Post presentation reflection

After giving the presentation and hearing from the others of all of the advances that technology has allowed emerge, it is evident that the next generation has a lot to look forward to. Technology is greatly affecting communication in general. The way people meet, the way they spread an idea, or the way they are able to "see" the world are all going to be directly affected by the technology available to them. In the record industry, I believe we will see many major record labels trying to keep up with technology but amplifying other qualities they have, now that they are not the only ones able to produce good quality music. They will continue to have the most networking capabilities and use the independant label world as a competition to seek out who can make it on their own. This allows them to see who is "sellable" and makes a major record labels job that much easier if the artist is already globally know. Technology has helped in massive ways to the spread of music and the variety now being exposed.

Amy Karr-Web 3.0: The Systematic Web

Today I will be discussing the emerging technology of Web 3.0, or the Semantic Web and will address the question of the week, which asks, “How are emerging technologies impacting society?” The Issue today is that we have made it easier for the average Internet user to read content on the web, but now we face the issue of implementing new technology that allows for the computer to understand human content through semantics. The Semantic Web is a developing technology that takes data and links it together to form a network that will better connect users to the information they actually desire. There are many resources available on-line but no way to connect and process it in a way that the computer can understand. My main argument is that the World Wide Web gives us access to information, but this information is not understood by the computer and cannot effectively provide what we ask the computer if it does not know what we mean. The information that we have access to via the Internet is limited to documents on the Web, rather than data. The Semantic Web will provide the opportunity to connect data for the advancement of research. Once the technology is implemented fully onto the World Wide Web, it will save the time and effort put forth in research by bridging related data together and eliminating the never-ending Google search. Institutions that use semantic technology, such as the medical field, in the same way save time and energy that would normally be devoted to an endless amount of time searching medical records and historical data. The development of The Semantic Web is taking measures to revamp how research is done, and this impacts not only the efficiency of gathering information for Internet users, but for the advancement of research particularly in the medical field.

A helpful video of the development of the world wide web: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=off08As3siM

The Future of Record Labels

Today I will be presenting on the future of record labels. Record Labels are responsible for a large portion of the global music sales but are beginning to struggle with growth and profitability in an era of advancing technology. Music fans are not putting money directly into corporate pockets like they used to. Advancements in technology like iTunes, Independent labels, and several mediums of digital downloads ( legal and nonlegal ) have brought a decline in the Record industry but a massive rise in the music industry. Record labels are now looking into innovative ways to keep up with technology to maintain necessity and relevance.

My argument is that the rise of advanced and accessible technology has brought an incline in the music industry and a decline in the record label industry. The two are different entities that work under the same umbrella category of entertainment, so are often misunderstood or just used interchangeably. In my presentation, I clearly define and separate the two as different jobs within the industry. I also expand on the increase in independent labels. Independent labels are privately owned and operated smaller labels that take advantage of the convergence of telecomm, media, and computer technologies made readily available to us. Once musicians and other artists realized the capabilities and accessibility's they have to all of the same technologies as a major record label, independent labels and music production began to flourish, causing the demise of the major record labels.

My presentation goes into detail how the digital music evolution has played a significant role is my main argument and I conclude with how record labels must play in the game of the indie labels in order to maintain relevance and necessity. They will need to use tactics like game shows, and push the fact that they do still have the resources to reach major connections internationally with a little more accreditation.

Derek Fadner - Cloud Computing and its Impact on Society

Today, I will be presenting the class with a case study answering the research question for this week: “how are emerging technologies impacting society?” The case study topic I will be investigating is cloud computing. Cloud computing has existed in various capacities for over a decade, but today we are seeing rapid growth and improvement throughout this area of technology. Cloud computing by definition is data and software applications no longer existing on a person’s personal computer, but on web-based servers managed by third-party providers. Users range from individual citizens to both large and small businesses. Cloud computing provides a convenient way to do a number of tasks such as email, photo sharing, and data storage. Everyday examples of cloud based systems include Hotmail, Gmail, Google Docs, iCloud, and pee-to-peer file sharing applications such as Napster and Limewire. Because information is stored on virtual web servers, there are issues concerning the privacy of cloud users. In addition, as is the case with a majority of new technologies, there are ongoing legal issues that have yet to be resolved.

The main argument I will make in regards to this week’s question is that cloud computing is having a significant impact on our society and the way businesses and individuals use software and store data. These impacts could lead to a decreased reliance on an individual’s own hard drive. There is also the potential for a shift towards accessing software applications solely via the
internet instead of downloading them onto our devices. Because cloud servers are managed by third-parties, businesses will continue to reap cost saving benefits associated with no longer maintaining hardware, reduction in software purchases, and decreased reliance on IT support. These cost saving measures, coupled with the convenience that cloud systems provide, will cause users to overlook concerns they may have regarding privacy and continue to embrace cloud
based systems.

