The U.S. economy added just 33,000 jobs in July 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s a drastic drop from June’s revised total of 194,000 jobs. For context, economists expected around 175,000 new jobs. We fell significantly short.
July’s report signals a broader slowdown in job growth. While one month doesn’t define a trend, many professionals are understandably anxious. When growth slows, layoffs often follow. Freelancers feel the squeeze. Recent grads face fewer opportunities. Hiring freezes kick in.
So what can we do in times like these?
Servant Leadership Is More Important Than Ever
In tough economic times, good leadership matters more. But not the traditional top-down kind. Now is the time for servant leadership.
Servant leaders put people first. They provide support, empathy, and stability. They coach, uplift, and guide without ego. They ask, How can I help?
And they recognize that hope is a strategic advantage.
If you’re in a position of leadership right now, consider how you can create clarity and calm for your team, your peers, or even your online community. Compassion-driven leadership is needed in this very moment.
Learn Instead of Just Earn: Why Literacy Is the Key
When jobs are scarce, learning becomes survival. But we’re not just talking about college degrees. In today’s world, we need multiple forms of literacy:
Digital literacy — How systems work, how content flows, how to use platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed
Media literacy — Understanding how information is framed and shared online
Platform literacy — How to navigate job boards, remote hiring, and gig platforms
The goal? Know how everything works. Learn how the systems move so you can move through them, and around them if necessary.
If You’re Out of Work: What to Focus On
1. Keep updating your portfolio. Even if you’re not currently employed, you can keep working on projects, freelance tasks, writing samples, or mock case studies. Employers want to see momentum and proof that you’re still growing. Consider a writing challenge for your blog (like what I’m doing right now) or create a collection of social media posts that drive engagement for a marketing or SEO role.
2. Stay open to freelance or contract work. Many employers are cutting full-time roles but still need help. Contract gigs can fill in financial gaps and keep your skills sharp. Yes, freelancing means buying your own health insurance. But it also means flexibility and survival. Right now, survival matters.
3. Don’t underestimate your effort. You’re not alone. Many talented people are in the same position. For example, one job I applied to a couple of weeks ago had 954 job applicants. Another one had over 1600. The U.S. has over 330 million people, and only 33,000 new jobs were added. That’s not on me or you.
4. Keep working on that small business. Staying busy is best, and while staying busy does not always mean being profitable, it does mean that there is a way to contribute to your community. And in turn, the community will support you. For those who sell goods, consider farmers’ markets. Get chronically online. Open that Etsy or Shopify. Interact with others online and watch how organic engagement draws people in.
5. Have empathy for yourself. It’s okay to be tired. It’s okay to feel stuck or stagnant. Sometimes, you find yourself meditating, but you might wonder why you’re being still when you need to be working. It’s okay. Just don’t confuse stillness with failure, because we aren’t failures. We are surviving. And if you’re trying, you’re doing more than enough.
If You Have a Job: Hold It Carefully, But Strategically
If you’re currently employed, be mindful of how you contribute. Help others where you can. Be someone who uplifts. But also: keep your options open. Update your resume, refresh your skills, and quietly prepare for what’s to come, which will probably include further drastic economic instability.
Photos Courtesy of Mana.Alaksa on Instagram, 2023.
Transformational leadership characterizes itself through ethical behavior that empowers diverse communities nationwide. It is something one would expect to innovate over time, especially within the cultural diaspora. Applying authentic leadership and a transformative nature encompasses nonprofit organizations that do not seek financial gain to achieve their goals, complete their projects, and deal with other situations. Integrating ethical leadership, morality, and authenticity can help communities grow (Bauch, 2006). When using the concept for the goals set forth, complexities become understanding to others. According to Northouse’s book on Leadership Theories (2022), “[conceptualizing] is the capacity that gives leaders the power to analyze a multitude of problems and solve them without any creative sacrifices in the process” (p. 261). Shayne Nuesca, M.S., is the subject of the following paper. A recent Syracuse University alumni, Shayne Nuesca, is a Content Strategist and one creator of the “Mana.Alaska” and “SPRHDRS” media collectives. Nuesca’s projects, such as “Mana, The History We Inherit,” are the first collection from the collective, bringing together past and present experiences of those with Filipino culture, particularly in Alaska. While Filipinos have settled in Alaska for some time, many of their stories are untold. As a natural storyteller, Nuesca found like-minded individuals to work as a team to tell stories through various mixed methods of oral stories, art, and photojournalism. This project started from the ground up in the past year and found success through communication and cultural community building. The goal was to target the Filipino diaspora in the Alaskan community and manage to reach other urban centers across the nation. It is excellent to learn from someone such as this regarding educational outreach in multiple literacy forms. Some characteristics of a leader, like Nuesca, are someone who passes down knowledge to others (Wang, 2016), including a “commitment to shared goals and being a visionary that takes the program to new heights; emotional intelligence, such as empathy and expert authority in teaching, also play a role in closing theoretical gaps in organizational practice” (Wang, 2016, p. 82). Like research skills, digital skills play one of the most vital roles in connecting to diverse audiences online in a meaningful capacity. This paper explores the topics of authenticity, ethics, and the connection to organizational culture in education. Nuesca’s framework, according to Northouse (2022), aligns with authentic leadership, involving servant, pragmatic, and theoretical approaches.
Leadership and Strategic Challenges of the Interview Situation
Much of it was on the groundwork when supplemented with digital platforms. It is clear from considering both Burns’s perspective on leadership roles and higher education perspective that ethical leadership embeds itself in the morality of a leader that impacts a follower; therefore, more work is necessary in terms of creating a leadership theory that passes down critical thinking to other incoming leaders (Northouse, 2022, p. 430; Bacon & Byfield, 2018; Burns, 1978). Due to systemic discrimination, hyper-urban and rural areas remain disconnected from other geographic locations (Carbajal, 2018). Authors found that many technological issues relate to the ability to access stable data for extended periods (Greene & Murphy, 2021). Therefore, innovators like Nuesca continue to innovate ways to bypass obstacles in front of her vision for creating a cultural community beyond borders. According to Northouse (2022), transformative and adaptive leadership align directly with diversity, equity, and inclusion, necessities within most structural systems. Although DEI is still a rapidly developing subject, it is necessary to create profound changes in a highly patriarchal and transactional culture that lacks the soft skills, compassion, and empathy to lead others through meaningful teamwork building.
