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Final Reading and Reflection Post
Blog Revisions and/or Additions
On my blog I have changed my writing to ensure that it is designed for web reading. I referred a lot to Lynda Felder’s book, Writing for the Web. I tried to write more succinctly in order to hold the viewer’s attention and make the content easy for the viewer to understand. I edited my sentences to have more simple sentence structures. I paid attention to my longer sentences and tried to shorten them to make them briefer and to the point. I realized some of my blog posts contained excess words and made a point to find those excess words and eliminate them. I also changed some sentences that sounded too cliché, specifically sentences in my reading reflection post. Furthermore, I linked the authors and their official sites when I stated a book or reading, to benefit the audience in case they wanted to potentially read the content themselves or learn more about the author.
In terms of my topic posts I added hyperlinks to my sources in order to be transparent with my audience on where the information is coming from. On my particular blog post, Getting Out and About, I added sources with hyperlinks, so my reader can read and gain greater knowledge on certain information that I did not go as in depth with. In the post where I discussed children wanting to replicate the behavior they were seeing on television by their favorite character, I cited Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory. By adding Bandura’s theory into my post, parents can see that there is data that shows kids emulate examples of cartoon characters or other television behaviors. Her social learning theory is a well-established theory that helps parents understand the importance of observed behavior and attitude for their children.
I also made changes to my blog aesthetics. I added some color in order to hopefully create some brand recognition. I choose a light yellow to hopefully set the mood of my blog as comforting and peaceful. My audience will be parents seeking advice, and I want to create a place where they feel relaxed. Nothing vibrant or daunting. Additionally, I changed the topography. I kept the same simplicity of the font as I want to create a very simple vibe, so parents have an easy time reading it! The simpler the better when dealing with parent life!
You as a Professional & Digital Media
My potential professional path will hopefully lead me to becoming a nurse. I envision myself ultimately working in a hospital on a pediatric oncology unit. As a Communications major on the pre-nursing track, I plan to have digital media play a large role in connection to my professional path. Through digital media I hope to connect with colleagues and use it to establish a professional network, specifically through LinkedIn. Additionally, I can engage and encourage discussions with peers and professional development.
The healthcare industry benefits largely from digital media as it creates an easier way for information to be passed among hospital administrators, doctors, staff, and patients. Having experience with technology and digital media will hopefully be a major advantage in my professional career as a nurse. Today many nurses are of the older generation and do not have the technological skills needed. Digital media can potentially help me kick start my career as a nurse because I can develop a unique online portfolio and have skills that set me apart from my colleagues.
Digital media can assist me in my professional career by allowing me access to information in real-time. Media can be an effective tool for continuing my knowledge and education to support my skill development. However, I do acknowledge the very nature of digital media and that it can pose a risk for me in my professional career. Digital media offers instantaneous posting opportunities that allow little time for reflective thought. In worse case scenarios could lead to action in the court of law. In Brian Carroll’s book, Writing & Editing for Digital Media, helps readers understand and navigate the legal landscape in this digital age. Privacy and patient confidentiality is a big component in healthcare and nursing and can lead to a lot of issues if not understood properly. Carroll emphasizes the importance of understanding the legal contexts in which digital writers gather and publish information but also recognizing the freedoms and protections offered by the First Amendment. In my professional path as a nurse and using digital medial, I will need to be extremely aware and cautious of communication “malpractice”. Working with patients is a very private matter, and I will need to avoid patient disclosure pitfalls.
You as a Citizen & Digital Media
As I envision my future citizenship-related role, I hope to be a nurse advocate and be part of the American Nurses Association (ANA). As part of my brand, I have a love of helping others, and I believe I have a unique way of doing so. My potential job as a nurse would make me an advocate every day. The art of intervening for patients is taught from the moment nursing school begins.
Through participating in ANA, I be offered tools, information, and resources to become the most effective advocate. Being involved in ANA will make me a more qualified nursing advocate and hopefully drive forward health care change using different digital media platforms. I will make phone calls to elected representatives about bills under consideration and share my opinion on legislation.
Digital media would play a large role in connection to my citizenship. It is a powerful method of advocating. I would use digital media as a platform to advocate for patients and their families. Through digital media, I would empower families in the healthcare system. I would encourage them to use media as an outlet to express their concerns. I can offer advice and support very quickly through digital media and demonstrate compassion and empathy with patients and families.
