The Time Has Come to Move the Tassel...

      Hello All! It has come to the point in my term when I say goodbye.  It is bittersweet, but a very good type of bittersweet.  Currently, I am a candidate for Masters degree, but come Friday, July 26th I will be walking across the stage at Troy University receiving my Master of Science in Strategic Communication.  Honestly, it is hard to believe that the time has finally come for me to move my tassel to the side one final time.  After the hard work, long hours and dedication I have put in the time has finally come.  It is hard for me to wrap my mind around that fact that I will be done with school, forever.  Schooling has made up most of my life.  Honestly, it will be strange not having to open up a book, take a final or stress over the dreaded comprehensive exam. (It was the longest three weeks of my life waiting for those results!) Receiving my Masters degree was something I had always planned to do.  I am so happy that I waited because I was able to continue my education at a university I love so much with the same professors that had guided me through my undergraduate studies. 
     As I walk across that stage I cannot wait to look into the audience and see the two people that made this moment possible. I know that I have been blessed with the two best parents anyone could ask for.  They have nurtured me and given me opportunities that most children only dream of.  They have supported me in every way imaginable and knowing that I have made them proud is a joy that fills my heart like no other.  I am extremely proud to be their daughter.  Everything I have ever done, accomplished and succeeded at is because I knew I had two people who were always in my corner.  Two people that would stand beside me no matter what.  Two people that would be there to pick me up when I fall and tell me to keep going; that I could do it.  Most of all, two people that have always been there to love me and give me encouragement when no one else's words could give me strength and determination.  I love them with all of my heart and it means the world to me that I will have them there.  Of course, I wouldn't expect any less.  They have been there for every important milestone in my life and I expect it continue long after the cap has been thrown. 

Body Language = Transparency

     Have you ever thought about how your body language describes how other people see you?  To me, body language is just the same as a first impresssion.  If you get a bad first impression of someone the chances are you aren't going to change the way you feel about the person. Or, it will take a lot of effort on the part of the person to change your mind.  The same can be said for body language.  A first impression can easily be gathered by someone's body language.  For instance, if you are at a gathering or a party and you see someone that you have never met, standing alone on a wall and not speaking to anyone, your fist impression of that person is that he/she is shy.  That is given away by the person's body language.  However, if you see another person easily chatting away with people at the food table or at the drink stand then your first impression of that person goes to outgoing.  Understanding people by their body language is just the way we are.  It is human nature to "judge" someone on first impressions.  Yes, some people do take getting to know before they lighten up and talk, but that doesn't change the fact that he/she is a shy person. 
     You can easily pick out the people that are confident in what they are doing just from their body language.  For instance, if you ever pay attention to an artist at a concert.  Most of them are "in charge" of their arena.  They know exactly what their fans want to see or here.  Their confidence in their talent is shown through their body language which is then picked up by the audience.  It doesn't just have to be a singer; it can be anyone confiedent in what they are doing.  Michael Phelps always tended to spread his arms out and throw his head back when he won a race at the Olympics.  That body language showed his excitement in what he had just accomplished.  Today, Phil Mickelson won the British Open for the first time in his career. After he made the winning putt his eyes brimmed with tears, which showed the emotion he felt over his win.  Body language appeals to the person or personality displaying it.  An example of an artist that does this is Stevie Nicks.  Throughout her concerts she constantly twirls or floats around the stage.  She has always done this, which play on the fact that she is free spirit or a "hippie" if you will.  It is just her personality.  Or, when Reba finishes a show she always raises her arms into a T, as if she is soaking in all of the applause.  She is a strong woman who knows her talent and knows how hard she had to work in a mans world. 
      Everytime you look at someone you can gather a great deal of information just through their body language.  In today's world body language has also made its way into the digital world.  Through emoticons, that is.  You can tell a lot about how a person is feeling through one little emoticon that send through text message, tweet or facebook status.  I'm not gonna lie; when I talk to my mom over Facebook and she sends me a heart ( <3 ) it makes me a smile.  Even though I am not physically in the room with my mom or whoever I am talking to when they send an emoticon it automatically lets me know how they are feeling.  Always remember that people are watching you.  Someone will always "judge" you by the way your body reacts when you hear a question or when your in situation you aren't comfortable.  We are all very transparent and we become even more transparent through body language.

Managing a Crisis in Today's World

     The topic of crisis communication has ended up becoming a major part of my studies in Strategic Communication.  Going into this program I had never given much thought to it.  Yes, I had heard about the Tylenol incident from the 1980's, but I had never actually studied it or realized how much effort and planning the company put into it to make sure things were handled properly.  Crisis management is a major aspect to any company and is highly important in the success.  No company wants to encounter a crisis, but when it does happen a plan needs to have been put in place, but that's not the only thing that is important.
     Having a crisis management plan is fantastic, but if the company doesn't have a leader who will manage the crisis correctly then it will be of no use at all.  Leaders must face reality when a crisis occurs.  They should except what has happened, "take the bulls by the horns" and turn the crisis into something that helps the company, not destroys it.  I mentioned the Tylenol poisoning from the 1980's.  Instead of shying away from the media or lying to the public the company was straightforward and honest.  They were open with the public and explained that they were doing everything humanly possible to find out how the poison got into the pills and who did it.  They also had to reassure the public that this would never happen again.  All three of the companies promises was s success and they proved to the people that the company could be trusted.  Tylenol is still going strong today.  A company never wants their leader to lie to the public, especially to the media.  If the media turns on you it is never a good thing.  You want them on your side if something goes wrong. 
     In today's world a company not only has the media to help them, but there is also this little thing called social media.  It is so much easier and quicker to get the word out now than it used to be things to Facebook, Twitter and even blogs.  Yes, a blog.  Blogs are a great way to get information out, especially if what needs to be said is longer than 140 characters or not suitable for a Facebook post.  It doesn't take long at all to type up your feelings and hit "Publish."  Within seconds your thoughts and feelings have been let loose to the rest of the world.  It is pretty incredible.  A leader and a company must utitlize these opportunities to reach out to the public in the wake of a crisis.  What better way to reach your audience than to reach out to them through social media?  A quick Facebook post in the wake of a disaster could do wonders.  The rules of social media are no different than those with the media.  Honesty is of the upmost important thing.  Do not lie to the public because there is no denying that the truth will eventually come out.  When that happens you are most likely to have caused more problems than you would have if you had initially told the truth.  No one likes being lied too, no matter what the circumstances are.  That old saying, "Honesty is the best policy" holds true in times of managing a crisis.  Managing a crisis can be difficult work, but in the long run it will pay off.  As mentioned in one of my readings, try to use the crisis as an advantage.  Use it to make the changes that you hadn't made before.  Tylenol came out on top and is a great example to go by when writing a crisis plan.  Don't be afraid to act when something happens.  Take the charge of the situation and if a company does that they will be successful in managing the crisis. 

What's Your Brand?

     How many of you pay attention to advertisements?  Do you actually watch the commercial when it comes on the television or do you flip to another channel?  The one thing that always keeps me tuned into a commerical is if it catches the eye.  For example, I cannot skip over the a current AT&T commercial even if I wanted too.  Do I have AT&T? No.  Do these commercials make me want AT&T? Yes.  The reason behind my thinking is because they are catchy little ads that get stuck in my head.  My brother and I go around quoting these commericals all the time.  One in particular...

