Issue in New Media: It's Effects on the Family

Have you ever been in the grocery store, had to wait on an extremely long line, and BAM! a tabloid magazine slaps you in the face? It always does this to me, and sometimes even though I don't know whether or not to believe the rumors and the gossip, I still end up skipping through the magazine to read the new "dirt."

Lately, the pictures of Jon and Kate of John and Kate Plus 8, have been decorating the last few tabloid magazines which seem to dish new dirt every day. What happened to the family that once wanted to share there experience of caring for eight children on their own? Now, media and its wonderful magical powers have turned this family upside down and its viewers have opened personal doors that were once meant to be closed. When I used to watch the show, they wouldn't even show the parents' bedroom because that was their private sanctuary.

The Media disrupted this family and continues to prowl inside of it without permission and these eight children have to pay for it in the end. Media's main role is to inform but I think it has crosssed its boundaries and has gone way too far. Although it is another source of entertainment, can't we find something else to entertain us instead of scouring through the lives of others for our pleasure?

My main question is : What is the role of media? and when/where should the line be drawn?

John and Kate are going through a terrible situation at the moment and no matter whose wrong or right, cameras and nosey men do not have the right to intrude into the lives of others just to entertain. Shame on media... tssk tssk tssk

New Media Devices: The Ipod

It feels just like yesterday when the first Ipod was launched in 2001. I remember wanting an ipod and going to school seeing students with the trademark white head phones that made them so cool. After a while, the ipod became a craze and some did anything to get an ipod. I remember staying at my uncles house one day to learn that his neighbor's son was killed because he refused to give up his ipod and sneakers to a few robbers.

The ipod, a large item at that time, has still maintained the craze it began with and people continue to purchase it everyday. As ipod days increase, it has become smaller and smaller. Comparing it to the shuffle I had in the past, the new shuffle is smaller than half the size of the original one! How can we fit so many things into sucha small object, I wonder... hmmm ...

What has the ipod done for us and what does it do to us.

Ofcourse, everyone can say this new media device is an "on the go" device because it can go wherever you do. It is convenient and a source of entertainment. It allows you to be entertained 24/7! Who wouldn't like that? You can play games, add music, and even watch your favorite television shows!! So convenient..

My big question is HOW FAR WILL APPLE GO?

With its unique capabilities, the ipod is slowly taking the place of the television, radio, and even books!!! It is no longer a requirement to turn your radio on to hear it because you can just download it to your ipod and lsiten at your own pace. Now, the Iphone exists and it is a mini computer that is taking the place of computers. It has everything a computer does and more!!

Will the ipod be the most reliable tool in a few years? Will we no longer have to purchase computers, newspapers, or televisions?

What some don't pay attention to is how much we pay to have an ipod. First, it is not a cheap item. Second, inorder to maintain your ipod and add new applications such as games, and music, you have to purchase these items from Itunes. Downloading is an option with the probability of a fine or even jail time (yikes!!) So to stay on the safe side, we purchase all this audio at acceptable and affordable prices, but in the end it all adds up to $$$$$$$ . Here's a link to an ipod touch review that I found interesting: http://www.macworld.com/article/141835/2009/07/ipod_touch_ascendant.html?t=206... Enjoy!!!!

Media - Sociable?

From reading The Network Society by Jan van Dijk and responding to a discussion board question, I had to ask the question "Has the purpose of the media really changed?" Of course we know that the media is used to inform and enlightne us on new things, but according to van Dijk, " the combination of social and media networks causes the media to become social environments themselves." I agree with this statement as I watch television everyday and realize the things media does every day inorder to get their viewers attention and most importantly to keep it.

The news itself has transformed from what it used to be. News reporters sat in front of a screen and told the news for an hour, and now news have surveys and questionnaires t

hat allow viewers to respond to while the program is still being shown. News reporters have begum to ask the opinion of the "outside world" more and more and have become more personable.

I think the radio is definitely a huge social environment. I never used to listen to the radio often until I got my car. Now, I tune into the radio every morning and love to listen to the topic of conversation, and laugh at all the funny statements. The radio allows the listeners to have a "face" even though no one can see us just because we are able to add our input and have a voice. From talking about the dumbest things to discussing politics, what happened in the news, and things we should change, it has turned into a social environment. From conversing with older folks who remember the radio and the television being an important aspect of their daily lives for only one hour a day, to us watching television 24/7 is tremendous! My aunt remembers when her sisters and her would sit around and listen to the radio for story time, or have dinner in the living room and watch the news with the family. With it becoming more sociable

, it is also causing distraught in some families because everyone has different taste and it is sometimes difficult to get a family together to watch one thing just because of the variety media has created for us.

The Evolution of Movies

Last weekend I saw the movie Transformers and I must say it was an action packed movie. Today when I was thinking what I should write about in my blog, I figured I would make note of the evolution of movies. Technology has advanced in so many ways, that movies these days are so surreal. The things one can do with a computer is quite astonishing!! If you didn't see the movie, you should, and then you would see what I am talking about. The effects in the movie really made you wonder about the mastermind behind it.. Thats the case with most movies these days. My point is, as technology advances, movies and other entertainment devices have to live up to the expectations of the viewer and blow our minds. It is another growing trend in society to watch these movies that are unralistic but have you wondering if it could really happen? The imagination of great master minds combined with technology help directors and producers pull off amazing movies!!! What do you think?