How the Supply Chain ruined Christmas

On December 2, 2021 By Rachel BrancoIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

The disruption in supply change and the global chip shortage, caused by the pandemic is continuing to affect society as the holidays roll around. With the season filled with gift giving just upon us, Christmas shopping might be more of a headache this year with shipping timeline buying delayed and inventory maintenance at an all time low. People looking to buy high tech gifts better plan early, experts say, such as Patrick Moorhead, chief executive of Moor Insights, a tech research firm. The top products on top of people’s Christmas list this year are Sony’s PlayStation 5, Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Nintendo’s new Switch. For most parents getting their hands on their devices through instore retail has been out of the question with supplies being minimal. Online has not been much better with online retailers such as Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon and more selling out in minutes and in some cases seconds. Some tech savvy individuals have turned to set up bots that are set up to launch when drops happen and check out for you in seconds. Some bots have proven to be scams however, so make sure it is not buying products directly from users. Other strategies have been utilizing Twitter to sound off notification from certain accounts that give early announcements to product release and deals. Most modern big business ecommerce sites have the power to preload account information, which is a good idea in this instance so check out is as fast as possible.

Headphones, phones and computers have also been popular items for the holiday season but disruption of them has been disrupted by the chip shortage. Analog chips specifically, the circuits that gadgets rely on to manage power. speakers and earphones have been out of commission. Unfortunately companies like Apple and Sony have developed their own chips for audio gear, making their products top of line. Cheaper computer models are also taking a hit this year with the lack of USB chip controllers supplying effective manufacturing numbers. Again the more expensive big business computers such as apple, Macs are not experiencing this type of supply chain issues because they have their own USB hardwear. These effects in the supply chain have been predicted by certain tech professionals to last upwards of December 2022. For the national population the advice I gathered from experts was to shop early, plan big purchases and think creatively about gift giving, if not expect to be giving out a lot of I owe U’s.

Hulu Pulls Travis Scott Documentary After Backlash

On December 2, 2021 By sophiamarrone8667In UncategorizedLeave a comment

Hulu - Astroworld Concert From Hell — Image Via Variety.com

The streaming wars have resulted in many platforms going to great lengths for new and original content. Documentaries have been on the rise since the inception of COVID-19, and Hulu was quick to turn around a documentary titled Astroworld: Concert from Hell. On Wednesday, the documentary was released and swiftly taken down after backlash on social media. The documentary was 50 minutes long and featured videos from the concert and testimonies from attendees. Hulu has since released a statement saying that the 50 minute video was not a Hulu documentary and misinterpreted by the public. Many people do not believe that statement. The overall public response has been that it was in poor taste to release this documentary when people are still mourning loved ones. Many have also criticized how high the production value could be, given that it was ready so quickly after the incident.

“This was an investigative local news special from ABC13/KTRK-TV in Houston that originally aired on November 20th. This was not a Hulu documentary and has since been removed to avoid confusion.”
https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/hulu-pulls-astroworld-concert-from-hell-documentary-backlash-1235124470/

Podcast Propaganda

On December 2, 2021 By Rachel BrancoIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