 

 

 

     The point of any advertisement is to get a person's attention.  When a company does these advertisements they are marketing their brand.  For instance, how many of you actually pay attention to the point behind the commerical that I just posted?  I, for one, didn't pay a whole lot of attention to it until I started trying to figure out the reasoning behind the commercial.  AT&T's brand throughout this advertisement is "Faster is Better," which is put into focus by using the children to get the point across.  "What's something that's slow that you wish was fast?"  That one question curtailed into humorous answers by the children, but the real point was that we want our phones/internet to be faster.  It's a quirky and fun way to get the message across, which is what needs to be done when an organization is advertising their brand. 

     In a video that I recently watched a man by the name of Morgan Spurlock went around asking people how they would describe their brand.  It got me thinking.  What is my brand?  After some thought I guess I could describe myself as humorous and loyal along with my style being sort of conservative hippie.  Do I consider myself a hippie? No, but I do like the clothes, which is why I use it do describe my sense of dress.  What can I say...I'm a sucker for the chiffon, flowy skirts and funky patterns.  Mr. Spurlock gave two different types of brands; one being an Up Attribute and the other a Down Attribute. The Up Attributes include being playful, fresh, magical/mystical and edgy.  On the other side of that is the Down Attribute which includes being mindful, sophisticated, traditional, safe and reliable.  These attributes will help you understand what kind of "brand" you are.  It is not only big companies and businesses that have a brand.  Think of it this way...Stevie Nicks has a brand.  Her brand revolves around her wearing black chiffon, moving around on stage like a witch and banging her tambourine.  She established this brand 35 years ago and it still is who she is.  That is her identity. 

     Everyone has an identity, a brand.  It is what makes people who they are and a business a success or failure.  Whether you realize it or not, you are a brand.  How would you describe yourself?  Have you ever actually thought about it?  When you establish a brand, as a person or a company, it is a lot to live up to because once that brand is established it must be kept.  For instance, Paula Deen had an established brand.  For many people, her brand has been tarnished after the "scandal" that came out a couple of weeks ago.  For others, myself included, I feel that she made a mistake 30 years ago and that's all that needs to be said about it.  Words for the wise - it doesn't take much for a brand to be torn down, but it will take a long time for it to be rebuilt.  

Leaders Make a Difference.

     What does it mean to be a leader?  Have you ever thought about that question in depth?  For me, I have never considered myself a true leader, but I guess that is in the eye of the beholder.  I do think back on my life and think of a certain time when I showed leadership or I was in a group that did.  I don't think anyone sets out to be a leader.  I truly believe that people who are leaders are people who just want to do good, make a difference or just make their business successful.  It has nothing to do with being able to say, "Yes! I am a leader."  In my experience it's the people that don't realize they are leaders that turn out to make the biggest difference.  For example, I think parents are leaders. Why you ask?  Parents are leading their children; shaping them into the adults that they will become.  My parents made me the person I am today.  They had a vision to bring me up a certain way and that is what they did.  
     I can talk about being a leader from a personal side as well.  My father is self-employed in two different businesses.  First, he owns a hunting lodge that I will say is a family run operation.  My dad doesn't do it all by himself, but he is the one that built it.  He started his business in the early 1980's.  My dad is an entrepenuer; plain and simple.  He does not have a college degree, but he had an idea, a vision if you will, and it worked.  Yes, he can be considered a manager, but he is a leader because the people that work for him look up to him.  His attitude of always putting his customers first has always been the most important thing.  His attitude is what makes him a leader and the business successful.  Also, he is what many people call a crop consultant in the summer months.  He works for different farmers throughout Central Alabama and he is, basically, there go to guy for information about their crops.  He informs them of what type of chemical and how much of it they need to put on their crops to keep the weeds away while continuously being on the lookout for other things that could possibly go wrong in the growing months.  My dad's farmers depend on him to make their crop season successful.  I know that my dad never set out to be a leader, but he is one in both areas of employment.
     Having a vision or an idea gives anyone the ability to become a leader.  Take for example Benjamin Zander telling his audience that he was going to get them to love classical music.  He had this vision that he would do that and he had a plan on how he was going to get it done.  He knew the steps to take, he reeled them and hooked them.  By the end of the 20 minute demonstration he had the entire audience in the palm of his hand.  It was absolutely brilliant watching him take the audience along for this wonderful ride.  I will say, he had me in the palm of his hand as well.  Does he have you in the palm of his hand??

 

    I truly believe that true leaders never set out to become one.  Martin Luther King set out to try and make a difference because he believed in his cause, not because he wanted recognition.  He was made a leader because of what he was doing and the impact it had on people.  All people start out doing something because they believe in it.  Do they know if what they are doing will catch on?  No, but that doesn't stop them from trying.  All leaders seem to be unafraid of failing, which in most cases is what it takes to get things done.  Thomas Edison had a vision of creating an incandescent lamp, otherwise known as the electric light bulb.  He had three thousand different theories in hopes that one would create his light bulb.  (http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/lightbulb.htm) Does anyone focus on how many failures he had trying to create an electric lightbulb? No.  We only focus on one, the one theory that produced what we now know as the light bulb.  He was a visionary, a leader.  We all know that Thomas Edison invented the light bulb.  He just wanted to make a difference, which is what most leaders want to do, and made a difference he did.

Leadership and Communication Go Hand in Hand

     How well do you communicate with the people you work with?  I don't know if you think about it often and quite honestly until we started reading about internal communication in my graduate school class I had never really paid much attention to it.  Yes, it is an important topic because communicating with the people that you work with is one of the most important things that you face throughout the day.  If you and your coworkers are not on the same page chaos could ensue.  Have you ever been in a job where not everyone was on the same page.  I can most definitely say that I have been in that position.  Thankfully, the place that I currently work is full of understanding people who are fantastic to work with.  In one of my past jobs that was most definitely not the case.  I worked under someone that no one in the office respected.  It was not a good environment because when the employees do not respect the person in authority there will always be a difference of opinion.  That is the situation that I walked into everyday. 
     Internal communication between coworkers is important yes, but it is not only internal communication that matters.  External communication is extremely important, if not more, because without as great of communication you may have inside of the office if you there is not good communication with the office and the outside world then it does no good.  Most organizations and companies are in business for the public.  Credit card companies, grocery stores and car dealerships are all in business because the public keeps them afloat.  Since their success depends on the public the external communication is extremely important.  If these companies do not have good communication with the people that keep them in business then the company will no longer be in business.  It's as simple as that.  I'm sure you all can think of a business that has completely fall apart, or at least taken a major blow, because their external communication left a lot to be desired.  I will use Exxon as an example.  Back in the 1980's there was a terrible oil spill that they were connected to.  Instead of taking responsiblity for it they lied to the media and even pretended the effects were not as bad as everyone said that they were.  The simple fact is this: the company lied to the public and the media which was terrible external communication.
    What communication all boils down to, in my opinion, is leadership.  Leadership does not necessarily have to be someone in a "boss type" role, but it's someone who has the ability to make a difference or make change, even if they don't realize it.  A video that I recently watched that spoke of leadership mentions someone who helped to keep someone from dropping out of school even though he had no idea that he had made such an impact on this person's life.  This young man helped to keep this young man from dropping out of school simply by using communication.  Think of all the people who have made a difference in someone's life without even realizing it.  That is what leadership is.  Communication and leadership go hand in hand because without good communication, good leadership does not exist.  Good internal communication in the office requires a leader, but that is not necessarily one person.  Every single person in the office can be a leader because a balance is required between all employees for everything to stay in order.  Every person, whether it be in an office, a community organization, or the media, has some type of leadership role that they can fulfill.  Every person has the ability to be a leader; they just need to embrace it.

