Improvement Plan

So, what’s the take away regarding how technology is changing the way we communicate? The six main takeaways that will lead to improving the way we communicate revolves around knowledge. Knowing that in this digital world everything and anything is accessible. In order to improve, here are my suggestions, prepare for fact checking, make yourself digitally known, stay connected outside of cyber space, continue to educate and stay up to date with current trends via social media.

We know that the truth is out there and with smartphones it’s accessible 24/7, so make sure whatever claim you are making is accurate. As mentioned in my previous blog posts, public figures have to really follow these guidelines otherwise they will lose credibility. News organizations are in the same boat because we rely on them to act as a source of truth. If that source of truth is broken, it’s extremely hard to come back from it. Spending more time or implementing tools that better fact check is one way to improve.

If you don’t have an online presence in today’s digital world, you don’t exist. With that said, I would suggest for improvements, creating a couple social media profiles, perhaps start with Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Of those three-social media platforms all of them serve a different purpose and will allow for you to make yourself known digitally. Also, build a blog and create a domain based off your name, so that you will always have control over that one site that can best brand you.

Don’t forget about the world outside of cyber space. Yes, there is a whole digital world out there but it doesn’t erase the physical and just because you can connect with someone virtually doesn’t mean you shouldn’t in the real world. We rely so heavily on our digital devices that sometimes we don’t pick our heads up to see what’s going on around us and to improve that we just need to take a step back every now and again to enjoy our surroundings.

Educating and staying up to date with current trends is another great improvement plan for communicating. How do you communicate digitally if you don’t know anything about social media? Professionals should educate themselves or get training so that they don’t become a dinosaur in their industry. No matter what industry it is, most likely there is a digital element and that element will continue to grow. It’s better to stay with it then to let it become a missed opportunity.

Overall, as long as we continue to move forward digitally; the communication process will continue to make sense. It’s only when we stand still for too long that we lose traction because of how fast digital technologies is advancing.

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Are You Sure Your Statements Are 100% CORRECT?

Before you make a bold statement on the web or through social media it’s important to fact check. Technology has made the ability to look up claims so much easier all in due to smartphones and web access on the go. How often do you have a question and turn to Siri, Alexa, or Cortana for answers? Technology has advanced so much that we have A.I. built into our devices to help make our lives easier.

Technology has also made our lives a bit harder regarding fact checking. News organizations need to be cautious as they try to avoid being labeled as fake news. Fake news has become relevant because people like to share stories in an effort to make them go viral without actual fact checking. Communication amongst society benefits from technological advancement because it’s made easier, but it doesn’t come without it’s difficulties as well.

 

CNN posted a video about how fake news is thriving online:

http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/20/opinions/fake-news-stories-thrive-donath/

Politicians are among the biggest targets for fact checking.  Media outlets are more aggressively fact-checking political statements, all because people are paying really close attention and it is news if the statements they are making are incorrect (The Associated Press, 2017). The public is going to find out on their own and publish the truth one way or another, that is part of society now. Social media has given everyone a voice. Social media has become the outlet in which news agency aren’t just reporting but finding the news themselves.  Accessibility to the truth is a click away and it’s up to us to be sure to utilize our resources before making claims. The issue with that is the general public doesn’t need to follow the same ethical code as journalists, but can still act as journalists via web posting. Deciphering fact from fiction is all part of the norm in today’s society, something we didn’t deal with as much 20 years ago. Back then our media consumption was through the television or radio station. Today, we as society are becoming more skeptical and questioning whether it’s real or fake news. I don’t know if this is a benefit that we have the resources at our finger tips to determine what is real or not, or if it has only opened the flood gates for people to say whatever the heck they want to say. Sometimes it can all seem just so overwhelming.

References

The Associated Press. (2017, February 8). Media fact-checking more aggressive under Trump. MPRNews. Retrieved from https://www.mprnews.org/story/2017/02/08/media-fact-checking-more-aggressive-under-trump

Donath, J. (2016, November 20). Why fake news stories thrive online. CNN. [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/20/opinions/fake-news-stories-thrive-donath/

Do YOU Need a Digital Presence in Today’s Market?

In today’s digital world everyone has a voice and brand. It is the expectation that with that voice and brand people can connect and on a global scale. Technology has changed the way our culture views communications through scope. The web and social media has opened to doors to how we communicate who we are, which makes building your brand a necessity.   

Blogger Lisa Galarneau lists 10 ways social media is transforming our world:

1. Challenging the Status Quo

We are challenging the status quo, building things, creating things, connecting with each other, self-organizing around important issues, and yes, changing the world little bit by little bit.

2. Changed by Exposure to Diversity

We pay attention to the small details of people’s lives, delight over their family photos, and share at the level of family with a whole bunch of people.  We’re supported when we need to be. We talk about issues and conundrums and joys.  People are connecting and being exposed to both comfortable and diverse perspectives.

