Week 3- Churchman

Searching for the specific kind of media organization that I would like to join was a difficult task.. There were many options that just didn’t strike my interest..But then I stumbled upon an online organization that caught my eye, LangfordMedia. It is generated out of Lawrence, Kansas by a former KU graduate, Jacinta Langford Hoyt, CEO.  LangfordMedia is a marketing firm specializing in branding and all aspects of digital communications and emerging technologies. They help organizations keep up with real world progress and stay ahead of the curve. They’re involved with Social Media, Web Development, and mobile application development. Keeping up with today’s technology is something I am very adamant about. That is the main reason why I would like to join LangfordMedia. The internet is a complex landscape of search engines, social networks, websites, and more. Most organizations are busy in the day-to-day operations of their business and have trouble finding time to manage and understand all that is involved in their online presence. That is where LangfordMedia steps in and helps them develop in such a way that they can help maximize the company’s exposure.  I would love to help people do these kinds of things.

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http://www.langfordmedia.com/

Week 3 - Mitchell

If there was any media organization that I would join it would be "Media For The Missing."  It's a non-profit organization that works on using various media outlets to help find people who have been abducted, have gone missing, or are in abusive homes.  Although "Media For The Missing" is a national organization, they have a branch that's based in Manhattan, KS, at Kansas State University.  At KSU they have established a safe house where victims can go.  You can online and learn self defense tips in case anyone finds themselves in a situation to know self defense.  You can go their website at www.mediaforthemissing.org and choose your state and see the list of missing people and the information you need in case you recognize anyone you know.  I think this is a great organization because of the simple fact that people don't realize the potential that the media has.  People generally formulate the idea that the media is "dirty" and is made to be out worse then it actually is.  Mass media has became a very powerful tool that helps a lot of people if used properly.

Week 3- Oubaid

If I could join any media organization around Kansas, it would be the Kansas City Star. The first time I read one of their papers in high school, I fell in love. I really like their quality of work and their diverse topics. Even though the Topeka Capitol Journal does cover a lot of important news, I feel like the Kansas City Star is more interesting to read. To me reading about bigger city news is more enjoyable because it covers not only local news but other big time news as well.

This has a lot to do with my major because I am interested in hopefully one day being able to write about news of all different categories. Being able to read about big city news not only makes a person more knowledgeable but also opens a whole new world of life they never got to learn about before.

http://www.kansascity.com/ 

Week3-Hu

There are a lot of different media organizations in State of Kansas, but the one I like it best is KTWU. KTWU has been broadcasting since 1965, the first public television station in the state of Kansas. It has three channels which are seen throughout eastern Kansas and portions of Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. The station license is held by Washburn University with studios located on the campus in Topeka, Kansas.

KTWU has several productions, including Sunflower Journeys and Quest. Sunflower Journeys is a series of half-hour programs presented in a “magazine-style” format. Each program presents three stories connected by a common theme. These programs primarily feature the insights of knowledgeable individuals who provide the expertise and experiences upon which the resulting stories are based. Although the three segments of each program are designed to complement each other, they may also be viewed separately, which may be desirable for classroom settings. Quest is a cooperative production of KTWU and Washburn University and is the top high school academic competition in Kansas.

Last semester, I have a chance to visit KTWU because of the course “Introduce to Mass Media”. After visiting KTWU, I found that I really wanted to get to know how a TV station work and wanted to join it. In KWTU, I will learn more about mass media, especially the TV aspect. Also, I will have the experience of working in a professional TV station. So I hope I can join KTWU and have a wonderful time in it.  

Week 3 - Penn

As a senior transfer student with no extracurricular involvement Washburn University, the Washburn Student Media group interests me. The organization is completely relevant to my major, obviously, and would provide a multitude of opportunities to practice and improve my journalistic skills and abilities. Additionally, joining would give me an opportunity to get involved, and in turn, get better acquainted with the university.

Washburn Student Media produces The Washburn Review, a “student-run publication dedicated to informing and providing a voice for the general population of Washburn University.” Not only does The Review feature traditional print publications, but video, web, and other social media resources as well. With such a broad range of staff jobs, the opportunities are great. In addition to gaining experience that would undoubtedly enhance my experience in journalism and mass media, I would be able to work with and form relationships with other Washburn students.

