Monday, August 26, 2013

Writer's Perspective: Process, Geography, and Language

Writers on Writing: Shashi Tharoor and “Expanding Boundaries with a Colonial Legacy”

Shashi Tharoor’s perspective on the writing process emerges from the concepts of geography and language, of authenticity and readership. Writing about India in English has its claims to inauthenticity which Tharoor debunks. Tharoor states the circumstances around a writer should not affect the reader. I disagree.  I think the writing process is just as much about the reader as it is for the writer. When an artist paints, there is an end audience in mind, but what about painting for art’s sake? What about writing for writing’s sake? Surely formats such as stream of consciousness were founded in the act of letting writing loose and are about the verb side of writing rather than the noun side. Well-balanced writers will write with the writer and the reader in mind, but there is certainly room for those who tip the scales on either side. Writing just as a form of expression has its merits as does someone who thinks nothing of themselves and only of their audience.

Tharoor states he writes in English about India, a language mastered only by about 2 percent of the Indian population. Tharoor’s United Nations background lends him a blended cultural experience and claims his most natural state is precisely what he writes from – an Indian writing in English. He cites colonialism for the emergence of English as his preferred language as well as other colonial developments. He states the time has passed for concern about points in colonialism and that many Indians feel natural in speaking and writing in English. Surely this state of mind is the truest form as it is the most honest and most natural. English is also less biased in writing about India because “English expresses that diversity better than any Indian language precisely because it is not rooted in any one region of my vast country” (Tharoor, 2001, para. 10). The lack of regional language in writing about India makes it more universal and able to be described in greater truth.

Given the ability to translate texts, he feels the act of writing in a particular language is not important. “Inevitably the English language fundamentally affects the content of each book, but it does not determine the audience of the writer; as long as translations exist, language is a vehicle, not a destination” (Tharoor, 2001, para. 13).

Ultimately, writing from whichever space is the truest and most natural for the writer should be the frame in which the best texts emerge. Writing is also of the heart. He states, “I have never been much of a literary theoretician — I always felt that for a writer to study literature at university would be like learning about girls at medical school” Tharoor, 2001, para. 6). There is something organic about writing that cannot always be dissected and I share this sentiment. Lastly, Tharoor feels “addresses don't matter, because writers really live inside their heads and on the page, and geography is merely a circumstance” (Tharoor, 2001, para. 17). Shared with this sense of “non-location” is the realm of new and social media. Regardless of the geographical space in which audiences' read, the principles remain the same in weighing the writer and the reader. From this course it is clear journalists have conscious codes of conduct to follow and police their own ethical guidelines which do reach unto social media -- another arena devoid of geographical boundaries. 

References

Tharoor, Shashi. (2001). “Expanding Boundaries with a Colonial Legacy.” The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/30/books/30THAR.html?pagewanted=1


“Writers on Writing.” (2009). The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/books/specials/writers.html

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Multimedia Tools

The purpose of multimedia tools is to capture and keep our attention. In the era of increased ADHD and limited-character postings, we have either trained ourselves or have become trained by others in the ways of decreased attention span.

Multimedia tools capitalize on the diverse learning styles of audiences. We know we can be all or a combination of visual, auditory, and kinesthetic styles of information retention. Visual aids used during speeches help the audience to fully grasp the information given. Not only are we as media communicators attempting to maximize our audience, but also to obtain fuller information and message saturation in that audience. In examples such as the 2013 Enhanced State of the Union speech, an hour-long auditory speech might not keep and hold the attention of even the most interested listener. Hashtags and embed-links rampant, it is clear the participatory nature of the 2013 Enhanced State of the Union is catered toward more social media.  Providing visual aids in terms of newer and enhanced media grasps a wider audience and keeps their attention longer, especially when speaking on statistics – it helps to have a visual for the numbers and concepts discussed.

In the example of the New York Times Snow Fall article, the text is quite lengthy and may be difficult for those well-versed in the art of skiing to be numbed by the length of the content. Providing visual aids not only breaks up the physical text, but also provides deeper understanding of the items described.  How deep is the gorge in the back country? How thick are the layers in the anatomy of an avalanche? Three-dimensional graphs help those not familiar with the area (i.e. those of us who are not Olympic or national freeskiiers native to the Washington area) to better understand the terrain. Out of the twenty some individuals named, we are now able to put a face with a name and see them in the context not just of their name, but also of their families and their hobbies.