From Screaming Goats to a Moonwalking Pony

     YouTube is essentially part of everyones everyday life.  I cannot think of one day when I do not go on the website to watch a video that someone has suggested to me or just to pass the time.  It is amazing how, with one click of a button, a video can go viral.  It doesn't take but one person to send it to someone else who then sends it someone else and before you know it the video has been viewed by millions of people.  In a segment titled Why Videos Go Viral Kevin Allocca talks about different ways videos spread like wildfire through the community.  He begins with talking about tastemakers.  Basically, this just means the people that send this video on the trend to becoming viral.  For instance, he mentions Jimmy Kimmel tweeting the link to a video, which was then viewed 23 million times.  This video was nothing more than a guy looking at a rainbow.  It is amazing how the simplest of things can turn into a phenomenon.  Speaking of phenomenons I am sure that most of you will recognize this image below....

Screaming Goat

     How many of you have watched some video that relates to a screaming goat?  It seems that those videos are everywhere, most notably compilations and music videos.  I was just at a Brad Paisley concert on Friday night and guess who made it an appearance.  You guessed it...the screaming goat. 
     This day in age, it seems that a lot of the artists on the radio are discovered by some means of a viral video or people become popular because they posted something on YouTube.  Justin Bieber and Colbie Caillat are good examples.  Justin Bieber was discovered after Usher discovered a video he posted on YouTube.  After that, he was off.  Colbie Caillat posted videos of herself singing on Myspace (does anyone even still have that?)  which then led to her getting a record deal.  It is amazing how videos take off and make people famous.  It doesn't even have to be through music though.  People can post one video that just hits people in the right spot and then there it goes.  There are people that give makeup tips by uploading weekly makeup lesson videos to YouTube.  Those videos have made them famous among a certain group of people. 
     It is not hard to become famous these days.  As Mr. Allocca said, "It only takes one video."  That's true it does.  If the video hits the right person, then it will take off like a rocket and there is no going back.  However, there can be a downside to this.  All of the funny videos that go viral are great and fun to watch, but what about the videos or photos that go viral that are disturbing and/or harmful to a person's reputation.  For instance, the Taco Bell employee who was recently seen licking an entire stack of tacos while on the job.  That is not reassuring for anyone who sees it and that photo was posted everywhere.  Reese Witherspoon is another example.  Her drunken "rampage" was caught on camera and then released to the public.  That video went viral and there was nothing she could do to stop it.  In this day in age people need to be wary of the things that they say or do because anything can be releasd to the public.  Almost everyone I know has a smartphone, so they have the ability to film anything they want at any time.  It is a scary thought, but it is the day we live in.  A person can rise to fame or crash and burn in minutes and it can all be because of one video. 
    In my world of YouTube, I like to focus on the videos that make me smile, laugh and put me in a good mood.  For me, that's what most viral videos are right now.  I mentioned earlier the screaming goat.  They are completely ridiculous, but as hard as you try you really just can't help but laugh.  (This video has been viewed over 18 million times.)

     I will post one more video just because it makes me smile, which as I said earlier is why YouTube videos so great.  This video was only posted 3 months ago and it already has over 6 million views.  It is a video made by the company Three out of the UK and they were able to make a video that not only got a group of "tastemakers" to spread it, but there were able to include the viewers in on the fun.  With this video they created a website so the viewers can make their own version of the video.  By doing this they garnered the attention of people and kept it because not only did they interact with the public, but they made it fun as well.  It was a great way to market the company.  Obviously it worked because I'm in Alabama talking about a video that was made by a company in the UK for promotional use.  These different examples of viral videos and photos are just a few of the videos that have sent individuals to stardom.  This day in age it doesn't take much, but content means everything.  Without the proper content that is going to get the attention of people you have nothing.  So...please enjoy the commercial that will most likely bring a smile to your face.  I give you "The Dancing Pony."

True Friendships Never Die

     How many friends is to many?  That is a question that I have often pondered myself.  I have never actually thought I have to many of what I call "true friends."  We all go through our lives making friends wherever we go.  We start as little children going to pre-school where we make our first batch of friends.  I am not going to say these relationships stand the test of time, especially if after the 4-year old graduation ceremony you never see each other again.  I still here from my mom, "Hey. Y'all went to Leika's together." My response is normally, "Oh...that's cool."  (Leika's was the name of my pre-school."  Now, the relationships that began to form when I began kindergarten, at five years old, is a completely different story.  I'm not sure many people can say that they still have friendships from when they were in kindergarten, but I most definitely can.  Honestly, I think that has a lot to do with where I was brought up and the school I attended.  Let me give you a brief overview.  I started kindergarten in 1993 at a small private school which consisted of approximately 350 students including myself.  My kindergarten class had 36.  Be aware this was a massive class for the school at this time.  We were all cramped into this small little building, that wasn't even attached to the school, for eight hours a day.  When I say cramped, I mean squished.  In order for us to take our "daily nap" the chairs had to be picked up off the floor and put on the tables so we could lay down our mats and sleep.  Now, to some this may have been inconvenient, but at 5 years old you don't know that.  In our case the inconvenience didn't matter; we were making friendships that would stand the test of time.  Most of us that started kindergarten together graduted high school together.  When I graduated high school in 2006 it was shared with these people that I had grown up with.  Out of the 26 people in my graduating class (yes...I said 26) I had gone to school with all of them for most of my life.  Was graduating a bittersweet moment? Absolutely.  For 13 years we had been through everything together.  We would finish one school year and know exactly who we would see when we returned the following August.  There was hardly ever any change and it was a comforting feeling, for me at least, to know exactly who I would be sitting next to on the first day of school.  When I graduated high school that comfort feeling disappeared for me entirely.
     When I left for college I was the only one attending Troy University from my high school.  I knew maybe one person when I arrived at my home away from home.  The word terrified doesn't even begin to describe how I felt.  I moved away from home for the first time and went to a town where I knew no one.  I was starting over and I had to make all new friends.  For someone who had the same friends for 13 years that was a terrifying thought.  Honestly, it was the best thing I ever did.  I joined a sorority and was met with some of the greatest girls that made my four years at Troy some of the best years of my life.  I have never once regretted going to Troy, to a school where I knew no one, because I was forced out of my comfort zone to meet people.  If I hadn't done that I would not have the friends I have today.  I have several that I still keep in constant contact with; My Girls.
     It seems that everywhere you go you make a new group of friends.  I moved to Nashville in 2010 for my internship and made some of the best friends.  Our "little group" from those 5 months has stayed in close contact and it has been over three years.  We all bonded because of where we were and I can now say that I have friends all over the country and I feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to know all of them.  One friend that I made during those five months is one of those that you feel that you have known your entire life.  We live on different sides of the country, but somehow we manage to see each other about twice a year.
     I read an article for one of my graduate school classes that gives the idea that people who have more friends make more money.  If you went by Facebook friend list and that study you would think I was rolling in the dough.  Honestly, many of the people on my Facebook friends list are not people that I talk to regularly.  Sure, I have many people that I love to keep in touch with because we grew up together or we had some great times in college.  Do I call them close? Could I call one of them to discuss my problems with? Would they be there for me if I were in trouble? Not all of them, no.  I have about 5 or 6 friends that I could call and they would drop everything for me.  I know that.  They know the same thing about me.  I don't think friendship is a statistical matter, nor do I think true friendship is judged on how many friends you have.  That is not the point to the word.  Frienship is between two people and it is a relationship.  It has to be nurtured and communication is required, just as with a significant other.  My life is made up of friendships; old friendships and new friendships.  The point is that no one person, no study, can tell you what the ideal number of friendships are.  We all have the ability to have many friends, some close and some not.  I have been blessed to continue friendships that started when I was five years old and make new ones.  That is a blessing in itself. 

