Unit 1 Contextual Studios By Eoin Kenny

Contextual Studies

Task 1, My Media

In this part of the task, I will talk about "My Media," this will include a news story, technology, and a popular website. Both of the videos and links to websites will be provided in "Biography" at the end of this document. A News Report on the decline in the bee population as reported on BBC News on March 20, 2015. According to that report, almost 10% of bee species are now extinct. I wanted to find out why this was important.

Bees are essential to human beings both in terms of their food and even their health. According to the EU,

If we don't address the roots of the decline in wild bees, and act urgently to stop it, we could pay a very heavy price indeed Karmenu Vella, EU commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31963056)

Why Are Bees Important?

According to a website (The Guardian), bees have an important role because they pollinate a third of everything we eat, this will include fruits, vegetables, many nuts, cocoa beans, coffee, tea etc. There are also 400 plants and crops (84%) need bees as well. Some of the plants are eaten by birds because they have fruits and berries. The cows also need bees because they pollinate food that cows need to eat. Cows eat almost 30 pounds of grass per day. If the bees are gone, then we won't be able to make butter, dairy milk, and cheese because there won't be enough food for the cows. The result would be a worldwide food shortage, with famine and conflict rising all over the planet. Even, where there is food, the cost of what might be available would be too expensive for most people and families.

Why are they dying?

A disorder is known as "Colony Collapse Disorder," which wiped out a third of all honeybee colonies in 2007, in the US. It also happened in parts of the world as well. The disorder is not fully understood why it happened. A combination of parasites, viruses, poor nutrition, losing habitat and pesticides are thought to be behind the widespread deaths. There are 40% of colonies are still dying each year. I have also provided a link to videos where people give their views why the bees are dying. I have also provided a link to “The Guardian” website in Biography. According to BBC’s video “What if bees went extinct”, Global Warming could be another reason why Bees are dying. The video highlights that (timeline 2:39) Global Warming could be causing disruption to both the plants (opening up) and the bees awaking up from hibernation.

What if bees went Extinct, (Timeline 2:39)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izGQketQzTc

Unit 1 Contextual Studios By Eoin Kenny

In the video, “The Death of Bees Explained", we learn that parasites, poison (Neonicotinoids) and humans, could explain why bees are dying. If the bees encounter “Neonicotinoids” it will attack their nervous systems. These substances are used on apples, cherries, nuts, berries etc. to protect fruit crops from insects. When the bees are collecting pollen from flowers, if they are infected (Neonicotinoids), it could kill every bee in the hive. These chemicals also cause the bees to forget where their hive is and die. The video also explains how parasites attack bees as well.

The Death of the Bees Explained

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqA42M4RtxE

What will happen if Bees become extinct

Bees play an important role because they help plants; if bees are extinct so plants will die off because they are not being pollinated and so new plants will not grow. We would lose apples, mangoes, peaches, sunflower, pomegranates, strawberries, onions, cotton etc. According to a website (the Odyssey) that bees create honey and the product is also used for skin care, natural cosmetics, and lip balm. The website also highlighted when bees are gone, the prices of items will go up until there is nothing left. There are also products that require honey, this will include skincare, cosmetics, lip balm and other natural cosmetics.

The Odyssey

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/3-things-happen-bees-extinct

According to a YouTuber called “DW English”, he’s video highlights that bees are also dying in Asia, if bees are extinct, it will also cause 20 thousand species of plants to go extinct as well.

Link to video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr-oz5FxU7A

A news article by CNN, reported that bees are dying because of loss of habitat, diseases and pests. The website also highlighted that beekeepers in the USA (between 2015-2016) had lost 44% of their bees and 17% of bees where lost in the UK as well. According to researchers (American Beekeeping Federation) bees have contributed over £651 million (UK) a year and $ 14 billion in the US. The website also highlighted that a quarter of world’s honey bees are thought to be at risk of extinction.

CNN

https://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/20/world/bees-eco-solutions/index.html

According to the “Guardian,” a report by the EU, found 9.2% of bees were threatened by extinction and only 12.6% of bees are stable. The Environment Commissioner for the EU, Karmen Vella said “Our quality of life – and our future – depends on the many services that nature provides for free,” he said. “If we don’t address the reasons behind this decline in wild bees, and act urgently to stop it, we could pay a very heavy price indeed.” According to “The Guardian”, the UK Government (Michael Gove) said that they will back the EU and they will ban the use of “neonicotinoids.”

Unit 1 Contextual Studios By Eoin Kenny

The Guardian (Michael Gove)

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/nov/09/uk-will-back-total-ban-on-bee-harming-pesticides-michael-gove-reveals

According to a report by “The Guardian,” it was discovered that three quarters of flying insects have also been declining in the last 25 years. If insects are extinct, the animals (predator) that rely on them for food will also struggle. The article also highlighted that it is unclear why this crisis happened, but the use of “Pesticides” could be the reason why insects are dying. A group of scientists had said this crisis could lead to “Ecological Armageddon.”

