Influence of Technology in Visual Art free essay sample

How does technology influence visual art? And how does photography influence the development of painting? This essay considers the impact of technology on the visual art and how this technology accelerated the development of the art and how people respond, adapt and incorporate modern technology into their own work. The impact of technology in visual arts has been in photography. Willian Melin stated that, â€Å"the dominant forces during the past century has been modern technology and has affected virtually every aspect of modern life social, political, economic and cultural† (Melin p. 3). Photography has influenced many painters and has admitted its impact on their work. Their art was greatly affected by this new medium. The effect of this technology was not only to alter the world of painting and the role of the painter but also to use it as a new method or tool to develop their work. Some Artists uses photographs as the basis of their painting or as a reference or guideli nes. We will write a custom essay sample on Influence of Technology in Visual Art or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page One of the photograph’s first benefits to the painter was its possible use as a sketch. The photograph could capture exactly a face, a pose, a scene and even actions of different motion. The earliest work by photographers Eadward Muybridge and Etienne-Jules Marey influenced among many painters such as Edgar Degas, Giacomo Balla and Marcel Duchamp. â€Å"When in the late 1870’s, Muybridge’s snapshots of the animal locomotion, specially the studies of horse’s different gaits, came to be known in France and the United States† (de Duve p. 114). Eadweard Muybridge was known for his early use of multiple cameras to study motion. Muybridges photographic motion study shows by separating motion into a series of stills. Each subject shows us series of motion as parts in the subject. These cameras capture the image, introducing a single moment from all possible movements of the subject in motion. Taken as a whole, he presents us with an idea of the motion; when projected rapidly on a screen in proper sequence creating rapid consecutive intervals of number of images following one after the other, the motion becomes clear. â€Å"With this demonstration at a meeting of the San Francisco Art Association on May 4, 1880, moving pictures were born† (Newhall p. 336). Muybridges motion studies are considered to be a vital step in the development of photography to motion pictures as we know them today.

Why did the Conservative Party split in 1846 Essays

Why did the Conservative Party split in 1846 Essays Why did the Conservative Party split in 1846 Essay Why did the Conservative Party split in 1846 Essay Essay Topic: History When Peel announced that he supported a repeal of the Corn Laws that protected the landed classes it resulted in his resignation and the split of the Conservative Party and arguably therefore Peel was the founder of modern Conservatism (Gash). However although the issue of repeal was the main issue that delivered the final blow to the party, as R Stewart states the rot had set in some years before. The Great Reform Act had created within the Conservatives a party of movement and a party of resistance. One was a more liberal type of conservatism, which aimed to appease to prevent the spread of democracy; the other was anti catholic and protectionist, the old conservatism. It was the clash of these two groupings that led to the eventual split in the party. The split although having many causes had its roots in reform but was pushed up into the sunlight by the arrogant actions of Peel. The repeal of the corn laws, if not the major cause, was most definitely the last straw that finally split the two sides of the party; as R. Stewart describes it for the Conservative party, repeal was a watershed. To understand the way in which the suggestion of repeal of the corn laws by Peel led to the split in the party we must first look to the causes of the split in opinion between the those in favour of reform and the protectionists. It has been suggested by certain historians such as J. A Thomas that the split over the repeal generally was a class battle between the business and manufacturing classes who tended to favour repeal and the landed classes who tended to be against it due to the relative personal economic benefits that it would bring. However Professor Aydelotte disputes this, removing the issue of class; although he agrees with Thomas that there were a higher proportion of votes among non-landed members than among landed for repeal. However Thomas ignores the issues of party and constituency, within the Conservative party the landed section was not proportionately more opposed than the non-landed, however the section of Conservative MPs that represented the land was, therefore it could be argued that the Tory Mps were not voting for their own interests but that of their constituencies and thus bowing to public opinion, a result of reform? When looking at the national social and economic situations that could be argued led to the idea of repeal and thus party split, one must not ignore the Potato famine in Ireland and economic instability in certain parts of England and Scotland. They required a large amount of food at lower prices, removing the corn laws would enable this, Peels view on this can be seen in his memoirs The minister who foresaw that there would be cruel distress in Ireland from the scarcity of food, might surely advise the removal of restrictions on its import without incurring the reproach of treason and perfidy to his party connections. However many historians have challenged the view that it was the potato famine that made Peels decision to push through repeal, as Boyd Hilton points out in his journal Peel a reappraisal in which he regards the potato blight as merely a pretext for repeal and that it is clear that, some time before the first intimations of famine, repeal had emerged as an end in itsel f. Indeed Peels cabinet itself was not even convinced of the need for appeal following the potato blight. However Peel had seemingly made his mind up and one possible reason for this could have been the popular pressure of public opinion (such as the anti corn law league), this is a likely explanation, this liberal interpretation is highlighted by Hilton who describes it as seeing Peel as a slave not to intellectual fashion but public opinion. We have looked at the economic and social reasons for the differing opinions on the repeal and thus the split in the party but it is now important to look at the role the man who suggested the repeal played. Heavy blame can be placed on Peel not only on the single issue of repeal but also on most other major issues that led to the split of the Conservative party (however these will be addressed later). The most obvious reason blame can be placed on Peel is because it was Peel who was the leader of the government who suggested the repeal, which led to the split in the party. However to really understand why Peel is so much to blame for making the issue of repeal the final straw we must look at his actions leading up to his announcement that he supported repeal. When the Conservative government was elected to power in 1841 it was believed by most Conservative backbenchers to have been won because it and Peel pledged to maintain the Corn Laws and protect the landed class, it was the traditional Conservative doctrine. Evidence of this belief can be found at Benticks reaction to the election results First let me congratulate you (he wrote to Lord Lincoln) that the country has refused to be cajoled by the latest fabrication from the workshop of Whig trickery and delusion The Whig trickery and delusion he spoke of was of course the case for repeal. In fact even the Whigs believed that Peel was one hundred percent behind sustaining the Corn Laws, this can be seen in Lord Monmouths comment that the election of 1841 was being fought between, on one side a free trade party and on the other a protectionist one. It is clear to see from this evidence why so many members of the party felt betrayed by Peels apparently sudden u-turn on the issue of repeal, Benticks reaction clearly reflected the protectionist feeling of betrayal, describing Peel and his accomplices as no better than common cheats. politically lying and pledge breaking. Confidence in Peel was shaken so much not necessarily because he supported repeal (although of course this did play its part) but rather because of the manner in which he had seemingly committed treason against his party and the pride in which he seemed to take in declaring he had devised his scheme of repeal without caring whether or not he would receive the support of the backbenchers. It is this arrogan ce and failure to look to see the future consequences of his actions that made Peel such a danger to his party and inevitably was one of the reasons the split occurred. However there is the opinion amongst some historians that many at the time believed Conservative success at the elections in 1841 derived principally from confidence which the electorate placed in Peels administrative ability. Indeed the Tamworth Manifesto did not mention preserving the Corn Laws or protecting agricultural or landed interests but instead spoke of preserving the integrity of the two Houses of Parliament, the Monarchy and stability; as Gash states it was a constitutional and religious not a social and economic policy. Therefore the extent of Peels betrayal and the extent to which he is to blame may be bought into question, although the fact remains that Peel had publicly announced his support of the Corn Laws. As for the argument that Peel ignored his backbenchers thus causing substantial tension and eventual split; Stewart argues that since the days of Pitt there had been strain within the party between the business men of the cabinet and the squires of the backbenches. Perhaps then Peels arrogance towards the backbenchers was nothing out of the ordinary and we should be careful about how much blame we place on Peel. However Gash makes the important point that in the days of Pitt he could afford major defeats as he had the crown to fall back upon, but by the time of Peel parliament had far more authority in making the controversial administrative decisions and therefore Peel needed the support of his party. Perhaps if Peels actions and attitude towards the repeal of Corn Laws had been the only way in which he acted slightly tyrannically, as some of protectionists described his actions, then the party may not have become so unstable; however it was not. The other major issue in which Peels decisions contributed significantly to the split in the Tory party was the way in which he handled the situation of Catholicism and Ireland; Once again the backbenchers were left unconsulted and their opinions ignored. There was a certain tradition within the Conservative party of anti-Catholicism and attacks on the Irish, Catholicism was seen by the Anglican, protestant Conservatives to be a threat to Anglican dominance which had already been substantially weakened by Catholic Emancipation and the Great Reform Act of 1832. The greatest example of these attacks on the Catholic Church in Ireland came from the quarterly reviews, which mounted the most extreme attacks. At first, although not joining in on the anti Irish and Catholicism, Peel and the leaders were at least wise enough not to disassociate themselves from it; this split therefore as Stewart puts it was papered over. However, it did not last, the biggest controversy was caused by the Mounoth Act, described by T. F Kebbel as one of the most pitiful incidents in the whole history of Toryism. The decision by Peel to increase and make permanent a grant of money to the Catholic Irish college of Mounoth nearly split the party there and then. Peel was on such dangerous ground because anti-Catholicism was to be the nerve centre of protectionist policy, anti Catholicism was inexplicitly linked with the right of the party and the Ultras, for Peel to act as he did meant a gulf now appeared between the liberal Peelites and the anti catholic, protectionist right of the party. The sheer unpopularity of the act can be seen through the 3000 petitions that Peel received against the act, most of which came from his own party. The disgruntlement of the right wing of the party was made worse by the fact that Peel had refused to grant money on a number of occasions to the Anglican church, for example The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. This clearly sent out a message of the declining influence of the Anglican church that it could no longer collect aid from the state by right; the fact that the Roman Catholic church on the other hand was receiving money paid for by English taxes greatly angered many Conservatives. Sir Robert Inglis went so far as to proclaim not just that this issue could result in the split of the Tory party but of the Union itself. Disraelis speech on the matter did more to add to the gulf that was forming within the party, describing Peel as a great middleman e is a man who bamboozles one party and plunders the other. Although this issue played an important role in if not opening, widening the gulf in the party, it is important to note that the party stayed in tact after this affair, does this then suggest that the gulf it caused was not in fact all that important? This is not the case, for as is pointed out by Stewart, the party held together during the late 1830s and early 40s due to a common respect for and recognition of the necessity of Peels leadership, by the end of 1844 that bond was gone. Therefore just because the party did not split at this point it does not make Peels actions here any less destructive than his actions during the repeal of the Corn Laws. One slightly longer-term factor that must be taken into consideration for which Peel is not quite so responsible for is the effect that the Great Reform Act and growing liberalism played on the party. Certainly the party had changed since the Reform Act, proof of this lies in the posts held by the Ultras and those on the far right of th e party such as Graham and Lord Staley who held minor positions. Anna Gambles brings up the idea that the reform had resulted in a modernised Conservatism which had adapted to the reform act of 1832 against a protectionist alternative. Certainly it can be argued that Peel represented this more liberal type of Conservatism, who just as the Whigs had advocated reform to prevent revolution and democracy so to Peel and his liberal Tories saw free trade as a necessary concession to new interests in society, a concession which would save the aristocracy from an outright radical assault. Here the knock on effects of the Reform Act can clearly be seen, the new interests in society being those newly enfranchised middle class men. However others such as the Duke of Richmond saw repeal as a further step towards democracy I ask you, will they stop here? It is the first step; they feel that it is the yeomanry of England that stand between them and the democratic principles which they wish to carry out. As Gambles rightly suggests after the Great Reform Act protectionism gained new significance as an economic instrument with which governments could represent and balance propertied interests with the reformed constitution. It was for the right of the party the last great barrier against the reform act protecting the landed classes; it is therefore no wonder they fought so passionately if helplessly to defend it. Just as during the great debate around the reform act had caused splits in the party in 1832, these same splits were re-emerging but were also more apparent. The question raised by the influence of the reform act is whether or not a Conservative party is justified in carrying out changes it has already resisted; is Peel justified in going back on his policies? It raises the question of whether Peel did betray his party because of a lack of intelligence as Disraeli so often attacked him for, a lack of seeing the future consequences of his actions therefore making Peel mostly responsible for the split in the conservative party or was it in fact a well thought out adaptation to the constitution to prevent revolution and protect the landed classes? Peel was an opportunist, a number of historians agree with this view such as Anna Ramsay, however Peels great weakness was his arrogance and failure to see future consequences of his actions made him the solely most important factor in the split of the Conservative party. The way In which he acted was at times despotic even tyrannical, not only on the issues of corn and Ireland but on numerous other occasions such as the attempt by parliament to reduce the working hours in factories, the act was passed but Peel threatened to resign and thus the act was reversed. Peel could have and did get away with acting in this way many a number of times but his failure was that he did not know when to stop his ever increasing liberal actions that to his colleagues on the backbenches smacked of democracy. Peel and the liberal Tories were children of the reform of parliament, the reformed Tories, the problem was that the rest of the party took a reactionary approach to the reform act, one that Peel foolishly thought he could ignore. Would the Conservative party have split without then potato famine and other economic factors leading up to the repeal? Yes, would it have split without the actions of Peel? Eventually yes, as rot had already set in before Peel came to office but it is unlikely it would have happened so soon.