Comebacks are never good...

     A new term has begun which means my weekly blog will return.  I am not going to lie, it was nice to have a two week break from school, but now we are in the home stretch.  I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, which in this case is a Master's degree with my name on it.  Just in case this is your first time visiting my page I will go back over a few basics.  My name is Margaret, but everyone knows me as Maggie.  I graduated from Troy University in 2010 with my BA in Broadcast Journalism.  While at Troy I held an internship at CMT in Nashville, which is probably the highlight of my life at this point.  What an amazing experience that was!  Currently, I live in Montgomery and work for the city in the Parks and Recreation Department as the Social Media Coordinator.  In lamens terms that means that I connect with people through Facebook and Twitter and manage the department's website.  Also, I am in graduate school and in the process of obtaining my Masters in Strategic Communication. 
    
     This blog will include topics relevant to strategic communications and emerging media.  The topics will vary from week to week so make sure you come back and check out my thoughts!  I will be posting to this blog once a week and would have to your input on what I have written.  In order to check out my blog please visit maggiesoutlook.blogspot.com.  Yes, I am writing this blog for one of my graduate classes, but it is also to enlighten you all on my thoughts about todays media.  Let's face it things have changed in the media world in the past 15 years and will continue to change.  Also, if you haven't noticed blogging is a major way to retrieve ones news and is a great way to just get your thoughts out.  That is basically what this blog will encompass.

     As I just mentioned it is not hard to see how fast the media world is changing.  It seems that everytime we turn around there is some new media outlet to retrieve our news or express our thoughts.  Everything that is happening is innovating our world as we know it.  Facebook has become the norm.  It has innovated the way we communicate with our neighbors, friends and colleagues.  It isn't just a website anymore; we now use it as a verb.  Have you ever caught yourself saying, "Just Facebook me?"  If you say you haven't then you're lying.  I know I have.  It is amazing how fast things change.  Products innovate and change our world when they begin to catch on and become popular.  Facebook is an example, but Twitter is one as well.  That became popular because celebrities started using it and then everyone did.  Honestly, it is insane how fast these social media sites became addictions for the people today.  Personally, I'm addicted to Twitter.  I don't really know why, but I am. I am using social media as examples of innovation, but there are plenty and not just from in today's time.  Refrigerators, microwaves and televisions weren't always used, but they were marketed in a way that got people hooked, just as Facebook and Twitter were.  People began purchasing these new items and realized they were quite useful and fun (television) and the world was changed forever.  In our readings the innovation of newspaper was brought up.  Honestly, I do not think there is anywhere to apply the diffusion of innovation to the newspaper industry.  It has been through its ups and downs, but the digital age is just taking over and I do not think there is anywhere for newspapers to catch up.  Televisions, microwaves and refrigerators use innovation because they continue to change with the times.  Technology improves with each passing year, which means these appliances do as well.  The problem is the newspaper industry has fallen behind in the technology time and I am afraid it may be too late.  There is a quote that a music artist once said that I think applies to this situation as well. (Okay...it was Stevie Nicks.) Anyway, Stevie once said, "Comebacks are never good."  That is very true in the music industry because she went on to talk about the fact that you must always stay busy and keep your name out there because if you don't it's not good.  Time passes and things change.  The newspaper industry is trying to make a comback, but it maybe to little to late for them to be asked for the encore that they desire.

Temporary Break

     Good Afternoon all!! I have to come to the final week of this term which will mean that I will not be posting as often.  I would like to say that I am sad that this portion of this my blog posting has come to a halt for now, but I would be lying.  The reason for this is because now that this term is facing its conclusion means that I am one step closer to graduating from Troy University (again!!), but this time it's with my Masters!  Who would have thought that?!  I have thoroughly enjoyed discussing various topics with you from the way companies and people brand themselves to all of the new technology that faces us.  I have no doubt that when I resume this blog there will be some form of new media making its appearance.  Let's face it, everytime we turn around there is some new gadget that has taken the whole world by storm!  That's just the way of the world these days and we have no choice but to accept it.  If you care to go back and read some of my postings please do and let me know what you think.  I would love to hear your thoughts!  As we sit and talk about new technology it leads me to think about the fact that new technology is the reason why I am sitting here obtaining my Masters Degree and speaking to you all through a blog.  The world in which we live in provides me with the ability to go to school and is the purpose of my job (I am a Social Media Coordinator), which is pretty astounding.  20 years ago none of this was happening, but now it is the norm.  The technology of today provides us the ability to reach out to people in a way that we haven't been able to before and achieve things that used to not even be thought about.  I will speak to you all soon, but for now I am signing off!

It's All in the Parenting

     The topic of technology and children has not always been a hot topic because, well...there hasn't always been technology.  At least of the magnitude there is today.  It has only been in the last 15 years or so that the debate about children and technology have come into play.  I can understand why there is such a debate because in my opinion technology has changed the way things are done.  For instance, I cannot walk down the street without seeing some teeny bopper on his/her telephone.  Honestly, it drives me nuts.  These kids can be no more than 12 and they have more gadgets and gizmos than I do.  Am I the only one that thinks there is something wrong with that?  They have no sense of real communicaiton with the public because everything they do is online and through Facebook, which is not a good thing.  This will only create problems in their future because if they cannot communicate properly how can we expect them to make something of themselves? 
     If we are on the topic of children and technology I will bring to light something that I do not agree with.  There seem to be continuous debates that surround the topic of children and violence distributed through technology.  I can understand how some people may think this may cause some problems, but honestly it's just something that I cannot agree with.  Sure, the violence on television and through XBox games are more available to the public than they were, perhaps 30 years ago, but let's face it...it's nothing to new to our culture.  If I recall there was a movie called Psycho in the early 1960's, then of course there was The Shining in the early 80's and an earlier version of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.  Violent movies and violence are nothing new on television, so I do not understand why people are making such a big deal of it now.  Personally, I think they are trying to blame someone or something else other than themselves.  "It can't possibly be my parenting skills.  It's definitely the video games."  Now, do I think there are some people that are just so screwed up in the head that no matter what has been said or taught it will do them no good? Yes, I do.  The people that can go into a school and kill 16 innocent young children have a serious problem; it goes way beyond playing Halo on an XBox. 
     I am going to use my brother as an example.  My brother is 15 years old.  He has an XBox and a Playstation 2.  His favorite game is Halo.  Guess what folks...he is perfectly normal.  He doesn't draw creepy pictures or make obscene statements.  He is also a huge outdoorsman.  One of his favorite outdoor activities is hunting.  Throughout the months of October-January and March-April you will hardly see that boy without  his .243.  I am mentioning all of this because he enjoys doing the things that people say increase violence in young people. 
     I do think that children and technology is a problem, but not because of the violence issue.  I would like to say it will not stay this way forever, but that is not the case.  There will be more inventions and more hand held gadgets that everyone must have and the children that have access to these will become younger and younger.  It is a problem when you look to your right and see a five year old playing with an IPhone.  Honestly, what five-year old needs an IPhone?  There isn't a single child that is of that age that needs one.  What this is doing to the younger generation is teaching them that they do not have to communicate face-to-face.  The other night at a restaurant I witnessed an older gentleman with his three grandchildren; two of them were boys and looked to be around 13 years old.  They were not paying him any attention and just sat there in the booth playing on their phones.  Unfortunately, this is a trend in today's society and the only people that can stop it are the parents.  It all comes back to the parents, doesn't it? 

