Is the lowest common denominator ruining our culture?

The spark for this blog was from the 16 March Newsweek column “The Technologist,” by Steven Levy. The piece is about an upcoming book written by Andrew Keen called “The Cult of the Amateur.”

This link connects to the book's publisher Random House. It's about the central theme of the book and creates an interesting argument.

The marketing tagline is “How today’s Internet killing our culture,” but is that statement true? The author believes that when everyone has a voice the best voices are drowned in a sea of mediocrity and slang.

I take the position of Devil’s Advocate and disagree. As much as I respect grammatical structure in our language and opine for romantic and traditional literary staples, I can’t concede that the Internet’s one person=one voice and everyone-gets-a-chance-philosophy is life-threatening for all other forms of culture. Nor do I agree that all younger generations are blindly promoting this evil conquest of our civilization by creating a new stage on which to express their beliefs. It smacks of elitism to cry fowl in the face of such healthy competition. I believe the cream rises to the top even in the blogging arena.

The only concession I will give to the writer is in the credibility department. The line between truth and entertainment in our media needs to be reinforced. There are far too many holes in that wall but there is a difference between authentic news and creative fiction.

What do you think? Is the lowest common denominator ruining our culture?

Bye-Bye Blogs?

Bye-bye Blogs?
This article titled “Apathy and exhaustion are idling bloggers.” It was written by Jon Telvin from the McClatchy Newspaper group and was in the Feb. 20 issue of the Florida Times-Union.

The topic discussed in the piece is familiar to Mass media students in our class. We all know how difficult it is to consistently post a meaningful blog. It feels like work to write something that is thoughtful and hopefully interesting to read because-IT IS WORK! (Many students in our class fail to blog each week even though our grades depend on it.)

The article provides a statistic that there are already over 200 million ex-bloggers. It also says that traffic on blog based sites like MySpace.com have fallen in recent months.An expert from the piece theorizes that blogging will give way to other “more effective forms of communication.”

I don’t know what that means but communication on the Internet is evolving to include all types of media. There is no screening process to become a blogger and no formal instructions or rules on how to blog.

I believe that informal communication like this will continue and start incorporating live video like several messenger programs currently use. I think that in the future blogs will become personal broadcasting places where anyone can experience the feeling of being a newscaster.

How do you feel about blogging?

Will it continue as a medium of communication?

Will you continue blogging after Mass media class is over? And if so, what will your blog’s focus be?

Vista Vexation

I am a reasonably techno savvy person who likes to have the newest gadget when I can afford it.
So, when my old laptop died, I jumped at the chance to get a replacement that was state of the art.
Since Vista operating system for Windows is the newest therefore it must be the best right?! Well, yes and no but mostly it was more hassle than the trial version was worth.

A trial student version of Vista office suite 2007 was pre-installed on the Hewitt-Packard Pavilion notebook I purchased. It crashed when I downloaded Mozilla Firefox, stopped working the day after I registered on-line (which was a lot shorter than the advertised 2 month trial period), does require repeated permission to complete any change (just like the Mac commercial) but its worst sin is lacking backward compatibility with any earlier windows version without a Microsoft download patch.

The e-mail I received for registry confirmation of the trial version of Student said “File Conversion kit – Your friends and colleagues will need this kit to convert files and documents created using the trial program back to a version compatible with older software.” At this site you can learn more about Vista and download the 60-day trial version. (It is a cheery yellow color too-perhaps to offset the angst of consumers.)

When it stopped functioning a day later, I discovered there is a lock feature that will only allow viewing of the existing document. This lockdown was supposed to occur at the end to the trial-not the beginning. I tried in vain to cut and paste my lengthy document into another prior version of windows version I’d hastily installed. When it locked up I was under a deadline and needed to get it working without spending the money for the full version. My eventual solution involved installing a Windows office suite version 2003 on my PC and retyping it from the locked Vista office 2007 version of Word.

The same compatibility issue plagued my transported jump-drive documents. If I wanted to take my work and continue it at any FCCJ computer-I couldn’t. I wasn’t able to work on my writing projects because Vista’s documents will not translate to the old office suite. And I don’t have administrative rights to download software onto those machines. The documents created in Vista won’t even open so you can retype them on a machine that lacks a Vista installation.

This is monopolistic behavior by a large corporation forced upon consumers. Microsoft has a stranglehold on the world-wide production of documents. The upgrade expenditures alone will be dramatic not to mention the training cost and time.

