Commercial Character Gets TV Show

I bet the person that came up with the cavemen in the Geico commercial is as happy as can be now that they are getting their own show. Can you believe it? The cavemen are probably tickled too, since they only signed up for a few commercials and now have a show on ABC. It premieres tomorrow; stay tuned to see if it is just a 22 minute Geico commercial.

Dr. Drew's New TV Show

As those who know me are aware, I luuuuv Loveline. I think it is some of the most entertaining programming out there. I love Dr. Drew and I can't wait for his new show.

VH1 has produced a new genre in celebreality. They took reality TV up a notch by putting celebrities into the programming. Previous examples include The Surreal Life, The Flavor of Love, I Love New York, Rock of Love and Hogan Knows Best. Several of these shows of spin offs of an original and people can't seem to get enough.

Dr. Drew's new show will be a celebrity rehab show. Dr. Drew and his staff will help celebrities kick addiction for the viewing pleasure of the American public. Dr. Drew is after all an addiction specialist and a very entertaining individual in his own right. He also co-authored the first study ever to take a scientific approach when looking at celebrities and narcissism.

Very early in 2008 we as viewers will get to watch celebrities going through one of the biggest challenges of their life. The celebrities that have starred in other VH1 shows have all needed a little help with their careers. Some became much more popular and some got their own shows. They put themselves through embarrassing situations to do so. Much of this revolved around their shambles of love lives. Celebrity Fit Camp helped celebrities deal with weight issues. I wondered at the time why these celebrities allowed this to be televised. It totally didn't seem like something that would help their career and would set them up for ridicule. And couldn't they afford personal chefs and trainers? Now they are going to do rehab. FANTASTIC!

What are the implications of a show like this? Will America love it? Of course they will, but why? Because we love seeing celebrities at their worst. They get to be rich and famous, we want to know that their lives can definitely suck more than ours. Will the show do anything good for society, like encourage rehab? OH OH, wouldn't it be awesome if Lindsey Lohan was on the show? But she doesn't really need help with her career. No word yet on who the celebs will be, but I know I'm excited.

Week Four Assignment

The article, “When Harry Met Tony,” in Newsweek is a perfect example of an author having fun deconstructing two widely popular media Jones wrote the presentations. Author Malcolm article shortly before the concluding chapters of “Harry Potter” and “The Sopranos.” By breaking down and identifying the similarities between the two Jones helps the audience have some fun when analyzing some very popular presentations.
“When Harry Met Tony,” is a brief piece, focusing on key developments and main points. The characters of Harry and Tony have several similarities. Both are the unsteady hero of their respective worlds and have uncertain fates. Jones focused on the uncertain fates of the two and if they would be what audiences expect. When academic writers break down media presentations, the analysis is usually much longer. Additionally an academic writer would apply the worldview from the shows and analyze how the presentation reflected true life. Jones did an excellent job of keeping the article fun for the average reader.
Little research outside of analyzing the material was necessary in the article. This can be attributed to Jones’ skill in deconstructing the messages in both series. If Jones was not a fan of both sagas he did an excellent job of making himself appear the expert. “Harry Potter” and “The Sopranos” have both since concluded. They were both huge hits in their own right and had huge fan bases anticipating the finales. The next article can focus on the multiple meanings one can derive from the dramatic conclusions of both presentations.

Another article in Newsweek, “Watching the Watchers,” is a brief analysis of data collected about online videos available for view on a computer, cell phone or via iPod. Johnnie Roberts wrote the piece and acknowledges that the data is some of the first available. It is of no surprise that marketers would want to track the viewing habits of consumers in order to attract more customers to the ever expanding libraries of videos one can access.
The article was well done because it was not overwhelmed with statistics. When using statistical data it can be easy to lose audiences, especially when data is coming from something as dull as a marketing report. An academic article analyzing the data would be much more technical and would have less commentary that would appeal to a mass audience. The article in Newsweek was written for a smart audience that would like to be informed on the current trends in America. It was timely because of the boom of video streaming and the availability of video iPods and cell phones with video capability.
The statistics used in the article identified the demographics of people using the video technology. There were also statistics on how and where people use their portable devices most. There could have been more information from the survey in the article but the data may have not been appropriate for a mass audience. The survey used was small and organized by a television network. The article was more informative than an attempt to convince consumers of one opinion versus another. It is likely that as more information becomes available regarding streaming video use, the information given to the public will be more specific. With more data will come a better understanding of how video is evolving and the implications of video becoming so accessible.

Gateway Media Literacy Partners

The Gateway Media Literacy Partners (GMLP) founded in 2004, is a volunteer based organization working to improve media literacy education in St. Louis. The GMLP currently has over two hundred members and has continued to grow. I'm proud to be a part of the GMLP and I'd like to invite locals to join!

The GMLP Mission
- Promote media literacy in the STL region
- Initiate a sustained education campaign that defines & clarifies the need for & value of media literacy
- Promote community partnerships & collaborations
- Provide support for media literacy projects
- Act as a conduit for national initiatives

The GMLP is a local group and with that comes local benefits. We can look at the issues that exist in our own neighborhoods. I really enjoy meeting professionals that work in different areas of the field. I WANT YOU to join me. I'm going to be organizing a subcommittee of the GMLP in an effort to organize students in the area. High school, undergraduate, graduate, if you wanna learn, let me know! As I'm reading this to myself, I realize I sound kinda cheesey. But this really is a great group of people, and I'm really glad I'm a part of it. It is nice to be a part of something where I feel like I can actually participate and make a difference. Alright, enough cheese!

