Where do I go from here?

As I prepare to close this recent chapter in my life, I find myself wondering where the future will take me. I mean I can't hide behind the walls of acadamia forever. So, I guess that begs the question, will I return to journalism and newspapering, or will I set sail in some uncharted waters for a new adventure?

Communication studies may primarily focus on reading, writing, speaking, and thinking, as well as the investigation of why people communicate like they do, but that does not mean that those with degrees in the field are limited in their career choices. In fact, there are a plethora of careers available. Here is a look at five possible careers I might consider:

Journalist: Primarily reporters at newspapers and magazines, they gather the news and report the stories back to the public. Some write about specific beats while others cover a broader range of stories. A bachelor's degree in journalism or English is generally required, but experience, experience, experience is definitely more important when it comes to landing a job. So get stories published wherever possible. Those seeking a career as a newspaper reporter must have a good understanding of grammar, strong writing and research skills, and the ability to be a good listener. Because news doesn't sleep, reporters must also be flexible. Most reporters start out at small weekly newspapers, advancing to larger daily and metro papers as they gain experience and reputation. Pay range for reporters is generally $20,000 to $60,000 and above, depending upon the size of the publication and experience. Unfortunately, the job forecast for the field is not the best. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics Web site, www.bls.gov, jobs in this field are expected to decline six percent through 2018. Reasons for the decline are numerous, but consolidation of publications is the leading reason.

Health Communication Specialist: Often referred to as a media specialist or public relations specialist, this occupation generally is filled by a person who works in the health field, such as hospitals, or with health-field related companies. This job usually requires a bachelor's degree, but the person must also have good verbal and written skills, be organized, be able to create internal and external news pieces, employee communications, annual reports, Web content, video scripts, marketing pieces, social media postings, and edit other materials. They also may be responsible for event planning and promotions. The average wage is $52,540 to $71,670. Job growth is expected to increase some 24 percent through 2018, but competition will be keen as a number of qualified applicants are likely to outnumber the jobs available (www.bls.gov).

Fundraiser: This position often involves leading civic organizations more commonly known as nonprofits. According to www.bls.gov, 74 percent of these jobs are management and generally involve advocacy and grantmaking. A bachelor's degree is generally required, but people filling these jobs must also have strong communication and fund-raising skills because they must be constantly be drumming up support for their organization. Like the job of the journalist, previous experience with nonprofit organizations help land jobs in this field. One recommended way to gain that experience is to volunteer with local groups. Society and demographic shifts should encourage demand in the job market. The pay wage for these jobs range from $12,116 to $31,616.

Promotions Manager: People in this field direct promotions and programs that merge advertising with purchasing incentives. They often use direct mail, newspaper inserts, in-store displays, and Internet advertising. A bachelor's or master's degree is preferred. Persons in this field should be highly creative, motivated, resistant to stress, communicate persuasively both verbally and written, and have good people skills. The pay scale is varied, depending on the job and company, ranging from $54,560 to $127,870. This field is expected to see a 13 percent increase through 2018 (www.bls.gov).

Editor: Editors produce a variety of work, depending upon their employment. They may plan content of books and newspapers, as well as other general-interest publications; review proposals, and review, rewrite and edit works of other writers. Many editors begin their careers as writers. This field generally requires a bachelor's degree, which could be used in a number of fields. An editor must also be able to express ideas creatively, clearly and logically, have broad-range knowledge, strong grammar and writing skills, and have familiarity with electronic publishing and Web design. The field is expected to grow eight percent through 2018, but competition for jobs will be tough. The salary range is 28,090 to $95,490, depending on the company, experience and work (www.bls.gov).

Although I am still a newspaper person at heart, I find myself drawn to all of these possible careers. I have experience as a journalist and editor, have written numerous health related stories and have a strong background in medicine, and have done a lot of fundraising and capital campaigns in my community and church. Not only do I think the change would be good, but I would enjoy the challenges that each position offers.

References:

Bureau of Labor & Statistics retrieved from Google.

Intercultural communication means crossing more than borders

Living in a global village offers people numerous learning opportunities; however, it does not come with in a global village offers one numerous learning out challenges.

