The Wild Old West of the Smartphone and SNS

Mass media have had many problems, though they have some good advantages to society such as democracy. One of the most blamed problems is that the voices of mass media might not be representative of the general people, rather even could be much twisted, biased, or exaggerated than the balanced line.

Since 1990s, some unreasonable and blind lauders for any new media including internet and new technologies appeared and disappeared repeatedly. They almost seem irresponsible for their arguments. If their overstated praises proved wrong, they slyly change their logic, saying the conditions and situations have unexpectedly become altered.

Recently as users of facebook and twitter increase explosively worldwide, flippant cultists for SNS (Social Networking Services) appeared on the new media publicizing stage. They argue that the information on the SNS could be the most faithful. Some foxy advertisers are advertising that the ads of SNS would be much effective. And then thoughtless reporters write as a parrot that the cultists and followers are saying. The social media publicists debase traditional media intentionally as if a jealous girl sneers at her syster’s flaws.

Friends’ talks are believable? That claim is really foolish! The talks on the SNS are believable or unbelievable. If your friend says ‘Inception’ is very interesting, you could believe his judgment. But if the goods and services are becoming expensive and complex, the information on the SNS is in fact useless for you to judge on buying or not. Moreover, how to survey these delicate information which is sure to be too ambiguous to interpret? And how about the tremendous survey cost?

As you know, the effects of advertisements on the traditional media such as newspapers and TV are still incalculable. The Internet sites argue that they are so targeted that their ads effects are calculable. The assertion that the Internet ads are more targeted looks only logically correct, the consistent relationship between the Internet ads and purchasing is hardly provable. In my opinion, the most substantial and useful effect of ads is to create and boost a good impression and image about the advertising goods and services as broad and deep in people as possible. Without this mood-creation, the simple targeting is at best similar to direct-mail marketing. Target marketing itself is absurdly exaggerated.

In a stance of companies, especially producing consumer goods. the SNS are irritable, because the SNS are speakers of bad rumors and evaluations. People instinctly like rumors and slanders. People see immediately whether some viral words are publicist-made or not.

In conclusion, do not brag about a few conveniences of the SNS and smart phone. Humble yourselves. Time will judge the big mouth and the real champion. (The end)

A Regional Newspaper's Experiment

In Korea there is a regional newspaper owned by 6300 residents of Keyngsang Nam Do (south Province of Korea). The newspaper named Keyngnam Domin Daily was founded in 1999 for the purpose of an independent press freed from the ruling power, for example, the conservative party, some conglomerates, and central authorities.

Last month, the paper changed chief editor. New chief editor is Kim Joo-wan who has shown real professionalism and been sincerely committed to public journalism. Just before being selected chief editor, he had left the paper and set up a new internet news site titled 100in.com, consisting of 100 free lancers [bloggers]. The 100in.com also seeks regional and public journalism.

Kim said firmly, “Regional news media must go nearer to their communities. There is no other selection. Beyond merely reporting regional news very well, we will dig out the present issues, uncover social shady places, investigate indigenous corruption and structural irregularities.”

He added, “Regional papers have not been subject to big internet portals fortunately, as the portals excluded regional papers. We are planning to form online regional community through public journalism and real region-friendly determination.”

In Korea, even central major newspapers are dependent on big portals, let alone internet news sites. But in my opinion, internet expansion that seems never to stop is almost approaching the peak. As smartphones might further internet expansion a little, there has to be no large jump.

People will begin to feel tired of rubbish information, meaningless twittering, ubiquitous ads. People have to look for real faithful information and a moving contents. (The end)

Unpleasant Banner Ads

Whenever I enter into Kores’s news sites, they do not fail to irritate my emotions because their banner ads cover part of the report I want to read. Presumably since last year, most news sites begin to place two banners over the report. Moreover, banners’ photos such as implants and diet ads do not seem to match news, and perhaps people have to grimace at the unpleasant pictures.

