Category: Entertainment & Media 1830

Introduction: On the Sociological Research

A sociological research is one of the experiments that can be carried out with the help of different means and from a number of viewpoints and aspects. Among the most widespread ones, the media representations and the sociological research can be spotted; each provides quite similar account of the phenomenon or people in question, yet each seeks its own means to offer the investigation results; point being, the two means of representing sociological problems offer their own approach to specific phenomena, which predetermines the necessity to compare and contrast the tools which the given methods of research make use of, the specific features of each methods of research, the differences and the similarities between the two, and the ways in which the results are introduced. In addition, since the means and the aims of the two methods of conducting the sociological research are highly likely to prove considerably different, there are sufficient grounds to suspect that the outcomes of the research conducted with the help of media and academic sources may differ, which calls for a comparison of the possible results of the two.

Sociological Research in Media Representations

There can be no doubt that media representations are one of the few ways in which the population is able to find out about the major scientific findings and the results of the most important researches, both concerning the sphere of sciences and humanities. Therefore, it can be concluded that the main function of a media representation is to inform the citizen of a given country on the most essential discoveries in science and to introduce the new course of actions concerning the given issue to the people. Hence, it can be deduced that the most essential features of any media representation are its clarity, simplicity and efficacy, which these possess, as a rule. However, there are certain controversies concerning media representations of scientific findings to be considered.

Stereotypes in Media Research

Being the categories and images that are sued to present groups and activities to media audiences, which influence the way we think about these activities and groups (Browne, 2006, p.207), media research is one of the easiest ways to deliver specific research results to the population. However it cannot be denied that media representations require improvements concerning the sphere of social groups perception.

According to what Browne (2006) says, the latter are viewed in quite a controversial way: Media representations very often conform to and create stereotypes  generalized, oversimplified views of the features of a social group, allowing for few individual differences between members of the group (p.207). Hence, it can be concluded that a media representation of the research results is likely to suffer objectivity and contribute to coining stereotypes in the society, which is highly undesirable.

However, it must be admitted that some of the clichés introduced in the media representations concerning sociological research are quite positive. For instance, the portrayal of middle class often possesses the most positive features, shaping peoples ideas of the middle class as the golden mean of the modern society, as Browne (2006) emphasizes (p.207). With the help of the given images, economical and financial situation within the country can improve considerably.

Taking the media information offered by WendyB (2010), one can see clearly that the data introduced in the given media representation reflects the widespread gender prejudices and even contributes to their enforcement. One of the most obvious features is the cast of colors, namely, the blue for men and the pink for women. In addition, the text makes efficient use of widespread stereotypes, like Im not some sissy boy for men and I just want to eat ice-cream and cry myself to sleep (WendyB, 2010).

Nevertheless, media portrayals of the sociological research results often contribute to shaping the negative opinion concerning certain social groups or ethnicities. As Browne (2006) explains, the given means of introducing the research results often involve negative portrayals of working class, as well as certain social groups, especially the ones formed by the youth and usually labeled as problem groups (p.207).

Losing Some of the Results on the Way

Whenever speaking of a sociological research, people presuppose the coverage of a vast amount of issues and considering a problematic issue from a number of aspects, which means that every single element of the research must be taken into account and reported about. However, when a sociological research results are delivered with the help of the media sources, scientists have to skip certain issues that make the research three-dimensional and resort to a plainer vision of their achievements. Taking WendyBs (2010) report as a striking example of media representation of scientific research, one can see distinctly that the report operates only the numbers concerning men-to-women rates of depression in correspondence with various situations and scenarios, without mentioning precise numbers of merely the general number of those who have been questioned.

Thus, when touching upon the features of a media representation of the sociological paper results, one must take into account the relatively little amount of information to offer to the public. According to the evidence provided by Hammersley (2006), the models provided for offering the public the research results, namely, the distribution and the completion models, involve metaphorical elements, making the perception of the information complicated: Both the distribution and completion models are metaphorical, and even the best metaphors only illuminate some aspects of a phenomenon, and potentially include irrelevant or misleading features (Hammersley, 2006, p.169).

Judging from the aforementioned, the delivery of clear and concise research results to the population with the help of mass media does not allow sufficient precision of the data, thus, depriving people of considerable amount of facts and even providing them with the misleading information. Contrasting with an academic representation of the sociological research results, the given feature can be considered a result of the adaptation of the scientific research conclusions to the media. Nevertheless, because of the specifics of the media representation, which must offer concise and clear data, the given problem seems an inevitable part and parcel of a research presentation.

When Accuracy Is Completely Scientific

Unlike an academic representation of the sociological research results, which are precise and all-embracing, a media introduction of the sociological research discoveries often lack certain accuracy which has been sacrificed for the sake of the research attractiveness for the general public. Hence, another essential feature of a mass media representation of the academic findings is its objectivity and completeness, which is relatively weak and cannot be compared to the one of the academic interpretation of the research results.

Considering the report offered by WendyB (2010), one must mark that, despite the accurate percentage of the men and women who are apt to be depressed in certain situations, the report fails to deliver the entire range of the factors that have sufficient impact on men and women, driving then to the state of depression. What WendyB does is merely making a list of the factors and their results:

Top reasons for depression in men:

• Divorce
• Unemployment
• Forced retirement
• Separation from close family members (WendyB (2010)).

It is essential to mention that, choosing the given means of introducing the results of a sociological research presupposes sacrificing the accuracy of the research and the detailed reports concerning the findings of the scientists. Therefore, the given means of introducing the research results lacks in its veracity to a considerable extent.