It's All in the Image (Or Black Chiffon...)

     When you think about branding your mind either goes to branding a cow (my neck of the woods) or what type of brand your company has.  The latter will be the discussion for this week.  Honestly, I have not ever paid much attention or given much thought to a companies branding.  It's not that I haven't noticed, but in all honesty it's not one of those things that has not lingered at the forefront of my brain.  That has all changed this week because it has been brought up as topic of discussion in my graduate school class.  When you delve into the world of marketing it is pretty cool how different companies brand themselves to the public.  For instance, Troy University markets itself to the public as a university that will do more than just teach students and give them a diploma; they will teach young people how to act in a way that demonstrates good character.  Their slogan, "Educate the mind to think, the heart to feel, the body to act" is seen on practically every billboard that is advertising Troy.
     I suppose that branding has taken a new turn with the explosion of social media in our world.  That is to be expected because businesses don't have to depend solely on billboards and magazine ads.  It is a new day when you can post an advertisement on youtube and then share it on facebook or twitter.  It is automatically delievered to your followers and they then know what the company is about or if they are rebranding.  I just mentioned "rebranding" and that leads me into another thought.  When I was doing my internship, CMT was right in the middle of the rebranding process.  They were changing the colors, the styles of the logo, etc... It was interesting getting to watch the process unfold.  In celebration of slowly changing over the website, facebook and images to reflect the new brand a "rebranding" party was thrown in celebration.  The new logo filled the room while Gary Allan played a free concert at the party.  Other companies should take note of how CMT went about their rebranding.  By getting all of the members working at the company into the fold and throwing a celebration in recognition for all of the hard work that everyone had done, they was able to shower everyone with appreciation; even little ole' me. 
     Businesses are not the only ones that have a brand.  If you think about it, celebrities have a brand.  Take note of Reese Witherspoon.  She had a brand, whether she realized it or not.  She was portrayed as a good southern girl, but this past weekend she messed up.  She made a mistake and because of that one mistake people are now seeing her in a different light and, perhaps, rebranding her.  Now, I'm not going to get into whether I think she deserves it, it isn't my place to judge, but the fact is people may start to see her differently.  The one celebrity that comes to mind, for me at least, that practically has a brand is Stevie Nicks.  Think about it people.  This woman has been in music for 40 years and since the beginning of her days with Fleetwood Mac (1975) she has been branded as this "witchy" character.  (Her publishing company on every record is Welsh Witch Music.)  It's no doubt either because she wears black chiffon and floats around the stage like she's casting a spell on the audience.  She has her signature things that she includes in every show including: all black attire, high platform suede boots, shawls, top hat and a tambourine.  She knows how to brand herself and she has done a damn good job of it for 40 years.  No matter where you see her, she is in all black with her platform suede boots.  Styles have evolved over the past 40 yeras, but her style never changes and whenever flowy clothes come back it's always, coincidentally, when Stevie has done something.  I have heard people say, "The Stevie style is back." My opinion, it never went anywhere.  I have clothes in my closet, at this moment, that are reminiscent of Stevie's wardrobe.  She branded herself a long time ago.  The times may have changed since 1975, but her brand has remained the same.  Take a look...





1976

1980's






2010

     Branding is all about doing what is best for your company. It is what best represents your company and what people will associate first when they think of you. Brand your company with something that will stand the test of time; have an image that may be improved, but the base will always remain the same. If you think about it, whether you are a company or not, "you" have a brand. Your brand is how you portray yourself to others. For me, I feel that I portray myself as a fun, carefree person who is loyal to her friends. How you act and what you say does speak volumes. Have you thought about your brand?
                             



Fast as Lightning

 
It is not a surprise to anyone reading this blog post that we, the public, retrieve information faster today than anyone has ever in the past. I mean, think about it. We can get text messages from one of our friends from anywhere in the country and even the world. We used to think that it was amazing that we could send e-mails. Don't get me wrong it still is, but you never knew when someone was sending something to you. You would have to wait until you got home or to work to check your e-mail. Besides, who doesn't love to hear the infamous line, "You've Got Mail." Sure...I highly doubt that any of you reading this actually has that fun little sound bite anymore, but back in the day, when e-mail was first coming around that was what we heard. Heck...they even made a movie about it; a movie made completely about sending e-mails back and forth to someone. In 1998 this was a big deal.

These days you the exact time you get an e-mail.  No, I am not talking about the time stamp that is beside each and every e-mail that you get.  What I am speaking of is that awesome little "ding" that you get when (BAM!) a new e-mail has arrived.  Now, instead of having to wait until you get home to check you e-mails you can be in your favorite store, read your newest e-mail while looking at a stellar pair of high heels.  It's just the way the world is today.

Now that I have taken you back in time and helped you remember how "slow" our life used to be once upon a time, let's jump back into present day. So, I'm sure that most of you have a Facebook account, Twitter account or both. If not, well...are you living under a rock? Honestly, if you are not connected to any type of social media how do you find things out? How did you learn about the Boston Bombings or the plant explosion in Texas? When these events happened they were the top news event on each and every social media site. News spreads like wildfire on these sites. It is actually pretty awesome how fast news spreads. I do not have a television in my office, so throughout the day I learn most of my news from my Facebook newsfeed or my Twitter homepage. For instance, I just logged into my Facebook and found out that "The Possum" died. Yes, country legend, George Jones, has passed away at the age of 81. It is sad and all over the news channels, I am sure, but I learned it through the world of social media.

With the benefit of social media companies, businesses and even the news stations themselves can reach out to the public in looking for answers to certain topics. Not only did people learn of the Boston Bombings through social media, but the FBI also released the pictures of the suspects, which then spread like a virus throughout the country. Every single person was on the lookout for these people. I can use the example that Paul Lewis used when discussing the technique of "crowdsourcing." He mentioned that the company that he worked for reached out to the public hoping to uncover the truth about two incidences that happened in London. They sent out a tweet asking for help and information from any person willing to give it. What do you know? They got responses from people that witnessed that account. When the Boston Bombings terrorist attack happened last week our local news station, WSFA, sent out a tweet asking for interviews from anyone that were in Boston from our area and guess what. They got responses. They had several interviews from someone that was now living in Boston to a doctor from Montgomery who was running in the marathon.

Crowdsourcing has taken on a whole new meaning from when it was first coined in 2006. Jeff Howe and Mark Robinson said that crowdsourcing is basically when a company outsources a function to a larger group of people. Social Media has taken this to a whole new level. Companies are now able to outsource all types of information to the public with less than 140 characters. If you want information to get out to the public quickly, just as the FBI did with the release of the Boston suspects, social media is the way to go. People pick it up so fast and before you know it the news has spread. I will say that spreading news through social media is like picking up a leaf and letting it go in the wind. The wind is going to take that leaf wherever it wants to and you have control over where it ends up. The same can be said with social media. Once you let the information out, it is out there forever and there really is no way to ever get it back.  