“I think I got to a point where to be completely candid, I just got tired of working for people. In a way, it came to a point where it was like, what type of legacy does one want to leave behind?” Nuesca said in a virtual Zoom interview (2023). As someone whose resume includes the Alaskan state government and, most recently, an NPR news affiliate, she says that what primarily drives her is the ability to leave something behind in a “meaningful way, in a valuable way for my community” (S. Nuesca, Nov. 10, 2023). Open discourse in a particular field can make a huge difference, especially in communication. Communication is rooted in community; empathy and compassion for humanity go hand in hand with a humble, authentic leadership style. It is clear that organizational culture sets standards for behavior in employees that determine their leadership behavior; thus, a relationship between “authenticity, morality, and organizational cultures aligns accordingly” (Schein, 1985). Northouse found that authentic leadership differentiates into broader aspects of observation. One is called a pragmatic approach; the other is called a theoretic approach (2022). Nuesca kept both approaches in mind as she maneuvered a new field while using her journalism and leadership skills to create a collective free of toxic positivity.
Assessment of Organizational and Strategic Dynamics of the Situation
Because of the fast-paced changes in almost every industry, many leaders and business owners had to pivot to continue making a positive community impact, regardless of ways of communication. What other leadership factors may be necessary to consider now for effective management? Like all the other news organizations she worked with over the past few years, that is like understanding user habits about Alaska newsreaders. There is a level of disinformation that we have to sift through. When misinformation or disinformation pops up, it spreads rapidly, and one must correct it quickly. However, it takes a lot of research, outreach, and understanding of user behaviors to be an exceptional leader. Empirical studies have shown that when educators matched servant leadership with followers who desired it, this type of leadership positively impacted performance and organizational citizenship behavior (Otero-Neira et al., 2016; Ozyilmaz & Cicek, 2015). An essential leadership and followership challenge to address is equity in accessibility. Digital literacy in leadership is far more prominent as a challenging skill rather than a soft skill. This essay aims to present a concise overview of the significant aspects of the interview on leadership conducted and to rely on critical thinking to verify the data against other research. Moral, relational transparency is all about openness to sharing one’s authentic self, actual thoughts and feelings, and internalized moral perspective (Northouse, 2022; Azanza et al., 2013). Furthermore, according to (Northouse, 2022), letting go of characteristics such as egoism, utilitarianism, and more is essential. It is imperative not to have a selfish mindset when taking on roles that pass down skills one has learned to others (Northouse, 2022, p. 427).
Specific Leadership-Focused Recommendations and Approaches
Consider the scenario below from a step-by-step management approach, such as a strategic “long-term” permanent solution versus a “resolution of immediacy.” Both servant and authentic leadership drive the influence of organizational culture. The relationship between flexible cultures and authenticity, honesty, and transparency relates to employees at an internal level that should be stimulating (Azanza, G., 2013). With the rise of new companies and their subsequent growth, it is evident that management will always be needed. Those who maintain a business find themselves in higher education first. Therefore, one should always want the right people in management, as the best leaders have the most productive followers who also turn into influential leaders. It cannot just be anybody, especially when passing lifelong knowledge to new generations. Strong managers possess significant critical thinking skills, and one of the best leadership theories to derive from is servant, authentic, and ethical leadership. Mumford’s (2000) competency criteria for a leader include skills essential for a positive workplace to sustain itself successfully. There is more than one list of what translates to being a strong, competent leader (Mumford et al., 2000). That is why Nuesca (2023) focuses on audience engagement and community leadership as one concept. Conceptualizing in management refers to the servant leader’s thorough understanding of the organization’s purposes, complexities, and mission. “This capacity allows servant leaders to think through multifaceted problems, know if something is wrong, and address problems creatively per the organization’s overall goals” (Northouse, 2022, p. 261). Nuesca (2023) cites consistent, organic growth with remote communities in Alaska, which can have validity for other states needing digital and media literacy. Nuesca (2023) knows there is a way that you can communicate with people so that they do not feel shut down or isolated in those situations.
“And I think the nice thing about Mana and SPRHDRS is that they are like a collective because they are a group of us. Thus, being more open to people’s ideas provides the space for that because it is a group working toward one thing. Thus, it was in a better space to kind of foster that.” Furthermore, it was unlike any time she spent as a follower in an organization. Nuesca’s success in community engagement and outreach is detailed, showcasing the strategic use of digital platforms and organic campaigns to expand the collective’s reach. Trust, interdependence, genuineness, empathy, risk, and success in leadership behavior are emphasized.
“Team-wise, it [Mana] started with three, and then we expanded to about 15. Furthermore, that is, on the content and events side of things. We had zero stories this time last year. Then we expanded that to about 30. Then, 17 made it to the museum. We had no expectations for our launch event. We thought that it would just be like us and maybe 50 people. We had 50 chairs, right? We have 50 chairs in that atrium, and 1500 people came,” Nuesca cited her first museum curation with the state as a success of servitude in leadership (2023). “So I think we could only get a sense of our reach, just like a small sense of our reach on digital. We had worked on some digital, like organic campaigns on Instagram, and Facebook and all of that” (S. Nuesca, 2023). Behavior associated with trust, interdependence, genuineness, empathy, risk, and success will lead to more beneficial and productive results. Being an effective leader requires knowing how to get things done. The collective gained unanimous support from the Filipino American National Historical Society, Alaska Chapter.
Executive Summation of Key Leadership and Related Factors
While their following on Instagram is modest, it is clear that only some things are about one’s number of followers. It takes a strong team with a strategic leader who knows what obstacles are ahead and how to solve them. For significant societal displacement impacting many communities, building a community is essential. “I think we only had 300 followers on Instagram before that weekend. And then our Facebook is laughable. The beginning was laughable. There were about 50 people who were interested in our content, but it ended up being that the word got out through the community. Also, folks are sharing our stuff without asking, so we did not account for that,” says Nuesca. Northouse (2022) allows followers to identify with something greater than they value. Followers became effective at accomplishing their jobs and fulfilling their job descriptions. “And I was adamant that we ended up on there, no matter where we were in the paper. That is another example of seeing things through and contributing to the common goal. And that was to get as many people as possible at the museum, whether 50 or 100 or 1500,” Nuesca said. “So I think supplementally, the digital stuff was just that, supplemental to our outreach. However, we used it to inform our decisions, like how we would approach folks, where we would post up, and what events we would do to promote the exhibit. So it was not like, yeah, it was not all for naught,” says Nuesca. “I had put out a press release. Two people replied, but another email went to the managing editor, and they finally listened. We sent this press release two weeks ago, but here is why the public would miss out if this does not get news coverage” (S. Nuesca, Nov. 10, 2023).