Thankfully, The Review’s website is easy to navigate and I almost immediately found the link to apply for a position. (See, they get the whole "original without being confusingly unique concept!)

This is a direct link to the website!

And if anyone else is interested...this link takes you to the online application form!

Week 3 Crayton

The ONA, or Online News Association, is an organization that focuses specifically on online journalism. While it is not a local organization, they have held conferences in the
area, with the most recent being held on KU’s campus. The aim of this organization is to help build a network of journalists that not only focus on the field journalism, but also on the
ever changing technology that is being used to push news and information out to
the masses on the web by online journalists today.

This organization seems to be a perfect fit for my goals. I am planning on covering the video game industry (actually I just landed a spot doing that; go me), and the main place to find out news and information about gaming is on the internet. This organization's aims go hand in hand with my goals and I think it would be a perfect fit for me.

http://journalists.org/

Week 3 - Whightsil

       Fasone & Partners is a local advertising organization located in Kansas City, MO. I hadn't heard of the company before this assignment, but after a little bit of research on their website, I think they are very Interesting. Their website screams creativity which, of course, I absolutely love. They complete a large variety of advertising and media work around the KC area including anything from TV advertisement to promotional events. They also seem like a very welcoming group of co-workers who are eager to help and are willing to go the extra mile!

Fasone & Partners Link

Week 3 Southall

I ran a search for media companies in the Topeka area and got zero results. I’m sure we have some, but I wanted to blog about a company that’s easy to find online.  After all a media based company that can’t be found online quickly is doing something wrong. The next obvious place to look is Kansas City. I found a few websites, but two jumped out at me.

The first website is for a company named VML. Their website is bright, exciting and well organized. With each click of the mouse I found another link I wanted to explore. The company is global with offices in places like New York, London and Milan, yet its global headquarters is in Kansas City. VML does everything from research and planning to activation and management. They basically sell your brand.  

The second website was for a company named Evans Media Group. The main page was very hard to look at. There are very few colors and the ones they have seemed faded or washed out. I was immediately turned off by the lack luster appearance. The two companies offer similar branding services for their clients but VML is impressive while Evans is not.

It’s interesting to see what is available in our area for a career. I didn’t realize there were this many options.

Week 3- Lara

I wanted to go big on picking an agency that did it all. I know that maybe smaller is better in a lot of things, but to be big is another thing. That's why I picked Rhycom located in Overland Park, KS. It's a company that doesn't just deal with one type of business, but a wide variety. They deal with local, regional, national, and even international corporations. I know that when I work, I want to be a part of something big and know that even in my small part in a big company, it's what makes that big company run the way it does. Also because you don't just have your own field of knowledge there such as just advertisement. But you also deal with others fields as well and expand your knowledge with others as well. From web design to graphics, and branding. They all come together to form the corporation of what it is today. I want to know that being a part of something big a successful that makes everyone there who works their small part to feel the same way as well.

http://www.rhycom.com/index.php

Week 3-Qi

     Personally, search for the local media is not an easy stuff because I am a totally newcomer without any media background information in Topeka. The famous meida from my knowledge is the well known TV stations and press of USA. Fortunately, there is a meida company located in our campus. I guees everyone now have the answer. Yes, it is KTWU.
     KTWU is the first television station in Kansas which founded in 1965 and now has 3 digital channels(KTWUHD, KTWU MHz Worldview and KTWU Enhance). Their audience include children and adults with their subjects to education, cultural enrichment, international affairs, public affairs and entertainment. They belong to PBS group which I like its documentary film"Prohibition". KTWU quite welcome to people join for them or provide them qualitive productions if you are a independent producer. In addition, they acclaim that they will offer the opportunity for interested students to obtain valuable on-the-job exposure to areas of media affairs, they have positions of internship on Marketing/Promotion, Education, Digital Media, and Television Production, and if you want more details about how to apply for the internship for KTWU, you can just visit their office in our campus or e-mail FRIENDS@washburn.edu.
     As I described above, they have their traditional and mature platform of media, and they also like to provide chances for people who interested in. Literally it is a good chance for me to try. I like photogrphy and I had the internship in China from press to TV station. Now I want to experience the difference between American media and Chinese media. I also applied the student media in campus and took part in their orientation meeting, their purpose and work content really appeal me. KTWU also interesting on cultural enrichment which I think I can help.
http://www.ktwu.org/
http://www.ktwu.org/about-2/careers/

Week 3 Peterson

An awesome publication in Topeka I would love to work for someday is seveneightfive Magazine. They cover all the nightlife and entertainment in town, and they do it in a fun, and carefree way.  Every time I look at one of their magazines I have the desire to be part of designing it, writing in it, or both. It’s always so eye-catching and at the same time, relevant to my life in Topeka.

