Journal Entry 10: Images

This week’s discussion focused around the topic of television within society today and its relevance and or power that it holds on media consumers. One of the articles pertaining to this week’s discussion focused around comparing the consuming experience of television versus the Internet. The article referred to the two experiences as television, lean back, and the Internet, lean in. What the author meant by this was how when consuming these two mediums, the viewer is taking part is a completely difference experience in which television is more relaxing and the Internet is more active and takes the consumer’s full attention. I can completely relate to this fact and agree with the author’s findings. Since living in London, my experience with television and Internet use has made me have a unique opinion on this topic. When at home in Los Angeles, television served as a form of social bonding. I lived in my sorority house this past year and none of us had televisions in our rooms. Rather, there was one large communal television in which each of us gathered together and watched all of our favorite shows each night. It was a special time in which all of us have the ability to relax, comment on certain aspects of the show and laugh together over the characters we loved on screen. It is a daily activity that I have since missed since living in London. My television viewing experience is entirely different in London. With the limited television channels and overall quality of the television provided in our flats, each of us rely on our computers and the Internet in order to keep up with all the shows we watch back at home. Rather than partake in a relaxing pass time together, we sit on our own and watch our own programs on our individual computers. There is nothing like kicking up your feet on the coffee table and flipping through the channels while watching TV. When it comes to watching television on the computer, it often leaves me frustrated due to our poor Internet connection and is not nearly as comfortable or as valued an experience. When I am on the Internet, it is definitely a lean in experience in which I am actively searching the web and doing a hundred tasks at one time. I will watch my television program online but am often checking my Facebook or email simultaneously. It is a completely different viewing experience. I am less focused and do not find myself fully relaxing as I do when I watch television on the real screen. I am looking forward to my return home when I get to plop on the couch and surf the channels on a lazy day with friends and family together. 

Journal Entry 9: Project Reflection-Museum Admission Fees in London

A couple weeks ago, we had our individual presentations on issues pertaining to obstacles we have come in contact with while living in London. We held meetings with the class as if they were our company and opened up discussion on the topic we presented. One of the topics presented was concerning the recent debate occurring in London on charging admission fees for entry into London’s museums. Ryan’s point was valid concerning the fact that citizens of London who have had yet to be charged for admission into museums would be upset with this radical change. As a student in London, the opportunity to walk into museums without even a thought due to their free admission has largely shaped my experience abroad. Living down the street from the British Museum, I can casually wander in whenever I have free time and when I am in an area with several museums such as Trafalgar Square, I can walk right into any of the museums and gain even more cultural knowledge abroad. Free admission into London’s museums has been culture at my fingertips. I did not realize how special this aspect of London was until this past weekend when I traveled to Paris. Each museum in Paris will cost around 10 to 20 Euros for admission. Paris is a cultural haven and it would have been wrong to not partake in the museums because of money concerns. On that trip, a large portion of my money was spent on admission into various museums around the city and I could see the drastic difference in cultural opportunity between myself and my best friend who is currently studying in Paris. The Louvre is the largest museum I have ever seen. In order to see all of the many aspects of that museum, it would take several trips. Several trips would mean paying for admission each time. That is a substantial consideration when discussing this topic. The opportunity for cultural submergence drastically changes when one is charged for admission into museums. I hope that London chooses not change their policy by beginning to charge for entrance into their museums. It is a wonderful facet unique to London and largely benefits its citizens and students by providing expansive opportunities for knowledge and cultural exploration. However there is one aspect to note regarding London, not all of their museums are free. My parents visited me this past week in London. The two main attractions they were anxious to visit were the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey. Each of these attractions come with an admission fee. There are five of us in my family and in order for all of us to gain admission into the Tower of London it cost almost one hundred pounds. That is almost two hundred American dollars. I was in absolute shock of this outrageously over priced ticket. My real question is: Where does that money go? I came to immediately understand the passion behind the citizens of London who are upset with this topic. I understand how these two attractions differ from the ordinary museum but in no way should their fees be that high. Overall, this past week I came into direct contact with this issue currently taking place in London. My stance on the topic? All museums and attractions in London should be admission free. With the outrageously high taxes citizens of London are subject to, they deserve free entry into their country’s museums. 