Click
here to see further what cloud computing can do for businesses. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae_DKNwK_ms

luke cavanagh, megan villa, sisi berry, lindsey keeney, EZ, Christian Haile

Group 4 FCC- Enhanced 9-11

Death by Convergence Podcast

Christine Spencer
Adrian O'Hanlon
Michael LaBelle
Kelly Rathbun

The Death of Old Media Through Convergence

The Great Firewall of China Video Podcast

Emily Ferriss
Abigail Elkins
Caroline Glithero
Vince Pennick
Sarah Curylo

Government Censorship vs. Self Regulation:
The Great Firewall of China

We Love Podcasts: New vs. Old Media

Joey Edwards, Samantha Renteria, Jen Albee, Jeremy Payne, Mike Carreon

Video Podcast: Narrowcasting

Lane Jurden, Heather Seidenschmidt, Callie Boenigk, Lauren Dauer, and Rachel Siekmann

Abigail Elkins- Post presentation reflection

At the conclusion of my presentation I posed the question, " In your opinion, do the social benefits of geolocation apps outweigh the privacy risks?" Overall, the class seemed to agree that because these apps are not popular enough within social networking many users do not feel the need to take part in geolocation services by posting their locations online. Several people commented that the apps are generally creepy and others said that they don't see the point behind them. The consensus was that it's too risky to post your location online in real time with all the possible privacy threats when the only thing to gain is a discount or two.

The question of the week was, "What social and economic forces shape communication infrastructure?" Researching for this presentation has allowed me to see the way geolocation is changing the face of social networking. These services are incorporating physical and online social experiences by allowing users to interact with others in the real and digital worlds simultaneously. Services like google maps have already overlaid virtual maps on the places we live and work. However, I believe that geolocation apps will further cement this change in the way we visualize the world around us by linking it to our social experience.

Siri and its Future

Today I will be talking about Siri, a voice controlled personal assistant for Apple's iOS. The application uses natural processing to answer questions, make recommendations, and perform actions by delegating requests to an expanding set of web services. With this product, I will be addressing the question of the week which is, "What social and economic forces shape communication infrastructure?" My answer to this question is accessibility and speed. The products that win out in the technological realm are the ones that have many features that prove its accessibility to information and how fast it can accomplish said tasks. The smart phone is a revolution of that type of access, with its 3G network and touch screen capabilities. Siri brings a whole new level of convenience to the "third screen" experience, with its voice processing capabilities. This level of hands-free accessibility could revolutionize the way we use technology. Google will seek to combat this competition by releasing versions of its own Google voice application, but Siri seems to be the most impressive one on the market to date. Google feels threatened by the amount of inquiries that will now be funneled through the Siri machine rather than their own. Ultimately, this ad-free, hands-free, companion-like personal assistant that Apple has released in its current iPhone 4S will shape the social infrastructure of communication.

Jordan Allison- Freedom Fone

Today, I will be informing the class on the Freedom Fone and how this telephony software answers the question of the week, which states, "What social and economic forces shape communication infrastructure?"

I will start off my presentation with a couple of key terms and then move on to tell you what Freedom Fone actually is. Freedom Fone is an open source telephony program that allows a free and easy way for members of a community to find out important information, transcending literacy barriers and without the need of the internet.

Next, I will inform the class on the history of Freedom Fone and how it was started by the Kubatana Trust, which is an online community of activists in Zimbabwe. Freedom Fone originally started in response to Zimbabwe's government controlled media. The members of Kubatana Trust wanted to give citizens a voice in society without the need for money, literacy, or the internet, which are all common problems in that area.

I will then discuss how Freedom Fone works through showing a video and explaining the use of audio voice menus, voice messages, SMS polls, and the call back option. I will also discuss the different uses of Freedom Fone. These uses include any type of situation in which a community is in need of information, such as communities effected by natural disaster or disease. Then, I will explain how Freedom Fone is form of New Media through being interactive, audience generated, digital, and narrowcasted.

After explaining Freedom Fone, I will present my discussion questions and then conclude my presentation by explaining how Freedom Fone answers the question of the week. I will reiterate to the class what types of social and economic forces are addressed with the new technology of Freedom Fone and how these forces have shaped this specific type of communication.

Amanda Schryver--Skype

Today, I will be responding to the question of the week: "What social & economic forces shape the communication infrastructure," and the case study I will be presenting is over Skype. Skype has become an integral part of the telecommunication industry. It is a highly innovative and well developed technology that is always producing quality products that continue to be an influential aspect of our culture. Because of its free or very inexpensive way to communicate, especially with friends and family overseas, Skype has become a dominant name and has set the standard in Voice over Internet Protocol. In spite of switching from different owners, Skype has continued to keep its customers in mind within all of its technological advances.

My main argument is that with technology advancing at such a fast rate, popular media technologies have had to continue to adapt, while remaining novel, and of course, keeping up with what the consumer wants and expects from their technologies. Skype has done a great job of always thinking of what is best for the customer and has thus, been very successful in the telecommunications industry. Also, with the new merger with Microsoft, Skype is in a great position in the marketplace to collaborate with Microsoft to produce even more amazing products that will continue to be influential in our media driven society.

