Activist Sites

How many activist sites do we encounter in a regular web surfing day? I have to admit, I'm a little out of my comfort zone here, because i have very little experience with these sites. i also have to admit, I get a little guarded when talking about activist sites. Sometimes I feel like these sites are a tad too paranoid, thriving on "Big Brother" conspiracy theories. That being said, there are plenty of great causes that many activists work toward. The question is, how effective are these sites really? Very similar to Social Justice sites, these are often less visited than commercialized sites. Why is that? What makes these sites generally less visited? How can these causes get more attention? Are the people who visit these sites any more likely to contribute to the cause than if the activist group just formed a Facebook Fanpage? Yes, these sites are meant to convince and inform, but how convincing are they really? How can such a site encourage and incite return visits? What makes people visit, and perhaps more importantly, what makes them return to activist websites?

The Electronic Frontier Foundation we were instructed to look at discusses the rights of internet blogger, privacy for readers and a number of other digital/web based legal issues. The internet age has opened this can of worms, but how can you judge, in a world of free information, which of these rights are ones you want to back? This site advocates for many ideas and ranges through a number of rights. A viewer of the site might have various opinions on the many issues. Do you think this is a wise choice, or will some opinions draw in revisits while discouraging others? Opinions go hand in hand with activist sites. Does introducing so many different issues is the site helping or hurting itself? What is effective here and what, if anything, is unsuccessful?

The Rhetoric of Social Justice

I'd hoped to talk about the "look" of social justice sites in class, because here on the blog I'd like you to focus on the rhetoric of social justice. If you recall from our first day of class, rhetoric can be described as "the art or science of using words effectively to influence or persuade." Comparing the site you chose with EFF, how do they convey the importance of their missions in words? What key phrases can you identify as working to persuade the reader -- and how? Explain the effect of specific terms or phrases on the reader. What sort of emotions or realisation are they meant to provoke? What is particularly effective (and what is not)? How do the visual elements (color, images, spacing, relative size, etc.) enhance the message?

Once you're done -- enjoy your spring break!

Social Justice

As young adults that are constantly exposed to Commercial Websites, we are all familiar with what these sites have to offer. Whether it is the latest social networking page or search engine website, most likely everyone knows the main goal the site is trying to portray. What about Social Justice Websites though? Have you ever taken the time to check out the latest news on PETA or the HRC? Have you ever personally contributed to a Social Justice website? Before this assignment, I never have but I am happy that I finally did. After taking the time to check a few out, I discovered the ways that these websites keep in contact with their contributors; add new volunteers and how they do it without seeming like a cheesy advertisement. First off, they are very clear about their organization and how to get involved. These sites all offer information about the social issues the group is fighting against or for, the community they have built throughout the years, how you personally can get involved and updates on the latest news to keep you informed. The site that I took most interest in is the HRC (Human Rights Campaign) website. Not only does the page have informative articles, tools and videos that make you want to get involved but it also gives you ways to stay involved. By adding hyperlinks like their Facebook page, Twitter, YouTube and even a Blog page, this Social Justice Site knows how to keep people’s attention through the media which is important when targeting people via the internet. After looking through a Social Justice Site of your own, how do you feel its importance is shown through a world full of commercialized sites? How do these sites try to differentiate themselves from a Commercialized Web page? Do you think that these sites should be publicized more than a commercialized site or do you think that they already are?

-Caroline

Facebook Fan Pages

All of us who have a Facebook (and don’t) have seen and heard their friends discussing the latest fan pages that have everyone talking. It’s easy to join and become a fan of a group and sometimes some people become fans of too many pages. We all know that one person who shows up in our newsfeed about 5 times a day stating that so and so has become a fan of at least 21 new profiles. With this in mind we begin to think, “why would anyone ever become a fan of this many things?” or maybe “they are really annoying and need to stop joining all the fan pages and taking up my whole newsfeed” whatever your thoughts on Facebook Fan Pages may be, there are others out there who feel the same way as you do. Some questions that have left me confused are why people choose to join and become fans of such random profiles. Do these ‘fan pages’ really describe the type of person they are? By looking at our own ‘fan pages’ could we say that people viewing our profile for the first time may get or may not get a good understanding of the type of person we are? Are these ‘fan pages’ necessary? After looking and grappling with these few questions, I’ve also been thinking about the fact that anyone can create and manage a fan page. In which instance, who establishes the ‘sense of authority’? Could we say that the person in charge of the fan page creates the authority, or the people that become fans of the pages and leave their own comments about the topic on the fan page? And why is it that some fan pages are more popular than others, whether it be because of the ‘eye-catching’ image on the home of the fan page or maybe the description, what is it that catches the viewers attention enough to make them become a fan of that specific ‘fan page’?

