–Hello Bloggies and Bloggettes!

This may be my last blog for a little while, so lets get right to the point.

Remember a week or so ago when we talked about Big data? I want to dig a little deeper. For someone who is about to embark on a journey through the world of Magazine editing and marketing (yup, new job!), nothing stands out to me except this idea of big data. In the newspaper, magazine, radio, and TV world, every piece of content you produced should be based on your audience. What better way to narrow down the specifics than with Big Data?

This growing area of research and technology will increase revenue for a lot of companies, including the magazine business. Editions can focus articles and ads around the information they receive when their viewers continue to subscribe, in the end providing better content for their audiences.

Let me paint the picture for you. Imagine you as a company never being in the dark again about what your targeted audience is interested in, or the best way to reach and impact them. This is now possible because the act of big data is now doing this work for you, in turn you must follow suit in your marketing.

Big data is not going anywhere and can be extremely beneficial when used the correct way.

–until next time,

–Hello Bloggies and Bloggettes!

It’s no secret that I love public relations, it is what I got my degree in. But I want to take a look at what the industry has the ability to look like in the future, 5-10 years from now.

PR has grown way beyond calling journalist and waiting for a story, writing press releases for formal conferences, etc. Now the industry is seen all across social media and has become way more accessible. Your future work meetings could be held at home, more small agencies may appear to represent up and coming influencers, conferences could be held on live platforms and streaming services.

With growing digital accessibility, the possibilities are limitless.

–until next time,

–Hello Bloggies and Bloggettes,

Everyone, welcome back! Today we’ll be discussing this new wave of multimedia technology called “deep fakes”. From the title of my blog my stance is pretty obvious. With the rapid growth of the internet, and the amount of skill people acquire on the web daily, I think the idea of deep fakes is absolutely terrifying.

In Bloomberg’s video ‘It’s Getting Harder to Spot a Deep Fake Video’, Barrack Obama’s voice does sound to be clearly altered, but it just makes one think, if Jordan Peele tweaked the voice just a pitch more, moved his face less, it would be totally believable. Which brings me back to, terrifying. Anyone can find the instructions to make these videos on any topic and release it to the media, creating a possible free-for-all.

Now remember Bloggies and Bloggettes, !!!MEDIA LITERACY!!! It’s important that when this new trend starts to affect the credibility of journalism we remember to vet our sources and really analyze the content we’re engaging ourselves with.

–until next time,

–Hello Bloggies and Bloggettes!

Sooo, I’ve always been that person who thinks they have a FBI agent in their phone, looking through the webcam. Like, this is a serious thing for me. My agent tracks and suggests everything for me, most times before I even know it or have a chance to process what happened. But I guess I should use the correct term and call my agent Big Data. In my personal opinion, big data is an untouchable strategy used in many different areas of commerce.

But for today’s blog we’re going to focus on how this big boy plays a role when it comes to retail. I know we’ve all been there, you’re doing some harmless scrolling down a clothing website and the next time you’re on Instagram or Facebook an Ad for that same exact website pops up. That is Big Data everyone! These companies are using your shopping history to give you future “recommendations” to further your shopping experience.

Question. Is this okay? Or, is this too much? Some may love the convenience of shopping anywhere and all the time, while others may find it kind of creepy to have someone always tracking their wants and spending habits. For me, I think it’s an okay tactic however, when it’s used appropriately. Regardless how either side feels, Big Data is here and happening and we’ll have to adjust at some point.

–until next time,

–Hello Bloggies and Bloggettes!

So, here’s the thing, I just read this article and I want to talk about it here with you all today. In Kristal Zook’s article Blacks Own Just Ten U.S. Television Stations. Here’s why. She breaks down the racial differences in cable station ownership, which is a pretty big difference if I might add.

I can’t say I am too surprised at this however, to see it on paper is eye-opening. But here’s my reasoning for not being moved; BET, although Debra Lee is the face of the company, and it is portrayed as something to cater to the black culture, is indeed owned by a white tv company named Viacom. Black Entertainment Television, yeah. So, there’s that.

There is a focus in the article about the lack of effort from the FCC to attempt change in the lack of equality. The FCC regulates any and everything that we see on our tv screen, hear on our radio, you get the point. In my opinion, the FCC will allow who they assume will bring in the most revenue for the government. Let’s stop here, by historical racism the government does not believe anyone Black could possibly bring in revenue for the government, therefore that part of the Black media community who is monitored by the FCC is not given a fair chance against other white stations.

It goes way past angry, it’s fact based. Zook gives us numbers to back up the concerning gap in ownership. Less the half of the U.S. stations are owned by Blacks, I think this is something to be discussed further.

Here’s the article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/08/17/blacks-own-just-10-u-s-television-stations-heres-why/ check it out for yourself and feel free to tell me how you feel after seeing the statistics!

–until next time,

–Hello Bloggies and Bloggettes!

For this week I’ve decided to talk about the Digital Divide and why it’s important to close the gap between developed and under developed communities.

So, lets start with the basics: what is the Digital Divide? it’s actually a simple definition. The Digital Divide is the difference between those who have access to the internet and those who do not. You might be thinking, “No internet access, how are they functioning?”