Abigail Elkins- Geolocation Apps and Privacy

Geolocation or location-based apps like Foursquare, Gowalla and Facebook places are popping up in smartphone technology and websites across the technology world. These apps have added the new dimension of location to social networking and allow users to connect with friends when they go places, not just when they sit at home and use their computer. If you download the app can "check-in" when you visit a restaurant, bookstore or other participating location and earn points that could get you discounts or special deals. My main argument is that geolocation apps' incorporation of location allows social networking to blend more seamlessly into our everyday lives, however, there are also many social risks associated with posting your location in real time for all to see. This information could get into the hands of criminals, sexual offenders, or stalkers who could have more nefarious intentions than your "friends." In the case with many of these applications, when you allow them to "use your current location," you are also giving them permission to sell information about the places you visit to third party advertisers. Several bills are being processed in Congress currently that would create stricter privacy policies surrounding location data. I will discuss all of these subjects in more detail on Thursday! Thanks and Gig 'Em!

P.S. If you have some time, check out pleaserobme.com to see if you are posting location information that could be putting you at risk for crime.

Mike Wallace- Facebook Post Report

I was a little nervous but overall I felt like I did okay. I did the best I could to make my point. Overall I thought the class discussions were good. There were lots of people making good points and lots of people arguing and debating over my presentation which I thought was very good thing. One student got the point I was trying to make which was in dangerous countries like Syria I think that alot of government control is necessary where as here in the United States not as much control is necessary.
As far as who controls the internet I think it is a toss up. The government does control the internet but, so do the people. The government is always exerting some sort of control but in alot of countries people have the right to explore or watch whatever they want. In other countries such as Syria its a tug of war between the people and the government that will never end. So overall the control of the internet is neutral between the people and the government.

Mike Wallace- Facebook

Hi,

My name is Mike Wallace and I will be doing a case study to answer the question: Who controls the Internet? I will be doing this particular study on Facebook.




The main argument I will be trying to make is that while Facebook is a popular social networking site that is meant to help you make connections with friends there are some illegal things that it is used for such as forming illegal online protest groups and political riots.






The presentation will focus on what governments around the world are trying to do to prevent these things from taking place. The main example I will be using and talking about in the presentation is the Syrian government and some of the tactics and methods they are using to prevent the protests and riots from forming online.




For this presentation there are two questions I want the audience to think about. One is do you think the government is doing enough to prevent illegal activities on websights? Two is do you think alot of government control over websights is a good or bad thing?




To hear more tune in tomorrow for the presentation!
































•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJqGbA2tLww

Caroline Glithero - ICANN

Howdy!
The theme of the week is: the internet. The question the week is:
Who Controls the Network?
The network is not controlled by any one organization, instead
it is made up of many non-profit organizations and Thursday I will be focusing
on ICANN. ICANN stands for Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers.
ICANN works with 242 countries and territories in supporting the daily
operation of the Internet, as the global coordinator of the Domain Name System,
which is referred to as “DNS”. This system is used more than one trillion times
per day by humans and ICANN’s machines, and yet most of us don’t give it a
second thought. In my presentation I will talk about the establishment of ICANN
and how it was founded in 1998 by Jon Postel and explain how ICANN used to be a
US organization that has now gone international. Also I will define key terms
like; protocols and globalization that are important when understanding ICANN.
I will then cover the structure of ICANN and some of the roles ICANN plays in operational
stability for our internet as well as its extreme importance in maintaining a
global reputation. ICANN really prides themselves for being recognized as such
an immense global organization that is constantly growing. I will also give
some examples of the root system which ICANN is over as well as tell about some
the examples of their many global partners and the importance of their upcoming
meetings in other countries. After that I will explain the way ICANN operates
as a non-profit organization and how it pays for it itself. I will conclude by
posing my discussion questions to the class and answering any questions my
classmates may have. Then I will give a short summary on how ICANN monitors and
control the internet network today.

Lauren Dauer- YouTube

On Thursday, November 10, 2011 I will be answering the question: Who Controls the Network?, with a case study done on YouTube. YouTube is growing at a tremendous rate with over 2 billions views. YouTube is shaping our society and even how the world communicates through online videos. YouTube like other great social media sites, has also been connected to scandals and controversies. Court cases and media acts have also been disputed because of YouTube and what has been place online, which I will be covering in my presentation. Copyright laws have also been a major issue for YouTube and their users. YouTube has made average individuals successful online celebrities. Some popular videos for example, Charlie Bit my Finger, have been viewed over 385 million times. Which in turn I pose the question do the YouTube user, or in general we the society, Control the network? It is an interesting question since we the society are the ones contributing to the library of YouTube’s videos. Stay tune for an intriguing and interesting presentation on YouTube as I answer the question Who Controls the Network?.

