Hello, people of Planet Blogspot!
I stumbled across a blog by "Courtney the Ami" as she is known in Germany. Her blog created many laughs and entertainment this past weekend to a bored teenager (namely, me). She tells about her adventures and laughs in Germany, as well as comparing life there to America. I'd suggest checking out her "Mispronunciation Monday" posts--they're quite hilarious!
Courtney recently posted a few blogs about Oktoberfest, including how to wear a dirndl. Don't know what that is? Instead of Googling it, check out her post!
http://www.courtneytheami.com/2013/11/how-to-wear-dirndl.html
Monday, September 22, 2014
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Media Critique J1
In Sarah Larimer's latest article "Will the Ebola Virus Go Airborne? (And is That Even the Right Question?)," the message is unclear. It ranges from questions about Ebola going to airborne to the subject of the public's perception of scientists. Larimer failed to provide an answer to her question. The headline gave little clarity to the real subject matter of the article. This violates one of the seven yardsticks-- Explanation.
She could have stuck with one topic or segued more neatly into the question of public perception of scientists. Where is the basis that they may be withholding information from the public?
She could have stuck with one topic or segued more neatly into the question of public perception of scientists. Where is the basis that they may be withholding information from the public?
Monday, September 15, 2014
Check Out This Blog J1
Kathryn Minor had an excellent post on her blog detailing a lecture we had in class a few days ago. She explained the lecture in a way that was very clear, detailed, and accompanied by a chart. Kathryn discussed the different binary models of media and explained how companies may eliminate steps in providing content or swallowing up smaller companies. The diagram makes the subject easier to comprehend. She gets a huge thank-you from the visual learner here. All in all, check it out.
Those Glossy Pages--Response to Lecture #5 J1
In my last post, I discussed a lecture on newspapers. Now, let's talk about magazines.
In 1741, Benjamin Franklin introduced the first magazine, which he aptly named "General Magazine." Not as flashy as "Poor Richard's Almanac" but it got the job done. A general magazine has something for everyone, which we don't see very much these days. General magazines would feature recipes, news (but not breaking news), opinion pieces, political cartoons, kid cartoons, even a book published chapter by chapter called a serial. Charles Dickens published his novels as serials. By 1821, the Saturday Evening Post was the most popular general magazine in America.
Magazines were a national media outlet. They weren't local publications, were read by a national audience, and created what was known as a "national identity." You could talk to your neighbor about the same article because you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who hadn't read it. Like newspapers, they are portable but unlike newspapers, they were made to last. Besides a national audience, they provided places for businesses to advertise. A person at home could now operate a mail-order business through magazine advertising. Magazines were also cheaper than books, spreading literacy.
The Postal Act of 1879 was passed by Congress, supporting the magazine industry in a way known as subsidizing. Magazines now cost one cent to ship per pound. Magazines became even cheaper.
As for content, magazines had the ability to run a series of articles in investigative journalism. Newspapers only covered breaking news; series of articles were something exclusive to magazines at that time. Magazines also ran personality profiles. They'd interview an individual, then talk to family, friends, and even enemies. After, the magazine would present a personality profile. Magazines such as National Geographic brought photojournalism popularity.
Needless to say, magazines are a great part of culture. Many of our famous American novelists started off serializing their works in a magazine. Where would we be without them?
In 1741, Benjamin Franklin introduced the first magazine, which he aptly named "General Magazine." Not as flashy as "Poor Richard's Almanac" but it got the job done. A general magazine has something for everyone, which we don't see very much these days. General magazines would feature recipes, news (but not breaking news), opinion pieces, political cartoons, kid cartoons, even a book published chapter by chapter called a serial. Charles Dickens published his novels as serials. By 1821, the Saturday Evening Post was the most popular general magazine in America.
Magazines were a national media outlet. They weren't local publications, were read by a national audience, and created what was known as a "national identity." You could talk to your neighbor about the same article because you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who hadn't read it. Like newspapers, they are portable but unlike newspapers, they were made to last. Besides a national audience, they provided places for businesses to advertise. A person at home could now operate a mail-order business through magazine advertising. Magazines were also cheaper than books, spreading literacy.
