New Media

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as seen on “News with Stacey Page”….

March 31, 2010 in New Media | View Comments

gearing up.

January 26, 2010 in New Media, Thoughts | View Comments

2 weeks from today I’ll buy a bunch of alfajores, pack up all my lovely Argentine leather, and in the middle of the night go to the airport to wait for my 4:30am flight home. In preparation for going home I worked on a few things today. I updated my resume, looked up some jobs, and submitted the abstract of the paper I wrote on the use of epistemic rhetoric in the Invisible Children campaign to an Undergraduate Research Conference at Purdue.

It’s been fun looking at jobs. I always check out the jobs in Mashable’s weekly Social Media Job Listing’s post. Here are some that caught my eye.

New Media Coordinator at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, IL.

The main duty is to “write, edit and produce new media content for websites, social web, e-mail campaigns, blog posts, photo and video features, and other applicable digital platforms. Serve as a member of communication teams, and support planning efforts and campaign implementation and reporting.” This sounds very exciting to me! I love writing, and I like the idea of getting a message out through many different platforms.

One of the main things I am interested in with these job posting is the list of qualifications, because that shows me what I need to be working on and learning. For example this job says, “motivated self-starter with excellent communication skills and a team player. Eager to learn about marketing at a non-profit institution. Able to handle multiple projects at one time. Experience with online marketing a plus.” This is all doable and realistic for me! However, it then lists “HTML/CSS, social media, writing, content management systems, audio, photo and video editing software.” I have a handle on some of those things, but I have had no formal training with HTML/CSS, or photo/video editing software. What I know has been mainly self-taught and I still have a long way to go in these areas.

Production Designer – Advertising at EdgeCore in Cedar Falls, IA.

EdgeCore is a creative agency with clients like Verizon Wireless. This position involves, “creating and production of print advertising, brochures, pamphlets and/or other print materials. Production of quality work both independently and under close supervision. Quickly modify layouts to meet client requests. Work closely with fellow team members.” While this is probably more focused in one area (layout, graphic design, desktop publishing) than I ultimately want, it would definitely be a stretching job and it would require a lot of creativity.

The qualifications list is full of things I need to work on! “A working knowledge of basic concepts of art direction, graphic design, typography, layout, composition, advertising, and marketing. Familiarity with the Macintosh OS X Operating System. Must have proven skills using Adobe Creative Suite, CS3 or higher (especially Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator). Candidate should have some experience with web design, software for the web (such as Adobe’s Dreamweaver) and/or basic HTML coding.” I would really like to take some graphic design classes, or at least study it on my own. I also need to learn the Adobe Suite, at this point I am only moderately familiar with Adobe AfterEffects because I use it when creating videos. I am working on learning web design, but have really only just begun.

My real dream job is to work for a non-profit and today I found the Michigan Nonprofit Association website, and on it I found two really great job postings!

Marketing and Development Director at the Grosse Pointe Theatre in Grosse Pointe, MI.

The primary responsibilities are “all fundraising and marketing initiatives including donor support, program design and advertising sales, sponsorship events, season brochure creation, and promotion of our shows. All fundraising and marketing initiatives including donor support, program design and advertising sales, sponsorship events, season brochure creation, and promotion of our shows.”

Most of the skills are manageable, “excellent organizational skills, experience with strategy developmentand implementation, attention to detail, commitment to goals, budgeting,  e-communication and creating website content, MS office, internet navigation savvy and research skills, media relations, budgeting, public speaking, working with volunteers, and an appreciation of the performing arts.” However, strong grant writing skills is also listed. Grant writing is something I have no experience with and very little knowledge of, considering my desire to work for a non-profit this is definitely an area I need to develop!

Overall this job sounds really interesting! I have a passion for community theatre, I was active in my local community theatre for 10 years.

Development Specialist for the Detroit Historical Society in Detroit, MI.

This job involves, “assisting and initiating fundraising activities that work towards achieving annual fundraising goals and initiatives.” Further explanation states that the duties include planning all events (balls and galas!), being responsible for the Membership Program, implementing direct mail pieces and writing grant appeals.
Qualifications include experience with event-planning, preferably in a non-profit setting. I love event-planning and while I do have a good amount of experience, it was in high school. Another qualification desired is experience with Raisers Edge database, something I’ve never heard of!
It’s both exciting and scary looking at these job postings! I’m very grateful that I’m returning to a job in Indiana, that my living costs are low, and that my school loans don’t kick in for a few months. This gives me time to look for a job, to develop my skill-set (both through self-teaching and freelance work), and save some money for possible relocation.

stop motion at its best

January 23, 2010 in New Media, Thoughts | View Comments

I saw this first on the Stuff Christians Like blog, it’s a class project by Bang-Yao Liu at the Savannah College of Art and Design. It is very cool and was #9 on Time’s “Top 10 Viral Videos of 2009″ list.

parkour motion reel from saggyarmpit on Vimeo.

My friend Michael wrote a blog post titled “christianity and creativity: why the paradox?” and used this amazing video as an example of creativity. It was done by a graphic design student in Singapore.

Odds & Ends – 1/18/10

January 18, 2010 in Fashion, New Media, Thoughts | View Comments

  • When I do get a “day-job” I’ll want to pack my lunch to save money (and be healthy!), so this great article gives some great tips on making the brown bag lunch more appealing and this article gives some more ideas on how to jazz up a sandwich.
  • Apron Thrift Girl shared some great trips on menu planning. I think I cooked a total of 9 times last year, I mostly just ate cereal, mac & cheese and food from the restaurant I work at. So, this year one of my goals is to cook more!
  • Oh yum, italian meatball soup by The Pioneers Woman. She makes it look easy enough for me to make, and since I’m going back to an Indiana winter in a few weeks it looks like something I’ll want to make!