Smart TV

Today in class I will be discussing how he introduction of smart television has ensured a place for TV in new media markets. Old media is defined as static/fixed; one – to – many broadcast, anonymous and it has professional gatekeepers. While new media is defined as interactive and mobile, many – to – many interactive, and it has the ability to narrowcast.

We will talk about how Samsung Smart TV is changing the way you watch TV. You can stream movies, TV shows, and even YouTube videos. Plus it gives you recommendations based on what you've watched, and how you've rated movies and shows. Smart TV’s have the capability to scan your recently watched movies or any of your favorites online and narrowcast options that you may like, for example if you watched the movie Jurassic Park then your smart TV would recommend other dinosaur movies that you may enjoy.

Next and the most important part of the smart TV that makes it truly a new media outlet is interactivity. Users are no longer bound to gatekeepers, such as major broadcasters, being able to dictate the media that they see. Interactivity has made gatekeepers obsolete because the public can now choose what content they want to watch. Now in the age of social media and websites such as facebook, twitter or YouTube, traditional consumers of media can now actively produce the media generated on the internet

I will discuss in the conclusion that the Samsung “smart” TV has enabled the convergence of old media (television) and new media (internet) markets. The digital age has threatened the television industry but thanks to smart TV software, Internet integration has become possible and may secure the future of the television industry. Smart TV’s interactivity is the driving force behind consumer participation. Due to old media informing new media markets audiences can now control media content on their television sets.

Roku - Kelly Rathbun

 Today in class on October 27, I will be discussing how old media are influencing new media markets by using the Roku Player as an example for this. First, I will give you a brief history of television in order to help you understand how television has evolved over time, particularly through the development of new media devices. I will also take you through a brief history of Netflix, which was the inspiration for the invention of the Roku Player. Although Roku is not necessarily a form of new media, it is a new media device, and Roku’s strategy is to focus on costumers who already have cable or satellite subscriptions. Secondly, I will show you a video about Roku just to demonstrate how it works. The main use of Roku is to stream Internet content on your television—the old way was to connect multiple cables to your TV from your laptop of computer. Most importantly, I will talk to you about Roku’s impact on television. The component of television that will be most affected will be cable companies, which is what I will spend most of my time talking to you about. The programming, production, and sales of cable companies is very likely to be affected by Roku, which allows for cheaper ways to watch your favorite shows. Not only is it cheaper than cable, but it also offers less commercials, time shifting, and it is asynchronous, meaning that viewers are no longer watching shows at the same time because they have the ability to choose when to watch their favorite shows. All of these aspects of the Roku Player will ultimately affect advertising revenues, which is a very important in order for TV networks and cable companies to make money. After offering three discussion questions to the class, I will end my presentation with a conclusion, highlighting the key points of my presentation.

TiVo-Lindsey Keeney

Thursday, October 27th, in class I will be discussing the history of personal television recording including Betamax, VHS, and DVRs and their respective impacts on television. Then I will be discussing the pioneer company of the DVR, TiVo. I will show a brief video starring the logo of the brand and I will discuss TiVo’s history. I will relate it to this week's question "How do older forms of media inform new media markets?" by discussing TiVo personalizing the television and bringing in new media markets such as YouTube, Netflix, and Pandora Radio in modern times. I will address the issue of the commercials being sped through. The advertisers are now more focused on product placement. Then I will wrap it up with some discussion questions and my conclusion, answering this week’s question of the week.

HBO

Hello,
I will be presenting this Thursday on HBO, otherwise known as Home Box Office Inc. I am going to start my presentation defining some key terms from the chapter that apply to my topic of HBO. These key terms include cable television and pay TV. After I introduce the terms I will be talking about four different aspects of HBO with the first being the history. I will walk you through how it was started as the "Green Channel" and it was unsuccessful at first. I am then going to talk about some of its defining points such as satellite tv. Satellite TV gave it the boost it needed and it became the first national pay tv network. They then reached the masses they needed to for success through Teleprompter. I will also be talking about the court case of Home Box Office vs. FCC.
Next I will talk about HBO now. I will give a few statistics I found and talk about how HBO was not effected by the recession and was able to maintain profit. I am also going to talk about how it benefits its customers and their new app called HBO GO.
And the last part is about HBO in the future. During this part I will talk about the problems HBO faces with other competitors and how they are combating this competition with new technological advances.
Then i will conclude by stating that HBO is constantly adjusting its media forms based on old media forms. My discussion questions have to do with the future of HBO and if the class thinks it will soon be pushed down by its competitors or able to continually keep up with the means and expectations of new media forms.

