Podcasting Assignment: Why You Should Study at Rider!

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               Why did I decide to attend Rider University’s Communication and Journalism program? Because it was the right fit for me! Rider offers 6 majors within the communication and journalism field and 9 minors, each being able to be tailored to the student’s specific career goal.  Rider offers state-of-the-art equipment to learn and grow in different areas of media.  Rider’s internship and Co-op program is among one of the best in the region, which is great because we are located within a close proximity of two of the biggest media-rich cities: Philadelphia and New York City. What really made me proud of this great education here was the professional faculty, who has been in the communication field and knows their craft. The biggest and best advantage of Rider is the small, close-knit community among students and faculty. Here at Rider, you’re not a number; you’re a name and a face. So why not study at Rider University? Go Broncs!

Week 10 Questions

Readings for Wednesday

It’s the Audience, Stupid!

What is the new approach to storytelling and how is it being used to broaden audiences?

How is digital media being used to engage audiences?

Give three specific examples of how you can incorporate storytelling into an article you write?

All the Aggregation That’s Fit to Aggregate

What does aggregation mean?

Why does the author describe Arianna Huffington as “the queen of aggregation?”  Go to the Huffington Post and provide an example.

Is aggregation a threat to professional journalism – why or why not?

Photojournalism in the Age of New Media

A professional journalist receives a photo captured by a citizen journalist….

·      What are the positives?

·      Why does the professional journalist need to be careful?

·      Why might the content of the photo be called into question?

·      How does citizen photojournalist impact the job of the professional photojournalist?

Week 9, Youtube as a Participatory Culture

1.     How does the interaction online become the key for Youtube video production community? Please use the media convergence concept to explain it. 

2.    The article mentioned that the teens are mainly passively consumers of Youtube being on the periphery. But seven out of 10 most subscribed partners are teens and young adults. How do you explain this use of Youtube in youth?
 

3.    How does Youtube use different techniques to create an online community that is different from other websites?

4.    What is the next step for Youtube development? Please use the concept of participatory culture and media development theory we discussed to explain your answer.

Week 7, Social Media Use is Soaring- and Technology and Internet Readings, Questions

Social Media Use is Soaring—Tine to Reconsider Your 2013 Strategy

·      What did you learn about the growing trends in the use of social media?
S - More people are connecting and actively participating in social networking and the internet because of mobile apps. 85% increase in people's time using the internet than the prior year.  The social media sites that involve more creative, interactive mediums have higher levels of audience participation as well.

·      What takeaways do you see from the data?
     -A vast majority of the population access the internet through their mobile phones. This phenomenon shows that mobile apps and the use of mobile devices are driving social networking and internet usage. 

Technology & Internet:  10 Social Media Tips Every Business Needs to Know

·      How does business uses social media?
   - Social media is used as a place to be seen by its target audience.

·      Where you surprised by what “social media is NOT?”
   - I was not surprised by what "social media is not," because the goal is business and its use in social media is to gain an audience and maintain it by selling their brand, ideas, and values.

·      Describe some of the things that “social media IS.”
   - Social media is the fastest growing form of internet use. People use social media to find others who share their similar interests and to find people to do business with. It is also a place for things to be seen by others, potential patrons, or other businesses. And most importantly, it is a free medium so people will always be inclined to use it.

·      What are the takeaways for business from this article?
   - Businesses work hard to utilize social media sites in fun and creative ways to attract viewers and gain supporters whether through followers, likes, retweets, or buyers. 

Political Blog Assignment

Summary: 

Marijuana continues to be a prominent topic in today's society. We are torn between two groups: people who believe it should be legalized and people who believe it should not be a feature in today's society. Regardless of the differing views on both sides of the political spectrum, people will continue to do as they wish.

A Washington D.C council voted to ease marijuana laws on Tuesday, according to CNN journalist, Dan Merica. The council voted almost unanimously for lessening marijuana related drug laws. Areas voted upon at the council meeting were lessening the penalty for those caught consuming marijuana and to decriminalize people found with small quantities of marijuana in their possession. 