The Guardian.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/18/warning-of-ecological-armageddon-after-dramatic-plunge-in-insect-numbers

How to help the Bees?

According website to a website (Queen of the Sun) it highlights what plants you should plant in your garden. The plants that you should have are Spring – lilacs, penstemon, lavender, sage, verbena, wisteria etc. You should not use chemicals because it kills bees as well.

How to help the Bees (Plants)

http://www.queenofthesun.com/get-involved/10-things-you-can-do-to-help-bees/

I have also provided a link (Ted) to a video, where a person (Danielle Bilot) explains that there are three main things that is causing the bees to die, this will include over use of chemicals, diseases, pathogens and a lack of food as well. The bees have limited of flight-time and they will always need food, she also highlighted that we need to plant (specific) plants in the next garden. This also will help the bees to go to the next garden. She also highlighted, there is different types of bees and some of them have more flight time. She also highlighted that people should plant, specific plants in parking lots as well.

Unit 1 Contextual Studios By Eoin Kenny

Ted, how parking lots could save the bees

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeXcNpVkezI

A technology innovation that I embraced

The main reason why I got a new mobile phone (Nokia 3), is because the phone has a "GPS tracking". This allowed my dad to track me in "Barcelona", in case I got lost. I was accidentally left behind at the train station, and my dad was able to locate me. I also discovered I was a few minutes away from the hostel. The "GPS tracking" also allowed my dad to guide me to the hostel. I also used "What’s App" to make free calls to my dad as well.

A Popular website: YouTube

The reason why I like to use YouTube, it allows me to watch new movie trailers, it also allows me to decide if I want to see the movie in the cinema. I also watch Sony's/Microsoft's press conferences, this is where they talk about upcoming games, they also show trailers. The press conference allows me to decide which games to get. I also use this website because it allows me to listen to people’s views on a variety of different topics. I also listen to music on this website as well. I also have a YouTube channel,

where I will upload my own videos, including ST Patrick's day parade, Halloween parade and much more. I also provided a screen shot (below), of my YouTube channel, it gives you an idea what type of videos I like to upload.

Unit 1 Contextual Studios By Eoin Kenny

Task 2 One Media Industry

In this part of the Task, I have chosen to talk about a TV channel called “RTE”, in this part of the task I will talk about control structure, sources of income, regulations etc.

RTE’s first broadcast

According to RTE, began their radio broadcasting service on 1 January 1926 and they first started broadcasting on TV on 31 December 1961. Their first broadcast was on New Year's Eve in 1961 at Gresham Hotel (Dublin), the Irish President, Eamon DeValera said “Never before was there in the hands of men and instruments so powerful influence the thoughts and actions of the multitude”. He was the first person to address the audience.

The Late Late Show first aired on July 1962, it was first presented by Gay Byrne. The producers had originally planned the show to be on in the summer, however the show was so popular that they scheduled it to be on every Friday night. When John F Kennedy visited Ireland in July 1963, RTE also asked the BBC and UTV for help to broadcast the event live to the viewers. Many of the programs that were first broadcast in the 1960s included Ireland's first home-made drama “Tolka Row", Amuigh Fan Speir, The Riordan’s” etc. RTE became responsible for hosting the Eurovision Song contest in Ireland and Rosemary Brown from Derry won. Their first children’s TV programme (Wanderly Wagon) was first aired in 1967-1982.

RTE website

http://www.rte.ie/archives/exhibitions/681-history-of-rte/

Unit 1 Contextual Studios By Eoin Kenny

Sources of Income

In Ireland people are required to pay the license fee, which its €160, this TV channel “RTE” is also a public broadcaster as they are providing a service to the public. According to RTE, during 2016 their commercial advertising went up 2% which it was €158.2 million. The RTE have provided a diagram where It shows you where the money goes towards.

According to RTE, their magazine is the most popular magazine in Ireland with 389,000* readers, they also provided a breakdown of their target audience.

Commercial Revenue 2016

According to RTE, during 2016 their commercial advertising went up 2% which it was €158.2 million. They also highlighted that both advertising and commercial it's their most significant source of income. The document also provides their financial report on operating costs, Net Finance Expense, Employee Numbers costs etc. I will also provide screenshots of their diagrams and a link to the document as well

Control Structure

Director General: Dee Forbeso Director of Operations and Production Services: Frances

Abeton

Unit 1 Contextual Studios By Eoin Kenny

o Director of Corporate Affairs: Brian Dalton o Director of Content: Jim Jenningso (There is also other directors working at different parts of RTE, including the

Chief Financial Officer, Director of Transformation and Technology, Director, RTÉ News & Current Affairs etc.

