The Center for Media Innovation and Research!

Wowwwwww!  I cannot believe we have all come this far.  This particular blog entry symbolizes everything I have learned and experienced as a student enrolled in Advanced Interactive Media, facilitated by Theresa Collington.  When I first initiated this blog, I wanted to share my passion and avid interest through various aspects of the visual and performing arts.  As a graduating senior pursuing a degree in Telecommunications-News and an outside concentration in Theatre Performance, I possessed so much skill and experience with dramatic performance, writing and theatrical creativity.  As a result, I wanted to use my collective talents and artistic innovation to showcase to readers galore.  In fact, I introduced viewers to various aspects of the visual and performing arts that comprised by identity as a dedicated contributor to the arts such as the art of poetry, oil and pastel paintings from the University of Florida museum, liturgical dance, dance and videography.  Although I was presented with an opportunity and expressive outlet to illustrate my personal topic for this blog, I was definitely enlightened on the importance of blogging and becoming familiar with writing for the media online through the Center for Media Innovation and Research.

Moreover, I also want to share a little about myself with you all and how the Center for Media Innovation and Research has impacted me.  Check it out folks!!

As a student enrolled in a course belonging to the Center for Media Innovation and Research, I have been able to work with other students in developing ideas, concepts and vivid components for my blog that would enable me to appear as a more enticing candidate in the professional realm.  Acknowledged as the “21st Century News Lab”, the Center for Media Innovation and Research has introduced a new way of quick, consistent and colorful writing.  Because of the fast-paced technological society we live in today, specifically focusing on news, reporting of the news is quickly being transferred online through media because it is more convenient and quicker for viewers to access.  When I was first introduced to the College of Journalism and Communications, I worked with the stations of WRUF AM-850 News and Sports and the Television News station.  My experience within the traditional newsroom as shown below is quickly being replaced by stations similar to the objective of the Center for Media Innovation and Research.

Throughout this 21st century newsroom, I also had the chance to become educated through several books including “The Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell and “Don’t Make Me Think” by Steve Krug, which discussed some aspects of technology and how it impacts the society we live and work in, just to name one of the many common themes discovered.  Furthermore, I also learned other skills that I can apply beyond the limits of the class such as how to link a URL web address through a blog entry.

Overall, the Center for Media Innovation and Research provided me with both hands on experience and exposure into the field of online news media.  For all my news lovers, if there is one piece of advice I can through my experience in the 21st news century it would be to embrace and indulge in the online world because it will sure to dominate!!!  Even learning things such as making one’s professional appear online through a linked URL web address may be distinctive and accessible for some employers who are seeking tech savy folks!!!! Happy Trails and STAY TUNED 🙂

The Tipping Point: Book Review

Greetings and much love to all my beautiful followers!!!  I know it’s been a while since I have embraced you all with the artistic journey “The Art in Me”, but I have another special treat for YOU!!!  This week, Britney’s Artistic Blog is inviting you into other passion of mine that constitutes the artistic makings of “ME.”  Although this week’s blog post focuses on a book review, it still reveals and shows my passion for articulately conveyong my true thoughts, emotions and opinions on a subject matter at hand.  This week, I have decided to share my personal comprehension and critique of the book “The Tipping Point” authored by Malcolm Gladwell.

Initially, I really wasn’t sure what type of feeling I was going to get from reading this book, especially because I held a different interpretation and perception of this book solely based on its title.  After diving into the significant content and context expressed throughout the book, I was challenged in many different capacities to apply the rules discussed to many social situations that take place in the real world.  To begin with, to help me understand the phenomenon of a tipping point, I decided to conduct some individual research.  A few words that particularly stood out to me after both reading The Tipping Point and researching suppplemental information were epidemic, social change and additional things of that nature.   The Tipping Point really emphasized key factors in our society, in which small varying factors contribute to a larger, broader picture and in turn make a huge difference. 

Chapter One of “The Tipping Point” was particularly interesting to me and established a basic foundation for which I was able to better understand the analysis and explanantion throughout the book because it introduced the three concepts of the Law of the Few, the Stickiness Factor and the Power of Context.  Each concept was broken down even further and elaborated upon with specific examples.  The bigger concept of the Tipping Point was effectively explained from the three different perspectives of the Centers for Disease Control, an expert on sexually transmitted disease from Johns Hopkins University named John Zenilman and one of the country’s leading epidemiologists named John Potterat.  For example, the illustration I found to be the most beneficial in helping me to visualize the movement of an epidemic was that of Kitty Genovese, a New York woman that was stabbed to death in front of 38 witnesses.  Because Kitty was murdered in front of so many other people, the notion of the “bystander problem” was analyzed by two New York pyschologists.  This highlighted the Power of Context notion in that people do indeed care about their environment and are a lot more sensitive than may seem.

Moreover, this book did a successful job in communcating to me as a reader how small factors can unite and cause an epidemic in society.  Another example that was portrayed was the HIV/AIDS epidemic and how the risky and overly sexual behaviors of a few people can result in a widespread and chaotic social and health-related epidemic.  Similar to placing a small number of certain people in a specified situation or climate such as Darnell “Boss Man” McGee which ultimately resulted in dozens of young women getting infected by the HIV virus, there are so many social plagues and issues in society that when placed in various atmospheres or affected by certain factors result in a social tipping point.  This book definitely encouraged me to seek out more knowledge about the stigmas that cauase our society’s tipping points and it did a successful job at applying the highlighted concepts to real world and applicable experiences and situations.