“Ma, can you run to Barnes and Nobles and get me the latest copy
of Harry Potter?” “Sweetie, just upload it to your IPad.”
I guess you are wondering why I
directed you here. We will get to that later, first let me tell you some about
myself. I am a graduate student, studying Strategic Communication at Troy
University. I am writing to you with limited knowledge of the subject, but I
promise you this. Everything that I learn, I will communicate it to you, backed
with facts and evidence; that you can look up for yourself of course. My blog
will be updated weekly, on Sundays. It’s my goal to give you some insight into
strategic communications and emerging media communications; what it means to be
a targeted audience; and the way the media is evolving to accommodate the
changing audience. Since my blog will focus on “strategic communication
and emerging media”, let’s state the obvious first. What’s a blog? A blog is
one of many types of emerging media. Blogs have a short history but are becoming
steadily important. Now in the past, no one of great importance blogged, so to
speak. People just vented their frustrations and kept an online diary of sorts.
Their information was not reputable, in most cases. Their blogs were more
personal opinions and not founded in fact. How times have changed.
Who blogs now? Everyone. Political
figures, reporters, reality stars, and a wealth of people who have something to
say. I have joined the ranks of those people. As you can see by the topic,
this will not be your everyday blog, ranting about personal matters. No. This
blog will discuss Strategic Communications and Emerging Media
Communication. What is that and why is it important? Strategic
communication is getting your message to your target audience in the most
effective way possible.
Well, media communication changes at an
alarming rate. Remember MySpace? Me neither. In this day and age it is
essential that companies know their audience and how to reach them, for maximum
exposure, and what are people into.
In recent years, print media has
taken a hit. With more and more people relying on their phones and tablets,
buying a newspaper or magazine has almost become a thing of the past. I said
almost. Newspapers and magazines still provide a desirable entertainment option
to multiple generations. Both, newspaper and magazines are being sold to
smaller investors, who are hoping to find a way revive them. So, I am more
interested in how they will accomplish that. How are you willing to get your
news? You are tech savvy, you like the newest gadgets; how can print media make
you a believer again?
Ironically the answer lies in
technology. Print media will have to eventually throw away the old “print and
press” and make all newspaper and magazines accessible online, in a desirable
format. The IPad and other tablet devices have put the world at our fingertips.
Recently, I bought a Kindle; there has never been a better invention in my
opinion. Almost any book I want, in my hands in two minutes. I don’t have to
drive to the bookstore or even figure out where one is. For students even
textbooks are being offered electronically.
Print media, should thank the tablet
industry for what it is doing. Everything must hit a reinvention phase to stay
viable. Print media has been blessed with the chance to reinvent and re-market themselves
to a whole new generation. So how will they do that? Newspapers and magazines are not facing possible death not because of the information they offer, but because of
how the world is changing. People spend most of their lives attached to some kind
of device that is tied to the internet. Be it their smartphones, tablet, or at
home computers. The internet is everywhere. Newspapers and magazines are down
the street waiting to be bought. While some print media has made the change to
be offered online, none that I know of have taken the plunge to ONLY be offered
online. I would guess it would considerably hard for a magazine or newspaper to
only have an online presence. Honestly, while I love my Kindle, for my
textbooks, I like to be able to highlight pages. Hey could take a page from
Facebook and offer advertisement, but many people have left Facebook, because
it has become so commercial. I have never gone to anything because I saw a
Facebook ad.
This is my blog. Later, I’ll dive into
what print media can do to stay relevant, my thoughts on new forms of media and
how they are changing; and other topics related to strategic communication and
emerging communication. Please leave a comment and I’ll “see” you next week.
