gair rhydd: Media

Dutch show kids public

With reality TV, we have seen ‘ordinary people’ cohabit in a camera-filled house where ‘privacy’ seemingly does not exist; bachelors have publicly sought prospective partners; contestants battled it out shipwrecked on an island and aspiring ‘stars’ have attempted to shine on talent shows. Yet, the latest programme has managed to not only break form traditional reality TV formats, but stir controversy unlike any show before.

What Simon says

Simon Jenkins is no stranger to the hectic environment of a press office. He seems perfectly at ease in the newsroom in which we meet. Indeed, the former editor of The Times is as accustomed to such surroundings as the stereotypical Englishman is to the countryside. Jenkins started his career at Country Life magazine, then moved to the Times Educational Supplement and from there to the Evening Standard, before editing the Insight page of The Sunday Times.

A lower class?

Discuss this article [38]

As much as media studies has become popular in recent years amongst students, some academics and a lot of journalists continue to question its merits.

A deceiving web

We have all been affected, disturbed and perhaps even perplexed by the disappearance of Madeline McCann, the story that has dominated the press for the past fortnight. Madeline, who turned four on May 13, was taken from her room in a holiday apartment where her family were staying on holiday in the Algarve, Portugal.

Media Encounters

Amy Davies, a second year Journalism, Film and Media student from the Midlands, considers herself as an extremely frequent media-user. She produced a media diary to show her media consumption.

Soap drama too close to reality

One of the biggest stories to hit news headlines this week has been the abduction of three-year-old Madeline McCann from her parents’ apartment while on a family holiday in Portugal. What has followed is the decision by the producers of Coronation Street to re-write an already filmed storyline involving the kidnap of baby Freddie Peacock, out of the fear of causing upset to the McCann family.

Carrdiff Student Media Awards 2007

Cardiff students donned their dresses and suits for the Cardiff Student Media Awards 2007 last Saturday.

The awards, held at the Hilton Hotel, saw members of gair rhydd, Quench, Xpress, The Photographic Society and The Film Society all gathered under one roof to celebrate the various achievements of Cardiff University’s media.

National Tragedy: The new way to line your wallet

This Easter holiday on the 16th April, while we were all taking a well-earned break before the summer exams strike with avengence, 32 innocent students and staff from Virginia Tech University were senselessly killed.

Do we all just have stars in our eyes?

There is never a shortage of celebrity news and gossip in today’s media. Who’s marrying who? Which designer made the dress so and so is wearing and how much did it cost? It seems the public can’t get enough of the trivial yet admittedly addictive world of celebrity.

Journalists under fire: Can you handle the truth?

If your answer is no, then close your eyes and ignore the facts. If your answer is yes, read on and find out about the deadliest countries for journalists to operate in, about those who are behind the killings and what has been done to punish the crimes against the freedom of the press.

Straight from the top: Kate Warren chats to Syd Lawrence, Xpress Station Manager

Xpress Radio’s main man Syd Lawrence has taken on the role of station manager for the last academic year. He presents on his show, ‘Syd and Ben in the Afternoon’ (Wednesdays 4pm –6pm), runs the award winning student radio station and is in his second year studying computer science.

Bad deal?

The recent scrapping of a ban on TV and radio adverts for gambling has sparked a lively debate on the dangers that such a move could present. Restrictions on broadcast advertising for casinos, betting shops and online gambling sites will be lifted from September, as changes to the 2005 Gambling Act come into force.

The sense of censorship

In recent weeks the public have been forced to piece together the increasingly complicated details of the ‘cash for honours’ scandal, as the controversy intensified.

Slimming online

Living in a contemporary society where we are obsessed with self-image and weight means people may be reduced to desperate measures. With the increase in sales of dieting pills and the availability of them online, experts have warned the increased consumption of slimming pills could put lives at risk.

Reel Britannia

Since its birth in the early 19th century, the British film industry has provided us with some of the world’s most acclaimed motion pictures. Blockbusters such as Trainspotting and The Italian Job have won awards in abundance and regularly feature in top ten lists; they are a showcase for the success of the British film industry over the years. However, the recent introduction of new tax rules is going to have a huge and damaging effect on the British film industry.

Are you hooked yet?

Ever felt naked without your phone? Ever dreaded the thought of walking somewhere without the comfort of your MP3 player? There are growing concerns that people are becoming increasingly addicted to portable technology with one of the main concerns being the blurring of the line between work and private life.

Gair Rhydd

Media