Advertising and Commercial Culture

By the mid 1800's most magazines contained ads. The first American ad agencies were known as pace brokers. Space brokers are individuals who purchase space in newspapers and sell them to advertisers.  The first modern agency opened in 1869 and worked more for companies. The main goal for advertising is to create brand identity. A brands identity will differentiate itself from other products that are competitors. This creates consumer demand for a specific product.

Today advertising is focused less on"words" and more on the image. The internet and multimedia devices have changed the way we look at ads today. We have pop ups on the internet that advertise some type of ad. For those who use social networking sites  like "facebook" and "twiiter", companies, celebrities, organizations, industries, agencies, and so many more advertise on these social media websites that are heavily used in our society today.  Online advertising is the fastest growing part of advertising today.

This phenomenon also raises more issues like "privacy". So many people are concerned about the ways businesses keep tract of customers, especially online customers. Cookies are placed in peoples computers that watch what websites are visited by the user, what they buy, and what information they share on social networking sites. This allows Marketers to send specific ads to to customers. Most consumer ads these days tell a story about the product its strengths, what it contains etc. There are different approaches that are used and those can range from...
 

• famous–person testimonial 
• plain–folks pitch, 
• snob–appeal approach
•  bandwagon effect
•  hidden–fear appeal
•  irritation advertising

These approaches attract a different type of consumer. Commercial Speech is what is used to attract these consumers, but commercial speech comes at a price.Commercial speech is any broadcast expression for which a fee is charged. There are so many commercials and ads that child advocates are afraid its having traumatic effects on children.

The ad industry also receives a lot of criticism for not making there ads realistic. A lot of the time with beauty  products or health related products ads are exaggerated which is false advertising. Also the image people use when advertising sends out a message to society that we  have to be youthful, thin, and beautiful.

All in all ads can have a major impact in our lives. It can produce a negative effect or a positive one. With politics it can be used  to ones leisure and manipulated to keep ones social responsibility a positive one. Advertising is a huge part of our culture today. We cannot let commercials control us and just believe what is said at face value. We have to be encouraged to ask questions, do research and not believe everything we see. 

Television and Cable

Cable began to appear in mountainous areas and places that had tall buildings that blocked regular broadcast signals. By 1999 70 percent of homes in America had cable. Cable though began to decline when three big networks CBS, NBC, and ABC used every method they could to broadcast and took up 95% of the market. Competition also arose for cable when direct broadcast satellite systems became available to consumers. Satellite dishes offered a wireless cable type offer.

Today there are two types of cable; basic and premium. Basic cable includes average T.V networks like MTV,  CNN and Channel 2 Action News. Premium includes movie channels like Starz and HBO. Programming falls into two major categories Entertainment and Information. There are huge trends and outlets that have made a huge impact on television programming; talk-shows, game shows, reality television, even educational programs for children.

As cable grew there was a huge debate on what cable systems should carry in their cable packages. After years of court cases and going back and forth Congress passed the Telecommunications Act of  1996. Campbell states, "the act knocked down regulatory barriers in a number of areas, including the one that prevented phone companies, long–distance carriers, and cable operators from entering one another’s markets. While lawmakers believed the act would increase competition among cable providers, about 90 percent of communities in the United States still have no viable competition for the local cable company". Congress tries to do all in its power to avoid monopolies and make it a fair playing field.


Different viewing habits began to immerse. Third Screens refer to one viewing content on a computer like screen. Television and cinemas are the first and second screens. VCR's made way for DVD's etc which allowed consumers to watch shows on their time. Now we can watch T.V, movies, and listen to music on our smart phones, i Pads, and/or stream movies online.

Movies have a major impact on our lives today.  What I enjoy about movies is I get to step away from my life and escape reality. I can relate to the characters on film, go on an adventure, discover a new world, and even fall in love. Kennedy Dickson is credited for creating an early movie cinema. Dickson was Thomas Edison's assistant and when Edison began to see that the demand for movies was increasing he created the viatscope that showed longer films on better quality. Soon after that movies began to rise. They went from being 2 minutes to 2 hours. This new genre of movies and production created a new line of jobs and entertainment

The Big Six

•  Warner Brothers, 
• Paramount, 
• Twentieth Century Fox, 
• Universal, 
• Columbia Pictures, and
•  Walt Disney Studios

 The networks above account for more than 90 percent of the money earned from commercial films. Hollywood wants to provide  an experience. One that makes ones heart race, speaks to a wide audience, and help people share ideas about the world around them.

