iPods and iPhones in Classrooms?

Had this keyword search blog been assigned a little over a month ago,—before the first annual Sibley Day—I would not have had ANY idea of the topic. Podcasting might have sounded quite foreign to me, because even though I am considered tech savvy by some, most of my strengths lie in other areas like writing and researching.

First of all, Podcasting is recorded content, some consisting only of sound others of sound and video, and making it available online. Other users download these videos through iTunes and then save and view them on their personal iPods.

Just like any other technological advancement during Generation Y’s time, Podcasts are perfect for the constantly moving youth and world they live in. People are now viewing Podcasting as an “opening…[to] an endlessly varied universe of audio content to anyone who wants it at any time.” This is exactly what Podcasts provide. Through iTunes, users can simply Subscribe to certain television shows and other similar content and when the next episode of the program is available, it’s automatically downloaded and ready to view.

Podcasting has recently been viewed in a new light though. Media professionals believe that Podcasts could be the ultimate tool for education, including tutorials explaining assignments, missed lectures, and other basic functions. However, it can also be an incentive for students to increase their effort and creativity both in and out of the classroom. Students have the opportunity to publicize products they have personal crafted to an entire globe of viewers; “knowing that there is a real-world audience gives students purpose and motivation to create a spectacular product.”

Last week we discussed marketing to Generation Y and we touched on certain companies that have been able to do it effectively and succeed thanks to the billions of dollars we spend annually. Apple was one of the primary examples since it directly asked what kind of products Gen Y is interested in. Apple also supports the use of Podcasting in the classroom. Podcasts as educational instruments would influence not only how learning occurs, but when and where. “A bus stop, a cafe, wherever — is a place to learn.”

Mobile learning however, will only occur if educators learn about these educational devices as well. Jason Dude Lively, a professor here at Lindenwood University, presented The Converged Classroom, a presentation discussing the infinite uses of technologies like Podcasts, Wikis, and Blogs for teaching purposes and preparing for these changes in the classroom. This presentation is available on his page.



Since Podcasting is a relatively new breakthrough for everyday technology consumers,—although media professionals and the true tech savvy community might find my supposed breakthrough old news—it only seems appropriate that they have their own Network dedicated to teaching people what podcasting is and how to use it as well as their own blog and of course, Podcasts (seems a bit obvious I know, but I felt I had to state it just in case). Not only that, but surprisingly (I know that sarcasm is hard to pick up…so I had to interrupt again) Podcasting has a Twitter. To follow Podcasting, click here.

The Green-Bay Press-Gazette

For print jobs, I found The Green Bay Press-Gazette located in Green Bay, Wisconsin seeking a part-time news assistant with 1-3 years of experience who can write, edit, and proofread while not forgetting the importance of detail. The Green Bay Press-Gazette covers general news and is owned by the Gannett Company, Inc.

I like that it is a fast-paced environment because that’s what media deadlines are all about, especially in today’s century. I think that writing, editing, and proofreading in detail is crucial to newspaper writing. These tasks require the conciseness of newspaper style with attention to other writing aspects of the article, like its interest to the audience.

The position asks for some knowledge of html, Dreamweaver, PhotoShop, and other digital video/audio editing software. Currently, I’m taking Video Production class with Ben Scholle and am learning to use the Avid software for editing video and audio. PhotoShop I have tinkered with on my own and understand fairly well. My skills using html are quite minimal and even worse for web site software like Dreamweaver. In the Fundamentals of Internet course offered, I would learn the basics of html and have a great base for learning more on my own. I might not be exposed as much to Dreamweaver, but it is much easier than html style—or so I have heard. I could use tutorials to learn more about Dreamweaver online.

Twouble with Twitters

Considering we've spent so much time talking about Twitter, I thought this video would be funny! A friend of mine sent me the link and I couldn't help but put it on my blog!