Vista is not all bad. (Though it did hi-jack my document.) It is a valiant attempt to advance Word by adding many bells and whistles. Additions to word include new colorful easier to read horizontal bars that visually display previews of various fonts, sizes etc. when the cursor moves over them. It makes sending information via snail mail much easier and automates bibliography research papers’ styles such as APA and MLA. Vista has a new translate function and allows quick insertion of tables and other graphics into the text. Many more time-saving details have been incorporated to automatic from manual. Several documents can be displayed at once on the desktop in a variety of ways. One of the most useful new functions for students given a writing prompt is an automatic word counter that tallies the number of words in real-time as the document is created.

It is the future of Microsoft operating systems so I registered again and downloaded again. Vista is functional for the moment…
Vista’s marketing boasts “It’s a new day. It’s a new office.” But set-up time for the new way is inconsistent and time consuming and productivity is essential to any office. My advice is to stay with Windows XP or earlier version and boycott these unfair practices by Microsoft. When faced with these growing pains, I pine for that Mac book Pro I considered buying.

After learning of my ordeal are you ready and willing to ‘upgrade’ to Vista?

TV on your PC

http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/1211177331.html?dids=1211177331:1211177331&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+6%2C+2007&author=Eric+Gwinn+Eric+Gwinn&pub=Chicago+Tribune&edition=&startpage=4&desc=Your+television+is+getting+more+competition

This article from the Chicago Tribune by Eric Gwinn discusses the advances in wireless technology. Specifically the most important relevant advance is the fact that network broadcasters can stream television shows and blog fodder straight to your computer 24 hours-seven days a week.
With so many great alternatives to standard television entertainment on the web like youtube.com and myspace.com-one wonders if broadcasters will retain the mainstream power they have always held. The principle shortcoming of network broadcasting compared to the Internet is its rigid programming schedule. Because of its flexibility the internet is the best thing to happen to the medium since TiVo. If they so desire consumers may even port Internet shows to their Televisions or project them on the nearest wall.
Websites where viewers can partake in their favorite major network TV shows include: www.nbc.com/video/rewind, cbs.com/innertube, abc.go.com, and myspace.com/fox. Internet viewing’s principle drawback is that not all broadcasted shows are available on-line but as demand grows the consumers will compel the networks to go on-line.
Do you agree that consumers will demand television shows on their personal computer and make broadcast obsolete?television shows on their personal computer and make broadcast obsolete?

Can you say Blogger-tizing?

Blogger Advertising Boom

In my last post I discussed the first amendment and its provisions for the rights of journalists and the freedom of the press. While researching that topic, I came across this intriguing sight that asserts that bloggers are part of the media field and have become the “fifth estate” in the electronic revolution we are living through.

The link says that a new internet platform has been created for advertisers by all the bloggers. The mass distribution of audience for bloggers fractures the edifice of traditional advertising. But fortunately, “…blogger enthusiasm turns into advertising.”

Major advertisers have begun launching their campaigns at least in part on-line. The link says the super bowl commercial posting boom is one example of the new theory of advertising.

A more recent example was on NBC’s broadcast Monday night of the popular show “Heroes.” The network ran an exclusive teaser commercial for Spiderman III and then invited fans to log onto nbc.com to view a 7 minute sneak-peak at the movie that will only be available for 24 hours. No doubt this practice is catching on.

How do you feel about the revolution in internet advertising making bloggers the “fifth estate?”

What Mass Media students SHOULD be watching.

Does the 4^th estate of journalism exist?

This question is discussed, among other media related topics, by the PBS show ‘Frontline’ in its series ‘News War.' Viewers may watch episodes on Tuesday nights at 10p.m. on PBS station WJCT or on pbs.org at any time.

Some background:

The concept of four estates classifies all members of society into economic casts beginning with the clergy (Modern government officials), second the aristocracy (modern business leaders), third are serfs and peasants (modern consumers) and most recently the fourth(the free speakers) whom are press or mass media members.

The problems arise when people in the fourth estate are members of the second estate or are constrained by the first estate's powers.

Our constitutional amendments entitle this country’s citizens to certain legal rights and privileges. Among those detailed within the first amendment are freedom of speech and the freedom of the press.

The fourth estate's members of the media are, in certain situations, above the prohibitive influence of the government but are always charged with being fair and balanced in their reporting. There are exceptions to the powers of the press.

According to the first amendment, government may limit (censor) the press in situations of libel, obscenity, use of words that might cause violence or present a clear and present danger to the Commonwealth.

