Sources Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sources - Essay Example New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum. McAllister-Spooner, S. M. (2009). Fulfilling the dialogic promise: A ten-year reflective survey on dialogic Internet principles. Public Relations Review, 320-322. This article begins with a discussion of the framework of dialogic communication using the world-wide-web provided by Kent and Taylor. The literature suggests that various studies have been conducted in order to analyze the use of dialogic communication in various websites. It goes on to state that even non-profit firms have applied this concept to their websites. However, the author critiques this by stating that dialogic tools were indeed very poorly applied in the development of these websites. The websites mentioned in this article provide only a basic level platform for interaction with users. They are user-friendly and useful in providing information but they fail to capitalize on the Internet’s ability to develop and sustain relationships between the corporation and the community. The research findings are also suggestive of the fact that forces pertaining to the corporation and its departments are inhibiting the utilization of the Internet’s interactive potential. The article relates to dialogic communication as it critiques the use of this concept by stating that its practical application is weak when it comes to the way some websites are designed. Thus, the use of web medium for reaching out to the public has not been capitalized on by corporations in a manner that would be engaging. The article concludes by offering recommendations in this regard by suggesting that face-to-face communication will remain an ideal platform for ensuring dialogic interaction. Also, dialogic communication is hampered by internal policies and inert forces such as organizational politics. Thus, developing effective public relations via the internet requires effective dialogic communication. Mifsud, M. L., & Johnson, S. D. (2000). Dialogic, dialectic, and rhetoric: Explor ing human dialogue across the discipline. Southern Communication Journal , 91-104. Newcomb, H. M. (1984). On the dialogic aspects of mass communication. Critical Studies in Mass Communication, 34-50. Ryan, J., & Viete, R. (2009). Respectful interactions: learning with international students in the English-speaking academy. Teaching in Higher Education, 303-314. This paper describes the significance of dialogic or two-way human interactions in promoting English education to international students. It begins by stating that students who come from abroad to study in Australian educational institutions face cultural and linguistic issues which results in their getting disengaged from what is being taught in the classroom. The native-speaker phenomenon in English universities dissuades non-native speakers from effectively learning what is being taught. Owing to these cultural and linguistic differences, the method of teaching offered to such international students must be more interactiv e and engaging than that offered to native students. In this sense, the authors define the need for a more dialogic and engaging communication between the instructors and the international students. What is core to learning in Australian institutions is the diverse potential of learning that comes from a multi-cultural student body. Despite the accommodation of global aspects into the institutions’ curricula, foreign students repeatedly face deficiencies in their oral communication as well as the pressure to conform to the norms inherent in local bodies.

