The Linked-In Website has been described as a sort
of Facebook for the professional community.
It is a professional networking site used to link professionals together
online so they can keep up with professional contacts they have made over time
as well as keep current with any job market developments.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Career Fields for Communications Majors
A Communications Studies major can open
the door to several challenging and rewarding career opportunities. Some of the careers include: Human Resources
Specialist (HRS), Publicist, Journalist, and Copywriter.
Human Resources Specialist
According to the Bureau of Labor and
Statistics website Human resources specialists recruit, screen, interview, and place workers. They also may handle human
resources work in a variety of other areas, such as employee relations, payroll
and benefits, and training. (Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 2012) They are responsible for hiring new employees
and in some unfortunate circumstances, they are also responsible for firing of
employees. A human resources specialist
also fields any employee issues or concerns with their pay, training, or
employee disputes. The median salary for
an HRS is $52,609 per year. According to
the Bureau of Labor and Statistics site the lowest 10 percent of workers earned
less than $29,050, and the top 10 percent earned more than $93,260. The growth rate for this field is expected at
21 percent over the next 10 years; faster than average for all
occupations. (Bureau of Labor and
Statistics, 2012).
Publicist
A publicist, also commonly referred to
as a Public Relations Specialist produces and manages publicity for a
client. They are responsible for
maintaining a favorable public image for their client. They also often are responsible for writing
press releases, and fundraising campaigns for their client or employers. The median average salary for a public
Relations Specialist is $52,090. This
field has an expected growth of 23 percent over the next 10 years. Typically a Publicist is required to possess
a Bachelor’s degree at minimum. Training
is typically done on the job for many public relations specialists while
managers must already possess a few years of public relations experience.
Journalist
Journalists sometimes referred to as
correspondents, broadcast news analysts, or reporters, report on current news
and happenings on a local, national, or even international level. They may write news scripts to be read on the
air, in magazines or in newspapers, and they also update news stories as they
become available. Journalists may often have to write a story for print media
as well as online publication since many news agencies also maintain a website
as well. Journalists may also work on a
freelance basis in which they are paid per story by a news agency. In this case their work is often purchased
and published by several agencies rather than just one. The median average salary for a broadcast
news analyst is $54,140 while the median average salary for a reporter or
correspondent is $34,530. A Bachelor’s
degree in journalism or communications is typically the requirement to work as
a journalist. Along with the education
requirement, employers also like to see that the prospective employee has prior
work experience in the field either through an internship or through
college. The reporters and correspondent
fields are actually expected to shrink by about 8 percent while the broadcast
news analyst field is expected to grow by 10 percent over the next 10
years. The field of journalism,
broadcasting and/or freelance writing has been of particular interest to me
over the years. I love to read the news
and stay on top of what is going on in the world and my local community. I’m somewhat of a snoop and like to know
what’s going on around me so staying abreast of local news and being able to
share that information for a living sounds like a very rewarding line of
work. Also, as a freelance writer I
would be able to write stories and articles on a vast array of subjects that I
am passionate about like travelling and food and have these stories
published.
Copywriter
A copywriter, sometimes referred to as a
content writer, is a type of writer who helps a client promote the sale of a
good or service. They do this in several
ways including assisting them in producing sales pitches, slogans, or
advertising themes. They may produce any
number of media to assist in advertising and selling a product such as
brochures, scripts and press releases.
The average median salary for this field is $55,420 and the field
expects a growth of 6 percent over the next 10 years. This is slower than the average for all
occupations according to the BLS website.
Bureau of Labor Statistics [Data Base]. (n.d.). Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Bureau of Labor
Statistics
website: http://www.bls.gov/home.htm
What Makes a Good Blog?
There are
many ways for people to express themselves.
Many choose to express their ideas through various mediums such as art,
music, photography, and even writing.
Today, thanks to advancements in internet technology, there is a new way
that so many people are choosing to share their ideas with the world; the web
log or blog as it is most often referred to.
According to Blogger.com, “A blog is a personal diary. A daily pulpit. A collaborative space. A political soapbox. A breaking-news outlet. A collection of links. Your own private thoughts. Memos to the world. Your blog is whatever you want it to be.