Talk to Us, Don't Advertise: We Won't Listen

We don’t watch much television, mainly because we spend so much of our time connected to the World Wide Web—which explains our incredible technological abilities; we find advertising through pop-ups annoying and have grown accustomed to ignoring them; our reading habits are minimal; we are passionate about good causes, ranging from saving the environment to ridding the world of poverty and starvation; as a whole, we are diverse and therefore, accept differences in others quite lightly. We are Generation Y, Millennials, the “Echo Boomers”—because we echo the consumer practices of our parents—and even “Connexity Kids” when studied (yes, we are frequently studied).

We are frequently studied by marketers and frankly, we should be studied. Approximately each Gen Yer spends about 100 dollars per week, over 150 billion per year. We consume more products than any other generation before us, yet we are not easily susceptible to marketing.

Our entire lives we have been told that we are individuals and therefore special. This is what we look for in companies, goods, and services on the market. We search for those special and different items that are not constantly advertised in the mass media. We don’t respond to typical mass marketing, and that’s a problem for current marketers.

Despite our complicated natures, companies have successfully infiltrated our consuming practices. They know that we refer to peers for advice or the latest styles, trends, events, etc. Word travels fast in our Generation, just the way we like to receive everything: FAST! We text and IM and even then, we are frustrated if a response takes longer than a few moments.
Marketers, with this knowledge, have found a way to successfully promote and sell to us. Some are valid suggestions—while others seem to stereotypical of our generation—but I found these six particularly suitable:
1. Use our modes of communication and media.
2. Treat us as equals—after all, we are going to decide if your business succeeds or not.
3. Appearance, quality, price, and experience are equally important.
4. Make yourselves available and present in our social circles.
5. Promote items—preferably free—that we are ACTUALLY interested in.
6. Understand that we are all DIFFERENT and OPINIONATED!

The last tip is probably the most important. In order to understand us, you must find a way to relate and communicate with us on a personal level. You have to learn to listen to us, because we have innovative ideas, ideas that are going to jump the current market standard and provide an even better product to present and future consumers. Businesses succeed because of that portion of their revenue that we provide as a constant growing number.

Starbucks is just one of these businesses. We enjoy occurrences and characteristics that Starbucks provides: a relaxed environment with background music and ability to chat at ease (appearance), good coffee (quality), and an enriching experience surrounded by friends or just a good book to read.


Marketing to us is critical. Get to know us. We are here to stay.

At least Mexico is Number One in something...

This commercial focuses on a mother that comes home with a pirated movie, one she describes was incredibly cheap. Her mother asks her if that is illegal, to which she replies that of course not, because she bought it. At that moment, the son is about to go play with his friends, but his mother tells him he has to study for an exam that he has the following day. He tells her that he doesn't have to study because he has the exam. She asks, "You stole the exam?" He replies "No, I bought it," before walking out. The messages say this:

1) Pirated movies don't look good

2) But you as a parent look worse

3) What are you teaching your child?

For me, the words pirating is synonymous with Mexico. Even goods that aren’t normally thought of can be sold as pirated products, like perfume and medicine. The ordinary citizens that become CD and DVD vendors as they step onto the humid and sardine-packed subway of Mexico City entice consumers with extremely cheap prices and their amazing skills as possible auctioneers. They carry backpacks filled with thin cases holding burned CDs and DVDs and a printed version of the original CD or DVD cover. Because there are street vendors and multiple stands of these entertainment items on every busy intersection of downtown, pirated material has become not only common, but accepted.

Did you know that Mexico is the #1 country for pirated material in both music and movies? Though China and Russia are most commonly projected as the “piracy powerhouses” of the globe, Mexico has more than double the estimated trade losses than either of these countries and the gap is astoundingly wide. China’s estimated $250 million and Russia’s $689 million trade losses are nothing compared to Mexico’s $970 million. Since these statistics are for 2006, I imagine that these numbers have grown quite a large amount.

I am not exactly proud about being number 1 in pirated music and movies, but I have to admit it’s convenient. These copies of CDs and DVDs are unbelievably cheap. Each one costs less than $2 American dollars and, not to my surprise, they are typically of good quality. Come to think of it, I do not think I have seen more than 20 purchased original movies in Mexico.