Journal Entry 8: Print Media

This week’s discussion in class was focused on the topic of print media. We discussed its relevance in society in this coming day of technological growth and compared its consumption within society today. This weeks class definitely got me thinking in regards to my media consumption here in London versus back at home in the States. Part of the class was dedicated to taking a magazine to read somewhere other than class for a half hour. I can say with certainty that that magazine was the first magazine I have read since being in London. That is a profound discovery for myself. Back at home in the States, I consider myself a magazine addict. I subscribe to several various magazines (Us Weekly, Vogue, Vanity Fair) and whenever I am in line at the grocery store, there is not much you can do to stop me from buying one. Especially when I travel, I find the biggest comfort in curling up with my magazine while on the plane. You would think with the immense amount of traveling I have been doing while studying abroad, I would be overflowing with my magazine archive. However, it is quite the opposite. The cost of buying a magazine here in London is double the price, which steers me in the complete opposite direction from purchasing such products. Not only is the price deterring me from physically buying a magazine but also since my arrival in London, the power of the Internet has completely taken over my media consumption.  My amount of time spent on the Internet has doubled since arriving in London and I find myself completely dependent on it.  Not only am I using the internet as a source for media consumption such as news reports, celebrity and fashion blogs but I am using it a source for communication with friends both in London and home and of course to connect with my family. Rather than purchase a magazine, I go online to the various blogs or the company’s website to receive my desired information instantly with no charge. This demonstrates a pivotal change that is slowly occurring within society today. The Internet serves as an all-encompassing form of media production, which will eventually replace various forms of print media. However, with this week’s class, holding the magazine and turning the pages with my fingertips reminded me of the importance of keeping this form of media alive. Seeing the pictures from the magazine first hand and the comparing their production on line gives a reader an entirely different experience. A unique tradition that takes place is London is the circulation of newspapers on the tube. I can go on the tube and pick up a newspaper that was left behind by previous commuters. While sitting on the tube, I then have the opportunity to view local British news and information brought to me through the newspaper. The Internet will never have the capability to do this. 

Journal Entry 7: Radio

This week we had a great guest speaker from the world of radio production come in and talk to the class. With her lecture, our entire class truly came to realize the amount of work and thought put into broadcasting radio programs. Especially in countries with limited means, the access to radio is so important and can change the communication process of an entire community. We had the opportunity to create our own-featured program which was an interactive look into just how difficult this form of entertainment is. I enjoy the radio most when I am alone and take comfort in hearing the voice of another coming through the radio speaking to me. The evolution of the radio absolutely fascinates me. How it went from the sole source of entertainment in the home to the second place in comparison to the television shows the true evolution of technology. It will be interesting to see what comes to replace the television in coming times. My radio use since arriving in London has drastically changed. In the States, I of course use my car as my means for transportation. Los Angeles means lots of traffic so therefore on my long commutes from home to school or from work to school, I depend on the entertainment brought to me through the radio. My favorite morning talk station is Ryan Seacrest in the morning, which features celebrities coming in to talk about their most recent song, film or product that they are endorsing. I love the way that Ryan talks to the celebrity guest and how the listener gets an interesting view into their lives on a casual level. Also, this show features my favorite guilty pleasure program, Ryan’s Roses. Ryan Seacrest would call the boyfriend of a listener who had called in to express their doubts of fidelity that they are having with their partner. Ryan would call the boyfriend saying he owns a flower company who is having a promotion in which twelve dozen roses will be sent free to the person of their choice. Most often the boyfriend chooses to send them to another woman other than their girlfriend and the drama ensues. It is comical entertainment in the morning when you need a good laugh to wake you up. Also, while in the States I am addicted to the online radio station Pandora. You can create your own interest station and listen to the radio free for however long you want. It has any style music you might desire and is extremely convenient as it can be done through your computer or IPod. Since moving to London my radio consumption has completely stopped. I am no longer stuck in the car for long periods of time and Pandora does not even stream to London so I am unable to access it. We are not equipped with radios in our flat and most often even our TV is broken. I think my classmates can attest to the lack of access we have to the radio. It makes me sad because I know the BBC and many other radio production companies here in London output wonderful programs. Unfortunately, with our lack of radio connection, we don’t have the opportunity to enjoy this simple pleasure in a foreign country.