How Golding Uses Symbols in Lord of the Flies Essay Example for Free

How Golding Uses Symbols in Lord of the Flies Essay William Goldings book, Lord of the Flies (published in 1954) tells the story of a group of boys, who are stranded on an unknown island, when their plane crashes. On the surface, it is an interesting story of how the civilised English boys, during their time on the island, gradually lose their veneer of respectability and decent behaviour and devolve to the basest and barest form of humanity. Eventually, the boys almost entirely shake off the civilisation of the world they once knew. If we scratch beneath that surface, what we find is a much more complicated observation of society, laden with corporeal, philosophical and religious symbols. Indeed, the superb use of symbolism in the book is one of the contributing factors to the profundity of the book. The symbols that stand out the most are the conch; the gradual destruction of the island; Piggys spectacles; fire, and how it is used; and the beast, or the Lord of the Flies (another name given to the Devil), the crucial symbol, used throughout the book. All of these will be looked at into more detail, and, also, whether the beast is real or a physical manifestation of the boys fears, as well as the key comment that it is the evil which resides within man, will also be discussed. First, is the conch. This is the shell, which is discovered by Ralph and Piggy, and is used to represent power, authority and rules. From the very first time it is mentioned, Golding describes it as: pretty and a worthy plaything. It is, like everything else on the island, a simple and innocent object: and immediately afterwards, it becomes something so precious, due to its apparent beauty. Also, in the beginning, it is a mere utility: Piggy suggests that, when blown, it would be able to call the other boys, scattered around the area of the crash, to have a meeting. The fact that it is used to call already highlights its importance in the book, as it has instant results. The sound is, as Jack later says, like that of a trumpet, using the metaphor of summoning the boys: it has an authority all on its own. By the time of the next meeting, in the afternoon of that same day, Ralph, now elected leader, decides that it will be used during meetings, where only the person with it may speak. Ill give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when hes speakingAnd he wont be interrupted. Except by me.' Rules have been established, and the conch is at the centre if them, so it, now, is the means of putting across ones feelings and/or ideas. Naturally, everyone agrees, including Jack. Golding puts this into the book, commenting on mans need for rules within a society, and a code of behaviour, thus demonstrating what the conch symbolises. As well as these, it also symbolises democracy and free speech in our modern society, one of the few positive statements on humanity within the book, in the fact that all the boys are able to say something, as opposed to rule by force, or an autocracy, as demonstrated by Jacks leadership, later on in the book. By chapter Five, things have already drastically changed among the boys. The threat of the beast has been lurking among them all for some time, now, and it has been left to grow to such an extent, that more and more people are behaving differently towards the island and each other. When Ralph has to call an assembly concerning these issues, he finds it difficult to get anything across, or even to be listened to, without brandishing the conch, or repeatedly reminding them that he has it. This symbolises that the power and authority of the conch is weakening, as the boys are tiring of adhering to the rules. Ralph even comments on this during his speech, when he says: things are breaking upWe began well; we were happy. And then-. It also makes a sly comment on rules and authority among real human societies, saying that we are unable to keep to them because of our nature as free beings, and therefore, the very idea of a rule, something that will confine us, is only temporarily effective, because we just cannot rigidly or lastingly keep to them. Many have argued for and against this theory, and much of it has to do with where we believe our origins as humans lie. For instance, if one believes in the Christian God, they believe that we are the way we are, because of the Original Sin; if Atheist, one may believe in evolution, and that we should, possibly each of us, create our own rules and boundaries, and not let any one person or body decide for us. It is, indeed an interesting debate. The idea of power corrupting, and being corruptible in return, is also evident in the way that Jack speaks out openly against Ralph, repeatedly, either with or without the conch. He even says, during the assembly scene in chapter Five, bollocks to the rules! In chapter Eleven, by which time Jack has succeeded in taking almost complete control over the island, the idea of the conch has become a laughing stock, and it has physically become worn and faded, and less beautiful. Golding shows how everyone, including Ralph and Piggy, regards the conch. Despite them knowing, and seeing in practice, that the conch is virtually useless, Piggy still tells Ralph to call an assembly, and use it, because he is so rule-rigid and loyal to Ralph, that he refuses to undermine him by abandoning the rules; while even Ralph only uses it, under the direction of Piggy: You call an assembly, Ralph, we got to decide what to do. An assembly for only us? Its all we gotBlow the conch,' This strict allegiance of Piggys, even now, to Ralph and the conch proves to be his fatal feature, as, when he, Ralph, Sam and Eric go up to the Castle Rock of Jacks tribe, among jeers, insults and being ignored, Piggy still says: Ive got the conch! This annoys Jack and Roger so much, that both he, and the conch, now having lost its glow, are destroyed by the boulder, the conch being: exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceas[ing] to exist. Although there has been no real authority or rules for some time, by now, apart from Jacks, the end of the conch marks the real end, as even the husk, the last remaining vestige of organisation and rules, has been done away with. The fact that it is destroyed along with its one true follower, and the way that Golding writes it, links it with the idea of a murder: not only of Piggy, but of the conch, itself. Golding cleverly emphasises how insignificant it has become by putting its destruction into half of a sentence, and concentrating on the main part of the event, Piggys death. The next symbol to be discussed in the book is that of the island, and its gradual and subsequent ruin. Like the conch, it is a beautiful, peaceful and untouched world, but it is constantly affected by the boys actions throughout, even from before the book. From the first paragraph, the site of the crash is referred to as the scar, as if it were an injury to a living being, which, it could be argued, it is. Nevertheless, in chapter One, Golding creates a beautiful image of the island as a whole, using vivid description to emphasise its natural beauty, and this is continued right up to the point of the discovery of the conch: a great platform of pink granite; a criss-cross pattern of trunks, very convenient to sit on; bright with the efflorescence of tropical weed and coral; a golden light danced and shattered just over his face; the brilliance of the lagoon. Goldings intense description of the lagoon and the watery areas all create the calming effect of water, due to his detailing th eir appealing aspects. The boys initial reactions to it are similar to what the reader should have. They find it amazing and exotic, seeing their whole situation as an adventure, likening it to popular adventure stories, aimed, mainly, at boys, such as Swallows and Amazons, Treasure Island, and Coral Island, which they say. Their excitement overpowers their sense of reality, and the fact that they are alone, without any parents or adults, which piggy reminds them of. But in chapter two, only just after Jack, Ralph and Simon have surveyed the island, and told everyone else how big and beautiful it is, their enthusiasm leads them to make an irreparable mistake. In an attempt to make some sort of signal to the outside world, they start a fire, which subsequently ends up scorching a large chunk of the islands vegetation. This clearly symbolises mans effect on the natural world, and how selfish and inconsiderate we have been, in furthering our own society. The excitement and vigour with which the boys readily execute the fire also comments on this: A fire! Make a fire! At once half the boys were on their feet. Just like the young and carefree boys, man has created and used industry and technology to advance his own civilization, without the slightest thought for anything else. Already the intrinsic beauty of the island has been permanently tarnished twice. Piggy says, sarcastically, when commenting on the fire: You got your small fire all right. This theme of the gradual destruction of the island is continued throughout the rest of the book, which charts, in a way, the time and scale of mans destruction of the Earth. In chapter Six, the mother pig is brutally murdered, meaning that, now, although there will be plenty of meat, there wont be any new pigs to hunt, when they are all hunted down. And, of course, it all comes to an end, when the fire courses through the island, at the end, in chapter Twelve, finally completely obliterating anything natural, or pure, about the island. [Ralph] heard a curious trickling soundas if someone were unwrapping great sheets of cellophaneSmoke was seeping through the branches in white and yellow wispsand then the smoke billowed around him. Concerning the island, and what it represents, Golding has used such vivid imagery in his description, that, when the island is being razed to the ground, the reader is left to feel slightly sorrowful about its end, and it encourages the reader to reflect on what has happened on it ever since the boys arrived. This ties in very well with the religious connection, the island even being described as an Eden: the idea of the Original Sin being the cause of mans present physical and moral condition. At the beginning, the boys enjoy the island and are treating the whole experience as a great big adventure; after time elapses, and the boys have become afraid of the beast, lurking around the island, their terror and fear causes them to fight back against the island, thus doing things which, though they are not fully aware of it, are ruining their environment. Towards the end, they are conducting an all-out attack on the island, with the beast on it (though, with the leadership of Jack, this is somewhat directed against Ralph). Another distinctive symbol in the book, is Piggys spectacles. Not only are these a utility, when being used as the means to start a fire, but they also symbolise more: Piggys (or just, on its own) intelligence. It is the only asset that Piggy has over the others on the island, and it also ties in with him, his behaviour, and what they symbolise. Like the conch, and what it symbolises, Piggy holds dear his spectacles: this can be argued as natural, for realitys sake, but he is not the only boy who has such high esteem for them. Jack seizes them from him twice, and it could be said that Jack only does it partly for their usefulness, partly for what they symbolise (intelligence and foresight), and partly because Jack just hates Piggy and will do anything to cause harm or suffering towards him. When in chapter Four, they are damaged, with one of the lenses being broken, he doesnt care, as he mimics Piggys cry of Just you wait. And, in chapter Ten, Jack behaves triumphantly, when it is revealed that he and a couple of members of his tribe have raided the huts, and stolen Piggys spectacles: The chief led themexulting in his achievementFrom his left hand dangled Piggys broken glasses. This reaffirms how jack abuses intelligence, by stealing the spectacles, and glorifying his triumph. Another clear sign that the glasses represent intelligence is the fact that Piggy, the most rational and scientific boy there, is less confident, without them. In chapter Ten, after the damage, but before the raid, Piggy says, to Ralph: I only got one eye, now. You ought to know that'. Despite his reliability, even Ralph is beginning to lose hope in Piggy, his spectacles, and the meaningless conch. Golding makes the glasses now represent hope, or the lack of it. Because Piggys sight is dimmer, no one can see a way out of their predicament. This links with what Golding is saying about how man needs rules, with the conch: so, man must also need hope, otherwise, listlessness and hopelessness set in. Therefore, the link between rules and authority, hope, intelligence and foresight, and rationality is strongly emphasised. Golding is saying that we, as civilised humans need all four, which have made up our present society. Its also telling that their present society is in the middle of a nuclear war, which could be argued as whats happening on the island, anyway. This is most clearly represented by the fact that, at the end, where the island has been devastated, and the conch, Piggy and the glasses have all been done away with, there is no moral code. The island now mirrors both their and our present society. The next major symbol in the book is the fire, and it has many different uses in the story. In chapter One, the boys have the idea of making a fire, to act as a signal to any passing ships, despite their lack of concern or consideration for the rest of the island, already discussed. But, towards the end of the chapter, the fire is described as being something different: dangerous and destructive, as it burns down a part of the mountain. This is a hint of what is to come, both in terms of the plot, and Goldings way of using fire to symbolise how destructive humanity can be. All at once the lights flickering ahead of him merged together, the roar of the forest rose to thunder and a tall bush directly in his path burst into a great fan-shaped flamethe heat beating on his left side and the fire racing forward like a tide. It is telling, also, to what Golding believes about mans effect on the earth, as the fire has made the island a hell, compared to the paradise that it was at the beginning. When, in chapter Four, the fire goes out, it symbolises the loss of hope, in Ralph, as he is losing control of Jack and his hunters, and Jack is wresting the boys to his power. This is also where Piggys spectacles are damaged, and the chain of events, here, all symbolise the despair that Ralph is beginning to have. It also ties in with chapters Eight and Eleven, where Ralph speaks of Jack stealing the fire, or hope, that was keeping him and the boys sane, and working together. Here Golding is making another comment about our society: without hope, there is nothing worth fighting for or bothering with. The boys have become savage over a period of time, during which they were almost rescued, but due to their own selfishness in wanting to enjoy themselves, they have concerned themselves with fun and pleasure, seeing as there is no hope of anything else. And this is where fire, as a symbol, takes on a darker side. In chapter Nine, during the feast, and having used it to cook the meat of the mother-pig (though the utilisation of the fire for cooking the could be a positive thing), the boys dance around it, as if in some ritualistic sacrament: shouting, howling and chanting: Jack leapt on to the sand. Do our dance! Come on! Dance! A circling movement developed and a chantthe littluns ran and jumpedPiggy and Ralph, under the threat of the sky, found themselves eager to take a place in this demented but partly secure societyThe movementbegan to beat like a steady pulseThere was the throb and stamp of a single organism. The way that Golding describes it, conjures up the image of the boys transforming, literally, into the very same beast that they are all afraid of. The pace and the language of the words give off a feeling of great tension, signified by the coming storm in the scene. Also, the boys are described as a single organism. Due to the nature the story, Golding deliberately dehumanises the boys, and turns them into a mob, to comment on humanity as it acts in a very closed society. When one looks into human history, it is evident that in any one group, as factions, we have done terrible things to each other and to our environment. Simons death, included here, is probably the most lucid example of how destructive human beings are en masse. The final, and most distinctive, symbol to be discussed is that of the beast. This is the most profound icon used by Golding to convey his overall message of the evils within man, and his pessimism towards human nature. The beast is first introduced by one of the littleuns in chapter Two, after Ralph and Jack have explained their situation to the other boys. He wants to know what youre going to do about the snake-thing.Now he says it was a beastie' The idea that the beast is a snake-thing links in with the idea of the Original Sin: the Devil taking the shape of a serpent (snake) to tempt Eve, the mother of humanity, into wrongdoing. As looked at in discussion of the conch, the island, and the fire, we already know that things go wrong on the island, and that Golding attributes this to human nature. The beast, and this idea of it being inescapable represents this. For instance, the different methods by which the boys dream up its presence (from water, air, snake-like) al are natural, or biblical references. Every idea of the form of the beast is a comprehensible, human, one. Also, during the frequent discussions among the boys meetings, as the fear of the beast increases among the boys, so, too, does Simons understanding. In chapter Five, he says: Maybe there is a beastmaybe its only us This shows his comprehension of the idea of something evil and primitive growing within the society of the boys. This is made completely evident in chapter Eight, with his conversation (in actual fact, an epileptic fit) with the beast. Simon is in his special place, originally a peaceful area of contemplation, abused by Jacks placing the head of the hunted mother pig there, as an offering to the beast. The conversation itself is very insightful towards Goldings view of humanity and towards what Simon represents, also. The beast, or Lord of the Flies, as it is called, here, mentions Ralph, Jack, and Piggy, hinting at how they each represent an important aspect of human society (leadership, dictatorship, and rationality, respectively all of the secular, or physical features of humanity). The fact that the pig/beast is named as the Lord of the Flies links in with Goldings view that it is humanitys one true fault, that we have it in ourselves to be evil. Man is the beast; its simply the evil within the boys that motivates them to think of it. The Lord of the Flies says: You knew, didnt you? Im part of you?Im the reason why its no go? Why things are what they are? Of course, Simon isnt really talking to the Devil; the fact that its all taking place inside his own head highlights that he is merely seeing that this is the darker part of human nature. When Simon then goes up the mountain, to search for the truth about the beast which he, Ralph and Jack see, Golding is showing us that Simon is representative of Christ. He is the one who sees the problem with humanity, right from the beginning. He tries to explain this to his fellow man, and is laughed at about it, and considered to be mad or a fool; he eventually reaches enlightenment, when he finds out the truth (the figure they saw was only the dead body of a parachutist); and when, again, he tries to make this clear to the other boys, he is killed, tragically, during the feast-turned-ritual, while they are out of control: the crowd surged after it, poured down the rock, leapt on to the beast, screamed, struck, bit, torethe tearing of teeth and claws. Here, again, the boys are described as being the beast. Though extremely graphic and violent (as the death of Jesus was), Golding writes a beautiful aftermath, when describing the body being carried out to sea, paralleling the angelic ascension to heaven of Jesus: The edge of the lagoon became a streak of phosphorescence which advanced minutelyThe clear water mirrored the clear sky and the angular bright constellationsthe advancing clearness was full of strange, moonbeam-bodied creatures with fiery eyes. The way in which Golding has crafted the language to create this imagery, is conjuring up the thought of Simons spirit, as it were, drifting up. It also emphasises the idea of the calm after the storm. A storm, during which, dark and violent events have occurred amongst the boys, and on the island. Now, as an irredeemable act has been carried out, Golding helps the reader reflect on this, with the serenity and beauty of the aftermath. As we know, after Simons death, everything happens very quickly. Within two days, Jacks hunters raid Ralph, Piggy, Sam and Eric, and take Piggys glasses; Piggy is consciously murdered, in an attempt to retrieve them, and the conch is destroyed with him; Ralph is hunted down like a pig, and the island is destroyed completely by a raging fire, which, ironically, is the beacon that gets them rescued. The beast is Goldings main device, used to convey this overall theme of the evil within man and his society. Most of the events in the book revolve around it. Ralph, the leader, tries to reassure the boys that it doesnt exist, while being unsure of that himself; Piggy, the rational scientist, completely denies its existence, and pins the boys behaviour down to things which he can be certain of; Jack, the dictator, pragmatically uses the beast as fodder for the boys, denying its existence at one point, then offering it gifts at others. While Simon, the philosopher, is aware of its true form all along, but is ignored and killed for his speaking out about it. In conclusion, Goldings exceptionally complex novel is, probably, one of the grimmest, pessimistic, cynical, and yet extremely profound literatures ever written. His view of humanity and human nature is unparalleled in the way he conveys it. Whether it is realistic or not would need another essay to discuss it, but by studying all of his injected symbols, and the different purposes he creates for them, we are given a very vividly bleak image. The conch, a beautiful shell, used for a noble purpose, is abused and ridiculed, eventually unceremoniously destroyed, by which point it is dirty and uncared for. Its symbolising hope, authority, rules and freedom of speech comments on how we use these ideas today, in our society. The island, a paradise world, untouched and naturally beautiful, is ruined right from the boys very entrance, and is progressively destroyed, due to their unconcern for it. This shadows mans behaviour towards his surroundings and how he has advanced his own race without caution or care for the earth. Piggys glasses, rationality and intelligence, cherished by Ralph and Piggy, and abused by Jack, mirror how people have used science and philosophy for their own ends, so as to get away with terrible things. The fire is, at one point, a symbol of hope and rescue; and at other points, it symbolises destruction, danger, and fear. And, of course, the beast: Goldings main means. The evil within man, and how it is manifest. It is telling, however, that Lord of the Flies is only the first in a series of novels by Golding, used to convey his pessimistic view of humanity. As mentioned, there is so much to say about just the symbols he uses here, that makes this book one of literatures finest pieces.