Conclusion
Servant leadership also affects the way organizational teams function. Furthermore, digital and online literacy are essential for leaders of the 21st century. Different leadership theories, such as servant leadership, require an ethical response, authenticity, transparency, and an open mind adaptable to daily challenges (Northouse, 2022). Nuesca cites word of mouth through the Filipino community and persistence that landed her collective a front page in the state newspaper. “I tend to be like a driver regarding leadership style. One needs to see things through. We [the collective] wanted it to be in the Anchorage Daily News because that is the paper of record for the state,” Nuesca said. Besides serving, Greenleaf (1970) states that a servant leader also has a social responsibility to care for the marginalized. According to Northouse (2022), transformative and adaptive leadership align directly with diversity, equity, and inclusion, which is necessary within the educational system. “We do not see ourselves as having one person in charge or one leader. So, it is a collective, which speaks to just cultural values like Filipino cultural values, as everything has to be done with a collective approach to the community goals. So that has driven us [Mana] the most,” Nuesca said. “Somebody flew up from California just to see this exhibit in the hallway in some museum in Anchorage, Alaska. This fact is a testament to just our team.” In becoming a servant leader, a leader uses less institutional power and control while shifting authority to those following the leadership (Graham, 1991).
In Mana, The History We Inherit, members of the collective share their past and current experiences with Filipino culture, particularly in Alaska. Despite Filipinos’ long presence in Alaska, many of their stories are untold. Nuesca brought together like-minded individuals to tell stories through oral stories, art, and photojournalism. Communication and community building started from scratch last year and were crucial to this project’s success. Despite their modest number of followers on Instagram, it is clear that only some things are about numbers. Inheriting stories in real-time to bring permanence to them through various art mediums is vital for Filipino communities as their elders are highly regarded for their learned knowledge over generations. In summary, servant leadership and community building interconnect in the context of cultural growth. By prioritizing service, empathy, and the development of individuals, servant leaders contribute to creating a connected web of a positive and inclusive community within an organization, fostering cultural growth and sustainability.
References
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Bauch, P. (2006). “Reflective, Ethical, and Moral Constructs in Educational Leadership Preparation: Effects on Graduates’ Practices.” Journal of Educational Administration 44 (5): 487.
Berkovich, I. (2014). “A Socio-Ecological Framework of Social Justice Leadership in Education.” Journal of Educational Administration 52 (3): 282.
Carbajal, Jose (2018). “Patriarchal Culture’s Influence on Women’s Leadership Ascendancy,” The Journal of Faith, Education, and Community: Vol. 2: Iss. 1, Article 1. Available at: https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/jfec/vol2/iss1/1
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RokuTV owners might want to know about this deal ahead of Black Friday. The newest season of the RokuTV SoundBar is available to purchase before the holidays. To top it off, Roku is running more than one promo right now, meant to show that wealth is no longer a factor in truly enjoying revolutionary surround sound.
Multiple EQ settings are available in the TV sound settings menu.
Wireless music streaming is available via Bluetooth
At $179.99, Roku TV users can use the code TCLROKUSOUND, dropping the price to $99.99. And that deal is still valid, according to Roku. It’s an affordable price point for the working class. There’s also a chance to win a TV plus soundbar on the Roku Blog through December 10th.
No wires mean no installation hassles. With Bluetooth and WiFi as connectors, it’s also possible to boost the sound by attaching other subwoofers. It’s straight-up expandable, making it possible to turn any room into a small theater itself. Sound is accessible, especially for Roku users.
“I mean, there was a time when having a killer home theater setup was, you know, just for someone with, maybe you know who’s really into audio and wanted everything perfect, but these days, TV’s have gotten huge, and they’re accessible. You can get a great TV for not very much,” said Anders Steele, with Roku’s Public Relations Department.
An audio expert himself, Steele feels that the target demographic of Roku has fundamentally changed as years go by.
“TV’s have gotten big and expensive, but they’ve also gotten thinned so the sound of TV’s these days isn’t what you know when the big boxes that I had when I was younger may be able to reproduce, it’s just not possible so, soundbars are a good way to to get the sound that you want. And even way better than what TV’s have been doing,” said Steele.
More specs are on the TCL website, like adding a wall-mount and compatibility with other Roku remotes. The box only comes with three components, a power cord, the soundbar, and the kit to mount it up. With simplicity on the mind of Roku leaders, TV isn’t the only home product becoming more accessible, especially during the pandemic.
“We’ve had COVID and not a lot of people feeling comfortable going to the theater. At the same time, we have seen movies like Dune coming out simultaneously digitally. So you can create a perfect home theater experience,” said Steele.
What Roku and TCL were hoping to create was an experience of sound fit for everyone. The new SoundBar won’t become an eyesore that collects dust. It’s clutter-free, as TCL puts it. It’s easy to move. It’s portable and easy to keep out of sight.
“Suddenly, you’re booming if you want to be. And it’s a good feeling, actually,” said Steele.
Considering how many movies are opening streaming only, it’s time to embrace the whole at-home movie experience. This trend is here for the long haul for apparent reasons. Good movies deserve even better bass.
“Streaming services are kicking, but there’s so much good stuff out there, and first-run movies are coming out and these devices, especially this one,” said Steele.
Steele pointed out that Roku’s audio teams are globally pushing the boundaries of sound and science. As far as what’s coming in 2022, Roku seeks to consistently improve its products and optimize them for the consumer experience. In short, there’s always room for improvement.
“We have people heading our acoustic designs department in Denmark. We have a separate facility there who came from like Bang and Olsen or Dynaudio, which is very high-end,” said Steele. “We have an anechoic chamber and facilities in San Jose, CA. We’re constantly working on our audio products. The price is excellent compared to competitors and compared to what’s out there for what you get.”
Considering that Black Friday is early to town this year, it’s possible to see some more great deals to complement the Roku you already have. One Twitter user tweeted that the ‘best investment I ever bought was my RokuTV bundle with the Roku SoundBar.’
Even with movie theaters opening up across the country, it’s essential to have home comfort as an alternative. A marketing campaign aimed at leaving customers with their own decisions to make is a good one. It’s true; the TCL Roku soundbar is for family and parents too.
“We’re not looking to make a killing on selling audio products. We’re trying to enable people to have a good and inspiring home theater experience. That’s our goal,” said Steele. “Being that it’s wireless, you don’t need to hire someone to help you install. You plug it in, and the automatic setup just works. It’s not an exciting answer, but the truth is, this product is for everyone.”
I’ve went from print journalism to marketing, public relations, advertising and back again. For now, I’m trying to stay in the social media manager realm because it allows me to write blogs.
Meaning I get to exercise my journalistic creativity on the regular. But seriously though, I cannot express enough how underpaid and undervalued I am as a content creator. I’m marketing a brand to retain clients and often I’m still stuck cleaning a break room.
