Articles published in 2010:
1
Month Roundup: December 2009
Simon Pitt |
Friday 1st
January
2010
A brief overview of everything that happened in the media in Decemer 2009. The month in which the newspapers gave up publishing anything except lists of what happened in the 'noughties', the Tories demanded music videos should have age rating, and a Japanese man married a computer game character.
9
Marketing: We're all Advertisers Now
Simon Pitt |
Saturday 9th
January
2010
In the first part of a series on marketing, Simon examines how the Internet has turned us all into marketers, as we struggle to get our friends, potential loved ones, employers and parents to read our statuses, tweets and blog posts. In this new, digital world have we all become the executives of our own brands?
11
Marketing: The Internet Dream
Simon Pitt |
Monday 11th
January
2010
In the second part of a series on marketing, Simon looks at how Search Engine Optimization and our quest for attention, page views and celebrity has led us to pursue a false Internet Dream.
13
TV trends: Casual concessions
Robert Weedon |
Wednesday 13th
January
2010
With so-called 'channel surfing' becoming the ghost behind the wardrobe of programme makers, Robert looks into why they're concerned, and questions whether their fear is justified.
15
Links: Urns, Earls and a Guy Called Uri
Simon Pitt |
Friday 15th
January
2010
The first in a several part series charting probably the most exhaustive examination of the hyperlink ever. In this part, Simon thinks about what we actually call the blooming things, looks at what this 'http' business is all about and considers how we should describe one of these: /
16
Links: The World's Longest Abbreviation
Simon Pitt |
Saturday 16th
January
2010
The second in a several part series examining the nature of the Hyperlink. In this part, Simon considers those all-too-famous three Ws, introduces the IP address and enters the domain of the domain.
17
Links: Misspelling for Profit and Pleasure
Simon Pitt |
Sunday 17th
January
2010
The third in a surprisingly long series exploring Hyperlinks. In this part, Simon looks at domain names. What should you call your website, how long can the domain name be and what do you have to look out for?
18
Links: The Great IP Shortage of '11
Simon Pitt |
Monday 18th
January
2010
Another in the seemingly unending series about Hyperlinks. In this article, Simon looks at how all the IP addresses are going to run out soon and talks about reserved characters (like his Uncle Ernie).
19
Links: Injections and Rejections
Simon Pitt |
Tuesday 19th
January
2010
The fifth in the unfeasibly long series series about Hyperlinks. This time Simon looks at a few fun games we can play with links to Amazon and shows you how to take over the world from the address bar of your browser.
20
Links: Spaces, Brackets and Dead Links
Simon Pitt |
Wednesday 20th
January
2010
Another in the interminable series of articles about Hyperlinks. In this part Simon looks at some of the things that can go wrong when giving people links and realises what a fine line it is between success and 404.
21
Links: Anchors Away
Simon Pitt |
Thursday 21st
January
2010
The seventh in an incessant series of articles about Hyperlinks. In this instalment simon looks at these: #. What are they called? What are they for? Do they mean pounds? And if so why?
24
TV Trends: A spoonful of crime
Robert Weedon |
Sunday 24th
January
2010
Robert looks on as crime and medicine series spin themselves into oblivion.
1
Goodbye Teletext
Robert Weedon |
Monday 1st
February
2010
In readiness of the 2012 digital switch over, Teletext and Ceefax are winding down their services. Robert has a brief flick through their history, or at least he will when the page selector goes round its cycle.
4
Month Roundup: January 2010
Simon Pitt |
Thursday 4th
February
2010
A brief overview of everything that happened in the media in January 2010, the month in which the set of Coronation Street was demolished, some fat people were banned from BeautifulPeople.com and scientists prove we can't have any more than 150 friends.
7
Review: A Man Between Three Rivers
Robert Weedon |
Sunday 7th
February
2010
Robert looks at Anglia Television and the importance of the lost genre of regional ITV documentaries, before examining a particularly fine example from 1975.
8
TV Trends: Darkening horizons
Robert Weedon |
Monday 8th
February
2010
So what's the secret of Top Gear's success? Apart from the cars, the presenters and everything else, it could be this effect.
