Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken.
— Oscar Wilde.
This is the first post on my new blog. I’m just getting this new blog going, so stay tuned for more. Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates.
As we have all witnessed the human demise due to the horrific outbreak of the Corona Virus, every time I hear a name or see a picture of one of the victims online, I can’t help but wonder if the media is in violation of ones privacy. Does the media have a right to share something so personal about someone’s death with the world? The issue of privacy in mass communication has traditionally been concerned with individuals’ rights to protect their privacy from invasive, intrusive media. For example, should newspapers publish the names of rape victims and juvenile offenders? When does a person become a public figure and forfeit some degree of privacy?
I guess this opens up the opportunity to employ Public Relation Reps. One of their major responsibilities is to anticipate, analyze, and interpret public opinions and issues that could have an impact on their employer. Now realistically, I have chosen the subject of the Corona Virus, which in most cases receives an out pour of empathy except for in the case of Idris Alba who was criticized for being a confirmed case while his wife had not been confirmed, but yet, he had not practiced social distancing that would require isolating himself from her.
The physicians early on suggested social distancing to prevent the continuous spread of this vicious monster. After cities began to slowly shut down and quarantining started to become the new norm, several advertisers began to offer services that catered to social distancing. Vehicle servicing at local shops in an attempt to make themselves essential started offering employee pick up/drop off for maintenance. Sit down restaurants immediately found ways to entice customers with delivery and curbside pick up. Businesses are attempting to take advantage of every opportunity to stay in business during this hardship. Last but not lease, I heard a Ford commercial offering to defer payments for up to 6 months due to the pandemic. The vulnerability of the public allows for companies to take advantage and turns into a significant triumph for some and a tremendous loss for others.
At this time, I think it is fair to say that every news reporter has a guaranteed story to report on due to COVID-19. Its true that most Americans are glued to any and every possible update as it becomes available. But the question is how long will this subject peak our interest? Because mass communications theories are created in response to current conditions, they are also subject to change or fall out of favor as the conditions change. This reinforcement theory that is being displayed can also be expected to change and no longer be worldwide news, then soon after it will no longer be local news as the deaths subside and we are no longer in fear or in imminent danger.
As of last year, Social Media was incorporated into my everyday life 5 days a week for 8 to 10 hours a day. I am a social media specialists for one of the largest electric suppliers in the world. Prior to this position social media was a casual hobby for me that I joined in 2008, as a way to stay in the loop. Some of my peers pressured me into thinking I was missing out by not being a part of Facebook. I found this casual usage to be empowering because it allowed me to silently be in competition with those that I had once crossed paths with in my adolescent years onto high school and onto college. My personal life was flourishing with the birth of my children and the start of my career, while my friends journeys were quite opposite. I would describe myself as more of the prowler vs the sharer, just not really fully engaged in exploiting any of my own accomplishments or activities.
Moving into late 2018 was when I gained full exposure to all Social Media to meet the needs of our customers through another outlet as a manner of convenience. I was overwhelmed with how others chose to use Social Media as a means of communication. I believe in most cases it has become a preferred method. In protecting the “Brand” of companies most of the complaints handled through social media are resolved a lot quicker and favorable to the customer. One that I would consider the ultimate offer of generosity that was publicly posted to Facebook and shared over a thousand times, was last summer when Southwest Airlines had a customer forget her wedding dress and wanted to know if it could be flown on a different flight. Southwest jumped right in and responded with “let’s do it”. This gesture allowed Southwest to be the heroes for the bride to be. In conclusion I would say it made me want to fly Southwest just based on that customer’s experience. Now that I work in Social Media regularly for business, I have now expanded my personal use to provide compliments as well as feedback to companies that I choose to do business with. I have also started using it for reviews prior to making purchases. I am excited for Social Media’s growth and happy to be a part of this history in the making.
Technology has brought us a long way and has contributed copiously to our ability to communicate from the beginning with the start of the newspaper in the 1800s following radio in the 1920s and moving right along to the the development of Film and Television in the 1950s . I personally believe the motivation to grow the media industry was strongly forthcoming because it gave politicians the opportunity to become personal with the public from a visual standpoint, later to develop a listener-ship with radio, back to a visual standpoint in the privacy of your own home. Even more than radio, television allows politicians to reach out and connect with citizens and voters in deeper ways. Before television, few voters were able to see a president or candidate speak or answer questions in an interview. Now everyone can see the sincerity of one by decoding body language and tone. Presidents are now able to directly convey their anger, sorrow, or optimism during addresses.