Jim Morrison Essay -- Religion, Culture, Elvis

I preface this paper by a consideration of why Jim Morrison can be discussed within the discourse of religious studies. I suggest four possibilities. The first is the place of religion in late modernity; that is, as individualized, subjectivated and deinstitutionalized. These factors contribute to the circumstances under which Morrison may be understood in religious terms because of the conditions they create. Religion may be deinstitutionalized (Luckmann 1967; Bibby 1990), but people are still religious (Chaves 1994). This enables religion to exist in other ways; one way is through dead celebrity. In an article entitled â€Å"Is Elvis a God? Cult, Culture, Questions of Method,† John Frow (1998, 208-209), after discussing the apparent failure of the secularization thesis,1 remarks, â€Å" . . . religious sentiment . . . has migrated into many strange and unexpected places, from New Age trinketry to manga movies to the cult of the famous dead . . . we need to take religion ser iously in all its dimensions because of its centrality in the modern world.† Further, religion as individualized and subjectivated (Hervieu-Là ©ger 2000) allows people to create their own systems of meaning and transcendence. Dead celebrity, using Morrison as an exemplar, is one system. The second possibility follows from the first. Regarding the changing nature of religion in the 1960s, religious studies scholar, Gail Hamner (2003, 447), wrote that â€Å"popular culture became subject to deification or at least spiritualization.† Although this paper does not intend to provide an account of the process by which some celebrities were sacralized in the twentieth century, it should be noted that literature on the subject does exist. A seminal work, in this regard, is The Work o... ... supplemented by relevant scholarly literature and popular biographies of Morrison. It is with these four possibilities, religion in late modernity, scholarship on religion and celebrity, the way we think of, and define religion, and Riddell (2008), that I consider Jim Morrison and religion. There is a paucity of academic literature on Jim Morrison, yet a reasonable amount of popular literature, which I am engaging in my evaluation. Scholarship on dead celebrity fandom has progressed in the last decade; however, in 1998, John Frow (1998, 200) claimed that â€Å"we lack almost completely the tools to make sense of [the process by which dead celebrities are sacralized].† My hope is that by outlining the role of Morrison in self-propagating his own myth, combined with a posthumous documentation of this process, I will contribute to literature on dead celebrity fandom.

If there is a long drawn-out war with Iraq (or any other :: Economics

If there is a long drawn-out war with Iraq (or any other country), what implications might this have for Britain's fiscal deficit? Also trace out the possible effects, if any, on: a) Monetary Policy, b) Inflation and c) Unemployment. The economic policy followed by a country engaged in war is ,certainly, different of that followed by a country when in peace. Britain now finds itself a few steps away from war with Iraq and the questions concerning the implications of this ,unnecessary for many, war are not little. Firstly, before we analyze the effects of war with Iraq on fiscal policy and deficit of the UK we must briefly outline the role of fiscal policy and what is a fiscal deficit. Fiscal policy is a so-called demand management policy and is defined as the manipulation of government expenditures and/or of taxes in order to influence aggregate demand and thus economic activity and employment. In the case of Britain, there is a fiscal deficit. A rise in government expenditures and/or a decrease in taxes (i.e. an increase of injections over withdrawals) leads to an even greater (through the multiplier) rise in national income and thus of employment. Deficit spending could lead to an expansion of economic activity; this policy is known as expansionary (or, reflationary) fiscal policy. It can be said, with great certainty, that Britain's fiscal deficit will increase largely during the war. Being an OECD[1] member country and a country with similar economic performance from time to time, Britain can be considered largely an economy with many common aspects to the U.S. economy in many aspects. The U.S. economy had three major peaks in deficits and all of them reflect wars: the Civil War of the 1860s, WWI and WWII. So one can expect that a long drawn-out war with Iraq will mean that the British economy will run on deficit for a long time. This should not suggest that deficits will occur after the war as well, though. U.S. economy has recovered and reduced the stock of debt after these wars. There are also political factors that need to be considered in the case of Britain. Because of the high public unrest and anti-war movement that occurred in Britain before the war the government might feel obliged to prove to the people that war against Iraq was a wise thought. UK government would be able to provide that short-term feel-good factor by cutting taxes and possibly increased spending. If pressure on the government mounts, and it is already mounting very fast with numerous resignations and public protests, it is very likely that it would see more clearly the If there is a long drawn-out war with Iraq (or any other :: Economics If there is a long drawn-out war with Iraq (or any other country), what implications might this have for Britain's fiscal deficit? Also trace out the possible effects, if any, on: a) Monetary Policy, b) Inflation and c) Unemployment. The economic policy followed by a country engaged in war is ,certainly, different of that followed by a country when in peace. Britain now finds itself a few steps away from war with Iraq and the questions concerning the implications of this ,unnecessary for many, war are not little. Firstly, before we analyze the effects of war with Iraq on fiscal policy and deficit of the UK we must briefly outline the role of fiscal policy and what is a fiscal deficit. Fiscal policy is a so-called demand management policy and is defined as the manipulation of government expenditures and/or of taxes in order to influence aggregate demand and thus economic activity and employment. In the case of Britain, there is a fiscal deficit. A rise in government expenditures and/or a decrease in taxes (i.e. an increase of injections over withdrawals) leads to an even greater (through the multiplier) rise in national income and thus of employment. Deficit spending could lead to an expansion of economic activity; this policy is known as expansionary (or, reflationary) fiscal policy. It can be said, with great certainty, that Britain's fiscal deficit will increase largely during the war. Being an OECD[1] member country and a country with similar economic performance from time to time, Britain can be considered largely an economy with many common aspects to the U.S. economy in many aspects. The U.S. economy had three major peaks in deficits and all of them reflect wars: the Civil War of the 1860s, WWI and WWII. So one can expect that a long drawn-out war with Iraq will mean that the British economy will run on deficit for a long time. This should not suggest that deficits will occur after the war as well, though. U.S. economy has recovered and reduced the stock of debt after these wars. There are also political factors that need to be considered in the case of Britain. Because of the high public unrest and anti-war movement that occurred in Britain before the war the government might feel obliged to prove to the people that war against Iraq was a wise thought. UK government would be able to provide that short-term feel-good factor by cutting taxes and possibly increased spending. If pressure on the government mounts, and it is already mounting very fast with numerous resignations and public protests, it is very likely that it would see more clearly the