Mike Carreon - Internet Radio Royalties

Today in class, I will be discussing Internet radio royalty policies and how the current standards have used previous legislation as a template. First I will take you though to the initial legislation regarding sound recording that was arranged because increases in technology demanded a means of protection of phonorecord piracy. With this, it set up an ideology of protection through copyrights. Although composition artists were dealt their royalties it wasn’t until the 1990’s that members of the sound recording side of the industry started to receive theirs. SoundExchange, a Performance Right Organization, was involved in the development and advocacy of the sound recording side of the industry. Coming closer to us in the timeline, we will see the Webcaster Settlement Acts come through due to the intensified royalty systems that the two acts passed in the ‘90’s had set into place. The royalties required had become outrageous, ranging from 80% to over 100% of the revenue a company was generating. Yes! I said it…over 100% of a company’s revenue was asked as of what the acts demanded for royalties. The Webcaster Settlement Acts took place in order to lock down prices over a period of time that were agreeable and fiscally responsible for both parties. Although they are “temporary” and considered “discounted” prices, they are still in the range of 50% to 75% of some companies’ revenues. The Pureplay Agreement definitely contributed to the, so far, success of the Webcaster Settlement Acts. It separates the royalty rates for the different potential webcasters: small, commercial, & subscription based webcasters. Making it maintainable for companies to survive despite the annual increase the Webcaster Agreement Acts call for. Since the Webcaster Agreement Acts were only through 2010, there is current negotiation for royalty rates, so if rates aren’t agreed upon we may see an end to internet radio.

Pandora Radio

Today, October 18, 2011 I will be discussing the different aspects of Pandora radio and how they appeal to the wireless culture. I will be looking at the different devices you can access Pandora from, how they generate income and the music genome project.
The beginning of my presentation will give a brief overview of the characteristics of terrestrial radio and Pandora internet radio. It will give the audience an idea of how the two radio forms are different and how Pandora has evolved from terrestrial radio.
Next I will discuss what Pandora is and how they got their name. This will give the audience a general break down of the structure of the company and the purpose the wish to fulfill. I will also look at the different mediums you can access Pandora on and how they appeal to the digital age. Smart Phone apps are one of the most common digital mediums that Pandora uses to reach their target listeners.
I will also discuss how Pandora generates revenue. Advertising is the predominant revenue sources for Pandora. The Advertisers take the information listeners give to Pandora to create ads that appeal to their information. There are also subscriptions available for purchase that allows Pandora to regulate go gains full access to their site. I will also address the fact that Pandora isn’t profitable because of royalty fees.
Lastly I will Define the Music Genome Project and how they are the key factor that makes Pandora so unique. This project has created a narrowcast by developing playlist to adhere to the listeners particular genre or artist interest.
To conclude I will state how Pandora is shaping the way for future radio and how the ability to personalize radio stations to the listeners musical interest will allow them to grow.
The discussion questions will relate the conformity of terrestrial radio and why listeners are attracted to internet radio.

Satellite Radio- Sirius XM merger

Today in class, October 20, I will be discussing the law and policy issues related to the Sirius and XM satellite radio merger of 2008. The question of the week is about older media serving as a template for a wireless culture. Satellite radio does this because it brings the older form of media, radio, into the wireless/digital culture by providing a way for listener’s to pick the stations of music they most enjoy. Radio has transformed greatly since its first existence in 1896 with Marconi’s wireless telegraph and Morse code. It then became popular as a form of entertainment and extended further into the creation of AM and FM stations. Like we discussed in class, radio turned into a money- making industry where competition is fierce. Then in the early 2000’s, satellite radio made its introduction into the radio industry. Sirius and XM were two satellite radio providers, but neither was doing particularly well. In 2007, they decided to begin the process to merge into one hopefully successful company. The merger brought issues of monopolies and lack of competition to the satellite radio industry. There were people on both sides, for and against the merger. Ultimately the merger was approved by the Department of Justice and later the FCC. It was proven that the merger would not result in a monopoly, because of the popularity of iTunes and Internet radio, there would still be competition in the market. The merger brought about profits for the now named Sirius XM Radio. The company did have to pay fees on violations and the merger had stipulations. Since the merger, the company has proved successful, much to the fact that they made headway into the automotive industry by having their service already installed in most vehicles.

News of the World

Today in class, October 13, I will be discussing the first amendment and ethical journalism. Those two important factors in journalism was disregarded by News of the World in the summer of 2o11. I will discuss the importance of the first amendment and ethics, and how the two elements were disregarded by News of the World.

The beginning of my presentation will define the first amendment. I want the audience to understand that the first amendment in journalism is basically a way we as the people are allowed to obtain different sources of news, through different outlets. The first amendment allows journalist to express their own opinions without government intervention. This makes it more accessible to create journalism, which holds thousands of opinions, to be shared and discussed amongst each other.

The second thing I will be defining is ethical journalism. Ethical journalism is one which ethical standards and codes are formed by the credibility for media organizations that can affect their success at all levels. Ethical journalism is the acknowledgment of creating stories by hard work and honesty which most journalist choose to follow. The main focus of ethical journalism I will be acknowledging in my presentation is not breaking the law to create a story the other competitors in the newspaper industry have not come up with.