There are millions of them, in all shapes and sizes, and there are no real
rules.” (Blogger.com, 2012)
It used to be that creating a website
or blog was only for professionals or people with certain skills. However, due to the many advancements in the
internet and technology, these feats are now a possibility for anyone and
everyone. For those with a desire to
express themselves, creating a blog can be a fantastic way to share their
interests or passions with others. However,
while anyone can create a blog, there are some general guidelines to follow in
order to create a successful blog. According
to Michael Martin’s article “Seven Elements to Make Your Blog Look Great”, there
are certain general guidelines for content, color, structure, balance, and
functionality that will help the author catch and keep the audience’s attention
and hopefully have them return to the blog.
(Martin, 2012)
Using the
blog guidelines, students were able to review and provide constructive
criticisms of each other’s blogs. The
blogs that I reviewed were: The
Expert Witness Communicator by William Gulya: http://the-expert-witness.blogspot.com;
400 Years by William K: http://willsarchives.blogspot.com/;
and The Power of Positivity by Martha Sanchez: http://mlspositivity.blogspot.com/.
The URL for my blog named Communication Today is http://lilgunny.blogspot.com/.
On the Expert Witness Communicator blog, my recommendations were to spread the
content around the page for a little bit better balance. The author had the
current post in the center of the page and then all other content was off to
the right of the page only. According to
Martin’s article, he states that the weight of the different areas on the page
should be equal. If they are not, the
page will look unbalanced, causing the viewer’s eyes to focus only on one
portion of the page. (Martin, 2012)
For the 400 Years blog I recommended a
few suggestions to help improve the blog. The purpose of the blog was not
quite clear from the title. I recommended either giving the blog a new
name or expounding on why it has its current name. I also suggested including
more content on the blog such as some of the written works from this or past
courses since there was almost no content on the blog. Finally, I
recommended adding more information to the author profile and a nice picture in
the header to add some flair to the design. The Power of Positivity was the last blog I
reviewed. This blog had a very fitting
and soothing background photo. The sky and ocean scene in the background
really puts the reader at ease and makes them want to continue reading. Having content such as a soothing or
aesthetically pleasing photo is very helpful to creating a successful blog that
will have readers want to come back for more. My suggestion for the
blog was to possibly add some tabs up top or on the side to take the reader to
other parts of the blog like a section for links to sites that correspond with the
blog, or a link to books that the author enjoyed pertaining to communication
and positive thinking.
Helping
other students improve their blogs by providing them with constructive
criticism will also be very helpful to me in improving my blog as well. Providing constructive feedback for other
students allowed me to stop and look at what guidelines I could incorporate
into my blog to improve it. For instance,
my current header photo is not really related to the content of the
professional communications blog so I will find a more content appropriate
photo to include in the header. I would
also like to include a more professional looking profile photo to fit the
content of the blog. Finally, while I
love the current color scheme of my blog, I have been considering a change of
color scheme to something more muted to make the blog feel and look more
professional. Another option that was
recommended by another student is to keep the current color scheme but fill in
the extra pink space with content to provide more balance to the blog.
Creating a
blog can be a great way to share one’s ideas and feelings with the world or
with a specific audience. A blog can be
whatever the author wants it to be; either a news source, a discussion forum,
or simply an online diary for the author to share ideas. With the use of some
simple guidelines for content, balance, structure and functionality, the author
can be sure to create a page that will catch and maintain the attention of
their desired audience.
References
Blogger.com.
(2012) Retrieved June 11, 2012 from: http://www.blogger.com/tour_start.g
Gulya, W.
(2012). The Expert Witness Communicator.
Retrieved June 11, 2012 from:
Kincheloe, W. (2012). 400 Years.
Retrieved June 11, 2012 from: http://willsarchives.blogspot.com/
Martin, M. (2008).
7 Elements to make your blog look
good. Retrieved May 21, 2012
Sanchez,
M. (2012). The Power of Positivity. Retrieved June 11, 2012 from:
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Culture and Diversity in Communication
Living and working in the world that exists today, exposes us all to different cultures and people groups all of which have their own varying methods of communicating. Our world is quickly becoming an increasingly global community as advances in technology allow us to connect immediately with people from all over the world. Because of increasing ability to connect with people from around the world, proper intercultural communication strategies are as important as ever. In his article Ten Commandments of Intercultural Communication, Martin Hahn discusses useful guidelines for productive intercultural communication. Some tips that he suggests for successful intercultural communication are:
1. Be aware of personal space: people from different cultures have different comfort zones.
2. Be aware of different etiquette rules or manners: what is polite in one culture may be considered rude in another;
3. Be aware of language barriers: English is the most prevalent language in international business, but it's a mistake to assume that everyone understands it.