Management in Health and social care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Management in Health and social care - Essay Example By contrast, the new reform models require purchasers-government-appointed authorities, private insurers, or risk-bearing groups of health providers-to proactively manage and allocate resources amongst different health care needs. Purchasers are expected to manage treatment decision-making by physicians and other health providers. Managed competition and traditional single structured management combine elements of both government planning and market approaches. Managed care, another concept that is often referred to in the context of health care reform, is the mechanism through which managed competition proposals seek to obtain cost savings, but as described further below, can be employed in any health care system. The internal market programme has been surprisingly successful. The large majority of the measures of which the programme was made up have been adopted in time. Admittedly, there are areas which lag behind (such as free movement of persons). Moreover, it has not always bee n possible to maintain the rigorous approach originally and a lot remains to be done with regard to implementing the adopted measures at national level. Nevertheless, the essence of the internal market is in place, which finds perhaps its most spectacular expression in the complete abolition of controls on the movement of goods. From an economic point of view, the question whether there is an external dimension to the internal market sounds almost ridiculous. How could, an economist would argue, a policy of economic integration that is as encompassing as the internal market programme and that applies to twelve developed countries which play an important role in international trade not affect trade and economic relations with the outside world However, from the point of view of law-and policy-making the question could be raised in the early stages, as indeed it has been. One can safely say that until 1988 the attitude of the Community's institutions towards both the external effects of the internal market programme and the relationship between the programme and the Community's external policies was one of benign neglect. Before describing the competition-oriented reform models, a preliminary question must be addressed: why is health care reform needed A number of factors have converged creating strong pressures for health care reform in developed countries. These factors include: concerns over increases in total spending on health care services; concerns over rapidly increasing government spending; access and rationing concerns; and concerns over the cost-effectiveness and, indeed, effectiveness of many services supplied. Let us look more closely at the forces contributing to reform throughout the 1980s and 1990s, beginning first with the concern over growth in total health care spending. Throughout the 1970s there were significant increases in the proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) (the total value of all goods and services produced by a country) absorbed by health care spending. Between 1972 and 1982 there was a 36-percent, 30-percent, 26-percent and 25-percent increase, respectively, in the percentage of GDP spent on

Personal Entrepreneurial Viewpoint Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Personal Entrepreneurial Viewpoint - Essay Example Although the writer (student) may not be able to start his own business, he may not be happy if there is no chance in his work and life to articulate his creativity. He may problems in bringing his ideas to success despite his inventive nature, and other people may end plagiarizing hid ideas. Entrepreneurship enables one to describe an enterprising person as he or she possesses entrepreneurial traits. There are different types of energetic people just as there are various types of entrepreneurs distinguished by their association with business owner management, involvement with new technology, business, motivation, and growth orientation. The inclination to start up and manage projects is referred to as an enterprising tendency. The most ambitious individuals put up projects more frequently and place more innovative projects. This implies that they have to be opportunistic and good at utilizing resources, which include organizational, physical, technological and human resources. The following are qualities of an extremely enterprising person: he takes charge, have a high need for achievement, use of resources to achieve plans and seek opportunities. Others are being innovative and their ability to take risks. Currently, the economy has undergone a transformation from knowledge-based activities to imagination, entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity (Van den Broeck et al. 2008). Increasing technology and globalization impacts have resulted in more business opportunities, but the marketplace has become more crowded and competition has rise (McMullan & Shepherd 2006). Creativity assists the entrepreneur to take action on these opportunities in ways that can result in competitive advantage for the business. It can offer a basis for business growth and innovation as well as leading from the positive impact on the society in general (Bilton 2007). Entrepreneurship happens to all sizes and