The Postal Act of 1879 was passed by Congress, supporting the magazine industry in a way known as subsidizing. Magazines now cost one cent to ship per pound. Magazines became even cheaper.
As for content, magazines had the ability to run a series of articles in investigative journalism. Newspapers only covered breaking news; series of articles were something exclusive to magazines at that time. Magazines also ran personality profiles. They'd interview an individual, then talk to family, friends, and even enemies. After, the magazine would present a personality profile. Magazines such as National Geographic brought photojournalism popularity.
Needless to say, magazines are a great part of culture. Many of our famous American novelists started off serializing their works in a magazine. Where would we be without them?
Another Cool Blog! J1
I have recently visited a new blog in the universe of blogs. My friend Emily Nolan had a post about newspapers also, though I don't agree with her final words.
" Why do newspapers still exist? Most likely because we are living in an age of people who still remember what it's like to read the daily print paper. Will they exist fifty years from now? I'm going to have to disagree with Mr. Miller, and end this with a "no." " Emily Nolan, at controversialwaffles.blogspot.com
I don't agree. Newspapers will still exist. There are MANY people who still read the paper today and will likely continue to do so thirty, forty, or fifty years from now. Human beings are creatures of habit, and as we well know: habits are hard to break. Especially fifty-year habits. While I do agree with the statement that technology is quickly becoming accessible and a preferred method to get the news, I don't agree with the demise of newspapers.
Emily's blog has many well-written posts that make great points. Check them out!
http://controversialwaffles.blogspot.com/
" Why do newspapers still exist? Most likely because we are living in an age of people who still remember what it's like to read the daily print paper. Will they exist fifty years from now? I'm going to have to disagree with Mr. Miller, and end this with a "no." " Emily Nolan, at controversialwaffles.blogspot.com
I don't agree. Newspapers will still exist. There are MANY people who still read the paper today and will likely continue to do so thirty, forty, or fifty years from now. Human beings are creatures of habit, and as we well know: habits are hard to break. Especially fifty-year habits. While I do agree with the statement that technology is quickly becoming accessible and a preferred method to get the news, I don't agree with the demise of newspapers.
Emily's blog has many well-written posts that make great points. Check them out!
http://controversialwaffles.blogspot.com/
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Binary Models J1
In a class lecture on August 29, 2014, we talked about binary models. We talked about hot and cool media, elitist--populist, content--distribution, and information--entertainment models.
The Hot--Cool binary model has many different media forms within it labelled hot or cool depending on how much of your attention they require. Books are very hot media; you can't read a book and drive a car at the same time. Both need all of your attention. Music, however, is a cool medium. You can have it playing in the background while you wash dishes or go for a run. It doesn't require all of your focus at that point in time.
Next up is the Elitist-Populist model. Elitist media focuses on getting their message to their readers. Even if it's a tiny target audience they're writing for, Elitist media will stick with them. An example of this would be Slashdot, a news website for "nerds" as they put it. Most of what they write is incomprehensible to people who don't speak the language.
Populist media looks to please the people. What do the people want? How can we get more people to read/watch/listen to our magazine/television show/radio station? An example of Populist media would be Buzzfeed, a website for "hot social content."
Now we come to the Content-Distribution model. Let's look at this in terms of television: content would be a TV show such as, say, Doctor Who. There are companies that create television shows, like Warner Brothers Television. Then you have the distributors, such as Amazon or iTunes. They make content available to the consumer (you). There are also such things as companies that are both content provider and distributor. Netflix is a prime example. They've created their own shows, but have shows available from other content sources as well.
Finally, we come to the information-entertainment model. Informational media is aimed toward informing the public. Entertainment (obviously) aims to entertain. These two mix, but only one way. Unlike the content-distribution model, we see more cases of infotainment. This is the shift of television (or any other media) from an informational view towards the aim of entertaining. They want to please the public.
