Media
Technology Blog Posting
Media
technologies have changed the way we communicate, do business, and live our
personal lives. The Internet,
email, cell phones, and television are media technologies that most of us use
every day. To be successful in the field of communications, a strong
understanding and ability to navigate these medias is necessary. The writers of today must navigate a
myriad collection of technologies and know how best to use each medium.
The Internet has given us social networking sites like Facebook, Plaxo, and
Linked-In (www.facebook.com, www.plaxo.com, www.linkedin.com) provide a social platform
for people to connect and network. Linked-In may be one of the best tools for
finding a job and advancing career opportunities. The site even provides
tutorials for setting up a page that will stand out and look good for
attracting potential employers. People can use Linked-In as a working
resume, always keeping an eye on opportunities without actively searching and
alerting present employers to the search. Social media includes blogs,
podcasts, social networks, and content communities such as YouTube
(www.youtube.com). Podcasts are audio and video distributed on web sites
(Marsh, Guth, & Short, 2009). Podcast audiences are eclectic and
contain anyone interested in the organization. Employers on a company
intranet system also sometimes use Podcasts so that only employees have access
(Marsh, Guth, & Short, 2009).
Social
Networking is a major part of what people use the Internet for, but the
Internet, also known as the information super highway, has many more dimensions
and capabilities. Every business
wanting to thrive and have a competitive edge must have an Internet
presence. Web sites and social
media are two ways businesses use the Internet. The Internet is used for e-commerce, video news releases
(VNR’s), research, advertising, video games, and even educational
software. Without the Internet the
virtual classroom and online school would not exist. E-commerce is “commerce conducted via the Internet”
(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/e%20commerce). Business can retail products online and
market themselves to the growing base of Internet users. Communication specialists have an
ever-growing demand to be Internet savvy and understand how to use this
dizzying tool.
Email was created by a man named Ray Tomlinson in 1971, simply because he
thought it was a good idea (Bellis, n.d.). The world had no idea email was even needed and now we
cannot function without it. Email
is the primary communication method for most businesses today (Roebuck,
2010). E-mail is so important that most business would not be able to
function for more than a week without it, some would not even last a day
(Roebuck, 2010). Businesses, the
government, educational establishments, and private individuals use email. Email is used to communicate with the
person in the office next door, as well as to a client or vendor in another
country. Email has versatility
because one email can transmit to an unlimited amount of people (Roebuck,
2010). Information can be
transmitted instantly with email, which helps businesses move at a rapid pace
for real time actions and decisions.
Email also maintains a written record of communication, unlike the
telephone. A written record allows
people to revisit previous communications, this way important information is not
forgotten. Plus, proof of previous
communication protects users.
Following up with an oral conversation with an email summary is another
useful practice (Roebuck, 2010). I
used to use my email inbox as my “to do” list at work. As long as the email remained in my
inbox I knew I still needed to complete an action on the item in the
email. Once I completed the
necessary action I would file the email in an appropriate folder in my email
archives. This way I kept a
current and updateable list with all information sent to me in the form of
requests or assignments. And once
I filed the items I could always easily access them for reference later, if
needed.
Another
important tool in media communication is the cell phone, when I was growing up
the only people with cell phones were the wealthy and “important”. The idea that everyone would one day
hold their own personal phone, with their own personal number, even children,
was unfathomable. Cell phones blur the lines between work and life because employees
can be reached at any time of the day, especially when employers pay the phone
bill (Roebuck, 2010). People also use email and cell phones in
their personal life outside of work. The smart phone is one form of cell
phone that includes email, phone, Internet browsing, music, and a variety of
other purposes. Our society has
gone from not needing mobile telephones to not leaving the house without
one. I remember the last time I
left my house without my phone. I
thought it was in my handbag and I reached my destination only to discover my
phone was not there. I almost had
a panic attack. What if somebody
needed to reach me? What if I
needed to look something up on the Internet? What if I received an important text or email message? I was taking my nine-year-old son
out for the day and the drive home to grab my phone was not feasible. The multiple uses of my iPhone made me
feel completely helpless and ineffective without it. How tragic, I went from not needing a cell phone at all 20
years ago to complete panic over not having access to all my “apps”. I had a great epiphany in that moment
and realized I would have a delightful day without my phone. I was completely unreachable and
undistracted for five whole hours and my son had my complete undivided
attention. But I’ll never forget
my phone again!
Television is my personal favorite media. This device was my babysitter
growing up and now I am ashamed to admit I use it as a babysitter myself.
My two year old is watching educational preschool shows while I do my
homework. I do not know many people who do not allow the TV window into
their homes. We have them in our living rooms, our kitchens, our
bedrooms, and sometimes even our bathrooms. The television may be one of
the most persuasive influences on most of our society. The audience is
everyone that owns a television.
Television targets people of all ages, from toddler and preschool shows
to programming geared toward the elderly.
There are channels for music, sports, movies, news, documentaries, and
anything else imaginable. I
recently saw a guest appearance on a cartoon of a well-known person from the
Food Network. If it is imaginable or
creatable, it is on television. I
remember watching reruns of TV sitcoms made in the 1950’s with my grandparents
when I was a child. Now I watch
out-dated cartoons from the 1980’s (my era) with my children. Yes, we can argue that television is
unhealthy to watch too much, but I disagree. My children are both highly intelligent and have been
identified as GATE (gifted and talented education) and I let them watch TV
every day. I do not allow them to
watch just anything. I help them
choose age appropriate, educational entertainment. Even the fun programs teach something. And when I can teach them about pop
culture in the past and present I still feel it to be a worthy education.
Media
will continue to evolve in our ever changing, technologically advancing
world. Mastering the current media
technologies is important for now, but also important for the future. The more we understand, and can use,
the current technology, the more easily we will adapt as technology continues
to advance. To be successful in the field of communications, a strong understanding
and ability to navigate these medias is necessary.
References
Bellis,
M. (n.d.). History of Email & Ray Tomlinson. About.com Guide. Retrieved March 25, 2012 from
http://inventors.about.com/od/estartinventions/a/email.htm
Marsh,
C., Guth, D.M. & Short, P. (2009). Strategic writing, multimedia writing
for public relations, advertising and more.
Boston: Pearson.
Roebuck,
D. (2010). Improving Business Communication Skills for Ashford University (4th Ed.). Upper Saddle River, New
Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.
www.merriam-webster.com