Changing Industry/ Reformations in Popular Music

Music is something so important in our culture today. There are so many types of genres, so many different emotions music can conjure up. Music can make you feel happy on your saddest day. It can make you push through a hard workout and make you run that extra mile. It can comfort you on your lowest day. It can remind you of your first love, first kiss, and even the day you say "I do". Music can deliver a powerful message or a negative message. All in all music evokes emotions and passion, its something so beautiful and dangerous all in one.

Music has come a long way. Today the music industry is about money. The radio came to existence in the 19th  century. It was used to deliver news, stories, and broadcast music. People loved music, music was something that made people feel good, but soon new technology was created and the radio station has to find a way to renovate its self so it could stay in the market. The radio station collaborated with the Record Label Industry. Now a lot of the music we hear are just catchy beats used to lure people in. A lot of artist's do not write their own music anymore. Music use to be about telling a story, but now when one goes in to this industry they have to be sexy, youthful, and do what the record label demands them to do. They aren't cultivated and given the chance to find out who they are, and what message they want to tell the world. They are told who they are and what message they "will" tell the world.

 Artists are constantly under pressure about releasing albums and making deadlines. It's all about how many CD's are bought when the album hits stores or iTunes. There have been so many changes in music with tapes,cd's, and videos. Now we can listen to music online and download whatever song we want whenever we want. I watched a documentary in class called "Before the Music Dies" and in this documentary there is a big difference between musicians from that past and now. Anyone can be an artist as long as they look the part. With "auto tune" a device that helps ones voice sound in tune, this technology can make anyone sound good. In a way this is frowned upon. Music use to be about the voice and expressing how you feel whether it be about your happiest day, or your worst hour. Music was seen as something sacred, something you had to be born with, something that was seen as pure talent.

Music is a form of communication. It is very important and makes up the American Culture. These stars, these musicians that we are hypnotized by are  doing their job and there is so much corruptness and controversy surrounding the music industry. Music is something that should be appreciated, there are so many people out their that want to sing from the soul and it becomes hard to do that when a person signs with a record label. So maybe these artists that have a hard time putting out their stories should put their foot down and say "I want to do it this way I have the talent". In the end it all comes down to one thing and that is money. It's not about hearing, but about seeing and people must learn not to become slaves to industries.

The video above is a rap written by 3 artists complaining about the music industry and how music isn't what it use to be. the lyrics are vulgar but it goes into comparison with what is going on with the music industry and radio.

The Publishing Industry is Falling into a Deep Hole!!!

Before this era of mass technology invading the world, people relied on hearing their news from the newspaper, from the publishing companies. It wasn't uncommon for someone to wake up, head to work, and grab a cup of coffee and then purchase a newspaper. Now people rely on their phones, I pads, and other devices to hear about the news that goes on in the world today. Also with this new era of social networking when a huge event happens one is already informed at times by someones status or blog due to sites like facebook,twitter, and even blogger.
Small publishing companies can no longer compete efficiently and effectively. Print revenues are plummeting and newspapers are beginning to seem pointless because they are now made available online. For major recycling  companies they see this as a way of society going green. We are cutting down less trees and letting nature grow and breathe once more.
The largest threat for advertising comes from online sites. People are spending more time on the internet and advertisers are finding new ways to reach them. For example Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Linked In, Youtube and so many more sites allows consumers to make profiles but on the right hand corner there is always an ad. Ad placement on social networking sites is also the next shock-wave!
There are adds everywhere and because people spend so much time online  its convenient for companies to put up these ads on popular sites so people are also able to see those adds and shop online if need be.
Publishing is made up of diverse groups including..

• Books 
• Dictionaries 
• Mailing Lists 
• Journals 
• Magazines 
• Business Media 
• Newspapers
• News Agencies etc.