            Their main focus is arts and entertainment, and as the A&E editor for the Washburn Review, I find myself drawn to other arts and entertainment publications. When I first found seveneightfive about 3 years ago, I was so excited to see it in Topeka because I had just moved here from Phoenix, AZ where there were many magazines like it, but I had not ever seen one in Topeka. When I returned home to Topeka and found seveneightfive, I was excited and pleased that my home town was stepping it up a notch, and catching up with other bigger cities. I look forward to the future of seveneightfive and hope to be part of it someday.

           

             http://www.seveneightfive.com/

Week 3 - Ogle

I’ve been a longtime fan and reader of the Kansas City-based publication, Pitch Weekly. The publication started out as the newspaper-styled Pitch Weekly that could be found, free of charge, at bars, restaurants, night clubs, concert venues and record stores in Topeka, Lawrence and Kansas City. Since then, the publication has evolved into the web-based Pitch.com. Primarily an Arts & Entertainment publication, Pitch covers virtually every aspect of the Kansas City-area nightlife and entertainment scene that one could possibly imagine. Restaurant reviews, concert calendars and features on area musicians, the local art community and even modern dating are all topics you’ll find in Pitch. I’ve always appreciated the publication’s penchant for digging beneath the mainstream and focusing on the various sub-cultures that pop up with each new generation. A recent interview with filmmaker Kevin Smith about his movie “Red State” and his run-ins with the Westboro Baptist Church gained national notoriety for Pitch. It has long been a goal of mine to contribute to Pitch.com, particularly to the music section.  

Week 3- O'Neill

  The Topeka Capital Journal is arguably the leading newspaper in the Topeka area and covers a wide range of news not only in Topeka but on a State, National and International basis. The CJ reports on sports teams from a high school level up to professional standard, reports on any political news affecting the area and many local stories and features relevant to the Kansas and Topeka area. I would benefit greatly from an opportunity to work at the Topeka Capital Journal as it provides a great chance for me to learn the craft of journalistic writing and make a contribution to the local community that I currently live in. It would also give me experience working for a journalistic company outside of my home country of the United Kingdom and would give me some insight in to how the rules and particularly the media laws and ethics vary.

Week 3_ Wagers

I would love to join Shelley Jensen Photography. She and her husband run a small, but quickly growing photography business from their home.  She is so passionate about her work: she takes the time to get to know her clients and truly captures who they really are. I am constantly seeing new and innovative things from Shelley on her websites, blog, and Facebook.

A little more about Shelley: she has been in the photography and design world for 15 years, she is a member of the PPA (Professional Photographers of America), and she is the official photographer for the United Way of Greater Topeka.

During the beginning of my senior year of high school, I was on the search for a photographer, knowing exactly what I wanted, as I too am a photographer and wish to pursue that in one way or another, I came across shelleyjensen.com and immediately fell in love with her style, her grace in editing, her amazing ideas, and her original photo shoot locations.

http://shelleyjensen.com/

http://shelleyjensen.blogspot.com/

http://topekaseniors.shelleyjensen.com/?load=flash#

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shelley-Jensen-Photography/116297961723408

Week 3 - Willis

The Kansas City Metropolitan Area offers many special-interest groups in the media industry due to the fact that it is the 31st largest media market in the United States. A variety of disciplines are available, ranging from Radio and Television to Public Relations and Entrepreneurship. I was able to find several different organizations on the website: http://kc.iabc.com/special-interest-groups-sigs/#link-3. The organization best suited for me was the 'Rising Stars Special Interest Group'. It is a group specifically for workers in the industry who have less than 10 years of experience. Upon entering the job market in this field, this would be a wonderful place to make connections. Though the group is smaller and doesn't meet on a strictly set schedule, friendships are formed and networks are created. It has more of a social spin to it, rather than that of professionalism. The KC/IABC Rising Stars group make themselves readily available by having a Facebook page, which is where I obtained some information for my search. Just today, (February 2nd, 2012) they held the 2012 Business Communicators Summit where they dined together and brought in about a dozen speakers who are masters of their fields. Taking the time away from work to build up connections can really pay off in the long run. In the words of Armstrong Williams, a politician and talk show host, "Networking is an essential part of building wealth."