My advice to any person reading this that does not use any type of social media outlet, I highly suggest you get one.  Whether you want to admit it or not it is the way of the future.  I am sure that sometime in the near future there will be a new social media site that is all the rage, but it does not change the fact that the news will be given in the same manner.  This day in age we depend a lot on social media to receive our information, but if you think about it the news organizations depend a lot on us as well.  They depend on us to read the information that they post to Facebook or Twitter and help them out.  They are hoping that someone in the social media bubble will see what they post and reach out.  Overall, social media is not only a way of keeping in contact with your friends, but a way of keeping in touch with the world as a whole.


Appealing to your Audience

     I, for one, have never paid much attention to the types of information that I am given when I search something on the internet.  I have always assumed that everyone will get the same search results that I do.  The reason that I thought this was because, honestly, I didn't think that Google would care to choose for me what information that deemed appropriate for me to see. Why do they even care?  I mean, seriously.  Who wants to sit in a room and keep a track on what I view on MY computer.  Honestly, it's really no one's business.  I understand that it's the internet and people do try to hack people's computers for credit card numbers and such, but is it really such important knowledge that I like to play on Etsy for hours?  Do TPTB really care that I like to watch concert videos on youtube?  Probably not, but I will admit it is pretty cool when YouTube knows my favorite music. :) Check out what I found on the site. A nice listing of these they thought I may enjoy because of videos that I had watched in this past.  Why yes; I would enjoy those! Thanks for asking!

     I gave the topic of the "Filter Bubble" some thought after I watched this video for one of my Graduate School classes.  I thought it made some pretty good points and obviously, from the paragraph above, you can tell I had never given it much thought.  Yes, the filter bubble may exist, but is that a bad thing?  For some it may be, but for others not so much. 

                                                                                                      

     In reference to the "Filter Bubble" he makes statements about the internet being balanced and that that we should not be subjected to what the internet thinks we want to see; that we should be given an aray of information and we should be able to make the choice.  I am not going to disagree with this point (quite yet), but this does get me thinking.  I mentioned earlier that I had never paid much attention to what the internet shows me when I "Google" or "Bing" something.  I think the main reason behind that is because they are showing me what I want to see.  I enjoy the fact that "my internet" is tailored to what I want to see.  For instance, when it comes to politics, I do not want to read what a liberal mind thinks because, in all honesty, it just gets me frustrated and I'm pretty sure my blood pressure shoots up.  I don't mind people that disagree with me and I don't mind having intelligent conversations with people, but when I cannot state my opinion back to someone it just seems like a complete waste of my time.  This is where I think the "Filter Bubble" comes in handy; it doesn't give me things that I do not care about seeing.  In the video he shows that things have been filtered out on Facebook by TPTB because of certain links that he clicks on.  Personally, I have never had that happen to me.  He mentions that he did not like it, but I would enjoy some filtering on some occassions.  For some reason my Facebook does not know me well enough to know that I am an Auburn fan.  If it did I wouldn't have to get on my Facebook and see something related to Alabama on my newsfeed.  Filtering, in my opinion, is a good thing because things you don't want to see are not there. 


Co-Worker Search

My Search

     All of this talk of the "Filter Bubble" has me thinking about my recent searches and such.  I do believe that, yes, certain websites may filter things.  I know that websites where purchases are made do filter.  That is easy to tell because they recommend things for you from things that you may have purchased.  Amazon is notorious for this.  They have recommendations for you throughout your purchase and then, BAM!, you check your e-mail for your confirmation and there are some more.  It's almost like you can't get away from them.  This being said, I have never actually run into the filtering on search engines and such.  I type in anything and I get a general list of results.  For instance, my co-worker and I typed in "owls" by using Google and we got the exact same results, with the exception of some images on my search page.
                                                                                       
I understand Mr. Pariser's viewpoint, but I just happen to disagree with it.  I find that my viewpoint differs from his since he says, "If we are trapped in a filter bubble and not exposed to information that could challenge or broaden our worldview it could prove to be bad for us and our democracy."  It is our democracy and the freedom to make our own choices that gives me the ability to disagree with him.  I do not feel that my life nor my sense of thought is in jeopardy because I disagree with the use of the "Filter Bubble."  I feel that I have all of my thoughts in order and that what I believe is right, so I do not need to be swayed one way or another by some search engine that wants me to become more "worldly" by showing me things that do not relate to anything that I search for.  I do not want my Google search randomnly popping up things about different religions because I put in a search for christianity.  My opinion of the whole thing: If I wanted to search for it, then I would search for it.  Just like he thinks that we should not be subjected to things that Google thinks we should see, which in turn makes it things we want to see; I do not think we should be subjected to seeing things we do not want to see.


Updating Your Life

What does the term “social media” mean to you? There are a lot of ways to answer that question, but for me the answer is simple: my job. Yes, I am a Social Media Coordinator. Basically, what that means is that I am responsible for posting all updates to Facebook and Twitter in regards to the department in which I work. Unlike some people I actually enjoy what I do because it entails something that I am good at and I have, practically, been doing since I was 17 years old. “Facebooking” (I think we have made this a verb) is somewhat of a normal thing. Can you name someone that does not have a Facebook account? Those people are pretty rare and hard to find. Anyone who is any one has a Facebook account these days. If they don't the first thing you ask is, why? Let's face it; social media sites are all the rage.  If I recall Facebook became something to use to keep up-to-date with friends and such. I read in an article that it began as a way for college campus students to update items, but then it began to spread to other colleges. Before you knew it the Facebook genuises were like, "Wait a second. I think people in their teen years could have one." Boy, were they right. When I was in high school Facebook had really just begun. It seems funny now thinking that Facebook really was not around when I was going through all of those awkward teenage years, but it wasn't. I am actually kind of glad for that. I cannot even imagine my life without Facebook now, which is really sad. :/ If you think about it what would we do with all of our spare time without Facebook? How could we stalk people that we have no interest in talking to, but we are just that nosy to want to know what is going on in their lives? Honestly, our lives might be simpler, but it would leave a little bit of a fun void; for me at least. I have no shame in saying that I really enjoy getting on Facebook. I love reading people's posts and knowing what is going on. If I don't enjoy them I simply block the person from my newsfeed. Not everyone is enjoyable; some people are just downright boring.

Nowadays Facebook is not only for social interaction, but businesses have jumped on the bandwagon. In no way do I think that Facebook or any other social media site is going to take away from the traditional website. There are so many things that you cannot put on a Facebook site that can go on a traditional website. With that being said Facebook is such a great way to reach out to your audience. Facebook updates are a wonderful way to stay in touch with clientele and give them up-to-date information. A business cannot expect the public to go to their website every hour to check out information. With Facebook they are more likely to get updates in a timely matter because let’s face it, people check the social media site way more often than they do the business site. No matter how much people depend on social media there is no way that it can replace the current form of e-mail, etc... An article that I read brings up so many great points to support this fact such as: security, the fact that e-mail works across all platforms and e-mail provides more privacy than Facebook. There is also the sense of professionalism. If you are an employer, would you really want a future employee sending you a Facebook message? It just does not come across as though he/she is completely serious about the job.

