Thursday, June 25, 2009

Michael Jackson-related traffic doubled Twitter's update frequency, tripled Facebook's


 

Akamai-jackson
Traffic to news sites in North America saw a massive spike as the Michael Jackson story unfolded. Times are EST. Credit: Akamai.

As the news of Michael Jackson's fate unfolded, sites around the Web felt the strain of spiking interest.

On Twitter, the volume of Jackson-related messages – up to 5,000 per minute at peak – put such a demand on the site that it slowed considerably.

"We saw an instant doubling of tweets per second the moment the story broke," Twitter co-founder Biz Stone wrote in an e-mail response to our inquiry. "This particular news about the passing of such a global icon is the biggest jump in tweets per second since the U.S. presidential election."

"Regarding performance," he added, "there were reports of slowness following the spike in activity. It highlighted an opportunity for improvement which we'll be acting on right away."

Online chatterers reported slowness at other social hubs, including AOL's popular instant message system and at the blog site LiveJournal. 

The Los Angeles Times website creaked beneath the weight of the story as well, with nearly 2.3 million page views in one hour, more traffic than during any single hour last Nov. 5, the site's highest-traffic day.

Facebook saw a frenzy of activity, too. A spokeswoman for the company said the number of status updates during the hour after the Jackson news emerged was triple the average. She said Facebook remained free of performance issues.

Traffic to the leading online news sites throughout North America was at least 20% above average, according to Akamai's Net Usage Index, which monitors online news consumption around the world.

The intense interest among Web users was evident on sites that track which terms are most popular among users. Phrases such as "Rip MJ," "King of Pop" and "Thriller" were among the most frequently used on Twitter, and on Google.com, "Michael Jackson died" became the most popular query.

Updated, 7:27 p.m.: A statement from AOL noted the following: "At AOL our AIM instant messaging service was undergoing a previously scheduled software update which should normally prove routine.  It proved not to be. There was a significant increase in traffic due to today's news and AIM was down for approximately 40 minutes this afternoon."

The statement also noted that, "Today was a seminal moment in Internet history. We've never seen anything like it in terms of scope or depth."

-- David Sarno

 

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2009/06/huge-spike-in-michael-jackson-traffic-strains-web-sites.html


Wednesday, June 24, 2009

ACCE CONFERENCE 2009

 

FINAL DRAFT PROGRAMME

 

Day 1 – Tuesday, 11 August 2009

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Registration

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

FORMAL OPENING

Theme: Communication Education and Practice in Africa -

A Social Contract for the 21st Century?

 

Welcome Remarks

Dr Audrey Gadzekpo, Acting Director,

School of Communication Studies, University of Ghana (Legon)

Chairperson's Opening Remarks

To be confirmed

 

The Founding Values and Mission of ACCE

Prof Alex Quarmyne

Former UNESCO Regional Communication Adviser for Africa

Founding ACCE Member

The Challenges of a Social Contract Perspective in Communication Education and Practice in Africa

Prof Kwame Karikari, Executive Director

Media Foundation for West Africa

ACCE – Offering Leadership and Transformation with a Social Contract for the 21st Century

Prof Alfred Opubor, Coordinator

Communication for Education and Development (Cotonou)

Founding ACCE Member 

Official Opening Address

His Excellency, Mr John Mahama [To be confirmed]

Vice-President of the Republic of Ghana

Chairperson's Closing Remarks

 

10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Break

11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

PLENARY 1 – COMMUNICATION AND DEMOCRACY

 

Prof Abah Adebayo

USA

(Washington  & Lee)

Global Enough to be Local? Nigerian Media & Non-governmental Entities of Power

Dr Audrey Gadzekpo

Ghana

(Legon)

The Media and Ghanaian Elections: Peace-brokers, War-mongers
and Information-Providers

Mr Zvenyika Eckson Mugari

 

Zimbabwe

(Gweru)

Media Structure to Prosper Despotism in Perpetuity: The Statics and Dynamics of Zimbabwe Mediascapes since 2000

Mr Simon Kimani Rugu

Kenya

(Journalists' Association)

Media & Democratic Governance in Africa

12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Lunch

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

PANEL

PANEL

PANEL

PANEL

3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Break

4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

PANEL

PANEL

PANEL

PANEL









 

 

Day 2 – Wednesday, 12 August 2009

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

PLENARY 2 – COMMUNICATION THEORY

 

Dr Victor Ayedun-Aluma

Nigeria

(Lagos)

Theorizing Community Media in Africa

Dr Hopeton Dunn

 

Jamaica

Engendering a Techno-Cultural Economy: Opportunities & Challenges for the Global South

Prof Richard Tamba M'Bayo

Nigeria

(Adamawa)

Intellectual Poverty & Theory Building in African Mass Communication Research

Prof Cornelius Pratt

& Prof Thomas L Jacobson

USA

(Temple)