3. Support is Now Visible

We support people and things we like, on sites like Digg and Reddit

4. Learn More from Each Other

We learn from each other. You can find everything from make-up tips to channeled extraterrestrial messages on YouTube.

5. Crowd Sourced Wisdom

We share our knowledge, wisdom and experiences. Quora is a place where you can ask any question in the world, and expect a reasonable answer.

6. Creativity and Inspiration is Unleashed

We share our creative ideas and inspirations. Pinterest has redefined the digital portfolio/catalog.

7. Increased Appreciation of the Unique and Handmade

We still have a healthy respect for the unique and the handmade.  Etsy has enabled many a domestic entrepreneur and infused our culture with an amazing richness of creativity.

8. Truth is Exposed

We still haunt Twitter waiting for a cause or idea to support.  Retweets are our weapon in an effort to expose information and transform thinking.

9. We are More Authentic

People in the social media space are finally talking more about authenticity, which might help minimize some of the junkier parts of our lovely information city.

10. Anyone can Contribute

We acknowledge that everyone has something to contribute, as long as you’re nice about it (Galarneau, 2012).

Social media will continue to be a tool that we use to help build our brands and lend a voice to individuals looking to share with the world.  The expectation is that technology will continue to advance to make messaging an even faster process than it already is.  Which is saying a lot, considering it’s only a click of button as of right now.  Virtual reality will be the next step in our communication process that takes us away from the monitor or smartphone and puts us directly in the room with the individuals we are communicating with.  Can you imagine the cyber bullies in a world of virtual reality, it’s actually a scary thought, but a thought none the less?  There are tons of benefits society faces given all that social media has brought upon us, but with anything that brings advantages there are also disadvantages.  As for right now, social media has brought more advantages to the way we communicate and until the disadvantages outweigh them, I don’t see it going anywhere anytime soon.  Of those advantages, the ability for individuals to build their brand is among the top because your digital brand is basically your footprint for boosting your reputation.  Building reputation will lead to success in career goals along with personal goals.  It’s hard to think of a time when we didn’t have means of looking up a person on the web.  I think it’s safe to say we have made fact gathering easier, the question is whether that’s good or bad?  For some it might not be all that positive, but with the way the world is moving further into the digital work, there really is no getting around it.

Reference

Galarneau, L. (2012). 10 Ways social media is transforming our world. Retrieved from http://www.jeffbullas.com/2012/02/06/10-ways-social-media-is-transforming-our-world/

Why Technology is Changing Society’s Expectation and Culture?

We want it and we want it right now. The expectation regarding technology and how we utilize it is our need for speed.  We want the ease and convenience of buying over mobile devices, so we don’t have to go to the store physically.  We can sit around in our pajamas and have next day delivery all at the click of a button.  From buying movie tickets, to ordering your groceries online, the common theme is convenience.  Let’s not forget navigation, I mean who actually has a printed map anymore?  We rely on technology to move us from point A to point B, and it’s because we have become dependent on our technology.  We are dependent on our technology because it makes our lives easier.

Here is a link to the top 10 ways technology is making our lives easier.  The one that I think is the most relevant is number 9, communications made easier.  Author, Arun Thakur describes how technology has made communication easier through digital messaging (Thakur, 2013).  The ability to send documents and communicate with anyone at the click of a button makes our lives so much easier.  Thakur describes the days of waiting around for the mailman as no longer, because emails and social media have changed how we send out communications.

Looking at the apps on my phone, the most commonly used are Amazon for shopping, Chase for banking, Facebook for social media, ESPN for sports, iTunes for music, Maps for navigation, Safari for web surfing, Messages for texting, Mail for emails and Activity for fitness.  However, it doesn’t stop there, I have folders for specific apps that are important such as “Smart Home”, which consists of all my smart home automation apps (Amazon Echo Dot, Nest, ADT Pulse, Blink, Philips Hue).  I’ve listed the heavy hitters and more commonly used apps, but I have folders for entertainment, games, sports, social, and navigation.  It’s not enough just to have one app to make your life easier, you have to have multiple apps because the options out there are limitless.  Technological advancements have made society used to the fact that we can get anything we need, right when we want it without any hassle.  As a culture we come together with the thought process of easier accessibility and that is all thanks to the advances of modern technology.

Reference

Thakur, A. (2013, June 27). Top 10 ways technology has made our lives easier. Retrieved from http://topyaps.com/top-10-ways-technology-has-made-our-lives-easier

The Ability to Communicate Globally, a Good or Bad Thing?

The following is a video from Sherry Turkle on how we as society are connect but still feel alone in the world.

This is a powerful video because it demonstrates that even though we have all this advanced technology and communicate with a click of a button, we still feel alone in society.  It goes to show that not every aspect of advancing technology is great.

While it is inevitable that we train to become more familiar with the changes in communication, such as social media and other online platforms, it is wise to communicate outside of cyberspace.  If there was ever a time to get lost in work it is now, because we can be connected to the work we do all the time, especially communication jobs.  Communication has been made easier by the accessibility to be online, however as Bab.la. states: “the paradox of the mass communication technology is that we are growing more distant from each other when we choose to make smartphones, computers, television, and the like our primary means of communicating with each other. Technology is a wonderful tool that is supposed to help humans improve their life quality but instead of that it is preventing us from continuing to be able to form meaningful relationships with each other. It is true that the long-term social effects of modern communication are still to be seen but it doesn’t seem, at least for now, like they are more beneficial than detrimental to society” (Bab.la, 2013).

The idea that we are distancing ourselves from the physical world is something that all communicators need to think about as they train themselves further with technology.  I believe a strong component to proving Bab.la wrong is to devote time outside of cyberspace.  The ability to get work done faster has never been more apparent, but what we don’t want to do as society is get lost in our work and forget to look around, take in the sights and smell the smells.

References

Bab.la. (2013, February, 26). The influences of modern technology on society: good or bad? Retrieved from http://www.lexiophiles.com/english/the-influence-of-modern-technology-on-society-good-or-bad

[Ted]. (2012, February). Sherry Turkle: Connected, but alone. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/sherry_turkle_alone_together(

 

 

How has Technology Changed the Work of Communicators and How Has it Influenced the Training They Need?

Looking at that role of a marketing specialist is a great example of just how much technology has changed the way they operate.  Marketing used to be more generic, people went to school for marketing degrees, however times have changed and so have the sub-specialties and areas of focus.  People can now learn what it is to be a digital marketing specialist, but what is digital marketing and aren’t marketers marketing online in the digital world?  Does that make them digital marketing specialists?  What about marketing automation specialists, channel marketing, marketing segmentation, social media marketing, media relations marketing, brand marketing, internal communications/marketing, content marketing and so on and so on.  Technology has advanced so much in the last 20 years that departments have had to evolve to properly communicate accurately and as a result form jobs to follow suit.  People consistently need to educate themselves on the changes with technology so that they can advance their career paths.  As a marketer, I have gone back to school to further my training along with enrolled in multiple certifications to better advance my digital knowledge, because it opportunities go far beyond that of a marketing specialist.  If all marketing specialists do digital marketing but companies look for those with a digital marketing experience title, experience and training come into play.

Here is a link from the Chief Human Resource Office at Wilbanks Trucking Services regarding the impact of technology on employee training.  While this focuses on the workforce and training individuals through technology it makes a great point regarding the retention factor.  Technology has advanced to the point where companies can continue to train employees on how to succeed within the organization which ultimately leads to a higher retention rate, something that wasn’t as easily accomplished 30 years ago.

Reference

Beach, D. (2016, October 3). The impact of technology on employee training. Retrieved from http://www.linkedin.com/pulse/impact-technology-employee-training-david-beach

How has Technology Changed the Work of Communicators?

The idea of being connect all the time isn’t unrealistic in today’s world.  How many times do you find yourself checking your phone for emails or navigating Facebook, when your computer is sitting in front of you?  Do you bring your phone, tablet, or computer to bed with you or is it within an arm’s length?  If the answer is yes, you are not alone.  In fact, some Americans actually sleep with their cell phone in their hand.  In an article written by The Huffington Post, a survey was conducted within a sample size of 1000 people that found 71 percent of them sleep with or next to their mobile phones and 3 percent of those people said they sleep with their device in their hand (Ma, 2015).  The truth is that the 71 percent isn’t an alarming number and most likely will increase year-over-year.

Technology has advanced to the point where we get frantic when we think we lose our devices or suffer from phantom phone disease, where we make the motion to check our phone only to realize our phone isn’t even on us.  People feel naked without their connect devices because the accessibility to the world, work, social media and friends is right there in their pockets.  It has changed the way we communicate with each other through sharing information.  Prior to social media the easiest way to explain how something operates was through phone or email, now with social media people can share how-to-videos from YouTube via social media platforms.  The formal structure of how we communicate has changed to an acceptable informal manner and blogs are prefect examples of this.  Blogging is all about how you as the author wants to write and as long as it’s coming from you personally it’s acceptable.  A professional blogger doesn’t have to be someone that went to school for journalism, but simply someone who has a voice.  And that is how technology has changed the way we communicate, by giving everyone and anyone a voice.

Reference

Ma, A. (2015, June 29). A sad number of Americans sleep with their smartphone in their hand. The Huffington Post. [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/29/smartphone-behavior-2015_n_7690448.html