There is a lot of conflicting information out there for patients. Through a website of my own, I hope to establish credibility, so that patients can gain reliable and accurate information on the subjects they are searching. Brian Carroll discusses the importance of credibility in his book, Writing & Editing for Digital Media. Carroll states that “many if not most of these newer studies suggest that those who do look online for their information deem what they find as more credible than that found in traditional print media” (Carroll 129). This statement highlights the amount of people relying on online information rather than traditional print media. It suggests the most effective way to communication with citizens and patients is through digital media. Communication is incredibly important when being an advocate. Digital media can ensure fast communication amongst providers and patients.
I would use different social media platforms to target different demographics. For example, Twitter tends to attract younger, more urban users, versus Facebook. With this in mind, I will rely on varying platforms for specific objectives and audiences. Patient advocacy can drastically range in and digital media and certain social media platforms can help me communicate effectively to my different audiences.
Reading Reflection 2
As Felder points, storytelling is an extremely important process. No matter the audience you are targeting, you must keep the story simple yet relatable. Chappell states “you have a short time to tell your story, so it needs to be distilled down into a strong, concise piece.” It is essential to convey all your ideas in a concise manner. Chappell shares with us that each story should contain a beginning, a middle, and an end. In the beginning segment of the film Chappell teaches us to begin a film by setting the scene and introducing the audience to the major characters. In the middle, characters should be engaging in action and conflict. Often times the protagonist faces a challenge and must overcome it. The best films are when there is clear conflict. Lastly, the end is when the conflict comes to an end and a resolution is reached. It is important to address significant characters and inform the audience about whether or not characters ended up reaching their goals and overcoming obstacles.
Interviews are a very important component of storytelling. Chappell says, “interviews are often the crux of documentary filmmaking”. Interviewees play a key role in telling the story and can be used in a voice-over roll in the absence of a narrator. When interviewing an individual, it is important to remember a few things:
- Compile a list of questions ahead of time
- Schedule ample timefor interview
- Listen to what the subject is saying and follow up with related questions
- Always use a quiet environment as noise can be very distracting
In Chapter 10, “Navigating the Legal Landscape”, Carroll helps us understand the basics of libel and privacy law. The two primary forms of communication “malpractice” is invasion of privacy and libel. Libel is a method of defamation that is an untrue defamatory statement that is made in writing. The statement made must harm the reputation of another person. Carroll says, “allegations of libel are included in about three-fourths of all the lawsuits filed against media”. However, most of them are dismissed before every getting to a jury. It is important to be aware for all content you are publishing about others. Stay away from content that is not true or claims that cannot be verified. Always be fair and honest when writing about a person.
In Johnson’s article, “Digital branding by Catalonia, the Basque Country, and Scotland” focuses on innovativeness, collaboration, social justice, and environmental sustainability. Johnson highlights that visual communication is central when expressing a nation’s brand. Branding includes logos, typefaces, symbols, and slogans to convey geographical territory and identity. Typography, color palette, and layout styles all need to be considered when thinking about branding. Deliberate choices are made through public diplomacy and strategic communication.
In Winter’s article, he studies the Islamic State brand. With ISIS brand, different multimedia serves a purpose. For example, the video of ISIS cleaning up the streets shows that ISIS is somewhat like a utopia. ISIS targets different audiences and creates different purpose for each.
You may be wondering how exactly do you locate your brand? Make a list of your strengths and your passions. When looking for a job, read the job description and see if your strength and passions align with the job description.
Digital Media and Kids
Today, technology is an inescapable part of a kid’s world.
The reality of modern childhood is that kids of all ages are spending time watching television, or in front of an iPhone or iPad.
Let’s talk about the issue parents are extremely concerned about – screen time.
As with every aspect of parenting, there are many different views about screen time. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends no screen time for children before 18 months. For children ages 18 to 24 months, the AAP says parents that want to introduce digital media should choose high-quality programming and a parent should be present. For children ages 2 to 5 years, parents should limit screen time to one hour per day. For children six years and older, parents should place consistent limits on screen time.
These are excellent goals to strive for but realistically how attainable is this? Perhaps not so attainable in a world where technology and screens make up a huge part of our lives. Despite the large presence of digital media, scientists and pediatricians communicate strongly against allowing children to be exposed to screens at a young age.
There is conflicting information out there that argues screen time may actually help prepare children for the world, especially as artificial intelligence and digital systems are rapidly developing becoming ever more present in our lives and the work force.
