“What impact have new technologies (e.g. the internet, multi-platform delivery, etc) had on the media?”

Nowadays, some changes are happening in media communications resulting from new technologies and the opportunity they provide people with to get more involved in analyzing their society. In this essay the positive and the negative aspects of this topic will be evaluated.

To begin with, the new technologies make it easier for people to get information but it does not necessarily mean they are really better informed. People have to become very smart consumers of news, especially with the amazing amount of information available on the Internet. Sometimes, in fact, some online journalists and organizations tend to want to be the first to get information out on the web at any cost and that is why bad information comes out. On the other hand, although many people criticize the old media, the news appeared on newspapers, radio or television are generally carefully edited and fact – checked. Probably, if the mainstream media accept these changes positively, they can actually approach the era of digital journalism without neglecting  quality and honesty. Traditional media need to become more relevant to people who prefer digital journalism - those who like blogs and multimedia content.

On the other hand, although the several attempts with a wide range of advertisements,like the     annoying  pop-ups, many media organization find it still difficult to make a profit from their web sites. As a consequence, it could happen that the important development of some areas of journalism promoted by mainstream media, such as investigative reporting, which is usually quite expensive, is likely to be cut. This aspect could represent an absolute a backward step.

Another negative factor can be represented by the latest launch of “the Daily”, Murdoch's iPad newspaper, which is an experiment and also, a real challenge to the publishing industry which has already had to cope with a world economic crisis because of the creation of digital devices,the rise of e-commerce and the spread of social networking.Nevertheless, one of the most exciting aspects of the new technology is that now people have not only the opportunity to get the information but can also share it, becoming part of the . To this extent, the old model does not work anymore and traditional media are starting a new way of interaction with the audience, making it more active and engaged. For example, people are incited to send their videos or pictures of an event in order to provide newspapers or TV channels with their direct evidence. In this sense, traditional media are changing – of course, the process is slower in developing countries where the low bandwidth makes harder people to fully take advantage of the Internet.

To conclude, innovation is the art of creating something new, students, experts and everyday people are working to build new devices to make life easier and more engaging all around the world. As far as I am concerned, despite much of the doom that can be seen in new media, such as the worrying cutbacks, at the moment media are one of the most exciting field to work in without any doubt.

Do the action movies with spectacular car chases increase the amount of bad driving among young people?

Nowadays, movies tend to have a very great influence on young people, who are particularly attentive to what they see or hear on TV or on cinemas. This has led many many people to the belief that car chases in action movies cause a rising number of car accidents which involve younger and younger victims. In their opinion, the reason for this phenomenon may be found in their desire to emulate those spectacular ways of driving.

To begin with, as far as I am concerned, this situation unfortunately represents a fact and not just an hypothesis. Young people, most of men, are ,in fact, very fascinated by motor vehicles and they often try, induced by fiction films, daring driving at full speed. Moreover, this is part of a series of factors which belong above all to the young like the feeling of being invincible and the ongoing desire of tempting fate as a consequence, when they watch films like “Fast and Furious”, they are tempted.

Although this situation is not simple to take under control, it is strongly necessary to make young people aware of the risks of driving so rashly. Firstly, governments should launch a safe driving campaign in order to protect young people. Moreover, traffic police should stop these more frequently and the rules, regarding the speed limit should be stricter.

In conclusion, all those measures are not so certain to be useful, conveniently they have to be helped by adults’ model behaviour and their teachings in order to make their children more mature and responsible for themselves and be aware of the value of their lives.

Some young children spend a great amount of their time participating in sports…is that so good?

Nowadays, sport has become an activity that many children love practising for a lot of time during the week. In this article the positive and the negative aspects of this issue will be evaluated.

There is no question in my mind that participating in sports is a particularly good thing for young children. It provides them with discipline, strength, self – control and self – esteem. Moreover, sport can be an excellent teaching of fair-play and team spirit which are very useful in relationships with others. In addition, sports activity promotes self – respect , the culture of being always in good form which is the basis of a person’s health.

On the other hand, children who spend a great amount of their time doing sport could risk neglecting their academic duties, by forgetting their homework. Furthermore, children often dream of becoming professional athletes of football superstars like David Beckham, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. They are too young to keep both feet on the ground and , as a consequence, they easily deceive themselves. In order to avoid these unpleasant situations, parents and trainers should make children aware that reaching high goals needs a great deal of talent, many sacrifices and a lot of luck.

To conclude, nobody can argue that sports are not important in children’s physical and psychological growth. Nevertheless, each activity should be practised in the right way, especially when the athletes are very very young. Needles to say the essential role of the active presence of parents and coaches. They have to encourage children to do sport but regulating the hours of training.

The inequality between rich and poor nations is now wider than it has ever been before

The gap between rich and poor countries has nowadays become so wide as it has never been before. The poverty rate and adverse living conditions of eastern nations have got worse; in the mainwhile, the wealth of western countries has risen. In this article, this topic and outline of possible solutions will be evaluated.