Prescribing in practice Essay

Introduction The following assignment will discuss and analyse a prescribing episode, within practice, furthermore will outline safe prescribing from the Nurse Prescribing Formulary (NPF, 2013-2015).To be able to analyse and reflect on my new role as Community Practitioner Nurse Prescriber (CPNP) I will use Gibbs (1988) reflective model and a structure that will allow the use of a consultation model (Appendix1,Fig1). The focus on prescribing within nursing profession was first brought into discussion by Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in 1980 but has proven to be cornerstone after was part of the government agenda as a result of Cumberlege report in 1996.This report outlined the need for nurse to become a prescriber especially in community settings to provide clients with better care, safe and practical access to medication (Nuttal, 2008). Furthermore â€Å"The Medicinal Product Prescribing Act â€Å"1992 outlined changes in circumstances including nurses as prescribers, followed by recommendati ons made by Crown Reports1999 that suggest that health visitors (HV)) should be authorised to prescribe from a limited list, identified as the nurse prescriber’s formulary (NPF). (DH,2004). Scenario For the purpose of this assignment all names has been changed to maintain confidentiality according to NMC (2008).The following scenario it is in relation to a situation experienced while on the morning baby clinic working alongside my mentor .A mother Lisa come for a regular weight check for her 4 month old infant called James .While discussing with Lisa her son weight progress ,she mentioned about her son having very dry scaly skin on scalp since birth moreover Lisa explained that sometimes skin on the scalp become like a patchy crusty rash and James feel uncomfortable , at times not settling. Edwards (2010) suggest that using a holistic assessment it is very important when coming in contact with the client as the problem presented can have a drastic impact on the quality of life for child and the family. As a student under the supervision of my mentor we started a holistic assessment of James and finalise with a prescription decision. I start by using open questions related to Jam es general health and I asked  Lisa if she had any concerns but she confirmed back to me that there was no issues with his health since birth .To make sure that information provided by Lisa was correct and I have accuracy in details exposed I repeated back and she confirmed. As a student practitioner prescriber it is very important to maintain good practice and use assessment frameworks and consultation models as possibility to improve and gain better skills(Nuttall,2008). The Consultation The purpose of the consultation model in prescribing practice is to assist nurses in identifying strategies to deliver a diagnoses and ultimately the appropriate prescription .There are various consultation models used in practice with normative or descriptive character , however for the purpose of this case scenario I will concentrate on Roger Neighbour 1987 consultation model. Moreover Neighbour (2005) outline through his model consultation as a journey divided by check points , connecting which is the first point where client establish the relation with the practitioner is essential followed by summarising, handing over, safety netting and housekeeping. To progress further it is relevant to mention influence of communication skills in consultation process furthermore considering that nurse practitioners don’t need different communication skills in comparison with other professionals prescribers (While,2002) .However(While,2002)found that the need for appropriate environment that can maintain privacy and confidentiality could be a potential barrier during consultation rather than communication especial for those working in client homes. I choose Neighbour 1987 model for consistency and easy to apply in any circumstances moreover stand as a journey establishing relations with the client through empathy and in the same time identify the need for balance between practitioner prescriber and client (Tate,2010).Another positive aspect that I took in consideration when choosing the model was also housekeeping as practitioner have the opportunity through this section to become reflective to avoid any unresolved issues before consultation is complete ( Neighbour,2005) .Despite the decision made to use Neighbour 1987 model I will move further and explain the process and prescribing decision using the principles of good prescribing pyramid ,( Appendix 1, Fig 2)(NPC,1999). Step 1 Assessment; Consider the patient The beginning of consultation according to Neighbour,(1987) is connecting with Lisa and building a relationship ,however in a noisy environment like the clinic I found this difficult .Despite this barrier I manage to find a sitting area that appear to be more private and had the opportunity to manage a discussion with Lisa to establish that I needed to do a physical examination on James .As James was under 16 years of age ,consent from parent or guardian was needed ,therefore Lisa give a verbal consent as she was the biological parent (NMC,2013).To proceed further I use mnemonic OLDCARD to asses James with Lisa’s assistance trying to interact with her and find out if any physical or affective changes occurred. Bryans (2000) suggest that during assessment the practitioner should use knowledge, experience, recognition and prioritisation ,so to proceed further with a holistic assessment and identify symptoms that will help me to rule a diagnosis I felt I needed to ask Lisa more questions .Following the identified symptoms and physical examination I conclude that this was cradle cap a form of seborrheic dermatitis mainly affecting skin on the scalp with patches and thick scaling and sometimes yellow crusty (Sheffield et al,2007).It is important to rule out other conditions when taking assessments as sometimes cradle cap can turn into atopic dermatitis or fungal infection such as tinea capitis or easily misdiagnosed with crusted scabies (Yoshizumi and Harada,2008).Further continuing my assessment I was able to conclude that none of this conditions were present in James situation . It was important to discuss with Lisa during consultation family history that could provide additional support for my final diagnostic conclusion .Going thru such topic area Lisa explain that her husband James dad was suffering with atopic eczema since childhood .This was quite an important piece of information as such conditions like atopic eczema ( dermatitis ) are hereditary conditions often (National Eczema Society ,2011).Atopic dermatitis or eczema is a chronic skin disorder inflammatory with pruritic skin that appears mostly on the face ,neck ,bends of the arms or legs caused by the malfunction in the skin barrier( NICE,2013). Step 2 Which Strategy? In order to progress further following discussion with Lisa under my mentor supervision as a CPNP V100 I made a prescribing decision based on the physical examination and the information provided I concluded that James was suffering from cradle cup (seborrheic dermatitis)(NICE,2013).Furthermore Lisa confirmed that James did not have any allergies and was not on any medication .It was important to relieve the discomfort and unsettling times for James and I decided to prescribe an emollient and a bath additive. Pendleton et al (1984) suggest that practitioner should discover client expectation furthermore should take in consideration other treatment options before prescribing .According to NICE (2013) greasy emollients and soap substitutes or bath additive helps to remove effectively the scales, further more regular washing of the scalp and gentle brushing can help to loosen scales. Another stage followed in the Neighbour (1987) is handing over period but after Justin skin on his scalp was carefully examined no evidence of infection was identified so no referral to the General Practitioner (GP) was necessary. Consider the choice of Product According to NPC (1999) practitioners should use mnemonic ‘EASE’ as can be seen in the chart below to choose appropriate cost effective product for clients. E How effective is the product? A It is appropriate for the client? S How safe is it? E Is the prescription cost effective? To make the appropriate decision for Lisa’s infant, under the supervision of my mentor I used the Nurse Prescribers Formulary (NPF) and decided to  prescribe Oilatum Junior bath additive and cream as I considered this combination more effective in Justin’s treatment .Moreover the packaging was also appropriate as comes in a pump action and this could reduce the infection risks associated with emollients and types of recipients manufactured (NPF,2013-2015). When deciding the prescription products and quantities I also took in consideration Lisa requirements furthermore according to NICE guidelines emollients should be prescribe in large quantities approximately 250-500 grams per week and in the same time cost effective (NICE,2007).It is important when prescribing emollients to discuss with clients /parents /carers possible side effects even this products are considered to be quite safe ,however bath additives should be taken in consideration because tend to leave the s kin slippery after bathing the infant( BNFC,2014) .When prescribing a product especially for infants it is important to educate the parent/carer how to use the product and make sure they are aware of any risks and side effects . Negotiate a contract According to (Courtenay and Griffiths,2005) when prescribing we should view the process as a shared decision-making between client and prescriber .The prescribing decision stands as a contract so it was important to remind myself that I should take in consideration Lisa satisfaction with my decisions .To achieve all my actions it was paramount to have effective communication skills and ability to identify the appropriate therapeutic treatment .Throughout entire process I think that Lisa felt empowered as I hand it over to her the responsibility to apply the emollients on Justin skin ( Braid,2001).As I am not yet non-medical prescriber the prescription for Lisa’s son was written by my mentor and information leaflets regarding seborreic dermatitis were given to Lisa for further guidance. Review According to Neighbour (1987) consultation model this step relates to safety netting and refers to follow up of the consultation and possible outcomes. Furthermore together with my mentor we arranged to follow up in ten days to see if Lisa’s infant was making any progress and treatment was effective .Through this review in ten day time practitioner can identify any more concerns of the parents and possible side effects of the treatment used(  DH,2010b). Record Keeping Following guidance of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC,2006) it is practitioner accountability to ensure records are maintain accurately and prescription details it is recorded in the infant health record (NPC,1999).Moreover I ensured the details of the prescription and the consultation were entered into general computer system within the next 4 hours following consultation and the GP also was aware of the consultation and products prescribed .According to (NMC,2006) details of the consultation and prescription should be entered into the computer system within forty eight hours with exception for special circumstances. Reflection Using Gibbs reflective cycle during consultation process with Lisa’s infant I had the opportunity to identify positive and negative aspects and reflect on the scenario. In the same time final part of Neighbours consultation model refers to Housekeeping and this stands as another stage that give me the opportunity to reflect on my prescribing decision and consultation .I felt that throughout the whole process I used safe and effective decisions even at times I felt a bit nervous however my mentor feedback was positive in regards to my performance .One aspect that I found difficult was the environment ,at the time the baby clinic was busy and noisy and it was difficult to find a private area to conduct the consultation ,but such issues I could reflect on it for my future prescribing practice . Conclusion Through this experience I able to develop on my new role as V100 prescriber using specific tools like the consultation model and good prescribing steps .Furthermore I had the opportunity to apply appropriate communication skills and medical knowledge along with the legislation to conclude with a safe and effective prescribing practice . A new CPNP I can utilize different assessment tools based on a consultation model along with a decision making framework to support my practice and at the same time reflect on my ability to undertake a partnership approach that responds to client needs and concerns. Definitely this experience has been with great importance for my educational journey as V100 nurse prescriber. Reference: Baird, A., (2001) Diagnoses and prescribing .Primary Healthcare 11(5):24-26. Bryans, A., 2000. ‘Providing new insight into community nursing know-how through Qualitative analysis of multiple data sets of simulation data’. Primary Health Care Research and Development, 1: 79-89. Courtenay, M., Griffiths, M., (2005) Independent and Supplementary Prescribing-An Essential Guide, Cambridge University Press. Department of Health (2004) Extending Independent Nurse Prescribing within the NHS in England. London: The Stationery Office. Department of Health (2010b) Nurse Prescribing FAQ, http://tinyurl.com/367d5zx [Accessed on 20 April 2014]. Neighbour, R., (1987).The Inner Consultation: How to Develop an Effective and Intuitive Consulting Style, Lancaster: MPT Press. Neighbour, R., (2005) The Inner Consultation: How to Develop an Effective and Intuitive Consulting Style, Second Edition: Radcliffe Publishing Ltd National Institute for Clinical Excellence,(2013) Seborrhoeic dermatitis. Available on line http://cks.nice.org.uk/seborrhoeic-dermatitis [ Accessed on 20 April 2014] National Prescribing Centre (1999) Signposts for prescribing nurses-general principles of good prescribing .Prescribing Nurse Buletin1.National Prescribing Centre, Liverpool Nursing and Midwifery Council (2006)Standards of proficiency for nurse and midwife prescribers. Nursing and Midwifery Council. London Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008) Guidance for continuing professional development for nurse and midwife prescribers. NMC Circular 10/2008. Nuttall, D.,(2008).Introducing Public Health to Prescribing Practice .Nurse Prescribing 6(7):299-305. Pendleton, D., Schofield, T., Tate, P., (1984). The Consultation: An Approach to Learning and Teaching .Oxford: Oxford University Press. While, A.,(2002).Practical skills: prescribing consultation in practice. British Journal of Community Nursing 7(9):469-473. Yoshizumi, J., Harada, T.,(2008) ‘Wake sign’: an important clue for the diagnosis of scabies. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology (34)6 p 711-714.

The Pros and Cons of Allowing Cell Phones in School

The Pros and Cons of Allowing Cell Phones in School One of the more controversial and most discussed issues that school administrators face on a daily basis is where they stand with students and cell phones. It seems that virtually every school takes a different stance on the issue of cell phones  in school. No matter what your school’s policy is, there is no way to completely keep all students from bringing their phones unless you do student searches every day, which is simply not feasible. Administrators must evaluate the pros and cons of allowing cell phones in schools and make a decision based on their own student population. The fact is that almost every household owns multiple cell phones.   The age of students who own a cell phone has progressively been trending downward.   It has become increasingly common for students as young as five to possess a cell phone. This generation of students are digital natives and thus experts when it comes to technology. Most of them can text with their eyes closed. They are often far more adept than most adults at using their cell phones for many purposes. Should Cell Phones Be Banned or Embraced in Schools? There are essentially three core stances most school districts have taken with their cell phone policies. One such policy basically bans their students from having their cell phones at all. If students are caught with their cell phones, then they can be confiscated or fined. In some cases, the student may be suspended. Another common cell phone policy allows students to bring their cell phones to school. Students are allowed to use them during non-instructional times such as time in between classes and lunch. If students are caught with them in class, then they are confiscated from the student. Another cell phone policy is leaning towards a shift in administrators thinking. Students are not only allowed to possess and use their cell phones, but theyre also encouraged to use them in class as learning tools.   Teachers incorporate the use of cell phones regularly into their lessons for purposes such as research. Districts that ban their students from having their cell phones or limit their usage do this for a variety of reasons. Those include not wanting it to make it easy for students to cheat, being afraid that students are sending inappropriate content, playing games, or even setting up drug deals. Teachers also feel like they are distracting and disrespectful. All of these are valid concerns and are why this is such a hot issue among school administrators. The movement towards embracing the use of cell phones by students begins with educating students on proper use of phones at school. Administrators who are shifting towards this policy often say that they are fighting an uphill battle with a policy that has a complete or partial ban on cell phone possession and use. Administrators who have transitioned to this type of policy say that their job has become much easier and that they have far fewer issues of cell phone abuse than they did under other policies. This type of policy also clears the way for teachers to embrace cell phones as an instructional tool. Teachers who have elected to use cell phones in their daily lessons say that their students are actively engaged and more attentive than they typically are. A cell phone can be a powerful educational tool. Smartphones have the ability to provide students with so much information in an instant that teachers cannot deny that they can be powerful tools that enhance learning in the classroom. Many teachers are using them for a variety of purposes such as small group projects with research races or text competitions for correct answers. The website polleverywhere.com allows teachers to pose a question to their students.   The students then text their answers to a particular number that the teacher provides them. The website collects the data and puts it into a graph, where teachers can project their answers on a smart board and discuss the answer choices with the class. The results of these activities have been very positive. Teachers, administrators, and students have all provided positive feedback. Many teachers and students would argue that it is time to move into the 21st century and begin using the resources we have available to engage our students in the learning process more readily.