Facebook is one thing, but Twitter...that's an entirely new ballgame. Yes, Twitter is a social media site, but the two sites could not be more different. In case you are not familliar with Twitter I will fill you in on the basics. 1) You can only use 140 characters to let your feelings be known. 2) You can hash tag anything by using the pound sign (#). People will hash tag things such as television shows, #Idol, for American Idol. They also use them for things they want to happen. I am not ashamed to use me as an example. We, DOOL (Days of our Lives) fans, have been very, shall we say, PO'd about the lack of screen time for several of our characters. We started the hash tag #WeWantJandM (aka We Want John and Marlena) to get the attention of the people of Days. :) 3) If you want to connect with people you must use the “@” symbol followed by their username. Yes, it can be complicated for some people that have never used it, but it really is a lot of fun. I consider myself a major tweeter (what one calls themselves if they tweet.) Currently, I am closing in on around 8,000 tweets. What do I tweet about you ask? Well, probably a whole lot of nothing for some people. J But, that is completely beside the point. When you are not in a business and you use social media, what point do any of your posts have? I can pretty much guarantee people do not need to read my latest Facebook post, "Lazaro is gone!" This is in reference, of course, to last night’s American Idol elimination.

Facebook, Twitter, LInkedin, etc… have done so many things for the technology world. They have given people the opportunity to network and stay in or get back in touch with people they had lost contact with. It really is a cool thing that I can be sitting here in my living room, but be having a conversation with one of my best friends in Colorado. All of this is without the use of a telephone.

I do worry that people tend to forget that people can see what you are doing. What I mean by this is that young people forget that they can be seen. When I say young people, I am particularly talking about the teenagers who think they know everything, but do not have the brains God gave a billy goat. Social media sites can get people into trouble if they do not use it in the right way. A good and normal way of posting: Updating people on your day; a bad way: posting a picture of yourself doing illegal activities. I cannot tell you how many people I see on Facebook, that are, obviously under the age of 21, posting pictures of themselves with open cans of alcohol. Fact: businesses and companies check Facebook and Twitter. If you post anything they do not like that could cost you a job opportunity. When posting pictures or things on Facebook ask yourself one question; "Would I show this to my mom?" If the answer is no I can pretty much guarantee it should NOT go on Facebook or Twitter. As great as these social media outlets are they can get you into trouble if you are not careful.

In the Palm of your Hand

    
There is no doubt in anyone's mind that technology is changing at a rapid pace. Unless you have been living under a rock it is not hard to see that the times of yesteryear have long since passed. We have gone from television that were, maybe, 10" x 10" in circumference to televisions that could be 70" wide. It is absolutely incredible how far we have come from having a computer that was thousands of dollars and heavy as a washing machine to one that cost a couple of hundred dollars and you can hold it in your lap. So, if we have made all of these improvements in the television and computer world, why not make those same improvements in the phone world? Good question!! And by gosh, those improvements have been made! Who would have thought that over the years everything would be completely wireless? Most cellular devices are now completely wireless. I remember when I first got DirecTV at my house I was ecstatic. Growing up I lived in, what some people like to call, the boondocks. We could not get cable so when I was about 5 or 6 years old we got a satellite. What a remarkable time that was; then came along the brilliant invention of the cell phone. I remember when I first saw one. My dad got a "bag phone" in his truck because he traveled (still does) a lot during the summer months. From all that clutter on the floor to being able to have one that he can hold in his hand, put in his pocket and take it wherever he goes. It is absolutely miraculous when you think about it!

Not only can we make phone calls whenever we want to or wherever we are you can also do pretty much anything you want on your cell phone. Who could have imagined the day when you could pay your bill, purchase a book from Amazon and watch the highlights from the baseball game all within a span of 10 minutes, and on the same device? No matter how cool Zack Morris' phone was it could not do all of that snazzy stuff. I cannot see you, but I wonder how many of you out there are reading this blog on your iPhone. Have you ever thought about how much we do with our mobile devices? It is kind of a scary thought if you really really think about it. What would you do, if God forbid, you were not allowed to use your phone for two days? I can hear all of you screaming, "I would DIE!" That may very well be the case because we have become so dependent on these gadgets. I can think of one example and lucky for you I can use one of my own experiences. In February I had my phone stolen at a local bowling alley (I won't name the business). I was phoneless for about one week. Let me tell you, I felt like I would die. The worst part of it was thinking I could lose all of my contacts. Next worst thing, "What if I lost all of the levels I have completed in Candy Crush?!" Is anyone else completely addicted to that game or is it just me? Luckily, I did not lose all of my contacts nor any of my completed levels in Candy Crush. If we are all honest with ourselves we could go without an iPhone. We would all be okay; we're not going to curl up in a little ball and wither a slow and painful death just because we cannot update our Facebook status every 10 minutes.

I just mentioned Facebook, which now has me thinking of a study I just read. I saw a listing of some of the top sites that are used through mobile instead of the desktop. Do y'all know what website was not on there? Facebook. Weird right? The number one website was Pandora. I absolutely love Pandora! I cannot even begin to tell you how many channels I have on that thing.

The more popular the smartphone become the more websites will be viewed on them. I believe it's the simplicity of it all that draws people to it. Basically, you are carrying around a portable computer at all times. Do you want to listen to music and play a word game at the same time? No problem! For this device the world is, literally, in the palm of your hand. It is one of the most amazing gadgets of our time and I can only see the mobile world growing. I say this because I can see how much it has grown in the last three years since I did my internship. I interned at the Mobile Department at CMT and was responsible for creating ringtones and sending out text blasts. I can only imagine how much more work would be involved in it now! If you don't have a smartphone, I highly suggest you get one! Being able to have all of your favorite things within a touch of a button is a lot of fun!

 

Not only is it your cell phone, but it is completely yours (in every sense of the word).  That is such a bonus feature!  It is completely your own and no one else's.  The older phones had the standard ringtone, but now you can have whatever ringtone you wish.  No matter where you are people will know what kind of music you like, but it would be nice if sometimes they were put on silent.  Have you ever thought about your phone in that way?  Your very own personal portable device.  It is specialized for you, by you.  For example, look at the picture above.  Fleetwood Mac is in the background.  Now, I bet I do not need to tell you that I'm a big fan of Fleetwood Mac.  That is what is so cool about all of this new technology, it is fitted to suit your personality!

Here to Stay?

Can I have a show of hands? Who reading this does not use the internet? Dumb question I know.  Not necessarily. So, why do some people say that the internet is dying?  It is because we have become, in the last couple of years, so consumed with the idea of apps that it has almost drawn us away from the actual "internet." I can hear some of you right now asking this question. Doesn't using apps mean we are using the internet? No, not necessarily. Using an app just means you are using 3G or a wireless signal. Apps seem to have taken over the world. That should not come as a surprise to anyone with the popularity of the IPhone.

The IPhone is one of those things that people think, "How did we live without this device?" Society thought the same thing when the microwave was invented and bread started to come pre-sliced. We always wonder how we made it without certain items. The truth is we made it because we had no idea of the possibilities out there. I rarely see someone without an IPhone. Some may call the device the "it" thing and let's face it; it is. The reason being is because it is a spectacular tool. Everything that one could want, not necessarily need, is at the tip of their fingers (literally). The IPhone is full of apps (applications) that are specifically chosen by you and fit your interests. The IPhone is not the only thing that contains apps, but there is also the IPad, Kindle, Nook and even more.