With podcast media on the rise, it seems everyone with an opinion and enough money for audio equipment has the platform to reach thousands of listeners. Rick Wiles is a pastor, and a self-described, “prophet and citizen reporter.” Based out of Florida, he is the host of “The End Times” and survivalist themed radio program “Trunews.” His podcast is available on the platform iHeartMedia which reaches 90% of Americans each month. The conservative Christian is being popularized in the last week for his spewing comments such as, “Covid-19 vaccines were the product of a Global coup d’état by the most evil cabal of people in the history of mankind.” The rightist conspirators are unfortunate all over popular media, with high followerships on Spotify and Apple music. The “citizen reporters” in this case, primary focus is spreading misleading propaganda of information surrounding Covid-19 and effective treatments for it. The research done by the article provides that iHeart radio does now have a section in their content guidelines about promoting misleading or false states regarding Covid-19. Apple’s content guidelines were also very broad, not covering this new avenue of content. Spotify on the other hand specifically spells out their stance on misleading and false statements made about Covid-19 as well a swift removal process. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has not taken charge yet on this issue but could begin to investigate given the rise in public disapproval of other digital media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and Youtube for topics similar. The FCC proclaims that since podcasts are not a part of public airwaves then it is not in the jurisdiction to take charge. As for the tech giants some have taken the negative media attention seriously and made changes to the content guideline and libraries. Youtube just in September of 2021 banned accounts of popular anti-vaccine activists, following suit. Twitter went as far as scrubbing all of their ad placements to not have any anti-vaccine promotions after the Facebook trials in 2019. There seems to be a lack of government interest and a level of liability to fix this problem. Due to the rise of these “independent journalists” movement around media companies, it is hard to pin them down for fines and offenses due to the first amendment and fear of retaliation from the fervent supporters. The best it seems we can do for the moment, is keep the public warry on the source and media choices they are using, while promoting more holistic research practices.

TikTok expands money-making opportunities for content creators with ‘Creator Next’

On December 2, 2021December 2, 2021 By alanapotIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/1/22811973/tiktok-creator-next-monetization-tips-video-gifts

Tiktok is expanding opportunities for creatures to generate revenue through the actual Tiktok app. Most creators originally generated money through securing deals and sponsorships outside of the app. However, in 2020 Tiktok started its $200 million dollar creator fund, which rewards popular creators on the app. With CreatorNext, it is “where eligible creators can easily unlock new and existing tools to be rewarded for their creativity on TikTok.” according to a statement by the company.

To be eligible to use the tools that come with CreatorNext, a user needs to be 18+, based in the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, or Spain, have at least 3 posts in the last 30 days, have at least 1,000 video views in the last 30 days and meet a minimum follower requirement depending on the region.

The tools available include the Tiktok Creator Fund, Tiktok Creator Marketplace (TTCM), LIVE gifts, Video gifts, and Tips. TTCM is an in-app platform to connect brands and sponsors with creators for partnerships. This gives the company more leverage as a middle man for deals that would normally occur outside of the app. With LIVE gifts, TikTok awards ‘diamonds’ to creators with popular LIVE videos, and it is based on gifts given by live viewers. These ‘diamonds’ can be converted into money by the creator. Video gifts are similar but based on short video views instead of LIVE ones. Finally, Tips allow creators to receive tips from viewers who want to show their support.

Overall, the implementation of these aspects shows that being a “content creator” as a job, where part or full-time, is becoming a more concrete idea rather than previous ideas. While it can be fun to create videos, its is becoming more apparent to the public that you can make money from it as well.

Roth, Emma. “TikTok rolls out Creator Next and expands money-making opportunities for creators”, 1, December 2021. The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/1/22811973/tiktok-creator-next-monetization-tips-video-gifts

https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/creator-next

Chris Cuomo suspended indefinitely by CNN

On December 1, 2021 By aliceherrickIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Earlier today, CNN announced that they would be dropping their news anchor, Chris Cuomo, following new information bout how he aided his brother, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, during his alleged sexual misconduct controversies. To recap, Andrew Cuomo has been under investigation by the attorney general’s office after eleven women came forward, accusing Cuomo of engaging in unwanted sexual advancements, and impropriate behavior.

It should be made clear that Chris Cuomo is not in hot water for his association with his brother. According to documents released by the New York Attorney general revealed that Chris had “a greater level of involvement in his brother’s efforts than we previously knew.” These documents included records of texts messages between Chris Cuomo and his brother’s staff members, providing private information about some of the women who have come forward with allegations of misconduct.

A CNN spokesperson said, “…he broke our rules and we acknowledged that publicly. But we also appreciate the unique position he was in.” So far, Chris has not commented on nor acknowledged this turn of events, but continues to defend his brother. On his SiriusXM radio show, Chris stated, “I did not want him [Andrew Cuomo] to resign in the beginning, because I believed him, and I thought that you don’t resign, you ask for due process.”