He also states that one should find out about any subcultures, particularly a business subculture and any special rules. (Hahn, 2005)
Being active duty military certainly presents the opportunity for me to come into contact with people from different cultures. I worked as a Marine Security overseas for three years and lived and worked with people from different cultures every day. I have also deployed to Afghanistan which put in me in contact with several foreigners aside from the Afghan people. Keeping the tips for successful intercultural communication in mind has helped me be successful in my business dealings with those from other cultures and it has also helped me to win and maintain lasting friendships with them as well.
I have always tried to keep in mind that a little respect goes a long way to achieving successful communication with other cultures. Respect is a basic desire that all human beings share. I have found that often, people from other cultures understand that we do not know their language or completely understand all the nuances of their culture, but what they mainly would like to see is that we at least try to meet them on their level in some way. They want to see that we are trying to be sensitive to their cultural rules and values. Doing so will help us all be able to communicate successfully regardless of the culture.
Hahn, M. (2005). Ten Commandments of Intercultural Communication. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from:
Monday, May 28, 2012
Media Technology
The variety
of media technology available today makes communication with a wide variety of
audiences much easier. Since different types of audiences respond to
different types of media, it is important to communicate using various forms of
media technology. Using several forms of
media technology versus only one allows the communicator to potentially reach a
much greater audience base than they would if they were only to use one
type. While any kind of media technology
can be used to reach any type of audience, there are typically certain types of
media that are better suited to reach a particular audience. Four media
technologies that exist today include, written media, the internet and social
media, radio, and audio/visual media.
Written media can include any written communication such as newspapers,
brochures or magazines. Written communication such as newspapers or magazines
are typically more well-received by audiences who prefer this media to newer
electronic media. These audiences may include people who were born and
grew up before the mainstream use of computers in households such as the
baby-boomer generation. Of course that is not to say that a younger
generation does not read the newspaper, but I believe the majority of the
younger generation tends to prefer an electronic form of media since that is
what they are used to. Many members of
the baby-boomer generation or the generations before computers still do not own
a computer. Or, if they do own a
computer, they may not be as technically savvy as the younger generations that
were born in this digital age. Many baby
boomers, or even people from my own generation still prefer to print a document
and read it, or they prefer physically holding a book or newspaper in their
hand versus reading something on a computer screen.
The internet and social media technologies have truly taken the
world by storm and are now some of the most widely used media technologies
today. Again, this media can and is used by every type of audience but is
generally favored by the generations that grew up learning how to use computers
and the internet as they are more tech savvy and are used to the electronic
forms of media. This form of media
can and is often tailored to meet any number of audiences. Since nearly anyone can create and manage a
webpage, it is easier to create a page that appeals to any type of
audience. However, even though it has
become easier to reach any type of audience through use of the internet and
social media, it is apparent that this media technology is favored more by a
younger generation. The baby boomer
generation and other generations that did not grow up with computers in their
homes and schools are not as quick as the younger generations to turn to
computers or social media for their news or other information. The younger generations however, are
accustomed to electronic media and have more technical savvy generally so they
are quick to turn to the internet and social media first. Another aspect that brings more of the
younger generation to the internet and social media is the fact that people in
general today, are more spread out than ever before. Younger audiences are increasingly moving
away from home and are separated by more distance today than in the past. Because of this increased and often prolonged
distance from friends and loved ones, more and more young people find that they
are able to stay in real-time contact with their loved ones through the
internet and social media.
Radio is another universal form of media. Everyone listens to the radio
at some point in the day and sometimes, the radio can be the best way to find
out what’s going on locally in a person’s area. While the radio can be
used and is used to an extent by every type of audience, typically it is
favored by the same audiences that favor written media like newspapers.
