How to Podcast, easy as 1.2.3…

Podcasting is actually very simple to do. Anyone with internet access can create their own podcasts, and, as we have seen, podcasting is a cool and different way to communicate social information. Podcasting can enhance your blog or deliver your information to the pockets of all your followers. Sometimes, people are more interested in audio data than written information anyway. In this class, we learned how to use several programs to podcast. I prefer to use podomatic, soundcloud, and audacity. The first thing to do is to figure out what you’re going to talk about. On podomatic, you can create a profile that pretty much walks you through how to podcast in a step by step process. You can also do the same thing using Audacity, and this program allows you to edit your content. You can select blank spaces and delete them using trim. You can tighten up spaces between words or even delete whole words. Next, you can upload the content to a program like soundcloud. The program eventually will allow you to copy a hyperlink, and then, you can go on your blog and paste the url. Its as easy as that! The podcast player will then appear on your blog. Podomatic is a cool program because it organizes all your podcasts and you develop a podcast personality. You can explore other programs like Blip.tv or Ivoox on your own, but I prefer audacity and soundcloud, because it was very easy to export the material to my blog. You literally press record, say what you want to say, edit the sound, save the material, export it to a program like podomatic, and post the hyperlink to your blog, or upload the material and transfer it to iTunes, etc. Podcasting is extremely easy, and can definitely add a little spice to your blogs or webpages, giving the material you usually post more of a personality. Record, Upload, Distribute, and share with friends now using these programs!

Modern Family For the Win!: December 5th-11th

This week in TV ROCKED. Finally, something happens on 90210. Naomi is assigned to Holly’s b-day party, not knowing the relation to her boss. The two had just started working out their friendship, but the rift causes Holly to hate Naomi for stealing her mom’s attention, which she has never been able to get, and Naomi catches Austin hooking up with Holly. Obviously, something has to go wrong in every episode. Annie breaks into Jeremy’s and records him saying that he hated his grandma and that he would do anything to get the money from the old hag. Finally, her life can move on. Liam, in a quest to find Annie after finding out about her escort job, gets in a motorcycle accident right when Annie left him a message wanting to get back with him. Navid gets beaten up by his uncle’s partners when they catch him with a wire, and ends up in the hospital, and Silver catches him talking to the detective, forcing her back with the new guy. YAWN. On 2 broke girls, after a much awaited return, Caroline and Max try to get chestnut a job since its too cold for him to stay outside. However, he’s to out of shape to be an actor. Eventually, Caroline convinces Peach, who is auditioning for a spot on the real housewives, that her horse is in need. She faces her former life in order to save Chestnut, and Max cries during their farewell. This was the most emotional episode yet, and I loved it. Caroline’s comedic skills are honed more and more each week. In the best episode of the season for Gossip girl, Lilly throws Charlie a coming out party, and she sends a tip to GG that Chuck and Blair are meeting to take the attention away from her, as her boyfriend hopes to reveal her identity once and for all. Thus, paparazzi follow the two, who FINALLY plan to be together despite the paternity of her child, and the two end up in a massive car accident and in the hospital. Chucks condition is unclear, but Blair awakes. Charlie finally realizes she should leave town, as she hurt the people she has grown to love. At the Malibu Beach Party from hell on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, drunken Taylor one more time causes a 50-minute screaming session that made my ears bleed. We get it, your battered and its really sad, but Bravo could have done a little better with the editing. Wasted Brandy makes me sick, and Taylor’s cigarette scene was really difficult to watch. PLEASE LET IT END. On Modern Family, the gang realizes they will not be together for Christmas. Phil plans an impromptu express Christmas. Everything goes wrong. Mitch and Alex run over the tree, Gloria and Luke/LOOK run over the angel ornament, Manny accidentally stun-guns Phil and he ends up crushing the 200$ baseball card he got for Jay, and Cam is hurt when Jay doesn’t remember the significance of the wine cork he saved and gave him as a gift. In the end, Jay provides fake snow in the backyard and once again, humor is combined with actual, emotional Christmas cheer. Modern Family is the gem that saves this blog and my hope for the future of television every week.