The Vision of the Organization and Motivation Assignment - 1

The Vision of the Organization and Motivation - Assignment Example This paper illustrates that to get to an end result, there are basically two ways. The first way is to be pulled to the outcome by being inspired internally and the other way is to be pushed to the outcome either through external or internal motivation. It should be noted that there a massive difference between inspiration and motivation, very little are inspired. It is essential to consider about which of the above two makes for an improved, easier to attain outcome and which one is being used and why is it considered. The ways in which aims can be archived is what the vision tells. The most important step to success whether in personal or business growth is having a clear vision of the end result, it basically brings inspiration. Fears fade away, procrastination vanishes and confronts fall away. Vision should be of paramount importance, at least build a vision of short-term to utilize till the long-term vision turns out to be clearer. To define the visions work must be done in team s, if the end results are clearly stated then it is much easier to decide what steps to be taken. Vision is one of the most widely used terms in the companies. However, the companies do not understand it well because the leaders themselves are not able to understand the proper meaning of a vision. Moreover, the leaders also do not understand the real meaning and the importance of the word â€Å"vision†. However, there are also some strategic leaders who understand the importance of vision really well. This is because the vision helps the company and also guides the employees in moldings the company. Therefore, it is highly essential to clarify the meaning of the word â€Å"vision† to clearly communicate it to the employees. A vision should be based on reality and should be meaningful to an organization. For instance, if you are creating a vision for a PC software organization that has imprinted a small position in the marketplace creating instructional software and has successfully attained 2% share of the computer software marketplace, a vision to go beyond Microsoft and rule the computer software marketplace is not realistic.

Boutique Hotel And Tourism In Mexico Tourism Essay

Boutique Hotel And Tourism In Mexico Tourism Essay Introduction This report conducts the feasibility study to invest a boutique hotel in Mexico. It illustrates the structure of Mexico economic system, tourism industry, and the situation analysis. In order to evaluate the potential business, marketing mix is carefully analysis. Since the product is already chosen as boutique hotel, we must define boutique hotel and where is the location to be investing in. A boutique hotel is a small to medium size usually with no more than 150 rooms; provide personalized service and distinction design to attract the niche market. Boutique hotel is attracting the niche of customers looking for individual and special needs different than other property can offer. The investing boutique hotel will be located in Cancun Island, which is well known by its sea resort, and wide variety of activities can be done; it is voted one of the best tourism destinations. Mexico United Mexican States, which is commonly known as Mexico; it is located in the central of Americas. Mexico is the 14th largest nation in the world with estimated population 112 millions. Before Mexico declared independence in 1821, it was Spain colony for three hundred years. The most spoken language in Mexico is Spanish. The GDP by country in 2009 is 1.017 trillion. Felipe de Jesus Calderon Hinojosa is the current president in Mexico. Cancun Cancun is located in the east part of Mexico, in the state of Quintana Roo alone with the Caribbean Sea. Cancun is famous by the beautiful nature, beach, and the ancient Mayan archaeological sites. There are about 140 hotels in Cancun with 24000 rooms (Cancun Tourism Center); the occupancy focus in 2010 is 80% during the high season in July to the end of August. The weather of the city is sunny 70% the time during the year, and the temperatures are between 26C to 36C all year around. There are plenty of activities to enjoy in Cancun city with the water activities in the beach, nightlife in the downtown, and also the well famous heritage, the Mayan ruins. Yucatan General Information State name: Yacatan Capital: Merida White City (955,000 population) Population: 1,945,840 Area: 39,612 square kilometers Currency: Peso (1 Peso = 100 Centavos) Language: Spanish Religion: Roman Catholic 76.5%, Protestant 6%, other 0.3%, unspecified 13.8%, none 3.1% Cancun population is 542,043 people. Tourism industry in Mexico Tourism is a very large industry in Mexico; it is rank as 2nd foreign destination within Latin America, 1st in Spanish speaking country, and 10th place in term of international tourists arrival (World Tourist Organization), figure 1 shows the international tourist travel around the world. Tourism sector 8% of the total GDP in Mexico. Mexico has one of the largest tourism industries in the world; in 2008, it had total 22.6 million tourists, with 13 billion generated by tourism industry. However, due to the economic crisis and swine flu H1N1 in 2009, new visa regulation and drug dealer violence act; Mexicans tourism industry had a large drawback, which causes the tourism visit Mexico drop by 16% in the 2nd quarter of 2009. The year 2009 was rather difficult for Mexicos travel and tourism industry. The situation expects to change in 2010 with 5% annual growth for the next decade. Experts of the AMHM are looking forward to 2010 are forecast this year will become an eventful year for Mexico with the upcoming bicentennial and action plans for extensive program of events. The tourism and hospitality industries are counting down on these events as a lot of tourists are expected to come to Mexico, which will become the first step to recover from the recession. The tourists will be able to learn more about Mexican culture, history, and the people. International tourist arrival Tourist (Stop-over) Arrivals in by Year Destination 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Bahamas 1450043 1514532 1491663 1527726 1462404 1326722 Cancun 2331362 2134180 1586942 2022302 2165320 1434416 Jamaica 1414786 1478663 1678905 1700785 1767271 1837091 Tourist Attraction An amazing fusion of European and especially Spanish and Meso-American cultures, which make up a unique culture, plus the coastal climate make Mexico even more attractive. The peak seasons in the country are during the month of December and the months of July and August. Cultural event in Mexico are mainly focused on: An amazing fusion of European and especially Spanish and Meso-American cultures, which make up a unique culture, plus the coastal climate make Mexico even more attractive. The peak seasons in the country are during the month of December and the months of July and August. Cultural event in Mexico are mainly focused on: Religion Art Literature National holidays Music Dancing Cuisine Cinema Sport There are three categories of event in Mexico: Catholic religious events, national events cultural events. El Dà ­a de Los Reyes which is the Three Kings Day is the traditional gift giving day. Carnaval (Mardi Gras) festivities take place from February to March with parades, dancing, fireworks and music. From 10-13 May, the Cancà ºn Jazz Festival takes place, featuring top musicians. The nation celebrates Independence Day on 15 and 16 September with fireworks and parties. The International Caribbean Festival is celebrated in November which is followed by the Fiesta of Isla Majors that honours the patron saint and the Cancun Fair in early December. Potential Problem in Mexico tourism industry Passport Visa requirement Start from June 2009, all the U.S. travelers returning/entering to the United States from Mexico must present a valid passport or other WHTI documentation, such as passport card, birth certificate or enhanced drivers license. Hurricane impact the coast Since our hotel is located in at the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Cancun, the area can be affect by the hurricane season. Hurricane season in Mexico last from June to November, in 2009, the hurricane season was relatively mild in comparison with the few previous years, but the heavy storms had affected the tourists come to visit the country. Economic in Mexico The economy of Mexico is rank at the 14th largest in the world, and place 11th by the purchasing power parity. Since the year 1994, when the most severe crisis in the whole history of Mexico, Mexican peso suddenly suffered devaluation due to the high inflation rate, nearly 50% of the population suffered due to the no value in the currency. However, the country has made an impressive recovery, building a modern and diversified economy, and financial support from the U.S. government; even the 2002 South America economy crisis, it didnt influence much of the countrys economy as the government did everything possible in order to improve countrys economic fundament. Mexico is characterized by macroeconomic stability, by reducing inflation and interest rates to increase per capita income; however, enormous gap remain between the urban and the rural area, which only the rich and poor people remain, the middle class is almost disappearing. The Mexican government is facing the challenges include the upgrade of infrastructure, the modernization of tax system and labor laws, and the reduction of income inequality. Mexico has a strong business relation with the U.S., it suffered from the economic slowdown and economic recession by -6.8% in GDP in 2009. In 2010, Mexico is expecting a 3% growth and 2-3% growth for the next decade. Economic system Free Trade ActMexico is a free-market based economy, by signing up free trade agreements (FTAs) with more than 40 countries, which including the European Union, Japan, Israel, and much of Central and America. More than a quarter of the countrys GDP are generated from the export goods to the U.S. Mexican government are welcome for business to enter. Mexican economy is depending on the following: agriculture and food production, industry natural resource and services. Figure 2.2 shows the GDP sector. Taxation In order to open and develop a business in Mexico, there are some factors that should be taking into consideration before planning the correct strategy of investments. The political situation of the country, economical situation and demand that will help to build a marketing plan directed to making high revenue. Federal tax in Mexico may vary from 10% to 28% despite to the income. Corporations are been charge for 30% tax rate; however, for foreign private investors, the tax rate is set at 25%, which is slightly lower than the residents. This has a positive effect on the development of business in Mexico and attracts entrepreneurs to invest their money. The value-added tax (VAT) on the sale of goods, rendering of services, granting the use or enjoyment of goods and importation of goods or services is normally set at 16% in Mexico. In the border areas (international land border areas) is at 10%. (www.taxrates.cc) The concept of capital gains in Mexico does not exist. The earning that one gains from the sale of a product is treated as normal income. S.W.O.T. analysis of Mexico Strengths: Location is good because it is the major connection between North and South America. Tropical climate two main seasons (rainy and dry) Beautiful nature and rich culture with a lot of history Weaknesses: Economy is closely related with export to USA around 70% is export. Swine flu that hit very badly the whole country and they need to close it to stop the spread of the flu Big problem is drugs (selling and transport to USA) Natural disasters tsunami, earthquakes and hurricanes Split oil in the Gulf of Mexico related with tourism Treats: Economy depends too much on USA economy High violence because of drug traffic and cartels related with it Opportunities: Reducing dependence of USA economy and increase independency of the economy Development of the economy S.W.O.T. analysis of Cancun Strengths: Good location Very good known like tourist destination world wide Popular with Mesoamericans history and Maya`s ancient buildings Big variety if worldwide well known hotels A lot of options to explorer Caribbean Sea or Gulf of Mexico also regions around Cancun (scuba diving, fishing, jeep trips, Mayan ruins, parks, museums) also there are 475 bird species, over hundreds different mammals and twelve hundred plants. Accessible (airport 10 km) Weaknesses: Too crowded because of the many tourists Hurricane ( Dean 2009) Treats: Depend too much on the tourism and hospitality industry Opportunities: Encourage people to invest and extend the agriculture (support and subsidize the sector) Develop green sites of the city Foreign investors in infrastructure Conclusion Investment Three quarter of the hotels in Cancun city are rated as 5 star luxury hotels. The average room rate is $80-200 according to dealbase.com, which is relevantly cheaper than Miami resort, start from $119 and go up. Cancun city became a favorite tourists destination by the U.S. and European. The occupancy rate is consistently stayed above 70% in the regular bases (Latin American Berald Tribune), which provide large clienteles to make profit. Cancun city has 140 hotels with very few boutique hotels in the area, by the research on escapio unique hotels web site, there are only 2 unique hotels can be fit into the boutique hotels categories. They are Hotel Villas HM Paraiso Del Mar and Las Nubes de Holbox. These hotels have standalone building for each room and only 20 rooms and 26 rooms each. This creates a huge demand of boutique hotels once the concept and advertising are spread in the area. Since there are only few unique style hotels in Cancun, the sustainability is low, it create inela stic of demand. This is why we think it is a good idea to invest boutique hotel in Cancun. From the customers side of view, the VAT is Cancun is at 10% rate, which is 6% lower than other inner states, because it is on the border of Mexico, this will attract more potential customers to Cancun. As we mention earlier, the taxation is set at 30% to corporation in Mexico, 33.3% in Jamaica, 20% in Belize. From an entrepreneur point of view, the taxation is quite high compare to the neighbor country Belize. To start the business, we must look at the factor of production: capital, labor, entrepreneurs, and land. The capital will be the most important factor to invest due to the high startup capital. However, our aim is to open a boutique hotel with 40 rooms, this can be an advantage to enter the business with lower initial investment. The labor cost is cheap in Mexico; the average minimum wage is at $4.5-6 per day. To maximize the profit, the operational expense will be the key to success, which the salary will be limit to the bottom to maximize the profit.

