Each On Teach One(EOTO)-User Generated Content

User Generated Content

Global communication made possible by the internet, and related technologies, are evolving constantly. Websites, weblogs(blogs), portals, and podcasts are just a few of the many delivery modes available to users. Each one of these delivery modes carries content.

"Content is King!", is a quote I remember from a mentor and program director at a television station where I worked for an extended period of time. "... No matter what delivery system is developed, it will always be about content..." he continued to share. The tools avaiable on the internet has made it easier for individuals to become their own personal media providers, or share with others as a media provider.

Citizen journalism is exihbited in Blogs on a regular basis. iPods, and other portable media storage devices, make it possible to carry entire personal digital libraries that can be updated on a regular basis. Traditional media providers(radio, tv, newpapers) have jumped in and joined forces with the very forces that are changing their business models daily.

Newpapers have blogs for their reader to contribute and react to stories. Television stations use blogs not only for reaction to stories, in addtion, blogs provide a tool for gathering information for followup on stories.

UGC can be downloaded on demand, giving the user more control over consumption. Mobile devices have altered the landscape tremedously. iPods and other hi-capacity mobile storage/playback units have generated a new 'mobile digital content' lifestyle.

This change is not without a price. businesses are constantly trying to find a way to keep revenue streams coming, while more and more people are changing the media consumption habits. Copyright and other intellectual property issues are constantly popping up. The Technology is changing faster than the policies the govern them(where policies are in place).

Five Biggest Fears
1. The promises of free speech and self-expression on the internet are exercised unabated and no checks or balances get put into place.


2. Due to the extremes of free speech, and easy access to global markets, check and balances get into place.


3. Intellectual property issues abound due to the volumes of information available. It would be almost impossible to track original ideas and who has ownership of anhy body of work.


4. Too much information. Sometimes trying to find one little piece of information, is like trying fill an eyedropper with water from a waterfall. OVERWHELMING


5. There aren't gatekeepers to verify accuracy of information. how do you know what is and isn't true?


Web Resources

1. The Value of User Generated Content Part 1
Paul Chin writes a series of articles explaining the concept and context of User Generated content. His series is among a wonderful web resource, Intranet journal.com. Chin explains engineered-content, and user generated content.

2. An Agency's Worst Nightmare: Ads Created by Users
New York Times reporter Julie Bosman shares the invasion of User Generated Content in the advertising arena. Sony Electronics has an ad created by a 19 year old. The young man's commercial will run for up to two months on CurrentTV, a UGC driven cable network. This could be a trend setting contest. Sony has two large adverstising agencies on retainer, having consumers create the commercials could be good marketing, and a big cost saving strategy.

3. Web 2.0 Cracks Start to Show
This is an article from Wired News reporter Xendi Jardin. I found it to be on the edge of geeky. Which means it has relevance to the UGC issue, while explaining the technical issues associated with the content issues. The brief mention about the plight of traditional newspapers and erosion of their core audience is profound.

4. Pew Internet & American Life Report: Home Broadband Adoption2006
The Pew Internet project provides information from their research activities about the impact of the Internet on Children and their communities. This report highlights the impact broadband in the home is having on User Generated Content.


5. Wikipedia: User Generated Content
The online Encyclopedia offers a definition of User Generated Content , and some related links. The Wikipedia is a large User Generated site. Individuals can contribute to the site by signing up. It's a citizen generated online reference resource.

6. Johnnie Manzari: User Generated Content
Manzari is a designer by trade. His Blog entry read more like a newpaper article, however , I found it useful providing a certain level of context and perspective. He really makes a connection between the availability of UGC tools and the business motivation of the providers.

Abstract

Weblogs, or Blogs, have gain tremendous popularity over the last 4 years according to a Pew/Internet Center research report. Blogs are gaining in popularity by individuals. Blogs have many uses and various blogging sites have emerged that offer easy access to use this internet tool. Blogs are an easy way to empower students, as the student is providing ‘user generated content’ to a Mass Media delivery system.