How can I continue to create an organic outreach that reaches real customers when I’m not taken seriously?
This is why I’m in school. I’m kind of hoping that with the next tier of degree in my life, I’ll get taken a little more seriously. I want to help companies grow and I’m generally not given the resources or time to make that genuine connection happen.
Unfortunately living in the metropolitan area that would see my value in Southern California is a six-figure endeavor. I’m talking like, almost a quarter of a million dollars a year just spent on living comfortably.
And I’m not at that point in my life yet. I don’t know if I’ll ever be close. It seems like my generation really got the short end of the stick and somehow it was so bad that the impact has trickled down to literally everyone except the 1 percent.
Yeah, not at all surprising how the difference between minimum wage at $15000 annually vs $15/hr at $31000 annually is the cost of a car. Few of those a year with social media making it viral is some cheap ass cynical marketing.
Connecting to an audience in a prolific way is something that I crave. I constantly find myself reading these feel good stories but the problem here is that they’re all bandaids for some kind of poor practice. There’s better ways to connect to an audience.
I like to do it in writing because I have social anxiety. But then that anxiety took over my words too. Being in this program has really changed me. It’s caused me to become more humble but to also see that I’m worth more than minimum wage.
Journalism is the core of the communications field. The digital convergence that happens with public relations, marketing and advertising is propelled by media convergence. I have always felt like journalists are held to a higher standard than anyone else. This is because the public trusting us is vital to democracy.
We need to strive to do better. I will never not express how important it is to keep going for the optimum outcome. I know that not everyone in the Newhouse School is there for a journalism degree. Some might hate writing entirely. But when we all work together and pay mind to the ethics behind our careers, our lives are a little bit easier.
I hope I can take the inspiration I draw from this program and really make a difference in the world through telling news via different mediums. I’ve always been a writer. A poet too. But there’s an urgency I feel regarding closing the gap that is the digital divide by exposing misinformation and promoting social awareness as our whole world inches further into the future.
I feel like I really understand why good marketing, advertising, PR and journalism will always go hand in hand with each other. One cannot function without the other in our realm.
The amount of mediums is way too many to count and hard to keep track. Right now I’m loving podcasts because it’s a really old idea with a modern twist attached to it.
Multimedia is this whole different ballgame that really gives writers new and creative ways to tell the stories that they write. If journalists like myself can’t keep up with that, we’re going to slowly lose the media literacy we’ve grown to have.
Digital convergence isn’t going to stop, so we need to hop on the bandwagon and ensure that what does come out is used to the fullest extent of the product or service’s capabilities.
Having a free press is my everything. It’s a gift unlike any other. It’s used as a curse, in some situations. I respect it above all else though, always. If more people lose their respect towards this profession, we’re going to see more open hatred across the board.
I feel like so many demographics have been looked over until recently. And this new wave of marketing towards the younger generations through the likes of big data collection is super creepy. Highly intriguing to watch change happen so quickly though.
Who would’ve known that AARPANET would turn into this massive worldwide conglomerate that corporations are fighting to control the access to? A social awakening is happening that is only going to continue to grow.
As human behavior continues to change, we’re currently seeing something unlike anything that’s been recorded by historians before. It’s not Ancient Aliens or anything, but it’s still pretty great.
The ways culture is portrayed across the world is solely because the internet is here to allow for mass sharing. I’m all here for it. Let’s keep sending memes.
It’s so hard to say what else lies in the future. I’m kind of hoping that eventually I’ll have some brain implant that’ll allow a laptop to type my thoughts for me since my carpal tunnel will probably eventually take my hands out.
Other than that, all I can do is hope that there will be some regulations that will keep customization convenient and 75 percent less invasive. Wait no, maybe like 95 percent less invasive. I’m hoping for the best.
Kind of seems like we’re living in a dystopian universe already though. At least we’re all in this together, right?
Classes like this one have taught me a handful of useful tidbits for the future. I feel like this blog has also helped me express my feelings, opinions and what not to the best of my ability. All while getting to drop facts in between.
I’ve got a glorified diary. I plan on using it as much as I can.
I have to pre-write to write.
It’s insane how all of the topics discussed over the term are things I’ve already recognized in real life but never knew the proper terminology for. I’m so excited to continue learning.
As someone who suffers from massive anxiety to the point where I can’t check my email or grades, being able to free-flow while weaving in my understanding of class topics helps me truly get the stuff that I’m reading and watching.
I guess this is essentially the tip of the iceberg with the beginning of my graduate school career. I’m over here, hand writing my last blogs for this class while thinking about my finals. Stressing. Multimedia for one and a case study for another.
The thing that I’ve truly enjoyed about this course though is the way I can now analyze and tie in the importance of digital/media convergence. I can especially see it because I recently got a new job-which at the time of typing this bit I am probably going to never go back-and I happened to be in an office setting instead of being at home.
Totally new to me. Even this program is. But I do enjoy being able to still feel like I’m in a classroom learning, instead of trying to teach something myself with very little to no direction.
So last week, all of a sudden I was staring at three computer screens. Holy second screen experience! And a keyboard and a mouse that work! I’ve been working from a broken laptop for almost a year! This is nuts!
I was able to take what I’ve learned in journalism from my undergrad and what I’ve learned about journalism innovation at my short time at Syracuse and really do a lot of work in a short amount of time. It took me 57 hours, but I got them set up with social media posts across six platforms until the end of March.
It was easily enough work to earn a grand. Turns out they thought it was worth half of that. All of this work I put into this company to make them look good and it kind of wasn’t worth the effort.
Honestly though the fact that this client thought that it was okay to pay me California minimum wage is really the result of the lack of media literacy in the country. It’s super simple to look up the average wage of a social media manager in the United States.
Add in a copy editor and marketing/personal assistant to the mix and the costs add up. I digress, though.
I’m over here incredibly upset that I’m late on my work at a super crucial time but at the same time I’m grateful that the little bit I’ve taken from this program I’ve already learned how to use to further my career path.
And I got to really experience a true multi-screen experience for a little bit that I wouldn’t have before. Even if the client was lackluster, Syracuse got me there and helped me see my worth.
There’s always people that need someone to write and edit for them. Until then I’m going to write my little heart out on this blog and hope that it provides context into myself as a person.
I’ve seen what places like Vox and the Washington Post have done for journalism. I’m writing about the Washington Post for my case study. Those are things that can be applied to basically every aspect of communications. I’m constantly intrigued with the versatile manner that journalism fits within this broad industry.
However with the way things keep changing, it’s crucial to continue to revamp and rebrand the communications industry as a whole. Especially the media, both new and old.