Today, there is an abyss between developed countries and developing ones and , as a consequence, the difference appears unbridgeable. Rich people continue to increase their wealth, while the poor is always poorer and poorer. The main causes of this phenomenon are globalization, bad governments and, obviously, greed and selfishness.

However, this situation has been influenced over the centuries by historical events : colonization, for example, established an exploitation system which has often been decisive for the underdevelopment of many countries, with the exception of the USA, which have become more powerful than their old homelands.

Moreover, the so-called Third World have often to face up to terrible environmental conditions and bad weather which can represent a negative aspect for their agriculture and , consequently, their needs. In addition, there are a lot of many other problems like hygiene, health, social status, high birth rate, illiteracy and frequent wars.

On the other hand, many poor nations are resourceful (oil, diamonds, etc.) but their governments spend money on magnificence, arms or their own interests rather than on improvements for their people’s lives. Other times, poor countries are even used as the dump of the rich ones, in the sense that industrial and nuclear waste is sometimes sent to and discarded in this places.

In my opinion, the best way of overcoming these problems is not only charity, in which people do not believe anymore, but is also taking responsibility by developed countries for giving hope back to these needy people : they should check the work of their institutions. Furthermore, providing every poor village with a source of water could be a useful measure to adopt, considering that water means the solution of many important problems, above all those related to needs.

                                                                                 

To conclude, the difference between rich and poor has always existed but all the world needs a balance which could restore an ideal of equality in which no one believes anymore.

Do the benefits of having more televised sport are greater than the disadvantages?

In this article, the phenomenon of televised sport and its advantages and drawbacks will be evaluated. Nowadays, in fact, it is possible to watch live sport on TV on any day of the week. Some people claim that the impact online sports events is significant, others believe that positive aspects are many more than the negative ones.

 

Firstly, the amount of sport shown on TV allows a great variety of choice because of the number of TV channels and flexible times according to everyone’s needs. Consequently, larger football clubs benefit financially from TV revenue and top players can obtain very large salaries. Moreover, more people have developed an interest in sport, appealing to both men and women.

On the other hand, there are also a good deal of disadvantages from having so much sport on TV. Considering football again, many smaller clubs have suffered financial losses because they cannot compete with larger ones. Fewer and fewer people attend live matches, preferring to watch them from the comfort of their living rooms. In addition, stadium ticket prices have risen dramatically.

Nevertheless, this situation has brought another effect which is the virtual closeness of players, encouraged by their close-ups on TV. Sometimes, they become part of people’s life , above all of youth, and an example to follow for many children around the world, who dream of having the same brilliant career of the professional champions like Cristiano Ronaldo and Francesco Totti.

To conclude, sport has become one of the most important forms of entertainment and its presence on television has increased the passion of people, who frequently prefer to stay comfortaby at home, watching the various matches than going to the stadium.

Why do you think people attend college or university?

In this article, the several motives which induce many people to attend university or college will be examined. Every year, in fact, millions of students apply for tertiary education.

 

Firstly, unversity has always been considered as a great opportunity for a brilliant career. In addition, some people, above all those who are adult or very rich, choose this method to increase their knowledge or to gain new experiences. However, the main objective of many students is obtaining a good career preparation.

Therefore, taking a degree means a significant chance to reach a position of prestige which many people wish to gain. Obviously, the economic factor is also very important. For instance, in Italy, in the South much more than in the North, where unemployment represents the highest percentage, young people see in university the only prospect for a promising future. On the other hand, in the North the situation is different and there are more opportunities to find a job.

Nevertheless, nowadays tertiary education is more accessible than in the past , when it was a prerogative which just few people could afford. In modern times, things have changed and universities and colleges are full of students who sometimes go towards unemployment and disappointment.

As a final consideration, people attend university for passion and ambition, for intellectual curiosity and experience but it could also depend on a condition of necessity, according to the residential area, its mentality and its standard of living. By contrast, many people’s desire is achieving or mantaining a high level of education.

Why is physical education important ? Should physical education classes be required or optional?

Physical education is, nowadays, part of the academic program of most schools. In this article the importance of this activity and the arguments both for and against its use will be discussed.

There is no question in my mind that physical education is essential for the student’s body building strength, energy, stamina and fitness. Therefore, it should be required,as far as I am concerned.

In the first place, students are young people and they will be the leaders of tomorrow. Consequently, to create a good nation, healthy students are necessary and it is reasonable to build fitness centres and gymnasium in schools. Moreover, professional physical training teachers should be appointed and athletic equipment, spacious and clean stadiums and playgrounds should be provided by governments. Furthermore, learning aerobic exercises makes stiudents more active, happier and relaxed. In addition, the most talented of them could one day become successful athletes.

What’s more, students must dedicate themselves to passing exams and to achieving high marks. Nevertheless, their health may deteriorate with the sedentary life style, which can cause some problems like obesity or other dangerous diseases. As a result, appropriare training hours per week are suitable and essential for student’s growth.

To conclude, people who believe that students must give priority to subjects like maths and literature and that they do not need physical education are making a terrible mistake. This discipline has in fact to be considered equelly important as the others and its presence is fundamental in schools.