The Naming of Domino Park in Miami :: Little Havana Cuban Community

The Naming of Domino Park Domino Park resides in one of the predominantly Cuban districts of the greater Miami area. It is located on the corner of Calle Ocho and fifteenth-avenue in Little Havana. Domino Park is a gathering place for the men and women of Little Havana. They have congregated in the mini-park for years, challenging each other to domino games. Although players sometimes choose to challenge each other to games of chess, the main staple of the park is dominos. The park received its nickname, Domino Park, for that very reason. Before the construction of Domino Park, which occurred in 1976, the men of Little Havana played dominos on the corner of fifteenth-avenue. They would sit directly across from the Tower Theater and played well into the night. Originally, the players used shaky tables and a rigged, lighting system. The city of Miami spent $115,000 to build the park's magnificent architecture. Beth Dunlop, of the Miami Herald, offers the following description of Domino Park in her January 6, 1983, article, "Don't Fence in Domino Park": There are two barrel-tile-roofed pavilions, really just to give shade from the sun and shelter from the rain, and a matching storage shed, which houses the rest rooms as well. And then there's the main event- tables, set, as the pavilions are, at an angle to the street corner. The arrangement of the tables and pavilions is the key to the park's architecture, and it serves two purposes here, both important: Angling them to open out onto the street corner is essentially Cuban, suggestive of Havana, and it is also an effective way to squeeze a lot of domino players into a tiny space. (C2) Dunlop's focus on the nostalgic touches inherent within the architecture of the park is particularly important.

