Communication Media Technologies

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 (4^th Ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.

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