Digital Rights Management's Ability to Control

Digital Rights Management (DRM) is the ability for publishers, copyright owners and individuals with rights to digital content to limit what individuals can do with their media after purchase.  This ability affects the computer game, e-book, film and music industry the most.  An example of this is when you rent a movie off iTunes.  Once you watch it once, you can no longer view the movie unless you purchase it or rent it again.  DRM is thought to be necessary by artists and publishers because it enables them to fight digital piracy and protect their content from being misused. 

DRM Functions and Abilities

DRM can be any type of technology that puts some type of control over the media that is sold by its producer and rights holder.  They have the ability to put restrictions on their product that limit the ability of what the consumer can do with their product.  Anything from not being able to copy a DVD that you bought onto an Ipod, to not being able to read an e-book you bought on Amazon on another application counts as DRM.  These restrictions protect the producers of the digital content from having their material taken advantage of. 

DRM is Agitating for Consumers

DRM for the most part is a hassle for consumers, preventing many legal functions of digital property such as backing up CD’s on your own personal computer. These agitations have lead to many campaigns against DRM such as Defective by Design.  For me personally, on iTunes, I have had my 5 allowed devices used up on my iTunes account.  This makes it impossible to put my already purchased songs on my new iPhone which is driving me nuts!  If one account can only be allowed on 5 devices, then it can only last so long.  People change phones, iPods, and other devices all the time! If I bought the song, I believe that I have the right to put it on all the devices that I am currently using.  DRM in many cases is seen as a way for corporations to keep steady revenue for their products which is true, but it just pushes consumers to download illegally to bypass the hassle of dealing with these controls.     

        The New Mass Medium 

My first impression of blogs growing up was having the close minded thought that they only pertained to video game junkies, or people fighting over what was happening on the show Lost.  I felt like they were just a place where people with no time on their hands went to fight over topics that were of no significance, stirring up virtual fights for their own entertainment.  Little did I know that blogs have a very significant role in the world of mass media today.  There are over 70 million World Press blogs worldwide, and “4 out of 5 internet users visit social networks and blogs” (http://thesocialskinny.com/100-more-social-media-statistics-for-2012/).

 With “readership greater than many well-established mainstream publications,” (Converging Media) reporters, political activists, tech junkies and many other people with different interests have the ability to combine visual aids, video, and writing through a digital medium that allows interactive discussion between the readers and writer.  This technological convergence of media is changing the way the world is receiving their news and information.  Instead of having to read an article in the paper, then turning on the TV to get video coverage, the consumer is now able to do all of that at once.  A great example of this is through the blog “The Fix” which is Chris Cillizza’s political blog for the Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/).  This blog incorporates everything that a consumer would want in looking for engaging political news and activity.  Whether they want to read an article, see the latest photo’s or links to video on anything Washington, it is there!  With some posts gaining over 1000 comments, it is obvious to see that blogs have the capability to not only inform the public, but also engage them in current news to help them form their own views and be a more informed citizen. 

While there are many great blogs out there that are very credible, there are certain things that they must contain to keep the reader engaged and make them come back.    Journalism 2.0 states that if your posts are short and to the point, you are able to post more.  Frequency of posts is very important to the reader, which is what brings them back to see what is new.  The greatest feature of blogs is that they are able to share links to other sites, blogs, or video that can enhance what the writer is saying or give other views on a topic to help further the conversation being initiated.  Blogs are also able to give a visual appeal that newspapers and television cannot provide. With different backgrounds, images sprinkled in the text, and other interactive features you are able to provide, blogs become an interactive news experience that has never been seen before.  Through the ability to engage the viewers with this interactive news experience, blogs are becoming an enormous mass medium for the media.  A more informed an interactive public will only help and move our society forward to becoming more engaged citizens of the world.  

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