve and more and more technological advancement takes place, new media trends and usage appears. Therefore, the design and publishing issues discussed would be related to current media trends and media usage to further elaborate on the current trends of media usage.

Hopefully with this blog, readers would be able to be informed and able to gauge a different perspective on the importance of document design and publication issues.

Introduction

In this internet age, many development and improvement in technology has taken place to provide users with more options and usage of the internet realm. One of the things that have emerged over the years, more specifically, between 1997 to 1998 (Journal, 2004) are “blogs”.

WHAT ARE BLOGS?

Blogs are basically short for “web logs” (NetAlert, 2004) which according to Winer (2003) of Harvard are a ‘chronological arrangement of text, images or data able to be viewed in an HTML browser’.

PURPOSE OF BLOGS

These days, blogs are used for many different purposes. People use it in various different ways or areas in their lives depending on the writer’s purpose as well as the target audience. Some blogs are used for professional and business purposes, others for specialised interest groups or personal usage.

CLASSIFICATION OF BLOGS

Just by searching for blogs on Google, you would be able to come across various different types of blogs. Since the possibility is vast, blogs can be classified under several different categories before broken down into smaller categories. Here is a general view of the blogging classification:

• personal blogs

It is the type that acts as an online journal which record events in ones daily lives. Since 2004, this type has become popular among teens (Thinkquest, 2006) and certain population of young adults. An example of it would be a blog by a writer, KinkyBlueFairy.

• corporate blogs

This type are used by companies to engage in their business or acts as an extension to the company’s communication such as the Cuppacakes blog that provides information on their product, order and contact details.

• topical blogs (special interest blogs)

This blog type discuss on issue of a specific interest. For example:

• The Poliblog discuss on political issues

• Fly Fishing Journal discusses on topics relating to the art of fly fishing

• Blogs such as Perez Hilton, cover gossip stories related to celebrities

Since Technorati said that there are about 70 million blogs as of April 2007 (The Guardian, 2007), it is only logical that these blogs are classified into different classifications to somewhat categorise and organise them in the internet space for easier accessibility. Websites like Malaysia Central breaks down blogs into categories such as socio-politics, entertainment, shopping and more; to make it easier for audiences to search of a blog of their interest. I believe it is necessary for blogs to be classified to create a form of organisation in the large space of the internet; and also to help form a community on the net according to interests.

BLOG AS A CURRENT PHENOMENON

Since blogs first started, blogging has grown in proportion as it gained popularity around 2000 (Ng, 2007). It has become quite a mainstream phenomenon with approximately one blog being open per second (The Guardian, 2007). A large group of people, now own a blog and it has become somewhat normal to have one. Among youths, it is a way to keep in touch with the each other whereas; some businesses use it to communicate with their customers such as the Cuppacakes blog. With over 18 blog updates per second (Technorati, 2007), it is not exaggerated to say that it is part of a daily routine for internet users to visit a blog, as my friends and I certainly do.

BLOGGING COMMUNITIES

As said before, with blogs being categorised through topics and interests, communities are formed. Community is a social group (Dictionary.com, 2007). People who read or have similar blog interest will come together (or link each other) to create a community which support or contribute comments to one another’s blog; thus, generating new ideas and staying connected.

DESIGN FOR PRINT VS. ONLINE

The design for online and print materials differs in layout and the amount of content. This is due to the different reading patterns between the two: online and print. According to Nielsen (2007), people read 25% slower online and therefore need the contents online to be half as short. Therefore, when blogging, I feel that it is necessary to keep it short and where necessary, sub-headings are more effective to help readers to scan through.

 

References:

Dictionary.com, 2007, ‘Community’, viewed on 7 June 2007; [internet], http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/community.

Journal, 2004, ‘What are blogs, and why should your business use one?’, viewed on 4 June 2007; [internet], http://www.searchenginejournal.com/what-are-blogs-and-why-your-business-should-use-one/1080/.

NetAlert, 2004, ‘What are blogs?’, viewed 4 June 2007; [internet], http://www.netalert.net.au/01671-What-are-blogs.asp.

Ng, D 2007, ‘What are blogs?’, viewed on 4 June 2007; [internet], http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-blogs.htm.

Nielsen, J 2007, ‘Writing for web’, viewed 4 June 2007; [internet], http://www.sun.com/980713/webwriting/.

Technorati, 2007, ‘Welcome to technorati’, viewed on 4 June 2007; [internet], http://technorati.com/about/.

The Guardian, 2007, ‘Blogs mark the first 10 years’, viewed on 4 June 2007; [internet], http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2051882,00.html.

Thinkquest, 2006, ‘blogging’, viewed 4 June 2007; [internet], http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/01130/typesofblogs_textbased.html.

Winer, D 2003, ‘Weblogs at Harvard Law’, viewed on 4 June 2007; [internet], http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/whatMakesAWeblogAWeblog.