A Very Blah Thanksgiving: November 21st -27th

This week, on 90210 Dixon continues to pursue Adrianna. This couple is weird, and I don’t like it. She resists until he goes to rehab. Ivy and Raj continue to fight; obviously they shouldn’t have gotten married at 20 because he had cancer. Liam plans a holiday dinner, and his mom shows up. She claims she broke up with his stepdad, but asks Liam for financial support in order to leave him. I cried. He kicked her out. Brooding Liam strikes again. Naomi tries to prove to Austin that she really does like him, but Austin wants one thing, for them to talk and not just have sex. These two are actually pretty cute. On 2 broke girls, Caroline and Max get jobs at Santa World as elves, this is all I really need to say for you to understand the hilarity that ensued. Caroline starts to miss her past life and relationship with her father, but Max helps her to realize what she has to be thankful for. A truly beautiful scene. Han opens the restaurant to feed the needy, and the holiday cheer is spread. On Gossip girl, Serena plans the most flawless Tiffany themed baby shower of all times, complete with the surprise gifting of a diamond ring to one lucky guest, but it ends in Blair telling Louis to leave due to his involvement with Gossip Girl. The best part of the episode is the false information planted and Blair’s panicking about fast food being served at her shower. Chuck seems to be truly good, and comes to save Blair, and we all continue rooting for the two. On the real housewives of Beverly Hills, Taylor and Camille continue to feud, and Taylor plans a ridiculous western party for her daughter, featuring the awkward performance by some American Idol nobody. Kennedy gets a horse, and Russell’s first sign of temper is shown when he attacks Dana for thinking the cake should come out first, scary! On Modern Family, Mitch doubts Cams punkin chunkin story is true, and the family divides into a team of believers and non-believers (Jay, Mitch and Claire). Phil accuses Claire of holding him back when his millionaire former neighbor who idolizes him claims his entire secret was doing what Phil would do in every situation. Haley and Alex hide the dent they did to claire’s car, and this part of the story was phenomenal. The family goes to the football field to prove whose right and whose wrong. In the end, the family unites to make the slingshot work, and the ending was actually pretty emotional. Modern family is the only show that can do such an amazing job at combining humor with emotion.

Florenseperable from my TV!:November 14th -20th

This week, I wasn’t at all impressed with what TV had to offer me. All these CW shows and reality shows need to quit dragging out the plot for 4 episode arches and get to the point already. For example, on 90210 Teddy’s wedding footage is leaked, as expected, and his uncles campaign and his reputation is threatened. It’s actually very, very sad and disheartening for the gay community. Liam somehow becomes a supermodel, though his body is pretty lackluster. He is forced into a contract, and we know something bad will eventually happen. Annie tries to pay for Dixon’s rehab by continuing her disgusting relationship with Patrick, gag. With Raj’s cancer gone, Ivy and Raj seek to plan their futures, his as a doctor and hers as a photographer, YAWN! These two are the most boring couple to hit TV since Peter Brady and Adrienne Curry. On 2 broke girls, Max and Caroline are hired to sell cupcakes at an art show, which turns out to be hosted by Johnny’s girlfriend, who seems to know something is going on between them. Caroline helps Max escape, and helps her get over Johnny and face her feelings. I can’t help but love every second of these two becoming closer. I still want her to end up with Johnny in the end, though. On Gossip girl, I’m not really sure what the gang did but they ended up at some obscure party with performers and masks. Charlie’s boyfriend shows up as Serena’s date, and Charlie panics. I want Charlie to be exposed and gone forever. How annoying can this plotline get? Diana tries to use Serena to take down gossip girl, and releases a list of all the email tips ever sent in, making Serena mad at Nate and Nate mad at Diana. Who the hell is Diana anyway? On the real housewives of Beverly Hills, Lisa holds a tea party, that I wish I was invited to, something she just “threw together” that blows any set up out of the water. Taylor confronts Lisa about her condemning manner, and the party EXPLODES. Taylor’s erratic behavior is now just sad, as we know the cause of it. But really, I cannot listen to one more minute of these women fight like this. It was actually nausea inducing. Lisa says shell treat Taylor better, they put the feud behind them, and all the ladies confront Taylor for claiming Russell beats her, an uncomfortable subject for all involved. On Modern family, a fire destroys a neighbor’s house and Claire organizes a drive to help the family. Cam ends up driving a delivery truck. I can’t really describe the hilarity that follows. The best part of the episode, Phil gives Jay a massage for back problems. Midway Jay claims he loves Phil, a huge mistake because of Phil’s desperate desire for Jay’s approval. At that instant, he receives a call offering him a new job opportunity, Jay doesn’t realize, and Phil takes the call outside in excitement. Jay thinks he left because he said I love you and Phil couldn’t handle the joy. The whole miscommunication was one of the funniest moments on TV thus far.