Ryan Seacrest in the morning:

Journal Entry 6: Branding

This week’s class discussion focused around innovation and featured a brilliant guest speaker who discussed the world of advertising and product placement. Prior to his presentation to the class, an interesting question was brought up during the class discussion: Do I recognize US culture here in London? Since my arrival in London, I have marveled at the implementation of American brands into London every day culture. The most notable American brands I have come in contact with here are Starbucks, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Burger King, Chipotle, Apple, and even our most notable fashion brands such as The Gap and Nike. Upon first arriving, seeing those brands made me feel a sense of joy and relief because they served as a connection to home for me. I knew I could seek refuge in knowing that some of the every day comforts from home were here in London. In regards to each of these brands, however, the companies are making large profits by having their brands overseas in pounds because they are charging the same amount of money for a product as they do in US dollars in the States. For instance, a Chipotle burrito will run the average student in America about eight dollars where in London a burrito costs eight pounds. Clearly there is a dramatic increase in price between the two continent’s pricing. I have quickly come to realize the profit that these notable American brands benefit from by selling their products overseas in a stronger currency. In regards to American fast food brands such as McDonalds, Pizza Hut and Burger King, I was in awe of the difference in marketing these brands have made in their establishments overseas. The typical McDonalds or Pizza Hut in the States are considered low culture establishments with quick service and meager surroundings. They are associated with poor nutrition and a way in which to pinch pennies when buying food. However, upon walking into the modern functioning restaurants of McDonalds and Pizza Hut, my mouth immediately fell to the floor. I couldn’t believe how this low scale common American fast food institution is considered an upscale eatery in London. Even traveling to other countries such as Copenhagen, the 7 11 brand convenience store is a highly frequented grocery store. The difference in advertising and marketing overseas versus America has been truly fascinating. Rather than seek refuge in these standard American institutions, I have actually found myself going in quite the opposite direction due to the price increase and overall desire for the true London experience. My favorite London brands abroad have become EAT, Costa, Pizza Express and in regards to clothing brands Top Shop.

                                                          McDonalds America

McDonald's London

Some of My Favorite London Brands

Journal Entry 5: Meeting Remotely

This week’s discussion topic focused on meeting remotely and the most effective way to conduct a meeting. Our reading focused on management strategies that should be implemented and considered when structuring a meeting within a company or organization. Ironically this topic was prevalent within my past week here in London. In Tuesday morning’s class, we have a large social project ahead of us to complete this semester in which we gather in a team to organize a fundraising topic to implement social change on a certain topic we choose.  This past week my two other team members and I finally chose to sit down together and discuss what exactly we planned on doing for the project. Looking back, I can see both positive and negative aspects that took place during this meeting and now after assessing this week’s reading, our team can implement these techniques into our future collaborations. When deciding upon a time to meet, it was not done efficiently. We continued to tell one another yes yes we will meet sometime this week and continued to brush it off without implementing an actual time and place. Rather, I finally put my foot down and called them one evening during the week and told them I would come over to their apartment to discuss the project. For our next meeting, it would be far more efficient to set a certain time and to choose a place, which will be more constructive for us to work and collaborate. An apartment creates a more relaxed environment with easy distractions whereas a coffee shop or library will create a more diligent atmosphere. With this stage in our lives, the meeting time is the most important aspect to consider when conducting a meeting. As each of us are traveling each weekend to different places and having different class schedules, finding the right time to meet with one another is key. As we experienced in class this week as well, we had a guest speaker Skype in to talk to us from Egypt. It was important to realize the time difference as she was hours ahead. We gave her great thanks for making her workday even longer and Skyping in to teach us at 9 p.m. her time. Scheduling is such an important aspect when coming together to work.  As we finally sat down to work there was no one leader. We considered one another equals on the project and therefore we all were eager to participate and lend our own opinions. For the next meeting, it would be more efficient to assign each of us a certain aspect to focus on rather than spewing out random ideas and having no strong focus on who is doing what.  The reading referred to the leader of a meeting as a facilitator. A facilitator is someone who can direct the conversation, keep the meeting on track and in a sense is a moderator for the entire gathering. Since the project is equal we cannot necessarily have one lead facilitator but in a situation like this, we can assign certain tasks for one another to complete the work efficiently. I could be in charge of keeping the meeting on track, Jamie could be in charge of researching the media related to the topic and so on. By mediating the tasks, we can have more quality research on each aspect of the topic. Overall, professor Robinson said the most important aspects of a meeting were to send an email prior to the gathering and both starting and finishing on time. I will incorporate both of these aspects for the next meeting and am sure to find a much more efficient time spent working.

