Fly On The Wall

Place: Social Gathering

Where: 433 Hillandale Street - Jackson, MS

Why: Invitation extended to me from an associate.

My cousin called me late Saturday night to ask me if I would like to accompany her to a social gathering. I wasn't sure if I wanted to attend but I'm glad I tagged along anyhow. When we arrived the house was male dominant, overshadowing the obvious bachelor pad that we were welcomed into. As I became comfortable with the group of socialites, several conversations opened the floor to discussion. Number one: I sat in the room as a bystander watching as the guys talked smack as they were shooting pull. One of them asked if I would like to have "down" (Next to Play) and I accepted. Although I conquered my opponent and a friendly game of pool. however, the stakes was raised for money per ball.

Story: Unexpected Hustle: Men being scammed for their money by women pool sharks.

Description: This story will examine and identify the characteristics of professional pool sharks and how they are infestating their neighborhood social clubs. It also highlights previous cases that have lead to fatalities.

After hours of being accused of being a pool shark and a hustler the conversation began to grow into more personal curiosities. A guy asked a very sexual question regarding indirect phrases and how they are manipulated by perverse thoughts. The debate between what you say and the way you say things grew into full confusion.

Story: Men or Women: Who are the biggest flirts?

Description: This story lists the traits of flirtation and body langauge of both sexes. This story also argues both sides of who potentially is the biggest flirt, the several most popular techniques used to flirt, and how to decide whether or not an individual is flirting.

As we shared common social topics at this social gathering, we navigated our ways to Ihop to grab a bite to eat. When we arrived to the restaurant, the late crowd distributed from the club overwhelmed the waiting area. We waited for close to 30 minutes before getting seated. Classmates and others greeted the entourage that I was accompanied with. When I sat back and relaxed I notice people would finish eating and walk right out. No tip. No Check. Free Meal!

Story: Dine and Ditch: Skipping out on the Bill in local restaurants.

Description: This story exposes the growing concern of adolescents dinning at local restaurants and skipping out on the bill. Caught on tape evidence is used to boost the investigative component of this story. It will also go behind the scenes with the local restaurant and compare and contrast their financial trouble as food cost rockets.

Me, Myself, and My Blog

SO this is not the end but the beginning of my exploration of blogging. I no longer have my instructor to give me topics to blog about. Nor, have to comment on my classmates attempts to accomplish an assignment. Yes. It was extremely enjoyable and I don’t think I will be stopping anytime soon. My experience of new media couldn’t come at a better time. As the media industry grows into different outlets usage and expands the multi-requirements I needed to learn. Before this class blogging was so unheard of. Twitter was so uncaused for. However, how could we consider ourselves as media students and our expectations are limited to completely not accepting new media usage. We are able to get our voices heard, our perspectives out there with little money. Our new media habits grew from boring to excitement. We getting more involved in trending topics and growing more aware of the politics that surrounds us. We all are connected at several different times in several different locations with several different people, that’s the best part of it all.We can add our blogging to our E-portfolio as evidence that we are capable of writing, establishing personal or company blogs with literacy on how to do so. We can have a growing fan base who actually would love to read our work. The best thing about it is IT’S FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. I am so into the Mediatakeout.com I have become a noisy hag. My interest in the media has grown tremendously including blogging. Our class could have been more productive on behave of the students. I just felt that they complained a little too much for them be completely oblivious about self expectations. The class surely could have used a more mature and diverse group of students, it was eliminated every complaint I heard this semester. Hey, even me I threw some in there as well. BUT, bickering and shouting out like you just have to be heard became so annoying that I actually wanted to stop coming to class. We have had our great discussions inside the classroom that offered a little motivation when blogging. At the end of the semester you have to keep yourself aware of the use of appropriate language, comments, and behavior. Did I do twitter.com/whatdoesittakes to successfully pass this class with a B. Did the class love my blogs or did they even read my blogs. in the end I still had fun coming and sharing my thoughts on controversial topics. I did learn that the lack of education can increase the non-desire to critically think. There were some good points made in blogs and in class via peer and instructor. Nonetheless, that good knowledge went misunderstood because the lack of education on particular topics. Just because you are in college doesn't mean don't lack educations or obtain education. You are just an individual who attends an institution. But, you could be an individual who becomes a student. It's been great. See you around.

STOPtheMERGER

Who took the TV?

Over the break I went to the country. In the woods, in the middle of nowhere. No signal on my cell phone. No Internet and ABSOLUTELY no cable. Who has no cable, where they do that at? In all I hand wrote notes I took about my family gatherings and activities. I typically go back home to Chicago during the break but funds were limited so I opted to stay in the south to go and visit my grand aunts, uncles, and cousins etc. So as I traveled to Natchez, MS I got lost and in the middle of no where. I couldn't stop too many trees and white folks with pick-up trucks. I had no signal on my phone and it was getting dark. So I went back to the old colonial days before there were maps and just followed the sun until I saw a lighted gas station with cameras and a lot of people.

