Module 9

"A website without multimedia is like a cupcake without icing: Functional but lacking" (Sniderman 2012). Multimedia enhances both a readers understanding and engagement level with what he or she is consuming. Text allows readers to form their own opinion about how something may have looked or happened, but when text is paired with photos, or images, the reader can reference the visual and have a better understanding of what they're reading. When paired with audio, text can evolve based on tone of voice. Multimedia makes text multi-dimensional, which allows us to understand better. 

Because the reader understands better, they are engaged more fully. Multimedia makes the information more tangible to the reader, which deepens their reaction to what is being said. For example, In the article Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek, the first hand recount of the avalanche by Elyse Saugstad made the situation more real to me, as well as more emotional. I was much more engaged with the story because of the deeper connection I had to the event, as well as those involved (Branch 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/projects/2012/snow-fall/#/?part=tunnel-creek).

The three main types of multimedia are audio, photo, and video. Depending on the situation, each can be equally as effective. If tone of voice is important, audio will be best to use. For example, in the blog http://israelkeyes.blogspot.com/ there are sound clips of interviews from Israel Keyes where he is recounting certain events in which his sociopathic tendencies were put into play, and which Keyes is recounting these events he is laughing. This truly demonstrates his state of mind, and gives the reader/listener a better insight and a deeper connection to the story. On that same blog, there is video of Keyes actually kidnapping one of his victims, which is more powerful than text could be. It, once again, evokes more emotion because of the situation that is being depicted. Video and photos are generally used in the same types of situations, just depending on which is available to depict the subject.

Anonymous. (2014). Acting at random: a study of Israel Keyes. Blogspot. Retrieved from http://israelkeyes.blogspot.com/.

Branch, J. (2012). Snow fall: the avalanche at Tunnel Creek. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/projects/2012/snow-fall/#/?part=tunnel-creek.

Sniderman, Z. (2012, Jul 28). How to: add multimedia to your blog. Mashable. Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2010/07/28/add-multimedia-to-blog/.

Module 8

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/

The function and topics of this blog, according to the author, is that "Seth Godin's riffs on marketing, respect, and the ways ideas spread." When creating a blog, I feel it's important to nail down a few key topics, so that the writer is most likely more knowledgeable about the topic on which he or she is writing. If someone writes about everything, they're not going to be an expert on any of it. With this particular blog, there is a simplicity to the author's writing and posting style. One of the only functions are to scroll through recent posts and look over archived posts. This blog is lacking a separating system based on keywords describing the blog's content. It would be beneficial to readers to be able to sort the posts by topic, so that if readers only want to see his posts about marketing they can do so with ease. Basically the only other functions with this blog is to look at the books Seth Godin wrote, and also to connect with him on different social media sites. These two additions to the blog are great because Seth is using a blog to market himself, and he's doing so by being present in lots of different spaces online, and adapting to the rules of each type of media.

When creating a blog, here are some of my recommended "best practices":
1. Make the blog interface easy to navigate through, so people can see every bit of the site: Users will spend more time on your blog and engage more deeply if you make it easier for them to do so
2. Ensure grammatical correctness: How can you be taken seriously as a writer if you don't know the basics?
3. Stick to a few topics that you're an expert about, rather than guessing on things you don't know much about and trying to pass yourself off as an expert: It's better to be good at a few things and demonstrate true understanding than trying to do a little bit of everything and truly master nothing.
4. Tag all blogs with keywords so they are sortable on your blog and searchable off your blog: The idea of an online presence is to be found, and keywords are the easiest way to say what you want to be found for
5. Post often: people will forget about your blog if you neglect it.

Module 7

Press Release:
Joe Paterno, Penn State football coach, passed away at the age of 85 on January 22nd, 2012. Football fans everywhere bow their heads when remembering "the winningest Division I coach in the history of the sport" (Carey 2012). Joe coached for the Penn State Nittany Lions for 62 seasons and is one of the most iconic coaches in college football history. His impact was demonstrated when "hundreds of students and fans gathered for an impromptu vigil at his statue across from the football field". Although he was part of a scandal and was fired in November 2011 due to his affiliation with sexual abuse within the football program, the "Joe Pa" name will never be fully tarnished. Not only will Paterno be remembered for his positive role within the football program, but also for his philanthropic endeavors. "He and his wife and children gave the university $3.5 million in 1998 to endow faculty positions and scholarships and in support of two building projects." Joe Paterno will always be remembered for his amazing record, as well as the many lives he positively touched (Carey 2012). 

Facebook post:
Lengendary coach of the Nittany Lions, Joe Paterno, dies at age 85 from lung cancer (http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/story/2012-01-21/former-penn-state-coach-joe-paterno-dead/52737230/1)