Convergence, tell your friends

     Sometimes the classes we take can seem trivial. It's just a check mark on a course requirements chart [and you're wondering who made the chart for your major anyways!?]. But on the rare occasion that you actually get to see the concepts you're paying $12,000 a year for applied; it's encouraging to say the least.

      March 2nd - 6th was Winthrop University's Mass Communication

 week. This meant that almost all MCOM classes were canceled and events were held instead (this translates into a week off for the students who aren't being forced to attend these events). However, two of my professors encouraged me to attend some of these events. One such event was an alumnae panel open for questions from students. This turned out to be an encouraging event, each person seemed to have a story that echoed the fundamental principles covered in my major. And of course the MCOM class I'm taking as a requirement. We are being taught the fundamentals of web-editing and being instructed in writing web content that is applicable. One of our consistent assignments has been redoing stories for the web. "We frequently have to write a shorter version of the story to put on the web right away" said Lee Healy ('05). Hearing this reaffirmed the importance of my class and the concepts covered. I am not a Mass Comm major, nor is my concentration in Mass Communication. But I believe the principles I am learning are applicable anywhere, let alone the fact that I don't know what jobs I will be applying for. It's important to have a wide array of knowledge. "You need to know what it [web-code] looks like, because it's late and the web-guy has left and you have to post this story now" said Alexis Gordon ('02). She seemed to echo the concerns of the faculty who devised my Major. A hybrid of concentrations and courses. Today's convergent journalists have to be guru's, not just specialists. 

Some things an effective convergent journalist must have some knowledge of include:

• Basic knowledge of HTML
• Some experience with video editing for extra content
• An ability to properly match visual content with the story
• An understanding of how to effectively deliver content electronically

These few basic abilities can mean the difference between an irreplaceable employee and a temporary position filler.

How do they do it?

     With the technological advantages involved in todays market, competition has become more of a concern than ever before. Technology has made it easier for many people to market themselves and their products - which means if you want to stand out you have to make the biggest splash. Marketers have recognized this dilemma and have reacted by implementing unique strategies in hopes that their product will stand out amongst the noise. 

Many advertisements have begun to harness this power and fighting to create the most unique 

and entertaining advertisements. As it turns out, as long as the consumer is entertained and engaged, he or she is more likely to remember the product before they buy another brand. It's images like these that last and convey meaning. Rather than shout 'you want this

 product!' advertisers have learned to let their product speak for itself. As originality and effectiveness is challenged, the battlefield of advertising becomes increasingly intense. Many marketers are using every tool they can get their hands on to get ahead. But some people seem to think the old-fashioned methods are best.

"It's all word of mouth you see," says Justin Parrish, a local musician and music teacher at Woody's Music, " I don't think technology has helped me all that much. You have to meet the people, let them hear you music and learn to like you before yo

u can get gigs". Justin says he has had more success by personal touch than any other technological method. He hopes to one day be involved with recording labels and

 contracts, but says his road to success is paved by his networking. Justin's band, the Cable Knit Sweaters does have a Myspace page and is actively pursuing an electronic fan-base, but Justin says that's not how he gets gigs. "That's all fine and great for getting fans, but the peopl

e who

 pay you don't just call up a band unless they know them you know?" Justin is currently using a site called Gigmaster in hopes of drumming up some extra exposure at venues but still thinks the personal touch will win out in the end.

How Technology Is Changing The Face Of Business

     In recent times of economic difficulty, many people have become concerned about job security.  It has become increasingly obvious that many employees are being seen as obsolete - lacking the skills needed to satisfy their employers. In the last few decades, technology has transformed the way corporate America does business. It has allowed major companies, as well as small proprietorship's, to become smarter and more efficient entities. It is no secret that computers and automated systems have begun to take over many areas of business, but a more interesting trend is the way it has transformed the way businesses grow.

     Businesses are no longer involved in a game focused solely on the retention dollars and cents. Today, some things are worth more to a business than a new product line or impressive fiscal year. Technology has opened the door to many previously misunderstood treasuries of wealth. A savvy marketer at a company of any size can wield the power of technology to understand customers in ways that previous generations could only imagine. There are thousands of variables attached to each individual in this world, variables that if used properly will mold the business plan of a company to become more successful - making this information extremely valuable. 

     We joke that 'Big Brother' is watching us, and we imagine this as some government entity bent on controlling the population and monitoring our crimes. However, it's the businesses that want to sell us things that are really watching us. So much of our daily life is being tracked and analyzed by companies. Every website we visit, and the length of our visit says something about our desires. Every phone call or text message says something about our need for different data plans. That survey you took for 'fun' on facebook last week told Paramount everything they needed to know about how to sell their new movie to you. That survey you took was compiled into a plethora of complicated information and statistics that are unbelievably valuable to a company looking for someone to target. You.

The Big Picture

I was recently given the assignment to find blogs about my hometown and find out what people in my area were saying about it. Maybe I'm technologically incompetent (an assertion that seems somewhat ridiculous if you know me) but I found it nearly impossible using the method I was given. My mass communication teacher told me to go to http://technorati.com and enter the name of my hometown in hopes that it would produce some useful results. To my dismay - I found almost no truly local bloggers or stories. However, what I did find was intriguing. 

Rather than finding an interesting blog by a local Yorkian, (or Rock Hillian for that matter) I found publicity material. After watching a few videos like this one: Welcome to Rock Hill, I started to wonder how I had missed out on all these amazing amenities. It's not surprise that the city of Rock Hill wants to look good, but in the past few days I have become increasingly conscious of the marketers strategy. It all started when my marketing professor showed a film on marketing to teenagers called The Merchants of Cool. The brazen attitudes of the marketers appalled me. It is truly a cut-throat no child left behind or untouched mentality of selling. If sex sells, sell it. If violence sells, sell it. There seems to be no morality, no honestly, but what would I expect?

It's strange to think that our society has been shaped by our markets - but it certainly seems to be true. Our merchants sell us on what's cool, telling us what we want. And in return, we emulate their mentalities. It's a vicious circle that seems to be riding us around a demonized marry-go-round. Who will stop us?