When the public eye seeks to locate and define professional careers in media, the first field that comes into mind is journalism. However, due to the popularization of social media as a communicative tool, a new category of media professionalism has been shaped. Michelle Phan is just one example of a social networking mogul with an incredibly large media presence. A quick search of her name indicates just how successful she has become through the power of social media. Throughout her career, she has been heavily influenced by media convergence and globalisation, which can be seen on her widely followed social media platforms, as well as her other businesses. It is also evident that although she does not contribute to the fourth estate, she
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According to the ACMA, media convergence is “the phenomenon where digitization of content, as well as standards and technologies”, causes the blurring of traditional distinctions between broadcasting and other media (ACMA, 2011). A specific example of the impact of media convergence on Phan’s career is her use of all major social media platforms. Her media platforms have allowed her to kick-start her YouTube career by giving her the opportunity to upload her own videos (Todorova, 2015), and her several other social media accounts have been an effective tool for communicating with her followers, and promoting her channel and other projects related to Phan. Media convergence has lead to the making of video distributing sites like YouTube, in which anyone can produce and distribute their own content. This has resulted in the blurring of the barrier between media producers and consumers. Phan has also reached beyond YouTube, by becoming an entrepreneur who currently owns four businesses, all of which have been impacted by media convergence. Icon is an example of a business impacted by technological convergence, as it is a multi-platform lifestyle network that distributes videos through a range of channels, including YouTube, Dailymotion, Roku, Pluto TV, various connected TV platforms, social media platforms …show more content…
The public sphere can be defined as a domain, in which public opinion is formed. Jürgen Habermas has further defined the concept by explaining that the public sphere is a place in which citizens can “deal with matters of general interest without being subject to coercion; thus with the guarantee that they may assemble and unite freely, and express and publicize their opinions freely” (Habermas, 1989). Michelle Phan started YouTube in 2007, when beauty vloggers were uncommon. By starting her channel, she created a new space that allowed her viewers to express and publicize their opinions towards a broad range of topics, in the comment section of her videos. Another way in which Phan has contributed to the public sphere is by using her platform to educate her viewers on many issues, such as human trafficking. In 2014, Phan created and produced a video titled ‘Remember The Girl’, to raise awareness of human trafficking and exploitation (Baume & Mercier, 2015). By encouraging her viewers to upload a photo on Instagram with the hash tag #RememberTheGirl (Phan, 2014), she stimulated greater awareness towards the topic, and allowed her audience to express their views and opinions on the issue. It is evident from these examples that Phan is certainly contributing to the public sphere, by using her social platform to create a space for her viewers to freely discuss matters of general
According to the ACMA, media convergence is “the phenomenon where digitization of content, as well as standards and technologies”, causes the blurring of traditional distinctions between broadcasting and other media (ACMA, 2011). A specific example of the impact of media convergence on Phan’s career is her use of all major social media platforms. Her media platforms have allowed her to kick-start her YouTube career by giving her the opportunity to upload her own videos (Todorova, 2015), and her several other social media accounts have been an effective tool for communicating with her followers, and promoting her channel and other projects related to Phan. Media convergence has lead to the making of video distributing sites like YouTube, in which anyone can produce and distribute their own content. This has resulted in the blurring of the barrier between media producers and consumers. Phan has also reached beyond YouTube, by becoming an entrepreneur who currently owns four businesses, all of which have been impacted by media convergence. Icon is an example of a business impacted by technological convergence, as it is a multi-platform lifestyle network that distributes videos through a range of channels, including YouTube, Dailymotion, Roku, Pluto TV, various connected TV platforms, social media platforms …show more content…
The public sphere can be defined as a domain, in which public opinion is formed. Jürgen Habermas has further defined the concept by explaining that the public sphere is a place in which citizens can “deal with matters of general interest without being subject to coercion; thus with the guarantee that they may assemble and unite freely, and express and publicize their opinions freely” (Habermas, 1989). Michelle Phan started YouTube in 2007, when beauty vloggers were uncommon. By starting her channel, she created a new space that allowed her viewers to express and publicize their opinions towards a broad range of topics, in the comment section of her videos. Another way in which Phan has contributed to the public sphere is by using her platform to educate her viewers on many issues, such as human trafficking. In 2014, Phan created and produced a video titled ‘Remember The Girl’, to raise awareness of human trafficking and exploitation (Baume & Mercier, 2015). By encouraging her viewers to upload a photo on Instagram with the hash tag #RememberTheGirl (Phan, 2014), she stimulated greater awareness towards the topic, and allowed her audience to express their views and opinions on the issue. It is evident from these examples that Phan is certainly contributing to the public sphere, by using her social platform to create a space for her viewers to freely discuss matters of general