Review of article, "What the Mainstream News Can Learn From Jon Stewart"

Rachel Smolkin wrote a feature length article in the June/July 2007 issue of American Journalism Review titled, “What the Mainstream Media Can Learn from Jon Stewart.” The article is an in depth piece evaluating the difference between traditional news and the satire news style of "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” As mentioned in the article, many young people turn to the “Daily Show” for information before mainstream news programs. The popularity of the “Daily Show” coupled with the ongoing problems in traditional news programming makes the article interesting and publishable. The subject needed to be thoroughly investigated for the article to be successful; therefore a longer feature was the best way to cover the story.
The author interviewed many subjects to help with the validity of the article. Interviewees included professors, television directors, the director of FactChecks.org, authors and journalists. She used many opposing viewpoints and used several direct quotes to make the article more credible. The first and only scholarly study comparing “The Daily Show” and traditional news was referenced. Smolkin looked at both the positive and negative qualities of “The Daily Show.” While she presented many positive attributes she clearly stated that although far more entertaining, the “Daily Show” should not be viewed as a replacement for traditional news. The story was clearly professionally done but was written for the lay person. The author did a fantastic job of remembering her audience while still writing at a high skill level.
The author positioned herself as an expert on the subject by thoroughly investigating the topic. The problems with mainstream journalism were compared to the benefits and popularity of the “Daily Show.” Acknowledging the validity of “The Daily Show” could help reviews like the American Journalism Review identify with a younger audience. The article was partially a critique of scholarly arguments against the value of satire news. This was especially effective when Smolkin countered the arguments by pointing out the multitude of problems in traditional journalism. Most of all, the article covers a timely topic that is on the mind of many Americans. Many have become distrustful of journalists and use “The Daily Show” as their primary news source. The story highlights the pros and cons of doing so.
The article was well thought out and balanced. The only potential improvements that could have been made would have been interviews with Jon Stewart, his staff and national mainstream news correspondents. It definitely would be interesting to hear from Mr. Stewart himself on the topic. Otherwise the article is extremely well done, informative and entertaining. From a media literacy standpoint, the article opens the reader’s eyes to alternative venues for commentary on the news by encouraging shows like “The Daily Show.”

What do you think?

What do you think about the media?

What do you think about media literacy?
What do you think about media literacy education?

What is the worst thing about reality television?

Please share any of your thoughts!

Modern Media Makers

The final event of the AMLA conference I attended was the Modern Media Makers (M3) presentation. While the conference was going on, a group of local teens along with visitors from California were given the tools and training to create their own media presentations. Teachers volunteered their time to assist the M3 participants and the final results were incredible. The group worked hard and produced some great stuff. They gave us a tutorial on interactive communication. They shared their experiences and excitement. It was energizing to see them so enthused. I could tell they would go on, show their friends and family, and continue to develop their own skills. All we need anymore is a small camera and a computer with editing software and we can make our own movies, send out a pod cast, and communicate worldwide!

This is the "fun" part of media literacy! We get to teach young people how to create their own media and let them run with it. It is amazing what they come up with.

AMLA Conference June 2007

A few months ago, I attended my first ever professional conference. Participants came from all over the world. There was this awesome collection of people from an assortment of professions all having to do with media literacy. People involved
with media literacy now all have their own
angles and agendas. The media is so broad that everyone can have their own area of expertise, and a conference like this is the perfect way to showcase our differences.

The conference also introduced me to the AMLA Graduate Student Caucus. Many members were in attendance; many were presenters for the conference as well. It was so refreshing to meet other students from around the country who were in the same boat as myself. A local group would help us pool our resources and connections within our community.

Art Silverblatt of Webster University (and fellow attendee) at AMLA Conference

Alliance for a Media Literate America

The AMLA's website is a great resource for individuals interested in media literacy. Here are a few definitions taken directly from the site:

Media refers to all electronic or digital means and print or artistic visuals used to transmit messages.
Literacy is the ability to encode and decode symbols and to synthesize and analyze messages.
Media literacy is the ability to encode and decode the symbols transmitted via media and the ability to synthesize, analyze and produce mediated messages.
Media education is the study of media, including ‘hands on' experiences and media production.
Media literacy education is the educational field dedicated to teaching the skills associated with media literacy.

Media literacy-- the ability to ACCESS, ANALYZE, EVALUATE, and COMMUNICATE information in a variety of forms-is interdisciplinary by nature. Media literacy represents a necessary, inevitable, and realistic response to the complex, ever-changing electronic environment and communication cornucopia that surround us.
To become a successful student, responsible citizen, productive worker, or competent and conscientious consumer, individuals need to develop expertise with the increasingly sophisticated information and entertainment media that address us on a multi-sensory level, affecting the way we think, feel, and behave.
Today's information and entertainment technologies communicate to us through a powerful combination of words, images, and sounds. As such, we need to develop a wider set of literacy skills helping us to both comprehend the messages we receive and effectively utilize these tools to design and distribute our own messages. Being literate in a media age requires critical thinking skills that empower us as we make decisions, whether in the classroom, the living room, the workplace, the boardroom, or the voting booth.
Finally, while media literacy does raise critical questions about the impact of media and technology, it is not an anti-media movement. Rather, it represents a coalition of concerned individuals and organizations, including educators, faith-based groups, health care-providers, and citizen and consumer groups, who seek a more enlightened way of understanding our media environment.

Getting Off the Ground Running

Hello everyone!!! As a media literacy student it is about time I began to explore having my very own blog. I always try to keep in mind that a huge chunk of media literacy is teaching people how to create their own media. It is a vital part of the learning process (usually the more fun part as well). I am here to tell you, this is one of the most user friendly sites I have come across in a long time. I had my own blog in five minutes. Ain't technology grand?

On a more serious note, my goal with this site is to create one more forum to reach out to fellow students in the area. An organized network would create support network that many students have a hard time finding. There will also be fantastic networking opportunities, and we can all use that, eh?