EOTO Presentation Review

I decided to write about Group 2's EOTO presentation about the mainstream media, whistleblowers, alternative media, citizen journalism, echo chambers, and reliable sources.

Image retrieved from ShellyPalmer.com

Mainstream media is every news outlet that is a current trend. This type of media can include newspapers and broadcast. For example, some of the most popular types of mainstream media are CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News. The reason that these news outlets are mainstream is because people tend to rely on their information due to their popularity on TV, online, and through word of mouth.

A whistleblower is a federal employee who reports wrongdoings to better the system and has protections within the government, such as the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989. However, a "whistleblower" is a federal employee who reports mismanagement for a political agenda that has no protections. The reason that a "whistleblower" has no protections is because they try to expose secretive information that is deemed illegal within a public or private organization. They have negative intentions when doing this and may tend to report illegal action that isn't even true.

Alternative media is media that differs from the mainstream. For example, www.truthdig.com is viewed as an alternative media site because it is a source, but it is not well-known or widely used by the public. This type of media tends to be viewed as fake news because of its lack of popularity and large use of opinion writing.

Citizen journalism is journalism that does not come from professional journalists, but citizens that get information from websites, blogs, and social media. An example of this is how people use Twitter. If someone were to be at a Black Lives Matter protest and got a video of protestors marching and yelling down the street, this person can tweet the video and caption it with their own opinion on the issue. This is beneficial for professional journalists because they have an opportunity to get more information on the protest from ordinary citizens. However, since it was tweeted by a citizen, they don't have to "get in trouble" if the information they say about the event is false.

An echo chamber is an environment in which a person is only surrounded by beliefs that agree with their own. Someone that is an echo chamber avoids trying to find out all the facts because they just want to find people that agree with them.

Lastly, reliable sources are sources that are trustworthy because they know the truth and have no motivation to lie about the topic. Examples of reliable news sources are the Wall Street Journal or the New York Times.

For most of these terms, I had heard of them before and had a fair idea about what each term meant. However, I got to learn about the difference in a whistleblower versus a "whistleblower" and what an echo chamber is from this presentation. I think it is interesting to see how the public views the media and how the media corresponds with the public within these different media spheres.

The Theory of Agenda Setting

Agenda setting is the creation of public awareness and concern of the most important issues by the news media.

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One of the positives that comes from the agenda setting theory is that it keeps journalists and society up to date on current news stories. However, one of the negatives is that the public may only be able to retain the most recent stories, not necessarily the most important ones. The audience will only be able to recall the most accessible memory in their heads, whether that be a news story on the president or what the most popular song is of the week. This theory doesn't tell the audience what to think, but what to think about.

Agenda setting affects society as a whole by putting an idea in people's heads of what the "most important" news story is, when in reality, it might just be the only story they remember. Through the public, media, and policy types of agenda setting, society's perceptions may be altered based on how journalists want to show the news.

One of the most prominent examples of agenda setting is the Super Bowl. Every year, it seems like that is all people talk about the week of the game. It is one of the most viewed events on television, but not everyone watching the game is even a sports fan. Most people that watch the Super Bowl are caught up in the moment, meaning that they feel as though "everyone is watching it," so they should too. Viewers are more inclined to watch the game because of how relevant it is in the media.

In my opinion, I could see how this theory might affect people of older generations versus younger generations. People of the older generation have more of an accurate perspective on what news is the most important because they have more life experience. The younger generation's opinions are more likely to be affected by agenda setting because they have less life experience and more exposure to the media in general.

The theory of agenda setting affects my life because I fall victim to reading and watching what news stories pop up first on my timeline and fail to read further down. I, as well as many others, do this because of my subconscious telling me that everything "below the line" isn't as important. Overall, agenda setting is important, but can also be dangerous within the media.


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My Online Presence

After listening to the lecture in today's class and searching my name in Google, I can easily say that I am alarmed by all of the information that the Internet knows about me.

As someone who enjoys using social media and values technology, I have a fairly broad online presence. I have social media accounts on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Spotify, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and VSCO that I use on a regular basis. As far as a personal website, I have an account on Adobe Portfolio that I use to display all of my work to send to companies when applying for internships and future careers.

On all of the social media sites that I use, I normally post pictures of my friends, family, and myself. I am very adamant about keeping my social media content "clean" on all platforms for the fear of future employers finding content that does not accurately display myself as a person or as a potential employee.

By searching my first and last name, someone can find my Facebook account the easiest. However, when searching my full name, Anna James Harris, people can find my Twitter, VSCO, Instagram, Pinterest, Spotify, and pictures of myself on Google Images because I use my full name as my username for almost all of my accounts. By clicking on any of these accounts, people could figure out where I'm from, where I go to school, what I look like, what kinds of music I listen to, etc.

As far as private information, I have given my email to most social media sites because almost all of them require an email when creating an account. I do not share my phone number to most accounts, but have it on some just because of security purposes. All of this information is shared for my viewing only, however, I know that the companies have access to it.

After looking at the questions on The Atlantic articles, I believe social media helps people feel a void of some sort. Whether that be loneliness, depression, low self confidence, etc., I believe that anyone can feel more "fulfilled" by numbers of followers or likes on a screen. However, just because one might have hundreds of followers or millions of likes, it does not mean that they feel "whole."

