Blog Post #6 - Convergence Culture

Jenkins has a solid understanding of convergence culture. He optimistically writes about the potential it has to reshape various aspects of entertainment, politics, and business. Jenkins demonstrates his knowledge of convergence culture by applying it to real world entertainment situations such as internet communities dedicated to Harry Potter or the spoiler-obsessed fans of the show Survivor. The author realizes that the old model of one way communication from a sender to a receiver is being changed. Now, the relationship is back and forth. In today's world, corporate media connect to grassroots, fan-based content to create the "convergence" of which Jenkins thinks so highly. The main point of Jenkins' book was to show that convergence can create "micro-communities" of highly dedicated and loyal fans who want to have a role in their show. However, Jenkins did fail to realize that for many corporate media institutions, advertisers are the primary customer (not the audience themselves). Still, Jenkins' passion and enthusiasm for the trend of convergence culture show that he has a good understanding of what it is and what it can do.

Creative engagement is a process in which everyone is invited to participate. New media is not just produced by one or two people. Now, it's a group effort using audience feedback, crowd sourcing, social media, and more. Creative engagement, like convergence, is changed today's media landscape. By allowing more people to have a voice to impact the direction or themes of a show, media becomes more interactive and more fulfilling for everyone involved along the way.
 

Through the use of social media, the way we consume media today is drastically different than what it was a decade ago. TV shows have official hashtags, reporters use tweets and Instagram posts to share up to date news, and fans can easily connect to their favorite entertainment on dedicated Facebook pages. One great example of this engagement is the interaction between American Idol and the show's fans/voters. The viewers who vote make an impact on the results and can change the outcome of the show. I believe as convergence culture continues to grow, this type of participation will continue. Perhaps one day, show viewers can vote on how they want to show to end or guess who the culprit is in a crime drama. Overall, its important for anyone in the communication field to realize that convergence is continuing to transform and change both the production and consumption of media.

Blog Assignment #5

In the past several decades, online piracy and illegal file sharing have become huge problems for the government and various industries involved. Each year, internet users download songs, games, movies, and more without paying. While most people involved don't think its "that big of a deal," there are plenty of negative consequences: profit losses for artists/actors/musicians, copyright infringements, viruses, and more.

So, what can be done about this issue? How can the media and/or the government deal with this type of activity? It's a difficult question and the there's no easy answer. However, I have a few ideas that I believe might help.

1. Drastically lower the standard prices of digital and streaming content.  If prices for songs, games, and movies were lowered, people might not feel inclined to "steal" them for free. Many people are still struggling financially these days and as many people say, times are tough. So if prices for media content were more reasonable, I think that some illegal downloaders would be able to afford to legally buy something. Media providers might say that they would lose profits from lower prices, but the truth is they are already losing profits to illegal downloaders as well.

2. Let consumers choose their own price for media content. Personally, I'm more inclined to pay for a CD or movie if I can choose the price I feel is fair. One of my favorite musical artists, Pretty Lights, lets anyone download his CDs for free on his website. However, there's an option to pay if you feel inclined to. I became a fan of Pretty Lights by checking out his music for free, however, I now pay for each new CD because I feel that it is worth it.

3. The government should focus more on educating illegal downloaders of the consequences of their actions. Instead of threatening with severe punishments, what if the government launched a campaign to show people how they were hurting the music, movie, and art industries by their illegal downloads? People may then understand why what they are doing is wrong. I believe out of all my ideas, this may be the weakest. It might backfire if not done correctly.

What do you think of my solutions? Anything you would do differently? 

Blog Assignment #4

In the article, “Privacy and Enhanced Personalization,” the authors explore the issue of balance between a personalized web experience and risk of losing privacy in order to gain that personalization. The article found that many users prefer the convenience and familiarity of personalized, customizable websites. However, many of those same users also have concerns about giving up private information about themselves in order to have that level of personalization.

There are several factors that determine whether or not an internet user is willing to give up private information in order to gain more personalization. Different people have different ideologies about what is private and how much of that private info that they are comfortable sharing. You must also consider the trustworthiness and reputation of the website that is asking for information. Does the website have a privacy statement or privacy rules that it closely follows? In general, you must have the right combination of user preference and website history.

The article concluded by saying that several small changes must be made. These include different behaviors for internet users, the websites themselves, and governmental agencies that department the policies we all have to follow in regards to privacy and information sharing.

As a frequent internet user but also someone who likes to keep my personal information private, I still have concerns moving forward about personalization and privacy. I am definitely disturbed by the trend of companies and websites wanting every single piece of information they can find about me. The question that sticks out the most to me is, “When will internet users draw the line in regards to privacy and information sharing?” Will we continue to share and distribute every aspect of our identity?  I wonder if anyone else shares my concerns or has an answer to my question. Let me know in the comments!