All of this talk about the apps that seem to consume our universe sends me back to my previous question. Is the "traditional" form of internet dying? Does anyone even actually get on a computer anymore and get on the internet? Does anyone Google? Honestly, I cannot even believe that this question is being raised. I use the internet on a daily basis. My office has a computer just as yours does. I still use Google when I need to look up information pertaining to a certain subject. I love my IPhone, do not get me wrong, but I couldn't live off of that. It is not practical, for me at least. Am I writing this blog using an app, through my IPhone or an IPad? No, I am typing on a traditional computer. It is the most logical thing in the world for me to get on my computer and type out my thoughts (or in this case my homework assignment) :).

         As you think about how the use of apps has transformed the internet, let us think about how they both have transformed television viewing. Do you still use a television? I know I do. I cannot imagine not having a television in my home. I consider myself not exactly with the times, as I know it is popular for people my age (I am 24...25 on Saturday!) to use Hulu and Netflix and things of this nature. To say I'm an old soul would hit the nail right on the head. I prefer listening to my music on the record player that I got for Christmas. I love going home and curling up on my couch and watching my favorite shows on television. I do have a DVR, which is somewhat of a new thing, just so I can record my soap that airs while I'm at work. I'm thankful for that little bit of technology! The internet has taken something away from the traditional form of television, but I do not think it will ever completely take the entire audience. There will always be the little kid that wants to sit cross-legged on the floor watching cartoons on Nick Jr. or the middle-aged man who can't miss a rerun of Bonanza on TV Land. Television, without Hulu and Netflix, is something that will always be there. There is no need for internet to enjoy the simple pleasures in life.

The new technology wave, even for me, is something I almost feel that I need to catch up to. I enjoy the traditional aspect of things and some of the new technology I just do not think I need to have. I have a laptop that I use for school and play purposes. Just a couple of years ago if you didn't have a laptop you were not "with it." Now, if you don't have an IPad you are most definitely NOT. Well...I do not have an IPad. I do not feel the need for one. I have an IPhone, which is, more or less, the portable version of my laptop and then I have my laptop. That is all the technology I feel I need for myself.

So, with new technology taking away from some part of another technology is it possible for something to completely wipe out another product? There is a chance, but I do not think the television, the computer, nor will the traditional internet ever die. These are staples in our culture and I just cannot see them going anywhere. Sure, there will be improvements down the line, but I cannot see how they can make a television any slimmer than it already is. For example, how many things have improved in the kitchen area over time? There have been inventions of toasters, toaster ovens, blenders, mini-choppers, etc... With all of these inventions there has not been one thing that has taken the stove out of our kitchens. Can you actually imagine your life without a stove? The answer is simply, no. The same thing goes for the television and the computer. Can you actually imagine your life, as it is, without one of these things? Good, me neither.  The evolution of technology will continue to change and we are powerless to stop it.  All we can do is sit back and wait for the new invention of our time to hit us.  With all of the new technology that will be invented, there are some items that will never go away.  The computer, internet and the television are three staples and they are here to stay in our world no matter where technology goes.

 

Oh...How Time's Have Changed

    
My name is Maggie and I will be blogging about different areas of communication including the the emerging media.  I am currently in graduate school at Troy University obtaining my Masters degree in Strategic Communication.  Yes, this blog is for one of my courses, but I do hope that my thoughts will enlighten you and make you think of things that perhaps had not crossed your mind before.  I will be updating my blog once a week in hopes that you will enjoy my thoughts on whatever I am feeling the need to talk about at the time.  In case you lose track of where my blog is it can be located at http://maggiesoutlook.blogspot.com. 

In a world of gadgets and gizmos it is easy to forget how the "media" all began. Johann Guttenberg invented the printing press in 1448 and this invention changed the world forever. First, it changed the way books were distributed and then it went on to include newspapers, which for some time were the only way for the public to receive their news. The newspaper is one of the most well-known distributions of news to the culture, but living in today's society you probably would not know that. It seems that the newspaper has become a bit of a dinosaur in today's world. The world has changed, even within the last 15 years, as to how we get our news delivered to us. Honestly, who does read a newspaper anymore? I know that I do not read one, well not on a daily basis. Being from a small town, where there were no television stations, the local newspaper was the way to learn about upcoming events in the community or what had happened over the past week. It was not a paper that I purchased for myself, but a paper that I would read after my mama was done. I do wish that the newspaper was not dying a slow and painful death, but with all of the new inventions and the turn that technology has taken that seems to be the case. The generation that grew up reading newspapers has gotten older and is slowly passing away. Once that generation is gone I have to wonder, will there be anyone who will still read the paper? I am sure there are some younger people my age that do read the paper, but those people are few and far between. Most people today retrieve their news from the television and/or more often than not a computer.

The invention of the television changed the way the world received news. People could see stories as they unfolded. It was a whole new ballgame because with a newspaper the public would be informed of news that had happened days before, but the television kept the public in the loop at all times. Not only do we have the four main networks, but there is cable television. There are television stations that dedicate 24 hours to delivering breaking news, so no matter what time of day it is you flip on the channel and be up-to-date in a matter of minutes. Honestly, how can a newspaper top that?

It is almost hard to believe that we can now get our news quicker than just turning on the television, but that is most definitely the case. How you ask? The answer comes in one short term: Smartphone. The Smartphone has revolutionized the way that the world works, how we communicate with each other and how we receive our news. The Smartphone has given us the ability to receive breaking news, Facebook status updates and the latest score in the basketball game. It is unbelievable how much technology has changed in the past few years. Now not only do we have the Smartphone, but we also have the tablet devices, the most common one being the iPad. The iPad is more or less a laptop, but has a tremendous battery life and it is super lightweight and runs off of 3G so you can take it with you anywhere. Many people treat the iPad like a television because you are able to watch all of you favorite television shows on the go. I can hear some of you asking, will this make to the television obsolete? I am going to answer NO to that question. The television is a central entertainment area for a family and although an iPad is convenient, you are not able to catch the television shows as they air on television. You must wait until they are put up on the show's website.

I sit here discussing the evolution of technology and media in our world and how things seem to change so fast. Most likely, there is some new invention being tested to bring us, the people, a way to gain our information faster than before. I would like to ask, is it even necessary to receive our information as fast as we do now? Do we know too much? Sometimes, I think we do. Any time something happens, every single person in the world will know about it; from a shooting to a sink hole it is reported in the media. A cruise ship breaks down in the gulf, it is reported on. How many cruise ships leave ports from all over the world? We never hear anything bad happening, but then one breaks down and every person is making a big deal out of it. I had a friend of mine saying he didn't want to go on a cruise because of it and that just doesn't make any sense to me. The media makes such big deals out of things that, honestly, should not receive as much attention as they do. Do we really think that receiving our information faster is the best route to go? In my humble opinion I think we need to slow down.  We, in the last couple of years, have gotten so used to receiving our information at such a speed that it cripples us when we do not have it.  You can carry a phone with you and get your e-mail right when it is sent to you.  I watch my boss every day gets hundreds of phone calls and when she cannot answer one of the phone calls they continue to pester her until they get her attention.  It is of the upmost annoyance to her that at any point of the day she can be reached.  There is not one moment of her day when she is not bothered by someone.  With this being said how can we think that having our information come to us any faster than it does would be such a good idea?  Sometimes, going at a slower pace is a good thing and the same can be said with technology.  As with good things there will always bad.