It's Kamilah's World

New media is interactive and that gives us the opportunity to take things into our own hands.  We have the ability and knowledge to manage the media.  We have control of our own websites, blogs, and posts.  This allows us to express ourselves in a variety of interesting ways that may also appeal to others browsing the internet.  People are able to take their ideas, interests, likes or dislikes and turn them into blogs. 

In my opinion blogs are similar to magazines.  The definition of a magazine, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is a periodical containing miscellaneous pieces.  Blogs and magazines have the same purpose. We have the chance to be our own editors and have fun while we do it.  In oppose to paying for a monthly subscription to a fashion magazine, I can visit someone else’s fashion blog that has pieces I might be interested in. I like to visit brooklynblonde.com when I’m looking for the latest fashions. The writer for this blog posts different pictures of her daily outfits with comments advising where she purchased the each item of clothing.  She also gives suggestive purchase ideas for the upcoming seasons.  She is very detailed with all of her clothing, accessories, handbags, and shoes.  Its trendy and its free!

As we familiarize ourselves with the logistics of creating our own media we are becoming more expressive.  I agree with Rosen’s idea of the shift in power. I am more likely to take recommendations from someone I have something in common with, instead of the professional “media people”. Bloggers are taking over with their ability to share common interests in an interactive setting.

My experience creating a meme was harder than I thought it would be. Being creative is not as easy as it sounds, it took me about 30 minutes to figure out which one I wanted to use. I actually enjoyed this, it is something I may consider doing again.

In Shirky’s book,  Cognitive Surplus: How Technology Makes Consumers into Collaborators, he describes the way new media has become our source of information regarding current events.  People or the audience will react; interact, provide updates, and give opinions about various world issues all while using the media.  I remember the times when watching the news or listening to the radio was the best way to receive important information about what is going on in the world. 

During my freshman year in high school year one of my teachers would listen to the radio for news updates before class started and we were settled down at our desks.  The morning of 09/11 she was listening to her radio and when we all settled in the classroom she told us that a plane crashed into the one of towers.  She had no other details except for exactly what she told us.  She assumed it was a small private plan and that it wasn’t anything serious.  At that point, the rest of my classmates and I didn’t think that the news was something to worry about.  My teacher was so nonchalant about it and she went on with the lesson, why would we think that the country was under attack by terrorists.  It wasn’t until about 1pm; when my family came to pick me up early from school, that I knew how serious and severe the situation was.  I was so frightened and couldn’t believe that the information we received was lacking a significant amount of details.

All of this took place before cell phones were allowed in classrooms.

I can only imagine how much information would have been flooding through Twitter and the blogs if we were as consumed with the media back than like we are now.