Mass Media and Public Attitude to Crime in Britain Essays

Mass Media and Public Attitude to Crime in Britain Essays Mass Media and Public Attitude to Crime in Britain Essay Mass Media and Public Attitude to Crime in Britain Essay An Objective inquiry by Dr. Ignatius Gwanmesia into the importance of the influence of the mass media on our attitude to crime. Introduction The British crime phobia â€Å"in part generated by sensationalist media coverage†, Kirsta (2001, p. 5); the corresponding prioritisation of crime-related debates in most party manifestos, Brand and Price, (2000, p. ); the reciprocal investigations into the impact of media messages on crime attitudes are justified on the reality that â€Å"every seconds somewhere in Britain a crime is being committed, and popular newspapers outbid one another to present ever more sensationally lurid coverage of muggings, murders and rapes† Kirsta, (1988, p. 4). While prevailing circumstances may give the impression of a crime epidemic partly due to mass media influence, pinions about direct correlates are not only polarised but problematic in validity and reliability. In analysing the mass media influence on public attitude to crime, I will start by defining ‘mass media’ and ‘crime’. Then, using the television, the newspapers and films as my mass media typologies, I will concurrently critically analyse prevailing opinions on how they impact on public attitude to crime. While the appraisal will evaluate prevailing debates, the conclusion will be a resume of dialogues developed exclusively within the essay. Based on the Harvard model, the bibliography will alphabetically credit citations made within the discourse. Definition Mass media denotes, â€Å"the methods and organization used by special social groups to convey messages to large, socially mixed and widely dispersed audiences† Trowler, (2001, p. 1). The television, newspapers, radio, cinema, mobile phones, films etc are mass media instruments employed in encoding and disseminating messages. Crime denotes â€Å"an action or omission which constitute an offence and is punishable by law† Pearsall, (1998, p. 434). The Mass media attitude-influencing debate With television as the typology, Allen, (1994, p. 37) cites the hitherto elief that â€Å"the camera never lies† to emphasise the trust or reality that majority of the public attaches to mass media messages. From a semiotic and structural perspective, Robert Allen goes on to emphasise that while mass media information are â€Å"partial, motivated, conventional and biased† (p. 38), people simply receive them as †pure information, as an unmediated signifier†. Whi le this tendency and the lack of media literacy may collude to accord consensus to â€Å"the power-wielding ability of the press to instigate public hysteria on crime†, Banks, (2001, p. 7); Trowler, (2001), the correlate between the mass media messages and crime is not only highly contentious but is a factor of a myriad of variables; age, Gunter, (1987); social class, Gray, (1992); gender, Gunter, (1995); race and ethnicity, Gillespie, (1995) and media literacy, Buckingham, (1993b). With television, the newspapers and films as typologies, the medical model perceives the mass media as the syringe, the message as what is injected and the audience as the patient. Accordingly, the influence of the media on our attitudes to crime is a factor of dosage, (the quantity, frequency and extent of exposure to mass media socialisation, Allen, (1994, p. 37); and the resilience, (audience’s selective ability rather than passive attitude to media messages). However, irrespective of our resilience, â€Å"prolonged exposure to biased media message will eventually impact on our attitudes to crime. † Lazarsfeld et al. , (1948). Some sociologists assert that, â€Å"the hypnotic power of the mass media deprives us of the capacity for critical thought. Marcuse, (1972). This is acute within contemporary techno-globalised society where audiences are incessantly bombarded with crime details or crime-explicit films. Regarding films, the murder of James Bulger was attributed to â€Å"re-enactment of scenes from ‘Child’s play 111. † Ford, (1994). Similarly, critics argue that the television, news papers and cinema have socialised aud iences into stereotyping crime so that medical conditions like mental illness are being criminalised. For example society is more predisposed to prejudge innocent mental patients culpable solely by reason of their circumstance compared to affluent criminals. Similarly, the allegation that British society is â€Å"intrinsically racist†, Donald and Rattansi, (1992, p. 4) is exemplified in media reporting that visibly seem to socialised audiences into criminalising ‘Blackness’. Here, subsequent to a fatal assault, a tabloid caption read, â€Å"Chelsea Law-abiding white male lawyer murdered by two black ‘hoodies. ’† The Sun, (2007). The resulting public hysteria and outraged evoked was indicative of the extent to which placid readers had been socialised through minds and thoughts manipulation into passive and stereotypical consumers of bias media messages. Here, the media relegated the actual criminal act of murder into insignificance while readers were manipulated into using ‘blackness’ with implications of racism as primary criteria in their evaluation of the crime. Similarly, the Telegraph headline of December 14th 1985; â€Å"Black Brixton Looters jailed† Trowler, (2001, p. 10) is typical of mass media attitude manipulation so that ‘blackness’ is perceived as synonymous with criminality. Furthermore, the newspapers and television’s preoccupation with technical efficiency at the expense of empathetic concern have socialised audience into making stars of criminals while crime victims are either negated or re-victimised. Kirsta, (1988, p. 105). For example, the social wor ker was isolated and vilified in the Victoria Climbe trails, thanks to media-audience manipulation. The media’s influence here was to manipulate the audience to scapegoat the less credential social worker as opposed to the learned consultant. As in most criminal investigations, the media became the reporter, prosecutor, judge and executioner while the audience passively consented to the media propaganda. Society’s stereotypical perception of social workers â€Å"as indecisive wimps who fail to protect children from death, or as authoritarian bullies who unjustifiably snatch children from their parent† Banks, (2001, p. 17) persist today thanks to media influence. Ultimately, until a herculean revolution is affected to change the way mass media messages are encoded and disseminated, attitudes to crime will always reciprocate and satisfy the mass media’s mind manipulation and socialisation processes. Appraisal While conservatives of the Mary Whitehouse school vilify the mass media for encouraging and â€Å"desensitizing the audience to crime and violence and other forms of deviance†, Trowler, (2001, p. 112), advocates uphold them not only as the primary means of informing the public but argue that audiences â€Å"are complicated filter mechanism that are selective in their interpretation and pplication of mass media messages. Fiske, (1986). Similarly, while this argument may provide plausible reasons to argue that the selective consumption of media messages serves to mitigate the alleged domineering influence of the mass media on public crime attitudes, Robert Allen (1994, p. 6) stressed that â€Å"despite the seemingly self-evi dent manner in which we are able to make sense of television, that ability is in fact a result of our having learned the convention of television reading. Furthermore, although Robert Allen, (1994, p. 14) says â€Å"early mass communication scholars were impressed by broadcasting’s direct, immediate and drastic effects on behaviours and attitudes†,(p. 14), in qualifying his statement, he emphasised that â€Å"the media did not tell people what to think so much as they told people what to think about. † (p. 14). Crime-wise, the debate would then be whether the mass media implicitly drives some people into committing crime or does it rather set the agenda for public discourse on crime? If as a result of the latter, mass media audiences are instigated to undertake dialogue as a result thereof, then, this must be indicative of attitudes that are the result of mass media sensitisation about crime, or counter response to media crime representations. Whatever the case, a comprehensive appraisal of the power of the mass media on crime attitude is inherently problematic since this â€Å"is an under-research phenomenon† Boyd-Barrett and Newbold, (2001, p. 118) which â€Å"operates by conventions rather than by hard-and-fast rules. † Allen, (1994, p. 49). Moreover, McQuail, (1994, p. 27) noted that â€Å"there is little agreement on the nature and extent of these assumed effects. † Nonetheless, while it is generally presumed that the mass media influence audience’s attitudes to crime and â€Å"that television cultivates people’s beliefs† Gerbner and Larry (1976), counter argument asserts that â€Å"an individual’s attitude o r predisposition can modify or sometimes completely distort the meaning of a given mass media message† Boyd-Barrett and Newbold, (2001, p. 127). Furthermore, from an entertainment or escapist perspective, it is argued that television â€Å"is not supposed to be taken seriously. Allen, (1994, p. 4). The issue here is the proportion of mass media audience that are objective enough to discern facts from fiction. Nevertheless, the reality with mass media dependency as our primary source of information or entertainment is that, our attitudes to crime will always mirror some of the shortcomings of the media’s encoding and dissemination processes. Bearing in mind the fact that being a capitalist society where profit-making supersedes ethical and moral values, the various attitudes to crime are factors of vested interest as well as one’s social class within the prevailing economic structure. Research-wise the media’s quest to galvanise readership by stressing the scale rather than the true extent of crime â€Å"is neither ethically acceptable nor logical. † Ennew, (1996, p. 12). Conclusion. In the contemporary techno-globalised world where audiences are not only mass media-dependent for information, Banks, (2001); Trowler, (2001), but are incessantly bombarded with crime minutiae, there is consensus that our attitudes to crime will reciprocate these realities. Banks, (2001); Brand and Price, (2000). However, the extent to which these attitudes are a consequence of media socialisation and manipulation is dependent on a myriad of inter-related variables; age, Gunter, (1987); social class, Gray, (1992); gender, Gunter, (1995); race and ethnicity, Gillespie, (1995) and media literacy, Buckingham, (1993b); There is also consensus that the public’s habitual moral panic and knee-jerk attitudes of indignation, detestation, and sometimes mass hysteria to emotive crime-reporting are usually instigated by sensational reporting â€Å"to increase readership rather than transmit facts. Kirsta, (1988). Nonetheless some critics argue that â€Å"the mass media, rather than changing attitudes, serves to confirm those attitudes already held by audience. † Trowler, (2001, p. 64). Furthermore, the apparent media’s influence on crime attitude is mitigated on the assumption that majority of the public are rationally selective in their consumption of media messages. Fiske, (1986). Holistically, â€Å"the lack of systematic researches into the exact impact of the mass media on our attitudes to crime†, Boyd-Barrett and Newbold, (2001, p. 18), is colluding with other factors to render it necessary to question the reliability and validity of prevailing opinions. Allen, (1994). Thus, until the relevant mechanism is established to address this deficiency, related analysis will forever be shrouded in relativities? Bibliography Allen, R. (1994) Channels of Discourse, Reassembled: television and contemporary criticism 2nd edn. London: Routledge. Banks, S. (2001) Ethics and Values in Social Work. Hampshire: Palgrave. Boyd-Barrett, O. and Newbold, C. (2001) Approaches to Media: A Reader. Tunbridge Wells: Gray Publishing. Brand, S. and Price, R. (2000) The Economic and Social Cost of Crime. London: Home Office Research Study. 217. Buckingham, D. (1993b) Reading Audiences: Young People and the Media. Manchester: UP Ennew et al, (1996) Children and Prostitution: How Can we Measure and Monitor the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children? Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography. New York: UNICEF. Fiske, J. (1986) Television: polysemy and popularity, Critical Studies in Mass Communication. Vol, 3. Ford, M. (1994). Sight and Sound. London: BFI. Gerbner, G. And Larry, G. (1976) Living with Television: The Violence Profile. Journal of Communication, Vol. 26, No. 2. Gillespie, M. (1995) Television, Ethnicity and Cultural Change. London: Routledge. Grays, A. (1992) Video Playtime. London: Routledge. Gunter, B. (1997) Children and the fear of crime. London: Libbey. Gunter, B. (11995) Television and Gender: Representation. London: John Libbey. Katz, E. (1979) On Conceptualising Media Effects. Leuven: Catholic University. Kirsta, A. (1988) Victims: Surviving the aftermath of violent crime. London: Hutchison Ltd. Klapper, J. T (1960) The Effect of Mass Communication. New York: Free Press. Lazarsfeld, P. F. Et al. (1948) The People’s Choice. Columbia: Columbia University Press. Marcuse, H. (1972) The One Dimensional Man. London: Abacus. McQuail, D. (1994) Mass Communication Theory: An Introduction, 3rd edn. London: Sage. Pearsall, J. (1998). The New Oxford Dictionary of English. Oxford: Oxford University Press. The Sun, (2007). Chelsea Law-abiding white male lawyer murdered by two black ‘hoodies. ’ London: The Sun Newspaper. Trowler, P. (1998) Investigating Mass Media. London: Collins Educational.