Consumer Awareness

The RTE has also provided diagrams where they provided how many people watch their TV shows and where. They also highlighted that people watch shows on their I player as well. They also said that millions (54,000,000) of people had viewed their websites, each month in 2016. They also provided a diagram how many people listen to their radio stations and what genres they like to listen to as well.

Issues that companies are facing today

According to RTE’s Financial review, their license fee was disappointing, they also rely on income from adverting, 14% people are not paying the license fee, the TV channel loses €50 million a year.

RTE Annual Report

https://static.rasset.ie/documents/about/rte-annual-report-2016.pdf

According to the "Irish times", an adverting company in the UK, is RTE's biggest competition, because RTE relies on income from advertising. Other companies such as “Sky” is able to offer to make advertising on a daily basis. If RTE makes an advert it will cost them a lot of money to make.

Irish times

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/uk-television-channels-drain-irish-broadcasters-of-cash-for-content-1.2749293

According to a website (Kitplus), the viewers want more options to watch TV programmes, on their laptops and tablets and phones. They would also like to have an option where they can watch TV programmes/movies while they are traveling as well. They also want a variety of different options they can choose from as well. The viewer also wants to have an option where they can watch movies/TV shows while they are traveling as well. Both Netflix and Amazon offer users to download movies and TV shows on their tables.

Kisplus website

https://www.kitplus.com/articles/What_are_the_most_important_opportunities_and_challenges_facing_the_TV_industry_today/391.html

Unit 1 Contextual Studios By Eoin Kenny

According to a website called "Mediaguru" online streaming service pose a threat to channels that are on the TV, they allow users to watch content anytime they want. The website also highlighted that (2016) research by Leichtman Research Group, that cables lost 100,000 subscribers, it also begins in 2013 as well. The figures went up to 150,000 in 2014 and 385,000 in 2015.

Mediaguru website

http://www.mediaguru.com/six-top-threats-for-television-broadcasters/

Conclusion

In Task one I decided to do a “News story,” on the bees and why are they dying, I first had to research a variety of different websites. I also found out why bees are important and how they are dying. I also found websites/videos where they highlighted what things will disappear if the bees go extinct as well. In this Unit I also felt that I create a video where I show the viewer why the bees are dying and what food will also disappear if the bees go extinct. I also created a PowerPoint presentation where I talked about technology that I embraced and a popular website I like to use as well. In the next task, I also chosen to talk about about a TV channel called RTE, (regional), I also talked about sources of income, ownership, consumer awareness etc. I also found what issues they are facing today as well. In this unit everyone in the class created a presentation where they talked about a variety of different topics, this allowed me to get an understanding on a variety of different media industries.

When Shelby Logan created her presentation, she talked about a gaming company called “Square Enix” (Global Company), in the presentation I learned about the company their sources of income, costumer’s and their competition as well. I also learned what games they create as well. I also learned (Connor’s presentation), that Rupert Murdoch sold the rights (Fox) to Disney for $66bn. The website also highlights that this deal allows Disney to be a big competitor against Netflix. This deal also can reshape media landscape as well. I will also provide a link to my weebily where I did an assignment on “Media Monopoly” the unit can be found under “Unit 7 Understanding the Creative Media Sector.”

Independent news article

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/disney-21st-century-fox-takeover-buy-52-billion-dollars-stock-rupert-murdoch-sky-latest-a8110226.html

My Weebily

https://eoinkennymedia.weebly.com/assignments.html

Unit 1 Contextual Studios By Eoin Kenny

Links to websites

BBC

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140502-what-if-bees-went-extinct

Top 10 things will happen if bees are extinct

http://www.toptenz.net/10-things-happen-bees-died.php

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/19/nearly-one-in-ten-of-europes-wild-bee-species-face-extinction-says-study

Understanding the Colony Collapse Disorder and, Parasites and Humans

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqA42M4RtxE

What if bees went extinct?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izGQketQzTc

Ted, how parking lots could save the bees

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeXcNpVkezI

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/19/nearly-one-in-ten-of-europes-wild-bee-species-face-extinction-says-study

Why are Bees Important

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/17/why-are-bees-important

CNN

https://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/20/world/bees-eco-solutions/index.html

What will happen if Bees are extinct

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/3-things-happen-bees-extinct

How to help the Bees (Plants)

http://www.queenofthesun.com/get-involved/10-things-you-can-do-to-help-bees/

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/bees_final_battle_loc/

Unit 1 Contextual Studios By Eoin Kenny

to save the Bees

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/jul/30/buzzfeeds-bees-colony-collapse-disorder

http://www.mediaguru.com/six-top-threats-for-television-broadcasters/

https://static.rasset.ie/documents/about/rte-annual-report-2016.pdf

https://www.kitplus.com/articles/What_are_the_most_important_opportunities_and_challenges_facing_the_TV_industry_today/391.html