Acc/ 544 Internal Accountant Brief

Internal Accountant Brief Candace Schneider ACC/544 April 15, 2013 Christine Errico Internal Accountant Brief When a business is experiencing an out-of-control accounting system the business might consider hiring an internal accountant to help alleviate the problem. Before a company decides to hire this type of accountant the company should look at the array of services this kind of accountant can provide to the company. Services of Internal Accountants An internal accountant can provide array of services to a business. One service an internal accountant can provide to a company is performing an internal audit on the business.Some of the audits an internal accountant can perform are compliance audits, operational audits, or financial statement audits. Compliance Audit If a company hires an internal accountant for a compliance audit the accountant determines if the company’s internal controls and accounting is in compliance with company policies as well as laws and regulation. If the accountant finds that internal controls or the accounting information is not in compliance the accountant must determine the cause of the non-compliance as well as recommend ways the company can prevent future deviations (Cytraus, 2013, para. ). Operational Audit If a company hires an internal accountant for an operational audit the accountant â€Å"measures the effectiveness and results of certain business procedures† within the business (Farlex, 2013, para. 1). This type of audit is unlike the compliance audit because this type of audit challenges assumptions and goals of procedures by moving toward improving efficiency within the business (Farlex, 2013, para. 1). Financial Statement Audit If a company hires an internal accountant for a financial statement audit the ccountant determines if the preparation and reporting of financial statements by the company follows General Accepted Accounting Principles. Other Services Other services an internal accountant can provid e to a business are examining a company’s operations, investigating fraud, examining financial reporting, safeguarding assets, checking for mismanagement of funds, and examining compliance of the laws and regulations set for the company. The employment of internal auditors helps to improve a company’s internal controls.Effective working internal controls detect and prevent fraud, which internal auditors test to see if the controls are functioning appropriately. If the company still decides to hire an internal accountant, the company will benefit from this decision in many ways. Benefits of Hiring an Internal Accountant Many benefits exist for a company when the company hires an internal accountant. Some of these benefits include saving money over time, protecting assets, improving performance, and ensuring accuracy of financial statements. Saving Money An internal accountant can help a business save money over time.This is because the service an internal accountant pro vides saves the business from potential legal or financial issues. This leads a business to save â€Å"more money over time than it costs to employ the accountant† (Good Accountants, 2012, para. 2). Protection of Assets Every year businesses lose billions of dollars because of employee theft. An internal accountant can help alleviate this problem by installing a system of internal controls into the business. The accountant can also monitor the system to ensure no opportunities exist in the system â€Å"that might tempt an employee to steal from the company† (Good Accountants, 2012, para. ). Along with installing and monitoring the system an internal accountant can perform random checks on the system to ensure that the internal controls are functioning appropriately. Improving Performance An internal accountant can improve a company’s performance by increasing the company’s value when the accountant critically analyzes the company’s efficiency. An a ccountant does this by performing an operational audit of the company. This type of audit can help determine whether the company markets its products and services effectively at competitive rates as well as if the company is meeting its short and long-term financial goals.Ensuring Accuracy of Financial Statements Auditing financial statements by a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) can offer value to a company. These audits puts a company’s investors at ease in knowing the company’s books are accurate as well as the information in the financial statements are accurate. These audits can lead lenders to view one’s company as more reputable, which can lead to lower interest rates for the company when borrowing (Good Accountants, 2012, para. 5). After a company determines the need for an internal accountant the company must find the right internal accountant for the job.Recommendation One recommends hiring an individual who is a CPA with several years of experience i n this field of accounting. This is because the individual will need to have the experience to correct the company’s out-of-control system as well as provide additional services the company may need. These services will help the company make informed decisions for the company to exceed and be profitable. One individual in mind to solve the problem of one’s out-of-control system is John Tongren. This is because Tongren has experience in this field of accounting and auditing.Tongren â€Å"specializes in management control process and the impact of technology on their effectiveness† (Tongren, n. d. , para. 1). He also has â€Å"international recognition for his expertise in the audit and control aspects of information systems† (Tongren, n. d. , para. 1). By one hiring this individual one will know that this individual will solve the problem right as well as inform the company on how to keep the business functioning effectively and efficiently for the company to exceed and be profitable. References Cytraus, A. (2013). Compliance Auditing.Retrieved from http://www. referencefor business. com/encyclopedia/Clo-Con/Compliance-Auditing. html Farlex. (2013). Operational Audit. Retrieved from http://financial-dictionary. thefreedictionary. com/operational+audit Good Accountants. (2012). Benefits of Hiring an Accountant for Internal Audits. Retrieved from http://www. goodaccountants. com/blog/2012/11/benefits-of-hiring-an accountant-for-internal-audits/ Tongren, J. D. (n. d. ). Operational Auditing: Adding Value to Organizations Digital Seminar. Mission Viejo, CA: Pleier Corporation.