Petition Surpasses 60,000 Signatures for Ban of James Corden in ‘Wicked’ Movie

On December 1, 2021 By troypittman13In UncategorizedLeave a comment

James Corden is known for many things, but what’s most memorable is his outgoing television personality. The Late Late Show with James Corden airs weeknights from 12:37am/11:37 pm c. According to CBS, the Late Late Show is the “ultimate late night party”. With a mix of celebrity guests, performances, comedy segments and games, Corden’s sure to keep you entertained. He’s also known for his popular carpool segment that features him driving in downtown LA with celebrities. He sings a variety of songs with his guests as they talk about their career accomplishments and upcoming business their fans should look out for.

Corden is also seen in Disney’s ‘Into The Woods’ (2014) alongside actors like Anna Kendrick, Meryl Streep, and Johnny Depp. The film got a 71% on Rotten Tomatoes and generated $212.90 million in gross revenue. Corden played the Baker in this film who wishes to break a spell given to his family by a witch. Corden is also featured in ‘Cats’ directed by Tom Hooper. ‘Cats’ was a star studded with actors like Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson, Idris Elba, Jason Derulo, etc. Although the star filled cast grew the films anticipation for its debut, the film received horrible reviews. It earned a 20% on rotten tomatoes and 2.7 on IMDb, making people scratch their heads at how this could be. Critics believed the film to be a disaster because of its overuse of CGI and wandering script. Many fans believed it to be straight up “bizarre” and “creepy”, despite its musical/fantasy approach. James Corden can also be found in Amazon Prime Video’s Cinderella and The Prom on Netflix. But James Corden has not been a fan favorite as it pertains to Broadway musicals.

On November 16th, 2020 Ariana Grande was chosen to sing ‘The Wizard And I’ for the 15th Anniversary of Wicked. Grande is best known for her singing, songwriting, and acting abilities. Her recent albums like Positions, Dangerous Woman, and Sweetener can be found on Apple Music, Spotify, and iHeart radio. Cynthia Erivo best known for her acting, singing, and songwriting abilities were nominated for various awards: Golden Globes, Daytime Emmy Award, Primetime Emmy Award, Grammy, etc. She can be seen in ‘Harriet’ (2019), ‘Widows’ (2018), Boss Baby: Back In Business (2018), etc. With Corden having close ties with the Broadway community, this appeared to be surprising to some of his fans. This stems from his bad history with musical adaptations and a decrease in his popularity. Musical critics believe Corden isn’t talented enough to handle any role in Wicked. And fans began this petition to encourage directors and producers to not include Corden in this timeless musical. But enough negativity. James Corden still hosts The Late Late Show on CBS at 12:35 am and still receives good reviews from loyal watchers. His YouTube channel for The Late Late Show has maintained a whopping 27.1 million subscribers since the last episode/segment featured on the channel.

In Defense of Social Media

On December 1, 2021 By aliceherrickIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

It would seem like public opinion regarding social media has certainly been on the decline in the last few years. With no shortage of platform controversies and new data about its negative impact on mental health, more and more people have been preaching the idea that the best way to set yourself free, is to just quit. Say goodbye. Log off. Go outside. But is going “cold turkey” really the solution? In a recent Forbes article, John Brandon explained why cutting all ties from social media could actually have a negative impact if not properly thought out. This article was in response to a TED Talk by Professor Cal Newport, where the professor highlighted a variety of negative effects from platform usage. Since the TED Talk was from 2016, not all the issues we’ve come to know now were covered. In the past few years, social media has been associated with causing depression and negative self-image, addiction and lessening attention spans, spreading misinformation and disinformation, selling private data, and causing further divisiveness among a society in the midst of social/political turmoil… to name just a few issues.