However, this is not simply in Mexico. All over Latin America, pirated movies and music are sold for cheap prices, mainly because the materials needed to make them are readily available. Businesses similar to computer labs provide internet service for the hour in Mexico. Normally the rates are about 80 cents per hour and usually, these businesses sell CD-Rs at about 70 cents each, perfect for burning music and movies, especially when the mass production of these materials yield decent profits.

The laws dealing with piracy are weak in many of these countries. For example, in Mexico the law dictates that in order to make an arrest, there must be a revenue motive. “So if you say you are taping something in a movie theater because you want to make a present to your grandmother, you're off the hook.” As a result, the worldwide anti-piracy director for the Motion Picture Association of America is pushing for harsher penalties for individuals caught pirating. Other attempts at reducing pirating include training dogs to sniff out significant amounts of DVDs in airports.




Software Pirating

A type of pirating I had not really thought of is software pirating. I recently bought the 2007 Microsoft Office student version for my laptop, which was quite expensive, and installed the programs on two different computers. Since the software allows you to install the programs up to five times, I don’t think that I will have a problem with software. However, when a friend told me she had not bought the software but needed the program, I offered her my CD. She put the CD in and when it asked for the security code she looked at mine and changed a few of the letters and numbers. The program installed successfully. This is the art of pirating loopholes.

Pirating on College Campuses

Illegal downloading by college students is common. At the University of New Mexico, like many universities, student’s high-speed internet connections and a lack of money is like TELLING them to take initiative and search for free music and movies.

Is that Really You, Sharon?

The keyword search for this week is photo retouching. We all associate this modification to celebrity magazine portraits. We may even associate it with programs like Illustrator and such. However, for a price, these photo retouching secrets are now being circulated among the masses; this includes the popular online tutorials like Adobe Photoshop Photo Retouch Tutorials and the ever famous line for dummies: Photo Retouching and Restoration for Dummies.

What is the purpose behind these infinite tutorials and numerous applications on the internet? Is the desire to perfect photographs really this common and demanded that there is an entire global market for it? And if so, are we really that shallow or is it simply the false image that celebrities in the media portray that motivates us?

Lee Edward McIlmoyle, author of the article “On the Issue of Photo Retouching,” touches (not intended as a pun…but I think this is the most appropriate word) on the argument for photo retouching. He explains that through photography restoration they are simply expressing themselves as artists; to limit their use of retouching would be like censorship. He alludes to the Declaration of Independence’s pursuit of life, liberty and happiness as “the pursuit of beauty” and how this quest is not only reasonable but admirable in present-day culture.

“It doesn’t take brains to see through the lies on the page, but if someone lies to you enough times, it gets a little hard to ignore. And the retouched fantasy of human physical perfection is everywhere.” Photo retouching is brainwashing. Perfection is seen constantly and is accepted as a reality on the glossy surfaces of magazine covers. Maybe magazines should try not to exaggerate and promote the impossible, physical perfections of celebrities. However, magazines fear that this would in turn make the general public realize that there is nothing special about the celebrities that appear in their photos and therefore nothing special in the magazine. Maybe if photo retouching was simply an aid or a boost to beauty and not the standard or minimum, magazines might sell more. Of course, I’m only one of billions of consumers; magazines could care less if I buy their product.

Of course, I’m glad to know that some celebrities are trying to fight this accepted fantasy of photo retouching media. Kelly Clarkson spoke to a group of pre-teen girl scouts during a self-esteem workshop sponsored by Dove and focused on disputing the common-held belief that celebrities are flawless. She claims the practice is universal; it doesn’t matter who is being retouched. I hope this generation can find a way to modify this modern customary practice. Andy Roddick, professional tennis player, also refuted the images that Men’s Fitness Magazine used in its cover. Roddick claimed that his biceps were clearly altered. If celebrities know that this isn’t reality and themselves question the restorations, why do magazines continue to portray false images to the public?

Well, the response is that ordinary citizens want to retouch their photos as well. And now they can. PhotoHand.com is a web site that offers professional photo retouching to anyone at the low price of $3.50 per photograph. The press release vows to perfect photographs from special occasions and fond memories, but we all know that this will not be used only under these specific circumstances.

