Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Veteran Showbiz Columnist Army Archerd Dies of Mesothelioma

No one is spared from health hazards. Recently veteran showbiz Army Archerd is said to have died of mesothelioma cancer.

Army Archerd Veteran Showbiz Columnist and Mesothelioma Exposure

Archerd served US Navy during World War II. He is said to have contracted mesothelioma cancer during his military services during this time. For decades asbestos was widely used to insulate vessels. After fighting the rare case of cancer at the age of 87 the stalwart reporter passed away on 8th September 2009 at a hospital in Los Angeles, California.

Archerd began his journey as a journalist with Associated Press before moving on to the entertainment industry. He penned some of the interesting entertainment writings which was a must read in the entertainment industry.

After a brief stint with Associated Press, he spent nearly 50 years with the magazine Daily Variety. One of the famous Hollywood gossip writers in recent times, Army Archerd became the resident columnist of Daily Variety. His Just for Variety column was one of the most read columns in Daily Variety.

Not only his writings were thoroughly appreciated, it was also one of the most influential writings. If you are aware of Hollywood Walk of Fame, you should know that he was the first of journalist to be ever awarded with a Star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Hollywood Variety Columnist Army Archerd Dies of Mesothelioma

The greatest threat with mesothelioma is that the time gap between contracting the disease and the symptoms becoming visible takes as long as 40 to 50 years. Same was the case with Army Archerd. He must have served US Navy probably in his late twenties and finally he died suffering from Meso thelioma cancer at the age of 87. Unfortunately the greatest drawback with Mesothelioma is that the symptoms are highly confusing and they can be clearly diagnosed only at advanced stages.

The contributions by the veteran entertainment writer need the best of appreciation and it is time to mourn for having a lost a great columnist.


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Monday, January 30, 2012

News-seeking Patterns of Academicians & Administrators of AIOU

NEWS-SEEKING PATTERNS OF ACADEMICIANS AND ADMINISTRATORS OF ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY

BY MALIK TARIQ MALIK

INTRODUCTION

Media play a major role in the lives of people all over the world in this global age. Print media is more worthy and trustful source of information in Pakistan. In the Pakistan the readership of daily newspapers is higher.

The researcher of this study is interested in investigating news-seeking patterns of both the communities i.e. academicians as well as administrators in the areas of national and international affairs, politics, education, economic, health, sports etc. Nobody reads the whole newspaper but he or she tries to look for the news they are interested in. They get and update their knowledge and information about their particular field of interest. Some of the readers read only political news; others may go to economy page as well because they want to invest their money and are interested in k nowing a countrys political and economic situation. Proper economic and politics condition is a motivating factor for investors to make investment. Some other readers are getting only information on education and health.

NEWS CONCEPT

Man can subsist without newspaper but no newspaper can subsist without news. News is a regular part of life. Definition of News is not an easy task. News is a simple word easily understood by those who deal with it. In a way it is one of the most complex words in our vocabulary, for it is endless in variety. Although most of the definitions are familiar by now yet News is certainly more than the Webster definition that is a report of recent events, fresh information concerning something that has recently taken place.

News is recent events and happening, especially those that are unusual or notable. According to Microsoft Encarta Dictionary a report of any recent event or situation and as the report of events pub lished in a newspaper or information about current events printed in newspapers or broadcast by the media is called news. Therefore, according to this definition, news is what happens and what people feel, think, say and do. So, that news consists chiefly of unpublished reports of those activities of people which interest, inform, educate or entertain the public.

News is infact a communication between human beings. From the earliest period of human civilization, when people started exchanging ideas, the information or ideas started flowing from one person to another. With the organisation and development of the society, the transfer of ideas and information also increased and the process became more accurate and scientific.

IMPORTANCE OF NEWS

News to define its meaning is information provided to the public about the world around them. This information is important to them because equipped with the latest information about an issue; the publ ic is able to decide their course of action. News is the accurate, timely and to the point report of an event. It is not the event itself, but the description of the event by a reporter. The importance of news has increased rapidly. It is the newspaper where we can find the news in more detail, and can be preserved and retained for any period of time. Today the press has become a social instrument, whether it wishes to be or not. As a social instrument, the newspaper finds place permanently in thousand of homes, and thus influences every member of the family indirectly.

PRINT MEDIA

Newspaper, publication usually issued on a daily or weekly basis, the main function of which to report news. Many newspapers furnish special information to readers, such as weather reports, television schedules, and listings of stock prices. They provide commentary on politics, economics, and arts and culture, and sometimes include entertainment features, such as comics and c rossword puzzles. In nearly all cases and in varying degrees, newspapers depend on commercial advertising for their income.

Like division of media in Pakistan, people also enjoy both the urban and rural culture. It is very much obvious in Pakistan that national newspapers have their own monopoly. Print media is more worthy and trustful source of information in Pakistan as compared to Television which is in tight control of government. The reason may be to buy a newspaper is cheaper than to have a television set in home, and secondly people can see more news as compared to television bulletin. A newspaper is universally expected to perform four functions, in a democratic society.

? It must collect and disseminate objectively the days news.
? It must interpret and explain news in order to assist the readers in forming intelligent opinions.
? It must guide public opinion after presenting impartially both sides of every issue and point out the wa y to the greatest good for the greatest number. Thus essentially a newspaper is an institution of society aiming at public welfare.
? It should perform the duty of entertaining to the public.

However, there is another side to the picture, too vital to be ignored. A newspaper is a commercial enterprise that naturally seeks profit. For that it has to mould itself in such a way that it could be an acceptable commodity for a large number of people sufficient for its sustenance. Thus a newspaper in order to survive has to strike a balance between its position as an institution of society and as a commercial enterprise.

HISTORY OF NEWSPAPER

Like all other human fields of improvement, newspapers also had a systematic, slow but steady growth. Mehdi Hassan and Dr. Abdus Salam wrote in their book Journalism for All (1988, p. 6780). According to Mehdi and Salam news was started in early 60 B.C. the history of the modern press is closely linked up with the invention of printing and the printing press. According to S. Natarjan; the art of printing from negative reliefs was known in China around 594 A.D., and from there spread along the caraven routes to the west where taking impressions from wooden blocks became quite common. In 1768, William Bolts was deported from Calcutta to Madras enroot to Europe, because he dared to set up a printing press in Calcutta. James Augustus Hickys, at any rate, was the proprietor of the Bengal Gazette, or Calcutta General Advertiser, the first newspaper to be published in India. The first issue appeared on Saturday, January 29, 1780, announcing itself as a weekly political and commercial paper open to all parties but influenced by none, Much of its pages were devoted to advertisements. It was a two sheet paper, about 12 inches by 8 inches, with three columns printed on both sides. Warren Hastings, in which the pioneer journalist of Indo-Pakistan subcontinent scored some success, it was finally crushed.

However, in recent years the standard of newspaper, which could survive in existing circumstances, has considerably improved both content wise and in appearance. Especially the Urdu newspapers have changed altogether and can now be compared with any advanced newspaper.

This was a bulletin Printing, name used for several processes by which words, pictures, or designs are reproduced on paper, fabrics, metal, or other suitable materials. These processes, sometimes called the graphic arts, consist essentially of making numerous identical reproductions of an original by mechanical means, and the printed book has thus been called the first mass product.

Before the invention of printing machines, people spread news by word of mouth, written letters, or public notices. As more people learned to read and write, news reports gained added reliability. Newspaper publishers estimate that nearly six out of ten adults in the United States and Canada read a newspaper every day, and seven out of ten read a paper each weekend. By the time they see a newspaper; most people have already learned about breaking news stories on television or radio. Readers rely on newspapers to provide detailed background information and analysis, which television and radio newscasts rarely offer. Newspapers not only inform readers that an event happened but also help readers understand what led up to the event and how it will affect the world around them.

Newspapers trace their roots to handwritten news sheets posted daily in the public marketplaces of ancient Rome. The first printed newspapers appeared in China during the Tang dynasty (AD 618-907). These newspapers were printed from carved wood blocks. Precursors to modern papers first appeared in Venice, Italy, in the middle of the 14th century. Newspapers as known today, complete with advertising and a mixture of political, economic, and social news and commentary, e merged in Britain in the mid-18th century.

In modern times, newspapers that share a similar structure and function are published all over the world. This global press traces its origin to British papers of the 18th century. Though threatened by censorship in the years proceeding, during, and following the world wars, the global press maintained the tradition of freedom of the press first established in London.

Newspapers clearly state the journalistic salience of an item through its page placement, headline and length. In short we say that mass communication and newspapers is a process through which the social reality is transmitted. Newspaper, publication usually issued on a daily or weekly basis, the main function of which is to report news. Many newspapers also furnish special information to readers, such as weather reports, television schedules, and listings of stock prices. They provide commentary on politics, economics, and arts and culture, and sometimes include entertainment features, such as comics and crossword puzzles. In nearly all cases and in varying degrees, newspapers depend on commercial advertising for their income.

HISTORY OF SUB-CONTINENT NEWSPAPERS

Like all other human fields of improvement, newspapers also had a systematic, slow but steady growth. A short history of the press as it began in early times can help us in understanding the dimensions of its growth. The history of the modern press is closely linked up with the invention of printing and the printing press.

The institute of newsletters came much later. Dr. Abdus Salam Khurshid pioneering work on Newsletters in the Orient throw light on the origin of newsletters in the sub-continent. It was the Ghaznavide Muslim rulers who are said to have introduced the system in India towards the end of the 10th century. The newsletters played the major role in satisfying this quest for news and moulding public opinion before the printed newspapers became a reality.

Bengal, a part of which is now Bengla Desh, was the forerunner in modern journalism in the whole of the sub-continent. It was in Bengal that the first newspapers in India made there appearance and then the seeds of awakening were spread over the length and breadth of the rest of the country, beginning of course, with some pockets of British colonies such as Madras and Bombay. Since, modern newspapers in India had their origin in the needs of the small but growing European colonies sprinkled over the capitals of the presidency towns.