"The approved legislation moves the possession of an ounce or less or marijuana from a criminal offense – which came with six months in jail or a $1,000 fine – to a civil offense that comes with a fine of $25," said Merica." 

The new legislation also lessens the public consumption of marijuana to a misdemeanor offense. This bill significantly lows the penalty of pot smoking in public from a $1,000 fine or six months in jail to $500 fine or 60 days in jail. 

In addition, public utilization of marijuana would also be parallel to that of alcohol consumption. 

The members who passed the bill believe that this will be a positive step in the right direction for members of the African American community who are recorded to be charged with the highest rate of arrests as a result of marijuana use in the D.C. area. 

"The bill’s advocates have pointed to a 2013 study by the Washington Lawyers’ Committee that found “nearly nine out of 10 of arrests for possession [of marijuana] involved African American arrestees.” The study argues that African Americans make up far less than 90% of marijuana consumption in D.C and therefore the district’s laws encourage “racial disparities that raise important questions of public policy and civil rights concerns.”

While policymakers believe this will be a solution to much social disparities, others believe it promotes additional American freedoms. 

Source: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/03/04/d-c-council-votes-to-ease-marijuana-laws/

Analysis of Different Sides About the Topic: 

Pro-Marijuana Legalization:

"Marijuana is the third most popular recreational drug in America," according to Norml, a lobbying organization working to legalizing marijuana. With over 14 million Americans recorded to be consuming marijuana illegally, its use in modern day society is inevitable.

Over 20 million Americans have been arrested for the use marijuana, which proposes the question: "Is marijuana prohibition working?"

"Norml believes that the time has come to amend criminal prohibition and replace it with a system of legalization, taxation, regulation, and education," according to the nonprofit organization.

Many people believe that smoking marijuana should be a matter of protecting their rights to freedom of expression. Many believe what they are doing is completely legal and recreational. This proposes another question," If people are dead-set on the legalization of marijuana, why don't people push for more radical laws against the use of tobacco or alcohol consumption?"

Source: http://norml.org/

Against Marijuana Legalization: 

One of the biggest arguments against marijuana is that it is a gateway drug. Another threat of marijuana use is that more people are becoming less aware of what to look for. People are more likely to fall victim to consuming laced marijuana as a result of being unknowledgeable to its contents or being tricked by drug producers. 

In accordance with the decision passed by the D.C council this could potentially create a more violent environment. People may be more inclined to cling to marijuana use because it is more accessible and is legal. With a higher population of users, people may act differently and it could potentially create more problems within the area. Not everyone will experience negative side effects as a result of smoking marijuana, but for the new users it could create an unsafe environment. New users may hurt themselves or others unintentionally in the process. 

Implications of New Bill Governing Marijuana Leniency: 

The argument in the new bill passed by the D.C council is not if legalization is effective, but whether if decriminalization will work. This bill could possibly lessen the crime rate of D.C. and the amount of people illegally abusing marijuana. If people are able to freely use marijuana, a lot of networks will benefit positively.

In addition, the decriminalization of marijuana will help make marijuana a new market. This new market will cultivate new job opportunities for many people. The opening of a new job market will not only create jobs, but could possibly lower taxes. Educational programs to teach teens about how to carefully utilize marijuana could also be created.

A video from "This Week: Marijuana Legalization" 

"Can Blogs Revolutionize Progressive Politics?" Reaction Questions

1. Why do the Democratic leaders embrace blogging as a potential political communication considering the traditional media landscape in politics?

- Blogging is a cheaper, faster, and interactive media platform used by Democrats to get their political campaign underway. Anyone, even the younger demographics are reached by using this approach. Democrats have realized that this is a way to receive donations, participate in live chats, have citizen involvement, and many more. Democrats want to get everybody on board with their campaign by utilizing blog sites. 

