Last Week - Discussion 3

Pick one other concept in the book that you feel needs further discussion?

One concept that i would have like to have discussed more was the theory of the medium being the message by Marshall McLuhan's.  I understood what he meant that different mediums can deliver different messages, and can in fact help shape the message.  But the idea or Hot and Cold mediums got me sort of confused.  I guess I would have liked to of discussed it a bit better so I could have got a complete understanding of what the book was trying to convey. 

They reason I would have liked this one to of been discussed more was because I feel it is a very important theory and I think that its very important for me, because I work in outreach.  I have different messages for different audiences and it would be good to have a better understanding of which mediums would reach my different audiences with different messages most successfully.

Enjoy your summer!!!!!

Last Week discussion 2

What concept/s in this class have you found most interesting? What was it about that concept/s that you found interesting?

As mentioned in a previous post, I really, really found CMC or computer mediated communication to be really interesting. Its just so interesting how communication has been able to develop with new technology. 30 years ago no one would have imagined creating new relationships, communicating with family and friends or even getting stalked, via a computer. Computers have really changed the way we live and communicate.

And the interactivity of CMC is developing daily. I was just watching a commercial for 1-800-dentist today and it was a woman who is talking about wanting to go online and be able to chat with a live person on the website. And they hve it! I couldnt even imagine this 10 years ago. Its instant just like on the phone, but more convienient because you could do it while your online.

I remember when I knew peopel who first started dating online about 10 years ago. It seemed like such a foreign idea. My friends mom met her boyfriend online and they got married and I was so surprised. But now it seems like a totally normal thing to do.

Last week- Discussion 1

Which of the research methods listed in Table 13.3 seem the most interesting? Assume you want to study some aspect of deception. Frame a research question. Which method would you choose to answer the question. Why?

The most interesting research method that I found was Ethnography. Its interesting to me because you actually do and act like them and get to see them as they are. They are actually in their natural environment. I think it would be really interesting to partake in this research method. This way people would not lie and try to make themselves look different then they really are.


If I were to study an aspect of deception I would use research from surveys. I am interested in people who cheat on their spouse, because I dont understand why. I would have to find people who have cheated in their past or currently are. I would survey questions to find the most common reason. The research question I would use, would be "Why do individuals cheat on their partner do so?" I think they would be more inclined to answer truthfully through an anonymous survey.

Week 13- Discussion 3

One concept I found very interesting in this chapter was the medium of New Media and how it is going global and mobile. Media is digitalizing; the difference of snail mail and email can be the difference of getting a media coverage or not (in the PR world.) In PR classes our professors dont even teach us to send out old school, snail mail press kits anymore. Everything we learn is digital now.

An interesting concept having to do with new media is interactivity. This is when receivers are able to engage with the senders. This can be done through online polls, chate lines, and even online focus groups or things such as facebook groups or messages. A great example of this is CNN. When they cover stories now they ask for you to interact with them using mediums such as Twitter. Its actually very interesting and many tv shows and using this as a way to get their viewers opinions and feedback.

Enjoy your weekend,

ImaginePeace

Week 13- Discussion 2

Do you agree with Marshall McLuhan that the medium is the message, i.e. that the format or logic of a medium is as important as its content and, in fact, determines what content will be broadcast through that channel? Evaluate his idea that television is a cool medium.

 

In my major (PR) we definitely study how important the medium is.  You may have a fantastic and interesting message, but if it doesn’t hit the audience in a way they can compute (or hit them at all), then the message is completely lost.  As society and technology changes and advances we always have to stay mindful of the medium.   The content of the medium is the juicy piece of meat a burglar uses to distract the watchdog.

 

Initially I completely disagreed witht eh idea as TV being a “cool” medium.  I always felt it was equivalent to the movies.  But when I thought about it, TV as a cool medium actually makes sense.  I have a habbit of doing HW infornt of the TV.  I could watch a movie and do HW and would be okay, but the movie would probably be more stimulating and keep me from doing HW.  But when I try to watch TV and do hw it never works out well.  Its like to watch tv it takes a lot more effort and paying attention.  And thank god for having DVR because I must hit rewind 20 times during a 30 minute show, it takes a lot of effort and concentration.

 

Week 13- Discussion 1

Have you made friendships that exist exclusively in cyberspace? If so, how are they different from f2f relationships? If you have not formed cyber relationships, why not?

I remember the summer between 8th grade and freshman year of highschool I got my first computer and my parents were trusting (or naïve) enough to let me put it in my room. I had internet, AIM and my best-girlfriends and I discovered chat rooms. I remember we would go in these rooms and would mess with people so much. I feel really bad now, but at the time we thought it was fun. We would find guys and make them think we were into them/build a relationship then do bratty things. Of course we lied about everything we said, gave fake locations, names and pictures. These relationships differed from face-to-face because in real life I could never be so fake, catty and mean as I was on there. Online I would act and say things that I could never do in real life. In real life I could never be a fake person, but you can online, which leads to creating fake relationships. Online you have the opportunity to be anyone you want to be, and the other person could have no idea who you really are.

Week 12- Discussion 3

Pick one concept from the assigned reading that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.

One part of the book I was particularly interested in this chapter was about interviewing skills.  As I will be graduating, this is something that is very important for me in trying to land a job.  As the book says, you have to start with preperation.  One thing that everyone tells me to do, and the book backs up, is to research the company.  You need to show up knowing about the organization you are interviewing for.  Another important part of prepping is having a great resume and cover letter.  One thing that I believe helped me get my current job was done during the interview, asking questions.  In the book it says to prepare by anticipating the questions the organization may ask you, but you should also ask the organization questions.  I think this shows them that you are really interested in the organization and the position at hand.

But what do you do if they ask you questions you find inappropriate?  The book says there are 3 choices 1.) simply answer the question (if you feel comfortable doing this), 2.)discuss the concern that prompted the question, 3.) refuse to answer the question and tell them you thought it was inappropriate.

Have a good weekend,

ImaginePeace