Journal Entry 4: Negotiating through Email

This week’s discussion centered on negotiations by specifically looking at the art of communicating via email. Our discussion in class had every one brimming at the surface with information to add because in our day and age and especially our changed circumstances abroad, each of us are dealing with this global form of communications. I thought what better way to really evaluate this topic in comparison to my every day life here in London than to look at the emails I sent out this week. I wanted to evaluate my emails by comparing their effectiveness and context in regards to tonal cues, length and purpose. As I look at my list of emails from the week, it is astounding to see the difference in the context of emails I was receiving back at USC versus now here in London. Back at SC, my emails consisted of daily mass informational emails from my sorority, countless emails from professors commenting on the slightest details regarding class assignments, various messages from USC Annenberg on internship opportunities and the rest mainly consisted of little interests I partook in such as fandango fan mail and fashion sights updating me on their latest apparel. What a change now as I glance as my weeks email intake. I now have countless flight, transportation and hotel booking confirmations either from the companies or my friends forwarding me their travel documents, talk mobile updates reminding me to top up my phone and the rest consist of daily reflections of my life here in London to loved ones back at home. No swarms of emails from professors or nonsense updates. Prior to coming to London, I never really sat down and wrote a daily email reflecting on my day. Even though I was far from some family members at USC, I would never have used email to communicate with them. The various call every now and then would have sufficed. However now as I experience new and exciting things each day here in London, I find myself glued to the keys of my computer and forming detailed emails on a daily basis. I decided to pick a few emails I sent and pick them apart in regards to the aspects we discussed in class to decide whether or not my emailing skills abided by what my professor described as most effective. This week I traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark so I decided to send my dad an email regarding the weeks finances. I titled the email: Hi Dad! It was short and concise. I got to the point and wrote everything that was necessary for my dad to understand. It was an important topic we were discussing so instead of the caption I used, I should have been more specific so he knew what he was getting into prior to reading the email. We discussed in class how it is difficult to incorporate empathy into an email. However, I find that to be untrue. I have taken the time in each email to thank my dad for allowing me this wonderful experience. I have the ability to write out my words and express fully what I want to tell him. Nothing is there to distract him from my words and he knows the time I took to write it out means my sincerity. I applied to an internship this past week. I have applied to countless internships before so I found the structure to my email to abide by what was discussed in class. I titled the caption: Whitney Griffith Internship Submission. I was short, concise and to the point. I ended the email with every means of contact and an appreciate tone overall for the company to take time for reading my email.  These emails were definitely low culture forms of communication: black and white and to the point. I found myself negotiating by the end of back and forth with my internship application due to the fact I am in Europe and their company is back in the States. I have to account for time change (They may think I am late in responding when in fact I am experiencing a large time difference) and how to negotiate a proper interview from so far away. All of these different aspects I have to account for when communicating globally. 