buy custom The Great Depression by D Shannon essay

buy custom The Great Depression by D Shannon essay Steinbeck was a non-fiction writer who wrote and expressed his opinion about the world and society he lived. He was a keen observer of the everyday life activities, and as a writer he criticized a number of business trends during his time, and wrote on a number of social, economic and political occurrences, which affected the lives of the people. His many writings touched on the great depression of 1929, that caused Americans a lot of pain. The great depression originated in the U.S., and then spread to the industrialized western world. He wrote about the great depression with attention to the conditions that led to it, those who were to blame and the many ugly consequences that it brought. He also wrote about the capitalistic approach of doing business in a way that highlighted its weaknesses and how it created social inequalities that made workers and immigrants miserable. His opinion has a bearing on the American economy and helps in understanding the great recession which the con temporary world is grappling with (Steinbeck, 1996). According to Steinbeck, the great depression was as a result of several factors relating to capitalism and the inequality which persisted in the American society. He believed that the great depression occurred at a time when America was emerging as the most powerful nation on earth, and a period when the belief that America was exceptional was taking root. The business people believed that they could achieve anything, and this made them become too extravagant, wasteful and greedy. They perfected inequality, which made the rich capitalists richer but the poor people poorer. The rich capitalists believed in making a fortune from the market, they invested and the market boomed at the expense of the poor. The capitalism permitted the owner of capital to reap from their investments, while paying workers peanut wages determined by the investors. This resulted into exploitation of the poor who could no longer afford to purchase goods, and eventually led to the sudden decline in production a nd severe unemployment. It had serious social consequences which could only be compared to the civil war which America was emerging from at the time (Steinbeck, 1938). How the Great Depression Began According to Steinbeck Rose, (1941), the great depression was caused by the greed of the capitalists who continued to accumulate profits and wealth, but failed to increase the wages of workers. The majority in the society were unable to buy goods that were produced in firms. This caused decline in consumer demand as a result of the decline in spending ability by the majority in the society. As demand for all types of goods fell drastically, firms also began to decrease their production rate because manufactures realized that their stocks were just accumulating. The firms began to reduce the number of employees, thus rendered many people jobless and consequently worsened the already low demand for goods (Shannon, 1960). The loss of wealth and the fear of spending made consumers to stop buying any produce, people felt poorer causing consumer and firm spending to fall considerably. The atmosphere of uncertainty made businesses to become unstable. The stock market also crashed because of government policies that aimed at limiting the speculation of the market. The initial boom in the housing market also led to oversupply of houses. This was a period when majority of people had put their investment in homes and other consumer durables, since people wanted to have two cars in every home garage. Investors lost confidence in the stock market and decided to sell their shares at the same time, making the shares to be sold at the lowest prices, despite the fact that they had been purchased at high prices and at times through bank loans. The sudden decline led to the great crash of 1929 (Shannon, 1960). This made consumer demand for all categories of goods to fall drastically. Businesses also became unstable due lack of market for the goods which they had produced in large-scale. The uncertainty about the future made consumers and businesses to stop purchasing any durable consumer goods, making all firms to lose market while their res ources were tied in stock (Steinbeck, 1938). Banking panic also arose when many depositors began to fear that banks could collapse with their money. They demanded their saving in cash and banks could not manage to pay all in cash since they kept only a fraction of reverses and could not sell their assets to pay the depositors, considering that there were no more deposits into the banks. This made many banks to close down, and many became bankrupt overnight. The heavy debts that farmers owed banks were another factor that led to the depression, because farmers had borrowed heavily to purchase farm machinery and to improve their land for increased production. The degeneration in farm produce prices made it impossible for them to repay their loans, prompting banks to repossess the farms to recover their money and to throw them out of their homes (Steinbeck, 1996). The Great Recession It began from the United States in 2007 and spread to the whole world leading to global financial crisis. The economic institutions underestimated the risks in the financial institutions which went unchecked. The collapse of some major institutions made investors to develop fear. Those who owed mortgages became unable to service them as a result of loss of employment and ended up losing their homes, which were repossessed by the lending institutions. The unemployment threatened to move many people to poverty. It was caused partly by poor government policies, the food and oil crisis due to price upsurge and low growth-rate in many countries. The poorly integrated low-income countries also add to the widening gap between the rich and the poor. Inflation and low wages that could not contai the cost of goods for the majority of people made many goods unaffordable. In the developing countries, the tendency to prefer casual workers and the informal economies led to the inequality and econo mic insecurity (Steinbeck, 1996). The great recession in the United States was caused by poor government policies which failed to cushion the public from the financial institutions that lack transparency in their dealings. The trend of borrowing beyond their means by individuals and households is also a major cause of recession, which led to defaulting of the mortgages. The defaulters ended up losing their property and homes which were repossessed by the lending institutions. This move left many families vulnerable financially. Currently, intra-global financial system which is controlled by a few major financial players has made it impossible to curb the effects caused by problems in one part of the globe (Steinbeck, 1996). The world has become more connected, making the ripple effects to spread across the globe. The financial and the housing market, which did poor risk analysis and poor credit rating systems was the cause of financial problems to families and individuals, since the lent money to individuals and hous ehold that could not afford to serve them as a result of their quest for profit maximization. The money they lend to such households was quickly spent in consumer goods that did not add value financially. The upsurge of oil and food prices world-wide was another factor that made the economy to become unstable (Steinbeck, 1989). When the cost of energy and food increased suddenly, people were still forced to spend almost all their money. This left people with nothing as savings and to meet other needs. The individuals and households were therefore plunged into economic insecurity and uncertainty. This also reduced their purchasing power which also affected the businesses that depended on such people as customers. Such businesses also resorted to reducing their labor in order to cut their cost of doing business. This led to reduced income for many families that consequently defaulted payment of their credit facilities, and eventually lost their homes and assets to creditors. General Sentiments Generally the great depression and the great recession are world economic conditions which could have been avoided if governments and financial institutions acted more responsibly. The major feeling shared by all in the modern world is that capitalism and unregulated financial sector will not make the world better economically, going by the past records. The current global trend in which a section of the society is too rich and extravagant and consumes the best of everything at the expense of the majority in society will always make the world economy to collapse from these conditions. The world economic systems if not corrected will lead to a more serious crisis which may have dire consequences since the world population is on the increase (Steinbeck, 1989). According to (Steinbeck, 1938) money is acceptable as a medium of exchange and serves the society by providing a number of solutions to many problems, but there is need for equality so that the current condition in which only the wealthy get the best of everything such as land and technology amongst others is unhealthy. All sections of the society should be empowered to have the means to afford all types of goods. This will keep the demand of good and services high at all times and it will keep firms in operation, hence increasing employment opportunities. As a result, market for the industrial goods will rise and growth in economy. This would lead to a stronger economy in which majority participate actively in the entire United States Economy (Steinbeck Rose, 1941). The financial institutions should balance their primary goal of profit making with the ethical approaches that seek to protect the social needs of the society. The lack of transparency in the financial sectors gives inve stors a false impression about the condition of the market. The government should therefore be watchful on behalf of the public to regulate the financial sector. The investment opportunities offered by corporations and other decisions should be based on sound financial information. The lending institutions should also consider the suitability of the customers. This will eliminate the defaulting rate on the credit facilities, which lead to repossession of property by the lenders. The market for farmers produce should be guaranteed so that they do not incur losses that would lead them into crisis. Government should as well protect the interest of farmers (Steinbeck, 1948). Individuals and households should be advised to avoid the lifestyle they cannot afford in order to avoid such financial crisis. The illusion and false self-perception, which makes individuals unable to adjust to the life in the countryside is another cause of financial instability. The people in the Forgotten Valley are portrayed by Steinbeck to have decided to live away from the complex city life, but at the same time want to live as if in the city, while they lack the means to have the standards of living that they desire (Steinbeck Rose, 1941).This unrealistic desire is the main source of problems in the society. This is seen when a group of inhabitants of the valley who had taken refuge from the complex urban life are unable to adapt to the simple life as a result of self-deception and illusions. They are dreamers with fantasies and cannot appreciate reality. This has been a common feature for many individuals and household who live beyond their means and end up in debt (Steinbec k Rose, 1941). Capitalism in the world has caused great injustices to laborers and immigrant who are searching for a better life. Banks have been described by Steinbeck as monsters that none is happy with their activities, including their employees.. This is because they have in many occasions chased people from their homes after failing to service the high interest. Capitalism is therefore, the source of the economic crisis in every situation. The great recession was also the making of capitalist who took advantage of the public, by concealing information so that they sell their shares to unsuspecting investors at high market prices. After getting the capital they needed, they began to withdraw their shares following the insecurity of their institutions (Steinbeck, 1996). The capitalist even use their riches to manipulate the justice system in order to get away with their corporate scandals. They are the people who make the laborers to lose their purchasing power because of the exploitation, and when the majority is unable to purchase goods, firms begin to lay off employees from employment, causing the depression within an economy. The unfair wages and the mistreatment by the capitalists is the direct cause of the global economic problem. The inequality has reached the highest level in which a few rich individuals have assets that control nations and they manipulate every condition to suit what they desire for their own interests. The big financial institutions are the one causing the financial instability problems to suit what they want. The same approach is used by firms that create systems of taking from their workers whatever they are paid as wages. They decide to sell a number of items at the work place to the employees at exorbitant prices. This makes the workers to remain poor and to have no alternative, but to stick with the employer for their continued survival (Steinbeck, 1889). The owners of capital also uses the police to crush any resistance that workers may organize as a way of demanding rectification of the injustices to the employees. The government is often seen as distant in any situation and they leave the workers to solve their problems with the capitalist, while it is obvious that the two parties do not have equal bargaining powers. The police are motivated by the need to serve the owners of capital who pay them to thwart any protests by the poor workers. This makes the conditions of the workers even worse. The capitalists also use intimidation strategy as a way of instilling fear on workers so that no one can attempt to change the working conditions, and this serves the owners of capital while leaving the workers poorer and heavily dependent on the capitalists (Steinbeck, 1914). Decisions are therefore imposed on workers and their feelings are not considered. All these approaches create economic conditions which favor the rich only. The global ec onomic problems of recession and depression are therefore, caused by the capitalists who control the economy. However, such economic problems affect the poor more and leave them with social economic and psychological problems amongst others (Steinbeck Rose, 1941). The Effects on Society The great depression and the great recession caused human suffering in many ways. During the great depression, many families became unstable and social problems occurred. Many people deliberately lost their lives because they could not withstand their losses. Many families were broken down through divorce and social support was lacking for many vulnerable members of the American society. The standards of living also dropped drastically and many people suddenly became poor, because they had lost their investments and life savings. The psychological suffering made some to become sick and many people died as a result (Steinbeck, 1989). The great depression also affected several enterprises and people who lost their homes, life savings and jobs. It was caused by low wages to workers, who could not afford most of the goods that were being manufactured from the industries. This led to accumulation of finished goods in the firms, and eventually forced the firms to stop production. Many jobs were lost as a result, leading to deeper financial crisis in households. On the other hand, farmers produced more, but the profits were too small because of poor prices, some produce were even wasted as a result of lack of consumers. The banks which had lent money decided to repossess the farms from the farmers because they were not able to serve the loans. As a result, all categories of people in society were affected, with farmers hurt most. Many lives were distressed; the ambition of the immigrants and their hopes to rebuild their lives in America was shattered, with the spread financial panic around the world. This was blamed on poor government policies to cushion the producers. Productivity and prices fell drastically, with the number of economic activities falling sharply. The financial market and the stock market also collapsed, loses became huge for manufacturing firms and corporations and serious unemployment hit American economy. The banks repossessed peoples assets that were on loan to recover their money. These assets were also valued at the low prices since none had the ability to purchase them and the banks could not recover all their money (Steinbeck, 1996). Steinbeck was a non-fiction writer who wrote more on a number of social, economic and political occurrences that affected the lives of the American people. He wrote about the great depression that led to loss of jobs, property and even lives of the Americans. His writings are still applicable in explaining the economic conditions that have made the capitalistic economy of the United States to currently experience financial crisis. It is clear that the causes of the great depression are still related to those that caused the great recession, which is still experienced today. Despite the government intervention, a lot still remains to be seen by the public. There is need for government to protect the interests of all socio-economic classes to stabilize the economy. Buy custom The Great Depression by D Shannon essay