Journalism in those days was hardly considered a profession for decent men. The government of Bengal, under the Company rule, once contemplated the publication of a newspaper of their own so that, among other things, they may put out of existence and needy indolence a few European adventures who were found unfit to be emerged in any creditable method of subsistence. It is stated abou t C. H. Clay, the editor of the Madras Courier, that he had the entry of good society, because he was clerk of the Chief Justice. In 1768, William Bolts was deported from Calcutta to Madras enrooted to Europe, because he dared to set up a printing press in Calcutta. In 1780, James Augustus Hickys weekly political and commercial paper open to all parties but influenced by none, the Bengal Gazette, or the Hicky Gazette as it was popular and known, was refused transmission through the post office, and, after a historical struggle with Warren Hastings, in which the pioneer journalist of Indo-Pakistan subcontinent scored some success, it was finally cursed. William Duan of the Bengal Journal, was expelled from India, went to America and established himself as a newspaperman. Almost from its birth, the all absorbing interest of the Indian press had been politics. James Augustus Hickey started the Bengal Gazette in 1780; some eighty years after the first daily newspaper in England had commenced publication.

Even before Indian editors used their pens to fight for the freedom of their homeland, there was a strong political flavour to the press and very soon censorship of one kind or another was enforced, even though the people on whom it was imposed belonged to the ruling race. Editors in madras and Bombay soon followed their Calcutta forerunner into trouble with authority, which then of course was the company, very jealous of its position and highly intolerant of criticism by what were regarded as outsiders.

James Augustus Hickey, at any rate, was the proprietor of the Bangal Gazette or Calcutta General Advertiser, the first newspaper to be published in India. The first issue appeared on Saturday, January 29, 1780, announcing itself as a weekly and commercial paper, open to all parties, but succeed by none, many of its pages were devoted It was a two sheet paper, about 12 inches by 8 inches, with three columns printed on both sid es. The second newspaper to be started in the Indo-Pakistan sub-continent was The Indian Gazette or Calcutta Public Advertiser published in 18th century. This was launched by Mr. P. Reed and Mr. B. Messink in November 1780.

The contents of the press in the 18th century reveal the influence of James Augustus Hickey. Foreign news, parliamentary debates of England, extracts from English newspapers, social news, letters to the editors and poets corners furnished most of the reading material. The second stage of Indian journalism started when the Baptist missionaries at Serampur, a Dutch settlement, started bringing out a monthly magazine in Bengali, the first of its kind to be published in a native language. The Friend of India a monthly periodical was also launched by the Serampur missionaries in April, 1818.

The first Indian-owned newspapers did not come out till the beginning of the 19th century. These newspapers were brought out to counteract the Engl ish and missionary influence on the local population. It is significant to note, therefore, the first such newspaper that was to come out was neither in the language of the area where it originated, that is, Bengal, nor in the language that was still deeply entrenched in the soil and in the courts and other official dealings, Persian. It was in English. Within the space of a few years, many other local owned newspapers were on the scene. The first Urdu newspaper in the subcontinent was Jam-i-Jahan Numa appeared in 1822. Bengal also claims the rare distinction of being the home of the first Hindi newspaper as well, Qodunt Martund launched in Calcutta in 1826. Calcutta, which was first to fall under British colonial rule of the three English colonies other two being Madras and Bombay remained the most important and largest press centre during 19th century.
1.7 GROWTH OF MUSLIM PRESS IN SUBCONTINENT

The tempo of political agitation was quickened by the Muslim Press in particular in 1919 which set up new traditions of sacrifice. The Zamindar reappeared in December 1919; its circulation was 6145 in 1920. Another was Paigham by Abdul Kalam Azad from Calcutta in 1921 and Sabah by Qazi Abdul Ghaffar from Delhi. Al these newspapers made their contribution to the success of the non-cooperation movement. In 1922, the Press Act was withdrawn after the movement stopped under directive from Mahatma Gandhi.

The pro-league Muslim Press during 1924 1937 was spear-headed by the Muslim Outlook and Inqilab whose lead was accepted by Muslim papers all over the sub-continent. During 1938 1947 the Muslim press grew rather rapidly. A number of English language newspapers sprang up while Urdu Press too had new additions. Together with the old newspapers, they voiced Muslim political aspirations with still greater force and played the major role in mobilising public opinion in support of the Pakistan movement.

After the Lahore Resolution was passed, the Quaid-i-Azam sponsored a create Muslim Press campaign and collected funds for that purpose. He founded the Dawn in October 1942 as a daily from Delhi and placed it under a trust of which he was the Managing Trustee. Quaid-i-Azam also started Manshoor and Urdu daily from Delhi which was the official organ of the Al India Muslim League. This bright and fancy daily was edited by Syed Hassan Riaz.

HISTORY OF PAKISTANS NEWSPAPERS

When journalism crossed the borders of Pakistan, it had made considerable progress both intellectually and technically. Lahore had the distinction of having not only the oldest Paper in Punjab but that in the whole of Pakistan. It is ironical to note that there was no devoted and influential Press in Indo-Pakistan sub-continent to voice Muslim opinion during the days of struggle for independence. The majority of first class English dailies such as The Statesman, The Times of India, The Pioneer, The Hindu , The Bombay Chronicle and The Hindustan Times used to appear in Province which now apart of India. In Pakistan, Karachi at best could boast of three English newspapers. The Daily Gazette, The Sindh Observer and the Karachi Gazette all of them Hindu-owned. Peshawar had only one English newspaper, Khyber Mail, while Rawalpindi, Multan, Quetta, Sialkot and other big cities had none. In the Punjab, during the pre-Partition days, The Civil and Military Gazette and The Tribune were the most prominent English dailies.

As had been stated earlier, the territories now forming Pakistan were never the centre of prominent English dailies. The reason may be due to the political and educational backwardness of the majority of the Muslim population of these regions. The Muslim League could hardly have expected any positive contribution to its stand from these Papers. The founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam says, The role of newspapers in voicing and moulding public opinion cannot be over emphasised. The press has played an important role not only in the creation of Pakistan by mounding and expressing Muslim Public Opinion in support of the idea of Pakistan but, also in the development of this new state.

OBJECTIVES

This study has been aimed to investigate the following:

? To study the news-seeking patterns of the Academicians and administrators of AIOU readers with respect to the selected aspect namely gender, age, and qualification.
? To investigate the news-seeking patterns of the Academicians and administrators of AIOU readers with respect to the selected aspect namely selected medium of newspapers as well as their time of reading newspaper.
? To find out differences in news-seeking patterns among Academician and administrators of AIOU readers with respect to the selected aspects, namely purpose of reading newspapers i.e. reading newspaper for just gathering updated information, job hunting, entertainment , time killing etc.
? To find out differences in news-seeking patterns among academicians and administrator of AIOU readers with respect to the selectedg aspects, namely National and international affairs, educational, political, economics news, articles and editorials etc.

HYPOTHESIS

In this study the hypothesis is that:

? The Academicians are more interested in the news related to international and national affairs, articles, editorials, political and educational developmental news.
? The administrators are more interested in the area of national affairs, city news, political, job hunting, sports time-killing, etc.

RESEARCH QUESTION

What are the different patterns of news-seeking of academicians and administrators of Allama Iqbal Open University?

SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

The researcher should examine and analyze the news-seeking patterns of two groups i.e. academicians and administrators co mmunities. The researcher also discuss potential effects highlighting from print media i.e. newspaper. The specification of such effects should be contained within the hypothesis that link elements or concepts in each of the phases.

News is a form of communication. The present age is rightfully called age of information, observation, and reasoning revolution. (Pavlik, J. V., 1996). These revolutions began with the wish to remember important events or happening by writing them down. With a few scratches, our inventive ancestors set in motion the never ending story of recording information, the communication and the storage of knowledge outside the brain. Information, observation and reasoning are the main sources of human knowledge. Over ninety percent of our knowledge comes through this first source, i.e. newspapers.
LITERATURE REVIEW

It is understood that information needs arise when an individual finds himself in a problem situation, when he or she no longer can manage with the knowledge that he or she possess, (Talja 1992, P. 72). There are a lot of studies on mass media or mass communication throughout the world done but a few research studies conducted on news-seeking patterns throughout the world, and especially in Pakistan. The present study is significant not only for the newspapers industries and readers, but it is also important for educational point of view. This study will help to newspaper readers, media practitioners, academicians as well as administrators of different disciplines and planners of print media.

We, as individuals and groups, repeatedly find ourselves in situations where information is needed, gathered, sought, organized, retrieved, processed, evaluated, and used (Solomon 1996, P. 292). Reading of newspaper is part of daily routine for many consumers. The paper version provides tactile pleasure of turning pages and the portability of tucking the newspaper in a briefcase or book-bag for later or recycling it by leaving it on the break or breakfast table for someone else to enjoy. Newspaper, publication usually issued on a daily or weekly basis, the main function of which is to report news. Many newspapers also furnish special information to readers, such as weather reports, television schedules, and listings of stock prices. They provide commentary on politics, economics, and arts and culture, and sometimes include entertainment features, such as comics and crossword puzzles. In nearly all cases and in varying degrees, newspapers depend on commercial advertising for their income.

INFORMATION SEEKING

The close to topic of this research related researches made by the renowned researchers are given below:

Suriya, Sangeetha and Nambi (2004) carried out a research work on "Infor mation seeking behaviour of Faculty Members from Government Arts Colleges in Cuddlier District." The purpose of their study was to investigate, how faculty members seek information from the library. It mentions that most of the respondents 61 (38.12 percent) visited the library several times a week to meet their information needs. Regarding the type of search made by the respondents the majority of the respondents 91 (56.87 percent) made their search by subject.

Shokeen and Kushik (2002) studied about information seeking behaviour of social scientists working in the universities located in Haryana. They reported most of the social scientists visit the library daily. The first preferred method of searching the required information by the social scientists followed by searching through indexing and abstracting periodicals, and citations in articles respectively. The social scientists use current journals followed by books.