I made it! As I spent one week which felt like a month down there it was very non media related. I had no internet, I was in the woods so I couldn't use my cell phone (no service, what to go t-mobile), and they ate all the Thanksgiving food up from me. I bogus is that. I wasn't the only one with a cell phone but I was the only one with a Smart-Phone. Although it was limited communication, they did take me to The Boat. I didn't like it, too boring.

My Grandma and her sisters gathered around and we talked about Christ and my childhood growing up. I noticed that there wasn't a TV in any of the rooms at my Aunti house. She had no computer. Only a land line phone and one of the first radios. Very dusty too. My grandma had a cell phone, so I used her's to do all my calling back home. None of my grands and even my cousins are on Facebook and Twiiter. One day I did walk my grandma through Twitter to set up an account but that was the last time she tweeted. The cousins in my age group text and talk alot on their cell phones when they did work. But they still wasn't on Facebook. Now I know why, they didn't a computer or the internet.

I felt like I should be a Cowboy for an entire week just so I could fit in. They call me to Diva-ish and said I was too much of a city girl. BUT THEY HAD NO INTERNET. How whack is that. Only form of media interest expressed is when my Grandma found an article in the USA Today Newspaper about the return of Christ. Amen. My Grands set in the living room everyday reading, praying, listening to the radio, and asking me questions about school. There's nothing wrong with it but I didn't change my status before I left and it bothered me because it said "Headed to the Capital City Classic Tailgating at my cousin house" THAT WAS SEVERAL DAYS AGO.

One of my cousin's from Chicago she came down there with me. The entire time she listen to her IPOD built into her cell phone. Whack. What I can say the the conversations was actually intriguing. I just sat and listened to my Grands talk, and talk, and talk, and talk, and talk, and talk some more. I had fun spending real quality time.

STOPtheMERGER

Okay, Mississippi Governor, Haley Barbour proposed to merge Alcorn State, Mississippi Valley, and Jackson State University as one college in order to savage the state's budget for $35 million dollars. Although Governor Barbour has limited good ideas, this one is sort of brilliant. I mean, merging educational institutions together. BUT, the number one problem to his brilliant proposal is that he's in the WRONG TERRITORY. Maybe he thought since Blacks became somewhat quiet and complacent ( I don't know why) in their economical/ financial ranking in Mississippi, than much wouldn't be sad. I never knew that a Governor could have a brilliant idea but very ignorant/dumb assumptions.

New media has pushed the thoughts, the voice, the concerns, and the PETITION to a national level. Via Twitter, Facebook, and Personal Email addresses has encouraged to protest against the merger. New media also has brought light to the anticipated assumption that African Americans can not unite with one another for their rights. The petition and the shirts isn't similar to the severity of the protest and riots on the UCLA Campus when tuition there was threatening to dramatically increase by 10%. Although the HBCU's tastefully protested at the State Capital and the Rally held on Jackson State Campus, this has the potential to grow into a blown out riot.

There are nothing but HBCU graduates, mostly Alcorn Braves (booooooo), in my family. Majority of them grew up in the south and had opted to attend and graduate from a HBCU versus those of us who are still influenced to stop the merger but less effected grew up in the North but opted for the black college experience. After proclaiming that the Alcornites would no longer exist but they would be Distant Tigers (lol), their decision and perspective on the topic was slightly defensive. "It won't happen. It will never happen." my cousin said. Soon after everyone pitched in with their comments of disgust.

As the ONLY soon-to-be Jackson State graduate in the room but not in the family, that was an argument that I wasn't ready for. And I agree. As bold and bald as Haley Barbour is "It will never happen." And, it won't but some concerns where raised about how academically poor and financially crippled this universities are becoming. Is the black community at a point where they are blinded by non-acceptance of ideas that they would rather hold legacy of a school that they didn't start but is continuing on and watch other BLACK colleges struggle to stay afloat. If is documented that Mississippi Valley and Alcorn State are declining in funds, resources, and enrollment facing fatal potential to no longer exist, wouldn't everyone loose out anyway. An university's legacy and heritage would surely be wiped out.

BUT, is this the time that BLACK AMERICA should be on one accord. Would everyone rather see their fellow HBCU-ians fall off the map? OR, would they rather embrace these falling institutions under one wing and not completely end their legacy but alter it. Of course in any hand written work you have cross your T's and dot your I's. However, are black institutions that selfish that we fight against difference. Black institutions shouldn't play comrades versus constituent. We should be CONFIDANT institutions for the Black America.