2. Blogging encourages a participatory culture. In what way does the participatory culture in blogging expand digital media convergence?

- Participatory culture is encouraged by blogging because everybody has access to make comments and posts regarding what they see and hear in the media. This expands digital media convergence because anyone can post comments, videos, and graphics reflecting their beliefs.

3. In the article, the author says: "The ability of the Internet to erase geographical distances can become a structural weakness in elections where district lines and eligibility are key." How can blogging counter this weakness in the process of turning the netroots to grassroots?


4. The author spends the second half of the article discussing the lack of diversity in current blogosphere dominated by elite bloggers. Please use the concept of digital convergence to explain how blogs can become the real bearer of freedom, democracy, egalitarianism, and participation in the new media communication?

"Virtual Revolution," Reaction Questions

1.     The web is celebrated as the revolutionary technology that is great leveling of humanity creating equal opportunity, equal access, and equal potential. However, there are only a quarter of people on the earth who can use it. How do you explain the controversial argument here?

- A vast majority of the world does have access to the internet, but a lot of poorer countries don't due to less technologic capabilities. Countries like Africa are starting to finally gain access to the internet with the onset of new technology, eventually Africa will reach limits close to our country.

2.    How is Wikipedia the best example to implement the leveling ideas of the Web rooted in the cultural revolution of 1960s, namely the Libertarianism in the counter culture? How does it explain some of the digital convergences?

-  Libertarianism focuses on individual freedoms. Wikipedia reflects the Libertarianism in the counter culture because it allows for people to be active participants online. Wikipedia allows for anyone to edit and add information on its website. People who post on Wikipedia are not censored, because it was created as a site for people's interactivity. 

3.   How does the Web make it possible for different kinds of digital convergence?

-  The web makes it possible for different kinds of digital convergence due to people's abilities to express their opinions and make comments anywhere online. People are able to blog, post pictures, write on social media sites, and so much more. All of these interactive technologies are accessible from the computer to our very own mobile devices. 

4.     How can the Internet become a challenge for traditional authority? Use the political landscape changes in some counties to illustrate your answer.

- The Internet's interactive component is a challenge to traditional authority. Ushahidi, a website created in Kenya as a result of government elections allowed people to post about violent rebellions or acts that were taken place in the country. As a result of people's postings, the Kenyan government was put under pressure and forced to take action to stem the violence. 

5.     Do you believe that getting information free can set us free eventually? Why or Why not? Do you see any concerns of the complete freedom or self-expression without limit on the Internet? Why or why not?

- There is definitely a lot of exceptions to how much information people should be able to freely access online. General information inquiries and postings on sites are harmless forms of information for people to seek out or act in. It becomes troublesome when people begin to access or post information that can potentially create a problem. For example, people who post information about the government and possibly include hate speech or make offensive comments could start a problem with other people viewing the material. Physical or mental violence could be a problem faced with too much freedom of content distribution on the internet.

6.     In traditional media communication, it has the “vertical” authority. In the Web communication, it becomes “horizontal?” How do you explain the change? How does this create the possibility for digital media convergence?

-  There will be no change because people will still be able to have unlimited access to freely express their opinions and share ideas on a wide range of sites. This creates the possibility for digital convergence because people will be able to continue to share ideas and express opinions through media.

7.     Why is that the Web is free critical for the success of the Web itself? How does that clash with the corporate business ideology? How does that pose challenges for copyright issues at the same time? What will happen if the Web is not free?

- The fact that the Web is free will promote people's active use of it. Most people would not pay for the Web. The potential clash with web freedom and corporate business ideology is that people will be able to freely access content on the web. This poses challenges for copyright issues because instead of buying certain media like music, people will be able to access such media on pirating websites free of charge. In addition, plagiarism has become more accessible because students can receive information from anywhere on the web. By using the web people are able to cheat corporate businesses. If the Web was not free, I believe that it would have a smaller pool of users, unwilling to charge for access.