Challener (1999) investigated artists and art historians teaching in five liberal arts colleges and three universities. Results found that they need information for teaching. The participants almost all subscribe to art journals, and many read newspapers. They visit libraries frequently, usually more than one library, and unlike previous reports, the majority is willing to ask the librarian for help. A large percentage of both art historians and artists are using computers for teaching. All 27 participants use slides extensively in the classroom, supplemented in most cases by textbooks.

Reneker (1992) investigated the information seeking activities of 31 members of the Stanford University Academic community were examined over a two-week period during the 1990-91 academic year. She adopted the naturalistic approach and employed qualitative techniques for data collection using mainly personal interviews. Informants perception of their information environment expressed in positive terms and ther e a close relationship between knowledge, information, environment and the sources used. Information seeking embedded in the day-to-day activities and relationships of participants and triggered both by articulation of need and availability of information. A large number of needs are satisfied by the sources informants created or organized themselves and by interpersonal information sources. The findings of the study indicated that the action of information seeking originated from a wide variety of needs like personal, professional, entertainment, etc.

Althaus and Tewksbury (2000) wrote in his article Online News-seeking Patterns of first and second year college students: Academic research continues to show that online news users are not representative of the average rational voter. Althaus and Tewksbury's study of Online News-seeking Patterns of first and second year college students reminds us that those who seek news and information online are qualitatively di fferent from the general population. Not only do they have greater access to, and familiarity with, computer technology than non-Internet users, they also have different demographic and attitudinal profiles than the general adult population. "News habits developed within this community result not from an uneven social distribution of computer skills and access but, rather, from the unique needs that are better satisfied by on-line or traditional news media."

Daniela Lesley Evans (1978, p. 96) write in his article entitled A Critical Examination of Claims Concerning: The Impact of Print he wrote So much that we think of as characteristic of the modern world economic, social, religious, political is built on the foundation provided by newspaper as a medium of communication. From the sixteenth century it became impossible for the illiterate to obtain either wealth or influence, and this has largely occurred due to the invention of print as a medium of communication i n the fifteenth century. This had widespread consequences, allowing large numbers of copies of a work to be made rapidly. The further availability of information provided enabled greater scientific advancement as it meant that other peoples ideas were more readily available. Similarly the development of the printing press encouraged religious reform, as it was a major factor in allowing the writings of Erasmus, Luther and later Calvin to achieve high levels of circulation.

Febvre and Martin (1976, p. 278) It is safe to assume that printing makes knowledge accessible to all, although it needs to be accompanied with the necessary cultural and political conditions making literacy compulsory for all. However, this does not necessarily lead to a society that is much more knowledgeable than one that uses oral communication as its foundation. In a non-literary society, where information is conveyed orally, to avoid the information it is necessary to avoid the whole of s ociety. The only possible way by living a completely solitary life, by contrast, reading and writing are predominantly silent and solitary activities. Consequently, in a literary society, information is easy to avoid, simply by choosing not to read what is available.

USES AND GRATIFICATIONS MODEL OF THE MEDIA

The mass media is a huge phenomenon. Through the various different platforms, print or broadcast, the media is able to reach millions of people like no other force. Without media, powerful speeches by politicians would no affect, local events would remain local, and performances by great actors would be seen only by the people in the immediate audience. The media overcomes distances, and builds a direct relationship with audience.

The model looks at motives of the people who use the media, asking why we bother to read newspapers, why we find ourselves so compelled to keep up to date with our favourite soap.

Surveillance

The surveillance need based around the idea that people feel better having the feeling that they know what is going on in the world around them. One of the genres this often applied to news. By watching or reading news, we learn about what is happening in the world, and as the news is usually bad news, this knowledge leaves us feeling more secure about the safety of our own lives. This idea might seem a bit strange, that we know about tragedies and we feel safer, but sociologists argue that ignorance seen as a source of danger, and so the more knowledge we have the safer we feel.

When looking at the news it's easy to spot news items that give us this reaction. For example if it wasn't for watching the news we might be unknowingly left with five rupees notes that are worthless, or become vulnerable to the latest computer virus, or end up in a hospital with an awful track record also we have not knowledge about new world record in cricket which set by South A frican cricket team against worlds best team i.e. Australia. So, the surveillance models then all about awareness. We use the mass media to be more aware of the world, gratifying a desire for knowledge and security.

Using the Media within Relationships

Another aspect to the personal relationships model is how we can sometimes use the media as a springboard to form and build upon relationships with real people. The EastEnders strapline 'Everyone's talking about it', despite being a clever marketing tactic, does hold up when looking at social uses of the media. Having a favourite TV program in common can often be the start of a conversation, and can even make talking to strangers that much easier.

The Advantages and Limitations of Media

Texts need audiences in order to realise their potential for meaning. So a text does not have a single meaning but rather a range of possibilities which are defined by both the text and by its audienc es. The meaning is not in the text, but in the reading. (Hart 1991, 60)

Andrew Hart, many other theorists and researchers who identify and give value to the existence of audience in relation to the media. At the most basic level, audiences are vital in communication. It is for the audience that media constructing and conveying information, and, if it were not for the audiences, the media would not exist. The exact relationship between the media and their audiences has been the subject of debate since media were first seriously studied and emphasises the importance of audience and of their relationship with the media.

The Effects model is considered to be an inadequate representation of the communication between media and public, as it does not take into account the audience as individuals with their own beliefs, opinions, ideals and attitudes:

Audiences are not blank sheets of paper on which media messages can be written; members of an audie nce will have prior attitudes and beliefs which will determine how effective media messages are. (Abercrombie 1996, 140)

A new approach to the dynamics of audience/text relationship was suggested in the Uses and Gratification model. In this model, theorists were not asking how the media effects audiences, but how were audiences using media. They suggested that audiences had specific needs and actively turned to the media to consume various texts to satisfaction of these needs. The audience in Uses and Gratifications were seen as active, as opposed to passive audience in the Effects model. Uses and Gratifications acknowledged that audience had a choice of texts from which to choose form and satisfy their needs, Bulmer and Katz (1974).

The model still implies that messages are packages of information that all audience will read same. It does not consider how he messages are interpreted or any other factors affecting audiences interpretation.

An other criticism is that of the tendency to concentrate solely on why audiences consume media rather than extending investigation to discover what meanings and interpretations are produced and in what circumstances, i.e. how media are received. (OSullivan, Dutton & Rayner 1994, 131)

In other words, media receivers want to use information in some way or to obtain satisfactions that they anticipate (Lowery & DeFleur, 1995).

A number of studies on audiences uses and gratification of various media (Berelson, 1949; Kimball, 1959, etc), early 1970s scholars in this area turned to audience motivations, developing typologies of uses people made of media to gratify social and psychological needs (Katz et al. 1973). Such typologies included such needs as strengthening understanding of self, friends, others, or society; strengthening status of self or society; and strengthening contact with family, friends, society, or culture (Lowery & DeFleur, 1995).< br />
It's likely has been found in the uses-and-gratification research from the West, that an individual uses media for different purposes at different times under different circumstances; and different people may seek different gratifications from media. A question for researchers is how to meaningfully and effectively categorize (typologies) those different needs and objectives.

According to Chang, Chen and Zhang study in (1993): Early studies of Chinese media focused on propagandistic and persuasive aspects of mass communication. Since mid-1880s, various social factions have used newspapers mainly as tools in their political struggles. The Chinese communists have always recognized value of mass media (Robinson, 1981). For example, the government has emphasized use of mass media for China's social, political, and economic development (Yu & Sears, 1996). As a powerful tool of opinion and perceptions, news media are supposed to unite the people, to eleva te their consciousness and spirit.

ROLE OF PRINT MEDIA

To keep abreast of what's happening in the world around us we need information. Without information we won't know a threat exists until it is too late. But just being offered information is not enough. We also need to be willing to take that information on board while there is still time to avoid threat.

Public information will be just one of many issues officials will have to address, and media are often perceived as being a nuisance or hindrance to response activities. However, it is essential that communicating with media is made a priority in any response planning because the media will be among first responders at the scene and will be a vital information mechanism for government bodies. The media will therefore share a significant amount of responsibility for relaying vital information to public. Although newspapers makes knowledge more accessible to all, and has had dramatic effec ts on our culture and society, it does not necessarily follow that a literate society is greatly more knowledgeable than a non-literate one.

NEWSPAPERS READERSHIP IN PAKISTAN

Newspaper publishers estimate that nearly six out of ten adults every day, and seven out of ten read a newspaper each weekend. By the time they seen; mostly people have already learned about breaking news stories on television or radio. Readers rely on newspapers to provide detailed background information and analysis, which television and radio newscasts rarely offer. Newspapers not only inform readers that an event happened but also help readers to understand what led up to the event and how it will affect on the world around them. Media scholar Philip J. Hanes (1996) wrote his article entitled The Advantages and Limitations Focus on Audience in Media Studies:

Audiences are not blank sheets of paper on which media messages can be written; members of an audience will h ave prior attitudes and beliefs which will determine how effective media messages are. (P.140)

Veblen, (1994) wrote in his article entitled Newspaper Readership and Informational/Cultural Processing: Newspaper readership is an instance of cultural participation in regard to which information-processing. Reading newspaper is more straightforward form of information processing than various other cultural activities and at the same time choice of newspaper could scarcely count as very effective kind of status-oriented `conspicuous consumption' on account both of relatively low price even expensive newspapers and of the fact that reading likely to take place in privacy of home as in public. Consequently, evidence of a connection between newspaper readership and status, independent of information-processing capacity, would, for our present purposes of particular significance.

Most people read only one (daily) newspaper, at least on a regular basis. This mean s that we can here avoid complications that arise with forms of cultural participation, such as, say, listening to music, where there a wide variety of genres and an individual may have a range of preferences. As we noted above, such instances have of late given rise to debates over whether distinction of greatest relevance in regard to status is that between those participating in `high' as opposed to `low' (or popular) culture or that between cultural `omnivores' and `univores'.

