Homework Exercise: Podcasting




http://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/episodes/168352-podcast1-mp3

http://www.buzzsprout.com/22734.rss

Test Podcast




http://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/episodes/168343-test1-mp3

http://www.buzzsprout.com/22734.rss

Questions for the article “Transmedia Storytelling 101”

1. Why is transmedia storytelling important in digital convergence communication?

Transmedia storytelling represents a progression in which integral elements of a narrative get distributed accordingly across multiple delivery channels for the purpose of creating a single and ‘coordinated’ entertainment experience. Transmedia storytelling is important in digital convergence communication because it unifies different forms of media through one television show, movie franchise, book series, etc.

2. Why can the media business be beneficial more from transmedia storytelling in distributing their productions?

Transmedia storytelling shares the idea of ‘synergy’ – meaning they hold a wide range of interests across several notable media industries. Transmedia storytelling spreads its franchise across multiple different media platforms. Another notable factor is the fact that transmedia stories are sometimes not based on solely individual characters or specific plots, but instead on distinct fictional worlds which can contain interrelated characters and their stories. Take the Disney/Pixar franchise for example: they always somehow find a way to include factors from future or past films in other films they create, leading audiences to believe they are all in the same universe.

3. How can transmedia storytelling be beneficial for different bodies of audience in consuming productions?

Transmedia storytelling works within different franchises by writers or producers trying to make products that will please different audiences. Take the Spiderman franchise for example; to attract the interest of more female consumers, they created a love interest for their main character (in addition, a completely unique romantic comic called Mary Jane Loves Spiderman) in the comic book series. They also did things like create coloring books to draw the attention of younger audiences.

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4. How can transmedia storytelling be worked out in terms of collective intelligence in the process of production?

‘Collective intelligence’ refers to the new social structures that enable production and circulation or knowledge within a networked society. In other words, people work together in order to solve problems. This is found very often on online blogging sites – this is because fans of television shows, movies, comics, etc. all work together to debunk spoilers or promos to the next part of their series.

5. How does transmedia storytelling encourage the interactivity with the audience?

Transmedia storytelling promotes interactivity with its audience by creating products that provide a set of goals or roles consumers assume in everyday life. For instance – in the use of action figures or costumes – this encourages children to create their own stories about their fictional heroes.

Questions for Podcasting

1.  How does podcasting fit into the organizational communication in business, non-profit, and academic contexts?

Podcasting fits into organizational communication in business, nonprofit and academic contexts because it’s used to promote all three. Podcasts are used to promote different businesses, whether it’s just a commercial or an entire podcasting station dedicated to the company. The same goes for non-profit organizations as well – although their ultimate goal is to get donations, volunteers, etc. When it comes to academic contexts, podcasts are used to educate people on topics such as these businesses, news, gossip, etc.

2.  Why does the speaker say that podcasting extends message?

Podcasting extends the message because it’s a broadcasting system that could literally reach anyone, anywhere, at any time. It’s different from radio because with that you’d have to find and tune it to stations that would work near you. Since podcasts are online, anyone can access them from pretty much anywhere, making it easier to extend to message to wider audiences.

3. How does podcasting encourage participation culture according to the speaker?

Depending on your podcast, participation culture takes place in many forms. For instance, like having audience members call in and voice their opinion, ask a question, give a news update, etc.     

4. What are the three critical elements of development for a successfully media when the speaker talks about email, blogging, and online ad? Why does podcasting have the three elements?

Three critical elements of successful media development are three E’s: entertaining, educating and easy to use. In podcasting, it’s important to catch the audience’s attention right away in order to keep them listening to your show. It also has to be easy to get to, play, etc. because if its not, no one will bother putting in an excess amount of effort just to listen to a podcast. People are lazy.

5. How does the concept of digital media convergence get applied in podcasting when the speaker discusses the compounding media?

Digital media convergence gets applied in podcasting just in the act of itself. Podcasting can be combined with any for of other media in terms of topic or promotion. It merges all forms of social media together into one.

It’s the Audience, Stupid!

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

In the article, the ‘Euronews’ station was falling far behind in ratings and was losing a lot of audience members quickly. To improve ratings, they had to come up with a new approach. So, after going out and asking audience members what they’d like to hear about instead, the station decided that they had a few things to change. Instead of just focusing on news in New Zealand, they’d compare the news in New Zealand to other countries in Europe. This brought back a their original audience, yet broaden their horizons to other countries as well.

How is digital media being used to engage audiences?

­Digital media is being used to connect countries and audiences that normally wouldn’t collide like they do on ‘Euronews.’ People can call in on the news and communicate with others from different countries through the power of media.  

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

By connecting different audiences through storytelling, you can then create one big audience, with different connections formed around the world. Keeping to simple things like one idea per sentence or not writing a sentence without having any fact behind it.

