Zeitschrift für Massenkommunikation und Journalismus

Reality Television may not be as real as some might be led to believe. Ventre reported that MTV’s reality television show “The Real World: Skeletons” and its content is influenced by producers. Is it possible that this statement accurately describes many reality series? Is it possible that some reality programming is scripted? More importantly, how does the television viewing audience perceive reality television? Do viewers perceive such programs to be candid and unscripted? Why do people watch reality television? The purpose of this case study was to uncover perceptions of reality television as portrayed through social media, particularly via Twitter. This study is significant because it uncovers viewer perceptions about reality television that suggest reality television lacks reality and that viewers of reality television should not assume that such programs are unscripted and spontaneous. It may even encourage thoughtful reflection upon the ethics behind alleged manipulation of reality television content.

A common habit among most of the Indian families is watching soap operas in the evening as one of the best time-pass-activities. People from different religions of India like Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, and Jains etc., all of them enjoy watching different language soaps irrespective of their religion and culture. That is why; soaps have become part and parcel of most of its viewer’s lives. Most of the soaps are featured around Hindu characters and families. Minorities have less importance and are very rarely seen as the centre of the story, even though these minorities occupy 15% of India’s population. High amount of importance is given to the Hindu culture and customs on television serials when compared with minorities. The cultural and religious practices of these minorities are also seen very rarely on the small screen. This paper aims at examining the portrayal of minorities in Telugu soap operas in relation with culture and characterization. This is an analytical study throwing light on how much importance is given to minorities in Indian television’s soap operas with a special focus on Telugu serials. Focused group discussions have been conducted with 60 participants who have been purposively selected from the city of Hyderabad to meet the set objectives of the study. The study reveals that the portrayal of minorities in soap operas is mostly negative and stereotyped. They are mostly portrayed as criminals, terrorists or people having links with mafia. This kind of portrayal of minorities on small screen is influencing majority to think negatively about minorities.

During the last decades Internet has been introduced in our lives providing a vast amount of e-services in various fields of our every day activity like banking, shopping, entertainment, communication, learning an so on that without doubt improve our life’s quality in various ways. The easiness of use along with the continuously increased number of users joining the online world every day has transformed the use of online services a mandatory daily activity rather than an optional interaction like it used to be in its the early stages. This tremendous development inspired many professionals and IT experts to invest in the creation of more innovative web services that will increasingly attract more users offering even more attractive ways to improve the quality of living both in the physical/real and online worlds. One of these recent innovations is the creation of cloud computing, a three layer architecture that offers various kinds of services that users enjoy. Users’ trust towards cloud computing is one of the greatest socio-technical issues today and one of the key factors that formulate users’ trust is the protection of their privacy. This paper moves towards this direction identifying the privacy characteristics that must be realized when designing services for cloud users.

In this paper, we offer an important preliminary discussion of the recent changes in the Israeli popular culture. We analyze the transformation in representations of the typical and desirable Israeli in Israeli television over time. Focusing on reality and drama shows, our findings demonstrate how the positive presence of Mizrahi characteristics (Israelis who originated from Arab countries in Northern Africa and the Mediterranean) in Israeli television have shown a significant increase, and dominate the various reality shows broadcasts. Based on our analysis, we argue how the image of the Mizrahi Israelis, previously depicted in popular culture as weak, unsavory, and an object of ridicule, has morphed over time into a popular, appealing character that evokes audience identification. The cultural traits of the popular Israeli character have become increasingly aligned with what is identified as Mizrahi Israeliness.

This study tests a conceptual model of the effects of number superstitions and price on perceived price fairness and purchase intentions in Taiwan. The mediating effects of perceived price fairness on purchase intentions are also explored. The experimental results indicate that, for auspicious mobile numbers with a price premium, consumers will perceive price fairness which positively influences their purchase intentions. On the other hand, consumers show low purchase intentions with regards to inauspicious mobile numbers with a price discount because they may believe in using inauspicious mobile numbers will bring bad luck. Thus, number superstitions are significant in the Taiwan mobile telecommunication market. Through a discussion of the integration of number superstition and price in consumers’ purchase process, this research helps the mobile telecommunications industry understand the phenomenon and adopt a suitable price policy. The work concludes with suggestions for future research.

Without the professional touch, the art of gathering and dissemination of news can be done by anybody. However, because of the nature of the audience who the information is meant for, it has become important that a professional should be there to put the piece of information together for public consumption, bearing in mind their diversities. The advent of the Internet has seen news evolve from the newsroom to the smartphones of almost everybody. Citizen journalism has thrown a big challenge to professional journalism today. In a country like Nigeria where politicians have turned media organizations as organs of propaganda, it is becoming difficult to distinguish a professional journalist from a praise singer. This paper intends to look at the practice of journalism from the Nigerian perspective. Such unethical practices like “brown envelope” (money given in exchange for objectivity), government and ownership influence will be the focus of this paper, citing practical examples. The paper will make use of the Utilitarian Theory of Ethics and the Social Responsibility Theory of the press

This paper analyzes ways in which the media, particularly television coverage, has enhanced global terrorism. It argues that terrorists must have some kind publicity in order to gain attention, inspire fear and respect, and secure favorable understanding of their cause and that a tripartite relationship of the media, governments and terrorists is responsible for the growing global interest in terrorism. Analyzing selected literature on media role in promoting the argument about terrorism the paper shows ways how the broadcast and online media serve a dual role as propaganda machine for terrorists and an advocate for governments to enhance information sharing on terrorism and suppress the terrorist culture in different regions. It describes various terrorist groups, setting the context for understanding how the media has fostered the proliferation of terrorist cells. The last section offers long term suggestions to end terrorist activity around the world. The paper then proposes ways in which governments and communities can limit terrorist destruction of the global society, including having public cooperation and understanding, understanding of socio-economic and ethnic differences

This research ‘Moksa from communication: An ecological perspective of Bishnoi religion from western India’ examines Bishnoi communication theory which is for perfect life, death and enlightenment. With textual analysis of 29 sutras and 120 sabdas by Guru Jhambheswara Ji, a founder of Bishnoi religion in western India, the result is: communication is an exchange of healthy, meaningful and perfect information/message; in between healthy, meaningful and perfect sender-receiver; with healthy, meaningful and perfect feedback; for healthy, meaningful and perfect way of living/life. Such way of communication connects personal life, society, ecology and worship to Supreme together. This leads towards a healthy, meaningful and perfect death. After such death there is unalienable salvation (Mukti/Moksha). Noise never comes in such communication. Further research with experimentation is most in future.