Jurgen Habermas' Theory of Communicative Action: A Field Guide to Population Management in Africa

10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Break

11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

PLENARY 3 – PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING & STANDARDS

 

Prof Fackson Banda

South Africa

(Rhodes)

[Title to be confirmed]

 

 

Ms Wilna Quarmyne

Ghana

(GCRN)

Training for Empowerment:  Community Radio - A Different Kind of Radio, A Different Kind of Professional

Mr Terje Skjerdal

Norway

Professional dilemmas for Ethiopian state media journalists

Dr Herman Wasserman

UK (Sheffield) & South Africa (Stellenbosch)

Often they cry with the people: The professional identities of South African tabloid journalists

12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Lunch

BOOK LAUNCH

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

PANEL

PANEL

PANEL

PANEL

3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Break

4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

PANEL

PANEL

PANEL

PANEL


 

 

Day 3 – Thursday, 13 August 2009

ACCE BUSINESS DAY

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

PLENARY 1 – GETTING PUBLISHED IN THE AFRICA MEDIA REVIEW:  PROCESSES AND PROSPECTS

10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Break

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

PLENARY 2 – BUILDING THE FUTURE OF ACCE

Prof Cecil Blake (Chair), Mr Des Wilson (Rapporteur)

Panelists - Ms Alexina Arthur, Former President, ACCE; others to be confirmed.

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Lunch

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

ACCE Organizational Matters – Elections or Formation of Interim Co-ordinating Committee

3:30 p.m.

Free

7:00 p.m.

Dinner

FORMAL CLOSING


 

 (1)  COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE & CULTURE – Panel A

1. 

 

Akanmu,

Dayo &

Nigeria

(Lagos)

An Assessment of the Communicative Potentialities of Iyaalu (Yoruba Mother Drum) as an Example of Community Communication

 

Fowowe,

Simeon Sunday

2. 

Mr

Jimo,

Jide Peter

Nigeria

(Lagos)

Transculturation Trends in Africa: A Study of Hip-Hop Music in Yoruba Language South-West Nigeria

3. 

Mr

Nura,

Ibrahim

Nigeria

(Kano)

A semiotic analysis of Posters use in Hausa Cultural environment of Northern Nigeria

4. 

Mr

Bolaji,

Ezekiel

Nigeria

(Lagos)

Communication, Language & Culture: A Study of Yoruba Semiotics

(2)  COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE & CULTURE – Panel B

1. 

Mr

Daka,

Mike

Zambia

Multi-lingual Broadcasting Policy of Breeze FM

2. 

Ms

Mensah,

Joyce

Ghana

(Winneba)

The Soap Opera, Mass Culture & Education in Ghana: Urban Youth Perception of Sunset Beach & Sun City Soaps

3. 

Mr

Onobe,

Melchizeded James

Nigeria

(Nasarawa)

Mass Media, Mass Disorientation & the Dilemma of African Culture & Identity in a Contrived Global Village

4. 

Mr

Okorie,

Nelson

Nigeria (Ogun)

Nollywood & Its Cultural Effect on African Development

 

 (3)  COMMUNICATION & GENDER

1. 

Dr

Ashong,

Ashong C.

Nigeria

(Akwa Ibom)

Gender Representation in Communication Education & Practice in Nigeria: A 21st Century Agenda

2. 

Mr

Batta,

Herbert E.

Nigeria (Uyo)

Gender Representation in Communication Education & Practice in Nigeria: A 21st Century Agenda

[Note Papers 1 & 2 under Communication & Gender have the same title.]

3. 

Dr

Kalupa.

Frank

USA

(Virginia)

Women in Public Relations Roles Impacting Professionalization in Africa

4. 

Mr

Ganiyu,

Mudathir

Nigeria

Portrayal of Women in Nigerian Home Video Films: A Content Analysis of Selected Nigerian Home Video

5. 

Mr

Ndikumana,

Nestor

Burundi

[Title to be confirmed.]

 

 


 

 (4)  COMMUNICATION & DEMOCRACY

1. 

Mr

Larweh, Kofi

Ghana

(GCRN)

Community Radio & the Elections in Ghana, with a Focus on the Tain Elections

Mr

Adu-Agyarko,

Pinsang

2. 

Prof

Mutere,

Absalom

Ghana

Accounting for Media Election Behaviour Empirically by Monitoring

3. 

Dr

Ogwezzy,

Abigail Odozi

Nigeria

(Lagos)

Media Coverage of 2007 General Elections in Nigeria: A Score Card

4. 

Mr

Olawuyi, Ebenezer Adebisi

Nigeria (Ibadan)

African Media & the Pursuit of Good Governance

5. 

 

Utulu,

Anthony U.

Nigeria

(Osun)

Between Public Opinion & Media Agenda of Political Issues in Nigeria

 

(5)  COMMUNICATION & GLOBALIZATION

1. 