According to Pakistan Readership Report (2002-03) issued by Gallup survey of Pakistan, newspaper readership ratio among adults (18 years+) is only 33% and among youth (10-17years) is 21%. Province wise this ratio is: for Punjab 31%, For Sindh 49%, for N.W.F.P. 25%, and for Baluchistan 28%. Among youth (10-17years), this ration is: for Punjab 16%, for Sindh 34%, For N.W.F.P 16% and for Baluchistan 19%. Apparently the situation is, to some extent satisfactory for Sindh province but this is due to high rate of readership in Karachi, which is among adults 69% and among youth 44% .By excluding Karachi, the ratio remains very poor for interior Sindh. The table and graph elaborate the province-wise ratio of newspaper readership in Pakistan.
Ratio of Newspaper Readership
Province Among Adults
(+18 Years) Among Youth
(10 17 Years)
Punjab 31% 16%
Sindh 49% (Karachi 69% &
Interior Sindh 29%) 34% (Karachi 44% & Interior Sindh 24)
N.W.F.P. 25% 16%
Baluchistan 28% 19%
Average 33 21


Newspaper readership and buyer-ship are two different concepts. Every reader is not a buyer of newspapers. One newspaper read by a lot person at homes, offices, shops and libraries. According to Pakistan Readership Report 2002-03 of the Gallup Survey, in Punjab 10.17 readers read one copy, while in Sindh this ratio is 5.57, in N.W.F.P this ratio is 8.47 and in Baluchistan this ratio is 13.98.9 Considering the economi c peculiarities and rural character of the region, it is understandable that the number of readers per copy in Baluchistan is substantially higher than the national average of 7.7 It is necessary to mention that after including the ratio of readership per copy in FATA/FANA and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the national average of readers per copy is 7.7.

NEWS SEEKING PATTERNS

In general, the amount of news reading tends to increase with age, education, and administrative status. News reading increases very rapidly through the academicians and administrators. Summarizing reading patterns by education appears that readers on lower end of educational curve tend to use newspaper for entertainment, sensational news, and political. Newspaper readership often measured by quantifying a particular indicator of newspaper-reading activity, readership tends to be viewed far too simplistically.

Qamar (2002, p.18) said in his thesis of M.Sc. Mass Communication entitled The comparison of Different Newspaper Reading habits of Male & Female. His comparative study of different newspaper reading habits of men and women in Pakistan meant to find out that; to what extent newspaper reading habits differ from each other. The researcher wrote in his research study that women are interested in reading newspaper. It was found that 56 percent female readers read newspaper daily. The survey indicated that high percentage of women read newspaper although not more than men.

It is found that men spend more time for reading newspaper per day than women, as 40 percent men read newspaper more than an hour, while there are no women spend more than an hour for reading newspapers. Men read newspaper more than women in terms of reading large volume of newspapers material. Men like to read hard news while women like to read soft news.

According to Herald Media Survey (1997) in Scotland revealed in an article What they Read? The s urvey showed that newspapers are still popular with young teenager in Scotland. More than three quarters of boys said they spent on average ten minutes a day for reading newspaper with sports page being the most popular only 13 percent of boys read the whole newspaper. Although girls spend slightly less time for reading newspaper, they are reading more widely.

Media researchers Mehta and Paralikar (1999) investigated through conducting a study that news-seeking pattern of the selected media were studied in relation to spent time, news language, news area, kind of news and news aspects. The overall findings of their study revealed that majority of respondents described to two English newspapers, because those newspapers give complete news and have good coverage of events. Overall and sex wise newspaper used as medium for seeking news most frequently. The kinds of news sought through newspaper were political, social, health educational, etc. Highly significant diffe rences existed in the news-seeking patterns of female respondents with respect to spent time for seeking news, kinds of news and news aspects.

The kinds of news sought through this media with highest intensity indices were political, social, national and international current affairs, educational, sports, science, economics and business news. The other indices were headlines, detailed news, news briefs, articles, and editorials. The researcher conducted research on assessing the importance of news, to explore where news fits in daily life.

James (2004, p.34) Thus, we risk misunderstanding its true nature. As we become comfortable employing automatic processing with its focus on efficiency, we let our skills of meaning construction atrophy. With weaker skills, we come to depend more and more on the media to tell us what is important and who we should be. For centuries, getting access to information was a major problem for virtually all human. With rise of the mass media throughout the 20th century, the barriers to access were substantially reduced, especially with spread of Radio, Television and then Computer. Today, not only information easily available to almost anyone; information keeps getting produced at an ever increasing rate. The information problem is no longer about how to get access. The much more pressing problem is how to keep up with all the news-seeking patterns.

PRACTICAL USAGE OF NEWSPAPERS INFORMATION

Andersen says in his article entitled Communicating Information across Cultures: Understanding How Others Work published on September 2002. There are specific communications differences between scientists and humanists that are created by their information-seeking patterns. An excellent example of academics cultural differences in the field of information seeking and uses, information-seeking research looks at how individuals go about finding materials that they need in order to satis fy informational needs both professional and recreational. In the ethnographic experience of an unfamiliar worship service, an individual might gather clues about standing-sitting-kneeling through watching others, through listening for directions from an authority, or through written materials available somewhere in the place of worship.

The academicians of AIOU usually follow the patterns established by their peers, relying upon mentors in their fields to guide them in graduate school and early professional development. Differences of style come from both individualhis or her own personal traits, predispositions, and biases, and from training that he or she has received in a particular discipline. Thus, culture including ways of individuals seeks information passed on through apprenticeship and practice.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EDUCATION AND NEWSPAPER

The relationship between education and newspaper readership is far from simple. First, newspap er readership correlates positively with information seeking, including information about civic responsibilities, and need for cognition, the pursuit of higher level reasoning. A body of research correlates interest in information about political, public policy and social issues to news seeking. For example, a panel study by Hugh Culbertson and others found that focused attention, interest and involvement in political issues correlated positively with news seeking. The study found that attention either to newspapers or to television news content predicted provide knowledge. However, the study of newspaper readers were more cognitively involved than television viewers.

Maxwell McCombs and Paula Poindexter found a positive correlation between the frequency of newspaper readership and perceived civic duty to keep informed. (Civic duty encompasses perceived obligation to vote and to support fundamental liberties, including free expression.) Similarly, in a comparison study of nonreaders, single newspaper readers and multiple newspaper readers conducted by Wayne Wanta and others, nonreaders demonstrated particularly weak motivation to use newspapers to understand events or to known informed about civic affairs.

One study found that highly educated are more tolerant of others' freedom of expression than less well-educated, regardless of whether the issue in question supported by left or right-wing groups. The same study found that increased cognitive sophistication was even more predictive of support for free expression than level of education alone. Other studies using cognitive variables such as need for cognition have produced similar findings.

Rather than examine the possible multi-faceted link between education on free-expression issues and news seeking, research has tended to focus on differences among newspapers that may explain differences in civic knowledge among and between readers and nonreaders. For examp le, one study suggests that "not all newspapers are created equal." The study measured differences in civic knowledge among readers of different types of newspapers and found that all newspapers may not benefit equally from increased interest in civic affairs among potential readers. Because readers tend to gather information about local affairs from local newspapers and information about national issues from metropolitan papers, the selection of news source was predictive type of civic affairs knowledge possessed by the reader. Therefore, desire for increased knowledge of national events would not be correlated with increased reading of local newspapers. However, research by Dan Drew and David Weaver found, to the contrary, that readers of local newspapers sought and were knowledgeable about both local and national civic affairs.

FACULTY MEMBER AND NEWSPAPER READERSHIP

Tak Wing Chan & John H. Goldthorpe (2004) writes their research article entitle d Social Status of Faculty Member and Newspaper Readership. They write an instance of cultural participation in regard to which the information-processing might be thought especially favoured news for newspaper readership. More straightforward form of information processing of newspaper reading than various other cultural activities and at the same time choice of newspaper could scarcely count as very effective kind of status-oriented `conspicuous consumption', on account both of relatively low price of even the most expensive newspapers and facts that reading at home to take place in privacy as compare in public.

Consequently, evidence of a connection between faculty member and newspaper readership, independent of information-processing capacity, would be our present purposes of the study. Most people read only one (daily) newspaper, at least on regular basis. This means that we can here avoid complications that arise with forms of cultural participation, such a s, say, listening to music, where there is wide variety of genres and an individual may have a range of preferences.

However, we see how far the association between faculty member and readerships status may be accounted by individuals' educational attainment serving as proxy for their information-processing capacity. Although all newspapers are available and read throughout UK, Scotland has it own broadsheets (Herald, Scotsman) and tabloids. Their readers are grouped with those who read other regional newspapers under Regional category, local and others.

It may be noted that control variables do have some significant association with newspaper readership. The significant coefficients for sex, being generally positive, indication that women more liking than men to fall into other readership categories than broadsheet reader, while those for age, being generally negative, indicate that older persons are more liking than younger ones to read broadsheets t han to fall into other categories.

The coefficients for income cannot be so straightforwardly interpreted but, as anticipation, they are in-fact less often significant, and especially when education brought into analysis. Scots appear less likely than others to read broadsheets, but this is probably an artefact due to omission of Scottish broadsheets in the response categories.

However, the effects of status and education are interesting variables of research study. Having demonstrated that there are strong and systematic association between faculty members status and newspaper readership, while status and class are clearly correlated in contemporary British society as status gradient runs, as it were, across the class structured status stratification within classes may still be quite extensive.

Today, the cultural level of lifestyle is chief way in which status expressed and recognised, then, since newspapers generally regarded as being cult urally stratified, the status of individuals should show a close relation to the type of newspaper that they read.