STOPtheMERGER

A Responsible Media..... Wait On It.

Did someone use media and responsibility in the same sentence. Ironically speaking that's like saying Homosexuality is one of the Ten Commandments. It is so far out there it is starting to become unbearable but somehow acceptable. In the media, responsibility is like acid that melts your hand away. They are afraid to touch but in their case do it. Of course there is distribution of the wrong information and the old quickly correct it following the "but in more updated news". What, no apology only self-correction! COME ON! From the reporters to the editors, someone always aim to blame the other. Number one cardinal rule in media is to TAKE YOURSELF (MEANING THOUGHTS, MORALS, BELIEFS) OUT THE STORY. Everyone is aware of this. It is taught in Multi-Media Reporting 101. I only have one question, why teach it if it's not implemented? Are we taught this because it is "Morally and Politically Correct"<---- (Two fingers on both hands making invisible quotation marks.)

If this is our field of study, we are being taught the wrong material. Our curriculum should consist of classes that educate us how to report manipulation. How to construct a story based on our opinions and beliefs. Let's not forget the best into level class: The Dynamics of Corrupted Mass Persuasion <--- New Book. The media fools those who aren't educated about the "How It Works" regarding the media. Media is the state and Capital Multiple Bias and Racism is the biggest city that no one explores. Don't mention media ethics. Networks, Stations, News Directors, Producers, and Reporters pretend as if that wasn't offered as a class. OR, principles of morality influenced by the media shapes are behavior, which while participating in the industry, is irrelevant when it's over- shadowed by the story itself.

According to Joseph Dominick, The Dynamics of Mass Communications, reporters and other media professionals have the tendency to accept the ideas, attitudes, and opinions of the group that they cover or with whom they have a great deal of contact. My opinion, what are tendencies, bad habits, but habits are behaviors, and if your behavior is consistent its an actuality of functioning. SOOOOOOOO, if media professionals consistently function in bias unethical distribution of information, it wouldn't be a tendency or habit that could be broken, it would be the behavior required to hold that media position, which is the opposite of what we learn in Media Ethic courses, college curriculum's are setting us up to fail. And, since it's not unethical to distribute information on behalf of your personal "self-thoughts" We have no defamation of character cases in court. Now, if there is no defamation of character for someone or something how can that someone or something overturn thoughts and beliefs given to viewers by media professionals that aren't true.

According to the glossary of Dynamics of Mass Communication, defamation is the intentionally or unintentional act of harming the reputation of another by publishing (recorded speaking is a form a publishing) false information. The media does it every day through indirect subliminal messages. Some may ask, Is framing black men to be over aggressive apes but good athletes and black hair unacceptable in this category of words like "Nappy headed hoes". Slaps on the wrists.

I'm right on top of it, Rose!
-- Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead --

This Man & Tylenol Saved The Day!

It started with Wikipedia. The obvious, Edward Bernays was born November 22, 1891 and died March of 1995. He became renownedly popular for being the 'Father of Public Relations' by manipulating public opinion through the utilization of subconsciousness.

First, let's examine most important aspect for Bernays' rationale that created so much controversial history. Public relations is a management function that does not involve interpersonal or face-to-face communications. Unlike advertisements, PR messages are unpaid feature, news stories, and editorials. Within Public Relations there are techniques and tools. One technique is known as "publicity stunts" but an PR Agent would stage/plan events that draws media attention to their client. Their client could be a person, product, organizations, or cause.

After World War 1, Bernays was credited for writing the first book on public relations, Crystallizing Public Opinion, it was published in 1923. Bernays began his career in 1913, him and others worked together to influence public opinion towards supporting American participation in World War 1. To become more successful he emphasized on psychology and social sciences to design public persuasion campaign that helped birth Propaganda. In his book he argues that the true ruling power is the invisible government is our minds where suggestions, thoughts and opinions developed about a field, but those who acted on behalf of this truth are the individuals who can structurally control the rest of society smoothly.


"The engineering of consent is the very essence of the democratic process, the freedom to persuade and suggest." ---- Edward Bernays


Although public relations was born at the beginning of the 1900's by close Bernays tactics came effective for one company whose scandal almost cost them a company. In 1982, Tylenol was exposed for replacing Extra- Strength capsules with cyanide-lace capsules, resealing the packages and depositing them on shelves of dozens of stores and pharmacies in Chicago. Only 6 months after the crisis, Johnson & Johnson, parent company of McNeil Consumer Product Company which makes Tylenol, strategically planned the best known Public Relations bailout in history. Johnson & Johnson Chairman puts together a team helped develop a protection for the people and save the product.

1. The company alerted the public not to consume and to stop any use of the product until the investigation of the tampering was completed.