As Hamersley (2006) explains, the degree of accuracy of the data offered to the public depends mainly on the initial source, namely, the layout of the conclusions in the research itself; without the proper enumeration of the major findings, the media representation of the results faces the threat of being jumbled and hard to understand for the public. However, once approached in the correct way, the media representation will offer a clear and concise report:

As I indicated earlier, if we treat the Review as simply a list of findings, and treat accurate reporting as the reporting of any of the findings included in the Review and its summaries, then there is quite a high level of accuracy in most media reports (p.144)

Judging from the above-mentioned, media representations are supposed to offer rather generalized information; otherwise the data will presumably be distorted due to the specifics of the given method. Designed for the public to have the clearest vision of the research findings, media reports on the scientific discoveries offer high degree of precision, yet involve a brief description of the findings, without going into details, which demands thorough comments and explanations from the researcher and an extensive academic part of the research.

Sociological Research as an Academic Writing

Another of the integral part of a sociological research, the academic writing itself offers a range of features that are strikingly different from the ones of a media representation and pursue quite different goals. Needless to mention, while a media representation of the research results deals with the visuals and the audio part of the research (if any), the academic writing itself is the foundation of the conducted exploration. Hence, it is necessary to consider the features of the academic writing and compare them to the ones of a media representation. Once outlining the main elements that the academic representation of a sociologic investigation is comprised of, one is able to come up with the comments on the features of each and the ways in which they are linked to each other.

Arresting the Publics Attention: The Language

When speaking about the major differences between the media and academic representation of the research findings, the language issue comes to the fore immediately. Since academic writing does not presuppose the use of colorful vocabulary, metaphors and idioms, as well as the rest of the linguistic devices that allow to introduce a tint of beauty into the paper, while media representation does, an academic presentation might happen to be quite boring. However, there are specific means that allow to make the mood of the paper less stiff. As Chaplin (2002) explains, the language of social research has changed over decades into a less prim manner of delivering the results. Nevertheless, the language of an academic writing remains rather dry, which is a reason for the papers to be considered less emotional and appealing than the media representations:

Although both Krieger and Bluebond-Langner use unusual textual forms to present their research findings, discussion of textual forms, per se, takes place only in the introductions and appendices of their accounts. Almost a decade later, McCall and Becker put discussion of textual form centre-stage; and furthermore they enact their discussion. They explain that although their performances in the past have focused on the presentation of the research data, this one is about performance science itself, and not about the theatre. (p.252)

To demonstrate the efficient use of the language in an academic writing, it would be a good idea to consider the work by Murakumi (2002). Taking a sample of the authors writing is enough to understand the peculiarities of style and mark the elements that contribute to the readability of the text: There have been numerous studies conducted within cultures and cross-culturally in order to identify depressive symptoms in both men and women (27). Judging by the given excerpt, the text is rather dry, which the Passive Voice certifies. However, Murakumi (2002) also tries to make the paper more expressive by asking questions: Why are so many more women than men depressed? (27).

Hence, it must be admitted that, in contrast to the media representation, the academic one does not allow changing the dry scientific manner. Despite the attempts to change the stiff style, the latter remains stable. Although the style of academic writing lacks in vivacity, it allows to offer reasonable argumentation and conclusions with a difference.

On the Importance of the Supporting Material

Compared to the visuals, the written part of the research that introduces the problem to the audience, defines the basic notions and seeks the means to solve the given issues includes a number of elements that provide essential information, yet are far from being impressive and are unlikely to trigger the audiences attention. Hence, it is important to provide the theoretical issues and the personal observations in such a way so as to produce the maximum impression on the public.

Because of the need to combine the theory and the practical application of the obtained knowledge, the academic representation of the research findings allows to dwell upon the theoretical issues and the practical applications of the existing theories, which makes the academic representation of the research findings more up to the point and makes the textual part of the research crucial for the presentation.

Murakumi (2002) comprises the theory and the practical part in rather efficient way, yet the theoretical issues still hinder the ease of perception, adding certain stiffness to the style. For instance, the author quotes Hammen and Peter, yet also refers to the results of the research conducted by the latter (28).

Even though, technically, the academic report makes an integral part of the research results delivery, it is obvious that, in the course of the explanations and the comments on the major finds, the audience is most likely to pay attention to the visuals and the rest of the media materials used in the research representation.

Hence, the textual part of the representation is of fundamental importance, yet, unlike the media representation, it contains a number of elements that do not provide the necessary impression, even though serving essential links in the chain of the argument. Therefore, one of the major differences between the media and the academic representation of the research is the necessity to offer the precise and essential information in the former and pick the entertaining elements for conveying the issues of the latter. As Denzin (2009) comments,

Two fundamental problems confront the sociologist as he moves from theory to observations. First, observations with direct relevance for theory must be collected. If they are not, theoretical revisions, modifications, and verifications are restricted, and subsequent research activities become after-the-act attempts to establish what should have been initially present  theoretically relevant observations. (p.81)

Thus, the academic aspect of the research representation necessarily involves the combination of theory and practice. Hence, the objectivity of the research is achieved, and the verified data is represented. Unlike the academic representation, the one involving media does not presuppose the interrelation of the two aspects.

Theory and Observations: The Tipping Point

Dealing with the multiple aspects of the academic representation of the research results and offering them for the public observation, one must mark that the contingency of the research and the practical application of the given results must be represented in both the media and the academic representation of the research results.

