Citizen Journalism: A good thing or a bad thing?

With all of the blogs and social media websites that are popular in todays world, more and more people are able to express their opinions and share stories and events that happen in their everyday life. The definition of a journalist is no longer black and white. It is no longer just someone who works at a news station and has a professional camera crew. People are catching current events on video cameras on their smart phones, posting pictures and writing statuses on online blogs and social media sites. This creates a culture where people can become informed instantly without even turning on the TV to watch the news. For example, "Some of the first public accounts of the military operation that killed the terrorist leader, Osama Bin Laden, came in the form of tweets from Sohaib Athar, a 33-year-old IT consultant in Abbottabad, the city where bin Laden was found." To check out the full article about how the tweets emerged to be the first to report this incident check out the article click here. http://articles.cnn.com/2011-05-02/tech/osama.twitter.reports_1_bin-twitter-profile-twitter-user?_s=PM:TECH. 


In my opinion, citizen journalism comes with pros and cons. It can be something positive because people have the opportunity to become more involved with today's society and world events where they can express themselves through multiple online outlets. It allows for different view points around the world and allows for people to catch news before it becomes big media, which can allow for raw footage to be captured before news stations even hear word of an event. A negative aspect that citizen journalism can bring is the spreading of rumors and misunderstanding of events. People who express their opinions about a certain event can mislead other readers' which can leave the specifics of an event blurry. News stations for the most part try to be objective in stating the specifics of an event where bloggers tend to give their opinions which are usually extreme. What do you think? Do you think the blurring definition of who journalists are is a good thing or a bad thing? 

Trayvon and Social Media

     So I'm sure most of you have heard about the recent case in Florida involving a boy named Trayvon Martin and how he was killed.  There is a lot of publicity centered around this case, and in turn the case is very popular across the country.  If you haven't had the chance to read about what happened and what is still happening now follow this link http://www.msnbc.msn.com/?id=11881780&q=trayvon+martin&p=1&st=1&sm=user and it will bring you to a whole slew of articles, both recent and older. 
     Since this case has gotten so much publicity there has been a ton of social media groups and individuals trying to do what they can to make a difference and raise awareness.  One of the first instances I saw of this was when a friend of mine tweeted "why isn't #TrayvonMartin or #BoMorrison trending yet!> raise awareness people!"  This simple little tweet made me realize how much of an effect social media can have on people nowadays.  After I saw his tweet I followed the hash tags to see if they would catch any sort of trend.  Neither one of them has showed up in the today's trends lists yet as far as I've seen, but they have caught wind and have been tweeted many times since then. 
     The other popular social media website, Facebook, has been no slouch either as a way for people to raise awareness.  Many groups of friends, professionals, classes, and individuals have been taking pictures or making videos to support the cause of injustice.  I am in a singing group on campus called Pitches and Notes, and we joined in with the cause as well.  Using what we had to make ourselves unified as one group, we took a picture to spread awareness of what we believe to be injustice.  The picture represents our disagreement with the comment made on the news by Geraldo Rivera. "'I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin's death as much as George Zimmerman was," the Fox News host said Friday on Fox and Friends" (usatoday.com).  We posted it on Facebook that night and got many hits and comments on it, both positive and negative.
      Linking in recent and popular news with new media ways is an excellent way for people to stay connected to what's going on in the world around them.  A lot of times I hear about news on Facebook or Twitter before I have the chance to read the newspaper (or more realistically look on a news website).  I think it's an awesome things, especially for people of my generation.  We don't read or watch as much of the news as other generations do, but we are still expected to know what is going on around us.  The way that news has interconnected itself with social media sites is a great way to spread awareness.

Pitches and Notes:  Respect and Remember <3

Political Ads Adapt

With the Republican primary on Tuesday, political advertisements are inevitable. Though this primary seems to be changing it up a bit. As more people avoid television ads with DVR or traditional television altogether with online streaming, some candidates are adjusting their strategies to help adapt to the new ways many are now using media. Mitt Romney has decided to deal with the issue of reaching the largest possible audience by putting ads on Web browsers along with usual TV ads. There will be two Romney ads on the browsers. With this, Romney and his team may be able to use the Internet as a helpful boost to their campaign.

I thought this was very interesting because candidates seem to be also adapting to the new lifestyles of our generation. With more people watching television online, I thought that many of us would be able to escape political ads. I've seen a few of them online but not a memorable amount. It appears that candidates are willing to develop new strategies to get our attention. With the Internet being so complex and hard to manipulate, candidates have a long way to go before being able to use it to reach as many users as efficiently as possible. I think they are on the right track though.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/02/us/politics/as-tv-viewing-habits-change-political-ads-adapt.html?_r=1&hp#

Oh Internet, How We Love Thee...

Hey guys! So, even though it's spring break, we're still blogging. At least I am, as I am proficient in the art of procrastination (you will soon see why). Aaaaand I'm having a teensy bit of trouble finding something interesting to talk about. Plus I'm sure the last thing you want to read on your break is a forced blog post about something the author doesn't really give two shits about. Therefore, today I'll be doing more of a fun little post about something you might actually like. Who says a little fun can't be substantial?

While some of you may be spending your week off school in some exotic locale, others, like me, are stuck sitting on their asses at home with nothing better to do than inhale their parents food and watch hour upon hour of Say Yes to the Dress. But although there has been plenty of that going on on my end, one website has been a real lifesaver for me in the interest of wasting time and thinking about anything but school: tumblr. I have spent many a day trawling this site searching for entertaining blogs, and would like to share a few of my faves with you, for your time-wasting pleasure. Therefore, I give you...

