Unprecedented Popular YouTube Video Topics

On By David SonIn Censorship, Content Restriction, coronavirus, Media Covergence, National coverage, YouTubeLeave a comment

YouTube has been a hub for prank and cat videos, but now since the pandemic even more odd videos have come up to surface. A couple months ago, the popularity of these videos would have made no sense, but because of the pandemic these videos are being watched worldwide.

Tutorials on making fabric face masks and “pandemic makeup” have been buzzing on YouTube recently. On a more serious note, videos that touch upon the dangers of online education have also became popular.

YouTube CEO, Susan Wojcicki mentions how the YouTube company would have never seen these videos coming. Tutorials such as hand-washing have become popular. Information on really basic information has become popular on YouTube.

YouTube users are also seeking other people’s lives under quarantine as a form of entertainment. People are interested in what exercising, doing dishes, fixing appliances, and giving haircuts are like in quarantine. These are all unprecedented popular videos people are viewing.

YouTube views has skyrocketed since the stay at home order. In the first week of April, there were 32 billion minutes being watched within a week. Compared to last years, 15 billion minutes, that is a lot.

With more viewers comes more concerns. YouTube has been working on giving out the right information about the Coronavirus. YouTube has been working with the World Health Organization to keep the information as accurate as possible. New claims can now be flagged on YouTube videos such as “medically unsubstantiated” claims. Videos that would get flagged as such are videos that claim there is a miracle cure to the Coronavirus. Videos that contradict WHO’s recommendations are also being flagged as misinformation.

YouTube now offers a section of their homepage dedicated towards Coronavirus news. In this section one can be updated on current status as well as extra tips into keeping safe away from the virus.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/23/media/youtube-videos-pandemic/index.html

Late Night Shows Impacted by the Pandemic

On By David SonIn Cable, coronavirus, coverage, Media Covergence, National coverage, News Media, Social Issue(s), TelevisionLeave a comment

As late night shows are directly impacted, hosts and broadcasting stations have found ways to keep viewers entertained. The biggest late night television stars are keeping the show going by filming from inside their homes. With this in home production comes many pros and cons.

Aside from all the production, the hosts have seemed to lack the energy driven by a live audience. With late night show hosts missing that energy, comes a lot of authenticity as well. Show host’s like Stephen Colbert adds that his dog has created a more intimate and relaxed environment to his job. In the privacy of their own homes, hosts have been able to feel less tense also in part of the less promotional stunts they would usually have to perform.

Jimmy Fallon adds that you can’t really fake anything. It is really you on National T.V. and that is all. Other late night show hosts have changed their normal ways. John Oliver has embraced the minimalist approach to Late Night shows while Bill Maher has added audience laughter to his monologue to add a more familiar setting.

Music has become a big source of entertainment during these shows as well. “One World: Together at Home” concert was on April 18, which played on multiple networks to fund raise for those fighting Covid-19

Other broadcasting stations are practicing alternatives towards their content. Saturday Night Live added the “at home” experiment which began a solo act for comedians to perform. Another innovative idea came from ESPN, while they created a “HORSE” competition in which known sports figures can compete in a game of “HORSE” for entertainment.

Although these companies are trying new ways to entertain the public, it has not come with the most exciting response. This sort of content can bore a viewer very quickly. Needless to say, their efforts are appreciated during these times of uncertainty. Any sort of entertainment to keep our minds off the pandemic is appreciated.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/17/entertainment/social-distancing-tv/index.html

ViacomCBS Shareholders Start To Support Company’s Layoffs

On By Mónica G. RodríguezIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

The newly merged company has had a rocky start to the year 2020, however the sudden surge in television ratings due to the COVID-19 pandemic may be their saving grace.

ViacomCBS has experienced a significant stock increase this week, which is making investors warm up to the idea of the massive layoffs that have been occurring. Approximately, 500 to 700 employees are to be let go across different departments of the whole giant media company. According to Deadline, one of the most affected divisions is Entertainment and Youth. This has all been part of what the company’s CEO describes as “intergrating and streamlining” their operations.

While the consequences of the coronavirus may be beneficial to some parts of the company, they are disastrous to others. Paramount Pictures, for example, cannot produce any type of content or even release films.

