What Is Digital Media and Why Are We Studying It?

Digital media itself is easy to define - text, images, videos, software, etc. that is stored electronically on computers, and oftentimes available on the internet. But why is this significant? In an increasingly digitized age it is important to evaluate it. Digital media is unlike print in that is so readily available all over the world, and encapsulates a tremendous berth from the stupid and mundane to the brilliant and profound. Anyone who has ever surfed the net knows that there is buried treasure, but it must be dug for - something especially hard to do with literally millions of distractions available. It is important to study digital media so we know how to efficiently sift through it, finding the best and most reliable information with the fewest detours. Although so much of the younger generation is computer literate, Digital Media students get a leg up, and are better navigate the framework of the web, and therefore can better network and get themselves out there.

Online discussion forums

In my previous post I stated that good blogs should exercise some basic formalities. However, I think less of that is required for discussion forums (although it's always welcome). I take little issue with spelling/grammar errors and abbreviations in forum posts, as long as the text is still legible. What really matters are the ideas, and persuasiveness of the arguments. Calling something "stupid" or "gay" does little to persuade, whereas an interesting viewpoint and some good evidence provokes thought. But what's most important is to get the ideas across. Same goes for real-life conversation. If the ideas are there, and all parties respected, the conversation will produce nuggets that can be remembered by those involved and taken with them to apply in other conversations and in life.

What makes a good blog post?

I don't read many personal blogs. But this assignment for Digital Media class poises the above question, and I think I can come up with some general attributes that may be found in some of the better blogs. First of all, a blog must have something to say, some sort of topic or agenda. Anyone can make a self-obsessed Twitter account letting the world know "just took a shower," "working on homework," "drank a Dr. Pepper," etc., but why the hell should anybody care? Not to say that a blog should lack any personal touches or anecdotes. In order to not be a lecture, a blog, just like any type of journal, should have a personal stamp upon it, because the medium tends to have a certain informality about it. However, such informality shouldn't be taken out of hand, wtih obvius speling erorrs and oBnOxIoUs fringes (though admittedly I'm somewhat guilty of that in my blog title). Grammar nazism shouldn't be required, but in order to retain some kind of credibility, a good blog should demonstrate some competence in the way it's written. Well, it's about time I wrap this post up, because I believe a good post shouldn't ramble too much. Not all writing should cater to an ADD generation, but I want to leave prose to novels. People typically visit blogs for digestible bits, so I'd like to give them one right here.