It's no Nine till Five!!!

Working in the media sounds like quite a glamourous job doesn't it? Possible fame, probable fortune and perfect networks. Well; this is what I thought. Gill (2007) got me thinking about the modern day and how media provides and changes job opportunities.

Recently people even had the opportunity to work for Charlie Sheen by becoming his social networking intern.  Who knew these jobs even existed!?

I must say I agree with Megan Hausler in her most recent blog, 'first you pitch and then you die'. 

She too explains the excitement of working in a creative and fun environment - and then we are awaken to the harsh reality that things just aren't that easy. 

Sure, becoming the media intern for Charlie Sheen would be challenging, stimulating and exciting - he is after all one of the most followed people on Twitter. The only news I've heard come from this is that well known Australian radio announcer and comedian, Scott Dools got to spend time with Charlie Sheen in his mansion - they became mates! Scott Dools isn't really your average Joe though is he? Imagine his connections and networking abilities! It is scary to think that I; a person very little connections in this industry (yet) will someday be competing for jobs against people like him.

It seems like I really will have to put in the hard yards, work around the clock and go that extra mile. The world is changing because of the media. Bring it on!

 

 

 

Need a job? Look no further...

References

 Gill, R. (2007). Informality is the New Black. In Technobohemians or the new Cybertariat? New Media work in Amsterdam a decade after the web. Amsterdam: Institute of Network Cultures: 24-30 & 38-43.

 

Hausler, M 2011. "Lifes a pitch, then you die." http://kcb206meganhausler.blogspot.com/ Retreived 18/04/11

Who needs doctors when we have the media?

Let's face it; nobody really enjoys going to the doctor. Whether it be waiting in a room full of other sick people and out dated magazines; having your body tested with freezing cold metal objects and needles or forking out the cash at the end of a session - it is rarely an enjoyable experience.

New media, particularly the internet allows people to become their own doctors. A simple Google search including symptom can lead to a diagnosis and recommendation of treatment.

As Cherise mentions in her blog 'Discovering New Media', this can be quite a dangerous thing. Doctors study and train to correctly diagnose patients. How can a quick Google search possible allow us to do the same? How do we know if it is reliable? It is then that online users need to be cautious when retreiving information from certain websites.

Does the internet give us the same knowledge of medicine our doctors have?

Not sure who to trust? Just ask Oprah!!! No, she hasn’t recently graduated from medical school. She has however given the ‘thumbs up’ to health website RealAge.com which enables users to calculate the biological age of their bodies and create a health based strategy to improve their well-being.(Lewis 2011).
Television is another growing media platform which enables audiences to visit a doctor without leaving the couch. Reality progams such as the Biggest Loser, educate and imform veiwers about nutrition and the risks of obesity.

Dr. Oz is an American doctor who has his own daytime TV slot and live audience. He has become a celebrity by providing medical advice over the small screen.
Yes; these websites and television shows may be informative but are they helping diagnose and cure your specific health problems as your GP would? I think not...

Reference List

Joelle, C 2011. "Discovering New Media: Whose the expert now?" Retreived from http://cherisediscoveringnewmedia.blogspot.com/2011/04/whose-expert-now.html 11 April 2011

Lewis, T. 2006. Seeking health information on the internet: lifestyle choice or bad attack of cyberchondria? Media, Culture & Society, volume 28, issue 4: 521-539.

Me and My Mobile Phone - Best Friends Forever!!

Do you have a friend like this?

 Windows 7 Ad.

Mobile phones will be the death of many friendships. 

It's hard to believe that the portable electronic device connecting people everywhere could infact create greater distance between them.

More and more often I notice that when I am spending the time to catch up with a friend, they spend the whole time staring at their mobile! I ask them a question or tell them a story and look up to see that they are paying more attention to their new best friend; the phone.
Hannah mentions in her blog that sometimes the media can help people create a different version of themselves. Could this be why so many people are more focused on their 'mobile phone life' than reality?

What could possibly be more important?! Windows 7 Ad.

Bell (2006) suggests that we are "the age of the thumb". We use mobile phones for almost everything in our daily lives from emailing to banking and checking our favourite social networking sites! Not to forget keeping in contact with people through talk and text. 

With a phone that does so much, it's no wonder that my friends and many others in society don't feel the need to socialise outside their phone. 

Perhaps next time I want their advice or opinion I should just text message them?

Reference List

Bell, G. (2006). The Age of the Thumb: a Cultural Reading of Mobile Technologies from Asia Knowledge, Technology, & Policy, 19 (2), 41-57.
Whiteley, H 2011. Hannah Whiteley and New Media. Retrieved http://hannahwhiteley.blogspot.com/ 4 April 2011
Liquid Squid 2011. Really? New Windows 7 Phone ad. Retrieved http://laughingsquid.com/really-new-windows-7-phone-ad/ 4 April 2011

The internet: every liers dream.

