TV and Diversity

Your Humble Blogger is sometimes amused by TV shows and movies that are allegedly set in Southern California. The actors on the screen don't look much like Glendale or Los Angeles or the communities we live in. Somehow, our impressive diversity doesn't make it onto the screen. Why is this so and why does it matter? NPR reports.

Questions...

•Does it matter if there are people who look like you on the screen?

•Why does it matter if people behind the camera (screenwriters, directors, etc.) are a diverse group?

•Is Hollywood a reflection of American culture, or does American culture reflect Hollywood?

•Does it matter if Hollywood consistently portrays a President or corporate CEO as a white male?

I AM NOT Spamming You!

Glendale College is implementing an online teacher evaluation process, and it has had some problems. Below is the relevant portion of an email Your Humble Blogger received yesterday...

Dear members of the Language Arts Division,

Some concerns were raised about the online student evaluations. I forward them to the Administration and here are the responses to the issues:

1. Students are not supposed to received 20+ emails for one given class in one day. If a student has several instructors who are up for an evaluation on a given semester, he/she will received one email per instructor/class. To receive more than one email is possible. More than 20 for one class, no. Please ask any student who has received 20+ emails in a day to contact Michael Ritterbrown, Dean of Instruction (michaelr@glendale.edu).

2. Regarding the issue of different codes. Students should simply follow the link to the evaluation, previous link will not work. Once they have completed the evaluation, they will not receive further evaluation requests. If this is not the case, please have the student contact Michael Ritterbrown, Dean of Instruction (michaelr@glendale.edu).

Instructors,

Please emphasize to your students that they must use their GCC email. This is not just for evaluations, but for all communication from the college. The Office of Instructional Services has postcards with instructions for students with regard to how email may be activated.

Let me know if you have any other questions regarding this issue.

Thank you,

Lourdes Girardi
Chair, Language Arts Division

Career Opportunity

The following email made its way to Your Humble Blogger today...

Nestle USA is currently accepting applications for the 2015 Nestle Diversity Leadership Symposium (DLS), and they would like to invite your Glendale Community College - CA Department of Mass Communications students and members to apply. This 4-day business program is designed for diverse undergraduate students interested in a career in business and learning more about potential opportunities with Nestle USA. This opportunity is ideal for students in areas of study that fit the following business functions: Human Resources, Sales, Finance/Accounting, Purchasing, Engineering, and Logistics/Supply Chain.

The application deadline is Tuesday, April 14, 2015. I would greatly appreciate you forwarding the information below onto your students graduating between December 2015 and June 2017. Thank you in advance for your help.

Sincerely,

Bri Kapellas
AfterCollege University Relations on behalf of Nestle USA
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Nestle USA is still accepting applications for the 2015 Nestle Diversity Leadership Symposium (DLS), but only until Tuesday, April 14th! Nestle DLS is a 4-day business program targeting diverse undergraduate student leaders interested in a career in business and jump starting a possible career with Nestle USA. At the 7th annual Nestle DLS participants will:

Gain invaluable exposure to life and careers with the world's largest food and beverage company
Network with Nestle USA executive leadership
Partake in a customized leadership development course
Utilize their leadership skills in the community through volunteerism
Build a network of peers from universities across the nation
Interview for a full-time development program or summer 2016 internship, returning to school with the chance of a job offer as well as a scholarship offer in hand

Requirements:

Must graduate between December 2015 and June 2017
Resume and experience must demonstrate leadership and a commitment to diversity & inclusion
Must be eligible and interested in one of our undergraduate programs in the following business functions: Finance/Accounting, Operations/Engineering, Supply Chain/Procurement, or Sales
Must successfully complete a phone interview

A limited number of students will be selected for this unique opportunity. The program will take place August 18 - 21, 2015 at the Nestle USA headquarters in Glendale, California. See website for full criteria and program details.

APPLY TODAY!

Application Deadline: 5:00pm PST, Tuesday, April 14, 2015

America's Got Talent Field Trip ANOTHER UPDATE

Your Humble Blogger got another email on Tuesday afternoon regarding our field trip to America's Got Talent.

Arrival time has been moved up a half hour to 11 a.m., but we are getting out around 3 p.m. On balance, this is a good thing. It shortens our field trip. We are told to check in on the Orange Avenue side of the Dolby Theater. That is the west side of the theater.

Your Humble Blogger received the following note regarding our field trip on Wednesday, April 8 to America's Got Talent:

As a group attending one of the tapings of America’s Got Talent at The Dolby Theater, we wanted to remind you that there is a small chance we won’t be able to admit your group into the taping due to VIPS and the fluctuation of our seating capacity. We hope to admit everyone, but on larger shows like this there are always a number of variables out of our control.

Please be advised that if you are on time and have followed the show's dress code and other rules listed on your field trip flyer, you will still receive field trip credit if you are turned away.

"Car, Do a Burnout"

The following is a MediaNote Classic. It was originally presented to MC101 classes in January 2015.

It's unclear whether traditional car makers like Mercedes-Benz want to build a self-driving car, but if they don't Google and other tech companies will. So the self-driving Mercedes-Benz F 015 concept car was introduced this week at the Consumer Electronics Show and the car maker released this short video to give us some idea of what people can actually do inside a self-driving car.

Questions...

•What media capabilities should a self-driving car have?

•Should self-driving cars be controlled through smartphone apps? Why or why not?

•Are self-driving cars good for Uber? How about for Zip Car? Are self-driving cars good or bad for the auto industry?

Shame on Us

The MW 9:10 and TTh 9:10 and 10:45 classes received this MediaNote.

You made an insensitive remark. It happens. Usually the moment passes, the embarrassment or anger subsides, and life goes on.

But on the Internet, reaction can be disproportionately harsh. Relationships, careers and lives can be ruined through public shaming. Why does this happen, and what does it say about us? NPR reports.

Questions...

•Generally speaking, why do Tweets and videos go viral?

•Does the Internet make it easy for people to become angry mobs? Why do people allow themselves to be part of an Angry mob?

•Why do random strangers react in such an extreme way to online material they don't like?

•Are women treated more harshly on the Internet than men? How?