Dr. Sobolewski, a Health Science professor at Furman University and the father of two young children, believes that by allowing his children monitored access to digital media that he is preparing them for the technological real world. Dr. Sobolewski allows both of his daughters to watch television, despite one daughter being under eighteen months. Dr. Sobolewski admits that since having children, he has had to change his lifestyle. After a long day of work, Sobolewski wants to come home and watch television on the couch. He refrains from doing so in order to be good role models for his children.
Although Dr. Sobolewski does allow his children screen time, he says he is very strict on the time and content allowed. In the Sobolewski household screen time is often earned based on good behavior; however, Dr. Sobolewski admits he sometimes uses television as a way to calm his children down when they are upset.
While no screen time might be ideal, like most things in life, screen time will not harm your child if it is used in moderation. As technology is increasingly become important to our world, now it may be important to teach your children how to use it responsibly. The trick is finding the right balance and establishing clear screen time rules when your kids are young.
Battle-Free Bedtime
“No, you cannot have a snack. You need to go to sleep.”
“Get back in your bed.”
Does this sound like you on a nightly basis when trying to get your children to sleep?
Nearly every parent, at some point, deals with the difficulty of putting your child to bed. For some parents, bedtime is a recurring nighttime, especially when your child resists going to sleep with every ounce of their being. This struggle can cause a lot of strain for both the parent and the child, which can lead to poor sleep for everybody in the house. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, not getting enough sleep is associated with an increase in injuries, hypertensions, obesity, and depression.
The media communicates strong messages about the importance of sleep. Contrary to their messaging about establishing good sleep hygiene, the media has an incredibly negative impact on children’s sleep. According to the University of Michigan School of Medicine, on average children ages 2-5 spend 32 hours a week in front of a TV. Kids ages 6-11 spend about 28 hours a week.
It may be tempting to put your infant or toddler in front of a television, especially to watch shows created just for children. The American Academy of Pediatrics say do not do it!
So how do you get your kids to sleep at night? And more importantly, how do you get your kids to sleep at night regularly? Here are tips on helping your child get their ZZZs:
- Maintain a consistent sleep schedule. Your child’s bedtime and wakeup time should be about the same every day, regardless if it is school day or not. This helps regulate your body’s clock.
- Exercise daily. The more active your child is throughout the day, the quicker he or she is likely to fall asleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, for every hour a child spends sedentary (like watching TV), it takes them an extra three minutes to nod off.
- Don’t go to bed hungry. Make sure your child doesn’t go to bed hungry. Provide a light snack such as a glass of milk or piece of fruit. Avoid offering a heavy meal one to two hours before bedtime, as this can interfere with sleep.
- Say goodnight to screens. Put all electronics to bed at least an hour before your child begins their bedtime routine. The light these devices emit can stimulate your child, making it more difficult for them to settle down.
- Bedroom environment. Your child’s bedroom should be dark, quiet, and cool. Temperature can play a big factor in a good night sleep. Make sure the room is cool. If your child wants a little light in the room, a nightlight is perfectly acceptable. A sound machine with a steady, rhythmic beat also might help them sleep.
Consistency is key! Establish a routine and stick it.
If you child continues to have trouble sleeping, it is a good idea to consult a pediatrician.
Reading Reflection 1
A major takeaway point from Duffy and Wissinger’s “Mythologies of Creative Work in the Social Media Age: Fun, Free, and “Just being Me,” is that bloggers, vloggers, and Instagramers work a far less glamorous job than it appears. Duffy and Wissinger bring to light the far less dazzling truths of the time, effort, and capital that goes into working for media industries. I follow many Instagram bloggers and after reading Duffy and Wissinger’s article, I look at their jobs through a new lens. I recognize the exhaustion from always having to keep up appearance and the expectation to appear carefree and fun, despite all the labor involved. I admire the hard work and effort the bloggers I follow put forth after learning the possible realities of working such a job. I recognize the Instagramers that I follow are a very small population of the people that have made it “big” in the media world. Duffy and Wissinger highlight an important concept that the popular media lavish attention on those who achieve the dream: getting paid to do what they love. I was definitely convinced by the media that bloggers were living the perfect life. I was under the impression they get to work from home, be creative, take cute pictures, and earn a stealthy income. As a consumer I am now able to look at a blogger or Instagramer and appreciate the time, effort, and money that most likely was involved in a singular post.