Post-Amsterelaxation: November 7th-13th

This week, I was welcomed home with all the drama I have grown to love and expect from my favorite shows. On 90210, Naomi forces her friends on an impromptu trip to Las Vegas so she can follow Austin on his birthday weekend. His dad turns out to be a very famous country star, and the biggest asshole in the world. In an attempt to “help” him and stand up against his dad, she pushes him further away. Liam plays in a poker tournament hosted by Vinny from Jersey Shore, random. He nearly loses all his modeling money, and wins it back in the end, obviously. Teddy gets married to his boyfriend in a fake wedding ceremony with all his friends present, a beautiful moment for the show and for the character. However, Silver films it all, and in a rush to get home accidentally sends it to Marissa, who then uses it for her campaign in support of gay rights, humiliating teddy and ruining their friendship and his newfound pride. Dixon and Adrianna grow closer together, but she is resistant due to his addiction. Navid’s plot has become boring, take down your uncle or shut up. On 2 broke girls Caroline accepts a job organizing for hoarders. Max’s one liners related to this are unparalleled. Johnny invites Max to help tag a billboard, they kiss, and finally Max is portrayed as a real person. Yay for character development. PS did anyone else recognize this is the same Johnny from What I Like About You? Mind blow. Gossip girl returned from a hiatus, Blair makes a competition to choose her bridesmaids, and bridezilla emerges in full form. Nate uses Charlie to make Diana jealous, and we all know Diana will attempt to ruin Charlie’s life. Serena’s boss uses Serena to get the movie rights to Dan’s book, and they are both played in the process. I’m really getting sick of Dan and his book at this point. Serena ignores her feelings and gets the okay from Dan, whose agent is not happy with the decision. On the real housewives of Beverly Hills, Paul throws a night of beauty treatments for the lady’s, typical. Kim finally admits the cocktail of meds she’s on that explains her alcohol addiction. We only hope for more collagen injections in Taylors deteriorating face. Kyle holds a séance and Adrienne for the first time shows emotion in relation to her father being called upon. Kyle discovers Kim’s new boyfriend, and in true Kyle fashion makes it the most dramatic attention seeking moment possible. Her boyfriend is CREEPY though, so we understand why.

2MUCHTV : October 31st-November 6th

This week on television, all my favorite shows did not fail to disappoint. On 90210, the drama erupted, as per usual. Naomi planned a joint sorority party with her nemesis Holly. Holly however, had gained her trust only to betray her, helping her to plan dancers with risky outfits, which eventually got Naomi, kicked off sorority council. However, in the end, Naomi got the man, and Holly continued to seek revenge. Meanwhile, Navid’s plan with his uncle fails; his uncle had sent him on a test mission and he didn’t get the proof he needed. Silver learns that Marissa had hired actors to publicize her campaign. Adrianna handcuffs herself to Dixon in order to help him stay clean, in the process they begin falling in love, an unexpected moment this season. Annie gives Patrick another chance after catching him cheating on her, and this entire plot line has made me sick from the beginning. On 2 broke girls, Max and Caroline enroll in a pastry class to learn to make pretty cupcakes. Max’s confidence is hit and the two grow closer. This hilarious episode pins them against two bitchy Italian sisters with mob money. This show really never disappoints. On the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Lisa’s daughter’s engagement party is thrown at Muhammad’s, circus performers, camels, and the most magnificent party ever is shown, in true Lisa fashion. Kyle annoys us and seeks attention at the end, and Kim doesn’t show because her secret relationship, which might explain her alcohol addiction, is revealed. Taylor isn’t invited, because of Russell’s relationship with Muhammed, and every mention of Russell sends shivers up my spine to this day. Modern family finally returns, the one show that never, ever disappoints. Phil builds a tree house for Luke. Gloria wants Jay to be more spontaneous and his son slips him a placebo that makes him think he’s on E, really hilarious stuff. The best part of the show, Cameron tries to prove that he doesn’t appear gay and pick up a woman. Eventually, he convinces her to act like she actually believes he was straight to prove a point to Mitch. They have a fake break up, and I die of laughter. Phil meets a new black friend across the street, and their comedy together is 2D4.