Audio/visual media such as television, podcast, videos and CD’s can be tailored
to reach any type of audience. Television may be geared to any audience,
however it is clear certain programming on television is geared towards senior
citizens such as the influx of commercials for medications and healthcare
related products. Certain audio/visual aids may receive a better response
from a younger audience in certain situations.
For instance, I have found that when trying to teach a younger audience
such as my students about a very technical subject, using a visual aid is an
extremely effective way of solidifying their understanding of the subject. This may perhaps be because they are used to being
bombarded by technology and visuals.
They are also used to immediate connectivity and instant gratification. As Marc Pensky states in his article Digital Immigrants, Digital Natives, “Today’s
average college grads have spent less than 5,000 hours of their lives reading,
but over 10,000 hours playing video games (not to mention 20,000 hours watching
TV). Computer games, email, the Internet, cell phones and instant messaging are
integral parts of their lives.” (Pensky, 2001, p. 1) Because of this familiarity with all things
digital that is almost quite literally ingrained in the younger generations,
these younger audiences, or digital natives, as Pensky refers to them, “think
and process information fundamentally differently than their predecessors.”
(Pensky, 2001, p. 1) Younger audiences are not captivated by the classic
lecture and reading, they learn and receive information differently than
generations past.
References
Pensky,
M., (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants.
Retrieved, May 28, 2012 from: http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/prensky%20-
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Week 1 Discussion 2
The URL for my blog is http://lilgunny.blogspot.com/. I have been considering creating a blog for some
time but have not had the courage I guess to do it. Part of me has felt like I really don’t have
anything important to say, but I know in my heart that I actually have a lot to
say. On that note, I also worry about saying
what’s on my mind and potentially offending people. But, I’m very glad and excited to be able to
finally have an excuse to start a blog.
Perhaps after this course is over I will turn it into a travel blog like
I’ve been dreaming about.
This is my first time creating a blog so I really
did not know what I was doing when I started, but the Google blog maker made it
super easy to start one with a nice selection of layouts. I will continue to develop the design over
time, but for now I played with the header a little bit. Since the blog name is Travel Hound, I
decided to add a photo from my trip to Greece in the header. I would like to add a little toolbar at the
top with some drop down menus maybe as well.
I’m excited to keep working on the design and layout of the blog over
the next few weeks and hope to learn a lot from this experience.
Week 1 Discussion 1
Communication is unavoidable. It is a part of our everyday lives no matter who we are or what we do. Regardless of the type, whether it is written, oral, or technical in nature has basic principles that should be heeded in order for it to be effective. Some of these essential principles include knowing your audience, knowing your topic, and establishing credibility with the audience. The effectiveness of communication is largely dependent on how it is received. As Nick Sanchez explains in his article, communication consists of a sender and receiver; that is, a person doing the communicating and the person receiving it. (Sanchez, 2012) If the receiver or audience interprets the message incorrectly, the communication cannot be considered a success. That is why it is important that the sender knows their audience. The sender must be able to adjust their communication so that they are communicating at a level that the audience can understand and not too far above or below their understanding. For example, in my field, I am an instructor at a basic electronics repair course. My audience is generally in their early to mid-twenties with a basic understanding of electronics theory. When I teach my subject matter, I try to remain sensitive to the audience to ensure that I am teaching at a level that they can understand. I translate the information in the technical publication from what I call “engineer speak” to a level they can understand and visualize. If taught the information from the level of an engineer, the students would have a very difficult time being successful in the course since that would be teaching above their level of understanding.
Establishing credibility and knowing your topic are two principles that work together. If the sender knows the topic well and is able to support their communications with facts and credible statements, they will be able to speak intelligently on the subject and thus establish credibility with the audience. Another way to establish credibility is to introduce yourself prior to speaking on the subject matter to let the audience know who you are and why you are speaking on the subject. In my field, establishing credibility is very important since I teach electronics. The students have to be able to trust my expertise and trust that what I tell them is the truth. I have to be the resident expert on the material that I teach otherwise the students will not have any confidence in what I say pertaining to the subject matter and my communication would have little to no effectiveness.
Sanchez, N., (2012) Communication Process. Retrieved May 17, 2012 from: http://www.stfrancis.edu/content/ba/ghkickul/stuwebs/btopics/works/comproc.htm
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)