When I first began this short write-up for class, I was a bit unsure of where to start. I had never written a blog before, much less a blog for a class. After going through the readings, ideas began trickling into my mind so here is my first blog post.
As I began reading, one of the first things that I began to think about was the fact that technologies--namely the technologies involved with mass media--are changing faster today than they have ever before. I think about my great grandparents who have been around since the early 1900's and even thought I have only been around for a small portion of their lifetime, I feel that I have seen nearly as many advances in technology. I also thought about a video I had once seen on Youtube titled "Did You Know? 'We are living in exponential times,'" and you can watch it here. The video basically gives statistics about the growth of both modern technology and society in general and it provokes much thought about both of those topics.
Another thing that the readings made me think about, as I am sure many of my classmates will agree, was the future of careers in mass media industry. As a student in my last year of school, and with a less than ideal economy, I find myself thinking about my future career with some concern. However, something about the readings in the Briggs book put my mind at ease (at least a little bit). There is always talk about how digital media and the Internet are causing conventional forms of media to "die," but there was one quote in the book that really spoke to me. It said, "The canal system was decommissioned by the advent of railroads. But it wasn't the end of transportation." It reassured me that, even though many of the careers in my field may be on their way out, there will always be something to be done in the field of mass communications.
It is interesting that you mentioned that YouTube video. I saw it last year in one of my Comm. Studies classes and yes, it is mind blowing. I think it intersects with the importances of education and new communication technologies. "China has more honor students than the U.S has total college students" and don't tell someone that they are one in a million in China because there are 1,300 people just like them. Those figures alone are staggering when you think about future job markets and how many people can be reached through them. Looking ahead at the new advertisers, journalists, and other communication professionals, it does seem like recent and soon to be graduates will face tough competition for jobs. Also, the quote you mentioned touches on this new wave of professionals. Marketers and journalists are always going to be looking for the newest media to reach their consumers or readers. As new technologies are developed, undoubtedly old ones will die or adapt to the changing times. The one upside to all of the change that is going on within the field, professions in mass comm. have been central in the Untied States for centuries. Technology and new ways to access information will not so much as eliminate jobs in this profession as it will enable new ways to reach people that have never been seen before.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, that quote about the canal system also stuck into my brain as well and I'm glad I'm not the only one.
ReplyDeleteThe mass media industry is changing and certain things will be taken out, but I think that there will be many things replacing those and that's where you and I "hopefully" slide right into. Its very important to keep up with whats happening in our field. I find it even more important to think of how things may look from an advertising viewpoint how it may look a few years from now. Certain professors here at State, such as Eden, I feel let us know and stressed that our field is changing and how important it really is to know whats happening so we can adapt and understand the new ways of media.