The probability of individuals reading high-brow broadsheets rises with status, and at an increasing rate; the probability of their reading low-brow redtop tabloids falls with status in more or less linear fashion; and the probability of their reading middlebrow tabloids first increases with status and then decreases.

We have, moreover, considered the possibility that more basic relationship exists between individuals' educational level, information-processing capacity, and their consequent preference for more or less demanding kinds of reading newspapers. We find that although education does indeed influence of newspaper readership and on lines that would be predicted under information-processing and education does not remove the effect.

The association between faculty member and newspaper readership persists within different levels of education. The information-processing can be reckoned as at least more immediately involved in reading newspapers that in many other forms of cultural participation, while choice of newspaper is not the most obvious vehicle of conspicuous consumption. The cultural level of newspapers readership does grooming their status within their community.

ACADEMICIAN AND ADMINISTRATIVE USAGE OF NEWSPAPERS

Everyone knows information is a form of power. Daily millions of peoples gain their knowledge of national and international affairs from the pages of newspapers all over the world. The Third World countries know this more than ever. That why they are calling for the establishment of new international information order and they feel this is just as urgent as the establishment of new international economic order.

All medium of communication play a main role in the field of information, but the print media plays a key role in focusing public att ention, and news patterns influence, public perception of important issues of the day. The academicians and administrators are main source of ideas about needy changes in the University structure and managements. Discretionary behaviour by academicians and administrators who deliver services characteristics of most studies by the implementation research.

The modern newspaper plays several roles for its readers. From the analysis of intensive interviews, the researcher has attempted to construct a typology of such roles, or functions, of newspaper. Obviously the types enumerated here, while discrete, are not necessarily mutually exclusive for any one newspaper reader. Undoubtedly, different people read different parts of the newspaper for different reasons at different times. A group of readers seem to use newspaper because it enables them to appear informed in social gatherings, thus the newspaper has conversational value. Readers not only can learn what has happ ened and then report it to their associates but they can find opinions and interpretations for usage and discussions on current affairs with colleagues.

The newspaper readers predispositions are involved in effects of reading in two ways. They condition the readers selection of publications and the condition of his interpretation of what he reads. Almost any phase of readers personality may be involved in reading experience. Their personal traits, subject interests, and reading ability may determine which accessible publications they would choose to read. The difference can be explained only by differences in predispositions which may be fundamental or merely a temporary mood. The same predispositions are often involved in both selection and interpretation of reading, but they need not to be. The reader may select their reading from one set of conditions and respond to it from a totally different set.

Their methods of reading, which may range from a h asty skimming to close analysis, naturally affect both their response to publication and its effects on them. The more highly educated readers are attracted to more mature newspapers because their wider intellectual experiences enable them to share publishers more mature attitudes in the life. As the central fact in most peoples lives, occupation has an important role in selection and interpretation of reading, its importance, of course, varies with their occupation. Occupational differences such as clearly revealed in many subject classifications of publications. Reader motivated by need for greater social security may seek to improve their status within their family or social class or may try to exchange their social class for another social class.

News-seeking Patterns of Academicians

According to previous researches of news reading habits academicians or University teachers are interested to read the news according to their professional status. The y want to read news of national and international affairs, educational, economics, editorial and article. They want to update their knowledge because they deliver a lot of lectures in the different institutions and topics.

Newspapers are most prominent media which are providing the current information to educationist according to their requirement. To produce well-informed citizens who can make their own judgements on the basis of available evidence. In so far as educationist deals with value judgements, it does so in the ways which encourage their students to explore the range of value judgements and to examine the sources of such judgements (including their own) and their effects. They seek to impose ideas on what constitutes good or bad through newspapers.

News-seeking Patterns of Administrators

The administrators use a wide variety of sources, both informal and formal, to obtain the needed information as do their colleagues in other coun tries. However, in addition to giving preference to human sources, as was found by Campbell (1997), they place more emphasis on the press releases. They seem to be more satisfied with the information that they receive from the sources that they prefer than those that they do not. It is interesting to note that these respondents are least satisfied with the print media.

The information gathered by these respondents appears to be mainly used for getting job opportunities, personal knowledge, and less so for preparing personality profiles, editorials, and columns. This was expected because a limited amount of items mentioned in the later group are actually needed and are written by a limited number of individuals.

There are some interesting usage patterns of administrators because administrative personalitys almost choose same news for reading like as academicians but some differences exist i.e. they give priority to; job hunting, sports politics, featur es and burning issues of the country. As compared to academicians administrators are spend a lot time regularly to read newspapers, might be have spare time for in-depth reading of newspapers.


DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

In this chapter the researcher analyzed the data in response of respondents awareness/knowledge, personal identification, and confirmation of their news-seeking patterns. The data on the News-seeking Patterns of academicians and administrators of AIOU were collected through a questionnaire which was designed for this study with the help of supervisor. Primarily, cross-tabulation and correlation coefficient statistical procedure was applied to investigate exposure of newspapers readership, their demography and news-seeking patterns dimension; viz Reading English/Urdu language newspapers, purpose of reading newspapers, national and international current affairs, editorials and articles, economics, health and sport news, educat ional development news, information seeking on political news, and reading newspapers supplements.

Theoretical frame work for all the variables of this study was based on Uses and Gratification model. The data was analyzed with the help of SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 12.0. Details of the data analysis are given below:

Table 4.1: Cross-tabulation of Professions Gender and
Age of the respondents

Professions Gender and Age Age of the respondents Total
30 to 40 41 to 45 46 to 50 51 & above
Academicians Gender of the respondents Male Count 22 15 1 10 48
% Age 64.7% 68.2% 50.0% 83.3% 68.6%
Female Count 12 7 1 2 22
% Age 35.3% 31.8% 50.0% 16.7% 31.4%
Total Count 34 22 2 12 70
% Age 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Administrators Gender of the respondents Male Count 14 14 10 20 58
% Age 73.7% 77.8% 83.3% 95.2% 82.9%
Female Count 5 4 2 1 12
% Age 26.3% 22.2% 16.7% 4.8% 17.1%
Total Count 19 18 12 21 70
% Age 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Table 4.1 shows the samples age of Academicians and administrators of the AIOU. The sample comprises the 50% Academicians and 50% administrators communities. As evident from the table, greater numbers of male Academicians 83.3% as well as male administrators 95.2% are falling in the age category of 51 and above. Whereas, the numbers of female Academicians 31.8% and female administrators 22% are falling in the age category between 41 to 45. Similarly, there is quite a good number of both Academicians and administrators falling in the young age category; i.e. 30 to 40 years.

To sum up, comparatively young male Academicians are working in the AIOU. However, the age group between 30 to 40 of female Academicians is younger than the age group of female administrators. Similarly, overall, there are young people ranging from the age between 30 to 50 employed in the U niversity.


Table 4.2: Cross-tabulation of Professions Gender and
Qualification


Graph 4.2 documents that there are greater numbers of both male and female Academicians having M. Phil and PhD qualification 68.5%. Whereas, the administrating positions are mostly having masters degree qualification 91.7%. Thus the Academicians community is highly qualified as compared to the administrators in the AIOU.


Table 4.3: Cross-tabulation of Professions Gender and
Reading Newspaper


Graph 4.3 refers to the reading habits of faculty members and administrators. As evident from the table both male academicians and administrators read newspaper very greatly. However, the female academicians are less inclined toward reading newspaper as compare to female administrators i.e. 63% and 83% respectively. The overall result shows that reading newspaper by the administrators is higher than the academician community.
< br />Table 4.4: Cross-tabulation of Professions Qualification and Reading Newspaper
Professions Qualification and Reading Newspaper Reading Newspaper Total
Yes No
Academicians Qualification of the respondents Master Count 21 8 29
% of Total 30.0% 11.4% 41.4%
M Phil Count 15 4 19
% of Total 21.4% 5.7% 27.1%
PhD Count 21 1 22
% of Total 30.0% 1.4% 31.4%
Total Count 57 13 70
% of Total 81.4% 18.6% 100.0%
Administrators Qualification of the respondents Master Count 39 6 45
% of Total 55.7% 8.6% 64.3%
M Phil Count 4 1 5
% of Total 5.7% 1.4% 7.1%


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Saturday, January 28, 2012

Can I Get Banned For Buying Wow Gold? Is It Safe To Buy Gold On Wow?

Feel free to check our website for more information about gold sellers and your account safety : Mmoops.com


Democratization of Gold Purchases

Nobody will disagree with that fact: 25%-35% of the players bought gold in 2009. It might sound stunning but over 30% of players spent at least $30 in virtual goods/services last year.

Why do so many people hate goldsellers?

Is it fair to buy WOW Gold?

Many World of Warcraft players today likes to buy WoW gold, items, accounts and power leveling sessions, but blizzard along with other players consider this an act of cheating. Well, you have the ability to enhance your character to a much higher level or better quality items, weapons, armors and other equipment with real money. It's unfair for those players who does not have the extra cash to spare or would prefer to play it the old fashion way. So that is one conclusion as to why players and Blizzard does not approve of selling or buying gold.

Does it really disrupt the game economy?

Disruption from Warcraft gold farmers. Yes I'm sure we've all experienced that farming now a days have been a little difficult due to the overwhelming population of WoW gold farmers. If gold wasn't able to be sold using real money the farmers wouldn't exist and players would probably be able to enjoy the game more.

The real question is does gold farming really disrupt the game economy?

If there is excess gold, then the value of gold drops and the value of the item will rise causing players to spend more gold on the item than what they would normally need to pay. Basic economics 101, inflation and deflation. A player can only farm an X amount of gold over a given period of time. The more gold there is, the more the item will cost, the more a player will have to farm unless they purchase the gold of course.

Well with all these problems involving selling gold, why hasn't Blizzard done something? I believe they probably are working on a solution but believe it not, farmers do make up about 30% of their population. Somewhere in the back of their mind I'm sure they don't want to get rid of all subscribers.