Crystal Abidin’s article, “Visibility Labor: Engaging with Influencer’s Fashion brands and #OOTD advertorial campaigns on Instagram,” made me realize I am a high consumer of Instagram campaigns. Reading Abidin’s article brought to my attention that every post, hashtag, and tag content is deliberate. I follow a lot of bloggers on Instagram and after reading Abidin’s article I was made aware of how much I engage on advertorial posts. I love participating in giveaways on Instagram! As a consumer, the downside of engaging in giveaways is that typically they involve consumers needing to follow multiple other accounts. But giveaways are a very effective way for Influencers to promote themselves and gain followers. The needs to follow other accounts in a giveaway definitely does not sway me from participating. The other day I came across a giveaway from an Instagrammer I love. In order to be eligible for the giveaway I had to be following three other accounts and tag several of my friends in the comment section. Although tedious, the giveaway items were well worth the few extra follows and tags, even though the chances of me winning are slim to none. I even notice that when I participate in giveaways I gain more followers simply by tagging other people in the post and my name coming up.
Taking on the challenge of writing for the Web is exciting yet daunting as Felder describes it in Chapter 1 of his book, Writing for the Web. As someone with very little experience in writing for the Web, Felder’s advice on messaging, content matter, and audience was invaluable. With so many stories and blogs out there, I want to be sure my Web content and messaging reaches the needs and desires of my audience and keep them paying attention. Luckily, Felder offers tips for how to make my message unique and make sure my Web content gets noticed. Felder states the important of making the content clear and obvious to readers. Furthermore, he emphasizes the importance of knowing the purpose of your content and the key messages you want your readers to take away. Felder’s advice on messaging is relevant to many areas in life. Clear communication of a message is vital in work, school, and leisure environments in order to grab the audiences attention and be impactful.
Images generate meaning. Sturken and Cartwright emphasize the importance in recognizing that images and media rarely “speak” to everyone universally. Often times the viewer’s interpretation of an image does not mimic the intent of the content producer. There is no right or wrong interpretation of an image. Rather meanings are created based on cultural or individual codes. Sturken and Cartwright says, “meanings are created in part when, where, and by whom images are consumed.” An artist and producer is never fully in control of the meanings of their work. A viewers perception stems from:
- Aesthetics
- Taste
Aesthetics usually refers to philosophical notions about the perception of beauty and ugliness. Beauty is subjective and universal. Aesthetics are based on how the individual defines beauty.
The concept of aesthetics ascends from the concept of taste.
Taste is not a matter of individual interpretation. Taste is learned through contact with cultural institutions that instruct us. Taste is learned. I admire the power of Instagram in the way that many skilled nonprofessional hobbyists post inspiration content for followers, like me, to see. My taste has been learned through Instagram. Beautiful photos have caught my attention on Instagram and continue to do so on a daily basis.
When we speak of taste, or say someone has “good taste”, we are referring to a class-based concept. When saying they have “good taste”, we mean they are educated in the middle or upper-class notions of what is tasteful. “Bad taste” is seen as a product of ignorance of what is considered “quality” or “tasteful” within society.
A basic color scheme or color palette can draw attention to users. It is important to be consistent with a color scheme because it helps images and videos look like one curated collection, rather than a jumbled mess. My favorite blogs and Instagram accounts to visit are the ones that are aesthetically pleasing. The appearance of the overall blog or Instagram account makes such a difference in whether I become a frequent interactor. Editing apps, like VSCO, have taken off in today’s media.
Never feel tied down to a certain theme or color scheme! Experiment and you may end up stumbling upon the next great aesthetic!
Getting Out and About
Image Credit: Savanna Tate
Physical activity? Enjoyable?
Yes! I promise!
With a little creativity, physical activity can be fun for even the most difficult-to-please children. The activities of today’s kids usually involve being indoors, the couch, and screen time. Outside time with nature has been replaced by electronics. More and more parents are struggling with getting their little ones outdoors and moving.
Luckily, there are ways to get your children excited about physical activity without them even knowing they are exercising! Kids exercise without even knowing it by having fun through riding a bike, playing tag at recess, or enjoying recess at school.
We also have the help of the media to inspire children. The portrayal of activity within advertisements and children’s programming is positive. Often times advertisers communicate the positive health benefits associated with physical activity. In advertisements children are often outside playing with their parents and smiling. Physical activity and play are encouraged throughout many platforms. Sports images are used on retail packaging to attract children. Cartoon characters are portrayed doing physical activity. Schools set aside time for recess and physical education classes. Such messages may impact your child’s preference for recreation and physical activity. If your child observes their favorite cartoon character enjoying a playful activity outside, they may want to do the activity. Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory highlights this idea that children can learn through observing others’ behavior and actions.