Facebook Groups

We all know that we belong to groups that are suggested to us by a friend. Some of them may be completely pointless. Some are made because someone’s phone broke and they lost all of their phone numbers and they need them again, others are made for incoming college kids who got accepted to a college. This is probably beneficial if you want to talk to possible perspective classmates. As far as groups go, what sort of planning do you think is required to start one versus starting a fan page? Do most groups have that careful thought or planning? I am in the group The College of Saint Rose: Class of 2013. This group I joined back in February of 2009 and people from the group added me sporadically throughout the course of the year. I talked to most of the people I added; we discussed majors, interests where we were from and such. I think this is a great way to meet new people. What group on your Facebook page do you think is the most helpful and why? What made you join this group?

"Facebook Ruined my Relationship"

What do you think of this local news story about how Facebook ruins relationships?

Does new media create new problems -- or opportunities for them -- or is this just scapegoating for old problems? Would you say anything online that you wouldn't say in person?

Do you know people who have gotten into difficulties because of the ease of anonymous interaction on the web?

Facebook

Facebook is something we all know quite a bit about. Most of us have one ourselves. It has become such a huge part of our culture and a major part of the internet. Just a few years ago, no one had heard of such a place. Now it's even talked about in everyday life to the point where it's unavoidable.
After reading the articles about founder Mark Zuckerberg, I began to think and reflect a little bit more about Facebook. What do we really know about this site where we spend so much time and share so much with the world? After all, what do we really know about this mysterious computer "genius" who started it all?
Think about what you currently share on your Facebook (if you don't have one, think about what you would put out there if you did). Think of how your Facebook represents you as a person. What would you think if your parents saw your information, photos, etc.? How about a potential employer? Do you represent yourself in a way that is professional? Do you care what your Facebook says about you to those who view it? Are you worried at all about the security of your information?

Sign up for Blog Posts

The topics (though not all the questions pertaining to them) are up for the rest of the semester. Choose the day you want to be responsible for posting a blog entry here. This will require talking a little bit about the topic as well as posing questions for the class to answer prior to class time. Look over the calendar on Blackboard and choose a topic that you find of particular interest. First come, first served.


UPDATE: For Monday blog posts, you will have until midday Tuesday to respond. For Wed blog posts, you have until midday Friday. You do need to post a follow-up to your own post; feel free also to comment as the discussion unfolds.

Non-Profit Blogs

[Yes, your instructor is still ill -- there is a second blog post that will appear at the end of class time: be sure to do both assignments]

For today's assignment, you needed to choose a non-profit site. List your choice and discuss their founding, mission, and give examples of the ways that they engage followers and solicit new ones. How do they seek to appeal to new followers? How is the site different from the commercial sites and news media sites we have looked at? How do they convey their status is verbal and non-verbal ways? What do they have in common with commercial sites, i.e. what do they need to do the same as commercial sites?

Media Sites & Trust

Where do you get your news? Whom do you trust?

Media sites want to draw you to their pages and even more, to get you to return. There are all kinds of methods for this. Using Capital News 9 and the media site you chose, consider the following questions and whether both sources address them in the same way:

How are they set up? What is the balance of images v words? How do they use tabs (if they do)?
What do they think people are looking for?
How would you assess their level of responsiveness to the audience?
How do they establish a sense of "authority"?
Who is Channel 9 (and your other media site)? How are they presented? How complete is the information?
Do they work on your anxieties (e.g. the kind of stories that end with "...or your children may be in danger!"
How do they present themselves as part of the community?
How much user-generated content is there? Does it affect your assessment of the site as a "news" source?