Viacom and CBS officially merged in December of last year and will continue to operate under the bigger corporate umbrella National Amusements. It will be interesting to observe if ViacomCBS manages to find its footing in the industry within the year and what divisions of the company will be most negatively affected by this pandemic.

Source: https://deadline.com/2020/04/nbcuniversal-reducing-commercials-as-advertisers-scale-back-shift-message-family-movie-night-limited-ads-1202901703/?fbclid=IwAR3mW8v8DnYIjf2toBURmjiyRUxnDAnCCGEhlBAP55wgyHng5ucUbtZYIyI

~Club Zoom is in effect~

On By Aidan PlunkettIn Consumer behavior, coronavirus, Marketing, Media Covergence, Social Media, Streaming, Technology, ZoomLeave a comment

During the current era of social distancing, we have seen many artists, musicians, and DJ’s bring their performances to video conferencing platforms such as Zoom in order to give fans and supporters concerts, or content, or share tricks of how to create or be creative when it comes to music or art, or whatever the topic may be. With everyone streaming something from their home, we are seeing new ways of doing things that are currently just not possible, nor are they safe. For instance, at the moment you can’t really go grab a drink at your favorite bar, but people are coming up with alternatives. 

We’ve heard of Zoom happy-hour with friends or family, but have you heard of a Zoom nightclub. Well, this article from Bloomberg Business says that they’re here, and no, they are not free. People are actually paying money to get into Virtual nightclubs on Saturday nights amidst the pandemic. The Zone, a 16 room virtual nightclub has been hosting people on the video conferencing app. A bouncer greets guests in the waiting room where they are inspected to make sure they have on the proper attire, as well as beverages in hand. The guests are then let into ‘dance rooms’, where there are different costume themes and a live-streamed DJ. Later, guests are invited to the ‘hot tub room’ where swimming attire is a requirement. 

I wanted to write about this because I found it to be an interesting idea/concept. Personally, I think it’s a bit ridiculous that people are paying real money to get into these virtual nightclubs. I could maybe understand if it was set up by a particular nightclub and how friends or people who frequent it are simply trying to support a business they do not want to see go under. Not everything can be streamed and have a virtual session be the same as the interactions people had in person, and dancing in your living room is not the same as dancing at the Borgata. I respect the idea behind it and see how it fulfills a current need for the frequenters of clubs and those who need the gratification of being ‘exclusive’, but I am very interested to see if this type of nightclubbing will last. 

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-14/virtual-nightlife-grows-past-dj-livestreams-to-paid-zoom-clubs

Disney fortune heiress isn’t quite happy with the companies recent decisions

On By Aidan PlunkettIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Abigail Disney is a social activist, philanthropist, and Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker, but she’s also the granddaughter of Roy O. Disney, the co-founder of The Walt Disney Company, making her the heir to the Disney fortune. 60 years old, she still declines to say how much she has inherited, but she has donated over $70 million since she turned 21. The article I read from CNN Business is about Abigail’s reaction to Disney’s decision to furlough hundreds of thousands of low-wage workers while they pay their executives millions in the meantime- “What the actual f*ck?!”

Abigail stated that not only did the executives pay themselves big bonuses but they also issued dividends to shareholders after they decided to get rid of thousands of people’s jobs that “aren’t necessary at this time”. The employees Disney decided to furlough were from parks, resorts and entertainment productions divisions, who comprise more than 75% of the company’s employees with 223,000 people. 

Last year, Bob Iger, the former CEO, now Disney’s chairman as of February, made over $47 million last year, which was 911 times the median worker’s salary. Abigail has criticized Disney in the past saying for executives “collecting egregious bonuses for years”, and now is all but shaming them for failing to take care of their employees in a just and ethical manner. Thankfully, this criticism from Abigail has led to current CEO Bob Chapek to take a 50% pay reduction during this time, while Bob Iger has agreed to cut his entire salary during the pandemic. 

I wanted to write about this article because I find it encouraging that Abigail Disney feels the need to be, and always has felt, that being a critic of The Walt Disney Company is important because while she holds no official position there, she is the one who will inherit the Disney fortune and she wants to make sure that the legacy of her family’s company is one that is moral and ethical. I also find it to be an even more powerful example and that she is really heard, even when going on a twitter rant because while she’s an outside perspective, she is a direct beneficiary of Disney’s profits. 