Disregarding the specifics of the media style and the peculiarities of the academic representation of the research findings, such elements as the theoretical approaches and the practical application of the latter are a must for a successful representation of the sociologic research results. Hence, the practice records are to be present in the commentaries on the results. However, it is worth marking that in most cases, these are the academic representations that convey the contingency between the theoretical and the practical elements. As Carter, Ivani
, Lillis & Parkin (2009) emphasize,

The post-modern awareness of the contingency of academic accounts and the power relations that underlie their claims to authority has been accompanied by debates, across a range of disciplines, about praxis, the link between research and practice, and between academic and everyday knowledges. (p.72)

Therefore, comparing the media representations of the research results and the academic means of delivering the research conclusions to the world, one must emphasize the necessity to balance between the theoretical and the practical parts. The delivery of each of the aspects is crucial for both the academic writing and the media, which bridges the two means of representation. Taking Murakumis paper (2002) as an example, it is necessary to emphasize that the author the paper lacks the practical evidence, while the theoretical part is profound and solid. Hence, it is evident that in an academic representation of the social research results, one must comprise the theoretical issues and their application to reality, in contrast to the example offered by Muracumi (2002).

Conclusion

Judging from the above-mentioned examples, there are considerable differences between the media and academic representations of sociological research results. Mostly concerning the aspect of formal or non-formal approach, the two aspects also presuppose dealing with discrimination issues and the problems of applying theory to practice. However, certain similarities, such as the concision and preciseness of the results, are also to be marked. Hence, the conclusion is that, despite structural and stylistic diversities, the media and academic representations have certain elements in common, serving to provide people with the most up-to-date knowledge on the subject.

Reference List

Browne, K., 2006. Introducing sociology for AS level. Cambridge, UK: Polity.

Carter, A., Ivani
, R., Lillis, T. M., Parkin, S., 2009. Why writing matters: Issues and identity in writing research and pedagogy. Amsterdam, NL: John Benjamins Publishing Company.

Chaplin, E., 2002. Sociology and visual representation. New York, NY: Routledge.

Denzin, N., 2009. The research act: A theoretical introduction to sociological methods. Piscataway, MJ: Transaction Publishers.

Hammersley, M., 2006. Media bias in reporting social research? The case of reviewing ethnic inequalities in education. New York, NY: Taylor & Francis.

Murakumi, J., 2002. Gender and depression: Explaining the different rates of depression between men and women. Perspectives in Psychology, Spring Issue, pp.27-34.

WendyB, 2010. Depression statistics in men vs. women. DepressionSymptoms.net [Online]. Web.

Introduction

Today, more than ever before, hiring professionals in contemporary organizations are increasingly using social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter as screening tools for potential employees (Root & McKay 202). This predisposition is being facilitated by the proliferation of social networking sites, which has afforded individuals new means to communicate with friends, co-workers and even strangers via networks (Mello 165). The present paper looks into the social media networks from the employment standpoint with the view to establishing what it takes for an individual to become a professional.

Importance of Placing Positive Information on Social Media

It is of immense importance for individuals to place positive information on their social networking platforms as these sites are being used by employers to screen potential employees for possible recruitment and employment. Indeed, hiring professionals are increasingly relying on these sites to filter any posts about drugs, alcohol, sex, profanity and negative comments (Root & McKay 202), not mentioning that posting negative comments on social networking sites is today considered as suicidal as a substantial number of employers consider the information posted on these sites to make critical decisions regarding the hiring of employees (Mello 168).

Furthermore, owing to the fact that monitoring of employees social networking activities is easy and inexpensive as no special technology or customized software is required to conduct the monitoring, it is important for existing employees to post positive information on their social networking sites as employers can always shield their identity by using a pseudonym to gain access to an employees off-work, personal life in a way that the employee may not know who has actually gained access to the posted information (Mello 168).

Suitability of Social Media

Employers, in my view, are legally and morally justified to scour online social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to discover information about prospective hires as it is much easier for the hiring professional to find discomforting information about an employee owing to the fact that the main objective of these sites is to share information which is personal in nature. Indeed, it is not only justified for employers to use the social networking sites to screen potential employees as suggested in the expansive literature on social media and human resources (Vicknair et al 7-8), but also correct for the hiring professionals to holistically base their recruitment decisions on information posted on these sites as they provide an opportunity to filter incidences that could be used to dismiss the suitability of job candidates, such as substance abuse, badmouthing, profanity and other offensive content (Pritchard 1).

Importance of Maintaining Professionalism off the Job

Employees serve as the mirror of the organization not only in job-related contexts but also while off the job. Furthermore, the image and reputation of a company are evaluated and internalized based on how employees demonstrate professionalism on the job as well as off the job (De Vos, De Clippeleer, & Dewilde 761-762). When it comes to the use of social networking sites, employees who fail to demonstrate professionalism off the job elevate the risk of exposing their respective organizations to legal liabilities or even providing competitors with an avenue to imitate or copy the business or competitive strategies of their organizations (Vicknair et al 9). Owing to these factors, it is important for employees to maintain a professional image and disposition off the job.

Conclusion

The present paper has evaluated the social media networks from the employment standpoint with the view to establishing what it takes for an individual to become a professional. Overall, it can be concluded that social networking sites provide hiring professionals with the best chance ever to learn about the social, behavioral and professional dispositions of potential employees.

Works Cited

De Vos, Ans, Inge De Clippeleer and Thomas Dewilde. Proactive Career Behaviors and Career Success during the Early Career. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology. 82.4 (2009): 761-777. Academic Search Premier. Web.

Mello, Jeffrey A. Social Media, Employee Privacy and Concerted Activity: Brave New World or Big Brother? Labor Law Journal. 63.3 (2012): 165-173. Business Source Premier. Web.