I will then be discussing the case of News of the World. News of the World hacked into innocent civilians phones all throughout England. They damaged a missing persons case by hacking into the girl's phone who had been missing and deleting voicemails that could have helped the police solve the missing persons case. The unethical journalist was accused of hacking into other unlawful phones ranging from people of the government, celebrities, royalty, and innocent bystanders. The owner of the newspaper is a billionaire mogul Rupert Murdoch. He owns many news corporations in the UK and also in the United States. His involvement stemmed from not having control over the situation at hand, and willingly knowing what was going on.

I will show a clip of the crime accused by News of the World by the Washington post journalist. This clip will help me demonstrate the relevance this case holds in the newspaper industry. I will conclude with discussion questions which reflect the ways News of the World dishonored ethical journalism, and how it affects journalism in today's society. The presentation will be interesting to participate in because of how the violation of privacy was breached, and how it could easily be done in the media industry today.

In class on October 13, I will be discussing Twitter's affect on sport journalism and the varies controversies stemming from its incorporation to news. I will discuss Twitter's beginnings and its rise as a "news source."

The beginning of my presentation gives a brief overview of The First Amendment, definitions it placed and the history of newspapers. It is important to understand the structure of free speech and the formation of media in America before delving into issues with new media and Twitter.

Next I will discuss the history of Twitter and its development to the social media power that it is today. A case study broke down Twitter's humble beginnings and predicted it to surpass Facebook and Myspace in the near future. This is important to the topic as social media grows and eventually encompasses other industries, the sports news industry will undoubtedly shift toward utilizing the tool.

I will then give reasons why sports journalists are transitioning toward Twitter journalism, mainly because sports stars use the networking site as a personal branding tool. Shaq, Stewart Cink and Serena Williams all have a large amount of followers on their Twitter accounts. News outlets follow athletes and assume their tweets are factual without getting another source, creating a journalistic conundrum.

I will then describe Twitter journalism and show a youtube clip to better describe this new topic. This will show the other side of the argument as the clip gives a positive view of Twitter journalism.

Immediately following will be an example controversial issues involved with Twitter, regarding fake accounts. St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa sued Twitter in 2009 because an imposter in San Francisco used his name to post demeaning comments of former and current players.

Discussion questions regarding Twitter's legitamacy as a news source will conclude the presentation.

See you there

Twitter: A New Form of News

In class tomorrow, on October 13, I will be discussing Twitter, and how it has affected the news industry in the last five years. I will look at three different uses of Twitter, and how each of those affects society and the news industry.

I will start out by explaining what Twitter actually is, and then work into the different ways that people use it. The first use of Twitter is for social networking, which is the most prevalent use in society. People use it to keep connected with others, especially influential figures in society, such as athletes, actors, and politicians. Then I look at how Twitter has affected the political realm in America. It has become a very popularly used tool for the politicians in our society, who can spread their ideas and beliefs through Twitter. I show how congress now uses it during speeches and meetings, and how even the president has a Twitter to post information. The third use for Twitter that I believe is important is the use of Twitter in journalism. This has become extremely popular recently, because it allows the journalist to deliver information to the follower much faster, giving the reader a feeling of interaction and involvement with the story (which is often happening in other parts of the world). I argue that Twitter has become important in the news industry because it saves production costs, and can be narrowcasted to a more specific audience, one that wants to hear the news being presented. Humans enjoy getting a more personal experience, and by posting personalized content on Twitter, journalists are satisfying those needs of the consumer (follower).

I believe that Twitter will change the way news is delivered for the rest of the future, just as radio and television did, many years ago. It allows for a more interactive and personal style of news delivery, which is what I believe society wants.

Disney and Globalization

In class on the 29th of September, a clear image of globalizations effects on The Walt Disney Company was shown and successfully discussed. The purpose of the study was to provide the class with an example of how globalization has shaped media or industry. Through Disney's use of content and mediums, the class was able to see how the company has responded to a continuously globalizing industry.

The class discussion on whether Disney was aiming towards global imperialism or just trying to appeal to a more extensive audience was interesting. Most of the students felt that Disney was just trying to appeal to a broader audience while keeping intone with American ideologies.

I was surprised more did not have something to say about the government using Disney as a source of propaganda. Here is a link I found very interesting. The scholarly article voices the opinions of a few critics of Disney, and it’s use of propaganda:

http://web.ebscohost.com.lib-ezproxy.tamu.edu:2048/ehost/detail?sid=ad63b7b3-2274-46c4-a89e-75a176792b7e%40sessionmgr14&vid=1&hid=9&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=37019251

I hope I successfully showed two key ways in which globalization has shaped Disney. Also, how the medium can be just as important as the content in these cases. As McLuhan famously said, “The medium is the message.”

As for the question of the week: “How does globalization shape media products and industry?” I believe there are a variety of ways in which this is obvious. Globalization forces companies to be more diverse in their media products and marketing techniques. They also need to be accessible to a larger audience. Having a diverse selection of media outlets is one way in which to do so. For example, radio station, print publications, TV shows, etc. Using new and old media because not everyone has access to the new.