Personally, I believe that social media has its advantages and disadvantages. It helps people connect in a new way, it utilizes technological advancements, and it allows people to be creative through a different outlet. However, I think that social media can create a toxic environment for people in a social setting and it has the possibility of being extremely detrimental to one's wellbeing.

The Diffusion of Snapchat

Snapchat, one of the world's largest social media platforms, was created in the halls of Stanford University by Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy, and Reggie Brown in September of 2011. This multimedia messaging app is now worth around $15 billion and remains as one of the most popular social networking sites for the Millennials and Gen Z.

Image retrieved from Smart Insights.

To demonstrate the growth of Snapchat, it is best to refer to the Diffusion of Innovation Model.

Stage 1: Innovators
Brown mentioned to Spiegel how he wished that pictures he was sending to a girl would disappear, and thus, the idea of Snapchat was born. With the original name, "Picaboo," the app obtained about 127 users by the end of the summer of 2011.

Stage 2: Early Adopters
Due to an argument amongst the three friends, Spiegel and Murphy decided to continue the company without Brown. In September 2011, the two relaunched the app under the name, "Snapchat," increasing its popularity significantly within the next year. The app reached 100,000 users and investments from different companies.

Stage 3: Early & Late Majority
By May 2013, 150 million snaps were being sent per day by the app's users. Between December 2014 and August 2016, the app participated in active fundraising and had a significant increase in video views. Snapchat drastically improved with the addition of stickers, Chat 2.0, and new monetization strategies during this time as well.

Stage 4: Laggards
I believe that Snapchat is still in its Early & Late Majority Stage. However, the company has rebranded itself from "Snapchat Inc." to "Snap Inc." and introduced initial public offering. Although I don't believe that Snapchat is lagging, I could see the app starting to dissipate by the time my generation is in their late twenties or early thirties. With the invention of so many new social media apps and the way we have aged at that point in time, I think the new generations will begin to pick up on the newer apps and leave Snapchat behind.


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Promoting Innovation

After reading over the eight values of free expression, I believe that the seventh value is the most important. The seventh value of free expression is to promote innovation. When promoting innovation, people are inspired to fulfill themselves in many diverse and interesting ways.

Image retrieved from Sloan Review.

In a society where free speech is valued, it's citizens are more likely to be creative and engaged in their interests. For example, as someone who aspires to have a career in the communications field, hopefully something in print journalism, I am trying to gain as much experience in college before it is time to apply for jobs post-grad.

Being surrounded by others who have a passion to pursue their goals makes myself even more inspired to succeed. I believe that the idea of promoting innovation is extremely powerful because it fosters the belief system that everyone can succeed in their own creative ways within society.

I also believe that the seventh value of free expression is slightly underrated. I think people take certain opportunities for granted. For example, someone who grows up in a family where both of their parents are bankers will be more inclined to become a banker when they get older. By settling with their family's roles, this individual holds back some of their creativity to pursue other careers. I believe that this individual should look at other career options before settling because they might discover other interests along the way that they might like better.

The value of promoting innovation is very inspiring, especially for college students. We are at a perfect time in our lives to explore the opportunities that the world provides. Promoting innovation and creativity will only better society because it will influence people to succeed and go their own path.


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Matt Lauer’s Ongoing Controversy

Matt Lauer, former cohost of NBC's Today show, has really never left the news at all. In 2017, he was fired from the network for inappropriate sexual behavior and his wrongful actions are still occurring today.

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In October 2019, a new book will be released  called, “Catch and Kill” that explicitly explains the sexual encounters between Lauer and an NBC employee. The details are beyond crude. Interestingly enough, former co-host, Katie Couric, has started writing a book about Lauer and the scandal as well. One source said the book will “paralyze him with fear.”

Lauer is reportedly hiding away from the public eye at his home in The Hamptons. His home reports to be on the market for $44 million. He purchased the 6+ acre compound with 12 bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, two guest houses, pool, and waterfront from Richard Gere.

Aside from his luxury mansion, at one point in time Lauer said it was his ‘full time job’ to make things right. So what is he spending his time doing while he’s hiding away in this luxurious home? Dating a blonde in her 20's. It’s truly a mystery if Lauer will ever make his ‘full time job’ a reality.

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The Evolution of Instagram

One of the world's most popular social media platforms, Instagram, has gone from a photo-sharing site to a company estimated to be worth more than $100 billion.

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After checking out the Evolution of Technology Timeline in Cottrell in my Media Law class, I decided to do my section of the technology group project on the Instagram app.

Instagram was invented by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger in 2010 as a photo and video-sharing social networking device and it is now owned by Facebook Inc. The app allows users to upload their own photos and videos and use various filters, hashtags, and location information on every post.

The first photo posted on the app was of South Beach Harbor at Pier 38 on July 16, 2010 by Mike Krieger. Just a few months later, the app launched in the app store on October 6, 2010 for all iOS devices and expanded to Android phones in 2012.

By posting content on an Instagram profile, it adds to the user's personal feed and they are able to interact with others by liking and commenting on other posts. Other users can consist of people they follow and people they don't follow through the "Explore" page. Anyone can change their privacy settings to be either on public or private, so not everyone can see every post any user makes if they do not wish.

Since the app has hit the app store, it has added features such as Instagram stories, IGTV, and Instagram Direct. With these added features, it has only expanded Instagram's outreach and success.

Today, the company is expected to be worth over $100 billion and with the app's audience being mostly younger users, the company can only get bigger and better.


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