Now not all of these groups are being hit hard. In fact some groups have renovated the way they now publish their ads and information. There is a huge decrease in sales of newspapers and  but some magazines have even go paperless and are now found online. 

This new technological era has its pros and cons, in the end consumers have to be ready for change and publishing companies need to find new ways of staying in the market by making renovations.

Media Awareness Network

Media Awareness Network is a website that has a large amount of resources for media and digital literacy. This website targets young adults and helps them use the resources of their site to better understand what is going on in the world today.

Media Network states that they are, "MNet is a Canadian non-profit organization that has been pioneering the development of media literacy and digital literacy programs since its incorporation in 1996. Members of our team have backgrounds in education, journalism, mass communications and cultural policy. Working out of Ottawa, we promote media literacy and digital literacy by producing education and awareness programs and resources, working in partnership with Canadian and international organizations, and speaking to audiences across Canada and around the world MNet is a Canadian non-profit organization that has been pioneering the development of media literacy and digital literacy programs since its incorporation in 1996. Members of our team have backgrounds in education, journalism, mass communications and cultural policy. Working out of Ottawa, we promote media literacy and digital literacy by producing education and awareness programs and resources, working in partnership with Canadian and international organizations, and speaking to audiences across Canada and around the world"  (Media Awareness Network).

This website is a great website because it helps adults understand how the media can have a profound effect on ones life, the choices they make and how it will affect their freedom. This website is a reflection of Canadian values, culture, current public policy, and free information. 

There web-based sources offers media literacy and digital literacy. Media Awareness Network  has a range of games,internet, television, film, video, advertising, and popular music. This website also helps parents talk to their children about media and how to manage it at the home. The information on this website could also benefit teachers and give them supporting materials.

 MNet's primary focus is to bring teachers and librarians to speed on issues related to children's internet use.

I think Media Awareness Network is a great site. Many times parents are afraid of what their children are viewing. A lot of information is easily accessible to minors and these days the internet has no limitations on what is posted onto the web. The only way we can protect our youth is by preparing them for the world and educating them on what's going on and why these stories, documentaries, and events are so important. The internet is a great tool but parents especially want to make sure that their children benefit from it and are not exposed to the ugliness of it.

Today there are many problems with the internet. The headlines that are posted, the cyber bullying, and so much more. This site can help children deal with these situations in the best way possible. This website is made possible due to its supporters. 

• Youtube
• Bell
• CTV
• Google
• Catholic Teachers Association 
• Canadians Connected 
• etc..and so much more

There are so many issues today with media violence, media stereotyping, Information Privacy and if our children aren't educated on how this information is good and bad then there is a greater risk of them getting hurt by it. In no way is this site saying the internet is bad or to throw away any technology that gives one access to erroneous information, it is just stating that the internet has it's positives and negatives and to ensure a peaceful world and community we must focus on them both instilling in our youth today that yes this is bad but we can make a difference. Because that is why all this information is out their, the reason we are educated is to make the word a better place. 

Below is a link on the website and the amazing information it has to offer...
http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/index.cfm

You Can't Compromise What I Believe!!! I am a Journalist!

News is a report of recent events, it's appealing, captivating, sad, terrorizing, uplifting, and most importantly its entertaining on so many different levels. These events, these stories that stir up our emotions are captured by people that are seen as story tellers,people that want to share what they have seen, people that are known as  journalists. So what is a journalist and what does a journalists' job entail... Well  "Creative Pool" defines a  journalist as someone that  may:   

• attend press launches, courts, council meetings and other events
• interview people by phone or in person
• respond to tip-offs, calls and news releases
• record notes in shorthand or on tape and write stories up on computer.

Journalists have a mission, and that is to enlighten the public and spread the word. They are suppose to provide fair,clear, and unbiased accounts of certain events and issues.  But lately journalists have been under fire. These days the public doesn't believe that journalist follow their code of the ethics. A lot of people believe that journalists only focus on satisfying who they report too, their "boss". It's not about telling a story anymore, its about manipulation and most importantly money. We see examples of it everyday. There are many times we are checking out our groceries, we glance over and we see a magazine that is titled "Aliens Take Over the Earth and Experiment on Senate".  It's so scandalous, so ridiculous, so corny, we buy the issue. The problem with  some of the journalists today is that they have lost their light and truth. CNN and FOX 5  two major industry's that report the same stories but from different perspectives. CNN responses to events are from a democratic point of view while FOX 5 responds from a republican perspective. They don't focus on the issue instead, personal feelings get involved. 