"Read for Free, Pay for Print or Stuff"

I chose to write about the article “Read for Free, Pay for Print or Stuff,” written by Michael Josefowicz, because I was intrigued with the concept of reading for free. I would love to go to Borders, sit down with a book, and read until the workers decided it was time to kick me out. I think after a while they would give me a limit as to the number of free books I could read before actually giving me their ultimatum: buy the book or don’t read for free. Just as the phrase “you break it, you buy it” implies, you read it, you buy it.

This article however, focuses on the conditions in which actual words—like those in the newspaper—will be bought compared to those times when simply skimming is sufficient. Therefore, companies that are involved with publication must place ads that will aid people in the search for merchandise to buy. The “read for free, pay for print or stuff” model is exemplified quite well through The New Yorker. The online publication is geared towards selling “stuff” pertaining to that magazine that will ultimately add to its own revenue.

This model, when applied to school textbooks, can become quite profitable. The idea behind college textbooks is to have mass production of thick textbooks; however, Eric Frank decided that he would completely modify this college textbook industry by placing textbooks online for free. What could his motivation be? Four strategic moves.

To begin with, by offering a free product through the internet, Frank has opened the market to virtually anyone. This large market can be swayed to purchase stuff. Textbooks online allow interaction for learning. Consumers are given the choice to buy or not, depending on their personal needs. But most importantly, this product will be available in larger amounts for a cheaper price.

Journalism, on the other hand, should shift their focus to schools. The key problem with textbooks is how slow they update and the newspaper’s main asset is their speed—they are updated every single day every day. If they united, journalism could help education progress through this constant and ever-changing medium. Not only would the education system advance through this steady influx of information, but newspapers, both print and online, might have a chance at existence after all.

*Dare to be hopeful!*

"What Will We Know?"

For this blog entry, I’m going to try something new. The entry will be written using the newspaper writing style. I feel it’s appropriate for this post. **If I quoted from your blog, sorry**

Professor Bob Wigginton was the guest speaker for the Survey of Professional Media course on Friday, February 27. He spoke about the decline of newspapers and the new direction print journalists are looking towards in the near future.

“In the last two years, about 6,000 journalists have lost their jobs…most in major newspapers,” said Wigginton.

Newspapers like the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, and the Chicago Tribune are slashing jobs out of necessity. News stories covering international events will have to be limited because of the cuts in overseas bureaus.

Due to these cuts in newspaper staff, backpack journalism is becoming a widespread practice. This method of journalism is where one reporter both writes the story and records the video.

Wigginton touched on the reasons for which this rapid decline in newspaper is occurring. “These newspapers are not losing money. They’re simply not making as much as their shareholders want them to make…and their solution is to slash jobs,” said Wigginton.

Newspapers are in danger of extinction because they are pressured by Wall Street companies to make a certain amount of money to show a large profit. These Wall Street corporations and CEO’s care more about money than newspaper survival and are taking over Wigginton stated.

Because of this control, stories are now viewed as advertising tools. Journalists are steering away from touching and investigative stories and moving towards “fluff.”

The influx of the Internet also adds to the decline of newspaper journalism. “Younger generations prefer to get their news from websites such as Google or Yahoo than run to the nearest vending machine for a newspaper,” wrote a student after listening to Wigginton’s presentation.

Wigginton used a video presenting the reality of the newspaper industry to provide background for his lecture. He also introduced the audience to Poynter Online. It’s mission statement is to “[teach] and [inspire] journalists and media leaders…to [inform] citizens and [enlighten] public discourse.”

A student from the lecture describes Wigginton as a journalist that “seems to know his profession like the back of his hand and could probably speak about it for hours, never repeating himself in the knowledge he could provide to someone. And he would mean every word of it, and dare you to prove him wrong.”

Wigginton worked as a journalist for the past 25 years. He currently teaches print media courses at Lindenwood Unviversity, including Writing for Publication. His work includes a piece in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette entitled “The Sights, Sounds, and Smells of Afghanistan.”

**Once again, if I used your words it’s because I liked what you had to say about the presentation, but if you have any problem with it, let me and I can edit my post.**