Prof

Abraham,

Linus

Ghana

(Legon)

Identity, Race and Cultural Citizenship in Cyberspace: The Case of Somalis in Minnesota

2. 

Dr

Ekeanyanwu,

Nnamdi Tobechukwu

Nigeria

(Ogun)

Indigenous Cultures, Communication & ICT in a Globalized World: The  Nigerian Experience

3. 

 

Johnson,

Agbo Uchechukwu

Nigeria

(Zaria)

Globalization, Democratization & the New Media in Africa: Drawing Lessons from the Democratic Experiences of Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe & Ghana

4. 

 

 

 

[To be confirmed]

 

 

 


 

.

(6)  COMMUNICATION & DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES – Panel A (Health)

1. 

Ms

Eduful,

Tina

Ghana

(Sch.All.Hea.)

Effective Communication: A Determinant of Patients' Satisfaction

2. 

Mr

Nwodu,

Levi Chinaka

Nigeria (Enugu)

An Exploration of Medical Doctors' Knowledge & Application of Public Relations in Medical Practice: Implications for Effective health service delivery in Nigeria

3. 

Mr

Ogbemi,

Ogbiten Brickins

Nigeria

(Delta)

Youths' Perception of Radio Campaign against HIV/AIDS in Edo State Nigeria

4. 

Mrs

Onekutu,

Patience &

Nigeria (Ibadan)

Communication & Adherence to Art: Perspectives from Clients & Health Professionals in Public Funded Treatment Sites

Dr

Ojebode,

Ayobami

5. 

Mrs

Umuze,

Nkechi Anthonia

Nigeria

(Ogwashi-uku)

The Effects of Communication in Creating Awareness on Fake Drugs

(7)  COMMUNICATION & DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES – Panel B (Health)

6. 

Miss

Akinwumi,

Adenike Olapeju

Nigeria

(Osun)

The Traditional Approach to the Mobilization Campaign against Polio in Osun State, Nigeria

7. 

Mr

Isika, Gideon Udechukwu &

Nigeria

(Delta)

Identifying Consensual Validity in Media Campaigns against Cigarette Smoking: A Cross Cultural Perspective

Mr

Assay,

Benjamin Enahoro

8. 

Mr

Obukoadata, Ogheneruke Presly

Nigeria (Delta)

Inherent Polysemy in Communicating Health Information in Nigeria: Analysis of HIV/AIDS Messages

9. 

 

Sanda,

Hajara Umar

Nigeria (Kano)

Communication & Health: An Analysis of Traditional & Modern Mass Media In Health Promotions in North West Nigeria

 

 

 


 

(8)  COMMUNICATION & DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES – Panel C (Mixed Development Challenges)

1. 

Prof

Dandaura, Emmanuel Samu

Nigeria

(Nasarawa)

Direct Media & Community Participation in Environmental Protection in Nigeria

2. 

Dr

Gambo,

Danjuma I-Mets

Nigeria

(Maiduguri)

Communication & Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria: The Last 20 Years & the Next

3. 

 

Kayode,

Olujimi

Nigeria

(Lagos)

Newspaper Coverage of Development Issues in Nigeria

 

Adeniran,

Raheemah &

 

Akashoro,

Olalekan

4.

Ms

Igbinoba Osarieme,

Angela &

Nigeria

(Kaduna)

Coverage of Sexuality Issues in the Nigerian Print Media

Dr

Tobechukwu,  Nnamdi Ekeanyanwu

(Ota Ogun)

5. 

Dr

Olatunji, Rotimi Williams

Nigeria

(Lagos)

Role of Print Media in Anti Child Trafficking Awareness Campaign in Nigeria

 

(9)  COMMUNITY COMMUNICATIONS

1. 

Dr

Bundekaan,

Gabriel

Nigeria

(Benue)

Folk Media and the Development of Africa in the 21st Century: Prospects & Challenges

2. 

Mr

Nduhura,

Dominique

Rwanda

Enhancing Community Journalism in Rwanda. Lessons Learnt from Ibanga Newspaper

3. 

Mrs

Oziwele, Patience Eloho

Nigeria (Delta)

Rural Community Communication System & Its Relevance in the 21st Century in Africa

4. 

 

Imoh,

Grade Oshephiyor

Nigeria (Delta)

Development Communication & Dependency Relationship in Africa Rural Development: Need for a Paradigm Shift

 


 


(10)  ICTS AND NEW MEDIA – Panel A

1. 

Prof

Berger,

Guy

South Africa

(Rhodes)

Social Networking and African Journalists: A Social Capital Perspective on Highway Africa as the Continent's Largest Annual Gathering of African Media Practitioners

2. 

Mr

Nweke,

Remy Chuku

Nigeria

(Newspaper)

ICTs & the New Media (A Nigerian Perspective)

3. 