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/22/business/abigail-disney-furloughs-bonus-pay-coronavirus-trnd/index.html

Shake Shack is the light at the end of the tunnel

On By Aidan PlunkettIn Brand, coronavirus, Corporate, Political, Regulation, Social Issue(s), UncategorizedLeave a comment

Following up my last blog post about public companies announcing they would not be returning funds meant for small businesses is an article from NPR which discusses how Shake Shack is returning a $10 million federal loan after the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that was meant to help small businesses ran out of money in less than two weeks of operation. 

The company will “immediately return the entire $10 million PPP loan we received last week to the Small Business Association (SBA) so that those restaurants who need it most can get it now,” their CEO said. Shake Shack employs about 8,000 people at its restaurants across the United States, but only around 45 people in each location. While their revenue to date marks a decline from 2019,  the company has $104 million in cash and assets, says it has secured other loans to cover the money that would have come from the SBA. 

Shake Shack’s CEO criticized the PPP system for being confusing by limiting the funds and setting the program to run through June 30 – “it’s inexcusable to leave restaurants out because no one told them to get in line by the time the funding dried up”. 74% of the PPP were for less than $150,000, according to the SBA- but that represents only 17% of the total money disbursed through the program. Nearly 28% of the money was awarded to companies seeking loans of $2 million or more. 9% of all approved PPP funds were granted to the food service and accommodation industry, roughly $30.5 billion.

I wanted to write this article because Shake Shack clearly did the right thing by returning the funds, but the PPP system that has been set up is indeed confusing and something needs to be changed. Yes, I think Shake Shack made the right, and ethical choice, but I don’t commend them for it simply because it would have been the wrong thing to do had they kept the funds. As the article stated Shake Shack has $104 million in capital, and as their CEO essentially said, they can afford to pay for some things out of pocket rather than take $10 million away from the majority small businesses that really need them (the 74% that were granted for less than $150,000). 

https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/20/838439215/shake-shack-returns-10-million-loan-to-u-s-program-for-small-businesses

Corporate America Doesn’t Care About Anything But Profits

On By Aidan PlunkettIn coronavirus, Corporate, Political, Regulation, Social Issue(s), UncategorizedLeave a comment

An article from CNBC discusses several public companies that took small business rescue loans say they are not giving back the cash” discusses how not only did the Federal Government mistakenly give public companies and corporations the rescue funds that were specifically meant to go to small business owners, but many of these companies are now officially taking the stance that they will not give these funds back- all while the rescue fund for small businesses have been wiped out entirely and there is no more money to give at the time being. 

CNBC reached out to the 41 biggest publicly traded companies that had received Paycheck Protection Program loans to see if they would be returning the funds. Six said they had no plans to return the funds, five said they will (or had) returned the money, while 30 either did not respond or said their decision was pending. One CEO keeping the cash said, “to return would be breaching fiduciary duty.” The government warned public companies on Thursday to return the relief loans in two weeks if they wanted to avoid scrutiny about whether it was necessary for them to take the capital.

I bring this instance up for a few reasons, first being why hasn’t Uncle Sam simply withdrawn those funds that were wrongfully given to public companies, and reallocate the funds to those small businesses that are still waiting and unable to receive any additional help? It seems that this mistake on behalf of our own government could easily be fixed, yet they are allowing the true mom-and-pop shops to suffer while corporate America continues to get more and more benefits (i.e. tax breaks, increasing salaries for executives, etc.). Simply warning companies that they will only ‘face scrutiny’ if they do not return the funds is a very weak threat. When congress wants something, they find a way to pay for it- don’t feed the public that there is no more available rescue funds for small businesses while the news is celebrating the frontline workers during the pandemic such as grocery stores, delivery/trucking, healthcare, many of whom work for small businesses and corporations alike- don’t make it a choice about who is in more need of help when the economy is halting. 

https://delawarebusinessnow.com/2020/04/from-cnbc-several-public-companies-who-took-small-business-rescue-loans-say-they-are-not-giving-back-the-cash

YouTube’s Efforts Against Coronavirus Misinformation

On By Mónica G. RodríguezIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

The popular video platform, YouTube, announced a new feature to counter the popular theories and other scientifically-inaccurate videos about COVID-19. They had been using fact-check pop-up alerts whenever users would type in a search prompt that tends to lead to misinformation

They call them “fact-check information panels” and each one links to third-party articles that disprove some of the videos that allegedly hold information about the coronavirus. YouTube implemented measures to detain the spread of the wide array of conspiracy theories that have been popping up ever since the pandemic. Some of these include the rumors about 5G signals being somehow related to the virus and videos about false cures or remedies.

