#ComedyFest Coming to a Twitter Feed Near You!

 

We all know that in today’s society social media is vital to a business’ relevance and success. More and more traditional media outlets, like broadcast stations, are turning to new media channels to connect to their audiences on a new level. Comedy Central is grabbing the social media bull by the horns by hosting its first ever comedy festival on Twitter.

The New York Times recently reported that, beginning on April 29th, Comedy Central will be hosting a five-day comedy festival via Twitter and Twitter’s newest video sharing app, Vine. Comedians will be able to post jokes, video snippets of round tables and routines, and participate in panels, all connected using the hashtag #Comedyfest. More than 50 comedians will participate in #Comedyfest, including a panel with the likes of Mel Brooks, Judd Apataw and Rob Reiner. Altogether, the festival will include 16 programmed events.

I think that this is a genius move for Comedy Central, and I’m surprised no one else has thought of it yet. A free comedy festival, streaming live from the comfort of your very own office chair, couch, bed, floor, roof, cave- ANYWHERE! There’s no cover, no awkward stool and lonely microphone, and most importantly, no two drink minimum at twenty bucks pop! What more could we ask for?

Not only is this ideal for viewers, but Comedy Central will be sure to benefit from it as well. I think that the very bright little girl in this A T&T commercial said it best- “We want more, we want more. Like, you really like something you want more.” In today’s society, everyone wants more. Traditional media falls short to social media, especially Twitter, when it comes to getting users more information at real time speed. The media landscape is always changing, therefore companies must be flexible to these changes in order to succeed. This partnership reflects Comedy Central’s blossoming relationship with social media. It shows their desire to be an entertainment company that does not rely solely on nightly broadcasts. Comedy Central, and other entertainment companies, should consider using social media as a teaser, leading up to the main event which will air on TV. This approach can ensure that they are reaching their target audiences on all media platforms and possibly curb a potential loss in broadcast viewers.

I believe that Comedy Centrals #Comedyfest Twitter Festival is opening the gate to a whole new playing field in media. The relationship between traditional and new media is one that can be mutually beneficial if taken advantage of correctly. What are your thoughts about this relationship?

I think it’s safe to say that April 29th- May 3rd will be the most unproductive five days of my life. Make sure you all tune in to your Twitter feeds and Vine feeds to make sure you don’t miss any of the action! For a full list of events and comedians, click here.

— Laura

New Media > Traditional Media

Pretty soon it seems as if it may be a rare occurrence to see a young kid on a bike at 5am throwing papers on resident’s doorsteps so that they would have the news with their coffee upon waking. You might ask why? Well, this is because the new media industry is taking over traditional media outlets.

Individuals are now using social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter to get their news updates. The State of the News Media 2013 – An Annual Report on American Journalism by Pew Research Centre said “Nearly a third of US adults, 31 percent, have stopped turning to a news outlet because it no longer provided them with the news they were accustomed to getting.”

It has been determined that when people hear about, “things in the news from friends and family, whether via social media or actual word of mouth, leads to deeper news consumption.”

So what does this ultimately mean?

This means that the traditional news/media industry is going to need to adapt to new media if they want to stay relevant to the public. All of the major news magazines saw declining audiences in 2012.

This is just another example supporting the idea that new media is taking over our daily lives. There is no arguing this as we see that new media is even replacing essential aspects to one’s day such as the news.

Take a look at more findings from the report.

“The Tonight Show” Heir Favored for His Viral-ness

NBC recently announced their decision to hand of stewardship of The Tonight Show from Jay Leno to Jimmy Fallon. Jay Leno is currently No. 1, which is why the big-wigs at NBC Universal are purposely making the switch while he is still on top.

Recently viewers in the target audiences for advertisers have decreased, subsequently causing advertising sales to decrease as well. NBC concurs that by bringing Jimmy Fallon on as The Tonight Show’s new host, they will be able to reach their target demographic and lower the average age of viewers by two or three years.

According to NBC’s top executives, Jimmy Fallon was chosen because of his large YouTube following and viral-ness. In today’s economy, it seems like success on the Internet has become a prerequisite for success in broadcast. Many of the top grossing shows have high on-demand viewing,  next day web clips, and successful YouTube channels. New media is paving the path of success for today’s entertainers.