Piecing this all together often times makes me wonder how controversial things would be in the 21st century without mass media. Would survival even be an option for Xennials and millennials? My understanding of life without mass media is simply a world without technology equals a world without education and simply an outside life without a clue. We represent a generation of constant change and being in the “know” is a definite must! This evolution started from cave paintings on the walls to stories being told around campfires, traveling storytellers, public announcements, carved declarations of victories and the list goes on to conclude that although media has changed format several times it has been around almost as long as mankind has. As more inventions soared, additional knowledge was gained and passed on to the next generation.
Many of us are dependent on Mass-media and that brings us to the issue of the measure of influence it has and should there be limitations on what is said and what is seen? Personally for me that is the excitement of it all. I know that if I read an article from TMZ, it may or may not be 100% true. If I am watching an unauthorized documentary, some things may not be true either. I think the key to staying on top and remaining neutral before choosing sides or making a decision, is by simply educating yourself with the utilization of multiple sources. Information is worldwide and no matter what you as an individual are in control of your thoughts and choices.
Originally, I wanted to discuss how physical books would soon be a thing of the past, and that newspapers will no longer be in physical demand, and that magazines in a physical form are beginning to fade, until my classmates begged to differ. In 2020, I am happy to report that there is an open market for preference. A printed copy of a book is still in high demand. According to http://www.statista.com 695 milliion books were sold in the US in 2019. Newspapers in the US sold over 26 million copies daily in 2019, not much of decline at all. Although, after conducting additional research there is still an ongoing debate on whether or not there has been a decline in the sell of newspapers and this is mainly due to the introduction of optional delivery of news based on preference, such as thru the internet and/or via the television.(journalism.com) Last but not least, magazines appear to be a force to be reckon with. With whopping sales of over 373 million sold in 2018, (www.foliomag.com)I believe it is safe to say that they have attracted a loyal audience.
Books, Newspapers and Magazines are all ways to engage in information. However, there are some slight differences. Books have a variety of entertainment and interest to read both fiction and nonfiction and typically does not have a lot of pictures, whereas the newspaper has local and worldwide news that is serious and more interesting to read which may also include advertisements and the magazine has longer articles on a variety of subjects such as fashion, sports, health an some things that aren’t so serious.
Chapters 3, 4, & 5 covered the importance of media and how the impact of evolution has hindered some growth forcing the need for modifications. Many media outlets have opted to use advertisement and electronic versions to balance costs and to enhance there ability to become a multi news outlet and to continue to meet the needs of all generations. Of course these modifications do not come without operation costs, therefore, the rate hike has been passed down to the consumer. Nevertheless, the numbers that were provided above show that consumers are going to pay the additional up charge for literature and a reliable news source which in turn promises an appetite of consumers for the ongoing demand for books, newspapers and magazines.
As I began blogging today, I wondered where my interest lied and how I can incorporate that into my assignment. Intro to mass communication is so intriguing to me especially as a Social Media Specialist for the power company. Today I decided to tell my true age regarding the evolution of mass media.
I think I can speak on behalf of the world about today’s loss of a phenomenal athlete. Kobe Bryant and his oldest daughter passed away in a helicopter crash. Twelve years ago, this would have been breaking news and an interruption in our TV broadcast following the newspaper as a follow-up the next day. Today it was broadcasted and shared within minutes throughout the world. History is literally being made and a story is being told. Between Twitter and Facebook we went from being identified as content consumers to becoming content producers as we shared and commented on the tweets and posts. This dialogue is continuous and allows for the opportunity for immediate feedback for analytics record purposing as well as a multitude of simultaneous two-way conversations.
Who was Kobe Bryant to the world and what will he be most remembered for? I estimate that this will supersede any mass media coverage for the next week or so and can be expected to resurface periodically as more details become available. Fans will definitely be refreshing their feeds awaiting updates on this horrific story. Sending prayers for his family and all of his fans.
This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.
You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.
Why do this?
The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.
To help you get started, here are a few questions:
You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.
Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.
When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.
Tabreille's Thoughts and Views