We'll be hearing from Chicago Public Radio's Justin Kaufmann next week-- he's played many roles at the station and currently, as Senior Content Developer, runs blogs.vocalo.org, where WBEZ staff and a small team of independent journalists blog daily.
Justin is one of the people charged with helping WBEZ figure out how the station can best find and serve its audience-- and get their support-- in a world that's been changing quickly. In our own class's study, actual radios got very little use, as did live broadcasts of any kind. So how's a radio station supposed to survive?
Two other things about Justin:
1. He's funny. In his spare time, he's a member of a comedy troupe called Schadenfreude.
2. He's a Columbia alum.
What'll we ask him? That's largely up to you-- and it's a big chunk of your homework. Here's the whole assignment, with some links:
1. Monitor blogs.vocalo.org during the week. Pick a post you find interesting and link to it-- with a note about what you find interesting-- in the comments section of this post. Remember to put your name on your comment, so you get credit!
Note: "find interesting" and "like" are not necessarily the same thing. As we've been noting in class, every piece of content is pitched to a specific audience-- however big or small-- and you may not be a member of the target audience here. I'm asking for you to consider this not just as a consumer (with likes and dislikes) but as an observer of media trends. So, the question of whether you like this thing or not, that's a piece of data to observe. But your interest is analytical, which means something may be interesting because you don't understand what it's intent is, or because you're curious about what audience it's trying to address.
2. Submit up to three questions for Justin via Google Moderator by Wednesday, September 29 at 9 a.m.
3. Vote on three questions for Justin via Google Moderator by Thursday, September 30, at 9 a.m.
Cool? Cool.
LAUREN PETROW!
ReplyDeletehttp://blogs.vocalo.org/jkaufmann/2010/09/why-do-we-hate-the-green-bay-packers-let-me-count-the-ways/38018
Why do we hate the Green Bay Packers? Let me count the ways..
I thought this was interesting. As being a girl, who doesn't really follow football too much, I was hooked on this article. I always cheered for the Chicago Bears, just because my family said so. Also, I hated the packers, just because my family said so. I guess this story got me hooked because I really wanted to know WHY everyone hates the packers. Was it somewhat of a stereotype? Its because of the rivlarly there is between them. In 1986 when a bunch of different things happened between people. In my opinion, this is a good article because everyone wonders why there is such a big rivalry or why everyone HATES the packers when they root for the bears.
Chris Leyva
ReplyDeletehttp://blogs.vocalo.org/jkaufmann/2010/09/bears-fever-wouldnt-you-like-to-be-a-peppers-too-and-other-random-observations-from-bears-packers/38148#more-38148
I found it very interesting how a Bears win on a national stage ignites someone to do more for the city. In fact, it's amazing a monday night game unites a city. I couldn't believe I found myself watching my first football game in two years!
http://blogs.vocalo.org/srobertson/2010/09/chicago-in-the-national-news-928/38247
ReplyDeleteThis post seems kind of choppy to me- I don't understand how the first and last paragraphs have anything to do with each other. Anyway, I found it interesting that Chicago was rated the fifth "walker friendly" city in the U.S. because of our spacious lakefront sidewalks. I must say, I agree. We do have some ginormous sidewalks, and I enjoy walking down them. I do not feel overcrowded (usually).
Jessica VanGorder
ReplyDeletehttp://blogs.vocalo.org/jkaufmann/2010/09/cubs-skipper-mike-quade-sits-down-to-reflect-on-team-future/38113
I understand that this article is directed towards baseball fans, particularly Cubs fans. However, it didn't do a good job at really explaing to those of us who might read it on a whim and then not really understand what it means. However, it did make me want to go find more descriptive articles to get more knowledge.
http://blogs.vocalo.org/srobertson/2010/09/chicago-in-the-national-news-929/38391
ReplyDeleteChicago in the national news: 9/29
I think this article was directed at those who like to hear about the tight security measures the United Sates is taking in our airports. And the fact that the Indian Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patelwas was mistaken for someone on America's watch list is a crazy coincidence. What are the odds that the two would share the same name and birthday?
http://blogs.vocalo.org/jderogatis/2010/09/album-review-robyn-%e2%80%9cbody-talk-pt-2%e2%80%9d/37762
ReplyDeleteIts Victoria!!
This particular blog about this 31 year old, Gaga wanna-be name Robyn is so interesting to me because first the author of the blog states, Rolling Stone says, " Robyn does Eurodisco better than Gaga" which i think is so wrong, NO one is better than Gaga. Second the author says "Robyn can't really sing". Now how is this Robyn woman so much better than Gaga, and can't even sing? Just because you dress like an Pop Diva doesnt mean your one. You have to have talent behind it hunny. Duh!!
