6-2 Blog: Social Media Tools

I have always wondered what an RSS feed was, I  did not really get it until this lesson. I signed up using bloglines.com. I always thought that it was an actual feed running on your computer and phone to so you can see all the information relevant to your taste, like the bottom line on CNN on ESPN. Upon signing up I realized that it is basically a way have all of the information from your favorite spots in one place. I thought there would be an app for it but there is not. I would say that RSS is probably the least effective way to reach an audience because you still have to log into a site to see things from other sites and it only shows the main stories. I am a sports fiend so for me I need to know more than just the latest headline. I created an account anyway and this is what I created: http://dashboard.bloglines.com/#295150455 I was able to add TMZ, ABC13 for my Houston news and ESPN. You may have to log in to see it.

I have never really been big into podcast until recently. As I mentioned I am a sports fiend so throughout the work day I am listening to podcast from ESPN. One of the biggest is First Take and Numbers Never Lie. These are two awesome debate shows that I never get to see because they come on Monday through Friday from 9am to noon. This is the link to the podcenter: http://espn.go.com/espnradio/podcast/index. There is something there for everybody no matter what the sport. Some of the time I listed to the podcast from people working in sports media talk about my favorite shows. My favorite is the Grantland Pop Culture: http://espn.go.com/espnradio/podcast/archive?id=9179868 that is a link to the archive.

The third social media tool that I have become more used to is the blog. I was never big on blogging about myself and putting all of my business on the net for the world to see. Okay, I know the whole world will not be checking my personal blog. I barely use it for personal expression anymore, but my favorite blog site to use is Tumblr. I actually created a sports blog about two years ago to create a buzz about the WNBA which can be found at wnbalove.tumblr.com. It gives me something to do in the summer and it allows me to talk with other WNBA fans because there are not many in the non WNBA city I live in. I have enjoyed it and I have a few gained a decent following.

It was good to try something different but I think the best way to reach a target audience or to get more exposure is through social networking sites. Over 1 billion people have Facebook and it is easy to promote via the site by creating a page for people to like. I have used Facebook and Twitter to promote my WNBA blog for those that do not have Tumblr. News and information travels fast via social media. I have gotten more news and information from social media than I have via the traditional media, like television and newspaper. Social networking is the best way to reach an audience, next to that I would have to say photo sharing then blogging because those tools are the most used of the list.

3-2: Unrestricted Web Publishing

Unrestricted web publishing is very dangerous. These days anyone has the power to create content without any restrictions, even if what we create is true or false. It is one of the main reasons that gossip sites are so popular and are not being shut down for reporting false information are using/altering pictures of celebrities to "prove" that their story is fact. Unrestricted web publishing is one of the reasons that there are so many false stories, news or otherwise, that are floating around on the World Wide Web. Below I referenced a NY times piece regarding the current state of the job market. According to the guidelines listed in the assigned article the source within the article are from the labor department.

The author was not biased in any way, and they were not trying to sell anything. If they were it would have been in the opinion section instead of the politics section, all of the information was fact. The New York Times is one of the few credible sources on the internet these days. However, if they wanted to publish with no ethics unrestricted web publishing would allow them to do so. People are now allowed to use photos without giving credit, publish what they say are facts actually be lies. Most readers are not aware that unrestricted web publishing will leave them subjected to stories that are not true, this class has allowed us to be able to tell the difference between a true story and a false one. The information from the article I read and was deemed credible based on the guidelines was current and the author was simply stating how the numbers could effect voters. Had there not be any improvement the voters may not have been swayed to vote Democratic. If the author was intent on trying to convince the reader of anything it is that, she placed the facts before us and lets the reader decide.


Reference:
Calmes, J. (2014, July 3). Democrats are hopeful improving job numbers will sway voters in fall. New York TImes.