I think the NBC has the right idea and the switch comes at the perfect time. Jay Leno had an amazing 22-year career as the host of The Tonight Show. But now viewers are looking for more – they want to be able to view their favorite show any time, any place. It is because of these demands of accessibility that it makes sense to switch to a younger, more viral Jimmy Fallon. Jimmy Fallon is hysterical, there’s no denying that. He has been described as a “unique talent” and “everything you’d want in a host.” Fallon also boasts 250,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel- about 10 times more than Leno! 

I’m personally a big fan of late night television. I’m sad to see Jay Leno go, but excited to see what Jimmy Fallon will bring to The Tonight Show next season. What do you guys think about the switch? Did NBC choose a worthy heir?

–Laura 

Facebook: Good or Bad for Self-Esteem?

It is a very common question that is asked throughout society today as to whether social media and the growing new media industry is good for our communities or if it is damaging “ancient” face to face interactions. 

A recent study published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin concluded that Facebook does improve self-esteem. In Geoffrey Mohan’s article he compares Facebook to staring in a mirror. You look into the mirror or at your own Facebook page and think, “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough and, dog gone it, people like me.” 

I believe this is a very fascinating comparison, but also very accurate as well. If you look in a mirror and see something you do not like, you are obviously going to do what you can to fix it so you are happy with your appearance. I believe the same process takes place if something negative happens on an individuals Facebook page or on their newsfeed. 

Mohan says that when thinking of Facebook as a mirror: “It contains a lot of your core beliefs and preferences, and it puts your network of friends and family at your reach.” 

Catalina Toma, University of Wisconsin, and Jeffrey Hancock, Cornell, were the ones who conducted research regarding Facebook. 

It was found that looking at your own Facebook page acts as self-affirmation while looking at another individuals page is a non-affirming experience. 

So what does all this mean for the future of Facebook?

Research like this is excellent for the future of Facebook. In Mohan’s article it was stated that Facebook might one day be a part of therapies that use self-affirmation, such as programs to quit smoking or to change other habits. 

If people are benefitting from the usage of Facebook it is a no brainer that they are going to continue to use it. 

Now go look at your Facebook and “Maybe you’ll find that you’re good enough, smart enough and, dog gone it, people press the like icon on your posts.”

Seacrest Studios Spread Smiles

Patients at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County rejoiced on Friday at the unveiling of the new Seacrest Studio. Ryan Seacrest, founder of the Ryan Secreast Foundation, opened the doors to the fourth new media studio donated by his namesake foundation since its conception in 2010. The new media studios are designed to give patients a place to escape their grueling diagnosis and treatment and explore their creativity.  

The RSF previously donated Seacreast Studios to three other hospitals across the country. The first studio opened in 2010 in Secreast’s hometown at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. A year later the foundation decided to spread the positive energy by building a second at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and again a year later at the Children’s Medical Center of Dallas. The studios’ have been successful in distracting kids from their exhausting recovery and giving them an environment to learn and be active. The RSF believes that the media studios allow ill children and their families to take mental and physical breaks by engaging in stimulating adventures in TV, radio, and new media.  The studios bring an uplifting, encouraging atmosphere to hospital communities in need of some TLC.

I think that Seacrest Studios are an amazing initiative and a cause worth supporting. As we all know, every one today – especially kids- is addicted to technology to some degree. The World Wide Web may become a foreign concept to kids undergoing treatment for life threatening illnesses. Now, they can keep up with their favorite shows or pretend to be on one! Maybe they’ll even get enough hits to become the next YouTube Sensation. Young girls can create Pinterest Boards of all the things they’re going to do once they kick that pesky disease to the curb! Sick boys can play video games with their friends, and so much more! The Seacrest Studios truly provide patients and their families with the opportunity to stop dreaming and start doing. These media safe havens create motivation not only in the present but also to grow in the future.

Take a look at the Ryan Seacrest Foundation’s official webpage to find out more about their mission, the Seacrest Studios initiative and how you can get involved!

 

— Laura

 

New Pope: New Media Sensation

For only the second time in the 21st century a new pope had to be elected.