Pritchard, Maritha 2013. How Social Recruitment Requires Students to Manage a Responsible Digital Footprint. Web.

Root, Teri and Sandra McKay. Student Awareness of the Use of Social Media Screening by Prospective Employers. Journal of Education for Business. 89.4 (2014): 202-206. Business Source Premier. Web.

Vicknair, Jamie, Dalia Elkersh, Katie Vancey and Michael C. Budden. The Use of Social Networking Websites as a Recruiting Tool for Employers. American Journal of Business Education. 3.11 (2010): 7-12. Academic Search Premier. Web.

Alice Mathias is a Dartmouth University graduate in Hanover, New Hampshire in the United States who wrote the article Fakebook Generation. She argues that the use of social media platforms was turning into a comic. Moreover, she doubts the fact that social media could promote genuine personal and professional connections. Information on the platform cannot be relied on as people give unsubstantiated answers like having relationship status with food and adding false pictures.

Fakebook generation employs various persuasion ideologies. Firstly, emotional responses are a critical part of her persuasion model. Pathos is the use of emotional-based persuasion and used by Mathias in this article. The tone is casual but very convincing as it uses questions that one would generally have a response to and thus influencing the opinion of the readers. Mathias (348) in her article asks questions like But does this more reverent incarnation of Facebook actually enrich adult relationships? with the aim of getting an emotional reaction from the readers. she also uses pathos to disclose how her friends would ogle to their lovers profiles all day.

Secondly, the use of pathos is, however, the most effective way to convince readers. Logos is the use of logic. Some of the arguments in the articles use logic to persuade the readers for example my generation has long been bizarrely comfortable with being looked at. Finally, her critique of Facebook seems to be timely. This shows that there is the use of kairos and from 2007 when the article was, first published Facebook was rapidly growing in popularity. The initial purpose of Facebook was social interaction and honesty was very important in maintaining this. This article explores the ways in which this intended purpose changed. Society has used this platform in a manner that increases the shareholders value but does not achieve the intended purpose and information provided by the users is not credible.

The issues raised in this article are relatively true. There could be some negative aspects of the use of social media platforms but there are some advantages. It is also apparent that not everyone is honest with the information provided but there is some information that is from credible organizations like media, governments, and other organizations that can be relied on. It has had a positive impact on the way people interact and is advantageous especially when distances are involved. Breaking up relationships is a common problem associated with the use of Facebook but it has evolved to include other issues outside this scope. I believe it will constantly shape itself in the future in a way that more and more people appreciate the creativity of the developers.

In conclusion, Mathiass opinion in this article has had a great impact on persuading her readers. The use of pathos is the most effective way to persuade the readers as emotional responses have more impact. However, logical evidence has been left out in the article as no statistical data was provided but this does not affect the overall intention of the writer. In addition, the use of kairo had a positive impact on persuading the readers. It can also be noted that Facebook has its advantages and disadvantages and the advantages will consistently grow as its use is diversified to include businesses and other organizations. It can also be noted that most organizations including governments are using this platform to communicate to its audiences.

Works Cited

Mathias, Alice. The Fakebook Generation. The New York Times. The New York Times. 2007. Web.

Introduction

In her poignant article Posters: Advertisement, Art, Political Artifact, Commodity, Susan Sontag takes issue with a forceful push for consumption that transforms a seemingly benign pictorial mediumposterinto the driver of capitalism. The author deliberates on the nature of the art-commodity dichotomy while focusing her analytical lenses on mass-produced images as material objects that function both within political and artistic realms. This paper aims to discuss Che Guevara posters that are commonly displayed in peoples rooms with reference to the writings of Sontag.

Discussion

The distinctive image of Che Guevara has been brandished by revolutionaries of all hues and stripes; however, no one has been so brazen about sporting the iconic portrait as those who do not have any understanding of the historical significance of the person. A case in point is a Che poster in my friends apartment. Never having been to Cuba, it is challenging for Nathan to connect the abstract meaning of the image with anything that he might have experienced in his daily life. In addition to being completely detached from the historical, cultural, and revolutionary processes underpinning the emergence of Che on the political arena of Cuba, the man has no interest in challenging lingering dogmas of the establishment. A corollary is that the choice of the countercultural symbol is not loaded with deep symbolism; rather, it has been entirely dictated by a whim, which instantiates emotional tourism derided by Sontag.

It can be argued that the poster of Che has been purchased by Nathan in a bout of omnivorous consumption that undergirds all disparate structures of the modern capitalist society. Instead of championing revolutionary ideals, the poster propels the expansion of capitalist capacities by sanctioning the ideological consensus on the state of the economic participation of masses. It follows that without grasping the concept behind the image of the revolutionary leader, the poster cannot be regarded as an emotional foci of ones aspirations and ambitions.

I would be remiss in not pointing to the strong commercial undertone of the image itself that precludes the emergence of any meaningful emotional response to the poster. By virtue of being mass-produced, the measured brevity of the image gives way to a great measure of the ideological cynicism of the modern era that facilitates the occurrence of a transaction in which an embodiment of heroism and resistance is exchanged for units of oppressed individuals toil. Taking into consideration the paucity of inputs into the production of a single picture of the guerrilla leader, the egregiousness of the transaction allowing to extract profit from unassuming cultural consumers can indeed produce moral vertigo.

The intellectual climate of the modern era breeds emotional tourists who are, unlike actual travelers, dare not to venture outside the comfort of their conceptual bounds. However, it can be argued that a diligent attempt to glean several smidgens of meaning behind the iconic image can cancel out the toxicity of its dark underbelly. Even though the mass-produced Che posters cannot approach the grandiosity of art crowning Cuban liberation and its identity forged in the struggle, the conscious choice of the cultural object redeems one from partaking in cultural appropriation to some extent.

