Have you ever heard of webisodes? At first, it sounds ‘alien’ to me, I do some research and realized that webisode is actually short-scripted series that airs on Internet instead of television.
In details, webisodes, is also known as web episode, which characteristically features a dramatic and serial storyline. Webisodes is short video and most of the videos are airs initially as internet television. Some people will use it as promotion or even commercial. Example of webisodes are, iCarly.com, Tinytown,Mrs.P and etc.
Nowadays, children are bombarded with information that available in internet, they influenced to access the World Wide Web by their parents. That is where children can find entertainment such as YouTube, social networking sites and webisodes. Through webisodes, children can learn various subjects such as crime prevention and webisodes do entertain children with storytelling. This is supported by Chris Corbett, Tinytown’s producer and creator. In his interview with Anthony Funnel of ABC’s Media Report (2007), Chris Corbett stated that the shows are aimed to gain interest on kids and make sure they stay tuned to the series.
There are a webisodes that unveiled from singer and actress Mandy Moore, aimed to help the children with cancer cope with their illness. The webisodes called ‘Coping with Chemo', speak to teens about issues ranging from diagnosis to the side effects of chemotherapy and feeling out of place among peers. The people behind the issues are Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation and with the support from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. CEO of the Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation said that teenagers feel more in control, less isolated and better prepared to cope with the challenges of cancer and chemotheraphy through the information from the webisodes. The messages were presented in easy-to-understand terms, and in engaging format.
(Source: Starlight Children's Foundation 2004)
Who are the audience?
In some Western countries, children and teenagers hook up most on internet every day. Cellular-news (2009) stated that almost 80% of teens go online without any limit. They are some research done that most of the children spent their time mostly in front of computer rather than television. Chris Corbett also agreed by saying that his children actually realize new videos faster than others through YouTube. So, the creator of webisodes should highly aware of the content of the webisodes, and should stick on the audience, purpose and context. They should avoid violence and nudity contents appear in their video, this is to prevent kids to learn something bad through webisode, which can be access easily. Schirato and Yell (1996) opines that genres are the ways of meaning associated with social purposes and occasions. Thus, it is important to identify which genre is suitable for certain occasions.
Webisodes are part of phenomenon that represents the convergence of digital media such as internet and television. In conclusion, webisodes will become an interesting media in advance with several criteria and requirements from readers.
References:
- ABC.net.au 2007, Webisodes for kids, online, accessed 17th November 2009, from http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2007/2124198.htm.
- Cellular-news 2009, US Teens Going Online Wirelessly Without Limits or Controls, online, accessed 17th November 2009, from http://www.cellular-news.com/story/37496.php.
- Schirato,T , Yell, S 1996, Chapter 5: Framing Context, Communications and Cultural literacies: An Introduction, pp. 90- 117
- Starlight Children’s Foundation 2004, ‘Mandy Moore unveils a new online tool to help teens cope with cancer’, press release, 13th October, online, retrieved on 17th November 2009, from http://www.starlight-western.org/atf/cf/{5BA4C9B4-81DD-431A-B59E-C291DBBFFC92}/Coping_with_Chemo.pdf.
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