Ethnic Group Essay Essays

Ethnic Group Essay Essays Ethnic Group Essay Essay Ethnic Group Essay Essay In this essay. I write about cultural group and why we can non specify an cultural group by their cultural elements such as linguistic communication. faith. imposts and so on. I write this essay because there is a inquiry about why we can non specify an cultural group by their civilization. whereas civilization are one elements of an cultural. There is job of seeing cultural groups as cultural groups ; â€Å"the mere fact that two groups of people are of different civilization does non needfully connote – as has about ever been assumed – that they belong to two rather different societal systems ( Leach 1954: 17 ) . â€Å"Someone is Lue by virtuousness of believing and naming himself Lue and of moving in ways that validate his Lueness† ( Moerman. 1965:1219 ) . First of all. I want to state what is cultural group. Before cultural groups. anthropologies who study colonial topic and society called society they studied as ‘tribe’ and people they studied as â€Å"tribal people† . The word â€Å"tribe† was replaced by the word â€Å"ethnic groups† by the sixtiess because ; a tribal society is non every bit stray as being assumed. tribal societies interact with one another. and the word folk reflects Europocentric positions. a crisp qualitative differentiation between ourselves and the people we study. There is a job when we seeing cultural groups as cultural groups because there will be a different in their pattern. For an illustration. cultural Java Banyumasan or Banyumas at Indonesia with Orang Jawa of Malaysia. Basically. they are an specific ethnic. But due to geographical differences for illustration. they have different pattern. linguistic communication. faith and others. In the field of human ecology. we can see Jawa Banyumasan normally live in the sou-west of Central Java. Technically. Jawa Banyumasan is one of the subgroups of the Jawa people groups. but they have their ain cultural fluctuations which differ from other Jawa peoples. While The Orang Jawa. ( Jawa of Malaysia ) has migrated from Central Java. where the same topographic point of Jawa Banyumasan. to Malaysia. This migrations due to Dutch colonisation at Indonesia from 1880 to 1930. The Orang Jawa live in peninsular Malaysia in parts of Johor. Malacca. Perak. Selangor. and Kedah. Jawa Banyumasan have typical Javanese idiom. Normally. easy for Jawa Banyumasan to understand conversations with other Jawa idioms. Degree of Javanese are likely household tree. The higher you go the more similarity or standardisation there is. But the lower you go the more assortment. However. many other Jawa groups hard to understand the Banyumasan idiom because of the widespread of Banyumasan vocabulary. While the younger Orang Jawa who use Jawa linguistic communication being less among them. Most of them can non retrieve how to talk it or neer learned about it. In their day-to-day live. Most of the Java’s Banyumasan live as a husbandman. When we compare with other folk in Indonesia. Banyumasan have an progress in the manner they farm. Other than have a fertile dirt. they cultivate the land good and they besides have modern equipment to make their agriculture. Banyumasan besides have their ain little industries for illustration woven bamboo and brown sugar. To run into other demands. this trade good is sold to other parts. For Orang Jawa ( Malaysia ) . their new coevalss who live in metropolis have assimilated with the general Malay civilization. Now they besides work as a bankers. pilots. comptrollers. politicians. and besides applied scientists. They good known as a efficient and hardworking people. In Selangor. some of Orang Jawa work as a Islamic spiritual instructor. Orang Jawa who live in small towns. they still maintains their individuality and traditions. Peoples who are non Jawa but come from other Malay group. when they married with Orang Jawa. they besides claimed or called themselves as Orang Jawa. or Jawa Peranakan. Other than grown up their ain veggies. and farm animal. they besides involved in touristry activities by make their manner of life as a tourer attractive force. Orang jawa good known as a friendly people. They normally will ask for visitants to portion repast with their households even though they frequently have a big household with some holding between 10 to 17 kids. Marital personal businesss is a large thing to Orang Jawa. Sometimes. they celebrate matrimonies last up to three yearss. Giving gift to the honeymooners are besides a common thing for Orang Jawa. They more to assist each other instead than during nuptialss instead than have a larges amount of money. In their belief. or faith. bulk of Java’s Banyumas are Muslims. However. around 80 % of them are â€Å"Muslim individuality card† ( abangan ) . While the other 20 % were god-fearing Muslim ( pupils ) . who are pious Muslim and lead Islamic instruction earnestly. Other than that. some of Java’s Banyumas still believe in animism. They besides believe with liquors such as bujungan. jangkrong. and dhemit. Topographic points like grave. mountains. caves and sea it is considered sacred. When they sick or being disturbed by liquors. they will utilizing priest-doctor to assist them. They frequently hold ceremonials with mantras and offerings to their countries protected by catastrophes. While the Orang Jawa are normally Sunni Muslims. During marrying ceremonials and Circumcision. they perform the jedur. a vocals of congratulations to the Prophet of Muhammad which have been compiled in a book called Silawatan. They will besides execute the kempling. a type of dance to giving congratulations to Allah during spiritual occasions. During the public presentation. they will utilize tools where made of lambs wool and wood. Before and after the dance. Quran is being read. It takes a group of 10 to twenty people to execute it. The kempling public presentation is a clip for people to acquire together to construct cultural solidarity and integrity. They besides will portion job to the other members during the public presentation. As a decision. due to differences in their cultural elements such as linguistic communication. faith. imposts. manner of life and so on. we can non specify an cultural group by their civilization. The cultural boundaries do non ever correspond with cultural boundaries. Like Edmund Leach. Political systems of Highland Burma: A survey of Kachin Social Structure ( 1954 ) said ; â€Å"the mere fact that two groups of people are of different civilization does non needfully connote – as has about ever been assumed – that they belong to two rather different societal systems ( Leach 1954: 17 ) Assuming that cultural groups are cultural groups will neglect to turn to assorted facets of cultural phenomena. † Other than that. Cultural groups can non be defined by civilization. An cultural group is a group of people who believe that they portion the same lineage. history. cultural traits such as linguistic communication and faith which are distinguishable from other groups.

Challenges and Opportunities of the Organizations Assignment

Challenges and Opportunities of the Organizations - Assignment Example Accepting money from the Mexican drug dealers helps in satisfying its business goals as the deal increases deposits for loaning. Involvement of the organization in money laundering activity is leading to the likelihood of it incurring a fine of $700 million. Another challenge facing the organization relates to lack of proper marketing focus. This element has led the company to face legal suites. The business is also on the verge of compensating some of its clients who lost money through uncertain schemes that it initiated. For instance, the organization is setting aside $1.3 billion for compensating victims of improper insurance selling. With proper marketing focus, the organization would be able to identify and detect the problem and avoid the associated losses. Additionally, the business is poised to incur bills in payment of the damages for the alleged misinformation about its American consumer-finance business. The organization is also under scrutiny for violation of mortgage foreclosure rules, which will see it compensate customers that lost investments in the scheme of Bernard Madoff Ponzi. Despite the challenges faced, the organization enjoys some opportunities that it can exploit and develop to improve its condition. One of the opportunities relates to the growth experienced in the marketing markets, which has the potential to increase profitability. The business already has a big name in the banking and financial industry. It only needs to correct its tainted image and will manage to gain acceptance in the emerging markets. Another opportunity relates to the low-interest rates that the organization offers on mortgages. The organization can take advantage of its recognition as offering low-interest rates on mortgages to expand its market share and revenues.

GREGGS Bakers. A Short-term Digital Marketing Communications Plan Essay

GREGGS Bakers. A Short-term Digital Marketing Communications Plan - Essay Example These competencies reflect the company’s corporate values of being enthusiastic, supportive, honest, open, appreciative, fair, considerate and respectful. These values are not only meant for the customers but also for the employees who are an integral part of the company’s successful run. The company’s product portfolio includes: breakfast items, bread and rolls, sweets, savouries, sandwiches, and drinks. About two-thirds of the sales are generated by the company’s sandwiches category (Greggs). GREEGGS Bakers strongly believe in the role they play in the society. In order to support the society and pay back what the business owe to the society the foundation for GREGG Trust, later to be called GREGG Foundation, was laid by Ian Gregg in 1987. Also the company is strongly focused on creating more jobs in the society. In this endeavour the company plans to open 500 more stores and create 6000 new jobs in the economy (Greggs). As GREEGGS Bakers plan to improve their presence on the online market and enhance their online presence, there have been some important reasons identified that are the cause of low traffic and therefore a need for an e-marketing plan has been created. With the trend of online industry growing in the last few years, it has become increasing important for different firms to capitalise on these opportunities in order to remain competitive as well as satisfy customers. In addition to this, there has been an increasing number of customers buying food products online therefore GREEGGS Bakers need to understand this situation and capitalise on this opportunity. Environmental analysis Before coming up with a well thought and effective marketing plan it is first important to analyse the internal and external environment thoroughly (Fill, 2009). This in turn allows the company to come up with more related and successful marketing strategies (Gay, Charlesworth, and Esen, 2007). With reference to the online and digital marketi ng it is important for the organisation to evaluate the different trends and consumers’ preferences in order to build more strong relationships (Peterson, Koch, Grone, and Vo, 2010). There are several factors which should be considered while devising digital marketing strategies for example the security concerns (Flavian & Guinaliu, 2006). The social technologies have transformed the whole marketplace (Li and Bernhoff, 2011) Trends on the Online Marketplace: Internet has changed the whole scenario of the market place (Fox, 2010). It is important to come up with proper internet and online strategy (Porter, 2001). In order to

