The Global Impact of Social Media

The global impact of social media cannot be overestimated, as evidenced by the recent democratic national movements often called the Arab Spring.  But social media, and its powerful influence, extend beyond mere regions or cultures.  Social media, clearly, remain conduits of discussion within a world of mistrust and ignorance.  Interactive communication tools, such as Twitter or Facebook, provide real-time and life-saving information that mainstream and traditional media cannot easily transmit.

Recently, I was interviewed on this subject by Daniel Tseghay, a writer for Georgia Straight which is a very popular Canadian online magazine.  In the article, I address the ramnification of social media and democratic political movements.  Enjoy and comment! 

Why Journalists Need College

As I approach a fall teaching load of four classes, each suited to various aspects of journalism and media aesthetics, I reflect on the basic notion of why students need college to prepare for a career in the profession.  Journalists are the eyes, ears and voice of the masses, and hence, journalists require a broader scope of understanding, maturity and knowledge.  I believe that a higher education, one grounded in diverse disciplines and engaged with the flowing connectivity of thought, houses the essential qualities needed to develop one's acute sense of meaning and rationality in a seemingly meaningless and irrational world.

Journalists-in-training, at many of the best media schools, gain that perspective often not found in immersive work environments.  The truly innovative schools don't just do it the old way; rather, these benchmark programs evolve, transcend and even create new rules and methods of reporting, writing, shooting and presenting.  Yet, fundamentals are still present, much like every other collegiate discipline that has undergone evolution.  Solid concise storytelling, at the core of journalistic ethos, is never tossed away for glossy, new media remedies.  It lives to embrace new technologies, those vibrant methodologies for media delivery to emerging audiences.  Higher learning, so often the temple to the life of the mind, is the best place for a journalist to begin.

What Makes Something Newsworthy?

Reporters, and editors, make countless decisions each day regarding the value or newsworthy nature of a story.  But what is newsworthy?  The Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines newsworthy as something "interesting enough to the general public to warrant reporting" and my, oh my, is that definition very vague.
My belief on this subject centers around some basic concepts that are essential to good journalism.

The factors that suggest a newsworthy nature to any story should hold a great impact on readers, listeners or viewers.  In this sense, the story must contain real consequences for the individual or the society.  9/11 or the earthquake in Japan are significant events that convey bold and dramatic outcomes for all of us.  Moreover, the element of conflict (human vs human or human vs nature or human vs oneself) is central to the newworthy definition because we are interested in the conflict that presents daily life as a drama.  This is why the coverage of wars always lead the news.

Prominance and proximity are two key aspects.  The more known a person, or entity, is, then the more likely a featured story will surface.  If that prominant subject is close to your locale, then interest is peeked and more media are consumed.

When you watch, listen or read today's news, try to think about the significance of its newsworthy nature.

Memories of Our Youth

Popular music can be catchy, inspiration, emotional, social, fun, retro and a million other labels.  While watching this video, I draw back to a time in my youth of listening to Soul and Top 40 music on an AM transistor radio.  I could never imagine, at that time, how music would be available to me on multiple platforms while combining video, and editable, aspects.  Technology drives pop music and presents us the enjoyment of fresh talent in myriad ways.  While my daughter loves Justin Bieber, I'll take Bruno Mars and B.O.B. as a current guide to the reflective reminder of my youth. 
Think about your own love for popular music.  Will it someday produce heartfelt images and sounds of your distant past?

Creativity In The Age Of Convergence

Ideas are ever new.  This maxim describes our lives, our professions and our choices of media.  Buying a new phone for its vast and fast applications might be thrilling today; however, tomorrow that phone becomes obsolete when a competitor releases version 5.5.  Ideas are ever evolving, like technology.  One does not need to be a technologist, a rocket scientist or a PhD to fully create innovate concepts.  I propose that it is the innovative idea that keeps us engaged in a rapidly converging media landscape.
Convergence, in one form or another, is as old as time.  The wheel began rapid transportation and time for leisure.  Gutenberg's movable type gave us mass education, new literacy, social movements and new ways to examine our world.  Facebook and Google redefined the meaning of friends and research.

At the core, creative ideas drove these technologies and spawned further innovations.  Creativity promotes convergence and convergence, at least in the media sense, promotes fresh approaches to stay ahead of the curve.  The next idea is always the best one.