Journalists have so much power to sway the public. With  a couple of sheets of paper  and the right amount of ink the most beautiful tragic story can be written. So if journalists actually focused on the truth. If they reported stories not just for the sake of selling papers but for the sake of letting the public know what they have witnessed without a biased opinion then their wouldn't be negativity towards them.   

Not all journalists are evil but at the same time how can anything be reported without some type of biased experience. Stories are beautiful and I believe any journalist that is adamant about their job will of course get emotionally involved but at the same time they will want the truth out their so people can know, discuss and debate. There is corruption everywhere its society's choice to wither accept it or not. 

Coca-Cola....Open Happiness!!!

When I hear the word Coca-Cola I immediately get thirsty and think about a company that sells more than just a beverage. Coca-Cola is spreading happiness all over the world . It's the 5th universal word recognized all over the globe. Coca-Cola is found in over 230 countries and has partnered as well as bought many other companies to join it's empire.
It all began when a pharmacist from Atlanta, John Pemberton decided he wanted to try something new in his back yard. Pemberton stirred a couple of ingredients up and then in no time Coca-Cola was created and it was selling for 5 cents!!!Pemberton's bookkeeper Frank Robinson gave the name to Coca-Cola and the script that is still used to this day.After that coke took off within the next century Coke not only shared a drink to the world but also a good example of a business that would receive a lot of backing, that cares about the world, and wants to connect to people all over the globe by spreading as much joy and happiness as it possibly can.
"Coke" something that started out as a beverage would soon turn into a billion dollar empire. Asa G. Candler made Coca-Cola a brand. He gave away clocks,calenders, coupons, urns, scales etc. with the Coca-Cola emblem. People were beginning to recognize Coke and become familiar to it.
People were beginning to demand more coke. They wanted to have easy access to it and experience the product in a different way. Benjamin F. Thomas and Joseph B. Whitehead secured exclusive  rights from Candler  to bottle and sell Coca-Cola. This would create millions of dollars and make coke more accessible to those who wanted to grab it and go.
Robert Woodruff would be the next president of Coke. Woodruff 's father purchased the Coca-Cola Company from Asa Candler and he then succeeded his father. Robert Woodruff led to the expansion of coke over seas. He created the "six pack" so people could enjoy coke at home. Coca-Cola traveled to the Olympics with the U.S team in 1928 which took place in Amsterdam. Woodruff's marketing helped Coke expand to many families not just in America but overseas as well.
World War II was going on in 1941 and Coca-Cola intervened by giving any man or women in uniform a coke for 5 cents. Coca-Cola was beginning to become a part of peoples everyday life exuding a fun carefree lifestyle.
Other competitors were beginning to come out so Coke had to find new ways to keep their customers interested and so new flavors were created.

• Fanta created 1941 introduced 1950's
• Sprite 1961
• TAB 1963
• Fresco 1966

The Coca-Coal company soon acquired Minute Maid in the 1970's which brought a new amount of profit and targeted a different market. The way Coke  advertised also kept people at the edge of their seats.n People loved to see how coke not only connected them to their neighbors but as well as all over the world due to a tasty beverage.

In the 1980's a new wave had hit America. Everyone wanted to get into shape and eat/drink healthier which meant Coke was going to be cut out from the American diet. Coca-Cola soon came out with diet Coke. They even came out with fitness gear to show people Coke can be healthy if drank in moderation. 

A new formula was created to give it a different taste and people liked the "New Coke" but later on it was returned to its original formula. 

In the 1990's come began to associate itself with sports, NASCAR racing etc. By 1997 the company had already sold over 1 billion servings of its product. Coke has over 500 bands and exists to benefit and refresh everyone its touches.

Coca-Cola Communications

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