Medical coding Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Medical coding - Coursework Example While similar studies could be done using data collection from other government services, it would take much more time to do so. CPT can help quickly summarize the data and highlight areas of high frequency or areas which have become important during the last few years. By following such an analysis insurers could be able to reduce their cost and their final price for the customers too. By pricing their insurance products according to occurrence rates for specific ailments, prices for certain insurance covers could be reduced. Also, insurers would be able to track the areas where the claim costs are highest and act accordingly. Finally, this analysis could help make forecasts and predict when certain events are more likely to occur and where – this could help plan resources to tackle such issues in time. 2) Extension to pharmacies and laboratories: CPT codes could be given extension to cover pharmacies’ and laboratories’ activities. The CPT could cover the entire Medication Therapy Management (MTM) services. This would prevent adverse dispensing events and the physicians would also be kept up to date on medical consulting/therapy that the patients have already received. Further, laboratories could also use the CPT codes just like physicians for reporting and managing their billing and services to patients. 3) Cross-country standardization: As CPT codes have standardized the healthcare and insurance industry practice in the US, an extension of these codes could be to set the standards internationally. With such standardization, sharing of best practices and faster dissemination of information across countries could be much faster and efficient. 4) Remote surgery protocols: CPT codes could also be helpful in conducting remote surgeries. Remote surgeries refer to physicians conducting a surgery from an offsite location using robot technology which is linked up through the internet. CPT codes could help by having standard

The European Union Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

The European Union - Case Study Example As a market on its own, the EU becomes significant because of the large population, the availability of resources and the production opportunities which are present in the region. Of course the EU may not have the lucrative advantages that could be offered by China or other Asian countries but it does have the infrastructure in many places to support business at a level which countries such as India or even China may not be able to provide. Additionally, as a democratic force and as an international body, the European Union is unique amongst its peers since it has a very complex and highly evolved system of creating and establishing its democracy. Since the treaties of Paris and Rome, the body has been creating, expanding and explaining the democratic principles that have led to its inception. Even though the system designed by the stalwarts of the EU is held in high regard by many critics, there are those who say that the system produced by the organisation is cumbersome, a hindrance to the economy, non-transparent and does not take into account the sprit of democracy. Therefore, on issues such as the Iraq war and other points which can lead nations to be divided, the EU loses some of its bite because different countries within the union may have different opinions on how the matter should be dealt with. Additionally, the larger powers within the EU often have more weight in international matters than smaller powers. For example, political support for a war which comes from France and Germany has a lot more value than opposition with comes from Romania or Italy. Even the EU itself realises that the balance of power between countries as it had been maintained by the treaties needs to reflect in the ways it deals with the world if it has to have a significant global impact. The current distribution gives too much power to smaller members and it has been pointed out that when the EU increases its number to 25 members, the group of seven smallest countries would represent only 1.25% of the total EU GDP while they will have more voting rights than the six largest member countries that contribute more than 80% of the total GDP (Hain, 2003). Such inequalities will certainly create and increase democratic issues and may be a threat to the stability of the union as a whole. On the other hand, the economic value of a country adds to the political clout that country has within the European Union even if the application of the one country, one vote rule remains firm. With that idea, the wishes of the majority of the countries are represented and turned into laws while the majority of individual Europeans living in those countries may be against the creation of that very same law (Beetham & Lord, 1998). In a way it represents the same issues which the American presidential election system faces where a majority of votes from the general public may be defeated by a majority of votes in the Electoral College. This democratic deficit weakens the position of the EU as a law making body and a force for the unification of the continent. For example, the European draft constitution, when it was presented, was given very diverse views from the member nations. The UK opinion was to look at

Workplace Stress Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Workplace Stress - Essay Example Organizations also make atmosphere employee friendly and suitable for work by meeting up certain standards, which helps in reducing work place stress. Any organization can measure the level of work place stress on their employees by simply conducting surveys and polls on this topic plus interviews can also be conducted. In order to evaluate the success of their work place stress management programs the organization can simply conduct an online poll or survey with interviews about how effective an employee feels the programs has been. Power and Politics are two different concepts but they can be put together. Power in general means an authority a person holds and politics is basically a process through which groups of people make decisions. Usually decision-making comes with power, people have the authority to make decisions that is politics when they have power. Power and Politics have similarities and differences both but similarities overlap the differences. As in politics, democracy, power all these go together. In democracy its politics that leads to the transfer of power between different leaders that run the country. Power and Politics are always related to each other as explained earlier power leads to politics as only people having authority can make decisions. Organizations also have a hierarchy structure that is being followed to make decisions. When it comes to the use of power and politics ethical issues arise as not all people think the decisions being taken are correct, there is always a conflict o f opinion when a group of people sits down. Ethical issues like equal rights and discrimination often arise due to the abuse of power and politics in an organization and it’s advisable to minimize these as they can also lead to work place

The European Union Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

The European Union - Case Study Example As a market on its own, the EU becomes significant because of the large population, the availability of resources and the production opportunities which are present in the region. Of course the EU may not have the lucrative advantages that could be offered by China or other Asian countries but it does have the infrastructure in many places to support business at a level which countries such as India or even China may not be able to provide. Additionally, as a democratic force and as an international body, the European Union is unique amongst its peers since it has a very complex and highly evolved system of creating and establishing its democracy. Since the treaties of Paris and Rome, the body has been creating, expanding and explaining the democratic principles that have led to its inception. Even though the system designed by the stalwarts of the EU is held in high regard by many critics, there are those who say that the system produced by the organisation is cumbersome, a hindrance to the economy, non-transparent and does not take into account the sprit of democracy. Therefore, on issues such as the Iraq war and other points which can lead nations to be divided, the EU loses some of its bite because different countries within the union may have different opinions on how the matter should be dealt with. Additionally, the larger powers within the EU often have more weight in international matters than smaller powers. For example, political support for a war which comes from France and Germany has a lot more value than opposition with comes from Romania or Italy. Even the EU itself realises that the balance of power between countries as it had been maintained by the treaties needs to reflect in the ways it deals with the world if it has to have a significant global impact. The current distribution gives too much power to smaller members and it has been pointed out that when the EU increases its number to 25 members, the group of seven smallest countries would represent only 1.25% of the total EU GDP while they will have more voting rights than the six largest member countries that contribute more than 80% of the total GDP (Hain, 2003). Such inequalities will certainly create and increase democratic issues and may be a threat to the stability of the union as a whole. On the other hand, the economic value of a country adds to the political clout that country has within the European Union even if the application of the one country, one vote rule remains firm. With that idea, the wishes of the majority of the countries are represented and turned into laws while the majority of individual Europeans living in those countries may be against the creation of that very same law (Beetham & Lord, 1998). In a way it represents the same issues which the American presidential election system faces where a majority of votes from the general public may be defeated by a majority of votes in the Electoral College. This democratic deficit weakens the position of the EU as a law making body and a force for the unification of the continent. For example, the European draft constitution, when it was presented, was given very diverse views from the member nations. The UK opinion was to look at

Discovering sustainable success Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discovering sustainable success - Essay Example From the lecture it is easier to know what to expect at the University and what is suitable for my interests. I also learnt that the University is not there only as a business, but it is a place where students can get broader social and cultural experiences. In addition, it creates and promotes the idea of an institution without borders. Sustainability is a key source of competitive disadvantage because there are more societal expectations for all. The speakers in the video also show that there exists a connection between what students at the institution do in class or the research labs and what they experience once they are in the job market. This makes it easier for any potential student to understand what is required of them. The lecture also shows some of the most effective ways that a student in a University can acquire skills and make use of these skills is not only within the institution, but in other settings. The skills are applicable in other settings such as home or at

Assessment Questionnaire and Summary Essay Example for Free

Assessment Questionnaire and Summary Essay Business General Business You have been assigned the task of creating an assessment to measure the competency of caseworkers who are being considered for a position in your family counseling practice. Resource: University of Phoenix Material: Questionnaire form located on the student website. Complete the Questionnaire form by creating 10 questions, which you believe will determine the competencies of these caseworkers. Questions should address the following:  · Question(s) concerning the caseworker’s method for handling ethical issues.  · Questions(s) concerning the caseworker’s plan for staying current in their area of expertise and for receiving continuing education.  · Question(s) concerning the caseworker’s procedure for maintaining accurate and complete client records.  · A specific question or scenario that requires the caseworker to determine whether to abide by â€Å"duty to warn† or â€Å"duty to protect†. Complete the questionnaire as if you were applying for the position. Write a 350-to 500-word summary for your superior explaining why this person should be considered for the position in your family counseling practice. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Post the questionnaire and the summary as two separate documents to your assignment forum. Surely the advice youve just read has left you feeling more confident and better prepared to face college. If so, you certainly arent the only one. It is a popular thing for adults to return to school when their children get older. Do not be afraid. If you work hard, you will be a success in college.