Derek Shlepr, here
ReplyDeleteThe article I thought was interesting can be found here:
http://blogs.vocalo.org/oyousef/2010/09/american-islamic-college-returns-to-chicago/38321
I liked that the author of the article gave some history to the new Islamic College - some background as to how it came about, and what has happened with this idea before, rather than just focusing on what is available at the college. I really wished that the author discussed, or at least suggested what this may mean for our country. A totally Islamic College being built in America will likely be seen as a big deal for some people. I wish the author would have considered some implications of this college being erected.
From Maria Suska
ReplyDeleteThe article that I found interesting is :http://blogs.vocalo.org/bey/2010/09/the-bears-the-packers-and-the-time-i-took-elvis-wifes-picture-at-soldier-field/38135
I love Elvis and anything to do with him. I enjoyed reading the story about how he met Priscilla Presley. Even though the Bears lost, he met Priscilla, so it was a win win situation.
http://blogs.vocalo.org/jderogatis/2010/09/rimshots-a-fall-out-boy-regroups-riot-fest-expands-noise-for-new-year%e2%80%99s-and-girl-talk%e2%80%99s-chicago-concert-vid/38221
ReplyDeleteThis is an article I found on the bassist of Fall Out Boy, Pete Wentz, and his new band. What drew me in was the picture of Wentz and the unfamiliar band name next to it, bringing back memories of the discovery of Fall Out Boy's breakup. As a Fall Out Boy fan, I felt the need to scroll past this article. However, the ambiguity of who the girl is next to him was just too intense for my curiousity. I thought the article was incredibly descriptive and informative, quoting Wentz from his own blog. The other element that I found interesting and what made me keep reading was the picture's caption, which reads "Pete's the prettier one on the left".
- Lisa Schulz
Anjel Saez
ReplyDeletehttp://blogs.vocalo.org/srobertson/2010/09/chicago-in-the-national-news-929/38391
While the blog spoke of a couple stories, I'd like to focus on one. That is, the story of an elderly woman shooting a 12 year old boy. When heard out of context of the story, it sounds terrible. After all, why would a senior citizen shoot a child? Apparently the kid(s) had it coming, since he (two were actually shot at) and a bunch of fellow students were terrorizing this particular senior citizen for some time. Enough where she was legally within bounds to retaliate and call it self defense.
I was drawn to the absurd nature of the story. I wanted to know why she shot a kid, and particularly why the kid(s) deserved it. Turns out they did.
Shawn Donoghue
ReplyDeletehttp://blogs.vocalo.org/aobejas/2010/09/video-my-discussion-about-latino-politics-on-chicago-tonight/38397
I found this story to be of interest for many reasons. I liked the way the TV host brought in experts in this field with slightly differing opinions. I also thought that not only their being minorities as Latinos, but also being women was an intriguing choice. I also liked how the reporter didn't generalize the group and asked questions about all the different nationalities that make up the Hispanic group. I also think it's interesting how this piece is really only directed towards a small group of people.
Joslyn Moore
ReplyDeletehttp://blogs.vocalo.org/dolinsky/2010/09/top-5-burgers-in-chicago/38311
"TOP FIVE BURGERS IN CHICAGO" by Steve Dolinsky from Adventures in Urban Eating:
I feel this article is very interesting. Not only can the target audience be for adults, young adults, burger lovers, Chicago natives, but also for new-comers to Chicago who need to know where to get a quality burger. Besides a vegetarian/vegan, who wouldn't want to learn where to get an amazing burger? The picture of a juicy quarter pounder tantalizes the audience, and then they're drawn into the article. Next to the each of the five listings of beefy burger bars are phone numbers. This is convenient for the audience. The descriptions of the burgers served at the restaurants are short, sweet, enticing...just what you would expect from a food connoisseur. It was a well constructed article with a catchy intro (the picture). The source is believable as well as what I would think to be credible.
Personally (aka un-analytically), this article inspires me--as a college kid stuck on cafeteria food--to stroll about the city, hop into one of the mentioned joints, and grab a juicy, thick slab of meat encased in lettuce, tomato, onions, ketchup, maybe even mushrooms...Mmmmmm. (I think I'll visit DMK Burger Bar or Top Notch Beefburger). In conclusion, I enjoyed reading this post.
Ursula Barker
ReplyDeletehttp://blogs.vocalo.org/aobejas/2010/09/citylife-why-chicago-wont-have-a-latino-mayor/37073#more-37073
This article is about the Chicago mayoral election, and how according to the author, neither of the two running Latino candidates will win. I found it really interesting the way the author described the two running Latino candidates; how one seems to practice nepotism and does some fairly low-life things, and how the other one is almost broke and doesn't do much when running for office. Not to mention that according to the author, Latinos only make up to 15% of the city's voters, and they won't stand a chance against "big dogs" Rahm Emanuel and Tom Dart.