Commercials and Public Broadcast

I found it really interesting how the at one point in time a sponsor was only allowed abut 5 seconds to disclose they supported the current show on television and how quickly that jumped to having 5 seconds to 20 seconds to not only support the program but to sell themselves. For instance when we talked about Coca-Cola in class and when they went from supporting the show as a sponsor to then selling their new latest and greatest flavor. The world of television is always an interesting one.

Independent Media

I've really enjoyed learning more about the world of independent media and what it really means for a company or business to declare themselves as independent. This class has not only explored the important journalistic aspects of topics that were reported on, but also from a business standpoint at how these companies bring in their revenue, remain popular with the public and therefore sustaining successfulness. The class has made me think what I could personally do when it comes to a journalism start-up that may just be "the next big thing." I've also found it interesting to be able to look at a website and to pick it apart and see what works well for the consumer/ audience or what needs improvement. A lot of it has to do with how visually pleasing the site is to someone and how easy it is to navigate and use properly. This class overall has really instilled a business savy mind in me to always be on the lookout for potential "homerunners" when it comes to an idea that might change the Internet.

A Checklist for Becoming Entrepreneurially Successful

I really like the checklist that Adam Westbrook provided in how to successfully launch a journalism start-up idea. If we remember to ask ourselves these questions I think it will definitely save a lot of time in terms of how quickly the idea will launch, as well as the target audience that it is intended to reach. They're simple questions to ask that we may not have thought of otherwise and what most people probably accidentally overlook. In a world where there is so much citizen competition for Internet space and popularity, this list may be what sets your start-up apart from others, hopefully bringing in more money in a quicker amount of time.

Net Neutrality

I think that although there are pros and cons to each side of the issue between Google, Verizon and the FCC, there should be some kind of net neutrality enforced so there is a watchdog on all matters. Although the FCC might play a limited role in this position I think it would be better if a third party stepped in from time to time and not relying solely on self-regulation. Check out the article for net neutrality here.

America's Broadband Infrastructure

Wow! The next time you are sitting cursing at your computer because it won't connect to the Internet, take a look at this! http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/08/26/american-broadband-infrastructure-a-national-embarrassment/. I really like how this article takes a global perspective when looking at the world's internet speeds and comparing them, and guess who's pretty low on the totem pole-- the U.S. What a statistic that even after President Obama spends billions of dollars on increasing our broadband system that it is still estimated to take up to 15 years before we would catch up to South Korea. With so many people connecting with friends and family via the Internet and with all the new video chat programs making global connections easier, it is an essential that we continue to make broadband a priority so that not only can we stay connected but so that we can "hold our own with the rest of the industrialized world," Sam Gustin said.

Building A Company of My Own

I wasn't sure how promising of an idea it would be, trying to start-up "my own" company from scratch. I don't know much, if anything about the world of business and it seems pretty intimidating. What I did like though, was the article Entrepreneurial Lessons- from BuzzMachine. It was a step-by-step process about what students were taught to do and learn in order to create their own companies. How to propose a proper pitch using a certain number of words so that you don't lose your target audience, all the way to marketing strategies and enforcing journalism and its principles in the business world. I think it is extremely important to learn some of these skills, especially in this profession. It is necessary not only because of the kind of world we live in today but also because of that we need to become extra creative in today's world. Using the Internet to its full potential and creating companies that are ingenious to the field. It is tough to come up with the idea, but once you have it all the tools become available at your disposal and you might become the next millionaire!

Mayhill Fowler

I think Mayhill Fowler is one of the few good citizen journalists, making a contribution to this society and profession. Citizen journalism in itself is tricky because of sourcing and fact-checking and you never really know how accurate a person's account on something is. But I like Fowler because she describes herself as an amateur Web Journalist and an ordinary person who happened to get former President Bill Clinton's words for Vanity Fair writer, Todd Purdum on tape. I think that there are pros and cons about the way she went about getting her interview and she most certainly didn't obtain her info the "regular" journalistic way, however, nonetheless it was still groundbreaking info.  http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-fowler7-2008jun07,0,7613904,full.story

Obsessiveness with New Media

I think Arianna Huffington said it best when she stated that "the greatest thing internet users can bring to the world is our obsessiveness." She also compared how mainstream media suffers from attention- deficit disorder, while new media users suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder. A comparison that doesn't seem too far off. I think that because of the internet our world has been able to express so much more opinion and contribute in ways we never would have thought possible. Just think about the riots in Egypt and if it weren't for the internet and social media we never would have seen nor been able to help others when the government was trying to cut them off. Huffington is right when she says that obsessiveness is the strength of online news. Also, when she says that President Barack Obama probably wouldn't have been elected if it weren't for the internet era. Because of the advanced freedom of speech we are able to engage in through cyberspace, as a society we are much more connected to others globally and are able to utilize our privilege in ways that weren't possible for the mainstream media way back when.

Wanna Share Ear Buds?

An interesting concept that the movie screen is in your pocket instead of in a theater. Although, I personally would rather experience a new movie inside a theater, it is quite an inventive idea to release your movie to Apple and create that "date night" experience, all from the pictures and sounds on your phone....or computer. I can see why some directors or in this case Edward Burns would want to try to navigate straight into the digital world instead of facing others as competition and not to mention saving money from the movie making industry...but how big could sales really be if you take this route? I think it is a creative venture that definitely has its pros and cons, but personally I'll be in line with my soda and popcorn following those little white lights down the aisle to my seat. http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-et-burns20nov20,0,1112942.story

YouTube's Pulling in the Dough $$$

I knew that people could make money from becoming one hit wonders on the Internet, but what I didn't know was how much money one could actually make, all from being 'silly' as Michael Buckley says. I was shocked to see that one person, out of the convenience of their home is raking in so much money that not only could he quit his daytime job, but has also managed to clear himself of credit card debt. YouTube is one of my favorite sites to visit, with such easy access to videos to watch at your convenience and of course the "Internet sensations" that seem to go viral all the time. It makes me want to start thinking.....how could I be a YouTube sensation??