Conclusion

The paper has discussed the subversion of the revolutionary meaning of Che Guevara posters by their commercial production. It has been argued that the modern use of the countercultural symbol would have been frowned upon by Sontag who in no uncertain terms opposed the dilution of the aesthetic aspect of image-making in the process of its transformation into an object of consumption.

The modern digitalized world provides humanity with a plethora of social media resources by which a user might search and consume diversified information. Nowadays, each intelligent citizen tends to be an active part of society by expressing his position or supporting somebody elses one. Hence, platforms and methods that may give such an opportunity are a relevant issue to discover. For a considerable period, street art and graffiti have been one of the most popular ways to express ones protest and proclamation. The platform allowing such social practices to be noticed and followed by an immense number of people is Instagram. Thus, the interaction and interdependence between street art, graffiti, and Instagram, as well as research possibilities that Instagram provides, might be important aspects to study.

Street art and graffiti may be considered as unique forms of media because young marginals use public places such as walls and streets to be heard, recognized, and to make an impact on public opinion (MacDowall & de Souza, 2018, p. 7). To that end, they need a tool involving big audiences, using which can let their works go viral. Instagram already had 400 million users in 2015, which emphasizes its global nature and significant potential as an instrument for the distribution of ones creativeness and ideas (MacDowall et al., 2018, p. 11). This program has become an essential thing for todays active Internet users to consume an aesthetic visual content and be creators of one. So, including references to Instagram into street art and graffiti has become a routine practice to get instant feedback and solicit further contact from the target audience (MacDowall et al., 2018, p. 11).

For the past recent years, social media platforms have drawn considerable attention from scholars who investigate interactions between online-generated content and social shifts. However, textual social media platforms are more likely to be discovered if to compare with visual ones, which may result in obscuring the potential value of Instagram as a tool for empirical research (MacDowall et al., 2018, p. 17). Moreover, MacDowall et al. (2018) suggest that Instagram is not only a seductive source for objective quantification of cultural processes but also a phenomenon that reshapes audiences perceptions of diversified social and political aspects (p. 17). Thus, the scholars argue that Instagram has no essential difference from the cultural formations to which it promises access (MacDowall et al., 2018, p. 19).

The argument about the new interdependence between street art, graffiti, and Instagram might be quite convincible. Nevertheless, MacDowall et al. (2018) may overvalue Instagram as a universal social media platform that may provide scholars with an immense range of research data. Instagrams architecture does not allow researchers to structure flows of visual content into a concrete object of their studies as the program functions under algorithms adopted for mobile devices and individual tastes. However, the algorithms themselves, such as privacy policy and intellectual property rights, are Instagrams metadata that might be a subject for scholar investigations. So, the above mentioned may lead to the assumption that despite Instagram provides a substantial amount of information to consume, it can be a credible source for academic research yet within the scope of its metadata.

In conclusion, it seems reasonable to assume that street art and graffiti are unique forms of media that allow modern youth to claim their protests. The social media platform allowing them to get feedback and gain popularity is Instagram. It was argued that Instagram has a considerable impact on users perceptions of different aspects of modern life. Despite this, the mobile media might not be a credible source for scholars to research out the scope of its metadata.

Reference

MacDowall, L. J., & de Souza, P. (2018). Id Double Tap That!!: street art, graffiti, and Instagram research. Media, Culture & Society, 40(1), 322.

The 2018 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XXIII Olympic Winter Games was the global winter multiple-sport event that took place between 9 and 25 February of 2018 in PyeongChang County, Gangwon Province, South Korea. The event was highly valuable for the host city because the Olympics has been hosted in the country one time previously, and the organizers needed to ensure that it is held to the highest standard possible. The Olympics are also highly valuable to the destinations in which they are being held because of the vast opportunities for future development and growth. Therefore, besides the successful planning and organization of the event, host cities should also consider whether their contribution would bring further possibilities of growth. This assessment aims to investigate the events occurring at the formation, growth, and staging phases of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics based on the Event Life Cycle Model. Another goal is to analyze South Koreas proposed plan for future development on the site of the event to boost the regions reputation.

At the formation stage of the Event Life Cycle, a process starting from idea to feasibility usually takes place. The selection of the host for the Olympics in new a new location reflects the tendency to push worldwide sporting events into new markets, which means bringing sports to new audiences as well as capturing the attention of new broadcasters and sponsors (Gibson, 2011). Thus, the idea to host the event in a new city highlights the need to align the 2018 Winter Olympics with the strategy of innovation and broadening new horizons. Sponsorships offered by large global companies also represented vast opportunities for the success of the event.

The growth stage of the Event Life includes the bidding campaign, the formation of the OC, the venue master plan and the post-event management plan, infrastructural development, event planning, and the strategy for the events branding. The bidding for the Olympics was among the most important because it would result in the naming of a host city. Among the three leaders, Annecy (France), Munich (Germany), and PyeongChang (South Korea), the latter received the most votes. Choosing a city in South Korea aligned with the strategy of broadening horizons and finding new audiences for the winter Olympics. In addition, this decision was reinforced by the trend of shifting global sporting power away from the traditional European setting to emerging global markets (Magnay 2011). Multiple venues were chosen for holding the competition in the mountain cluster of PyeongChang and the coastal cluster of Gangneung. For example, the Phoenix Snow Park would become the venue for freestyle skiing and snowboarding while the Gangneung Ice Arena would be used for short track speed skating and figure skating.

