Blogging in today's society is wide spread. People of all ages are becoming their own reporters. McLeay (2006) states that blogging gives people a chance to express themselves, be their own editors and from this people adopt a sense of academic power as they are providing information. Whether this information is the contents of their breakfast or the latest shooting at HQ, they become a news outlet and empower themselves with a public voice. Although people do not solely use a blog to express themselves and the information they find news-worthy. New forms of media publishing include: hand-out news flyers, pass-it-on email links (forwards), myspace, facebook, and there's always university bulletin-boards that are inundated with current affairs. The back of public toilet doors are always enlightening as well as the messages written in the dusty windows of cars. Of course there are the other extravagant options such as radio announcements, billboards and smoke-in-the-sky messages pending on how windy it is. Basically, the news can be published in any means as long as it gets the message across.The key factor that assures the smooth transition of texts from one form to another is the clear comprehension of the message being converted. Being able to understand the subject or the broader focus allows the writer to express themselves more effectively in the new mode whilst doing the message of the original text, justice. Parker (1990, pp. 2) states, if you’re unclear about the purpose and undecided about the sequence and relative importance of the information you want to communicate, you’re in dangerous waters. To be able to successfully translate written text into a web-based publication one should develop the core concept of the project. Parker (1990) goes on and proposes that one is able to create effective, good-looking communications when one can define a project’s purpose to the extent that different parts of the message are able to be prioritized. A thorough understanding of the original texts ensures the message will not be lost in translation.
When converting a print document into a web document, a shorter, general idea of the message should be given where points are made quickly and wording is rationed to reduce scrolling. The message should not be ‘danced around’ but made directly, not just to decrease scrolling, but also because individuals are generally interested in finding information fast and efficiently online rather than slowly digesting an article as they would in the Sunday paper. Although it has been questioned as to whether the message, due to shortening, loses its original ‘vibe’ and underlying meaning. Many authors use words that they think best convey their message and create a certain ‘punch’ with its delivery although, due to words being rationed, the article risks loosing its expression. Walter Benjamin sited in Kress & van Leeuwen (1990), in his comments on the transition between manual production and recording, suggests that it is through reproduction of a publication and its presentation to suit ‘mass society’ that a message faces the disappearance of the ‘aura’ of the work of art. Therefore there are advantages and disadvantages that surround web publications. Information is able to be communicated quickly and directly although the message may be distorted by the edited briefness of the publication.