Websites and journal articles used during the implementation of blog usage in multiple sections of a Mass Media and Society classroom.

Various websites were explored during the research for this project and are provide in the reference section. Some anecdotal evidence is provided from the student’s evaluation.

CHAMBERSessay.pdf

Media and Education

Ken Freed takes a look at some of the visions and strategies of the future of the market for educational media. This essay blends economic theory, sociolgy, and sooth-saying all into one analysis, adding a dash of humor to keep you engaged.

A What!? Blog!?

Technology is a tool that assists in the facilitation of an idea. That’s what I share with my students in Mass Communications and in Education classes. Mass Communications students need to learn how to move from passive consumers, to active participants in the ‘knowledge economy’.

Students can identify various forms of communication, and can identify their consumption patterns, to a limited extent. However, many of them don’t realize that the some of the same technology that’s available to the large media outlets, is also available to them as individuals.

“Technological innovation has again changed the face of mass media.... Cable, satellites, fiber-optic technologies and especially computers have helped create an explosion in media products and formats,” Croteau and Hoynes suggests in their book Media & Society. The authors also suggest that audience fragmentation is encouraged by these technologies creating a ‘new’ world of ‘narrowcasting’.

This concept of narrowcasting offers an opportunity in the classroom to engage students more effectively. An instructor can direct the students to use familiar tools(email and online communities) to interact in with media. Our Mass Media and Society Class is using blogging as tool.

There was research available to support this way f thinking. According to a report from the Pew internet and American life Project, approximately 21 million of 12-17 year olds, or roughly 87%, use the internet. The report also states 33% of that same age group share their own creative content online including; artwork, photos, stories, or videos.

David Warlick, a noted technology advocate, places the use of technology in the classroom in context by connecting elements of information to literacy skills. Warlick breaks the concept down into three fundamental elements of information; networked, digital, and overwhelming.

Warlick shared some of his insights with me during a visit in 2002. One of the concepts that impacted me initially was “Content is increasingly conversational.” The notion that there were ‘gatekeepers’ that solicited, collected, edited, and distributed content is fading rapidly due to the availability of affordable technology. The new technology also required minimal technical skill.


Writing in the classroom can be intimidating for many students, but, ask them to write about something in their world, or from their point of view, they tend to participate more. I recently discovered this academic year.

I noticed during class that many students would visit ‘online communities’ such as ‘facebook’ during class-time; we meet in a computer lab. The students were sharing pictures, exchanging instant messages, and generally socializing(connecting) while in class. This was an opportunity to connect with the students.

When the students were asked about ‘blogging’ , or how many had websites, or personal webpages, many of them stated that they didn’t have either. When asked how many of them had facebook.com accounts all but two students raised their hand. They didn’t make the connection.

“When students are actively engaged and involved in a task, learning is a likely result.,” according to a 1994 study, Student Engagement Report #24, by the Apple Company. The task was to get the students to engage.

The students to asked to go to blogspot.com , think of a screename and password, then write a brief summary, or feedback about what they had learned in the class so far. Then select the publish button on the page. They had a chance to discuss what they posted. The students were then asked “What is a Blog?”

Many of the students didn’t realize that they had just made the transition from passive consumers of Media, to active participants in the media in less than 20 minutes. They also realized the online communities are allowing them participation on a daily basis.

MMS students enjoyed a wonderful day with Ms. Wms. Many of you have already posted your reponses. THank you for your rapid resonse. I too was motivated and inspired Ms. Wms' presentation. It's amazing how much you can learn from people during a presentation, even when you actually know them.

I notice how many students in the class actually paid attention, not only to the preseentation, but the presenter. Her passion for what she had done in the past and what she was doing in this new phase of her life held their interest the entire class.

This is a Master Blog for Mass Media and Society spring semester. This class has analyzed local and national newspapers, television newscasts, and internet news stories.

This blog allow easy access to the individual blogs from this class.