Ms

Ohiagu, Obiageli Pauline

Nigeria

(Port Harct)

The Internet: 21st Century Medium of Communication for Public Relations & Advertising Practice in Nigeria

4. 

Mr

Olise,

Festus Prosper

Nigeria (Delta)

ICTs as the Nexus between the Knowledge Society & Ongoing Mediamorphosis: Africa at a Crossroad

5. 

Dr

Wilcox,

Onimi

USA

(A & M)

ICT: A Catalyst in Revolutionizing Health Care & Policy Decisions in Africa

 


(11)  ICTS AND NEW MEDIA – Panel B

5. 

 

Adekunle,

Suraj Jamiu Olunifesi

Nigeria (Lagos)

The Implication of e-mail as a mean of Organizational Communication

6. 

Prof

Alozie,

Emmanuel C.

USA

(Greensboro)

[Electronic financial fraud in the era of information & global economy: A structural analysis of advance fee solicitation through email]

7. 

Dr

Obijiofor,

Levi

Australia

(Queensland)

Perceptions & use of Internet & email technologies by Nigerian university undergraduate students

8. 

Dr

Omenugha,

Kate Azuka

Nigeria (Anambra)

Nigerian students' use of information technologies: a blessing or a curse?









 

 


(12)  CLASSROOM-WORKPLACE – A DIALOGUE

1. 

Mr

Aggrey,

Kwesi

Ghana

(Winneba)

Research as the basis for public relations practice: A comparative look at its usage in public & private enterprises in Ghana

2. 

Mrs

Atofojomo, Omolade Atinuke

Nigeria

(Lagos)

Educational Television & Broadcast Policy, the Nigerian Example

3. 

Dr

Akpabio,

Eno

Botswana

Service Learning: Viewpoints of Students & Beneficiaries

4. 

Dr

Gorpe,

Serra

Turkey

(IstanbuI U)

Teaching Public Relations Campaigns Course Effectively: Students' & Academic Perspectives

5. 

Dr

Uyo,

O. Adidi &

Nigeria

(Lagos)

What's in Mass Communication Education in Nigeria for Children?: An Evaluation of UNILAG's Mass Communication Curriculum

Dr

Abigail Odozi


 


(13)  PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING & STANDARDS

1. 

Dr

Araka,

Jeremire M.

Tanzania

The Relationship of Information-sharing to Effective Communication at the University of Dar es Salaam

2. 

Dr

Amadi,

Fred Azub

Nigeria (Port Harcourt)

Broadening Mass Communication Research for Enhanced Media Practice

3. 

Prof

M'Bayo,

Richard Tamba,

Nigeria

(Adamawa)

Multimodal Discourse & Paradigm Shift in Mass Communication Training

 

Oloruntola,

Sunday &

(Lagos)

 

 

Ifeoma,

Amobi

(Lagos)

4. 

Dr

Pate,

Umaru A.

Nigeria

(Maiduguri)

Strengthening Media Capacity for Investigative Journalism through Institutions' Based Curriculum in Nigeria

5. 

Mr

Wilson,

Joseph &

Nigeria

(Maiduguri)

Challenges of Adopting ICTs for Communication  Training/Professional Development in Nigeria: A case study of University of Maiduguri & Nigerian Union of Journalists, Borno State Chapter

Mr

Gapsiso, Nuhu

 

(14)  COMMUNICATION ETHICS

1. 

Mrs

Omoloso,

Aisha

Nigeria

(Kwara)

Nigerian Journalists' Perception of Ethical Concerns in Media Agenda-Setting

2. 

Prof

White,

Robert A.

Tanzania

Teaching Media Ethics in African Contexts: Finding a foundation in African values

3. 

Prof

Karikari,

Kwame

Ghana

(MFWA)

A Case Study of Ethics in Ghana

4. 

 

 

 

[To be confirmed]

 


 

 

(15)  COMMUNICATION AND CONFLICT

1.    

Prof

Wolo,

James

Liberia

(UNMIL)

Media and Conflict: The Role of Community Communications in Conflict-resolution 

 

2.    

Mrs

Yakubu,

Afi

Ghana

(FOSDA)

[Title to be confirmed]

3.    

Prof

Yankah,

Kwesi

Ghana

(Legon)

[Title to be confirmed]

 

 

 (16) GRADUATE STUDIES FORUM

(Co-ordinator: Professor Alfred Opubor)

Participation by subscription on the conference website – www.acceaccra2009.org – or at the Conference,

 

POTENTIAL WORKSHOPS AND PANELS

(Pending Conference Participant Interest)

 

*  WORKSHOP ON ICT JOURNALISM & BLOGGING  *

 

*  COMMUNICATION, PUBLIC SERVICE AND THE MARKET  *

 

* YOUNG PROFESSIONALS' FORUM *