I can’t express enough how amazing it is to take these skills that I’ve honed over the years and use them to better something else.
Considering how my alma matter is potentially shutting down the newspaper that I gained all of these skills from as a writer, I feel like the best way I can combat the reality of a dying newspaper by furthering my knowledge in multimedia. Period.
News needs to be told. We just have to understand the obstacles that we are dealt with.
Two years ago, I wrote the review for @Harry_Styles debut album for @thedailytitan and now I’m happy to support not only my favorite artist, but the student journalists behind this well-written review and the paper that helped me find my voice 🥰 https://t.co/hRgiEl6niV
Being able to connect to consumers is the best way to continue to close the digital divide. Now we just need WiFi accessible to everyone. I hope to see that in the near future. Everyone should have the opportunity to have access to a virtual library.
Without access to simple things like blogging, student journalism and student-ran communications groups across the nation, we will never be able to dominate in the media literacy field.
Student newspapers are vital and @thedailytitan is one of the best around. Many reporters you read began their careers at the DT. It needs to be kept alive. https://t.co/tygyYboFKP
I want to see a day where being a digital era journalist is considered just as important as any STEM major. I don’t think people understand how much goes into becoming an expert on a topic, hunting down verifiable sources and putting together a package that works across a multitude of platforms.
Being a watchdog is hard right now. It’s like trying to get an alcoholic to quit drinking when they just aren’t ready. But if we, as journalists, are able to gain trust and understanding, then the public might be ready to trust us later.
With the next round of presidential elections looming in the corner, I feel like finding new ways to innovate news and find news is more important than ever.
When you help more than 1,200 Members on average each monthwith Stolen Vehicle Assistance, you get some really interesting calls. Like this one from 2019. #BeSafeOutThere
One of my many ads that I’m getting on Twitter currently. I happened to just start working at a trucking commercial insurance place so, makes sense.
No, I don’t want to spend 15 minutes watching commercials during an hour-long episode of Game of Thrones. However, I’ll admit that I’ve found services and products through ads frequently.
The streaming service Hulu lets you choose your ad experience, so some places it’s not so bad to deal with. If I have to watch ads, I’d rather do it at the expense of having some sort of personalization. Mainly because I could benefit from it later.
But if you’re on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, expect the ad experience to be vastly different. Since I’m using vaping to quit smoking–which is really hard to do when you’re stressed out by the way–I regularly get ads regarding cancer lawsuits against that company. It’s funny, because now a previous Marlboro CEO is running what’s supposed to stop us from vaping.
Seems that smoking, at all, is specifically aimed at a teenage demographic. Even without ads, look at what marketing has done now. I’m 27 and I’m over here huffing these things everywhere. But how did that happen? Because of the way these things were essentially marketed and then advertised to us. All of it matters.
Digital convergence is everywhere. It’s one of the biggest things I’ve learned about the past quarter. And now I’m here at 1 am on a Thursday morning, working at a brand new marketing job at 7 am…at a place where I can’t really get any extra work done.
Although I’m determined to publish the two blogs that I’ve written regarding these topics the past two weeks. This particular blurb about advertising took up quite a few front and back pages in my notebook.
From my notebook. The blog before the blog.
It’s imperative I get my feels out, as some might say. And in short, I’m really creeped out that I, along with many others, have to zen out this weird big brother dystopia out of a George Orwell novel that no one thought was actually going to happen.
Except maybe another writer. I mean, I figured we all knew by now that no facet of our lives is really private.
Ads are meant to personalize, they just go to a whole other level. There’s been a lot of outrage, especially amongst women. I mean, if you have any smart device, all of you other devices are going to know what your routine is to a tee.
But sometimes algorithms and whatever mess up, leaving huge molten craters behind. Some people can’t have children. Or might have miscarried. And they’ll still get baby ads. Other women have realized that the ad experience trickles even down to your damn period app.
It’s disgusting to think that we have no privacy in our lives. These are like, the kinds of things that mortified me growing up. I grew up in a family so tight-knit that it was actually considered textbook dysfunctional. Just not the type one usually thinks of. It’s an overbearing lifestyle.
This is how I feel with ads. Seriously. I’m really, really “zenning” it out though. And uhhh, how many of these ads that we are seeing are really vetted and valid? Not everyone is going to check the comments before purchasing that Furbo dog camera treat dispenser off Facebook. They will just think it looks cool.
The lack of transparency and accountability behind companies buying ad time is so astronomical that it’s laughable. So many people end up unhappy after being scammed by these strange ad things on their favorite social media page.
If there’s so much digital and media convergence, why isn’t everyone else catching up in terms of media literacy? It’s pretty sad. It’s pretty simple.
Not only are the public hindered by the second screen experience, they’re now engrossed by the digital divide. And no one wants to address the monsters behind native advertising and brand marketing. But we all keep going on.
I spent Wednesday at my new job messing with everyone’s privacy settings. Heavily. And for a Mac user to figure it all out on a Windows desktop was phenomenal. But it reminded me that even if I completely disabled these settings, everyone’s smart phones connected to WiFi would give away their information to whoever wants it anyways.
Even the fact that I follow more left-leaning politicians on Twitter means that my ads are well…very snowflake-y. I’ll get ads for products, services and pushing blogs that are 95 percent clickbait. And let’s not even discuss the spam emails. I’m getting hundreds of emails a day. Professional some, but mostly stuff like date Groupons.
Every time I complain about some sort of ache or pain, you can count on good ol’ WebMD shooting me a trusty email about overlooked cancer symptoms. It’s creepy. It’s invasive. However it’s highly convenient, especially in a world where instant gratification is key from all angles.
You can’t get away from it. I’ve continuously blog-preached that those in the communications field have to adapt to these types of rapid change or else it could mean the end of our industry as we know it.
So how do we harness a demon that’s transitioning into a monopoly? It’s so vital to strive for strong ethics in communications. If people don’t believe what they see, they won’t partake or consume in what’s put in front of them.
In short, is everything in life about pulling at the heartstrings behind our love for humanism? What about transparency and the simple act of being genuine? There’s so many questions left unanswered, so that’s why it’s crucial to continue to learn how our field truly connects to others.
Why are influencers so popular? Because they are also effectively closing the digital divide. It’s not just Kim Kardashian with ‘Flat Tummy Tea’ or Cardi B constantly repping Fashion Nova. If you have any type of following online, it’s that much easier to get your foot in the door as a brand influencer. I’m not sure if it’s good or bad. It just depends on what it’s being used for.
I mean why not be a walking advertisement. If you have any type of following or adhere to some sort of niche, it’s possible to become that. If enough educated individuals in journalism hop on this bandwagon, it could mean a life or death difference for this particular industry.