I think one of the biggest challenges is the culture clash, which is generally the result of poor intercultural communication. This occurs because people do not take the time to learn about one another. Instead, they make assumptions and end up forming prejudices and stereotypes that harm what could possibly be a good relationship.

I have traveled extensively and experienced many different cultures. I also have many friends who live in the United States, but come from different cultures. I have found my travels and friendships have afforded me wonderful education opportunities, but I have also learned another valuable lesson: Not all intercultural communications involve borders. Sometimes it is generational, such as between senior citizens and teenagers, or within subgroups in a society. Sometimes intercultural communication is regional, within a single country.

Communication means more than just learning the language of a culture. It also means understanding such things as a culture's belief, body language, value system, norms and symbols.

Senior citizens often mistake teenagers for being self-centered and as lacking manners and decorum. The truth is, there are a number of caring teens int he world who work to help make their communities and the world a better place. They just look different. Like generations of teens that came before them, they are attempting to stand out on their own. Their generation is more casual and laid back when it comes to dress; jeans and t-shirts are their staples. They also tend to make statements with tattoos, piercings and hair colorings. But put the two cultures in a room together and chances are they are likely to quickly discover they have much more in common than appears on the surface. Those original tensions and miscommunication are simply the result of not knowing each others' cultures.

Cultural differences can also be regional within a country.

I once had an executive editor who moved to Michigan from the South. The first thing he asked was who in town taught etiquette lessons. He wanted to enrol his young sons. Our response? We just laughed and told him such classes went the way of the newsroom typewriter and Edsel.

Still, it is equally important to know the cultural differences of other countries. In this day and age, business is more apt to be global, requiring employees to know more about their business contacts than past generations. In addition to language barriers, differences can include degrees of formality in communication; social customs; style of dress; different use of time, views of punctuality, etc.; tolerance for disagreement or conflict; gender roles; self-disclosures, and nonverbal behavior.

Some countries, such as Japan, are more high-context cultures than others. For example, the ojigi, or bow, is the most visible form of Japan's traditional etiquette. These bows are used for both greetings and farewells, as well as when expressing thanks or apologizing, or when asking an important question or favor (DeMente, August 1999). The ojigi actually sets the tone for the verbal communication that follows. It is a far cry from American culture.

America is considered a low-context culture and is much more verbal. In America, politeness is generally seen as being "nice," and it certainly isn't mandated. For the most part, Americans demonstrate politeness with a shake of the hand, smile or hug. Expressions such as "please" and "thank you" are also considered as a display of politeness.

Whether the cultural differences are generational, regional or a world apart, successful intercultural communication rests on the attitudes of the people involved in the communication. Both sides must bridge the differences and respect each others' differences as well as their similarities. When that occurs, then the communication stands a much better chance of being successful.

References:

DeMente, B.L. (1999, August). Politeness makes perfect. Retrieved from the Asian Business
Strategy and Street Intelligence Ezine Web site.

Han, M. (2007). Ten commandments of intercultural communication. Ezine@articles retrieved
from http://ezinearticles.com/?Ten-Commandments-of-Intercultural-
Communication&id=12-247

Communicating: It's not all talk

Like it or not, we are all judged by our first impressions. People do react just on how we look physically. We receive information nonverbally first and foremost. Wile it doesn't mean we don't have to use language to communicate, nonverbal communication is just as important as verbal communication.

Research shows that clues in verbal channels of communication - how something is said - are often more important than words alone, or what is said. When we transmit a message, how we say something is also transmitted in addition to what was being said. Many times the receiver interprets what we say by how we say it and not the words we say.

Nonverbal communication channels include symbols, signs and gestures. Even the way we dress is a form of nonverbal communication. For example, a police uniform is an expression of authority and upholding law and order. Face expressions, a tone or pitch of our voices or vocal paralanguage, hand gestures, body movements or kinesics, touch or haptics, and of course, personal space, are the most common forms of nonverbal forms of communication.

How many times have you crossed your arms in disgust; rolled your eyes in boredom or disbelief, or just smiled at the sight of an approaching friend? All of these are nonverbal cues that send signals to others.

In the online article, The interview advantage: How to use nonverbal communication to impress, author Alison Doyle cites College Journal reports claiming studies reveal "body language comprises 55% of the force of any response, where the verbal content only provides 7%, and paralanguage, or the intonation - pauses and sighs given when answering - represents 38% of the emphasis."