That list alone could be enough to make anyone want to throw in the towel on social media for good, but Brandon explained how that could be a recipe for disaster. “Quitting is not the same as controlling” he wrote. Brandon’s take on social media usage is similar to how we would talk about drinking or eating junk food in moderation. Most things that are done in excess tend to have negative side effect regardless of their original intention, and social media is no exception. As much as some of us would like to believe it, a platform is not just some wicked entity; it’s a tool (as Brandon put it), and as autonomous individuals, we have the power to decide how we utilize this tool. And similar to vices like drinking or junk food, if we feel we’ve abused it, quitting cold turkey tends to backfire.

More than anything, I worry about the “cold turkey” approach because people eventually get sucked back into using the apps. “I’m deleting my account” says the person who is not able to control usage, and hasn’t dealt with a tendency to overuse the apps. A few weeks or months later, that person is back using the app again, maybe even more than ever before.
John Brandon, Forbes Magazine 2021

This is not to say that you shouldn’t leave social media if you truly want to. Heck, I was offline for most of 2019 and have no regrets about it. It’s just important to remember all the benefits that having these accounts comes with if used responsibly and in moderation. Being connected to world means an endless stream of discovery and inspiration. It means having a direct way of communicating with friends and family that may live across the world. It means more opportunity to promote your passions. I’m not ashamed to say that I won’t leave social media out of fear of general FOMO. I understand how rapidly networking technology is accelerating, and I don’t want to miss out. Though, it does need to change for the better. It will be interesting to see what type of regulations are put in place on the web in the coming years, if any. Though until then, our best course of action to avoid the negative implications of living online is to get a better sense of ourselves, look within, and be honest about if we’re using these tools responsibly.

Debate on How to Cover Trump Leading into the 2024 Election

On December 1, 2021 By tuh22264In UncategorizedLeave a comment

Greg Sargent, a writer for the Washington Post recently published an article analyzing how mainstream media networks are planning on covering Donald Trump as the 2024 election looms closer. Trump is rumored to run for president again, and as of the date of writing it appears as if he is the favorite. Opposition to Trump running for a second term is high at 58%, but 64% believe Biden shouldn’t run again, which is extremely concerning for the Democratic party. Not to mention, Kamala Harris’ approval rating is worse than Biden’s 38% at an abysmal 28%.

As a heavy critic of mainstream media, it is admittedly somewhat refreshing to see at-least a portion of the on-air personalities self-critique themselves as to not repeat their mistakes in covering Trump in 2016 which gave him billions of dollars in free advertising and arguably helped him win. Jon Karl of NBC News said this about how the media should cover a Trump 2024 run:

“It’s an immense challenge because you’re covering — you’re covering essentially an anti-democratic candidate, you’re covering somebody running in a system that is trying to undermine that very system and somebody who is going to be perpetually lying.”

I agree with Karl in this sentiment, but I also think it is important not to overthink their strategy. If the goal is not to boost Trump up, the media needs to stop openly dogging on him constantly, because that emboldens his supporters and makes them feel like they are supporting an outsider candidate, which is an attractive idea. Instead, I think the solution lays in treating him like just another candidate. Prioritize airing stories that actually effect the American people: the infrastructure bill, the current state of COVID, etc., and only mention Trump when is it contextually relevant to do so.

Omicron: Variant Unknown

On November 30, 2021 By johnwilson21In UncategorizedLeave a comment

COVID-19 has been a worldwide issue for just about two years, and it will not be going away any time soon, if ever. There are new variants of the disease that are spreading, the newest one being named Omicron. Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, there was a surge in news coverage over the new variant. The issue with this coverage is that there is a scarce amount of information on the new Omicron variant. Author and Podcaster Derek Thompson, a relevant source on the topic, claims that we have information on the variant but are not sure what much of it really means yet. The government’s angle on this is to report that this is a potential health risk, but to not misinform the public, whether that means they make people too scared of it or not aware of enough of the risks.

The whole COVID situation is relevant to every person in the world. Obviously, the situation is not good for anybody, but we have to be aware of it. I am tired of dealing with COVID and all of the variants just as much as anybody else is, but we must know the information surrounding the disease and the health risks of the variants. While information on Omicron is not readily available, we must stay on our toes for incoming news about it and the future it could leave our country in.

Current Issues In Media Management

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