week3- Li

I researched Galiath is a very nice on-line-business content service in Topeka, KS. The full name of it is The Gale Group, Inc.. It providing global company and industry intelligence to business executives. Goliath provides immediate on-line access to more than three million records including business articles, industry reports, company profiles and executive contacts pulled from business data resources maintained by The Gale Group, Inc. The site serves a range of business needs - from starting a company, to researching an existing company and reviewing best practices, to retrieving recent business news. In addition, it also serving the school and library communities, licenses its proprietary content for integration within Web-based information services. Nearly 100 organizations - including Look smart, Borders, Dow Jones, and Thomson Financial - presently enjoy strategic business distribution partnerships with The Gale Group, Inc..


http://goliath.ecnext.com/

Week 3 Lawson

I researched Through a Glass Production which is a full service film and video production company in the Kansas City area. They produce feature films, commercials, music videos, documentaries, corporate videos, and pretty much anything else you can think of. Their work can be seen in theaters and movies on DVD, also some of their work may be on TV such as MTV, Discovery, Animal Planet and more. I chose Through a Glass Production because I love creating films and working with cameras. The work can be really hard and frustrating but when you finish you get a wonderful feeling of accomplishment that you can't beat. When people enjoy watching what you created you just feel like you're apart of their happiness.

Check out Through a Glass Production!
http://www.throughaglass.com/about_us.html

Week 3 - Funk

When researching what local company I wanted to blog about I searched for companies that dealt with printing and publishing. I picked this particular type of company because this is basically what type of career I'm interested in having in the future. For the link, I wanted to post info about the growth, history, and future of the Barker Printing Company that is here in Topeka. It describes what equipment they have updated and how it will help them continue to be successful in the future. It also has side tabs where you can look at their printing, designs, and bindery. Last semester I actually created my sister's baby shower invitations so I find these companies very interesting.

http://www.bpctheprinter.com/aboutus.html

Week 3 - Koehler

Topeka, Kansas acquires many successful media organizations in the business. However a unique business focuses primarily on videos, movies, and TV commercials and many forms of digital content.  Having had the privilege of meeting Jeff Carson in late 2010; he and Greg Read founded Gizmo in 2004. Gizmo is a film and video production company, which is a group of marketers, storytellers, and artist who are talented in media projects. Gizmo focuses on motion graphics and video productions; however, Gizmo Productions write, direct, and shoot film and create marvelous media content. Gizmo has professional grade photography, radio and video.  Gizmo has their own blog so you may know what is currently going on with the business and sees their talented productions. The website is rather fascinating, encourage all to check it out.

http://www.gizmopictures.com/index.html

Week2-Li

I woud like to talk about use iPod to learn English and other courses. As everyone knows that ipod is related to the itunes, and itunes is related to ItunesU. There are many resource of courses in itunesU. especially for the Chinese students like me, need the classes with Chinese subtitle under it. There are many classes resources with subtitles in itunes to help international students learn English classes.


On the other hand is Podcast. I always use Podcast to listen Tedtalks. There are also many ebooks in podcast are free. Some of them can be read for you. You can download them to your touch, classic and iphone, then you can listen them, listen is a nice way to memories, it would help a lot for you learn English or a new language.


As you know how to download them, you can choose them on itunesU as you like. Make full use of your ipod, it can do many thing not only for listen music.


http://www.xuying.org/2012/01/ipod-english-learning.html

http://gigaom.com/apple/itunes-u-learning-wherever-you-are/

Week 2- Oubaid

My article is about a young boy from Lee Summit, Mo who died from testicular cancer. After his death his mother was inspired to make people aware about the disease by writing a book called "Together We Will Win: A Young Man's Story." The article tells us that there will be poetry inspired performances at THS where people can purchase tickets to help raise money for cancer charities. This story really caught my attention because so many people die from cancer and illnesses a year just because they couldn't afford treatment. I'm so blessed to have never lost a family member to cancer but I think it's so important to have cancer fundraisers and I'm really glad that things like that are taking place here. The article relates to mass media because his mother's story is helping spread the knowledge about cancer and the struggles in a way that makes it relatable to the public. Not to mention the poetry production is a multimedia experience because of the art, poetry, and performances. I hope some of you get an opportunity to check it out or just read the article. Hopefully it touches you like it did me.