I don’t have all of the answers. It’s impossible to do so with everything, especially technology, constantly changing. But that’s also the scary beauty in the profession. No one can be a complete expert in it and no one ever will be–there is ALWAYS something to learn.
It’s clear that continued research and expansion into the impact of advertising and marketing is imperative for the future. When all fields of communication thrive, everyone involved prospers.
Marketing needs advertising, who needs public relations…and they all need journalism. And since journalism needs monetization to exist, knowing the ins and outs of marketing and advertising is essential.
Seeing what types of advertising are beneficial is also completely needed. In short, not all types of advertising are good for the seriousness of journalism. Such as native advertising. I can’t explain how frustrating it is to see the lines blurred so much to where people fail to harness any concept of media literacy. The complacency is astounding.
I’d rather deal with organic and inorganic outreach than native advertising. Although it’s sad when you can tell that likes or follows were bought, not earned. I can’t knock what pays someone’s bills too much.
Even brand marketing is better than native advertising. Anything where it seems like I’m going to be an actual human. All in all, this industry is like unique ways to push a form of telemarketing. A new way to connect to consumers without having to show up on their doorstep to convince them that your product or service is worthwhile.
Everyone wants organic outreach the most. But making that happen when you aren’t internet-savvy is pretty much like climbing Mt. Everest with improper protective gear.
Advertising is a numbers game. It’s like giving an investigative journalist raw data in a folder and telling them to find the story in it. You have to be completely calculated to plan out an advertising or marketing campaign.
It’s planning the future of an enterprise. And if you can’t sell it with your soul, that’s where brand marketing and native advertising come into play though. I can run around in circles talking about how much I hate or love their outcome for any general brand.
How many times will you check your social media platforms while reading this blog?Probably a bit–I can guarantee even the most anti-social is tapped in somehow. Media convergence is prevalent right now and it’s taken a whack at the digital divide.
So about the Big Five.
Everyone has one of the Big Five of social media: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube aka Google, Twitter and LinkedIn. They all cater to vastly different parts of the internet but at this point, they’re pretty vital to any part of the communications industry.
I’m not a big fan. I grew up outside and whatever, like every other millennial. But being able to navigate through each medium is way to have success as a multimedia journalist in this age, especially when those catalysts aren’t always used for the greater good.
I mean, I’m here to tell the truth and that’s where my loyalties lie. I’m only good at words and the Big Five that came with the rise of the internet have changed the way that words are taken in.
So it’s only natural to take what I’ve learned and apply them in other places. It’s constant trial and error. It’s a challenge. It’s pretty fun and exhausting at the same time.
Why care about the Big Five?
I can’t speak for everyone in my field but I do know that we all probably learned the same exact ethics to get where we are now. I want to adhere to those ethics while still using the Big Five in a way that is beneficial to those that come across my platforms.
Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and his campaign are pinnacles in effective ways to use social media, even when social media giants might not completely be in tune with you.
The federal minimum wage at the beginning of the decade vs. the federal minimum wage at the end of the decade.
Whether it’s through social media, email or cell phone, this presidential campaign is really hitting the ground running, relying on communication to get their point across.
It’s happening! #BernieForHBCU takeover of the Blavity Politics account!
For example, let’s look at Twitter. I’ve discussed before how Twitter’s CEO Jack Dorsey harbors a soft side for conservatives and white nationalists. Even with supposed consistent moderation and a more supposed “paid political ads” ban, Twitter is still used daily by our current President in order to push his narratives.
In short, Twitter has a huge loophole that can’t be closed.
Mark Levin speaking one week after I took office. This was always a planned COUP and the Radical Left Democrats will suffer at the polls in 2020! pic.twitter.com/XHd5grQUaM
And his Twitter following continues to grow. At 66.9 million followers as of 6 pm PST, the only president with more followers than Donald Trump is Barack Obama, with just under 111 million followers to count.
I mean, our previous POTUS was a master at communication via social media. And he still continues to be. To say his tweets are drastically different than President Trump’s is a massive understatement.
Need I post more to show the difference? I feel like there’s this clear notion of catering to a certain audience. It’s either left or right. And in-between isn’t acceptable with either side.
While Obama pushes for unity, Trump is pushing for ratings like our country is another season of the Apprentice. We all know that Rasmussen has a huge conservative-leaning bias. Where are you getting your facts from, President? Seems like you’re picking and choosing a narrative to fit your fancy. Who is really the “fake news” then?
Honesty and transparency is absolutely everything nowadays.
I wonder how many jobs will turn me down over this opinion. But it’s really all common sense to me. Use your platform right and spread awareness across the nation.
Or the world.
Even Taylor Swift got on board with that one. Here’s just a recent example of it. We all know that she finally got political last election, too.
This means that being able to innovate journalism is the only way to beat this blatant growing use of citizen journalism as propaganda that the right has really latched onto. It’s not about the rights of who is conservative and who is considered liberal. It’s about basic human rights, as well as the need for truth across the board.
Facebook is another problem. We’ve seen Mark Zuckerberg in action, trying to run around questions from Congress time and time again.
Rep. @AOC called BS on Facebook not fact checking political ads right to Mark Zuckerberg’s face pic.twitter.com/79OZLpjyFS
All memes aside, these big tech people don’t have everyone’s best interests in mind. That’s why it’s up to those in the communications industry to harness those tools and use them for the better of society.
Our children are at risk, too.
YouTube and Google struggled with the lasting impact of alarming videos seeping into children’s videos for a few years, along with the complicit nature behind executives. If you want to read more about the YouTube kid video debacle, check out this highly extensive Medium post by James Bridle here.
To be honest, the issue highlighted in the article above is what needs to be addressed. All of these things occur because we really don’t have a clue how to keep new age propaganda from spreading.
What happened to vigilance? We’re really out here questioning scientists over climate change but not questioning those that create content to rot out our brains?
Therefore, it only makes sense to push out saturation with more mindful content. In all reality, the job trickles down to content creators.
Enter journalism. We’ve seen how the Washington Post has managed to expand their reach into far parts of the internet that many haven’t touched. And now, people in the communications industry are starting to catch on.
Maybe we can’t teach media literacy to those that are on the older spectrum. You only want to know what you seek. But the younger generations? Ready to learn and do better than us. Our lives and the way they will end up all falls on them.
This is why so many journalists are jumping on TikTok.
This is why even President Trump has a Twitch.tv channel, even if he has barely used it yet. The greatest way to garner a relationship with the public is through online transparency. And the younger we get, the more we kind of seem to care about it.
