IN RESPONSE APRIL 27 POST: GEN Y

In response to my April 23 post, I have concluded that while I am Gen-Y I am still a still just a product of my environment and a large part of that has nothing to do with technology. I make it in this world of technology. I got my cell phone in 10th grade unlike many others who had one way before, my ipod is only a little shuffle but serves its purpose, I got cable probably close to when I started college ( Yes, I grew up on PBS Wishbone, Arthur, Dragontales), I have no GPS system in my car, and really don't desire to. I just started texting seriously in the last 1 year about. I believe I am Gen-Y in the sense that I know how to interact and use the devices of my generation, as they come naturally however I am not dependent on them as I grew up without many of them. 

  Throughout the majority of this class I have grown to further appreciate the use of technology and the applications these uses provide, however I also have grown to further appreciate the foundations that were here before technology: Communication, conversation, love, and the value of things that take time. I value both types, however, everything needs a balance. 

Twitter: I Don't Get It, But Someone Must

         While driving to the gas station on Saturday, I was listening to C-Span radio (90.1fm) as they discussed the upcoming Correspondents' Dinner with President Obama, that was to occur later that evening. For all who don't know, the dinner is held to, "raise money for scholarships and honor professional recipients for journalism awards." (Washington Post) As sad as it may sound, I have never really heard much about this dinner prior to this year. The radio program discussed how it was a particularly special event this year as it was the President Obama's first dinner.  Several stars attended including comedian Wanda Sykes, Michael Steel, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Alicia Keys, and Kerry Washington, to name a few. 

   The program facilitator went on to interview another man about the large role twitter would play in the evenings events including the after-parties that would occur after the dinner. The attendees were set to tweet micro blogs of the nights happening to keep outsiders, interested fans, and those who will never experience the correspondents dinner themselves, updated and imagining they were there. 

     The talk of the use of twitter that night was with a positive tone, as if it were a really engaging and exciting component to the series of events. C-SPAN radio even posted its own twitter video links to Correspondent dinner videos and announced live video coverage of the dinner starting at 6pm for all who wanted to see. Huffington Post has also made itself available on twitter. Twitter-ers will label their tweets "#WHCA" or "#WHCD"

 C-SPAN TWITTER& HUFFINGTON POST TWITTER. 

     While I don't often give twitter is possibly due credit, I must admit that twitter has given people a new way to stay connected, to interact, and to share information, briefly and quickly. 

Will the press gather dust??

    Our latest Thursday class discussion included some interesting thoughts and questions concerning the future of newspapers. Though measures to revive and maintain newspapers are being taken, will this really help? is the lack of and demand and support for newspapers and cry for more funding or more creative measures or is it the voice of the consumer sending a non-verbal message.

   I feel as though the consumers are making it pretty clear what they want their news to be like: interactive, accessible, fast, sharable, and most importantly internet based. Personally, I am very drawn to hard-copy texts and  feel that there is something lost with text online, however there is also a substantial gain that may outshine that of a physical book or newspaper. There is something attractive and engaging about being able to pull up the news you want, when you want it and in the form in which you want it. As we discussed in class there are so many new ways to display information including things like tag clouds. This appeals to people who respond more to visual images and want a quick summary of what is going on whether it be the polls, football score, or city deaths. 

     A perfect example can be illustrated concerning the recent swine flu epidemic. While searching for information concerning the flu I found and interactive map on USA today. INTERACTIVE SWINE FLU MAP To the right is a list of deaths and symptoms and to the left the color coded map shows the world and where confirmed, expected and confirmed cases have ben found. This page is extremely useful to the user who wants to know more instantly concerning the current movement of the flu. The map is free for all to use and is sharable to keep friends and family informed. 

     This is the types of news that I believe consumers want. I don't think that all hard copy newspapers have to end however I believe many will, being replaced with new, creative, evolving platforms for new to be read and shared.