Big Googer

Google Earth is a 21st Century wonder. And its Street View feature is pretty cool, too. Put in the address of a home or business in an increasing number of countries, and a photo of that location will appear. These photos are taken by roving photographers who, in a growing number of places, are being perceived as snoops. Particularly in Western Europe, people to take their privacy seriously.

Recession Radio

The Federal Communications Commission asks that broadcasters use the airwaves for the public good. And, if only to make sure their broadcast license is renewed, most stations run PSAs (Public Service Messages), cover news, and publicize events (like free health screenings) that benefit members of the community.

But what about producing and airing radio resumes for people who are looking for work? That's what Clear Channel, the very large owner of radio stations, is doing (NPR report).

Get Off My Wall, Mom!

"Helicopter Parents" are compulsive. They can't stop hovering over their kids, even when they are college-age. The response of many offspring has traditionally been to select a college that is far, far away from Mom and Dad. But this satirical story on The Onion website suggests that social networking sites can be a helicopter parent's dream.

What'll They Put in Doctors' Offices?

Magazines are, in general, doing pretty well. Advertising is down because of the recession, but subscriptions are at an all-time high. This is a much rosier picture than is the case for newspapers, books, broadcast television, and a lot of the traditional media. But magazines, like the rest of the world, are beginning to migrate online, according to National Public Radio.

Curling Up With a Good Phone

This humble blogger believes the book industry is on the cusp of great change. Just as the music business has largely (but not completely) veered away from CDs, it is also quite possible that books will make a migration from paper to screens within a few short years. Amazon has jump-started sales of e-books with its hot-selling Kindle book player. but according to this Los Angeles Times story, the Kindle is facing competition from book-reading applications for Blackberry, iPhone, and other smart phones.

End of the Rainbow

Welcome, Fall 2009 Mass Comm 101 students! It is here that I will give brief summaries to the medianotes and links to the original source material.

'Reading Rainbow' had a tremendous 26-season run on PBS and cultivated a love of books among two generations of children. According to the following National Public Radio story, 'Reading Rainbow' ended in part because of a philosophical change over what television can do to turn children into readers.

In class, the discussion focused mostly on what children and adults learn--both positive and negative things--from television.