Another reason is that it does not disrupt the economy. It is regulating the economy. That's the very basis of capitalism. Blizzard acts on droprates (rarity) and desirability (stats, rewards) They are the one dsrupting the economy. If they fail to set up something really logical (a sound effort/reward ratio) gold farmers take advantage of it and it will regulate the market.

I feel (it would recquire a lot more analysis and an in depth study of WOW economy to be sure) that they are using goldsellers/farmers. They are scapegoats for everything that goes wrong:

Blizzard can't set up a good and sound economy? Droprates or stats are fucked up? Players are tired of farming? Players can't buy that stupid awesome mount?

What goes wrong is that they can't be responsible for every mistake game designers make...

People don't buy gold because gold farmers are disturbing the economy and therefore forcing them to buy. They are buying gold because they don't feel like spending thousands of hours to get something.

The real issues:

Blizzard misunderstanding gamers interests and needs Blizzard focusing on making the game last longer using more itemization than content Blizzard using goldsellers as scapegoats instead of focusing on the real issues and trying to fix the game

It can sound a bit disappointing given the fact that this is just a silly game. Taking this too seriously is kinda pointless. Basically it all comes down to time and how much of it you want to spend in the game. They should just remove gold as a factor in the game and have you spend "gametime" instead. ie) it costs 90 hours of gameplay to buy a flying mount. This is really what the formula is anyway.

Life is NOT fair. People suffer, die. Deserving people don't get what they sould in that life. Some people choose to buy gold, some choose to abandon their friends, family and farm for gold thousands of hours yearly, some have fun with the gear they can get within the time they allow themselves to spend on WOW... We are the only ones responsible for our lives and our choices. What matters the most is how we can live with those choices. I doubt that gold buyers are having trouble to face the consequences of theirs decisions.

To be honest that question is j ust pointless. What matters is that hundreds of thousands of people buy gold, powerleveling and accounts. They can't be ignored. They can't all be fools.

Most people buy WOW Gold

Feel free to check our website for more information about gold sellers: Mmoops.com


I see everywhere places advertising World of Warcraft gold for sale and even some of my friends have recently started buying WoW gold. They say it is a whole lot safer than getting your character powerleveled and I shouldn't be worried about getting banned for it. My question is can I really get banned for buying WoW gold and if I can what is the odds of them banning my account?

It really is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to buying gold in World of Warcraft. As always you really need to take caution if you decide to and yes it can get your account banned. We don't know if most people buy gold but there are a lot of people buying. Why? Why shoud we care. They feel like they need it. Why are you playing WOW? Because it's fun? Well, i guess that WOW without gold isn't fun to most people...

Purchasing gold is against the World of Warcraft Terms of Use (TOS). So there is a chance to get banned. What really matters is what can you do to avoid it. Is there a chance to get banned for no reason? Yes, it is really sad but without control over the bans Blizzard can do whatever they want. They are human to. They make mistakes. If their mistakes have no consequences, they will tend to do a lot of mistakes before getting caught.

Did I get banned or suspended for buying gold?

The Blizzard WoW ToS state they can suspend or terminate your account "for any reason or no reason." So, even though neither the ToS or EULA specifically mention buying gold, that doesn't mean they cannot suspend you for it. At the present time, they can do anything they want. EULAs are recognized everywhere on the web. Most website present them as THE LAW. That's wrong. EULAs are no laws. Buying gold isn't ILLEGAL BUT FORBIDDEN by Blizzard.

That means that Blizzard is outrageously taking advantage of that situation (I'm not sure that it's illegal to state that something that isn't illegal is illegal, in the US but in France it is) Most of the people who get banned or suspended saying they didn't exploit or buy gold aren't taken seriously but the gamers' community. Nobody is checking what Blizzard is doing when it comes to bans. They are free to do anything they want. That's BS and gamers shouldn't support it.

Example:

Reason for Action: Terms of Use Violation Economy Exploitation

After a thorough investigation, we have found that a player of the account listed above participated in activities designed to gain an unfair advantage in the World of Warcraft economy. These activities violate the World of Warcraft Terms of Use. We ask that you take a moment to review these terms at http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/legal/termsofuse.html.

WTF! They are saying nothing in that stupid email. That's a joke and most of the players accept it and take for granted that Blizzard is dedicated to ban cheaters. Are you sure about it? Well, we highly doubt it.
A player of the account? WTF they are forbidding to share accounts...
Unfair advantage? Gearing up to PVP spending 80 hours a week is fair? Fair to who? BS again. Anyway, it's meaningless.
Economy Exploitation? WTF ! That's a basis of capitalism... So buying low and sell high is forbidden? Farming when resources are scared too?

Does it prove that you can be banned without a reason? Yes. Do we know more people who got banned for no reasons than gold buyers? Yes. Do people get banned when they buy gold from scamming website? YES. Some scammers are delivering the gold... Part of the job is to avoid to endanger your account FFS...

Why is Blizzard banning people?

From a player:
Not sure if maybe I read that excerpt wrong but I only see mention of selling not buying .. I don't honestly see why they care.
1) If they ban your account they lose $15 per month, might not seem like a large loss but over time and enough accounts lost and it adds up. Sure some people will buy the game again and pay for another account but as the expansions come out thats a lot to pony up to replace it. Most would move on. Blizzard knows this.
2) All you do with gold is throw it into the gold sink that is wow. It doesn't translate into any in real life and blizzard owns all your virtual property anyways.
3) To solve the problem would be to allow people to buy gold from them. It would cost them nothing and create more revenue.

I think that most people don't understand something quite simple:
banning an account => + $15 / cost ~ $0
banning 1,000,000 accounts a year => $15 M / cost : almost nothing (GMs and a few coders) (example we dunno how many accounts they ban for real)

Banning people is really profitable FFS ! It's like taxation. Gold sellers are randomly paying a percentage of their income to Blizzard that way. They are generating a lot of revenue thanks to the bans. They can even use it to get a fake margin on the subs. (getting GMs, CSRs and lot of services on the charges related to "banning cheaters")

The real situation is much more complex than it seems. They are banning for a reason and my guess is that it is to satisfy their shareholders not the players.
They will tell us that RMT is a plague that is costing them a lot. Proof? My guess is that RMT makes them richer.

The Current Situation: What is in the TOS and EULA

(From WOW.com)

Let's begin by first examining the current legal situation. We, as players, are in a contractual relationship with Blizzard. This contract is composed of two documents, the End User License Agreement and the Terms of Use, that define the rights, responsibilities, and privileges of each party. So let's see what the documents have to say.

The End User License Agreement states:

2. . . . You agree that you will not, under any circumstances: . . . C. exploit the Game or any of its parts, including without limitation the Game Client, for any commercial purpose, including without limitation ... (b) for gathering in-game currency, items or resources for sale outside the Game;

And just in case you missed it, the Terms of Use state:

2. . . . You agree that you will not, under any circumstances: . . . B. exploit the Game or any of its parts, including without limitation the Service, for any commercial purpose, including without limitation ... (b) for gathering in-game currency, items or resources for sale outside the Game;

So, Blizzard is quite clear about this -- you are not allowed to sell gold. Why not? Well, let's start with the fact that you don't actually own "your" gold.

4. Ownership.
A. All title, ownership rights and intellectual property rights in and to the Game and all copies thereof (including without limitation any . . . objects, . . . character inventories, . . .) are owned or licensed by Blizzard.

Missed it? Here it is again:

Ownership.
All rights and title in and to the Service (including without limitation any user accounts, . . . objects, characters, . . character profile information, . . . ) are owned by Blizzard or its licensors.

Chances of getting banned

From Blizzard FAQ (First part was about powerleveling and account share):

Exchange of World of Warcraft Currency/Goods/Services for non-World of Warcraft Currency/Goods/Services, and Vice-Versa (Buying/Selling Gold, Items, Characters, and/or Accounts)

Anyone offering World of Warcraft content for sale is attempting to steal from and deceive you, as no one is EVER allowed to sell any aspect of the World of Warcraft MMORPG except Blizzard and its licensees. Blizzard will not recognize the transaction resulting from the seller's prohibited behavior! Attempting to circumvent this rule by selling "the time put into the character" DOES NOT make such a sale legitimate, as the transaction still results in the transfer of World of Warcraft virtual property (which is acknowledged by every player as solely belonging to Blizzard Entertainment and/or its licensors) and in the seller receiving money.

CONSEQUENCES:

Any evidence uncovered by Support investigations that the account has been involved in the exploitation of the World of Warcraft Economy by purchasing currency, items, characters and/or accounts may result in:

* Removal of any World of Warcraft content that was purchased from anyone other than Blizzard Entertainment. Note that the sale of existing accounts, currency, items, and characters, or any aspect thereof, is not presently offered by Blizzard or its licensees, nor is the availability of such services foreseen.

* Immediate Account Closure of any account found to have been transferred from the registered user to anyone else. Blizzard Entertainment neither recognizes nor permits the transfer of accounts.

Any evidence uncovered by Support investigations that the account has been involved in the exploitation of the World of Warcraft Economy by selling currency, items, characters, and/or accounts may result in immediate account closure.

Even if they don't ever mention bans are a consequence they can do it. Since it can get you banned, what are the odds that it will?

I believe the odds of it getting you banned to be very low as long as you are smart about it. Selling gold and other virtual items is quickly becoming a multi-billion dollar industry. I believe it would take way too many resources in order to ban all the buyers so that is why they seem to be focused on banning mostly the sellers. (The sellers need to buy new accounts on a regular basis and they are a boon for Blizzard)

I believe you will be ok as long as you don't purchase insane amounts of gold at one time and you don't want to do anything in-game that would bring attention to yourself. I know a lot of people that have bought gold many times and have never had a problem with it.

Ultimately the choice is yours so choose the sellers carefully.