Significant investments into the infrastructure of the city to support the Olympics, including technologies. As reported by Takanashi, tech companies built infrastructure for wireless 5G, broadcasting, and cloud. Due to the global coverage of the Winter Olympics, it was imperative that such services would improve. Apart from the technological aspect of infrastructural development, the city also worked on the improvement of already existing venues as well as the establishment of new ones. For example, the Albensia Biathlon Centre in Alpensia Sports Park, PyeongChang, which was initially established in 1998, was renovated and improved throughout April 2016 and December 2016 to ensure that the venue is up to par with the requirements of the Winter Olympics. In terms of event branding, the 2018 Winter Olympics received significant support from international brands. McDonalds, Coca-Cola, Hersheys, Canadian Tire, Samsung, Procter & Gamble, and many more participated in the celebrations and offered both visitors and athletes a variety of amenities and entertainment (Event Marketer, 2018). The overall success of the 2018 Winter Olympics was attributed to choosing a new location, engaging global companies, and working on the hosts infrastructure. However, it is imperative to review a plan for future development after the event.

There is a trend of cities hosting the Olympics failing to sustain their relevance. This is no exception for PyeongChang, which was left deserted and quiet after visitors left the town. South Korea spent $14 billion on the event with the hope that the Olympics would turn the mountainous area of the country into an all-season destination for tourists (Weber, 2018). In 2019, however, the rate of tourists is meager, and with the temporary stadium in Pyeongchang disassembled and other venues being torn down, the number of attractions that could spur some interest is limited. PueongChangs challenge is extraordinarily complex because the area has previously enjoyed only limited tourism related to sports, with the local economy relying predominantly on agriculture and fishing. Therefore, for the region to attract tourists that would contribute to the economy, significant shifts in the current strategy are necessary.

The lack of legacy plans for some facilities built or restored for the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang is the critical issue that prevented the city from staying relevant (Staufenberg, 2016). It is recommended that stadiums and other facilities created for the event should have a purpose in the future. For example, instead of investing in a temporary venue, money could have been spent on improving the already existing infrastructure, thus having a long-term plan for the further use of locations and amenities. According to the Independent article by Coffey (2018, para. 4), upon the inspection of PyeongChang after the final inspection, the International Olympic Committee warned of the danger of creating white elephants with venues that would be expensive to maintain. While the strategy of using the 10,000-seat Hockey Center to host a corporate league hockey team had some potential, it is recommended for the government to be more proactive in the use of new venues.

Another critical recommendation for PyeongChang is to work on tourism product development by establishing affordable prices on hotel reservations, entertainment, and local cuisine. Long-term destination positioning is essential in this case because it will allow the local government to create sustainable growth (Ferreira, 2019). Instead of tearing down buildings that would have no use, it is necessary to develop a use for them, such as an amusement or theme park. Capitalizing on PyeongChang being a host for the Olympics is possible through dedicating the city to the event, branding its venues, and adding entertainment value to them. For example, collaborating with brands such as Samsung in creating an amusement park with the key theme of the Olympics to integrate the latest technologies will increase the relevance of the city and battle the reputation of a ghost town. Overall, there should be more efforts targeted at sustaining the new venues and attractions instead of taking them down.

Reference List

Coffey, H 2018, Winter Olympics 2018: is abandoned South Korean ski resort a warning to PyeongChang? 

Event Marketer 2018, Winter Olympics 2018: brand experiences from PyeongChang and beyond. 

Ferreira, M 2019, Role of destination management and destination marketing in tourism. 

Gibson, O 2011, PyeongChang named as the host city for 2018 Winter Olympics. 

Magnay, J 2011, PyeongChang named as host city for 2018 Winter Olympics.   

Staufenberg, J 2016, Olympic legacy: haunting pictures show past games buildings left to crumble. 

Takahashi, D 2018, Tech companies build infrastructure for billions to view the Winter Olympics. 

Introduction

Many people in society encounter different forms of violence or aggression. The bad news is that communities have not been keen to address this problem using adequate initiatives. In the recent past, diverse platforms have been used to sensitize more individuals about violence and why it should be addressed using combined efforts. This paper, therefore, explores the role of media in analyzing and addressing different forms of abuse or aggression.

Television Episodes

The television series Three Girls give a detailed analysis of the events and abuses surrounding the infamous Rochdale sexual abuse. The program was broadcasted on BBC One on the 16^th, 17^th, and 18^th of May, 2017. In the three episodes, viewers learned how the authorities failed to investigate various allegations of abuse and rape. The three girls (Winshaw, Amber Bowen, and Ruby) were raped by ten men (Lowthorpe, 2017). Throughout the episodes, it is evident that the girls are unable to come to terms with this kind of betrayal and abuse. The police team and Maggie decided to persuade the victims to give a detailed analysis of the horror they went through.

A new prosecutor by the name Nazir Afzal managed to convict the accused men for raping the three girls. These episodes, therefore, revealed and described heinous acts that destroyed the hopes of young innocent girls. The ten accused men committed sexual abuse. The narrations reveal how the girls were raped and abused severally. This kind of portrayal demonstrates a unique kind of violence against innocent individuals (Lowthorpe, 2017). As indicated earlier, the three girls were aged 13, 14, and 16. The convicted men were aged above 18 years. All these individuals were Britons.

Inclusion of Violence

Several reasons can be used to explain why the selected TV episode includes violence. Firstly, the move was informed by the sexual abuse that took place in Rochdale. The use of this strategy will expose the story to more people. The second reason why the episode featured rape was to support the needs of more victims and empower them. The rationale is that the problem of rape continues to affect many young girls in different societies (Mrug, Madan, & Windle, 2016). That being the case, the portrayal of this violent act empowers and encourages more victims to pursue their goals in life.