Getting your child to be active is not always as easy as simply showing them their favorite cartoon character running around. A little more encouragement may be needed.
Here are some helpful, budget-friendly ideas to get the kids up and moving:
- Provide active toys: bust their boredom! Young children love access to balls, jump ropes, and anything active that will prevent them from getting bored. Stock up on sidewalk chalk, bubbles, jump ropes, or even a golf club. Invest in toys they have expressed interest in. If there favorite color is purple, buy them a purple bike.
- Get messy: let your children know it is ok for them to get wet, messy, and dirty. Children love playing in the mud or a sandbox. Bring toy trucks and cars outside. Their creative minds will take over as they build sandcastles, make “mud pies”, and pretend to cook.
- Join in: kids love when parents play with them. Encourage a family hike. Bike or walk to school together. If they see you enjoying physical activity they are more likely to participate themselves.
By getting your kids involved in physical activity at a young age increases the chance of them being active, healthy adults. Implement activity into their lives at a young age. Encourage them to have a spirit of adventure. Establishing a healthy lifestyle pattern at a young age will carry on with them through their lives.
Be a role model. Get active with your kids!
All Foods Fit
Healthy eating habits start young.
Image Credit: Kelly Packer
Cultivating a healthy lifestyle in today’s world for children is not easy. Consider all the advice you hear on the TV, from the internet or doctor, and even from your circle of friends. Often it is conflicting… and confusing. So exactly how accurate is the information being shared?
In this article, Health Feedback found that fake health news predominantly spreads on Facebook. Facebook accounts for 96% of shares of the top 100 articles. Health pages have been known to spread false or misleading information about health remedies that are not backed up by science.
Social media incentivizes engagement. It is not surprising certain outlets tend to exaggerate or reveal certain false information that will spark deep emotions. The most reliable information sources are clinicians. Calling your child’s pediatrician is the best way to accurately get your questions answered. Try and avoid the internet as much as possible when seeking information.
When seeking knowledge about nutrition, be aware of the source. Often times people mistakenly use the terms “dietician” and “nutritionist” interchangeably; however, someone calling themselves a nutrition may not be credible. Make sure the person giving you knowledge is a registered dietician (RD), meaning they have received a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and passed the national exam. Anyone can use the title ‘nutritionist’ in an attempt to make money and sell services not backed up by science. Be very cautious.
Ways to establish healthy habits:
- Be a great provider – stock the kitchen with a balanced variety of foods. Avoid extremes in all healthy foods or all junk foods. Keep the kitchen full with fruits and vegetables, as well as some desserts and yummy snacks.
- Make mealtimes fun – something as simple as food presentation can be the difference between your child eating the meal you serve or your screaming for chicken nuggets. Try incorporating fun shapes by using cookie cutters to cut meat, fruit, cheese, or vegetables.
- Avoid labeling foods as “good” or “bad” – society and social media play a huge role in labelling foods. Companies market food for well-meaning parents by labeling foods as “bad” that contain high amounts of sugar and fat. They market low fat products as “good”. No doubt there are certain foods that are healthier than others but restricting certain foods from your child can lead to them developing a detrimental mindset and relationship with food. Labeling foods feeds a shame cycle and threatens self-esteem. Send the message to your children that all foods fit. Enjoy everything in moderation. Keep a neutral attitude about all foods.
- Involve kids in food preparation – taking your kids to the grocery store might be a hectic process. But involving them in preparation is an effective way to teach them about good food choices. Let your children pick out one or two new food items to try. Use produce to help them practice colors because there are so many different colors. Get them involved in the kitchen. Let them help you stir or pressing the buttons on the food processor or blender.
Image credit: Jenna Richards, Caroline Solberg, Savanna Tate, and Amber Clark
Who am I?
Hello readers! Welcome to my blog!
My name is Caroline Solberg. I am from Darien, Connecticut but currently attend Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. I am a sophomore working for my undergraduate degree in communications and am on the pre-nursing track.
I love over-sized sweatshirts, scented candles, and snuggling with my dog. I have an affinity for children, especially chubby toddlers and babies! I cannot wait to be a mother someday! In the meantime, my love for children is expressed through babysitting. Luckily, I was able to discover a couple families nearby in downtown Greenville looking for babysitters. I spend my free time babysitting and playing with children. With my passion for children, I am looking forward to sharing tips on implementing a healthy lifestyle and effectively delivering messages about healthy lifestyle choices for your little ones.
Caroline's Blog 