2. They stopped all advertisement of the Tylenol capsule and recalled the product off the shelves in the Chicagoland and surrounding areas.

--- By doing this, the company showed the public they weren't taken risk with their safety no matter how much money the company lost. The companies new message was Tylenol was the victim of a gruesome crime.

3. Johnson & Johnson used the media to communicate their message to consumers during the crisis.

--- The company issued news alerts to tell consumers to stop using the product. They established toll free hot lines for consumers to call, to answer questions. They also allowed the news organizations access to pre-taped recorded messages that updated the crisis.

4. The company utilize open communication to their advantage.

--- Held several press conferences at their company headquarters and set up for live feed on satellite. The chairmen went on late night television show to personally distribute messages.

5. Advertised new protection and tamper proof bottling for their Tylenol capsule product.

--- Displayed their new packaging in a glued box with plastic over the neck of the bottle, and a foil seal over the mouth of the bottle.

6. Johnson & Johnson used Forgiveness, Remediation, Sympathy, and Rectification to win over the public and develop acceptance for the crisis.

--- The company's remediation tactic some type of compensation. They gave the families and victims financial assistant as well as counseling, although they weren't responsible for the tampering. Rectification show actions taken to prevent a crisis for happening again. Johnson & Johnson new packaging for the capsules shows rectification for the public. The company also won sympathy from the public by accepting losses from the recall and compensation.

A lot of people didn't know this. Let's go mass communications!


Work Cited: Department of Defense
University of Oklahoma

Wrong Channel

Hey what can I say, television was once fun to watch. Whenever I watched it. I mean with all the worries that is happening within my black community, why should I care about watching television. And of course, I know my own answers. I know it is important to watch television, though it is crappy at times. I know it is away to inform and entertain but for the past years it has been away to manipulate and persuade. Lately, I have being ignoring the temptation to put forth even the effort to turn on the television. After along day of school and work why would anyone want to be bothered with the ignorance that surrounds the poor classification of entertainment, educational, and informational programs that makes up television.

Over the last several days my television habits sucked. I couldn't name one reality show, game show, or new talk show or program on any of the popular channels. I just found out who made it to the World Series. I know some think not even the news but with such a migrating and evolutionized industry who needs television besides for visual feeds that tells you what particular emotions look like and most importantly what race looks like. As a senior you just can not spare time to watch such mockery of every race but with certain classes you do have leisure time to read about it, surf the internet, find additional resources to remain updated in the news. Wasting thirty minutes on a television is a lot of time when you are headed to graduate school.

Let's break it down:

Sunday: Was a big day. I stayed up all night on Saturday trying to do something to my hair. than I woke up for church late. I always listen to Gospel music but its via desktop/ Youtubie. When I got back to church I had a meeting and NOPE no television there. However after church we did go to have lunch at Logan's and we watched the game on TELEVISION. Okay we are getting somewhere. That night I read some blog post, prepared for bed, read the Word and went to bed.

Monday: It's not looking to good on this day either. Three classes, work and homework. I left the house at 9 a.m. didn't come back in until 10:45 p.m. Laundry from two weeks ago is still on the floor. I have to organize my desk area and work on my research and production projects. Nope, no television for me

Tuesday: Left the house for work at 8:45. Luckily, we do have an humongous television but it is male dominated and we leave on the sports channel. That's how I discovered who made it to the World Series. After work, there is class and after class there is Maddrama Rehearsals and no television.

Wednesday: A glorious day of grace and mercy and the same as Monday. All work no play.

Thursday: I got up late but I did look on line for the news. Someone left the television on so I entertained myself briefly in the news and started my day. We had major rehearsal this night and we didn't leave until 1 a.m.

Friday: Was the big day for S.C.E.N.E. 60 coming out show. I went to class, took a nap, did some research on my topic, aaaaaaannnnnnnndddddddd I got a chance to watch The Game. It was an old episode but it felt nice to relax.

Saturday: I blew the weekend. I had to work a double. I had heavy blog reading. I permed my hair and sewed it in. I also did my roommate hair. The TV was on but we were too busy playing Spades and Scrabble to watch some BET movie. I know it was a black movie though.

Sunday: Was just the Lord's Day I didn't watch TV at all.

As you can see the lack of television affects me in two ways. One, I don't know whats the new shows, I don't know new actors or actresses, and it doesn't allow me with the capability to engage in conversation with peers about the entertainment on television. Why? BECAUSE I AM NOT WATCHING IT!!!! Two, I do develop additional skills and discover new resources to remain updated in the news by using different new media devices. So I would say I am compensating myself for the time wasting just sitting on my butt. Hey watching television doesn't give you good hand and eye coordination but typing does. LOL LOL LOL