Journal Entry 3: Presentations

This week’s discussion focused on the art of an effective power point. More specifically we compared the positive and negative aspects brought on through the use of power points, presentations, reports and the differences that separate each. What better way to incorporate my own living habits here in London with this class than to discuss the courses I am taking here and the consequential changes I have come to experience. This topic has provided me the unique opportunity to compare the large differences between the presentation techniques implemented by my London professors with my professors back in the States. I am currently enrolled in four classes while here in London: Communication and Global Organization, Communication for Social Change, Media Consumption and Popular Culture. This semester has been a large adjustment for me already in comparison to a normal workload at USC. I am also a film minor, so when I am at USC I am taking both communication and film course, whereas, here in London I am taking only communication courses. Rather than breaking up the topics, I have divulged fully into the study of media and communication. These aspects rely primarily on reading and writing. My film classes, however, are largely interactive in which I am either watching movies or making them myself.  Film classes have a unique form of presentation that incorporates no form of power point. My film professors generally base their curriculum around initially getting up and discussing one topic in film and then following it up through a visual representation by viewing a film. My communication classes at USC, however, are strictly structured through the use of power point. One professor sticks out the most in my mind, Professor Durbin. Each semester I sign up for a class with him, I can look to expect the same exact structure. You are instructed to buy a book which is a notebook compiled of his power points with missing blanks. When attending the class, you are to fill in the blanks as he projects the same power point onto the screen. My USC professors will elaborate some with the use of oral presentation but the entirety of their classes are done by studying directly through the power points they have created for the semester. This is drastically different than the style of teaching I have come in contact with here in London. I have come to sense professors here dislike the use of power points and rather rely solely on the use of oral presentation when discussing topics. Only one of my classes here in London, Media Consumption, incorporates some form of power point but even then, that use is limited. The communication classes are far more involved here. At USC, I find myself in the middle of a huge lecture hall and attendance can be easily avoided. In London, however, classes are a few in size and the day revolves on individual input and interactive learning. In my classes I have already performed mock interviews, oral presentations on the spot, class debates and open discussion on topics. Professors in London rely heavily on oral and video presentation. My classes generally involve the professor discussing the topic the first half of the class and ending the course with a video and or music representation. So rather than seeing any similarities between the communication courses in London and at USC, I see a larger parallel of presentation techniques of London communication courses to my film courses. Overall, I can find positive and negative aspects in both. By implanting an oral presentation followed by a video, I find myself focusing much more on the topic and having a visual representation to further explain it helps immensely. However, at times it is hard to focus on just a speaker for such long periods of time and there is no formal structure for a student to follow and feel confident on the material. Implementing videos are my greatest help in learning. Overall, every teacher in every city, country or state implements his or her own forms of course presentation. I look forward to seeing the many more differences I will experience while studying in London. 

Journal Entry 2: Global Information and Communication

This week in class we discussed the transformation of global information and communication markets. One aspect the authors discussed in this week’s reading was how markets are in fact considered webs rather than categories. For example, there are no longer set categories when purchasing items. In the past, if a consumer needed to purchase a camera or computer, they would look to those as entirely different markets and purchase each item individually. Now consumers purchase entirely different. The Internet can come in the form of blackberries or iPads, a flip cam is purchased over the standard video camera and photographic cameras are now installed into cell phones. There are no longer defined competing markets and therefore these categories merge together to form an overlapping web. I can relate directly to this change within the communication markets. In this post I will examine the company Apple specifically when discussing this communication trend.  Prior to departing for London, I made the big purchase and finally bought myself the iPhone. Why did I choose to make this purchase? Well for several reasons. The iPhone represented the ultimate package: a camera, the Internet, email, texting, calling, a built in ipod and countless apps that would make my stay in London safer. Such apps for instance included maps, restaurant guides and cab services.  The iPhone’s biggest draw was its inclusion of a built in camera that would allow me to see the faces of loved ones and family when I called home from my phone. The application Facetime allows me to make a call and see my mom staring back at me while on the phone. Also, by having Skype on my iPhone I can do just the same. When I am out and about sight seeing in London, at times I will get upset with myself because I will want to take a picture but have left my camera at home. No longer is this a problem for me because my trusty iPhone can get the job done. Apple is constantly updating and revolutionizing their own technology. Newer versions of their already state of the art technology is constantly coming out and will only continue to grow and develop further in the future. When I bought the iPhone, an interesting exchange occurred between the Apple sales representative and myself. I was of course ecstatic to purchase the phone but there was a large part of me that was hesitant. Why would I be cautious about buying this amazing form of communication? It’s simple. Apple is constantly improving their equipment and creating new gadgets to their own software. Why would I buy an iPhone now when I could buy the newer version when I return from London? I asked the salesman this simple question: Will there be a newer version in May? His answer was quick and without hesitation: Of course, it’s Apple.  This statement proves the exact point discussed by the author. And as I walk the streets of London, not only is it us Americans that have an addiction to Apple technology, it seems the Brits do as well. I was in awe of the popularity of this American brand abroad and how dependent the world has become on iPhones and various Apple technologies. My teacher for one of my classes even went as far during her introduction of herself to the class to mention her love for her iPhone. The future of technology is constantly growing worldwide and will only further prove this developing web of consumerism.
The epitome of today's all encompassing technology market:

Journal Entry 1: Haiti Panel

A field trip to UCL this past Monday lead us to a panel discussion entitled: London-Haiti Live Anniversary Panel Discussion-“Communicating with Haiti: Where the Response Failed, Where it Succeeded, and How we Move Forward.” It featured a diverse panel including four speakers and Alex Joseph, the accountability officer speaking live to the audience via Skype. After listening to the entire presentation I came to realize how the Internet, changing technology and our world’s rapidly improving forms of communication are key in not only the survival of countries but for every day life as well. How this NGO chose to communicate their message through the implementation of Skype and Twitter displayed how with the convergence of these new technologies and social communicating processes, the world can dramatically be altered. Since moving to London, I have become completely dependent on the use of technology, most specifically through my computer. When living in the States, if ever I needed to contact a friend or loved one, I would shoot out a quick text or call and instantly be connected. My phone never left my hand. However, since moving abroad, my communication process has dramatically changed. In order to communicate to loved ones or friends at home, I stay glued to my Facebook and Skype accounts. And not only do these two social media avenues assist me in communicating with people across the world, I use these networks to also stay in contact with my friends here in London. With the dazzling phone we purchased for our stay here for the upcoming four months for a whopping one pence, it only provides me with a limited amount of calls or texts and I constantly try to avoid using it at all in order to avoid a high phone bill. So rather than use a phone to call my friend down the street, we have adapted to these new communication conditions and rather stay connected via Facebook or Skype. I had never used Skype prior to my stay here and when I would venture onto Facebook, I never left my chat on for people to see that I was online. However, now that I solely depend on its use, I make sure to always be available online and have found myself attached to my computer rather than to my cell phone. So as I have come to realize this dramatic change in my every day life in regards to technology, I sat and watched the panel implement these similar technologies I am currently dealing with as well. I was in awe of its power. Having the ability to have Alex Joseph speak live all the way from Haiti and even go a far as to answer questions from London students and live Tweets from people unable to attend the function, was a marvel to witness. Never have I witnessed such technological capabilities and realized how the communication process can change the world when used in its full capacity. A foreign leader can communicate for assistance from a country in need hundreds of miles away and a daughter can see the face of her parents when far from home. The overall discussion performed by this panel may not have been the most interesting form of presentation because they primarily functioned through verbal storytelling of their experiences rather than implementing engaging PowerPoint in conjunction with their discussion. They might have implemented innovative forms of technology but their presentation brought about a valid point as well, technology is not effect when used incorrectly. Alex was barely understandable due to his heavy accent and their lack of organization caused them to look unprofessional. They left their chats and tweets up for the entire class to see which is not professional. Yes, I was in awe initially of their use of technology however it quickly lost my attention due to the form of presentation they implemented.  Regardless, their use of Skype and Twitter definitely left me thinking.  Their overall presentation lacked the strength they may have hoped to produce but viewing their discussion taught me how, if done myself, a panel discussion should actually be held. Technological communication has changed the world and I know Thinking Development will utilize all the workings they have in order to make a difference in the lives of these struggling Haitians. Here are the social media powers I discussed in this post: