Dissemination and Dialogue
So, here I am. "Sowing my seed" as John Durham Peters would say (quoting the Bible). I
am publicizing my thoughts broadly and hoping that maybe someone will take the time to read them. This is the heart of dissemination- that a seed or thought is spread across a wide audience, knowing that it won't reach most people but with the hope that it reaches a few. In Chapter 2 "From Bards to Blogs" of Rettburg's book, he discusses this idea of information dissemination versus the idea of dialogue. Rettburg uses Peters as an example of one who supports the idea of dissemination of information, quoting Matthew 13:3-9 as an example. On the other hand, Plato strongly believes that dialogue is the most effective form of communication because a person is able to respond directly to the audience and that words are not being thrown around recklessly. I tend to agree with Rettburg that blogs are an excellent combination of both of these ideas because it allows for a wide audience to view the information while at the same time providing a means for direct communication through comments, etc. The Internet, in general, seems to have this set-up. I believe that this is beneficial because there are pros and cons to mass media and to personal conversations, but through these ends, the ideas are able to balance out. This ties back into the idea of author transparency that has been discussed in previous posts because the author is able to be known and communicated with easily.
Public Sphere
I am currently in a political communications class where we are reading Jurgen Habermas's book, The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere. I thought it was quite interesting how Rettburg presented the idea of the public sphere here. He focused on the influence that the transition to silent reading has had on the public sphere. This shift led to a relationship solely between the text and the reader. This places more emphasis on the growing division between the private and the public because now even literature doesn't have to be a public event or read aloud. In class, we have been discussing the influence of capitalism and how this is driving the private realm to grow, but we haven't talked about how we read as influence on this as well. I do think that what an individual reads privately can easily be brought into rational debate within the public sphere, thus still allowing the private and public strata to interact.
Connectedness
In Chapter Three, "Blogs, Communities, and Networks," Rettburg focuses on how blogs and social media allow for people to be connected across the Internet. I have personal experience with this because Facebook has allowed me to still be connected with people from middle school or younger that I otherwise wouldn't have thought of in years. This is the audience that I'm used to tailoring my social media to. Blogs, on the other hand, allow for a different type of audience, one that the author likely doesn't know personally but is interested in the topic of discussion. This has caused my to change my personal writing style to tailor to people not knowing me or having the same background knowledge that I do. Others, like you who are currently reading this, may have a deeper understanding of this topic or may not have any exposure (though you found this blog, so congrats for that accomplishment!). Therefore, I try to be as clear with my wording and my explanations as I can.
Rettburg discusses a site called LinkedIn, which is a more professional website allowing for employers to hire employees and for someone to gain professional connections. I hadn't heard of this site until I was a college student, probably because it wasn't relevant to my life until then, but I have yet to truly explore its potential. I do have an account though, and I'd love to begin building those connections. This idea leads into the idea that "weak ties" are more effective socially than "strong ties" because those people that are only acquaintances usually hold information that you don't have. Through weak ties, it may be easier to find a job opportunity due a web of connections rather just a small, inner circle.
Internet Permanence
Rettburg says that internet postings are "persistent" because they continue to be around despite being deleted or hidden. I tend to think that postings are more than persistent but rather are permanent. Anyone could screen shot something or copy it without your knowledge, so although it may be completely eliminated from the World Wide Web, an unknown person may have access to this still. I cannot count the times that I was told, "If you don't want it across the front page of the newspaper, don't post it." I try to take this seriously because bosses and family and countless others could make that happen. The idea of this permanence makes me nervous, however, because it lends itself to cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying is a growing issue because it is easy to be anonymous and to manipulate material. Also, because digital media is becoming so accessible, it is difficult for parents to constantly monitor what their children are doing on social media. This makes it easier for people to say things or do something that they would never do in real life; anonymity gives them a surprising boldness. If you see cyberbullying, please report it because it really impacts the lives of those involved.
Life Postings
The final topic Rhettburg discusses is the idea that anything we do digitally can be monitored and publicly shared if desired. This includes where we are, what we search and read, when we get emails, what events our calendars have on them, text messages sent, etc. I shudder to think about this, not because I have something to hide, but simply because privacy is a luxury that is quickly slipping away. Needless to say, the world does not need to know everything about me, nor do I care to know where others are at all times or what they are doing. A public image is important to have, but a private understanding of yourself and time to be truly alone is also healthy.
Discussion Questions
How do we feel about private life being so publicized, and permanently, through digital media? How can bloggers most effectively take advantage of the weak ties that they have established on their blogs?
Hopefully, based off of the title for this post, you were able to gather what I would be writing about. Headlines are tools that an audience uses to be able to scan effectively and to pick reads that interest them. So thanks for being interested!
Headlines
In the book, Writing for Digital Media, Brian Carroll addresses the idea of being able to write an effective headline. He says that headlines not only allow readers to choose what to read but also "help readers determine what not to read." I think that this is an excellent point because readers will skip over articles or posts that don't have engaging and informative titles. I, personally, enjoy writing puns or creative titles, but those usually obscure the information behind the article, and readers will gloss over this. After reading the chapter on "Headlines and Hypertexts," I realized that, with all the time that I spend on the Internet, I already knew most of how to write an effective headline simply based on experience. If I don't know what an article is about, I won't read it. If the headline is too small or hidden, I don't notice it. I realize the ease of having text broken down into sections that are easier to scan (Therefore, if you're here to read more about blogging etiquette, please easily continue to scan down to that section- it's conveniently labeled for you). Sometimes headlines can be difficult to write, but if your writing itself is focused enough, you should be able to use "the key-word method." In other words, think about the overarching content that you discuss and try to include those words in your title.
Hypertexts
Hypertext is most commonly found in the form of hyperlinks. I've found that Wikipedia seems to make the most effective use of these. Not only can a reader find examples all three types of hyperlinks: embedded links, inline links, and anchors, but a reader's experience is enhanced by their use. For example, say that I wanted to look up what an anesthesiologist is, Wikipedia has a definition that is easily accessible. But as the article progresses, there are links to other pages that help provide various definitions that may benefit my comprehension of what an anesthesiologist is. Also, at the bottom, there are a list of external links for sources outside of Wikipedia that can enhance and enrich the experience. (Remember, though, that Wikipedia may not always be a reliable source even though it often gives a good base understanding). Hypertexts, too, I already knew a lot about from experience. I find myself incorporating hyperlinks by imitating how other sites present them. Carroll notes that hyperlinks should be distinct from the other writing so that readers can distinguish them, they should be consistently presented in the same way, and they should not disrupt the readers experience. I thought it was an interesting point that he discussed how these links were allowing us to get away from a linear way of reading and allowing us to bounce through mountains of material.
Blogging Etiquette
This was a topic that I was a little bit more unfamiliar with since I don't frequently read blogs and have never had one of my own. The general points that I picked up from Carroll's chapter, "Blogito, Ergo Sum," was to update frequently and to be as transparent as possible. Also, it is usually a good idea to follow your own code of ethics, which I had not really thought about. However, more people will trust you if you can show who you are, where you stand, and what your morals are. With trust comes credibility. Therefore, since my blog is an analysis of topics in digital communication, I will always try to provide links to any online sources and to reference the author and title if it is not. I want to promote interconnectivity and allow others to form their own opinions of what I have addressed.
The book I have been pulling from is available online for a price, so you can read Writing for Digital Media as well if you decide to purchase it.