The goal of the amendment according to justicelearning.org is "to ensure a free exchange of ideas even if the ideas are unpopular."

The NewsWar site states that in 1972 the court case Branzburg v. Hayes may have determined whether the fourth estate of journalism actually exists based on the amendments of the constitution.

In a 5 to 4 ratio the powers that be ruled that there were no special privileges allotted for members of the press. That means that reporters could be punished criminally by the courts for refusing to divulge their sources.

The first amendment debate rages on with lingering ambiguity from the specific wording used by the justices’ ruling in the Hayes case. For those in the legal professions, meanings are open to maneuvering and interpretation. But over the past 30 years there have been many cases in which the highest court has refused to make a place for the fourth estate to protect journalistic sources.

The Fore Granted Opinion:

Even in cases like the Valerie Plame/CIA leak investigation I believe in a reporter’s commitment to preserve the integrity of their source by keeping it a secret. Many governmental officials will cry foul and seek the source for treasonous prosecution or to “protect national security” but to betray the source is to destroy the freedom of the press. I would make allowances for a reporter’s discretion when the government is involved. Confidentiality is a must. Incriminating witnesses need to feel confident that their identities will be kept secret. Otherwise, they will not feel free to come forward when government officials are in authority and in the wrong.

In my estimation, nothing could be better for this country than an unbiased fourth estate. A dose of healthy skepticism is the ultimate method of “checks and balances” to keep governmental officials honest and accountable to the public through the media’s voice.

The Fore Granted Final Question:

Do you think government officials should have the power to rebuke journalists for refusing to expose their sources?

Even experts can face the unknown.

Having a curious mind is a good trait for a journalist to possess yet there are many things that will always remain unknown. I came across one such mystery in the poynter forums this week.

The subject in this link is debated by professional journalists and editors who see it daily, making it even more mysterious that its origin is unknown.

The forum question is about the meaning of the editor’s mark ‘CQ.’ The mark is used in practical terms during the editing process to confirm that details of a story have been verified. For example, when an editor has verified the quoted person named Smith is not actually supposed to be spelled Smyth. The mark CQ is then written next to the questionable phrase or item to show that it is correct.

What does ‘CQ’ mean?

Some professionals responded with the meaning they'd been taught for the abbreviation. Possible explanations for CQ included; correctly quoted, correct but quaint, chequed or the archaic spelling of checked, cannot question or other combination of c and q.

What are the origins and meaning of the mysterious CQ?

Is local news on its deathbed?

This week my Blog topic was taken from pointer.org. The blog-posting asks the question: Is Local News Dead?

Author Katja Riefler describes a newspaper conference discussion where the question is posed about local newspaper. But she turns the question deeper. Her post expands the question to include the next step in local news in all formats.

My theory on the future of local news is- there will always be local happenings that appeal to only the small population that lives in proximity to that news. Through convergence the details of these stories will manifest in small chatroom-like web venues such as MySpace, more rapidly than ever before. But, on the whole ‘local news’ is becoming obsolete because items that would have been in the local domain such as local weather and sports will make their impact on regional based web-casts rather than focusing on the cities or small towns from which they originate unless they have world-wide appeal. Local human interest stories will fade away unless their novelty extends to a worldwide audience.

I experienced such convergence this week watching the local news on television while being on-line the moment Anna Nicole Smith died. The local newscaster advised the audience to keep watching for more information on this breaking story. The Anna Nicole Smith-dies-at-39 story is focused in our time zone and in our state so any updates the local news can provide are going to be slower than Internet posts because of their production time before airing. Advice to “stay turned” is laughable since the major news organizations, like Reuters or Associated Press, post updates far more frequently on-line than a local newscast could provide. I typed in her name and received more than enough data about the life and times of the iconic Ms. Smith again reinforcing the fact that local news can not compete with the Internet for volume, speed or specificity.

What do you think the future of local news will be?

Attack of the Grammarians!

While searching for this week’s blog topic poynter’s
writer self-help section beckoned.
I want to discuss the essential but often ignored-

 GRAMMAR.

This blog post written by Roy Peter Clark deals with
his admiration for another writer, essayist David
Foster Wallace. I am beginning to wonder if I should
be using my first middle and last names when I write.
Wallace asserts that all writers want to use the
written word to communicate their ideas with
confidence and grace. Wallace writes,“…some people
still want to use the language well... to use the
language deftly so that it's fit for their purposes.”