A Pew Research study published in 2018 stated that YouTube is the second most used social media platform US adults use as a resource to get information. Knowing that, in my opinion, they should have implemented measures like these before. I imagine they didn’t do it because it might seem annoying or set its users off. Nevertheless, now we know it is possible for them to apply similar features into their platform and play a more active role against the spread of misinformation, not just hide behind the Terms and Policies.

Source: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/youtube-expands-fact-check-panels-to-us-users-as-it-works-to-counter-covid-/576943/

The doctor who treated Corona virus in New York was infected and did ‘extreme choice’

On By hyeseongparkIn UncategorizedLeave a comment
15일(현지시간) 코로나19 팬데믹 상황 속 뉴욕 퀸즈의 마운트 사이나이 병원 앞에서 의료 근로자들이 시민들의 박수에 화답을 하고있다. © AFP=뉴스1 © News1 우동명 기자

The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 27th that the emergency room chief doctor, who treated patients with Covid-19 at a hospital in Manhattan, New York, made an extreme choice.

Rona M. Brin (49, female), who works at the New York Press Biterian Allen Hospital, was in charge of the emergency room during Corona virus’ most intense period, and she also contracted Covid-19. He then took a rest and returned to the hospital, but died in Virginia on the 26th after returning home.

His father and other family members said that Dr. Brin had no mental history, but he seemed to be out of his mind by the time he talked to him last, so they could see that something was wrong.

The hospital he worked for was a 200-bed hospital north of Manhattan, with 170 Covid-19 patients. As of April 7, 59 Covid-19 patients were killed.

While he was taking care of the patient, Dr. Brin was also sent home with Covid-19. After about 10 days of rest, the doctor returned and was sent back home. He then made an extreme choice while traveling to Virginia with his family.

Experts believe that medical workers who have been fighting Corona virus may have suffered huge mental effects due to a lack of medical equipment, fear of losing their loved ones, including colleagues, and hard labor.

According to a study released by the international journal “Jama Network Open,” a survey of Chinese medical workers who fought on the front line with Covid-19 showed a higher percentage of serious mental health symptoms such as depression and anxiety than ordinary people.

There is no evidence that Covid-19 played a direct role in Dr. Brin’s own death. According to experts, suicide is caused not just by one thing but by complicated reasons. However, Dr. Brin’s father said, “My safety is becoming dangerous, but I want my daughter to be remembered as one of the thousands of medical heroes who came forward to help others.”

Trump has signed an executive order to limit immigration…Suspend issuance of permanent residency for 60 days

On By hyeseongparkIn UncategorizedLeave a comment
도널드 트럼프 미국 대통령이 22일 백악관에서 코로나바이러스 테스크포스(TF) 브리핑을 하고 있다.

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to suspend immigration to the U.S. due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

President Trump said in a briefing at the White House yesterday (22nd) at the Coronavirus Task Force that he has signed an executive order to temporarily suspend immigration to the United States to protect great American workers.

As a result, the issuance of permanent residency will be suspended for 60 days, and there is a possibility that it may be extended depending on the circumstances.

The executive order will take effect today (23rd) at 11:59 p.m.

However, researchers, medical staff, investment migrants, spouses of U.S. citizens and children under the age of 21 are excluded from this restriction.

Also, it does not affect foreigners entering the U.S. on temporary visas and agricultural workers, such as skilled workers such as employment visas.

President Trump’s move comes as Americans, who lost their jobs in the coronavirus pandemic, are calling for deregulation and calling for economic normalization.

In fact, the U.S. has seen economic damage grow, with 22 million people losing their jobs in the last four weeks.

Sources : https://www.thequint.com/news/world/coronavirus-covid-19-donald-trump-immigration-suspend-united-states-of-america