Oral Magazine Presentation - Time Magazine

(courtesy of rayfowler.org)

Thesis: Time Magazine provides readers with the world's weekly news. It is also one of the oldest and most credible weekly news magazines out there.

Triune Brain:

• neocortex - The magazine talks about complex worldly issues.
• limbic - Topics in the magazine may affect readers on an emotional level. For example, the mews in the magazine is about real-life things that will affect the readers lives directly and indirectly. Also, the border of the magazine may evoke emotion For example: The magazine is known for always having it's red borders. However, the issue released after 9/11 had black borders to symbolize mourning; on Earth Day, it had green borders.

(courtesy of pressmart.com and mediaite.com)

Trends:

• Cultural Shift - The magazine has surveillance of everything that's going on in the world, so you'll never be behind in the news.
• Epistemological shift - Time is a lot of readers' source to their knowledge about what's going on with current events.
  

Facts:

• Time Magazine was created in 1923 by Briton Hadden and Henry Luce.
• It was the first weekly news magazine in the U.S.
• Time is known for its signature red border, introduced in 1927.
• The magazine's most famous feature is its annual "Person of the Year" cover story.
• There is also a "Time for Kids," which is a division of Time published for children.

(courtesy of coverbrowser.com)

Principles:

• Emotional transfer - Articles in the magazine may transfer their emotions possibly to fear, or possibly to a better understanding, therefore leading to happiness.
• Individual meaning - Readers take the information in the magazine and apply it to their lives personally.

Persuasive Techniques;

• Group Dynamics - Time appeals to Americans by featuring articles which affect all of us across the board, from politics to travel and leisure.
• Strength - Time is the world's largest news magazine therefore they have strong leadership in the news world.
• Scientific Evidence - Magazine is based on hard facts about our world.

(courtesy of fantasysportstrophies.com)

Media Meditation #4 - Genius or Jerk?

A few weeks ago, the movie that everyone's been talking about came out, "The Social Network." I of course went to see it the day it premiered. "The Social Network," in case you didn't know, is about the start of the social network which is dear to all of our hearts, Facebook. This movie documents how the CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, created this social network. Interestingly enough, Mark Zuckerberg's idea stemmed off his first idea for a website called FaceMash, which was a website in which male Harvard students could log on to and rate the "hotness" of female Harvard students. Eventually he formed a new idea in which you put the whole college experience online; he called it The Facebook (later changed, obviously). I must say I was surprised after viewing the film. Not only do you see how this revolutionary social network began, but you also get to see the personal backstory of Mark Zuckerberg himself, and I must say it's not pretty.



Jesse Eisenberg plays the role of Mark Zuckerberg, and he does a phenomenal job. You will not be able to take your eyes off him the entire film. The way he talks and carries himself draws your attention to him. However, the way the script and Jesse Eisenberg portray Mark Zuckerberg is not in a positive light, in my opinion at least. In fact, they make him out to be a complete jerk. The way he treats his girlfriend in the beginning of the movie, the whole concept for his website FaceMash, AND his utter disregard to his friendships or anything else that would get in the way of his success with Facebook. Although I did enjoy this movie very much, I'm not sure it was very good publicity for Mark Zuckerberg. Whether it be on purpose or not, the creator of Facebook does not seem like a very nice guy.

(courtesy of cinema soldier)

So what do you think, Genius or Jerk? ...or perhaps both?

Media Meditation #3 - The Inessential iPad

As I have said earlier in my blog, I do not consider myself a very technology savvy individual. A possible reason for this is that at this point in my life I do not find it to be a completely necessary thing. Yes I do believe technology has become a revolution that has changed our world forever, and it will continue to help us in all of our lives. But there are just some technological innovations which I find to be completely unnecessary.

(courtesy of TFTS)

For example, the iPad. Don't get me wrong, I find iPods and smartphones to be a great addition to my life and the lives of others, however the iPad is just an over sized iTouch. Nowadays everyone has a cell phone, most even have smartphones, and nearly everyone has a computer. So what is the iPad for? What can it do that our phones and computers can't? Yes it is bigger and holds more memory ( in some cases) than a smartphone or iTouch does, but that's what our computers are for. Perhaps when Apple was designing this technology they were hoping to replace computers with the iPad, after all people appreciate the convenience of smaller devices. However, this reasoning is faulty. Have you ever texted on an iPhone? Now can you imagine doing that when writing a four page paper for your core classes? Talk about a pain in the neck! I would never want to do that. You can barely hold the device and type at the same time! Here's a testimonial of a consumer, Bill Savage:

After seeing all this data related to the iPad, I am just not impressed either. I do believe it is a very useful device, however I just find it to be completely unnecessary. Sorry Apple . . .

Midterm Reflections - We're Half Way There..

Over the first half of the semester, I have learned how to look at media constructively, using my neocortex rather than being swayed by my limbic brain. I have also learned more about media platforms I have never used before, i.e. twitter, blogger

I have also learned that I really enjoy media communications as well as how I can use this information in my professional studies, as a marketing major.

One thing I would do differently would be to keep up to date with my personal blog better, and to be more open to media platforms such as twitter and blogger.

There is not anything I could think of that would have made this class better. . .

The power tools have taught me to be aware of all the techniques advertisers and media producers use to persuade. Our course blog has been a good platform for showing me the ways of the blogging world aka the "blogosphere" as well as a good way to reflect on the textbook to be sure we know how to connect the textbook to what we learn in class. Although I was not a fan of the personal blog at first, it's a nice way for me to reflect and express my feelings towards the media which surrounds us all. Our in-class quizzes help me keep up-to-date with what we're doing in class. The films we have watched have been very informative and good ways to connect the power tools with actual media. Our books are interesting in the sense that it gives me background information on all the things we talk about and do in our class.

Camp Champ Radio Spot: Through the Eyes of Real Students

Jeremy:
Champlain College. With breathtaking views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains, Champlain College is a hidden gem nestled within Burlington, Vermont. While unconventional with its upside-down curriculum, Champlain is one of the most community-orientated schools in the country. Its three-dimensional learning program incorporates community learning, with the unique “Life Experience and Action Dimension.” US News and World Report named Champlain one of the “Top Up-and-Coming” schools in the nation. Champlain is both a progressive and spirited college. Don’t believe us? Ask a student.
Leslie: Camp Champ is amazing. The people, the atmosphere, and the majors are all part of the amazingness. Even the sweatpants are comfy! Everyone is so friendly. The classes are challenging, not brutal. The food is edible, not disgusting. The professors are awesome especially if they raise yaks or have a British accent.
Jeremy: In the few short weeks I’ve been here, Champlain College has given me much more than I could have asked for. I’ve got a wide array of friends from many different backgrounds, teachers who all have their own little quirks, and the coolest dorm I’ve ever seen. That’s right. I live in a Victorian mansion. There is no such thing as a square building at Champlain. The architecture is almost as great as the academics, and, considering the fact that there’s a veritable castle for a dorm just down the street, that’s saying a lot.

Kelly: Transferring to Champlain was the best decision I ever made! I mean what's not to love? The beautiful location, the small, intimate classes, the knowledgeable, easy to reach professors, and the guarantee that there's always something fun going on around campus? For these reasons and countless more are why I chose Champlain. There's no other place like it!

Lindsey: Champlain
A little strange at times
But they take care of their own and give you the best college experience possible. They are ready and welcoming with open arms. Let Us dare. Audeamus.