9
Links: Google Bombs and Other Crimes
Simon Pitt |
Tuesday 9th
February
2010
The next in the unremitting series of articles about the Hyperlink. In this part, Simon looks at the legal implications of the hyperlink, and explains how you at home can use hyperlinks to undermine friends and demoralize people.
16
Media Terms: BBC Hot Wash
Simon Pitt |
Tuesday 16th
February
2010
Definitions and explanations of new media phrases. The BBC Hot Wash is the way the BBC sanitises 'talent', in an attempt to make it suitable for everyone. However, like putting your woollen jumper in the hot wash, this leaves it not fitting anyone.
17
Media Terms: The Car Park Test
Simon Pitt |
Wednesday 17th
February
2010
Definitions and explanations of new media phrases. The 'car park test' is a test of whether a play (or other radio programme) is able to hold your attention once you have arrived at your destination. Simon examines the origins and usage of the phrase.
19
TV Trends: Drama goes live
Robert Weedon |
Friday 19th
February
2010
As Eastenders celebrates its 25th anniversary by going out live, Image Dissectors discusses how it has revived a once-common TV tradition.
20
One of 'The Best Articles of 2010'
Simon Pitt |
Saturday 20th
February
2010
Simon takes a look at some of the overblown phrases on film posters and traces their origin in 'one of the best articles of 2010 about quotations on film posters'.
20
Spectrum is Green
Robert Weedon |
Saturday 20th
February
2010
Barry Gray was very talented at melody, harmony, rhapsody, and, um, symphony. But what is it about his music to Captain Scarlet that makes it so spooky? Robert investigates.
23
Modern Cliches: The Facebook Eye
Simon Pitt |
Tuesday 23rd
February
2010
Simon highlights the rise of a modern cliche; the facebook eye: the best friend of the lazy technology journalist.
13
How the News: Conquered the World
Simon Pitt |
Saturday 13th
March
2010
Simon discusses how the news has gone from a dry suited man reading out the events, to being a daily fix that we have to get. Just what is it about the news that makes it so appealing to broadcasters?
15
Review: Tumblr
Simon Pitt |
Monday 15th
March
2010
As promised nearly a year ago, Simon starts commenting and reviewing websites. This time, 'new' social media site Tumblr. It may be over 3 years old and have 3 million users but most people still haven't heard of it.
19
How the News: Killed 17 Million Numbers
Simon Pitt |
Friday 19th
March
2010
In the news today: a look at how journalists use numbers and why the news has destroyed all of the numbers except for two.
28
Review: Alice in Wonderland in 2D
Simon Pitt |
Sunday 28th
March
2010
Simon manages to find a cinema to watch Alice in Wonderland in 2D, and reviews Tim Burton's latest Depp-fest.
1
A TV Eggstravaganza?
Robert Weedon |
Thursday 1st
April
2010
Robert looks over a somewhat disappointing Easter television schedule, and wonders why TV over the Easter bank holiday doesn't hold quite the same appeal as it does at Christmas.
18
Review: Election 2010
Robert Weedon |
Tuesday 18th
May
2010
After 5 months of intense speculation, hype, and more speculation, the 2010 General Election came and went. But what did the media make of it?
8
TV Trends: Conspicuous cameras
Robert Weedon |
Tuesday 8th
June
2010
The invisible wall between 'on and off camera' has been broken down in recent years. Robert examines why.
13
A detective who is also a...
Simon Pitt |
Sunday 13th
June
2010
As the latest BBC crime drama, Luther comes to an end, Simon looks at some of the options remaining for screenwriters.
16
Twinstant opinion
Robert Weedon |
Wednesday 16th
June
2010
When a news story breaks these days, Twitter seems to be journalists' first port of call. Robert dissects why.
17
Modern Cliches: Critical Suggestions
Simon Pitt |
Thursday 17th
June
2010
Simon examines another modern cliche - this time with a look at some of the tricks of the trade of the TV and Film critic.
22
How the News: Gets Away With Lying
Simon Pitt |
Tuesday 22nd
June
2010
They say you can't trust anything you read in the news these days. But why? And how do they get away with it? Simon, a nine foot tall Australian currently living in Tibet, examines lies in the news.