Clark agrees so vehemently that he wishes he had
written about this subject in such a succinct and
intelligent manner. Clark is interested in using
grammar to engage the audience so that they can’t
help but read further. A  hook is what we all need
in our pieces. Wallace and Clark know that the way
you represent yourself on paper is important.
Your ability to write says volumes about your
intelligence and ideas.

When I was a Master Student of English tutor,
I told anyone who would listen that the true
test of any piece of writing is that it be
understood strictly based upon what is written
on the page with no verbal or further
explanation from the author. Written work
should be able to stand alone and live a life
beyond the author if he or she has done their
job by completing a thought.

The problem for many people is that when they
write,they can not let go of their reliance
on verbal communication. Many people write
in the same manner in which they speak and
while I do respect the fact thatlanguage
is a fluid and evolving entity-there is
a structure to which every written language
adheres. There is a standard not only for
grammar but also for spelling and
other components of written communication.

We study masterworks that sometimes innovate
or deviate from the normal grammar like
e.e. Cummings'I am a small i poetry,or
departures from the normal form of written
artistry like prose poetry. So sometimes
artists can develop their own style and break
from convention but for everyday people,
there are rules of engagement.

In my current duties as a copy editor,
I am learning more structure from the periodical
based Associated Press style for journalism. 
But, the majority of errors I correct in my
own writing and for others lie in grammar,
spelling and normal sentence construction.  
I wish all aspiring writers were attentive
to errors in grammar and edited their work
before submitting it for publication.

A tool I use to edit more effectively is to
 read each sentence aloud (in my head) to
better identify errors. Also, leaving a piece
to mature for a few hours and then reading it
again helps maintain objectivity within the
editing process of my own work.

Do you have a tip for editing or do you work
to improve your grammar and/or writing?

Don't just stand there...boo!

During the course of my duties for the college newspaper as a writer, I attend premiers and other entertainment based events which are sometimes live.

While attempting to improve my writing through research, I came across this textbook excerpt about the purpose of writing a review of a live performance. http://www.safarix.com/0321015770/ch02lev1sec3#X2ludGVybmFsX1NlY3Rpb25Db250ZW50P3htbGlkPTAzMjEwMTU3NzAvY2gwMmxldjFzZWMz

This textbook states four points that factor into review writing-“the reviewer’s audience, goals, intent and morality.” The audience is the reader of the piece and varies with the type of publication. The goal may be to inform, persuade or otherwise influence the readers. The author suggests that a reviewer’s intent should be rooted in “a spirit of appreciation, with the idea of inspiring broader interest.” And morality is subject to interpretation, but the text’s author doesn’t espouse heartless art bashing just because the writer has a position of influence. The link also says a review’s purpose is to catalog the occurrence of a live event for the readership. I would like to elaborate on this subject from my personal experiences on both sides; as a performer and a review writer.

A live performance is one of the most pleasurable activities because of its social interaction through community and its fragility. I value the artistry because the experience of each live performance will never be duplicated. It is a rare occasion in the lives of all those who participate be they audience or performer.

Unfortunately, I believe many Americans have lost their live audience etiquette. We have gotten so used to on demand taped entertainment that the appropriate reaction to a live performance is in question. We want what we want and we want it now but that sentiment is null in the live arena.

As a case in point, I offer a live concert this weekend in which audience members would not move from their seats despite the lead singer’s blatant pleas for them to dance. It was painful to watch him try to coax some reaction from the crowd as he danced alone during an instrumental break. The audience also struggled to react when applause was appropriate. On many occasions they clapped before the song was finished. (In my playwriting and drama classes the teachers would prompt applause from other students when a performance was complete but outside of the classroom, the uninitiated can be uncertain.)

An apathetic or unsure crowd is horrible and I relate to the performers struggle since I am an artist. Whether I am singing, acting, reading a poem, play or other piece I wrote, dancing, or exhibiting my sculpture-there is nothing more valuable than feedback. In the best scenario, my art would provoke something from the audience so I know that it’s worthwhile. Even if they boo, the artist knows they were affected and have an opinion.

Live performances add to the culture of a community and inspire others even if someone in the audience just believes, “I can do better.”

The manner in which the audience connects with the performer(s) should be a part of any account of the event. The articles’ author was there during that play, concert, reading, or display of artistry and only they can articulate their perception. A review must describe these details since the reviewer is not a robot who simply observes without participating and it requires a judgment not just a plain objective account of actions that transpired.

What methods do you think the best reviewers employ?