If you can’t beat them, join them. If we’re able–as multimedia journalists–to break into a new market, we’re able to not only commercialize sustained journalism, but we can spread the truth.
TikTok is full of funny videos. Twitch.tv is an Amazon affiliate meant to cater to online streaming gamers. How do you spread news through these mediums? Through letting people get a slice of life as a reporter.
It really all comes down to conversation. People want to leave their two cents in real-time. That’s why Twitter, for example, is so vital for journalists.
Live commentary and updated breaking news is an amazing and useful way to connect to whatever community you’re local to.
I use this example a lot, but living in one of California’s major fire zones means that following journalists on different platforms via social media is a way that I can stay safe. It also means that I can contribute on the ground as a freelance journalist in order to protect and inform others through something as simple as a hashtag.
At this point, hashtags are universal and make life that much more accessible.
Look at what is happening in Hong Kong right now. Riots are prevalent. Citizens are getting hurt because they want democracy. If there wasn’t such a big societal need for the Big Five, would the world be able to know about this kind of obvious government corruption?
Just because we are America doesn’t mean that we aren’t vulnerable. The facade that we are devoid of problems is highly problematic. That’s another reason why it’s imperative to keep pushing against the norm.
Facebook is not a valid news source, sorry to all the Aunts and Uncles out there that think it is. But a valid news source can use Facebook to push an even more valid narrative. On top of that, it’s a way to communicate to readers and make their experiences better with each article or livestream.
It’s going to take time and effort. And to be honest, we really don’t have a lot of time left.
With climate change, homelessness and gun control looming over our heads, on top of another presidential election, it’s clear that moves need to be made in order to gain public trust, especially for those who feel alienated in modern society. Which happens to be both sides of the political spectrum.
We have to know how to use the Big Five for the sake of everyone with internet access. It’s all about humanity and survival of the fittest. Because we aren’t going anywhere.
Once one of the Big Five falls, another will pop up to take its place. Since this particular industry is subjected to constant change, learning how to stay ahead of the game is key to staying afloat.
I’m right there with the rest of the older millennials. Technology is an enigma that I’ve been forced to master and come to terms with. I’ll always be in the learning stage with this profession, although that’s really the fun in it.
But seeing the innovations in communication is the biggest reason why the industry draws me in. Connection is everything.
Some people are homebodies, and not by choice. Some have major social anxiety, like myself, where it’s far easier to make a difference behind a computer screen. Some people have double lives to lead–I’m talking about multiple careers in order to keep a roof over their heads.
Some people want to know more than what they’ve been told. Some people just want more personalization. Some people just want to buy things they might not see in real life.
Social media helps fuel relief in all of those areas, when used correctly. Overall, it’s really a full-time job to be an expert in this field. Since the rise of the Big Five, there’s now more side hustles than ever. If you can harness that side hustle with intricate techniques, you can have a following.
And having a following not only makes money, but has a lasting impact on those that adore what you do just as much as you.
We can’t get away from social media and the impact it has had on the media, marketing, advertising and the realm of public relations. So it’s like the old saying goes: if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.
Being able to understand and harness these new catalysts for communications helps us understand how commercialization, personalization, entertainment and media have all intertwined.
I decided to jump into the world of print journalism. I’ve found through the years that I’ve also had to learn to master various other platforms as well.
Multimedia rules our generation and while it’s sometimes scary and a pain to learn, it’s something that every journalist needs to get in order to push their career forward. It’s truly something that is a gift and a curse.
In the easiest terms, it’s a way to document memories without having so much of it on paper. What you say or do on the internet is out there forever.
Right now America is watching the impeachment inquiries of President Donald Trump. You can watch it on the television. You can watch it online just about anywhere–Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, various media and probably even Twitch. I happened to catch it on Twitter.
Bill Taylor revealed significant new information in his testimony, saying his aide was told by Gordon Sondland that President Trump cared more about investigating Joe Biden than about Ukraine.https://t.co/FY0VHKvOcMpic.twitter.com/qNCbTgaJ3V
Yes, a social media website. How does that happen? I’m sure I’m not the only one to see it, and the internet gives everyone a way to pay attention. Whether at work, in school or at home, there’s a way to check in on what pertains to your life.
Now social media can be personalized to a point where you can see information while doing other things. We’re all multi-tasking. It’s also a case of the second screen experience.
There’s little tools like Google Home and Amazon Alexa that will tell you news headlines in real time while you go about your day. There’s all these ways to stay tapped in.
When the information is good, it’s that much easier to put trust in the second screen experience. But I feel like just how many journalists now operate with a disclaimer in order to differentiate from their bias, it’s important that every other part of the industry does the same.
For the most part, it does happen. But there’s still a few bad apples here and there.
Twitter is also a place where we can now see real-time commentary. It’s a place where we’ve seen every part of the communications industry flourish.
Public relations has a fast way to react to damage control and everyone can effectively communicate with each other in a way never seen before the digital era. However, if the intentions of good aren’t there, we’re just looking at more propaganda.
For example, think about how big oil companies are trying to push the narrative that they’re looking for a “greener” route to do their business. It’s clear that there is not.
Or what about how private energy companies like Pacific Gas and Oil or Southern California Edison can continue to push that shutting off power during fires is only beneficial to the fact that they are no longer liable if there’s a massive natural disaster that might have been their fault?
Thanking people for their “patience” is really the bare minimum. However it’s all they can do to not make anymore people blow up on them.
There’s also the fact that because of social media and callout culture, there’s no reason to attempt to hide anything from the public anymore. If there’s a farce, expect it to be revealed. Like..in the case of Californian Governor Gavin Newsom. Taking money from those he has recently scorned.
Cal-Unicornians: read this. Retweet it. Understand that Gavin Newsom is lying to you. Consider how terrible the reporting has been; radio, TV, newspapers repeating the lie that PG&E was acting outside the wishes of regulators. https://t.co/BO6wDl9MGC
Unfortunately Twitter is a place where misinformation is a problem. That’s why it’s up to those in our field to be able to make things clearer for those without the media literacy to spot a scam. And it’s important to be able to keep an open line between companies and those that use their services.
.@GavinNewsom We’re not interested in apologies. We want a company who knows how to manage their business, and demonstrates competence in building, and supporting an effective infrastructure in the Worlds 5th largest economy. Clearly this is not @PGE4Me#PGE
If we, as journalists, don’t continue to learn innovative ways to utilize social media, it’ll probably overtake us. With the next presidential elections looming, it’s clear that we need to be wary of what’s to come.
But with vigilance, it’s apparent that the world is ready for the truth to be told and for personalization to come with it.