Finding a cheap and safe seller


Feel free to check our website for more information about gold sellers: Mmoops.com

Read Reviews & Feedbacks

Because your money matters. Because your computer safety matters. Because your personal files must stay personal. Because your account shouldn't get banned for buying WOW Gold You should only buy WOW Gold from a very reliable seller. That is a seller who got a great server security and reliable processes (most forums and fansites get hacked for your private emails, good goldsellers don't)

Most people don't understand that buying WOW Gold safely doesn't necessary mean that you value the few bucks that you are spending. You value your time (dispute and reimbursement are a huge waste of time and energy)

Choosing a shady website to buy WOW Gold might not only get you scammed. It can also threaten a lot more than those $20 you risked.

That's mainly why Mmoops.com was created. We are here to warn you about all the scammers who operate in the RMT business. We are here to help you find the right seller. We re viewed a lot of websites and selected a few really reliable sellers. We detailed everything. Feel free to read our reviews. Eventually, we will have a strong and big enough community for you to find out who is the best seller in minutes. Our goal is to have enough visitors commenting their purchases for you to trust their votes.

Compare their prices & Services

The easiest way to buy WOW Gold is to compare the prices of the different websites that you will judge reliable enough. Mmoops.com helps you to compare reliable sellers prices.

Before buying

Answer the few questions bellow:

Do you want to take that risk? Do you need it? Can you get the gold another way?

About Mmoops.com

Mmoops was launched in late September 2009. The website is growing quickly. Managed by a team of European and American RMT veterans, the website is already featuring more than 700 vendors, over 1,700,000 prices, 96 games, over 2250 servers and over 70 currency including Energy Credits, Kinah, Gold, Adena, Gil, Credits and Platinum.

The purpose of Mmoops is to offer an independent, honest, trustworthy, updated, precise and valuable source of information on the most important gold and virtual services vendors of the web.

Mmoops.com is the only independant website reviewing RMT websites. We are not Chinese and are not linked to any gaming company or gold seller. We only want the web to be safer and scammer free. That's why we decided to start building a community of gamers buying virtual goods and sharing their experiences. The more we will be the safer the web will be. We need you all who are buying RMT services to join us an d make the Internet a safer place!


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Thursday, January 26, 2012

My Ten Best Free Android Entertainment Apps

I can't stress this enough to my friends and people I talk to about Android apps in general Most of the best Android apps plows the free ones. For This is true nearly every category of apps and the Android entertainment apps plows not one of the exceptions!

I've heard from to ton of people that they're basically paralyzed because of the vastness of the Android Market. My advice to them and just about everyone else: hour when you have to half of free Time, download to couple free Android apps and check them out. If you like `member state, keep `member state; if you don't, well there's plenty dwells that you'll like. The trick is narrowing the tens of thousands of Android apps into chunks you dog handle. In fact, that's my goal with all these articles. OK, I'm donates with preaching for the day, haha. Here plows the ten best free Android entertainment apps you dog find on the Android Market:

TMZ - I will admit it; this Android app is one of my "guilty pleasures". It probably shouldn't sees, but it is and I really can't help it. This app will satisfy the voyageur in you while keeping up with the latest unimportant celebrity news. Hey, if you're going to get to "celebrity news" app, why not get the best? And, IMO this is certainly the best!

AK-47 - Pretty much what the yam of this app says, this application allows you to fire your Android phone like an AK-47. This is one of those apps that you wouldn't think is worth downloading; but, to tell you the truth, it's surprisingly fun.
The Schwartz Unsheathed - If there's to mock gun on my list why not have to "Schwartzsabre"? For This app is to must all you Star Wars fanatics. Well, it might sees I'm not that kind of guy, haha. Anyways, I know to lot of "those people" and they all have this app and love it! Under, if you're into Star Wars, this is an Android app that you would enjoy.

TV Guide Mobile - This app allows you to have an up-to-dates TV for Guide stuffed in your phone to whenever you may need to check out the guide. It's also to pretty good source of fun TV articles to read. If you're to TV junky like most of U.S., this Android entertainment app should sees on your phone Yesterday!

Fandango Movies - IMO, 5 this is one of the best free Android entertainment apps. It's Fandango! If you don't know what it is, you should download it immediately and begin to sees amazed AT what this app dog do! I love going to movies and I only need this single app to satisfy all of my mo vie needs- to whatever they may sees.

Steamy Window - This for Android app is tied the most useless app on this list. That doesn't pisses it isn't fun though Basically, you dog choose the background photo, then, to cover it with steam and you dog wipe it off with your fingers. It you reproduce the steamy to shower or window door to perfection- completes with moving beads of to water!

Funny Jokes - This is one of the best free Android apps available for finding awesome jokes. This app classifies all the jokes into 12 categories (including the very popular Chuck Norris Facts) under if you don't want to see to individual type of joke, you to never have to!

Zedge Ringtones & Wallpapers - This free Android entertainment app offers too many ringtones and wallpapers to count. There plows to over 16 million Zedge members currently, under they must have gotten something right! Your ringtones and wallpapers will to never sees dull or ordinary ag ain thanks to this app.

FMyLife FML Official - This app is highly addictive! You've been warned. Whenever I'm having to bad day, I just take browse through the postings on this app and it all doesn't seem under bad anymore. Basically, people from all to over the world post about the not-under-great things that recently happened to them and to other users "rate" to their posts. You dog literally waste away hours upon hours reading the posts and comments on this app- if you don't have the Time to waste, stay Officers' Club of Revolutionary Armed Forces away from this Android entertainment app!

Magic 8-Ball - This app brings the Magic 8-Ball that most of U.S. to remember asking questions to when we were kids back with to vengeance! There plows to ton of added features that we could have only dreamed of ace kids that make this app truly "one of the best". If you need some help answering that tricky question in the future, you know where to turn to: the Ma gic 8-Ball!


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Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Different Types Of big Lego Games And Toys

Whenever you will call the word Lego or big lego in front of adults, they will start thinking about their childhood. These adults will think about the time they spent in building different masterpieces using big Lego toys. Big Lego Games can add great imagination and creativity in you. By playing Lego games one can easily improve his skills. My favurite big lego game used to be vehicles, houses and trains. Even though time has changed alot but our kids still love to play big lego games . No body can ignore the importance of Lego toys and games in the life of kids and adults.Big Lego toy trains are very much famous among kids and adults and you can easily purchase it from Discount Lego now. Lego toys and games are designed not only for kids but adults can also use these and you can get from Discount Lego now.You can use your mind to manipulate and interlock different blocks and can easily construct several things. Lego toys and games are designed not only for kids but adult s can also use these.There are educational toys and toys that only have entertainment value. While there are also toys that will only keep the child occupied for only a few minutes and then he or she will move on to the next toy. Now, if there is one thing that a Lego can assure it is the fact that your child will spend time on it. They are able to manufacture big Legos and small ones. I encourage each adult who will be giving toys to kids to read the label marked on the box especially the part where it tells you the age appropriateness of the toy. There are certain toys that are not recommended for 3 years old and below because of the choking hazard.You can use your thoughts and imaginations to design and create whatever you want.If you want to get quality big lego toys, you should buy it from Discount Lego store.

May be you are thinking that what are big Lego games and toys and why these are important for kids and adults. big Lego Toys affected the childhood of many children by improving their imagination power and thinking power. Big Lego Games can add great imagination and creativity in you. The first Lego toy was designed in the mid twentieth century and after that automatic interlocking plastic binding Lego bricks were used to form several things. Lego Toys has a variety of toys and games like houses, vehicles and trains. After so much advancement and after the change in our life style, still our kids and adults have interest in Lego toys and games . We cannot ignore the importance of big legos in anyone's life because legs has been a part of everyone's life from the childhood.Big lego trains are always very popular in kids and if you want to get discounted price, you can get it from Discount Lego now. Lego toys and games are designed not only for kids but adults can also use these and you can get from Discount Lego now.You can use your mind to manipulate and interlock different blocks and can easily construct several things. Lego toys and games are designed not only for kids but adults can also use these.There are educational toys and toys that only have entertainment value. There are toys that will keep a child occupied for days on end.

So a child as young as 1 year old will be able to play with it and there is no danger of choking because of its size. Remember, it only takes a few seconds for a child to put something in his mouth.You can use your thoughts and imaginations to design and create whatever you want.You can purchase interesting, durable and good quality Lego toys and games from Discount Lego Now.


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Tuesday, January 24, 2012

2011 Rugby World Cup Waterfront Big Plans

All you Rugby fans out there, here is some great news! All the exciting 48 Rugby World Cup Matches could be enjoyed live on multiple big screens all across Queen Wharf. Government and Auckland city have made crucial announcement regarding the Rugby World cup waterfront Fanzone' which Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully stated includes, "free concerts by top Kiwi bands" and "displays of New Zealand's creativity, innovation and ingenuity."

He further added, "Queens Wharf is the event hub of the real New Zealand Festival and live music will be one of the features of Queens Wharf entertainment."

Some of the bands included are Opshop, The Feelers, The Black Seeds, Katchafire, Don McGlashan, Greg Johnson, Bella Kalolo, Moana and the Tribe, Tami Neilson and I Am Giant.

Mr. McCully said, "We are still in the process of securing more acts but I am already confident the line-up we have so far will display the best of kiwi music and provide some excellent entertainment, along with the rugby."

He also added, "The Giant Rugby Ball is also a welcome addition. It has been around the globe on tourism promotions in London, Paris, Tokyo and Sydney. It has always received good feedback and now New Zealanders will be able to enjoy the display during the Rugby World Cup."

Len Brown, Auckland Mayor stated that daily programme of Queens Wharf has been built around 48 matches of tournament. Len Brown said, "Queens Wharf will be the country's biggest official Fanzone and the best place in New Zealand to watch the matches live on screen."

During the Weekends, Queens Wharf entertainment programme will be managed, whereas the programme will be intensified during school days.