http://cjonline.com/news/2012-01-26/video-ths-fights-cancer-poetry-prose

Week2-Hu

In the past month, Kodak, the name behind many photographic moments in our lives, succumbed to bankruptcy. Photography is still very much alive, but Kodak has been in trouble. Kodak filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on January 19th. Not surprisingly, their stock dropped 35%. But really, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Currently, digital camera has been the mainstream of photography. Kodak, which is famous for film-based camera, cannot follow the fashion and fail to be alive in the modern camera competition.  In my opinion, Kodak’s failure is due to its anti-development. When almost every company is developing its digital technology, Kodak is still use lots of money to renew its roll film and film-based camera technology. As a creation, it put plenty of efforts to develop the one-time film-based camera. Even in 2004, Kodak invested 40 million to start a one-time film-based camera factory in Xiamen, China. Because the decisions of Kodak cannot follow the fashion and are always out of date, Kodak loses most customers and is in trouble now.

In the old days, photography is a professional thing. At that time, most of us had no chance to try it by ourselves. Kodak helped camera popular and helped us to buy our own cameras. But now, it fails to develop and head toward bankruptcy. Kodak’s story tells us that we must keep trying new technology and follow the fashion, or you will fail. Even you are Kodak.


Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-13/kodak-said-to-hold-talks-with-citigroup-on-bankruptcy-financing.html

Week 2_Wagers

So, apparently this year’s super bowl commercials are going to be more raunchy, racier, and sexier than ever. Big shot companies like GoDaddy.com, Doritos, and H&M are going to air, let’s just say not PG and even PG13 appropriate material during half time. As we all should know, the big advertising companies try to appeal to a certain audience, in this case, because it is football, one would think it is mostly men who watch the super bowl, or as I like to call it, “the super bore.” And what appeals to most men? SEX!!!

However, a study done at the University of Wisconsin shows that “spots with sexual imagery take 10 percent hit in ‘likability’ versus ads without racy images.” Researchers in this study also found that “most views actually prefer to see ads with kids or animals.”

Usually, at least in my experience, watching the super bowl is a family event; it is not just men who watch the super bowl. It is a time for families to get together and watch people throw a funny looking ball around, slapping each other butts, and kicking this ball between two yellow poles, and eating junk food all day, and yelling at the television. These men are not going to want to see a half naked woman with their mom/wife/5year old sitting beside them. I am so not surprised that these commercials are seeing a drop in their likability.

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Sexy+Super+Bowl+racier/6052195/story.html

Week 2 Southall

Microsoft is bringing its Xbox Kinect technology to laptops.  Two notebook prototypes were debuted to the public, as highlighted in a recent Wired.com article.  Microsoft previously indicated that desktop PC’s will be available with Kinect sensors this year.  

The Netbooks have Kinect sensors instead of web cameras at the top of the monitor. Having sensors on portable devices would open an entire new market of software. This would be yet another way to experience your games and Apps. This of course means big money for those who can get it on the market first.

It’s obvious this technology will be fun, I can’t help but think about its usefulness. For most of us this technology would be a perk not a necessity. It could be an asset to those who have trouble using current forms of media. I know many children with developmental issues that could benefit. In many cases it’s hard for them to coordinate a mouse or controller with a screen. The combination of hand eye coordination and the muscles needed to direct a controller often prove to be frustrating. Kinect technology removes half the barriers making it easier to use the new media’s.

Week 2- O'Neill

We all remember the days when our mom's and dad's would send us off to school with a backpack full of books for the busy school day ahead, but that could all change very soon.  Apple has recently announced that interactive iTextBooks are available for download on iPads.

Digital books are slowly gaining popularity in the academic world mainly because many of them are increasingly interactive.   The student can watch videos that relate to they're reading, take notes on the iPad, highlight material and engage in interactive chats that help students better understand the material. Companies that provide these digital books also add a huge social media piece to it, where teachers can communicate with their students. Students can communicate with other students, and the user can choose who they want to follow like a twitter account where you can pick which students you want to follow and follow their notes. But as learning is the ultimate purpose, the question still remains: Will kids really learn more and better on tablets than existing media?