Podcasting- the portable audio revolution

With the universal spread of portable audio players like the iPod came the advent of the “podcast,” cheap audio software similar to weblogging that spread over the Internet and became available for easy download. Podcasts are a sort of amateur radio, and a natural development in the digital revolution of 2.0 media.  Audio content such as interviews about various topics can be distributed in much the same way as written material via blogs. Audio versions of radio shows or the Wall street journal for example, could be sold and transported to portable audio devices. Shows, books, etc could now be listened to whenever and wherever the listener wanted. Audible information could now be portable. Developing a better system for audio file transfer required a new RSS language, which was eventually developed. A new program was developed and synchronized with the iPod, and podcasting as a practice spread like wildfire. Audio files could be transferred directly to portable audio devices in the pockets of every American. It seemed only natural that the trend would grow, considering the massive spread of the practice of blogging before it. The term “podcast” expresses the importance of the iPod and iTunes in spreading the practice of podcasting audibly and visually. The portable aspect of the podcast, and the ability for anyone to be a podcaster are two possible reasons for the popularity of podcasting. People tend to appreciate something as easy as downloading and listening to a subscribed feed rather than searching and reading scattered Internet content. The syndicated feed allows users to keep up to date easily with a podcaster. Podcasting and video-podcasting have grown in popularity and become an essential part of the “2.0 revolution.” Podcasts allow subscribers to have whatever audio content they desire at their fingertips and in their pockets, ready to be called upon whenever the listener decides. This sort of user-control is essential to its success. 

Click Here to learn how to create your own podcast

Marketing 2.0- The Blogging Revolution

Obviously, the media revolution has come to play a large role in the worlds of marketing and communication. It is only natural that as more and more people pay more and more attention to digital material online that companies would have to rearrange strategies to include sectors dedicated solely to information distribution via the web. Society at large places a large important for example on a companies twitter and Facebook pages to gain information about the company. Thus, more attention must be paid to these modes of information control to reach the massive audience in an effective way.  Corporations now use blogs, sometimes controlled by employees, on their own website.  Corporate blogs can allow managerial leaders to keep in touch with both employees and customer satisfaction. It can help the corporation seem more personable and dedicated to fulfilling needs of customers.  Traditional marketing strategies have been replaced by more modern communication modes like SMS texting, with some sort of reward for massive spread.  Masked marketing describes a situation in which information that doesn’t seem to be an advertisement is sent and rumor marketing is a situation where something related to something that may later come out is sent before it comes out. Exclusive invitations are another way. Such a sort can lead to millions of downloads within days. Evangelist customers are enthusiasts for a product who try to spread it amongst other people by blogging and researching. A corporative blog is blog created by an organization by an official worker, showing the mass audience that the worker is transparent.. Blogs are an important trend in advertising, marketing, and public relations as they increase communication and awareness. Blogs have the ability to change and highly affect a business Thus; hundreds of new blogs are registered everyday, up to 18 updates per second. Millions of people buy products because of a comment from the Internet. This sort of power shows that all corporations must adapt to this new marketing strategy, as it is highly effective, more so than any other in this growing digital age.  However, all blogs are not appropriate for a corporation, and must be carefully updated and worked on to be successful. Blogs allow corporations to have proximity to customers, accept and modify feedback, learn about competitors, network, and remain loyal to customers needs. Blogs can be used to introduce a new brand, to test a product, to keep in touch with bosses, to prepare for a special event or to promote a market.  There are many uses, and blogs have become an important staple for the success of a company. 