Why Authoritarian Governments In Asia Control The Media Politics Essay

Why Authoritarian Governments In Asia Control The Media Politics Essay Authoritarian regimes or governments have always been considered by western scholars or politicians as standing on the opposite side of democracy. In those states within which media are controlled, the freedom of speech, human rights and democracy remain big concerns of those democrats. Asia, the largest continent in the world, boasts its diversified politic forms, be it democratic regimes, like Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korean and quasi-democratic ones like Thailand, as well as authoritarian ones like Mainland China, North Korean and Burma. The role of media in Asia varies with the political style, from free to control. This essay, then, mainly focuses on exploring the reason why authoritarian regime expects to take control of media from the political, cultural, technological and economic perspectives. à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã‚  Media in authoritarian rule in Asia Authoritarian government refers to the government that concentrates power in the hands of a leader or a small group of elites unelected by the people; and is opposed to individualism and democracy. Although authoritarian governments always claim that their existence is to protect the country and to provide discipline and order to its way of life and that the traditional culture should be aggressively maintained against encroaching external or contemporary culture (Robert McKenzie, 2006 73-74), the reality is in the opposite side that those basic components of a civil society like human rights, free information, free speech, social justice, etc. are almost eliminated or constrained in the so called order and traditional culture. As what Myung-Jin Park,James Curran(1999) point out, authoritarian regimes can be divided into three major forms: single-party regime, military regime and religious regime. In Asia, countries can be entitled as authoritarian are Brunei (the executive authority lies with the unelected sultan), China (state under communist single party rule), Laos (a communist single party state), Burma (military rule), North Korea (one-party rule), Oman (ruled by a hereditary sultan, and no political parties are legal and no opposition movement), Qatar (ruled by hereditary emirates), Saudi Arabia Syria United Arab Emirates (ruled by hereditary emirates), Vietnam (communist single-party state). Media in these authoritarian regimes can be either privately or publicly owned but must resort to the control of the state. Such control means that the media are never allowed to expose the information that opposes the will of ruling class or interest groups strictly related to the government. Media can criticize the government, but not the supreme level which takes the hold of the highest power. They have certain degree of freedom, but it is only restricted to the reports and programs unrelated to political areas, such as entertainment, sports, travel, etc. In authoritarian rule, Robert McKenzie (2006) points out two procedures that are commonly implemented: censorship and punishment. In terms of the censorship of the media content, it involves two steps: state censorship and self-censorship. State censorship is applied when speech and communication are contrary to state objectives, then the content is banned for dissemination. Self-censorship is the act of intently censoring ones own publications, blogs, films, news scripts, TV programs or other means of expression without direct pressure from the authority, in order not to disseminate the content against the government objectives. So after finishing ones work, he or she may remove inappropriate material for fear of sanction by the government. With the above two kinds of censorship, media only speak the voice of the government or ruling class instead of the people. With the regard to the punishment, the consequence is always conditioned by the seriousness of the illegal content. In the authoritarian rule, the state has the right to penalize individuals and media organizations for seditious libel (Robert McKenzie, 2006). Since the authoritarian societies are under the rule of men instead of law, the punishment can be various types according to the leaders will, such as confiscating private facilities, incarceration of media professionals, expiration, long-term prison, or even death. The content of media in different countries may vary, but one common feature of the authoritarian states in Asia is that media are controlled or owned by the state. Therefore, the information the audience received in the media reflect not the interest of the people but the ruling class, no matter how capable or how hard-working the leaders are, because it is the system of a state that decides the role of the media. à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã‚ ¡Reasons for the authoritarian seeking to control the media According to Denis Mcquail(2005), there are four types of control over media: control of content for political reasons; control of content for cultural and/or moral reasons; control of infrastructures for technical reasons; and control infrastructures for economic reasons. These reasons can serve as a guideline for the author to explore further. 1. Control for political reasons The influence of media in political societies is immense and should never be underestimated. As what Katrin Voltmer and Gary Rawnsley (2010)point out, the function of media in democratic society is to (a) provide a forum where all voices can be heard and engage in a dialogue with each other, and (b) to act as a watchdog of the government. However, the effect of these above two functions are what the authoritarian ruling elites want to decrease, because they are not only the functions, but inherent nature of media, and if without control, the innate force will bring the media to the peoples side. Then the pluralistic opinions and voices will appear that are unlikely all to conform to the political will proposed by the ruling elites. But if we stand at the point of the authoritarian government, the control seems to be necessary, because the media have too much potential power that could be used to unseat the state or destabilize the country (Robert McKenzie, 2006 73-74). What the authoritarian governments most badly need is stability, for in chaos the power of the people will release and it is uneasy to be taken control again. Take China as an example. The government makes every effort to forbid the expressions related to Tiananmen event in 1989, for fear of arousing another wave of opponents that might shake the foundation of the superstructure. Although the information is blocked in mainland China, related videos, books, magazines and reports from abroad still remain hard evidence, which can be a great threat against the authority of communist party. Only if those media become inaccessible to people can the central government avoid losing support from the public. Therefore, the authoritarian media can also be a watchdog, but to watch people instead of the government. Beside, given that the president or premier or the elite ruling group has the high morality, responsibility, wisdom and really concern the people, it is unlikely for them to make sure that every official they appoint or appointed by their appointers other than through the election from the people obey the principles of the constitution. Holding great power and backed by the superior, bureaucractism, red-tapism and corruption will generate, which means that only by controlling the media can they cover their bad deeds, without knowing from the above and the public. But if even the supreme rulers or elites group have ulterior or scandal of their own, degree of control will be much stricter and the free of media is far from possible. In addition, since the media belong to the government, they can be used as a powerful agency to propagate, reinforce and sublimate the value and merits of the ruling concept, thus win more trust and understanding over disagreement. The news from the state-owned media is always the wise decisions and favorable policies which give the people hope and better future, but seldom is there any voice that directly criticizes the state leaders or central government. 2. Control for cultural reasons Almost all authoritarian countries in Asia have their unique as well as dominating traditional or political culture. These cultures not only determine the patterns of thought of the people, but also provide a well constructed harbor for the elite ruling groups to prevent their regime from the impact of the outside world. Media, therefore, can serve as a useful tool to further strengthen the preexisted culture on the one hand, and to broadcast and spread the domestic culture to the world on the other. In this sense, to control the media is to some extent to control the mind of the mass people. The following analysis will focus on the analysis from several powerful cultures. The most distinguished culture in Asia may be Islamism, a belief that Islam is a political ideology, as well as a faith. For this culture, to control the media is to maintain the purity of the peoples thought and enhance the loyalty to the god. It is a modernist claim that political sovereignty belongs to God, that the Sharia should be used as state law, that Muslims form a political rather than a religious bloc around the world and that it is a religious duty for all Muslims to create a political entity that is governed as such.(http://www.quilliamfoundation.org/faqs.html) Based on the above definition, religious belief becomes legitimate tool and peoples behaviors are judged by the Quran. They believe in one God and resist other religions. Then the Islamic content is dominant in media. The western thought, belief, values as well as culture are severely censored and are considered conflict to Islam. For them, the religion and politic are tied extremely close to each other. So if the religion or culture is affected by outside or different impact, the political rule will also be impaired. Another powerful culture is communist culture. In this culture, to control the media is to prevent the attack and cultural impact from the outside world.In present China, North Korea, Laos, Vietnam, the culture is shaped by communist party rather than Confucianism, even though some parts of the behaviors and thoughts still follow the principles proposed by Confucius. Communist culture is relatively young but very influential. At the very beginning of the communist party, those vanguards did set up educational and honorable examples that inspire the fellow country men and women to fight against outside invasion. They did win peoples trust that the communist party will bring them freedom, democracy and equality. But communism is based on the philosophy proposed by Karl Marx that it is possible to create an egalitarian or classless society by means of working as a collective whole. Besides, there is a huge difference of the definition of democracy. While western world regard democracy a s characterized by free speech, two or multiparty and mass election, the communism believe that the democracy is to liberate people and let people become the sovereign master. Ever since the Marxism was applied by the developing countries, the capitalism has become their enemy. The western thought and value as well as ways of running economy are all considered as against the communist belief. Therefore, everything from the western world is banned or defined as evil. In extreme case like North Korea, the image of the party is always the representative of justice, while those western capitalist societies are shown as the lack enlightenment of communist thought. In this environment, the people are deprived of the idea to fight against free speech, liberty and democracy, because as what media show, there are in this process. 3. Control for technological reasons With the development of high technology, especially the booming of the internet, the battle between media control and anti-control has been largely upgraded. Modern communications technologies mean that authoritarian governments find it ever more difficult to hermetically seal their borders and prevent their people from receiving often uncomfortable news, information and opinion from overseas sources (Katrin Voltmer and Gary Rawnsley, 2010). On the other hand, the ruling elites clearly know that to control the core technology is to hold the initiative advantage, so the high technology is not only widely applied by people, but also by the government as a fairly useful tool to exercise censorship, underground investigation as well as supervisory. In other word, the authoritarian government plays the role of defense, while the dissidents and civil right fighters act as the role of offense, and the rest becomes the audience, looking on the development of the game. This means that even though people can create some software to get access to the blocked information, government then can renew the fire-wall and all kinds of software to block the sensitive expressions, detect the opinion initiators, or even control them. After all, the power of individuals is relatively small. They do not have enough economic income to keep them fighting longer. They are intelligent and are able to find the flaw of the censorship system, but seldom is there anyone daring to cross the bottom line of the ruling class. However, the government has sufficient financial support. It can establish well-equipped companies and hire a group of highly professional hackers or internet veterans to help the information control and monitoring. New technology or the new media does provide the citizens with a platform to voice out their opinions and unfair experience with the government and the exposed officials will do meet their deserved consequence. Nevertheless, no government wants its system to be corrupted and then lose its efficiency. In this sense, new technology also helps the government to find a new method to govern the stuff and officials. 4. Control for economic reasons When studying the media issues, economic respect should be considered, for mass media is not only a social institution, but also an industry. With the regard to the present essay, the reasons of media control from the economic perspective are mainly focused on the issue of ownership. Altschull(1984) in his second law of journalism says: the contents of media always reflect the interests of those who finance them. That is to say, the economic structure of the state decides the structure of the media industry, thus determines the role of media. Specifically, in authoritarian regime, the state owns the media, and the main sources of income are advertising, consumer revenue as well as the state financial support. What should be noticed is that the most powerful enterprises in authoritarian states are commonly the state-owned or royal relates-owned industries, which contribute a lion share of the advertising investments. Those state-owned companies not only have continuously financial support from the central government, but also take control of the choices of the consumers, in other word, the market. The vulnerable private media companies, though exist, can seldom have the opportunities to set foot in the most influential market like broadcasting industry and are fac ed with severe competition from various aspects. Then the domination of powerful state-owned companies in communication industries remains as an impassable barrier for private sectors. Consequently, since the government controls the market, that media are controlled becomes a nature process. à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã‚ ¢ Conclusion The study of the relationship between government and the media involves a various range of research and analysis. The present essay at first introduces the situation of media in authoritarian regimes in Asia. When media are unable to perform as an agent of democratic transition and consolidation, they become the important means of enforcing the authoritarian or totalitarian rule. Serving as the lapdog and gatekeeper of the government and accompanied by the relevant law and policy, the position of media is fixed and can hardly be changed. Consequently, the people have to be careful with the serious censorship and take the risk of being punished if they seek to rebel the government will. The purpose for government to control the media can be analyzed in four aspects. The first one is the political aspect that government takes the media as a useful tool to maintain the stability of ideology, reinforce the governance and to hide truth and dirt deeds of the rulers themselves. In terms of the cultural reasons, the author tries to find result from studying to distinctive cases of Islam culture and communist culture. A common feature of the both cultures is that the government seeks to manipulate media through keeping the purity of the culture, thus erecting a shield to resist the western democratic thought and culture. With the regard to the technological sphere, the government does realize the potential threat from the booming internet communication, so they intently act as a powerful defender to defend the attack from the domestic and abroad on the one hand, and makes most use of the high technology to strengthen itself on the other. The last reason is from the economic sphere that since the authoritarian government has the huge influence on the market, it influences the media industry as well. Owned and financed by state-run enterprises, the media industry is unchallengeablely controlled by the government. All in all, the media independence is a long process, and the freedom of media and information follows the political reform, cultural transformation and globalization, technological advancement as well as economic development. Although media are controlled, they are still able to play a significant role in pushing forward the social progress of these authoritarian countries in Asia,