It’s not that we shouldn’t use computers in classrooms. Technology is a movement that is ever progressing, but it’s not only the technology that is important, it’s everything else around it. If you have a place with bad teachers and poor instruction, it’s a great way for both teachers and students to waste time. Between the two, having good teachers is much more important than having digital media. The transition from regular textbooks to digital textbooks on tablets may be inevitable, but research has consistently shown that  good teaching skills and teaching ability effectively conducted to students can overcome socioeconomic background. Children need guidance and feedback. They’re not going to get that from electronic books alone. So until experiments and studies  determine how tablets best enable learning, I don't think schools don’t need to rush. 

Read more at: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/01/ipad-textbooks-learning/

Week 2 Lawson

I have recently found news about a new xbox system in the works to be released in fall 2013. It is said that the xb0x 720 (new xb0x) is supposed to have out of this world graphics up to 6 times better than the xbox 360 and 20 percent more power than the wii U which is close to release. There is also supposed to be a new kinect system which I believe is going to have a hard time beating out the first one due to a great response from the people. Xbox 720 is said to have new controller which will be smaller. I see no need for a controller knowing that everybody with an xbox is used to the won we've used for years. One rumor that comes with the xbox 720 is it may be produced with an anti used game system which I think would piss off multiple people including myself. This means that nobody could share or buy cheap used games anymore. Every game would be new and there would no longer be a time when your friend tells you to bring that game over so you can play. In other countries some game stores such as GameStop are closing and some wonder if it's because the recent articles about the anti game system. To end I would love to see a new xbox just like everybody esle but with this new anti game system I would put no thought into buying the new xbox 720, Tate.
http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/science-updates/xbox-720-release-may-compete-with-nintendo-wii-u

Week 2 - Penn

Advertisers have always used product placement as a promotion technique since the beginning of time, or at least since it was ever so subtly exemplified with Pizza Hut, Pepsi, and Reebok on “Wayne’s World.” As mass media has expanded, grown, and evolved, advertisers continually use product placement through multiple mediums as a way to brand themselves. ABC’s “Modern Family” is no exception, but how it features products differs from the norm and proves to be effective.

Adage.com recently published Brian Steinberg’s article, “Many Brands Bid for Product Placement on ‘Modern Family,’ but So Few Make It,” illustrating how product placement continues to thrive.  Not only do advertisers want their products to appear in the show, they are fighting for a spot. “We get offers constantly. We do very few. We try to be extremely selective,” said Steven Levitan, one of the show’s creators and executive producers to Steinberg. Luckily, the producers can afford to be picky with so many options. A few lucky advertisers include Toyota, Audi, and Target, all featured throughout the season.

Traditionally, products appear somewhere in the show, but are seldom used in a manner similar to the way viewers would. Steinberg’s article says that ‘Modern Family,’ “puts name-brand goods in the hands of characters that incorporate them into their normal routine, in turn demonstrating exactly how most of the buying public might use them.” The relevance of a product to both the plot and characters dictates if it will be used. One character, Mitchell Pritchett, an environmental lawyer, drives the environmentally friendly Toyota Prius season one. Makes sense, huh? The producers’ idea seems to be, “If the “modern family” wouldn’t actually buy or use it, why market it?”

Producers of ‘Modern Family’ take product placement to a whole new level, perhaps because they use it to demonstrate reality. Characters aren’t shown using outlandishly expensive products, but rather products that develop and enhance their roles. In turn, viewers develop a better, more sincere connection to the characters, making the purpose of product placement that much more effective. Effective as it may be, cost is a big problem for advertisers.

The article says that “‘Modern Family’ is one of the 10 most-expensive shows for advertisers this season, and a 30-second spot runs $249,388, according to Ad Age's annual survey of prime-time ad costs. Using back-of-the-envelope math, every second a product appears in the show could be worth slightly more than $8,300.” With rates like that, few advertisers have the option to place products on the show. And so another issue arises in the world of mass media… But at least ‘Modern Family’ now serves as an example of how to more effectively advertise through product placement.

Click here to read the entire article on AdAge.com!  