 

 

Click Here to view “The Editors Blog” of BBC

Click Here to view the “Fastlane Blog” of General Motors

Politics 2.0

With the advent and universal spread of modern digital technologies, many fields of work and average daily activities were affected at large. Particularly, methods and marketing strategies in terms of political campaigns were forced to change with the times and address and meet the needs of the grassroots masses and voters. It is interesting to observe Barack Obama’s campaign and success in terms of his revolutionary use of technology to reach and connect with millions of voters. Barack Obama’s campaign defines the concept of “Politics 2.0” and the necessary actions that now must be considered a standard to follow in order to succeed politically. In class, we first discusses the differences between campaign strategies in the U.S. and in Spain, where things remain simpler but are changing with the time as well. Most notably the differences in Spain include that in the U.S., minutes on TV are not regulated but rather purchased, that the internet is used to collect money and to advertise, that campaigns are run by professionals rather than members of political parties, that points of views on topics like abortion reign more important than an election manifesto, that US politicians microtarget based on several factors, and that campaigns cost much more. Obama’s campaign taught the general public several interesting facts about political campaigns today. First of all, people are self interested rather than politically motivated, that every factor must be addressed towards private individuals rather than generalizing amongst groups,and that public forums must be used to contact and understand the needs of voters (the Y generation is less interested in political debates and speeches), and Obama raised much more money than ever before specifically through private donations garnered by addressing individual needs and making each person feel “special.” His website allowed viewers to share opinions, which could be polled and addressed. Thus, although Obama employed traditional political strategies, it would be ignorant to avoid the particular importance the internet played in this campaign specifically. For example, Facebook  allows politicians to seem transparent, mobilizes people virally, communicates important events and message, humanizes, and allows for microtargetting.Obama used twitter to respond to followers, used SMS feeds to spread ringtones and programs, and addressed blog questions, making each voter feel important. Obama’s “Brand” focused on keeping in touch, and users knew it would be a permanent installment because he could not just bail out after winning.  Thus, the internet can be used to essentially win a campaign in the following ways: to inform (upload to youtube), to connect millions of people,  to ask voters to be involved, and to talk with people to address concerns, and to give all relevant information virally. Most importantly, microtargetting becomes possible as voters can be classified based on hundreds of defining factors. Thus, the internet is a permanent tool in the arena of politics since Obama’s revolutionary use of modern technologies.

Radio-verload

With the universal spread of social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace came an issue for the Radio industry, as we learned at our visit to iCat. The responsibility for several persons to constantly update several different pages several times a day becomes a burden for those people, and perhaps overwhelming for listeners. Obviously, having outlets that listeners can check to find out who will be on the radio show what day and when, or what number to call to enter a sweepstake, for example, is very helpful for an industry that thrives off popularity and garnering a massive following. However, these sources should be used sparingly and properly. For example, the radio should not automatically update, most of what they post to these sites should be personalized, not automated like a robot, or followers will lose interests in the radio’s pages and the radio will have to spend money paying for jobs that are useless. If a radio station tweets useless things multiple times a day, people will not continue following them on the website, or will ignore what they have to say in the future. I think exceeding 3 or 4 posts a day is a little overwhelming for any source, and the sites should be updated only when something important is happening.Posts should be engaging no matter what. Although everyone has an iPod now, radio is still very important to many people. And although we now have many sources to spread ideas, people still look to the radio for the same things they’ve always desired in the shows they listen to. Thus, radio shows are more capable than ever to provide listeners to what they want, because they have many outlets where people can provide feedback for what they want to here and what they prefer on a daily basis. The traditional radio audience still exists, and still wants the same things from the stations. Thus, social sites are good in that they allow the stations to directly connect with audiences and provide them with information they might desire. However, these sites should be used sparingly and posts should be manually updated rather than automated several times a day. In this day and age, every industry must operate these sorts of pages to be able to compete. I think they should try to not lose sight of what they came to do, to provide listeners with entertainment and music. Social sites should be used to keep the audience connected, but the radio should stay true to what they always have, and listeners will keep coming back. Social Sites can allow listeners to request songs, artists can promote singles, and radio stations can make money off their following. The social sites should be used to improve the station and what people want from it. Today, people expect and know that every station probably has a Facebook, Twitter and Myspace. Thus, stations MUST update and use these mediums, but it is up to them to not overwhelm followers and to figure out how to use these sights to their advantage rather than their detriment.