Desensitization

The use of media violence is a powerful approach for causing desensitization in people. Psychology is the first concept that can be used to describe how this process takes place. When a person is exposed to a given event several times, his or her emotional responsiveness to it reduces significantly. This means that the use of media violence can encourage more individuals to tolerate malpractice. The second way is that the approach might result in a situation whereby specific feelings such as empathy, compassion, and sympathy are undermined (Mrug et al., 2016). Consequently, people will no longer treat any form of social violence seriously.

Conclusion

This discussion indicates that the use of media violence is a practice that can encourage different people to overcome any form of abuse. The approach guides members of society to understand why violence is a major social problem that should be addressed using evidence-based solutions. On the other hand, the model can result in desensitization and encourage more people to overlook various acts of violence.

References

Lowthorpe, P. (Director). (2017). Three girls [Video file]. Web.

Mrug, S., Madan, A., & Windle, M. (2016). Emotional desensitization to violence contributes to adolescents violent behavior. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 44(1), 75-86. Web.

Introduction

Modern gadgets of communication such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets areas a result of advanced technology. These gadgets are both portable and user-friendly features that enable users to multi-task. While research on the individual concurrent media multitasking behavior looks like a fascinating area of study, only a few researchers have dedicated their time and effort to this task. The focus of this paper is to analyze the article, Media Multitasking Behaviour: Concurrent Television and Computer Usage by Brasel and Gips (2011). Besides summarizing the article, they also intend to highlight areas of agreement and/or disagreement with the article. Potential discussion questions will also be provided.

Analysis

In their article, Brasel and Gips (2011) explore individual media multitasking behavior. Specifically, the authors are concerned with individual concurrent television and computer usage.

The study seeks to answer the following research questions:

• What is the individual allocation of attention across diverse screens?
• Is individual visual attention to television different from that of a computer?
• How frequently do users switch between media?
• Are media users aware of their multitasking behavior?
• Do variables like age affect media multitasking behavior and patterns?

Forty-two participants were recruited from campus to take part in the research study. The participants consisted of both students and staff. The experiment started with a 30-minute protocol that required researchers to record participants multitasking behavior. Every participant was allowed into a room with a television turned on, and a computer connected to the internet. Participants were free to use the two media as they pleased. Participants behavior was recorded on two video cameras. Participants also recorded their daily media consumption patterns on survey forms.

The study findings revealed that participants spent more time on the computer (68.4%) than on TV (30.6%). Each participant spent an average of 27.5 in the observation room, during which time they made an average of 120 switches between the two media. The researchers noted a tendency among participants to underestimate their switching behavior. The switching habit was more prevalent among younger participants.

This research finding echoes the results of a study by Foehr (2006), where the researcher reported a high prevalence of media multitasking among younger users. Nearly 80% of the youngsters surveyed by Foehrs study confessed to media multitasking at varying degrees.

I also concur with the authors observation that respondents spent more time on the computer than watching TV. This is in line with the findings of a research study by Rosman (2013), who reports that in 2013, American adults spent 4 hours and 31 minutes daily watching television. On the other hand, Rosman (2013) reports that American adults spent over 5 hours on the internet, be it on their smartphones or computers.

Some of the discussion questions that the writer has come up with regarding the article under review are as follows:

• Given that the researchers were only interested in comparing two media activities, would the rate of multitasking have increased if they had made a clear distinction of the various internet-based activities such as twitting, facebooking, checking email and web surfing?
• Would the user switching behaviour change if the study involved more media alternatives like the radio, magazines, and newspapers?
• Would increased exposure time to the two media affect the respondents switching habits?

Conclusion

The article by Brasel and Gips (2011) is both informative and mind provoking. It sheds light on user media multitasking behavior. However, it would have been interesting to observe the effect of additional media alternatives on users switching behavior. Moreover, I am curious to find out what would have been the effect of user switching behavior if the researchers had distinguished individual media activities like web surfing and checking email.

Reference List

Brasel, S. A., & Gips, J. (2011). Media multitasking behaviour: concurrent television and computer usage. Cyberpsychol Behavioural Social Network, 14(9),527-34.

Foehr, U. G. (2006). Media Multitasking Among American Youth: Prevalence, Predicators and Pairings. Web.

Rosman, K. (2013). In digital era, what does watching TV even mean? Web.

Introduction

The use of modern advanced technologies in everyday life expands the scope of human opportunities and opens up new perspectives for communication. In particular, the application of mass media gives people almost all over the world access to the most up-to-date information and allows the sharing of the necessary information. At the same time, it is essential to distinguish between traditional and social media since these varieties differ not only in the way they transmit data but also, as a rule, the characteristics of their content.

This work is aimed at identifying the differences between the two forms of the media and describing the advantages and disadvantages that the personal use of modern means of data exchange opens up for people. The use of both forms of the media implies broad communication possibilities, but an excessive passion for them can hurt lifestyle and even health.

Differences Between Traditional and Social Media

Although traditional and social media are associated with the transfer of information, the difference between them is significant. The first type, as a rule, is standard news data, for instance, newspaper articles, television programs, and other usual forms. The main goal of social media is communication among people, which includes various forms of information transfer. According to Feldman et al. (2016), one of the key criteria determining peoples commitment to a particular type of resource is age.