29
Review: Rev
Robert Weedon |
Tuesday 29th
June
2010
Tom Hollander's new ecclesiastical sitcom Rev. is the latest sitcom about a member of the clergy, although surprisingly, the first to feature an apparently realistic vicar. Robert discusses why.
24
Six Schmix
Simon Pitt |
Saturday 24th
July
2010
There was a collective sigh of relief earlier this month with the news that BBC 6 Music was not going to be axed. People were pleased firstly because it was saved, and secondly because they didn't actually need to listen to it anymore. Simon examines the 6 Music saga.
26
Review: Sherlock
Robert Weedon |
Monday 26th
July
2010
From Doctor Who to Doctor Watson, Steven Moffat brings us yet another Sherlock Holmes adaptation, but is it any good?
26
News: UK Film Council to be abolished
Robert Weedon |
Monday 26th
July
2010
As part of a budget reduction at the Department of Culture Media and Sport, Jeremy Hunt has decided to close the UK Film Council. Image Dissectors looks at what this might mean.
27
No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die.
Robert Weedon |
Tuesday 27th
July
2010
As EON's Bond series hits another stumbling block, Robert wonders if the real Bond villain might be bad luck.
29
About Us: Just Who Are you Anyway
Simon Pitt |
Thursday 29th
July
2010
Simon considers exactly who he is, and the best way of explaining it, with a look at About Us pages on websites in this contractually obligatory article.
15
Keeping the Children Quiet
Simon Pitt |
Sunday 15th
August
2010
The summer holidays have brought with them a deluge of children's films, designed to cash in on frazzled parents' desire for a few minutes of peace. But are these really what children want to watch? Simon considers TV and films from a child's point of view.
22
More or Less Gurning
Simon Pitt |
Sunday 22nd
August
2010
Simon discusses BBC radio show More or Less, considers 'gurning', and wonders what makes good programmes do silly things.
26
Review: Radio 4 Flashmob
Robert Weedon |
Thursday 26th
August
2010
How do you show a radio programme on television? As Radio 4 make their first Red Button television programme, Robert has a look and wonders if they've missed the point slightly.
1
Audio Identities: Radio news themes
Robert Weedon |
Wednesday 1st
September
2010
As the Today programme dismisses the idea of having its own theme tune, Robert discusses why unlike TV, serious radio doesn't tend to have news themes, before looking at some examples from other national radio stations.
5
Usability and User Ability
Simon Pitt |
Sunday 5th
September
2010
A few weeks ago I had to set up network drive for staff across the department. Why was this simple task quite so difficult?
12
Sky is After You
Simon Pitt |
Sunday 12th
September
2010
Having bought the rights to the entire back catalogue of HBO, Sky is going after a different segment of the market. Simon looks at what Sky is up to.
19
How the News: Defines Itself
Simon Pitt |
Sunday 19th
September
2010
Simon considers exactly what the news was and what it has become
22
Review: Soul Music
Robert Weedon |
Wednesday 22nd
September
2010
Robert reviews one of Radio 4's hidden gems.
26
Perceived Quality
Simon Pitt |
Sunday 26th
September
2010
The world of technology sales is a confusing place for poor consumers. So why do people buy technology these days? Is it because they want the higher quality, or because they feel they should buy it. Come to that, can they even tell the difference?
28
Writing a Featured Article: part 1
Robert Weedon |
Tuesday 28th
September
2010
In the first of two articles, Robert discusses how to write a Wikipedia 'Featured Article', and why there aren't more of them about.
29
Writing a Featured Article: part 2
Robert Weedon |
Wednesday 29th
September
2010
Having had his article promoted to 'Featured Article' standard, Robert discusses what happened when Sherlock Holmes Baffled faced its toughest challenge yet - the Wikipedia front page.
3
Review: An Idiot Abroad
Simon Pitt |
Sunday 3rd
October
2010
Simon reviews Sky's new heavily advertised Gervais/Merchant comedy: An Idiot Abroad.
10
The 100th Image Dissectors Article
Simon Pitt |
Sunday 10th
October
2010
An Image Dissectors article of great numerical significance.
17
Is this Really the End?
Simon Pitt |
Sunday 17th
October
2010
Six months ago, the BBC officially switched off their Real Player streams for all but the oldest content. Simon looks back at Real Player.
28