The internet is freedom. There are no rules or specific guidelines and people are able to write whatever they like. There are however, ethics. When do peoples morals come in? Sometimes, they don't.
In the blog 'bruises fade, internet history doesn't", the author states that there are no longer gatekeepers of information.  Also that we now have the ability to create, design and share any information online.
Hamelink (2006) discusses how the internet is full of lies and deceit. He raises the point that there is a great deal of misleading news and other information online which is often created by marketers, PR proffessionals etc.
This got me thinking about wikipedia. We all know that that this website isn't the most reliable of sources. In fact, WikiNews states that in 2005 Wikipedia was the victim of many April fool's jokes as any member of society can edit information on the website. One of these edits suggested that the reason their webpages load slowly is because their toaster broke and they've been using solar panels for power ever since!



www.google.com/images/wikipedia+jokes

 Clearly people, don't believe what you read online unless you are certian is fact.
Next time you're playing around with wikipedia, consider the ethics and those whose reputations you might be harming.

References
Hamelink, C. (2006). The Ethics of the Internet: Can we cope with Lies and Deceit on the Net? In Ideologies of the Internet, K. Sarikakis & Daya Thussu, pp. 115-130. New Jersey: Hampton Press.

WikiNews 2005. Wikipedia victim of onslaught of April Fool's Jokes. Retrieved from http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Wikipedia_victim_of_onslaught_of_April_Fool's_jokes. Accessed 28 March 2011

You're Welcome 2011. Bruises fade, internet history doesn't. Retreived from http://generationrepulic.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2011-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2012-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=3. Accessed 28 March 2011

We are who our playlists say we are.

What would you think if you saw this poster in a friends room?

Prepare to see me naked.

According to Steven Levy (2006), sharing your iPod playlist with others has the same effect as standing nude infront of them.

If someone was to sift through my iTunes library they would probably think that I had music bilpolar. Perhaps I do. Discover my mixed personalities as I randomly sift through my ipod.

First off the mark - the old school beach bopper comes out with "Little Deuce Coupe - The Beach Boys".

Next I'd like you to meet the cowgirl who listens to "Not Ready To Make Nice - The Dixie Chicks".

The mellow, acoustic guitar loving girl in me comes out whenever I hear "Rodeo Clowns - Jack Johnson".

Lastly,  I turn into a hopeless romantic, swaying as I hear "Fever - Michael Buble".

I judged and analysed myself as I realised how varied and sometimes bizzare my taste in music can be. God forbid what you must think! I have exposed myself.

Cambridge University’s Jason Rentfrow suggests that by allowing others to view your playlists may "reinforce stereotypes and, potentially social prejudices." (Cnet News 2009).

Perhaps sharing a music playlist really is the same as standing nude infront of a crowd.

References

Cnet News 2009. What your iPod playlist says about you. Accessed 21 March 2011 at http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10315679-71.html 

 

Levy, S. 2006. The perfect thing: How the iPod shuffles commerce, culture and coolness. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks

The world is a stage – and all those online, are the stars.

Pearson (2009) suggests that the owners of pages on social networking sites can be compared to actors in performances. I must say that I agree with this theory.

The creators of these pages are able to mould their identity into whatever they like through the use of pictures and words. They can describe their interests and hobbies without any evidence of being involved in these activities.

Does having the ability to edit your identity online give you the opportunity to perform as someone else?

Goffman (1959, quoted in Pearson 2009) describes social interaction as performance in the sense that humans are constantly sharing their identity with others. Social networking websites such as Facebook, support this theory as users showcase their lives to others.

Facebook (2011) now allows users to ‘check-in’ to their location so that virtual friends can know their whereabouts.  For some online performers, this tool is used in order to enhance their social status by ‘checking-in’ at places which are cool and trendy even when they are not there.

Reputations can also be created virtually when these websites allow users to carefully mould and display who their 'friends' are.

Social networking sites allow users to convince all of their online friends that they are more exciting than what they really are.

Reference List

Facebook 2011. Accessed 14 March 2011 at www.facebook.com

Pearson, Erika. 2009. "All the World Wide Web's a stage: the Performance of Identity in Online Social Networks" in First Monday, Volume 14, Number 3. Accessed March 14, 2011. http://blackboard.qut.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/contentWrapper.jsp?content_id=_3612480_1&displayName=Week+2+Readings&course_id=_74007_1&navItem=content&href=http%3A%2F%2Ffirstmonday.org%2Fhtbin%2Fcgiwrap%2Fbin%2Fojs%2Findex.php%2Ffm%2Farticle%2Fview%2F2162%2F2127.