And believe it or not, while preserving the storied traditions that go along with electing a new pope, the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church were ordered to give up their cell phones due to information being leaked via NEW MEDIA.

Of course the possibility of information being leaked regarding the vote that determined the new pope via new media was of great concern. Due to precuations set in place before the process began, the traditions were preserved and the new pope was announced by a cloud of white smoke. This is a tradition that has been in place since 1914.

However, at the same time that the white smoke was seen by those actually in attendance, millions of others saw the smoke via live TV, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and individuals mobile devices. Twitter reported that there were more than 7 million tweets on Wednesday regarding the new papacy, with more than 130,000 tweets per minute once the announcement was made.

I mean… There was even a “smoke cam” that captured the white smoke live… You might be wondering what more you could ask for?

Well The Vatican’s new media efforts also include a pope app, and the pope’s twitter was reactivated.

Jorge Bergoglio, now known as Pope Francis, has also had a Facebook page since 2008.

All of these actions are a representation of how new media has become so prominent in this day and age. If we look back to previous elections new media has never been so prominent. The picture below is a perfect representation of how times have changed and New Media continues to make an overwhelming presence in our every day lives.

Facebook Gets a Facelift

Facebook recently revealed its newest design update. The newsfeed is the most recent element of the social media page to receive a facelift, dubbing the new look a “personalized newspaper”.  The new news feed is only available to a limited amount of Facebook users, so that the website designers can take the initially feedback to tweak the layout before sending it out into the world. The “personalized newspaper” newsfeed drew its inspiration from its mobile platforms, bringing the grey control panel back to the desktop world.

Facebook executives wanted to give users the opportunity to really dive into the content they are interested in. Users will be able to filter the content they want to view. For example, you will now be able to switch on filters to view information about music, pictures, close friends and news. The ability to personalize the content each user is receiving plays into the websites “personalized newspaper” design.

The new News Feed will also display more visually appealing pictures more often. Pictures will be bigger, brighter and better than ever before. This is especially important for advertisers looking to use Facebook to attract new customers.

In previous years, loyal FB users reacted to interface changes with howls of angry protests. Facebook executives hope that this set of changes will be met with cheers of joy and an increase in user loyalty. I personally think that these new features are going to positively effect users interaction with the social media site.  I like the idea of being able to filter the content to specifically match what information you want to see. It makes the Facebook experience easier and unique for each person.

I also think that enhancing the quality and use of pictures through out the news feed was a very smart move because, lets be honest, we are all naturally drawn to shiny, bright images. This will also increase navigation between Facebook pages and other website portals.

So what do you guys think about the new “personalized newspaper” news feed? Will it be cause for rejoice or, like in previous years, cause for riot?

You can join the waiting list to get the news feed updates sooner by going to facebook.com/about/newsfeed and clicking “join waiting list”. Let us know what you think!

— Laura

New Media… In your eyes… Literally!

In today’s society we are surrounded by new media whether it be on our computers, smart phones, or other technological devices. However, I did expect to be writing that new media will now appear though an individual’s eyewear.  Google Glass is no longer a rumor but an actual product that society can look forward to experimenting with in the near future.

Google recently announced that Google Glass is an actual product that is going to be released rather than just a rumor swirling around the web. The first Google Glass products will be given to winners of an ongoing contest through Google. The winners will have to pay $1,500 for the glasses, arrange the pickup of the glasses, and create a video about how Google Glass will enhance their daily lives. The winners, who will be the first to use Google Glass, will be decided in late 2013. Google Glass is expected to reach the general marketplace sometime during 2014. 

So you might be wondering what exactly is Google Glass, and I do not blame you because I was thinking the same thing when I first heard of this technological advance. Google Glass is a pair of glasses developed by Google that allows individuals to record videos, capture images, check the weather, video chat with people, and accomplish other tasks that fall into the new media categories right from their eyewear. You may think this is an absurd idea… And I agree!