I know their financial trouble so much that they are desperately struggling to survive. The very cause that news sites were caught in the egde of survival is thought the low quality of the reports. In Korea, few trained journalists moved to internet news sites because of less pay and harder work than newspapers’.

If the Korea’s biggest portal, Naver, do not permit internet news sites to show their news contents on the central window, they are hardly able to exist as news site. Internet portals made newspapers sales decrease, and as a result, newspapers had laid older journalists off. The discharged journalists gave up their jobs, and transferred to other work, for example, public relations.

The advent of internet portals and news sites made difficult financial situations of traditional newspapers and magazines. The problem is that while the portals have become bigger and richer, tradidtional news media and internet news sites have turned poorer and are deeply dependent on the portals, so that the journalists, whether they belong to newspapers or internet news sites, are in a low morale. What is worse, in order to increase clicking on their reports, news sites use tricky and ‘hook’ titles, of which real contents are too exaggerated or even different.

Only faithful, informative and useful news and analyses can attract ads enough to sustain news sites continually. Now Korea’s online journalism urgently needs qualified journalists. Who can pay the qualified journalists? Now there seems to be no solution. (The end)

TimaxSoft's disappointment

TimaxSoft, local largest SW company, was entered into a state of workout July 6th by its main bank, Woori bank. TimaxSoft has experienced severe financial difficulties for challenging against global competitors like MS.

The company is Korea’s typical SW one founded by Dr. Bak Dae-hyun, ex-professor of KAIST. The major cause of TimaxSoft’s failure is considered excessive diversification from its competent middle-way SW. That is the company invested much capital to develop and launch local-made OS first against MS Window, and also ran into SI market, where large companies had already occupied stably. In the last 2008, the company exceeded sales of 100 billion won, the first record accomplishment as a local SW firm. Many people praised its ambition and expected surprising success, as feeling a little doubtful.

When the company plunged into the SI market, large companies began to regard TimaxSoft as their competitor. The alternative window replacing MS Window delayed its real launching, and as a result Timaxcore, SW developing subsidiary of TimaxSoft, was taken over by Samsung SDS.
TimaxSoft’s failure tells us above all that the small enterpreneur’s company focuses on its own best ability. Too quick diversification could bring passionate novice into close extinction. (The end)

Low-speed Electric Car in Seoul

Low-speed electric vehicles are running on Seoul roads with a speed of 60 kilometers (37.3 miles) per hour or less from last April.

The electric vehicle weighs 1361kg (including battery). The fuel cost is estimated one tenth (140,000 won per year) of the gas vehicle expenses. Presently Seoul city government operates five ones for the use of ordinary city working and watching illegal parking. And the city plans to increase to a total of 15 ones by the end of this year.

The general people can buy the electric vehilces from next year. One charging battery can run 60-100km. CT&T, electric vehicle firm, has exported e-Zone two-seat car, which is smaller than GM Daewoo’s four-seat Matiz – one of the most popular minicar here.

The company called the electric car more cost-effective than other mincars, singling out the Matiz. To travel 120 kilometers, the e-Zone uses 12 kilowatts of home electricity, which CT&T said would cost 1,120 won, while the Matiz would cosume 8 liters (2.1gallons) of gasoline, which would sell for 13,313 won. The vehicle can be charged at home.

CT&T was founded in 2002 by former Hyndai Motor executives, including CT&T CEO Lee Young-ki. Since then it has been developing electric cars, for example, golf carts. The company said that it will continue to focus on exports.

AD Motors produces a two-seat electric car, the Aurora. That vehilce is capable of 120 kilometers of travel on a full charge, which is obtained from a regular home outlet. AD Motors was also founded by former Hyndai Motor engineers. It has a factory and research center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, capable of producing 500 vehicles a month, with production to ramp up to 2,000 by the end of this year.

Assuming it runs 100 kilometers per day over 20 days a month, it would cost only 10,000 won for electricity. It would take four or five hours to charge the vehicle at home, and the battery is meant to last 10 years. (The end)