Social media is a way for everyone to connect–even for dog owners. Here’s a picture I shot of one of my dogs for his Instagram during a walk this month. Yes, my dog has an Instagram. And I’ve been able to find more dog owners that have the same breed. It’s great.
“What’s the biggest impact social media has made on how we interact with one another?“
Who do you talk to these days? And how are you talking to them the most?
For many, it’s through our smartphones. Asking for an Instagram username is like calling someone’s house phone back in the day and asking them on a date, or to come outside to hang out.
Interaction–something that has drastically changed over the past two decades. It’s crazy to think that the days of growing up outside as a child are massively different.
Everyone has a phone in their hand; I received my first phone in middle school. My younger sister? She had one in third grade. My mom’s reasoning was for safety. It was something foreign to me. The difference here is our age gap of seven years.
I’ve read every single Harry Potter novel. And I could read an entire novel in a day. I’m not special for it. I’m sure a lot of people have too. It’s just that now, that kind of dedication is rare, especially when your phone is lighting up every fifteen minutes with a new notification.
Since technology and social media altered our society’s attention spans, I’ve never been able to read a novel quickly since. I get bored easily and at some point, I’m going to check my phone. I have to even use my phone to go to sleep.
Not having access to social media is like cutting off one of my index fingers and an ear. Without it, I’ve lost a way to vitally interact with others. That’s one of the many cons of social media.
Now, harboring some kind of presence takes precedence over knowledge. It’s frightening for our future.
However, there’s those that have actually developed enough media literacy on their own to actually use their platforms to not only make people laugh or smile, but to bring awareness that impacts the global population in a million ways.
For me, Twitter has become the best place to find breaking news. Instagram has become a place for me to showcase my photography.
Thanks to social media, everyone can be a model, actor, artist and citizen journalist, to name a few things. A business can grow from local to worldwide if you’ve got the right marketing tactics.
While this has caused for saturation to accelerate in terms of actual talent in many fields, it’s also brought plenty of new talent that might have never been discovered before without the help of the internet.
Let’s talk about rapper and actress Cardi B. She gained her fame through social media by posting her life to Twitter and Instagram. She went from rags to riches, and then some.
She’s now considered one of the best female artists in the pop realm. Her openness and realism through various social media platforms is what makes her relatable.
Social media has really pushed forward commercialization for businesses and individuals alike, especially in the case of celebrities.
Think about the Kardashian family. Would they really be this famous if it wasn’t for them jumping on the social media bandwagon?
Kylie Jenner made an entire empire through her Instagram account before she turned 21 years old.
She’s become a staple for women across the country–a roundhouse millionaire, all thanks to social media. Without social media, there’s no way her makeup line would’ve flourished the way that it has.
It’s pretty common to see the younger generation have more than 1k followers these days. Life is measured by the likes you get online. If you’re able to push your passion out there to the right people at the right time, it could change your life for better or worse.
President Barack Obama used Twitter, Reddit and Instagram to stay connected to the general public. Now every Democrat running for office is adopting the same routes.
For some candidates, “call time” means asking millionaires and billionaires for big checks.
That’s not how we do things on #TeamWarren. I spend “call time” thanking grassroots supporters and talking with voters. Chip in $3, and I might call to say thanks! https://t.co/TdZTlZ6Kip
It’s a thing that other individuals, regardless of the field, have latched onto for the same reason.
An instant way to provide information and answers, social media has actually provided an easier catalyst for journalists to give out news consistently, 24/7.
As social media continues to change, it’s going to further change the way society interacts with others. On one hand, social media brings people together that might have not been able to interact before. Think about online dating, for example. Suddenly, the world is not that small.
When I was in fifth grade, I joined a Linkin Park message board for die-hard fans. I ended up staying friends with people I met on there till this day, even if we don’t live in the same part of California.
But then again, social media has also brought newfound body dysmorphia and isolation. Kids would rather sit on Youtube and TikTok instead of enjoying what’s probably the last decades of affluent nature.
Like I said, our lives are now dictated by the likes that we get. And when you can’t fulfill that satisfaction, you don’t want to associate with anything at all. At least some of us have that awareness. For others, they don’t know anything else.
Thanks to social media giants like Flickr and Instagram, I’m able to share these awesome sunrise photos that I’ve taken while hiking this year. Dropbox and Google Drive give photographers and other journalists a place to collaborate or share. La Cresta, California, July 2019.
After learning about the Conversational Prism, it’s just dawned on me how actually crazy it is that the internet impacted our worlds this much. And that impact continues to evolve every single day. Getting a job in the media means staying in the forefront of news. It’s hard, but it’s constantly exciting and doable.
I mean, how many people get to say they become a mini-expert in every topic given to them for a living? A simple way to put it, but it has its poetic justice.
Journalism is something that enthralls me. It speaks for the words I can’t compose.
Social media allows me to show photographs in new ways that I never thought were possible before. The mediums are now endless. The audience? Anyone who looks up your hashtag. This is the same morning as the picture taken above.
There’s so many platforms that allow us to connect in ways never imagined before. Once a huge computer filled a room while scientists scrambled to use it. Fast forward to present time and we’ve got miniature super computers in our hands.
Billions of people have internet access. But billions still don’t.
Social media means that everyone gets a chance to take a fancy band picture and hope that their favorite artist sees it. Above: The pop-rock group LANY via the VIP section at the House of Blues in Anaheim, California. June 29, 2019.
Some platforms allow people to not only share pictures and video, but have at length conversations about a range of topics. Sites like Reddit have grown from their desktop base to a mobile app device.
It’s seamless to use and costs no money. It comes in handy when you want to talk about things or need advice regarding a specific topic. For example, I turned to Reddit when I first became gluten and dairy-free. Next Facebook.
Those places helped me find peace in my diet and ways to learn new recipes and tricks to cook at home. But what about when I just wanted to kill time?
Then there’s places like Telegram. Which allow a user to basically access an old school chat room through their phone. The amount of people that can be included in the same chat is hundreds.
It’s a place where people can get to know others across the globe with no boundaries. It’s a way to send pictures to others of places that hardly look like they exist.
It comes with cons though. If you have a mood disorder or body dysmorphia, you have to keep yourself in check at all times. Sometimes those that live the social media life can’t differentiate between fantasy and reality. It’s hard. But it’s possible to look at that negative in a positive route.
Just some tropics and underwater bungalows. No big deal. Taken at the Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort in July 2017. Picture by Ashlyn N. Ramirez.
All in all, social media has sustained trends that are incredibly valuable to the media community. It’s something that we must hold onto and grow with as technology continues to change.
I’m excited to embark on that journey with everyone I’ve gotten to call my colleague.
All's Well That Ends Well 