Conventional Media and the New Media Environment in Modern China

Conventional Media and the New Media Environment in Modern China Introduction With the emergence of telecommunication technology, the world is experiencing a major revolution in the communication sector. Theoretically, people are able to communicate with one another regardless of the distance separating them (Zhang, 2009).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Conventional Media and the New Media Environment in Modern China specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More After several years of market reforms and development, China’s media had big changes in terms of communication models, management philosophy, and ownership. More importantly, however, these changes have also drastically altered the way in which the government, media, and the public interact. This paper looks at how the Chinese state is dealing with the ever increasing adoption of new media and what the state is doing to control the way citizens communicate and receive news whether local or international. Various situations are examined to help understand how the relationship between the Chinese state and the media has changed over the years as a result of development and reforms in the communication sector that has led to the expansion in the number, variety and ownership of media outlets (Shirk, 2011). The Impact of New Media To better understand the impact of new media on the Chinese state and how this has been and continues to be dealt with, different avenues of access to information will be examined to determine their effect. Specifically, Citizen News, Official Television News and Newspaper and the Internet use will be discussed. Citizen News In 2003, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Hu Jianto announced set of guidelines requiring that any news reporting be as close as possible to reality, close to livelihood, and close to the people. CCP further published a report that suggested a decreasing level of coverage on leaders’ activities (Hewitt, 2010). Unanimously, Chinese media researchers agree that innovations such as Citizen News and telling people’s stories are in line with CCP’s approach to propaganda. Citizen News later received recognition as a permissible type of news reporting for local Chinese television stations.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More While some communications researchers feel that Citizen News is helpful in reinforcing the credibility of television news reporting, many do not believe it. These critics assert that Citizen News is full of trivial coverage such as family disputes, neighbor’s arguments, and cases of vandalism and cheating. Furthermore, critics are convinced that content that may be regarded as newsworthy is rarely covered by Citizen News. Despite the lack of attention to significant political news and social injustice, Citizen News programs do offer the general public a view of re al life, as well as an opportunity to speak out about different issues. Through the kind of news programs presented on Citizen News, mainstream propaganda and commercial culture are combined to create an atmosphere of caring about people’s livelihood and nurturing a harmonious society. As a result, sensors tend to be tolerant of such programs. In a similar manner, some audiences have gradually become dissatisfied with such comparatively shallow news coverage and are disheartened by their inability to find any serious news reporting on local television (Midford, 2011). Official Television News Official television news is news as represented by Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) news. All television stations in China are required to broadcast CCTV news on their main channels simultaneously. For example, cable television users in the Beijing area receive about fifty channels but more than thirty of them broadcast CCTV news from 7.00 to 7.30 pm every night. This central monopoly on national news coverage is generally well established. During the Cultural Revolution, the only news resource for the general public was the official media. National news was primarily reported on China National Radio every night at 8.00 pm and many people were regular listeners to the program. In the year 1982, the central government declared that any important news should be released first on CCTV news at 7.00 pm before being aired on any other media.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Conventional Media and the New Media Environment in Modern China specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Apparently, the rule is still being in force. (Bittner, 2008). With the growing popularity and availability of television sets, more people tend to pay close attention to CCTV news. The results of a survey conducted in the Beijing area indicated that only 8.8 percent of the people said that they almost never watched CCTV news, 30.5 percent watched it at least three times per week, 30.7 percent watched it at least four or five times per week, and 25.7 percent watched it six to seven times per week (Shirk, 2011). Clearly, the requirement by the state that official news first be aired on CCTV news was a means of putting measures in place to control how citizens interact with media and to ensure that traditional media remained the only popular means of receiving news both locally and internationally. Newspaper and Internet Use In urban areas, newspapers are seen to be one of the most popular sources of news, ranking second after television. In Beijing, for example, about 80 percent of the residents read newspapers (Shen Breslin, 2010). Given that reading requires literacy, those who do not read any newspapers also indicate that they do not have the time to read newspapers and they already feel sufficiently informed by electronic media such as television or radio broadcasting. Generally, the Chinese citizens read newspap ers in the late afternoon or evening. Most people spend about forty two minutes reading newspapers on a daily basis (Hsing Lee, 2010). Considering that only a minority of Chinese readers subscribe to newspapers, most people usually get to read the newspapers at work or purchase them at a newspaper stand. Apparently, this habit makes it possible for Chinese readers to switch very frequently between newspapers and read a greater variety of them. Average readers peruse two newspapers but some report reading as many as ten different papers per day. While most readers have a clear preference for non official papers, only 36 percent of readers choose reading official newspapers (Shen Breslin, 2010).Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As far as using the Internet is concerned, the Chinese citizens connect quite freely to the Internet within China despite being very much aware that their activities and messages may be monitored by the government (Scotton Hachten, 2010). Some researchers inside China, however, claim that the government is very effective in ensuring that foreign information does not reach its citizens. It is generally believed that the Chinese government is capable of blocking access to outside sites rather easily since all international traffic must pass through a small number of state controlled backbone networks. The government also has the technology in place that blocks web pages and cancels links that would lead to unacceptable sites ranging from pornography to international news (Scotton Hachten, 2010). Quite a number of people believe that Chinese Internet controls can easily be evaded. As the censors work in China to limit access to the Internet sites although individuals and teams overse as are determined to frustrate such efforts. Some Chinese researchers argue that due to social pressures and technological development, it is simply impossible to hide on the Internet. Another problem faced by censors is the lack of a clear policy regarding what is banned from the Internet. The speed of communication via this new media also makes it difficult for the Chinese government to execute any form of control on information flying around. The presence of the Internet and mobile phones in hands of the citizens facilitates a faster transfer of information making it difficult for the government to control what eventually is available to people. Media experts believe that official newspapers in China publish propaganda while non official papers publish what is regarded as real news. To media specialists, propaganda is based on subjective opinion aimed at guiding the reader in a certain direction and often omits important facts, while real news provides the audience with the compl ete story and includes negative aspects. To stay safe, the state is forever suppressing the efforts of the non official papers that are always making attempts to push the boundaries set by the state (Yu, 2009). Official media sources are considered to be experts on the position of the state and are aimed at manipulating public opinion. On the contrary, non official media sources are seen as reporting from the perspective of the public in a less biased way. Taking into account that media credibility requires high levels of both expertise and objectivity, official sources tend to rank lower in terms of credibility than non official ones. Unlike newspapers, however, the Web is a less popular information source. In the year 2009, less than 30 percent of Chinese citizens had access to Internet. The number is, however, growing at a very rapid pace. In the year 2008, for example, the number of Internet users grew by 41.9 percent. Most urban Chinese consent to the fact that their own lack o f skills and access to facilities constitute to the two main reasons for not being able to surf the Web. In addition, access to the Web requires a computer, which is still costly and unreachable for the majority. As a result, the proportion of the population who use the Internet is still quite low. However, reading the news is the second most frequently used online service. Currently, two important alternative means exist that allow citizens to go online. While some people would access the Web at work, others would do so through cyber cafes. Still others would use both alternatives depending on where one would be at a certain time. Effects of Operating Based on CCP’s Guidelines As the primary television propaganda machine, CCTV news has always adhered to the principle of publicizing the policies of the CCP and the government. Its reports focus on the activities of the Chinese leaders and political conferences. They are full of meaningless content and presented in an inflexibl e style. Rarely will information of real interest be aired through CCTV news. According to a survey undertaken by Professor Zhou Xiaopu of Renmin University in Beijing, political news coverage accounted for 52.3 percent of the program and it mostly involved CCP leaders’ activities, propaganda campaigns, and political announcements. International news on the other hand accounted for 7.3 percent and was always placed at the end of the program. In addition, studies have shown that, on average, events are reported on CCTV news two days after they actually had happened. State Controlled Transparency Controlled transparency is one of the tactics which for a very long time has been employed by the Chinese government to guarantee the continued existence of traditional Chinese media. By ensuring that citizens are mostly confined to state controlled media, the penetration of new media in the China is certainly