Lastly, I would like to thank the class for their input in the class discussion and their attention during my presentation.

ESPN = Globalization

(Michael LaBelle)

Thursday September 29^th

My case study presentation will be covering the topic: How does globalization shape media products and industry? I will be focusing on how ESPN has made the transition from a distinguished domestic corporation and expanded their sports coverage worldwide. The innovation and growth of technology in addition to media outlets has allowed ESPN the opportunities to continuously move forward with their company.

Currently ESPN is the largest sports broadcasting/programming company in the United States. They cover nearly every event nationwide from collegiate basketball to professional hockey. They have now embedded themselves in countless countries in order to follow sporting events worldwide and adjust cultural proximity to make it easier for locals to engage. The newest development ESPN has added to its arsenal is domestic channels in other countries. They signed a deal with the United Kingdom in 2009 that allowed a partnership involving the Barclays Premier League. This enabled them access to each match and the ability to produce news/highlights within the UK. The Barclays Premier League in Europe is the equivalent to football on Sundays in America. ESPN has utilized the surge of “social media” to their advantage giving the consumers instant updates via Twitter, Facebook, ESPN.com, and text alerts. The great appeal of sports communication is that though language is considerably important it’s not a total barrier when it comes to highlights. The majority of fans tune in for exciting plays. In each match the consumer can see the passion and the body language from the players which is almost a language all its own. ESPN has accepted this fact and have generated what seems like an overnight success with the amount of growth already accomplished internationally. However ESPN must elevate much more while following government regulations in each country if they wish to reach their self-announced claim of ESPN: The Worldwide Leader in Sports.

Disney and Globalization

Later this morning, September 29th, I plan on exploring the question: "How does globalization shape media products and industry?" In order to do this, I am going to analyze The Walt Disney Company and some of the ways in which they responded to globalization, and even contribute. Two key aspects I will discuss are the content and medium Disney uses, and has used throughout the companies history.

Throughout my presentation I would like the class to be reflecting on their view of Disney: if it sounds more like cultural imperialism or if it is just a company trying to appeal to a broader foreign market.

Important dates throughout our nation’s history coincide with many productions and medium changes of Disney. The company has always been known to be strongly right winged, but just how much influence did/does the government have on what the company produced?

As we have studied in class, media has been ever changing. Our society went from messengers on horseback, to print, to telegraph, and now Internet. Disney knew the importance of making the most out of every media medium possible. For example, when the first Disney TV show broadcasted, that was not enough. The company wanted it’s own network, which now they have more then one.

By recognizing the growth and power of the company we can see that their tactics have been successful.

By the end of the presentation I hope the class will be able to clearly see the ways in which Disney has tried and succeed to progress along with globalization. The company’s use of content and mediums is an apparent attribute of Disney’s strategy to move with globalization. From Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, their fist movie, to making on of the biggest purchases in history, the $19 billion dollar purchase of ABC network, Disney has made it’s way around the world and back.

Bollywood as a Manifestation of the Global Media Industry

Today, September 29^th, I will be discussing the case study addressing the question: How does globalization shape media products and industry? I will be examining closely Bollywood as a manifestation of the global media industry and how it relates to us as a society in the United States.

Bollywood is the largest film industry in India and the second largest film industry, behind Hollywood, in the world. The idea of a glocal community and globalization effect Bollywood but more closely I will be examining the cultural proximity and regionalization that surrounds Bollywood today. Cultural proximity relates directly to Bollywood films because although we are exposed to some Indian films in the United states, most of their films are targeted to the Indian audience because of the language and culture used in these films are associated with this particular audience. Regionalization also plays a direct role in Bollywood the bright colors, music, and wardrobe changes can be linked to American Broadway. Many Americans enjoy Bollywood films because of the musical innuendo that is in place in these films. I will also be addressing the issues that Bollywood faces today such as piracy and non-elite audiences in India connecting with the films.

How does globalization effect the media and its products? AlJazeera

On Thursday, September 29th, I will be discussing my case study answering the question, How does globalization effect the media and its products? I will do this by discussing how Aljazeera has become a predominant player in the global media scene, and address the roles it is playing today. There are many different trends in the media, which effect societies in different ways, but they still manage to integrate us into one world.

Aljazeera is the primary news outlet of the Arabic world, and claims to be the only non-political news outlet in the Middle East. Geographical closeness and cultural proximity helps media cross borders, but globalization allows media to spread even if it has long distances to travel. We now have a global media network that is telling us standardized information throughout the world. There are a few media outlets that dominate the industry, so people are only getting their information from fewer sources. North America is a major presenter in the media scene, meaning that it has an important role in presenting on the national stage. Recently AlJazeera has gained more public attention, and now we see clips of AlJazeera’s on CNN regularly. Transborder data flows carry values and ideas along with it making the world more of a global marketplace. One of the global issues I will be addressing is the unequal flows of information and ideas and how AlJazeera is progressively moving towards the free flow of information.