All the Aggregation That’s Fit to Aggregate

What does aggregation mean?

An aggregation is a collection, or the gathering of things together. 

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

The author describes Arianna Huffington as the ‘queen of aggregation’ because the Huffington Post is a combination of every category you could possibly imagine all crammed into one newspaper/website. From celebrities and horoscopes, to politics and healthy living, the Huffington Post has anything topic you could want to read all in one place.

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

I don’t believe so; if anything aggregation can help professional journalism grow in its different topics. However, I could see why it would be a concern. Professional journalism focuses on the more business and exact way of storytelling. If there’s a website (like Huffington Post), in which all topics are combined, the professionalism of the journalism could be questionable depending on the site.

Photojournalism in the Age of New Media

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

·      What are the positives?

You get a personal, up close view of a situation through the eyes of a citizen who might’ve been there at the time of whatever incident just occurred. Whoever gets to those kinds of photos first, has an upper hand in releasing pictures never before seen by the public – more people will tune into something with new information on a topic, than staying on other sites with the same information that keeps being released.

·      Why does the professional journalist need to be careful?

A professional journalist needs to be careful because if they aren’t sure if it is not an original photo taken by a random citizen, then they could be stealing someone else’s photo.

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

If the original source of the photo is unsure, the value of the content is called into question. Determining the original owner of a photo can be problematic which is why companies have to be careful with which information they choose to use.

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

A citizen photojournalist, if honest about their information, can be very helpful to a professional photojournalist – making their lives a lot easier. However, they can also have a negative impact in this way. The professional photojournalist always has to double check their sources and make sure they get photos from the right source. If they aren’t getting the correct information from the citizen photojournalist, they risk their jobs in making the company look unprofessional with inaccurate information.

Questions for the article “Youtube”

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

Online interaction becomes key for YouTube users because it allows people to share their own work, get ideas for future posts, subscribe to others’ channels, etc. YouTube allows users to post a plethora of different topics, like tutorials, how-to’s, music videos, movie trailers, personal videos, and so on. People from the same category can interact with others and comment on their posts in order to get advice or talk to someone else with similar interests. YouTube is an entire social media site based on videos.

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?

Youth’s are interested in what’s going on in the world, and YouTube connects people all across the globe through different videos of unique cultures, people, talents, anything you could possibly imagine. Today’s youth likes to be connected to the world, and curiosity finds them through video’s online rather than in person.

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

Youtube has unique techniques when it comes to keeping its users. For example, you can post your own videos of yourself, things that interest you, your creative work, etc. and you can subscribe to other users. YouTube also separates all videos by topic, upload count/date and relevance so it makes everything easier to find when it comes to users’ interest.

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.

YouTube is quickly growing with their capabilities in video-sharing technology. Soon, YouTube videos posted on other sites will probably start automatically playing while you scroll. Even more people will be able to connect with YouTube through other sites.

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?

There are several things to learn from this article about social media, mostly about the major growth in social media due to the major advancements in social media through mobile phones and tablets. More people are using the Internet for longer periods of time (85% in the past year) due to mobile phones. You can also connect different demographics to different social media; for example, most users on Pinterest are white females from the U.S. Another statistic I found interesting was 1/3 of 18-24 year-olds use social media in the restroom.

·      What takeaways do you see from the data?

Through this article, the author gives some helpful advice on determining what companies should advertise where in terms of the audience they are trying to approach. For instance, ratings show that women between the ages of 18-24 are the ones who most often use Pinterest – so, when advertising to young mothers, companies should aim most of their advertising to that website. Companies should look into which demographic their target audience fits into and aim most of their advertising attention there.

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

·      How does business use social media?

Businesses use free social media to their advantage, smart business owners understands their audience and are constantly trying to connect with them. If businesses don’t reach out to their customers, they’ll lose interest and move on.

·      Where you surprised by what “social media is NOT?”

Although I was surprised by few points in what ‘social media is NOT,’ I found most points to be accurate in its argument. I don’t believe that social media is only for the young either; anyone can go on Facebook and make a profile. I also agree that social media is not a ‘quick-fix,’ it takes time for businesses to build up a presence to their audiences.

·      Describe some of the things that “social media IS.”

Social media is the fastest growing, most accessed sites on the Internet. Social media is ‘just one piece of the marketing pie.’ There are many strategies when it comes to advertising for businesses, and social media is just one of the many techniques. The article also called social media a time de-railer, which I find to be incredibly accurate. Ever so often, I find myself sitting on the computer for hours when it’s only felt like minutes. Another perk social media is, is free.

·      What are the takeaways for business from this article?

This article gives good tips to your everyday business owner when giving advice on how to connect with customers and maintaining a connection with them now and in the future.