suppressed. Over the years, senior court officials have repeatedly emphasize d the importance of greater transparency in China’s courts. As noted by the Supreme People’s Court, there is need to police the courts. Every single court is required by the state to voluntarily release information about important cases, cease being passive in response to media coverage, and strengthen their propaganda systems so as to lead the media to report positively about the courts (Yu, 2009). Similarly, his predecessor spoke of the importance of courts opening themselves to media supervision and balancing legal outcomes with the needs of the nation and the CCP. In May 2009, the Supreme People’s Court issued directions to lower courts concerning implementation of the concept of justice for the people, calling on courts to respond quickly to negative reporting, in order to improve relations with the media and to voluntarily provide tips to the media with the intention of encouraging positive coverage. These comments and rules reflect two strategies that hav e been used by courts in response to increased media pressure. Courts have spoken of the importance of supervision and have publicly welcomed greater coverage. At the same time, however, courts have stepped up efforts to manage information flow to the media, attempting to control access to the courts as well as the content of news reports about the courts. Regulations adopted by the Supreme People’s Court in 1999 state that most cases should be made open to the public and the media but also include numerous vague exceptions and require reporters to obtain advance permission from the court hearing the case. Practically, the regulations give judges and courts significant discretion to deny access to the media. Courts have also become proficient when it comes to encouraging positive media coverage. They frequently draft articles for the media or provide details about cases to journalists. Courts reward judges with praise and bonuses for obtaining positive coverage or for authori ng articles that help to strengthen the courts’ public image. Many courts also require local media to seek approval of articles from either court propaganda officials or the judges hearing a particular case prior to running a report (Reilly, 2008). Failure to seek approval can result in journalists being barred from further reporting on the court. In 2006, the Supreme People’s Court also announced that it was creating an official press secretary and that judges were henceforth forbidden from speaking to the media without prior approval. In solidarity, local courts also implemented the same. This has, however, not been received well by media commentary which has portrayed the system as an effort to restrict critical coverage as it stops other judges from speaking to the media. As such, the courts have been criticized as being afraid of media scrutiny. Although the media are allowed to cover cases once they have been decided, regulations strongly oppose reports that diff er in opinion from the courts and in effect banning criticisms of decisions made by the court. In 2005, the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Broadcasting prohibited television and radio stations from reporting on cases while they are still pending and forbid local media from covering events outside their home jurisdiction. Repeatedly, the Supreme People’s Court officials have stated that in sensitive or high profile cases, the courts speak with a unified voice and only official spokespeople are allowed to talk to the media. In support of all these regulations, judges argue that controls on media coverage are extremely necessary so as to prevent biased reporting. On the other hand, however, journalists complain that judges are increasingly using the rhetoric of judicial independence to prevent media oversight of the courts. Although numerous defamation related cases have been presented before Chinese courts, a significant portion were against the media. To the media, i t appears that defamation litigation is being used as a new form of control to ensure that media practitioners are forced to toe the line. According to Shirk (2011), there are four trends that can help to explain the impact of defamation litigation on the Chinese media. First, both anecdotal and empirical evidence suggest that the media often lose the majority of cases brought against them. The vagueness of Chinese defamation law is blamed for facilitating decisions against the media and for allowing the courts to find the media liable for even very small errors. Second, defamation litigation is now a significant means of retaliation by targets of public opinion supervision. This is well reinforced by making sure that numerous cases are brought by officials or state or CCP entities in response to critical coverage (McCargo, 2003). Individuals and corporations have been made to bring suit in response to critical reports that are designed both to retaliate against the media and to blo ck further reporting. Courts and judges themselves have brought a small number of defamation cases in response to critical coverage. Despite the different perceptions of media credibility, it is important to note that most Chinese citizens widely accept the need for propaganda for the collective benefit. The widespread acceptance of the propaganda has drawn together people with divergent and possibly incompatible positions on media control but willing to accept it for the sake of ensuring social stability. Similarly, it would be wrong to conclude that official media sources do not serve an important function in Chinese society (Thorburn, Jenkins Seawell, 2004). Although it is common knowledge that official news organs aim to manipulate public opinion, they are useful for learning the goals and policies of the government. The cost of obtaining official news is also comparatively low for individuals given that they have access to such information sources at the workplace. Furthermore , ordinary citizens will also prefer such sources when they have incentives to seek out information about the position of the government. The utility of official sources does not, however, imply that they are perceived as being credible. Nevertheless, the credibility issue is of great concern to the officials spreading propaganda, who are worried about their credibility to guide public opinion thorough the media. Chinese political leaders continue to regard the news media as a necessary instrument to hold China together and to push forward reform policies. Chinese communication researchers have, therefore, been hesitant to report public opinion data that suggests the low credibility of official media sources (Mansell Raboy, 2011). Although official media still give non official media a sense of direction for news reporting, non official media still prevails in terms of the ability to influence public opinion. This notwithstanding, non official media outlets are always regarded as t roublemakers by the Chinese officials rather than as useful tools to guide public opinion. Officials have become particularly concerned about the role of the non official media in challenging the official line of the state and serving as catalysts of public opinion crises (Reilly, 2008). However, it is the perceived disassociation from the government that lends credibility to the nonofficial media, improving their ability to influence public opinion. Ironically, media challenges to state control can boost the ability of the state to manipulate public opinion as long as the state retains some control over news content and can deter media outlets from deviating too strongly from the official line. Citizens’ Views on Restrictions Placed on News Content Studies by Waldman (2011) indicated that public perceptions of media outlets matter a great deal to the Chinese government and especially when a person’s beliefs strongly diverge from the official line of the state. As poin ted out earlier, despite their lower levels of credibility, official sources still remain useful to individuals who need to know the official position of the government regarding different national issues. It may appear that this is an approach taken by the government to see to it that control systems put in place function effectively. Conclusion State control of Chinese media is nothing of a secret. Despite the commercialization of media in China, journalists and editors claim that all news media are owned by the state and have not brought any form of independence. There is nothing like fully commercialized or private media in China. As a way of ensuring that traditional Chinese media is not swallowed by the new media the Chinese government has had to make radical decisions that have made it possible to keep the activities of the private media under check. Through discussions presented in this paper, one can clearly notice that to a great extent, the Chinese government has been abl e to ensure that traditional media remained relevant to its people in the presence of stiff competition in an environment filled with incredible new technology (Waldman, 2011). Even though China’s courts are not unique in restricting media coverage and that many Western countries impose significant limitations on coverage of pending cases, such restrictions may be quite damaging in China, given the very limited history of transparency in the legal system and the numerous problems that continue to undermine the authority and the ability of the courts (Gascoyne-Cecil, 1912). Efforts to restrict media coverage are just one example of the general attempt by the China to create a system of controlled transparency. Like other state actors, China’s courts claim that they are open to scrutiny and are thus deserving of the public trust, while at the same time they are restricting and manipulating the information available to the public. Reference List Bittner, F 2008, Advertisi ng in a Changing China. Books on Demand, Tennessee, USA. Gascoyne-Cecil, W 1912, Changing China. Daniel Appleton and Company, New York. Hewitt, D., 2010, Getting Rich First: Life in a Changing China. Random House, New York. Hsing, Y. Lee, C. K 2010, Reclaiming Chinese Society: The New Social Activism, Taylor Francis, New York. Mansell, R. Raboy, M 2011, The Handbook of Global Media and Communication Polic,. John Wiley Sons Inc, Malden. McCargo, D 2003, Media and Politics in Pacific Asia. Routledge, New York. Midford, P 2011, Rethinking Japanese Public Opinion and Security: From Pacifism to Realism? Stanford University Press, Stanford, California. Reilly, J. M 2008, The Role of Public Opinion in Chinas Japan Policy: 1997- 2007. ProQuest, Seattle. Scotton, J. F. Hachten, W. A 2010, New Media for a New China. John Wiley Sons, Malden. Shen, S. Breslin, S 2010, Online Chinese Nationalism and Chinas Bilateral Relations, Lexington Books, Maryland. Shirk, S. L 2011, Changing Media, Changing China. Oxford University Press, Inc, New York. Thorburn, D., Jenkins, H. Seawell, B 2004, Rethinking Media Change: The Aesthetics of Transition, MIT Press, Massachusetts. Waldman, S 2011, Information Needs of Communities: The Changing Media Landscape in a Broadband Age, Diane Publishing, Darby. Yu, H 2009, Media and Cultural Transformation in China, Taylor Francis, New York. Zhang, X 2009, Chinas Information and Communications Technology Revolution: Social Changes and State Responses, Taylor Francis, New Delhi, India.

Market Model Patterns of Change Instructions Essay

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