Obama's Half-Hour Pitch

Tonight, Sen. Barack Obama will air a 30-minute campaign program on all the major networks, except ABC, at 7:00p.m. It's reportedly a push to get those undecided voters.

I'd like you to weigh in after the program tonight. Was this move effective on Obama's part? What production values and connotative images did you notice? Was there anything in the video you believed worked against him and perhaps helped Sen. McCain?

MTV's Digital Answer to the Question, "Where Has the M Gone in MTV?"

In COM 130 this week, we discussed the website Hulu as an example of media convergence, as well as an example of how on-demand videos are growing in popularity online.

I'm not sure what has taken MTV so long, but it's finally putting its wealth of music label connections and popular content online with a new site, MTVMusic.com.


There, you can search your favorite videos from the old, sober Britney to the what-were-we-thinking-in-the-80's Devo. Now, the obvious question...if most music videos are already widely available on YouTube, why use MTVMusic.com? You tell me...will this be successful? Oh, and what video did you search for first?

Article Review: Broken Broadcast Advertising Model

COM 130 and COM 327 students, in class we often discuss the changing media landscape in regards to how advertisers are trying to target you, and how networks are trying to see if you are watching. This article from AdAge.com discusses what some broadcasters are theorizing could be the future of audience marketing techniques and measurement. How do they know who is watching what program on television, or online, and are the commercials working to sell products?

Take 10 minutes and read the article. Leave your thoughts to these questions below by Wednesday at 1:00p.m for 10 points. This is not extra credit. Students who have me in both classes will earn 10 points for each course.

Questions to ponder:
Hearing what the professionals have to say about the problems and solutions to audience measurement, what do you think about how they are trying to solve the issue? Which part of the article to you agree or disagree with the most?

COM 130 Blog Prompt: Electronic Industries Blog Post

Here is the information we discussed in class today about your next blog, due Friday, 10/31. I prefer two entries, 500 words total, not 500 words each. You can submit them together for Turn It In.

Two part assignment:

• Television: Part 1 – How have the Internet and convergence impacted the television industry? Give specific examples with links to what you’re talking about.
• The Internet: Part 2 – Tell me about your favorite blog (not any blog tied to this class). Explain the website’s multimedia components and why it is or is not effective.
  Again, give specific examples and links to what you’re talking about.
• If you don’t have a favorite blog that you visit outside of this class, pick one from Brazen Careerist’s blogger community that interests you. Be sure to visit the blogger's actual website, not just his or her article for Brazen Careerist. Update: If Brazen Careerist bloggers don't tickle your fancy, perhaps one of Media Bistro's will. Check out its blogging community here.
  

Media Talk Web Bytes...or, What?

I'm going to start a new weekly post for you, but I'm having a brain fart as to what I should call it. You've probably realized I like to name things around here. For now, I've picked "Media Talk Web Bytes", but I'm not really sold on this. Previously, I chose "Link Round-Up", but felt that sounded too much like corn seed. I need your help. What should I call this? The goal is to provide you with clips, articles and buzz from the web that pertains to our course material, as well as content that might, just might, make you laugh.

Here's the first installment...

In case you missed the "roast" between presidential candidates Obama and McCain, here's a one-minute wrap-up from Current with the funniest quotes, proving these two might be better served just making us laugh once in a while than pointing fingers.

The dancing moose is my favorite part. Just when you thought SNL couldn't do any more or less for Sarah Palin...there's this...the Palin rap.

So, Gen Y wants to wear jeans to the workplace. Cool. Gen Y wants to work when they are most productive, not 9-5. I can dig it. How else can you revolutionize the workplace and why does this guy have beef people hating on Gen Y? This is you, people. Do you agree with his "utter crap" comment?

From chimps, to Android rappers to Apple ads. Think you know so-called viral videos? I found this great website that shows you the top 20, and how they are trending. I thought for sure I'd see the one my friend e-mailed me recently about a lady named Scarlett, but it wasn't there (skip to 2:45 for the laughs). Warning: this website will cause you to waste minutes of your life that you will never get back. Ever. Thanks, ninja cat.

Oh, and finally...your professor here joined Facebook. Yep. Call me an addict, but don't friend me up just yet...I need to figure out a policy for dealing with current students so I don't get in trouble.

Which "byte" was your favorite? Ideas for a less-corny name?

COM 130 - Four Blog Tasks

1 - Sign up for a Gmail account (no tutorial needed here)
2 - Add RSS or subscription buttons to your blog
3 - Sign into Gmail, and practice subscribing to the class blog by clicking "Reader" in the upper left corner and typing this blog's URL in the "add subscription" box. We'll add your classmates' blogs later.
4 - Add the class calendar to your Google calendar

Meantime, why are we doing this and what the heck is a feed reader?

Jury Duty Schedule Upate

Your professor fulfilled her civic duty for the city of St. Louis today and does not need to return to the courthouse. This means that all courses will meet as scheduled beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, 10/21 and for the rest of the week.

Just to clarify...

Tuesday, 10/21
9:30 & 11:00 COM 327 Media Literacy WILL MEET

Wednesday, 10/22
8:00 & 9:00 COM 130 Survey of Professional Media WILL MEET
11:00 COM 304 Broadcast Newswriting WILL MEET (as planned previously with story ideas)

Man, am I glad this is over with and I get to see my students shining faces tomorrow, instead of lawyers!

Something for Comm Majors to Ponder...Who Will You Lead?

Dear students,

Let me introduce you to one of my favorite bloggers, Seth Godin. I'll let him give you the details of his accomplishments on his website. He writes amazing, out-of-the-box blogs about marketing and new media that I read daily because I value his approach and fresh ideas. You've heard me talk consistently about the "changing media landscape" and question what it means to be a Mass Communications major these days. Are you acquiring skills that will be truly relevant in four years?

This is a hard question to answer. One that keeps me up and night. Seth has a great post today about marketing that I challenge you to read.

Please pay particular attention to the final paragraph of the post. That's the one I want to hear your comments on. How have our media and marketing worlds changed, and what are you going to contribute? What are you going to do to with your degree?

I ask this sincerely.

COM 130: Student Guinea Pigs Needed

COM 130 students, I need some volunteers to test two new social media outlets for me:

Twitter

BlogTalkRadio

On Twitter, sign up and follow "lusurvey". That's me, and I've created it for COM 130. For BlogTalkRadio, visit the link above, sign-up for an account and test it by posting your voice on your blog. Just talk for about a minute or so about whatever you want that has to do with our course material.

You have until Thursday afternoon at 3:00 to complete this. E-mail me when you've completed one or both. Ten extra credit points are possible for the BlogTalkRadio experiment.

Good luck!

Obama Ad Appears On Video Game Billboard

Talk about a changing media landscape! AdAge.com put this link up about an ad appearing in a video game called Burnout Paradise. Check out the article, and tell me what you think. Is this a good idea? What else is appearing in video games these days now that many gaming systems are connected to the Internet?

COM 327 - Campaign Ads Analysis Links

Media Literacy students, here are the links for your next assignment:

Pick One Positive and One Negative Ad:

Positive:
From Sen. John McCain’s Campaign (Pro-McCain):
“Leadership”
“Week”

From Sen. Barack Obama’s Campaign (Pro-Obama):
“America’s Leadership”
“Mother”

Negative:
From Sen. John McCain’s Campaign (Anti-Obama):
“Dangerous”
“Folks”
“Passed Over”

From Sen. Barack Obama’s Campaign (Anti-McCain):
“Don’t Know Much”
“Strong”
“Destination”

COM 130 students, which ad is your favorite and why? Which ones are funny to you?