  • The Freelance Switcher hourly rate calculator is awesome! It takes into account all your business expenses, personal expenses, how much you can work, etc… and gives you an ideal hourly rate and a break-even rate. I’m definitely going to keep this in mind as I hope to start freelancing when I get home. Freelance Switch looks like a great resource, I just haven’t had time to explore it yet.
  • Help make budgeting more real, visualize how long the things you own actually OWN YOU! Divide out how much you make per day (post-taxes) and then figure out how many days you work each month to pay for rent/mortgage, car, phone, food, etc…
  • My cousin Lizzie finished her cash envelopes. I really like them!

  • Buy a starter pistol for $16-20, throw it in your suitcase with your valuable photography equipment, laptop, etc… when you fly and the TSA will personally protect it! What a great idea for photographers!

Odds & Ends – 1/9/10

January 9, 2010 in Fashion, New Media, Thoughts | View Comments

  • Casey linked to this fabulous blog called The Sew Weekly where Mena blogs about her goal to sew an entire wardrobe by the end of 2010.

P.S. I’m looking for some good DIY blogs to read. Suggestions? I like sewing, and making jewelry, and… lots more.

  • Indiana Adams over at Adored Austin has launched The Year of The Man Makeover! She gets to choose her husbands clothes for the year. So far he hates the vests and anything remotely unisex, but he looks good!
  • Jen of Jen Loves Kev has done Q&A’s all week, on her and Kev, Work, and Fashion/Beauty.
  • Jessica of What I Wore and her fiancé launched the coolest website! It’s called Vintage Where? and is a directory of thrift stores. So, please check it out and submit your favorite thrift stores, share with the rest of us!! I already submitted 5 in Indiana and Michigan!

  • Michael Metts (close friend for 19 years!) launched his new blog.

Interweb Goodness

January 8, 2010 in New Media, Thoughts | View Comments

kittens!

sketchy ads

reality check

People of Wal-Mart. The horrifying truth about Americans.

www.peopleofwalmart.com - The horrifying truth about Americans.

cheap stuff

www.dailycheckout.com - Stuff you cannot live without.

illegal movie watching

www.watch-movies-online.tv/ - Watch a movie, any movie! The hackjobs shot from the left side of the theatre are my favorite.

Missionaries Using Communication Technology: The Effectiveness of New Media on the Mission Field

January 2, 2010 in New Media | View Comments

New media affect us daily; yet also give us the opportunity to use it to affect others. Harnessing the power of new media, especially social media, is not out of reach; it just requires thought, research and well-executed plans.

I chose my senior thesis based on a personal interest in social media and personal experience with missionaries (my parents are missionaries in Argentina). I’ve seen how social media has affected the communication between my parents and myself and wondered how all the new media were affecting the lives of missionaries around the world.

The literature review looked at:

  • The effect of new media on society.
  • The growing use of new media in the church and in missions.
  • Social media’s ability to raise money and awareness.

From there I conducted a survey to missionaries around the world with the final sample consisting of 34 participants. The survey asked 4 kinds of questions:

  1. Basic demographic questions (participant’s gender, age, marital status, and country of residence).
  2. Technology usage questions (asking which they use on a daily basis, for raising and maintaining support, to communicate with supporters, to communicate with family and friends, and to communicate with nationals).
  3. Emotional response questions using likert type scales.
  4. Open-ended questions (in order to gain more insight into the specific ways missionaries use technology).

The survey succeeded in describing which technologies missionaries are using and for what. Several trends were seen despite the demographic variance of the participants.

  • E-mail is the most widely utilized technology, used mainly for support raising activities (including maintaining contact with supporters).

Sharing prayer requests via e-mail enables prayer partners to pray for things in a timely manner. Consistent communication “helps people who support us to understand much more easily the rigors and joys of missionary life, as well as being able to pray more quickly and even more readily for prayer requests which are ‘fresh off the presses.’”

  • Blogging/personal websites are also tools used by missionaries mainly in relation to supporters, particularly for their ability to share pictures and videos.

“Society today is visual. They relate to pictures and soundbites/videoclips. So rather than trying to visualize in their minds what is happening in your part of the world, they can actually see and hear what is taking place through the use [of] media.”

  • Cell phones, especially used for texting, are predominantly used to communicate with nationals.

One participant mentioned that they she used text messaging to wish nationals a good day, and it has generated positive responses and worked to build relationships.

  • Social networking sites are primarily used to communicate with family and friends, but are increasingly being seen by missionaries as support raising tools.

“We use Skype and Facebook more than email nowadays because they are easier for instant communication and seeing pictures. Email within the family has largely fallen away since 2007.”

“Some people started out as prayer partners and evolved into financial supporters as well, primarily because they’ve kept abreast of what we’re doing.”


Further research will help missionaries make the most of new media as well as their own time and resources. This research could include: determining which new media supporters best respond to and surveying the families of missionaries to find out which technologies are the easiest and most effective for staying in touch. But perhaps most important is which new media do nationals respond to, allowing the missionary to connect and develop relationships with them. All research would require the use of specific demographics as each missionary has an exclusive support base, a family with particular communication skills, and a unique group of nationals to whom they minister. The results could strongly impact  missionaries’ choices, as well as assist mission agencies in training and equipping their missionaries.

I would like to continue this line of research and seek out opportunities to assist missionaries in developing their use of new media (choosing which new media would meet their needs and implementing it successfully).

I presented a condensed version of my original paper at the RCA pre-conference on November 11th, 2009 in Chicago. Below is the Prezi I used as part of my presentation.


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