MPAA Movie Ratings (Media Law & Policy)

Today I'm going to talk about the MPAA - what exactly is it, how it self-governs, and whether or not the self-governing system it utilizes is ideal for this system. The MPAA is often argued to be a monopoly, and many people think it would be better if the government intervened and provided a unified standard for movie ratings. While the system is voluntary, it is dominant, and if a filmmaker wishes for their work to be seen by a large audience, it is a necessary process to go through. But is the method in which these films are rated fair? In reference to the question, "who monitors the media?" the answer in this case is the CARA, or the Classification and Rating Administration - a board of 10-13 members of carefully selected individuals who judge films based on their own opinions. The goal is to produce a unanimous rating decision about a particular film in order to inform parents on what is safe for their children. But again, is it fair? The identities of these board members are never known, yet they have such a huge influence on the film industry and the way it regulates. I myself did not realize how this process worked until I did more research, and I hope my presentation can shed some light for the class on the MPAA system and how it works.

Law and Policy Case Study

Media Law and Policy is a topic most people don't realize is out there. With the media these days being at the top of the interests chain, someone there to watch over and reason through the good and bad is quite necessary. So, I ask myself, "Who controls/monitors the media?" Tuesday in class, we discussed many organizations that protected the media in several different aspects. One struck me instantly, the Federal Communications Commission. This organization regulates interstate and international communication circuits. Recently, the FCC has built a plan, a National Broadband Plan costing $350 billion. The plan would be to implement internet access nationwide, providing internet to over 100 million people. The National Broadband Plan has many different sections, one particularly, Public Safety. I chose to explain this aspect of the monstrous plan because it indeed shares a large part of monitoring the media. Public Safety in the National Broadband Plan has been created to enhance emergency communication lines, build a safer place to live, and improve issues with cybersafety. I have thoroughly enjoyed studying on the subject of law and policy of the media. Because of the FCC, I now understand and see it all on a large scale. Media is everywhere, all around us! Without it life as we know it would not be the same. Appreciate the FCC, the National Broadband Plan, and Public Safety because without them, who would control/monitor the media?


http://www.broadband.gov/issues/public-safety.html
http://urgentcomm.com/policy_and_law/commentary/national-broadband-insult-20100408/

Howdy! I will presenting my case study tomorrow (Thursday September 15th) under the main headline, media policy and law. Upon reading the chapter in the textbook I realized that there is no main governing body to censor and regulate the internet unlike older media forms. So, this led me to question, who censors new social media, specifically blogs and personal websites?

I will begin my presentation by discussing the ease in which one can create their own website and then discuss the difference between company websites and personal websites. They are censored in different ways. Like I said earlier, there is no one governing body censoring the internet. Much is reliant on the marketplace of ideas which encourages self censorship so that companies can maintain their consumers. Personal blogs are different however because the motivation behind their creation is much different. They are held to their own standards, which to others may not always be appropriate.

I will follow this by introducing my specific case, mypsychoexwife.com. The ex-wife brought this website to the attention of a family judge who forced the website to be taken down because of the libelous statements and privacy invasion. Again, online content is only subject to federal law. And the 1st amendment does not protect against: defamation, obscenity, plagarism, invasion of provacy, and inciting insurrection. When creating blogs there are different privacy settings one can use. In this case the man, Mr. Morelli, used an open, searchable forum. The wife took this and argued that this represented an invasion of privacy, to both herself and their children. This case defends my argument because, the fact is, if the ex-wife had not complained the site would still be up and running. This man offended his consumer and she had the responsibility to take the issue to court.

My thought upon taking on this topic were to see how regulation effects the everyday users of social media. The fact is, the general public, the social media users and participants, are going to be the ones who report and censor the internet.

Law & Policy Case Study

Howdy! This Thursday I will be presenting a case study on the Federal Trade Commission. This weeks topic is over Law and Policy of new media and this week's question is "Who controls/monitors the media?" I hope to answer this question on the basis of the Federal Trade Commission and its mission.

The Federal Trade Commission was founded on the basis of other acts known as the Sherman and Clayton Anti-Trust Acts. These acts were passed in the 1800's to do away with trusts, which were considered monopolies. They were enforced in order to preserve a competitive economy and protect consumers. Woodrow Wilson then passed the Federal Trade Commission Act in 1914 which gave birth to the Commission. The Commission was given power to investigate and stop companies which were becoming monopolies and practicing unfair methods of competition. The Federal Trade Commission is run by five executives known a Commissioners. In order to keep up with the multiple diverse companies in the market today, the Commission has nine offices and three bureaus which process complaints and undergo the investigation and court procedures. Since the Federal Trade Commission deals with many situations throughout media, we will also be looking into some current events. Issues such as the Watchdog and Harmful Product situation have caused the Commission to undergo intense investigation.

Hopefully my presentation of the Federal Trade Commission will help you to understand a piece of what the government is doing to enforce fair usage to consumers of the media markets today. Thanks and Gig 'em!