The Washington Post reported on an article from a 2016 Information Society Report, which stated there are 3.9 billion people in the world who do not use the internet. The study also found these numbers heavily represented the less educated, elderly, rural, and female (Taylor 2016).

The Digital Divide falls into three categories: global, social, and personal. Global being lack of access or policy restrictive communities, social focusing more on a persons demographics, and personal being the user’s choice to refrain from internet use maybe due to privacy concerns for example.

Without the internet, people go without all the internet has to offer and the benefits of being in tune with those around you. For example while I was doing research for this blog post I learned the internet has helped families 98% with education, 71% with social networking, 55% with entertainment, 62% with job seeking, and 52% with government services (NCTA 2018). So as you can see those suffering from a global, social, or a personal divide are missing out on furthering an education, getting that dream job, tuning into leisure content, networking, etc. With technology constantly changing and expanding it is necessary, in my opinion, to work to close these gaps.

We should be implementing technology literacy programs for those unsure or unaware of the different aspects that come with the internet. Legislators should be putting pressure on making internet access more accessible across the board. There should be less of a monopoly around service providers and more options that allow different individuals in different demographics to find their right fit. Now, this is just me brainstorming because I feel it is important we identify the problems with the gap and then begin to see how we can get it under control.

–until next time,

Works Cited

“Closing the Digital Divide.” NCTA, 2018, http://www.ncta.com/positions/closing-the-digital-divide.

Taylor, Adam. “47 Percent of the World’s Population Now Use the Internet, Study Says.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 22 Nov. 2016.

–Hello Bloggies and Bloggettes!

First things first, we have to get technical for a second. What makes a social media, a “social media”? Merriam Webster Dictionary defines social media as a form of electronic communication where users create communities to upload and exchange ideas, engage in conversation, and share other content.

Given this definition it’s no wonder social media gets the praise in our society that it does. Who wouldn’t want the ability to do all those things, and the ability to access most platforms straight from your smart phone, some would say it couldn’t get any better! It continues to grow and be a huge crutch to consumers because of the convenience it offers us. Within social media we can talk with others, consume our news, shop for clothes, get groceries delivered, go to school, go to work, etc. In this day social media is a vital part of some people’s everyday routine.

With this growing market, I think it’s imperative businesses pay attention to the content their buyers consume and market that (in a non-creepy way of course) to better enhance customer’s experiences. However, with every good thing there can be some bad. Social media continues to grow, but not all platforms have what it take to remain consistent in our day-to-day routines.

If you saw a new website/app coming in what characteristics would you look for? Leave me a comment and let me know!

–until next time,

–Hello Bloggies and Bloggettes!

I want to center this blog towards my younger audience today. When I was a freshman in college Twitter, Instagram, and especially Snapchat were really just starting to take over college campuses. Nowadays, it’s almost unheard of to come across a freshman without an online profile of some sort.

Now, you guys will learn I’m all for social media and the positives it can add to our lives, however I am also all for being “media literate” as well. Media literacy is something I wish they taught as an intro class for freshman, yes it’s that serious to me. For some young adults, college is their first true time on their own. No more parents checking behind them or monitoring their phones and media. Therefore it’s important for our new generational babies to know how to process this influx of freedom and media they now posses.

So, I’ve taken it upon myself to draft a few steps for you guys. Hopefully during your first year as you’re processing information you will remember these things:

1. Vet your sources. Just because it is on the web, does not automatically validate the information.
2. Research the same story via multiple outlets. Don’t just rely on one channel for your information, it could be based on bias.
3. The internet does not define you. In your vulnerable minds, don’t let bodies behind a screen try and sway your opinion on any topic.

Don’t forget to propose my class idea to your advisors everywhere 🙂

–until next time,

–Hello Bloggies and Bloggettes!

Today I am on the topic of digital convergence, and how I personally feel about, and I can honestly say digital convergence has done nothing but positively impacted my life. Growing up I was always the teenager attached to her phone, putting new electronics on her Christmas list, and engulfing myself in the different things the technology around me allowed me to do. My childhood and even more so into my adulthood years has been mostly on-the go. It’s rare I have time to just sit in one place for long periods of time, the effects of convergence have made this less of a deal-breaker for life aspects such as my career goals and social life.

Now I’m able to listen to necessary audios while driving, hold conference calls via the phone or internet, and access necessary documents or media regardless of my location; which is great when it comes to impromptu networking. When it comes to my social life, I can also credit a few positives. Working out has become easier, passing the time watching movies/TV shows while I’m burning off calories. Also as an avid memory hoarder, such as myself, being able to capture any and every moment of a get together in time without charging camera batteries, lugging around equipment, or waiting for film to develop even little aspects of digital convergence like that I can credit to the growth in the social aspects of society. As I’m typing it even brings me to my job, where I work as a teller in a bank, I’m now able to help my older customers, who otherwise would never think things could be done outside pen and paper, with their mobile and online banking. Leaving them feeling inspired and refreshed.

Listen you guys, in no way am I saying digital convergence doesn’t have its cons. However, speaking from personal experience, it is okay in my book!

–until next time,