Here is a look at Google Glass:

The new media industry is taking over society day by day to the point that it is almost overwhelming. I find that it is hard to carry on a face to face conversation with someone these days without them being on a technological device. This however has become a norm in our society. The invention of Google Glass in my mind is just going to contribute to this problem. People will now have the ability to accomplish various tasks through their glasses. As stated in Forbes recent article there is going to be many issues regarding privacy. How are you supposed to even know if someone is looking at you or some image within their eyewear? How do I know if a random person walking down the street is taking video of me? How do I know people are not taking pictures of me?

While this is a new technological advance that many people are excited about, there are still many questions to be answered about the product. It should be interesting to see over the next year how Google persuades consumers to believe that Google Glass is a must have. I am very interested to see the reviews of Google Glass once it is available for use to the public.

-Jordan Mott

How to Achieve YouTube Stardom

Thousands of “Call Me Maybe” remake videos swept the nation. Gangnam Style went viral in a matter of seconds. And now, The Harlem Shake is the newest dance craze. All of these over night sensations have the new media leader YouTube to thank for their stardom. But every time a new, and in my opinion incredibly ridiculous,  fad invades every single one of my social media platforms I can’t help but ask “why not me?”.  I’m sure I’m not the only person bewildered by how Rebecca Black has more YouTube hits than me, so I went searching for the answer.

Hook, line, and sinker! Within the first 10 seconds, your video should have viewers  “lmao”-ing. You must create content that catches viewers attention and keeps them watching over and over again. Today’s generation is plagued with short attention spans, so it is important to keep your video short yet sweet. Popular YouTube videos are typically 2-3 minutes long, hooking the viewers immediately to make sure they don’t skip through the content.

Giving audiences something visually satisfying is one of the most important elements to overnight stardom. Take Justin Bieber for example. Do you think anyone was actually listening to him? Heck no! Every one was too fascinated by that beautiful, shiny, flowing hair to give two hoots what he sounded like! (Just kidding, well kind of.)  Seriously though, visual quality is just as important as the content of your video. It’s vital to invest in superior production equipment and put effort into the creation of your video. It may seem like all those YouTube senesations just stumbled upon stardom, but their moves were much more calculated than you think.  It takes research and planning to create content that keeps audiences coming back for more.

It is impossible to force your video to go viral. It takes effort, consistency and insane creativity.  Sure, a person can make a copycat video that’s entertaining and gets thousands of hits, but the videos they post on YouTube won’t become household names. It is important to know the demands of your audience and make videos about what’s hot right now.  The video needs to be over the top entertaining, while still relating to your audiences lives.  Take Life According to Jimmy and Sh*t Girls Say for example. These channels continue to get thousands of hits daily because they know what their audiences want to see. Their videos are passed around all social media platforms and quoted daily. Immediately after viewing your video viewers should want to post it on their friends Facebook walls and tweet it out for all to see!

Follow these few tips, sprinkle a little insanity in there and you’ll be well on your way to YouTube stardom!

— Laura

 

Making Purchases With a #hashtag???

Over the past years there have been extraordinary advances in the new media industry. This past week, Twitter and American Express announced their partnership which will enable consumers to use a hashtag to make purchases. The partnership between the two companies is a big announcement because social media outlets have been trying to break into the e-commerce world for quite some time now according to the news article on CNN, written by Heather Kelly.

Kelly also states that “by wrapping the entire purchasing process in a hashtag, the service makes buying fast and easy. If it takes off, we could see hashtags for products in commercials and print ads.”

American Express will allow you to buy discounted items from them. The process will begin by customers linking their American Express accounts to their Twitter accounts. American Express will then provide certain hashtags for consumers to tweet. If they decide to use the appropriate hashtag, the process will then be completed by multiple email correspondences between the consumer and American Express.

While many people might see this as an improvement to our daily lives, I feel like this is an unnecessary service being offered. It is already easy enough for people to order products online without having to leave their house.

I also feel like there will be many security issues that arise becoming of concern once an individuals credit card information is indirectly linked to a hashtag posted from their Twitter account.

At some point I believe that technology and its advances are going to hinder our daily lives rather than make them more convenient. I do not expect this service to be successful, but you never know… maybe I will be surprised and will be caught using this service in the near future.

Here is the direct link to the article written by Heather Kelly regarding this new service being offered through the partnership of Twitter and American Express:
http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/11/tech/social-media/twitter-hashtag-purchases/

-Jordan Mott