Week-2 Williams

FACEBOOK......... You see this companies name everywhere. City buses , wal-mart ads , youtube, and almost anyother ad that wants to make money. I came across a article stating that Facebook is ready to file their IPO papers meaning Facebook is opening stock chances to the public and other large companies . My first thought was what took so long? The should be no quetion if this is a smart or good idea facebook is the face of the internet along with google, youtube , and other compaies that have been on top for years , so why not open stock to the public it will increase their earning so much more. I do not know alot about stocks but i know nothing nefative can come out of anything Facebook does. I trust the BOOK!

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505124_162-57367651/will-facebooks-ipo-delight-or-disappoint/?tag=mncol;subStories

Week 2 - Clark

Whenever the phrase "social media" is brought up, a similar vision or knowledge comes to ones mind and to those of us who actively use them. From chatting with friends on Facebook to keeping up with our favorite celebrities on Twitter, we all use these forms of media to stay connected. While most of us are mainly using these to see our friends, some are taking advantage of these means to get people informed.

Take AIDs for example. This is a disease that is taking over parts of our world and something to not take lightly. Yet, not everyone is getting the important information that they need to keep themselves protected. AIDs officials all over the world are coming together to spread the message about the transferal of AIDs, primarily from mother to child. There are around 400,000 children born a year with AIDs, a sad reality.  Officials see they opportunities that various social media sites offer and plan to use them as resources to get the word out about the AIDs virus.

They plan on modeling their mission after Randi Zuckerberg, the sister of Mark Zuckerberg, inventor of FaceBook. After pulling in 1,000 influential Twitter and FaceBook users, she used social media to raise $200 million to fight malaria. Social media, although fun and wildly entertaining, can be used in a very beneficial and inspiring way. They can broadcast the needs and informations regarding crisis occurring globally.

Remember that the next time you're stalking someone's pictures on Facebook or subscribe to someone famous on Twitter. Social media can be a simple way to save ones life. Information is there for those who seek it, and by making information available to all, it can be pretty powerful.

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/01/27/3394851/business-social-media-to-prevent.html

Week 2- Lara

Seeing as how much a lot of people, including myself, use Facebook for just about everything, I chose an article that’s kind of intense to think about. I’m sure many people have thought about it, but haven’t really discussed it. It seems that everyone now has a Facebook. From our youth to even the little number of older folks. Whether it’s to interact with others to meet new people, share information, or even keep in touch with distant family. But, the question is, what happens to your profile when you pass away? 

“When you die, your social media presence lives on. But should it?” My opinion on this subject is kind of on the fence. But thinking about it more and more, a lot of people want to be remembered. Don’t you? I mean even if it’s your Facebook page, it was still your Facebook page so that people could always know that you were someone special. I think that you digital presence shouldn’t be completely erased, but I think that there’s a line to where seeing old statues and other things on someone’s page could be kind of hard for family members and close friends. 

Only Oklahoma, Idaho, Rhode Island, Indiana and Connecticut have created laws governing digital asset management after death. I think that Facebook has a good outlook on it. According to their policies, even after death they can’t issue login and password information to family members. However, Facebook does give the option for family to decide to keep the Facebook page up or even turn their page into a memorial page to where the page can’t be logged into again. 

http://news.yahoo.com/facebook-death-law-160533502.html

Week 2 Crayton

BlizzCon 2012, a huge gaming convention focusing on the products released by Blizzard, has been canceled. This convention is usually held every year, but Blizzard has stated that they are canceling it this year in order to work on products. Personally, I think their reasoning for cancelling this event is lame. With a company as large as Blizzard, I find it hard to believe that a 3 day convention is going to pull team members away from game programming…undoubtedly, they have a staff that would exclusively handle the event.

I think it has more to do with the fact that Blizzard’s release calendar as of late has been lack luster. While they do have some big name titles coming out this year, their recent release have been spread out far and few between. If anything, they are missing out on an opportunity to showcase Diablo III and the other titles this year. I think it has more to do with the fact that other conventions, such as PAX and PAX East, focus on multiple game publishers (including Blizzard) and they are beating Blizzard in the convention realm.

http://kotaku.com/5879120/blizzcon-skips-2012-as-blizzard-focuses-on-kicking-ebutt-and-making-games