Multimedia means richer content. Too much of one style can lose even an interested audience but approaching readers on visual and auditory fronts helps us to understand deeper and stay interested longer.
References

Branch, John. [n.d.] “Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek.” The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/projects/2012/snow-fall/?_r=0#/?part=tunnel-creek

Obama, Barack. (2013). “The 2013 Enhanced State of the Union.” Retrieved from http://www.whitehouse.gov/state-of-the-union-2013


Sniderman, Zachary. (2010). “HOW-TO: Add Multimedia to Your Blog.” Mashable. Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2010/07/28/add-multimedia-to-blog/

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Blogging Best Practices




When examining blogs with best practices, I immediately thought of the blog of one of my great friends, Jessica Rayborn. She has her own photography business and shoots an array of events. She is not limited to wedding events although she is a two-time winner of Wedding Wire’s Bride’s Choice Awards (2012-2013). She started her business in Nashville, moved to Charlotte, resides in Atlanta and as the site promises, “she serves globally.” I have also had the pleasure of being her Maid of Honor years ago.

One of the great blog aspects is a hook – something to keep you coming back and reliability. Rest assured, her blog is updated regularly with freshness and contains robust content from worldwide travels and many different types of events (See “Categories” link). Her clients are amazed by her work and personality so word of mouth does a great deal for her business. Imagine being a client of hers – you would share this link with everyone! Gorgeous and unique photography, great personality, thriving business.

Don’t believe my bias? Check Ilias Chelidonis’ “12 Steps to Launch a Successful Blog:”

1.     Decide what you are going to blog about: her photography business
2.     Decide your blog’s name: the namesake of her business
3.     Get a professional blog theme: one that matches her accompanying site
4.     Get a professionally designed logo: check
5.     Select a good and reliable web host: purchased her own (and husband is an IT analyst)
6.     Install few but powerful Wordpress plugins: reviews and newsletter function, search
7.     Install Google web analytics: backend process
8.     Write down any ideas for topics you may have: Content is analyzed while processing and editing photography and through new meetings with her clients
9.     Install social media sharing widgets and buttons: comment, link, email a friend.
10.  Optimize all your posts for search engines: check
11.  Blog as often as possible but try to have a post at least 3 times a week: check
12.  Develop a system to get new content ideas: Content is based off of clients, which as long as the business is in full effect which is has been successfully for years, her clients and content will be, as well.

References

Chelidonis, Ilias. (2011). “12 Steps to Launch a Successful Blog.” TheWebCitizen. Retrieved from http://www.dailyblogtips.com/steps-to-successful-blog/

Rayborn, Jessica. (2013). “Jessica Rayborn Photography.” Retrieved from http://www.jessicaraybornphotography.com/index2.php?v=v1

Rayborn, Jessica. (2013). “Rayborn Photography.” [Blog]. Retrieved from http://www.raybornphotography.com/




Sunday, July 28, 2013

Social Media Tools

1. Come up with a group/company or non-profit you wish to represent. 
Denver GivesTo promote community giving, raise awareness and develop resources for small local nonprofits within the greater Denver Metro community. Denver Gives was created with the sole purpose of developing awareness and resources for small nonprofits in the Greater Denver Metropolitan area.”

2. Come up with a target audience for that organization. 
"Denver Gives was founded in 2008 by young professionals that wanted to make a difference in their community."

3. Come up with a message for that audience. 
Party for a Purpose

4. Select 3 of the social media tools listed on that link that would be the most effective to deliver that message to the target audience.  
Twitter for quick blasts and news on and location of events; Facebook to foster community and membership; Mashups for maps, links, images, sound bites

5. Explain why those social media tools are the most effective.
a) Twitter can provide a quick news source with links and reach many users and network with other nonprofits. Hashtags would allow for reaching a wider audience, even nonmembers, clicking once would bring you countless information and put you in touch with those involved to more quickly get yourself involved. For example, Grilled Cheeserie has a presence on Twitter to promote awareness of their changing locations and times. As a food truck service, they are typically only open for three hours at a time at a particular location which changes daily. If you want to follow the mobility of and therefore obtainment of Grilled Cheeserie, you follow their Twitter. Twitter is essential in mobile efforts to rally people to certain places at certain times. 

b) Facebook helps with the message of membership and community. Facebook is a now worldwide platform that users of all ages and demographics are familiar with and can navigate. Facebook creates an online community more so than a traditional web site because of its built-in interactivity and ability to quickly promote links and ideas to hundreds of your contacts and theirs instantly. 

c) Mashups would allow for users to get maps to events, links to further resources, links to organizations involved, images from previous events to give new or potential members a better idea of what they may or may have just joined, and create more dynamic sources for members all in one place.