Blog Assignment 3

"A brave new (digital) world"? Effects on In-house social media on HRM? is an article conducted by a team of German professors written in 2013. It talks about the positive and negatives effects that using social media can have in a professional setting. It especially explores the topic of social media use in the "Human Resource Management" field. The authors conclude that digital technologies have drastically change the way we do business and social media has the potential to do the same thing. However, the authors also say that implementing social media within a business must be done with caution.

This article relates to internet communication because it explores and examines the effects of social media on our culture. Social media is highly prevalent in our personal lives and has already become a large part of business as well. In our class, we have examined how businesses use social media to further connect with customers. This article seems like a perfect compliment to those discussions.

I recommend this article for several reasons. It was well-written and surprisingly easy to read. The authors did a good job of being impartial and objectively examining the issue of using social media in the workplace. All viewpoints and possibilities were thoroughly and equally discussed. Finally, I think the article is relevant to any college student, who like me, are most likely deeply involved with social media and about to enter the workforce. This a reminder that businesses care about social media .so you should be cautious as to what you post. However, on a more positive note, it's a reminder that young workers can use their social media prowess to make an impact and help companies best use it.

Source
Hauptmann, S., & Steger, T. (2013). "A brave new (digital) world"? Effects of In-house Social Media on HRM. Zeitschrift Für Personalforschung, 27(1), 26-46. Retrieved from http://0-eds.a.ebscohost.com.wncln.wncln.org/ehost/detail/detail?vid=1&sid=efeaedb7-5009-40da-a84d-3670c4cf6a4e%40sessionmgr4005&hid=4110&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=bth&AN=85423284

Assignment #2

I think the network law that I most agree with is Reed’s Law. Reed’s Law deals with Web 2.0 and the power of social networks and social media. It states that the utility of a network with n members increases exponentially (or by 2^n). Although I don’t necessarily understand the math behind this rule, I think the concept of it is true.

Social networks and social media have so much power and influence because of the vast number of people who use them. The more people that use them; the more connections that are available. The more connections that are available; the more content is shared and distributed. Basically, Reed’s Law means that the power of a social network is exponential, which means it grows very rapidly as more and more members start to join.

This is especially important for advertisers in the media industry. Advertisers must make sure they harness the power and utility of a social network in order to get their name and product out there in the market. Advertisers should be primarily interested in using social networks that follow Reed’s Law. Otherwise, they would wasting time and effort in social media that haven’t reached their full potential utility and power.

I think in five years from now, the way that people get their information will definitely be different than the way things are today. However, it’s also important to not get too far ahead of ourselves. I’m not sure it’s realistic to say that in five years, we will all have microchips in our brains feeding us information. I also think that it’s important to understand that traditional (or “old”) media like newspapers, radio, and TV will still be relevant in the communication world. In my opinion, the biggest change in the next five years of communication will be about current technologies evolving. In other words, I think we’ll be getting information in a more advanced way than we do now.

For example, I believe people will continue to use smartphones and tablets to get information on the go. However, these smartphones and tablets will be technologically advanced beyond what we are capable of creating today, in 2014. I also think people will continue to use newspapers, TV, and radio. However, these will have to evolve and grow with the needs and habits of consumers. I think newspapers will move to online only, TV providers will move to stream more on-demand content, and radio will become more personalized and local. Finally, I think people will start to trust citizen journalism (such as Twitter reports) more than corporate news organizations.

Do you agree or disagree? Let me know!

My Thoughts on "Why We Blog"

It was interesting to read "Why We Blog." This article written in 2004 was an investigation into the mainstream use of blogging on the internet. The study interviewed several regular bloggers in order to investigate their blogging habits and see why they were truly interested and invested in the blogging world.

The study found that blogs were used for several different reasons. Some used blogs as a way of expressing themselves emotionally. They found it easy to "sort out" their emotions and deal with those emotions in a public forum. Others used blogs as a way to practice their writing skill and prowess.

Many of those surveyed said that blogging was a great way to update their lives so that family, friends, and work colleagues could read about it (of course, this was in an age before Facebook, Twitter, and other social media that are ways of keeping connected). Still, others found blogs to be a great place to grow, improve, and network in a professional sense.

 Overall, the authors concluded that blogs were a growing mainstream way to use the internet that was being widely accepted and use in a variety of ways. I would have to agree - blogs are still quite popular and personally, there are several blogs that I read on a weekly basis. Blogs are like a new type of broadcast media, and it's nice because you can read them at your own convenience.

Still, I think the entire internet landscape has drastically changed since this research was done and this article was published. I would be interested to see if/how blog usage is different now in 2014. I think that overall, blogging might be different because of the social media we use everyday.

Washed Out - Feel It All Around

One of my favorite musical performers, Washed Out.