Week 2-Qi

     Twitter may censor tweets in individual countries? When I first read this title, the first reflection came into my mind is it will be back in China in future. There is no doubt that is a good news for the users who onced sighed a account on Twitter, however, one day you found you cannot access to its website at all. I have known Twitter since 2008, and I felt it was very interest and you can compose your status or your word whenever you want and you don't have to write it so long. As the article said, it become our megaphones. In addition, you can find lots of celebrities also have a Twitter accountant, you can focus your idol just click the button. One thing I remember that at the night that I signed on the Twitter, I wrote three tweets in a row! Unfortunately, we cannot use Twitter and Facebook in 2009. The reason why Twitter and Facebook are not allowed to access is that our government regard them as a potential threaten unless they will be allowed to censor their content and wipe out sensitive ones.
     As the article said, Twitter's born make the world change though it is a only 6-year-old boy. It really make big effort to our society and our lifestyle, it makes our life colourful and informative. The new policy they will do definitely will good for them because they will enter into more countries and have more customers. One of the biggest customer is China. It is estimate the amount of people who are active on line in China is 50,000,000. This is only China's market, I do believe if Twitter change their policy, the countries that closed their service or never let them enter will open their heavily doors to Twitter. For Twitter, a net company, survival is the piority thing they need to consider everytime, especially they also have an ambitious agenda. Morever, the first thing they censor is to wipe out the childporngraphy, that's what they should always noticed and defend. In a word, it is a good news for us that our favorite net company will do some thing benefits us and we can use it in more places!

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2012-01-27/twitter-censor-tweets/52811702/1
http://www.chillingeffects.org/

Week 2 - Willis

Everyone has their share of regrets. Everyone has skeletons in their closet. Everyone goes through a time that we wish others didn’t remember. Typically, these times can be kicked under the rug and forgotten about. However, with Facebook’s recent implementation of the “Timeline” profile format, these memories could haunt you, and whomever views your profile, forevermore.

Available since the beginning of December, its been optional for users to switch their profile format over to Timeline. However, Tuesday of this week, Facebook released a warning to those who have yet to convert, telling them they had seven days to clean things up. (Remove photo tags, delete statuses, hide posts, etc.)Following the cleanup grace period, all profiles will be converted, making all of our pasts extremely visible. By simply clicking on a year on the right side of the page, observers can be directed to all the activity the user completed during that year. Including but not limited to: friends added, notes written, photo albums uploaded, and statuses published. Scary thought.

With enough effort, Facebookers can successfully hide their not-so-proudest moments from the typical base of Facebook users. Anything and everything posted to the Internet is archived, and accessible to companies and other investigators. All in all, it is of the utmost importance to comb through your past and clean it up NOW. Don’t wait. Your closest family and friends can understand when you say “the past is the past”, but future employers may not share that view.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/facebook-forces-users-to-switch-to-timeline-making-their-pasts-more-visible/2012/01/24/gIQAx3qNOQ_story.html?tid=pm_business_pop

Week 2 - Ogle

Early this morning, Wired.com published an article about Google’s recent acquisition of an abandoned paper mill that the company will use to house a new, state-of-the-art data center. One of the most compelling things about the article, and Google’s use of the building, is the symbolism behind it all. One of the internet’s biggest corporations expanding their reach farther than ever by “recycling” a facility that manufactured the very medium they’re replacing. Poetry for the tech-minded, but bitter irony for those who are still clinging to the last threads of the print industry. 

The building, which sits on the coast of the Baltic Sea just outside of Hamina, Finland, operated as a paper mill from 1953 until 2008 was forced to close due to the decline of the print medium and Google took immediate advantage of the situation. Google’s green initiatives go beyond the simple act of renovating and existing structure opposed to building from the ground up in a location; the facility itself comes with its own environmentally-friendly features. The builders of the paper mill dig a tunnel that used water from the Baltic to cool its steam-powered generators, and Google has adapted method to keep the data center’s array of servers from running too hot. 

As we move out of the industrial age and into the era of information and factories, plants and mills are being left to dilapidate; Google’s actions in Finland should be repeated more often. In Germany, for instance, empty steel mills and bombed-out relics from World War 2 now serve as restaurants, recreation centers and other businesses. Think of all the towns in America that are slowly dying thanks to the factories that were once the cornerstone of local economy. Those buildings sit unused, while forward-thinking companies could easily repair and renovate, thereby rejuvenating the town itself. 

http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2012/01/google-finland/