The Hot--Cool binary model has many different media forms within it labelled hot or cool depending on how much of your attention they require. Books are very hot media; you can't read a book and drive a car at the same time. Both need all of your attention. Music, however, is a cool medium. You can have it playing in the background while you wash dishes or go for a run. It doesn't require all of your focus at that point in time.
Next up is the Elitist-Populist model. Elitist media focuses on getting their message to their readers. Even if it's a tiny target audience they're writing for, Elitist media will stick with them. An example of this would be Slashdot, a news website for "nerds" as they put it. Most of what they write is incomprehensible to people who don't speak the language.
Populist media looks to please the people. What do the people want? How can we get more people to read/watch/listen to our magazine/television show/radio station? An example of Populist media would be Buzzfeed, a website for "hot social content."
Now we come to the Content-Distribution model. Let's look at this in terms of television: content would be a TV show such as, say, Doctor Who. There are companies that create television shows, like Warner Brothers Television. Then you have the distributors, such as Amazon or iTunes. They make content available to the consumer (you). There are also such things as companies that are both content provider and distributor. Netflix is a prime example. They've created their own shows, but have shows available from other content sources as well.
Finally, we come to the information-entertainment model. Informational media is aimed toward informing the public. Entertainment (obviously) aims to entertain. These two mix, but only one way. Unlike the content-distribution model, we see more cases of infotainment. This is the shift of television (or any other media) from an informational view towards the aim of entertaining. They want to please the public.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
WHY ARE THEY STILL HERE? J1
WHY ARE THEY STILL HERE?
An interesting question, if I do say so myself. Why are newspapers still here? We have so much technology at our fingertips--why would anyone use paper? I'd like to go over the answers discussed in class today.
This is a very real question. In our age of technology, paper has started to disappear. Everything is online. News stations. Television. This blog. So why would anyone still get the classic newspaper?
The answer: because it is classic. How many times have you seen the master of the house reading the newspaper (Think Disney's Lady and the Tramp)? Chances are it was a common occurrence to see a family member reading the newspaper at breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Maybe that was you. A newspaper is a tradition.
Like most traditions, newspapers are timeless. You don't have to have wifi or an Internet connection to read the newspaper. They are available anywhere, any time. Folding one up and carrying it on a plane is easy as pie. Sure, newspapers can pile up, but so can open tabs in the Safari browser on your phone. It's merely a matter of recycling. You can't do that with Internet tabs.
Another thing we will all like: newspapers are cheap. They don't cost much, for which we are grateful. A subscription is definitely worthwhile. You don't have to read the newspaper immediately either.
All of these things are the answer. Newspapers aren't dying, people. They might have a slight cold due to the Internet, but it's nothing they can't handle. Newspapers are delivered every day to houses all over the continent. People continue to read them, as they have done for a long time. It's a routine. It's habit. And what are we? Creatures of habit.
An interesting question, if I do say so myself. Why are newspapers still here? We have so much technology at our fingertips--why would anyone use paper? I'd like to go over the answers discussed in class today.
This is a very real question. In our age of technology, paper has started to disappear. Everything is online. News stations. Television. This blog. So why would anyone still get the classic newspaper?
The answer: because it is classic. How many times have you seen the master of the house reading the newspaper (Think Disney's Lady and the Tramp)? Chances are it was a common occurrence to see a family member reading the newspaper at breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Maybe that was you. A newspaper is a tradition.
Like most traditions, newspapers are timeless. You don't have to have wifi or an Internet connection to read the newspaper. They are available anywhere, any time. Folding one up and carrying it on a plane is easy as pie. Sure, newspapers can pile up, but so can open tabs in the Safari browser on your phone. It's merely a matter of recycling. You can't do that with Internet tabs.
Another thing we will all like: newspapers are cheap. They don't cost much, for which we are grateful. A subscription is definitely worthwhile. You don't have to read the newspaper immediately either.
All of these things are the answer. Newspapers aren't dying, people. They might have a slight cold due to the Internet, but it's nothing they can't handle. Newspapers are delivered every day to houses all over the continent. People continue to read them, as they have done for a long time. It's a routine. It's habit. And what are we? Creatures of habit.
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