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Monday, January 23, 2012

Free Rugby Stream:Watch Australia vs South Africa Live[Tri-Nations] Rugby on here on4 th Sep.[HD stream Live]


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Sunday, January 22, 2012

Celebrity Fitness in malaysia

Celebrity Fitness pioneered the concept of combining a fitness center and entertainment ambiance in Indonesia. Moreover, Celebrity Fitness contributes tremendously to the increased awareness of health and fitness in its operating markets today. Celebrity's gym experience proved hugely popular, prompting the group to expand its gym network in Jakarta and grow overseas (starting in 2005 with the 1 Utama club in Kuala Lumpur). As the premier regional fitness center, Celebrity Fitness constantly pushes to provide the best service to its members by tailoring programs and offerings for our members' satisfaction.

In December 2007, Navis Capital Partners ("Navis")united withCelebrity Fitness. Navis contributes its various resources to assist Celebrity Fitness as it expands its product offerings in its existing markets and abroad.

Celebrity Fitness is the fastest growing fitness company in Asia with 41,000 active members in Jakarta alone. The clubs in Surabaya, Kuala Lumpur and Penang have been getting enthusiastic, positive feedback from members. Celebrity Fitness enjoys its image as a trendy destination for the vigorous, urban and cosmopolitan community and will continue to strive to provide a multitude of high quality, exciting, and entertaining work-out experiences to our membersno matter what their fitness levels are. Celebrity Fitness launched India with the club at JMD Mall Gurgaon, and will continue to develop the organization and expand our gym network in the near future.

1. Strength

Celebrity fitness have well maintain and modern gym equipment. This will let the customer enjoy the finest equipment at celebrity fitness.

Online presence: Each member will have access to shop, schedule and supplement provided online. All scheduling will be automated for fast and efficient communication with the members.

Knowledgeable and friendly staff: Celebrity fitness staff consists of professionally trained personnel that have a true passion for helping the customer and caring for the needs of its members. This becomes apparent when you look at the staff's professional background.

Clear vision of the market need: Celebrity fitness offer individual membership as well as corporate membership for company. This will create very loyal, passionate members.

Celebrity Fitness offer Classes such as Body combat, Kickboxing, Yoga, Street jam, Aerobic and many more new classes. This will keeps members interested and loyalty to the club.

Celebrity Fitness offer numerous of gym centre at Klang Valley that located on shopping complex. This will offer flexibility to customer to choose their nearest fitness centre.

1. Weakness

Although Celebrity Fitness has built a loyal following, but the brand is not yet a household name.

Celebrity Fitness high membership fees relative to traditional gyms: Celebrity Fitness services may not appeal to potential customers with a limited budget like student and fresh graduate.

Celebrity Fitness also inability to work on a high volume business model.

Celebrity Fitness also using high costs of attracting a large corporate client. This will decrease the turnover.

Celebrity Fitness also encounter high staff turnover because most of the front-line employee are fresh graduate or part-timer

Competitors such as Fitness First offer a lot more fitness centre to it member compare with Celebrity Fitness.

2. Celebrity Fitness Core and Supplementary Elements

Core values: a fitness workout place

Supplementary Elements

Payment: Celebrity Fitness offer flexibility of payment for their gym membership. Customer can choose to pay a sum of money by cash for certain year of services or they can subscribe to EPP (easy payment plan) for payment by credit card.

Billing: Celebrity Fitness will issue a contract to customer regarding the sum of cash their need to pay for the membership , if by EPP the contract will clear stated the duration and monthly installment.

Information: Celebrity Fitness has salesperson located at each of their fitness club, if customer walk-in their will explain the services available like location of each fitness centre, fitness classes available, personal trainer service and pricing.

Consultation: Celebrity Fitness has salesperson located at each of their fitness club, member will get consultation whether their current weight is health or not, what fitness classes fit them, which fitness centre nearest to them, personal trainer services their required and price that meet their need.

Hospitality: Celebrity Fitness required their staff to be dressed in formal in order to show respect toward their customer, speaking in a polite manner and also language that customer comfortable. Safekeeping: Celebrity Fitness offers a free locker for the member to keep their belonging while gym at the fitness centre.

Exceptions: Besides fitness place like gym, classes and kickboxing: Celebrity Fitness also offer exception like steam room and sauna room for the member at rest room.

3. Celebrity Fitness Services Marketing Mix: "8Ps"

Product elements: Celebrity Fitness objective is offer a place for customer to fitness workout. Besides the core value, Celebrity Fitness also provided supplementary services like fitness classes, personal training services, free drinking machine, sauna room, steam room and swimming pool.

Place and time: Celebrity Fitness has 8 fitness centers at Klang valley that strategic located at shopping complex. This will easy for member to choose which nearest to their home or work place. The operating of Celebrity Fitness is from 6am to 12 pm, this will enable member to visit the fitness centre at their convenience time.

Promotion and education: Celebrity Fitness had been doing promotion with banner and flyer at their fitness centre. On banner and flyer it also stated the membership plan. Besides this they also doing promotion on Face book, Friendster and twitter: regarding their membership plan, answering feedback from user, latest promotion and fitness classes schedule from them.

Price and other user outlays: Celebrity Fitness offer special discount for student and corporate customer. Customer also can choose to pay full amount in cash or EPP by credit card. Besides this, personal trainer also will be provided at discounted price and member will enjoy discounted price for buying supplement product.

Physical environment: Celebrity Fitness create very sporty and celebrity image for their member. All the equipment provides are in good condition and modern. The fitness centre equipped with comfortable lightning, suitable music and TV program. All staff will be dressed in formal.

Process: Celebrity Fitness also provided member with instruction how to body building or slimming program. Member also can give their feedback regarding the club operation. Each machine with given instruction to use of the fitness machine or equipment and make sure the equipment is up-to- date.

People- Celebrity Fitness staff had certified trainer certificate that approved by international body, this will ensure all information member get is professional. Team building also been implement by Celebrity Fitness to ensure smooth team work to serve the customer better.

Productivity and Quality: Celebrity Fitness management always will be on fitness centre to monitoring the member behavior and what is their want or need. Continuous improved had been done to improved the services quality like member will enjoy discount benefit from selected retailed in the shopping complex. The fitness equipment is up-to-date and fitness classes are what the member wants.

4. Area of improvements needed

Changing room: changing room section need to be more hygiene by implement a schedule of cleaning for every 1 hour.

Secured-locker system: Currently Celebrity Fitness provide locker but member need to bring along lock. So Celebrity fitness needs to implement secured-locker system for it member that just need to flash their card at locker to lock. By implement this can ensure that the locker is more secured and avoid hijacking by thief.

Bathroom area: management need to be more cautious about the facilities provided, by having a routine check-up, maintaining the liquid inside the shampoo liquid machine and make sure each of the bathrooms consist of soap holder. Bathroom area needs to confirm with water supplying and if the issue really unavoidable, management need to inform the member before they enter Celebrity fitness.

Gym area: Frequently check about the weight machine and weight equipment is very important because it can avoid the machine/equipment breakdown that causing inconvenience to it club member and wasting their time. The duration to fix up the spoil machine/equipment is very important, so the management need to set a faster time frame to repair each of the machine/ equipment.

General facilities: General facilities need improvement in swimming pool, towel services and indoor studio. At the start swimming pool need to be more hygiene and the level of chlorine amount need to fill accordingly the international standard because if more will bring harm to club member skin or hair. So a routine check up for swimming pool must be handling carefully to avoid dissatisfaction to club member. Besides this, the towel provided to member need to be at good condition, clean and without stink on it. By this, it will increase the satisfaction of member because it creates a good feeling when using the tower. At last the indoor studio needs to be increase the space because to meet the demand of member that wants to attend the class. With this, all members can attend the class and it will increase the satisfaction of member.

Services and security: Free juice services must be included at Celebrity fitness because it will increase the image of Celebrity fitness that always provided add-on services to its member and really care about the member satisfaction. Besides this, the frontline staffs at Celebrity fitness needs to attend training regarding customer services because it will improve the front line staff in "customer first" attitude. By training and free juice it will increase satisfaction of club member. At last for security concern Celebrity fitness need to implement a computerized automated gate at the club entry because it can block unauthorized person to enter the club that will bring harm to the club member. With security tighten up, the club member will be feeling more safety when doing their work-out and it surely will increase the satisfaction of club member.

5. Comparison study

Fitness first is a major player for fitness industry in Malaysia. Comparisons have been made make between fitness first and celebrity fitness. The finding shows fitness first offer something that have been miss out or not on par by celebrity fitness:

11 clubs at Klang valley compare with Celebrity fitness only have 8 clubs. This will let customer feel Fitness first have more option to choose and more convenience.

Personalized audio visual entertainment. Whether you enjoy watching music videos, news or the latest sporting event. Celebrity fitness also offer audio visual entertainment but cant personalized and just can watch what they offer. This will let customer feel Fitness first have more option to choose and fulfill their needs.

Member lounge & juice bar: place to unwind after your workout. Relax, read the papers, chat with other members and friends as well as enjoy complimentary soft drinks, tea and coffee in the members' lounge for free. Celebrity fitness doesn't offer any of free drink or lounge. This exception sure will increase loyalty of Fitness First member and attract more customers to them.

DVD & VCD rental: Fitness first is the first chain of health clubs to introduce a members' complimentary DVD/VCD facility. Today, members have a choice of over 500 top movie titles to choose from at absolutely no cost. Videos are provided on a 48-hour loan service and all need is your membership card. Celebrity fitness doesn't offer these services. This exception sure will make the customer happier of Fitness First because they do something of the expectation.

Security: For the convenience and safety of Fitness First members, all entries to the clubs are based on computerized automated gates where only members can access the clubs by swiping their membership cards at the gates. Celebrity fitness doesn't offer these services. This safekeeping will increase the Fitness First member trust.

Online customize program: Fit Sync offers the security of your own personalized account and verification password. Whether it is verifying your own sessions, tracking session balances on-line or through electronic mail updates or monitoring your Personal Training package validity, Fit Sync is the online system to help you plan and get the most from your Personal Training program. Celebrity fitness doesn't offer these services. The hospitality of this program is something Celebrity Finest need to learn about it.


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