Morgen's Top Tumblrs (such a clever title, I know)
In no particular order:

Pretending to pay attention to the professor, while gchatting with all of my friends

#whatshouldwecallme
This is my current favorite, combining real life situations with often hilarious GIFs that fit them perfectly.

Awkward Stock Photos
"Where awkward stock photos finally have a purpose" Extremely odd and very entertaining.

 I'm Remembering!
80's and 90's nostalgia. So this is why old people love antiquing...

Also:
Texts From Bennett
SpotiFYI
First World Problems
Animals Being Dicks
Funny Or Die
Accidental Chinese Hipsters
someecards

So, there you have it. Ten pointless but wonderful outlets for boredom. Who needs the beach when we have the Internet? I apologize sincerely for sabotaging you if you actually need to accomplish something. Happy tumbling and have an awesome break!

~Morgen~

Call Me(dia) Maybe REMiX

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R7GEuEk8oQ

So two weeks ago I had posted about  Carly Rae Jepsen's obsessive song "Call Me Maybe" and how quickly recognition and popularity spreads once things go viral. A significant result of the digital era is where we see the common person becoming producers. With all the various media platforms, average people create, appropriate, and distribute whatever they desire. With the YouTube sensation, people all over the globe create their own videos or appropriate content to make it their own. Consequentially, a fellow badger student created a remix to "Call Me Maybe" and filmed the footage here in Madison. Creator, Nick Luebke, sings his mashed-up verses to the song while the original chorus remains the same. I think this YouTube is a perfect example of how the digital era generates a participatory culture. Whatever the media spits out, people are utilizing social media platforms to express their reaction towards such content. Why do you suppose Nick decided to make his own version of "Call Me Maybe?" Is it because he is a fan of Carly Rae Jepsen or is he mocking the popularity of the song? This type of  appropriation has become prominent in our culture and before all of the new new media, did such appropriation exist?! Check out the video, I think you all will enjoy it and see where I am coming from!

Next in Line!

   

     So, registration for summer and fall classes is right around the corner.  Since I just recently claimed my major I thought it would be a good idea to take a summer class to get on track with my program.  While looking through the classes being offered over the summer, I found that there is an online course I need for my major.  This class is usually really hard to get into during the school year so I've decided to take it.  I've never taken an online class before so this is completely new to me, and makes me a little nervous.
     I know this might sound weird that I'm nervous about taking an online class, but I truly have no idea what to expect.  I'm used to brick and mortar setting and having to wake up to walk to class every day.  Now, I just have to turn my computer on to view material, and take quizzes, and do my assignment, and take exams!?  This all sounds crazy to me, especially the part about quizzes and exams online.  This is the first time in my life I've felt behind the curve in new innovations.  Education has changed with technology and hasn't effected me until this very day.
     I've been writing about education and technology for all my posts so far on this blog, and thought that this coincidence in my life recently would be a good way to bring up another point on how technology has effected education.  I wrote about online education in my last post, but there is a different aspect I realized about registration that I thought I would share with you all.  Remember in high school when you had to go stand in a big long line for registration.  You'd walk up to the counter, get your packet of information, stand in line to get your picture taken, get your id, and then walk out.  In college we apply, register, and set up orientation online.
     Also, as far as classes are concerned I remember when my guidance counselor made my schedule for me.  Those days seem like the stone age to me now.  But, then my junior year of high school the scheduling system changed to the students making their own schedules.  This was the biggest deal in the world to my 16  year old self.  I had no idea how to make my own schedule.  Looking through classes and figuring out which time slots worked for me, and what classes I needed to take, and what classes I wanted to take was the hardest process in the entire world back then.
     Now, students have to make their own schedules whether they like it or not.  Yes, we have advisors who will help us if we need the help, but at the end of the day it's our responsibility to figure out how we are going to get to take all the classes we need to in order to graduate.  Having to create my own schedule online is easy, yes stressful, but like second nature to me now and I'm only a sophomore.  Even the tiny process of registering for school and classes has changed so much since technology has made its way into the education system. 

How do you remember registration and scheduling before college!?
    

Spring Break and Social Media

Hey everybody! It's hard to believe that spring break is only a week away. Only one week until midterms are a thing of the past and we're free to to whatever, whenever during one week of freedom from the many pressures of school. So, in the media theme of this blog, I kind of feel that it's my duty to warn you guys of the dangers of having your wild and crazy spring break antics splashed all over the web. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I was informed by this New York Times article that our generation has actually been taking this advice.

The article says that recent reports from spring break hotspots have reported that the once famously crazy atmosphere feels significantly less wild. Our generation has become very conscious of the omnipresence of social media and the repercussions of having the evidence of one crazy night in Cancun scattered all over Facebook of the web. This means that wet t-shirt contests, Girls Gone Wild behavior, and blatant public drinking have all been sufficiently toned down, especially when cameras are around. And when aren't they these days? Do you know anyone who doesn't have at least a camera phone?

I have to admit that I'm pretty proud of my peers for wising up and paying attention to the affects of social media in this way. Stories like this show that we are career conscious young adults who deserve a bit more credit than more seasoned adults often give us. Keep it up guys!

But of course, don't forget to have fun on your spring break adventures. We are in the prime of our lives and spring break is one of those experiences that really only exist right now. Just be sure to be smart no matter what antics you get up to :)

Stay classy guys, and enjoy your break!

~Morgen~