The older generation prefers to receive information traditionally, and young people spend much free time on social networks where they usually find out all the news that interests them. This distinction has become particularly pronounced in recent years when the development of the Internet has acquired a global scale. Communication has been simplified, and no significant efforts are required to contact one another. Therefore, today, social portals and platforms are the most common type of media.

Peculiarities of the Personal Use of the Media

The personal use of the media expands possibilities greatly and provides a large number of benefits. However, this applies primarily to social rather than traditional networks. For instance, today, news outlets post all the important announcements in the public domain, and Internet users receive them immediately. Another great advantage of using the media in everyday life is an opportunity to be in contact with almost any person, which eliminates the difficulties of interaction.

Although the use of modern networks opens up broad prospects, some negative aspects may arise. Brooks (2015) notes the addicting and distracting nature of social media, which manifests itself in the lack of interest of many people in daily activities (p. 26). The users of accounts are sometimes so immersed in virtual communication that it becomes dangerous for their health. It is hardly possible to talk about the need to impose a ban on social networks since such extreme measures are not a solution to the current problem of Internet addiction. Nevertheless, self-control needs to be developed to avoid dependencies and to use modern digital opportunities for their intended purpose.

Conclusion

The opportunities offered by modern media are significant, but some negative aspects may manifest themselves, for instance, addiction on the Internet. Differences between traditional and social media are significant, and age is one of the main factors determining certain preferences. To avoid a threatening health effect, the personal use of the media should be self-controlled, but in general, the benefits of free access to news flows are obvious.

References

Brooks, S. (2015). Does personal social media usage affect efficiency and well-being? Computers in Human Behavior, 46, 26-37. Web.

Feldman, D., Contreras, S., Karlin, B., Basolo, V., Matthew, R., Sanders, B.,& Luke, A. (2016). Communicating flood risk: Looking back and forward at traditional and social media outlets. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 15, 43-51. Web.

Introduction

Guest blogging has had a rocky road over these last several months. The pundit-sphere was buzzing about the purported demise of guest blogging. This has been prompted by some seriously unsavory practices that remind this writer of bad old days gone by. Those readers old enough to remember radio may recall that in the era BCP (Before Cell Phones), radio disc jockeys sometimes received payola  money under the table  in return for featuring one song single or another (that was on vinyl records, a medium that smacks of the Jurassic for most younger readers). The situation with regard to guest blogging today is very similar. Website hosts accept payment in return for featuring a guest blogger, giving them the opportunity to link to their own business webpage. The resulting content often reads more like an advertisement than a legitimate article. Such material loses credibility and casts an unfavorable light on both the guest blogger and the host site. Thanks to this spam-spinning of some online content producers, the rest of us now have to worry about whether guest blogging is going to be interpreted as slimy and underhanded.

This is really too bad. Guest blogging, at its best, is simply the sharing of content between bloggers. It happens by invitation, rather than merely in the form of comments, and is accompanied by appropriate attribution and credit, of course. It is still a great idea to expand the reach and effectiveness of a blog page. It injects variety and new perspectives while suggesting broader applicability. It can and should still be a tool in the kit of any online business or website manager for informing the universe of potential readers/users/customers. Lets look at why guest blogging has such potential, here below, and consider some ways to work around this recent challenge to guest bloggings credibility.

Reputation:

It should be clear why you would want to do guest blogging. Of course, you want your name and your message to be seen in as many places and by as many pairs of potential customer eyes as you can manage. When you are able to publish an article on an outside online resource of whatever description, you are laying down the groundwork for your future relationship with all the readers and contacts of that site or page. This process is like a snowball going downhill and accumulating more and more snow on the way down. If you create a good base through the readability and usefulness of your initial posts, you can develop some traction with that audience, meaning that you are routinely holding onto their attention for more than a nanosecond. You are thus creating a slightly different experience for that audience from the one that they have come to expect from whatever online resource is hosting your guest post. This, after all, is a major element in the motivation for the host of an outside web resource to invite you in as a guest blogger. The augmented experience your content provides solidifies your business or message as a brand. Appearing elsewhere than in your own accustomed niche, in the role of an expert sharing your experience and best practices, adds credibility to your brand and to whatever you do for your customers and readers.

Potential Customers:

If your content impels people to take action, then you will be likely to motivate them to follow you and read your advice or insights in the future. They will be more likely to click over to your own website to see what else you might have to say. While there, they may be more likely to check out what you have on offer. They might even be moved to buy what are selling, whether a product, a service, or an idea or cause that you support. They may have never heard of you previously, but now, having read your content, they feel they want to know you better. They can follow the convenient links you include in your guest post, rummage around on your webpage, and be inspired by the good sense you demonstrate. They may purchase, or donate, or like, or take whatever action you are trying to encourage. In short, guest blogging may become a productive source of traffic.

Relationships:

In the process of pitching, publishing, and sharing a post, you will have plenty of opportunities to build closer ties with the staff of the host website. Although these may start out as mere perfunctory interactions, they open the way to social pleasantries and cooperation. You can, for example, feel out the host website staff about how they come up with future topics. If they seem open to suggestions, you can offer a few ideas, making clear that you are not trying to take their job from them. Such mutually beneficial relationships can become fine sources of recommendations for other guest posts, or even other blogging gigs, and partnerships of all sorts.

Guest blogging is fundamentally a sound strategy for expanding the reach and scope of a blog site. This is in spite of the recent nasty practice of some  only some  blog hosts to sell their sites to any and every other blogger for a price. It is also in spite of the equally nasty practice of some bloggers to shovel their thinly disguised ad copy into any site on which they can get permission to post guest content. You can take the high ground and help preserve this useful technique for keeping blogging fresh.