The Web site, www.yourcommunicationskills.com, sites research with even more drastic statistics showing that verbal communication accounts for about seven percent of a communicative transmission. The other 93 percent is attributed to nonverbal and symbolic communication, also known as listening skills.

If we are to be successful communicators, we must also be proficient with out nonverbal communication skills. We must remember we are what we look like and what we do as well as what we say. We must make certain our body language matches our words so that the listener receives the message correctly. There is an old saying that you can gather more friends with honey than bees. This is especially true when it comets to nonverbal communication and in gaining compliance. Not matching nonverbal actions to verbal communication is sure to lead to a misunderstanding and unsuccessful persuasion.

References:

Doyle, A. (n.d.), The interview advantage: How to use nonverbal communication to impress. Retrieved Nov. 6, 2009 from www.google.com.

http://www.yourcommunicationskills.com retrieved from Google.com

Technically, it's step by step

I love coffee. I drink it all day - hot and cold. My co-workers in a former newsroom used to joke that I took my coffee "intravenously." Maybe, but when it comes that first cup of coffee I have two requirements - I like it fresh and piping hot. I blame this love on the fact that as I was growing up, I was awakened every morning by the smell of freshly-perked coffee wafting through the house. As a result, that means I make fresh coffee every morning. However, thanks to technology, I am able to prepare a good cup a coffee the night before in my Cuisinart Coffee Maker. That means I'm still waking up to the smell of freshly-brewed coffee first thing in the morning!

The Process

Preparing the coffee is as easy as it sounds. Since the coffee maker sits under the the upper cabinet, I pull the coffee maker toward the front of the counter. This enables one to open the lid of the coffee maker. Next, reach in and pull out the reusable filter basket holding the used coffee grounds. Empty the used grounds in the wastebasket in the pantry closet, located at the end of the counter. Once empty, rinse the reusable gold filter in the sink. This washes away any leftover used grounds. Once clean, place the basket back in its slot in the coffee maker.

Remove the glass carafe from the coffee maker's burner. Empty any remaining coffee in the pot into the sink. Remove the top of the carafe and rinse the pot with hot water. Empty the carafe and then fill with cold water to the bottom of the black ring at the top of the pot; snap the lid back into place.

Return to the coffee maker with the carafe of water. Empty the water into the coffee maker's reservoir, located at the back right-hand corner. Remove the coffee from the refrigerator. Open the canister, and using the scoop inside, add five level scoops of ground coffee to the filter. Return the scoop to the coffee can, replace the lid and put it back into the refrigerator. Close the lid of the coffee maker and flip the silver lever at the center of the front of the coffee maker. That triggers a green light, giving the signal that the timer is set for a predetermined time for the morning. Push the coffee maker back to the rear of the counter.

Summary

Mr. Coffee and the coffee makers that have followed, make it much easier to make coffee today. Simply empty the used coffee grounds, rinse out the reusable filter and replace it in the coffee maker. Rinse out the carafe and fill it with cold tap water. Fill the reservoir and add the desired amount of coffee to the filter. Close the lid and set the timer. Modern-day coffee makers are quicker and easier than the old-fashioned percolators, giving coffee lovers that same flavor of freshly-brewed, piping hot coffee on demand. In fact, today one can make it, set it and forget it!

Nothing like the smell of fresh coffee to get your day going!

Managing conflict

Nobody likes to be the bearer of bad news, but unfortunately, sometimes you draw the short stick. This is especially true when it comes to managing conflict in the business world. But delivering bad news does not mean the conflict has to have a negative ending. It is possible to deliver bad news and have a positive outcome that satisfies all involved.

Delivering bad news is something that can be learned. According to Roebuck (2006), delivering bad news in writing generally follows one of two paths: Direct or indirect writing. Roebuck recommends indirect writing as an easier and softer way to deliver bad news. It allows for the writer to use diplomacy over consciousness and directness. The trick with this method, however, is not to be too subtle (p. 86). Bad news can also be delivered verbally, and when trying to resolve conflict, both verbal and written methods are often necessary. Such is the situation with this case study.

The supervisor of a mid-sized company that provides tech support services has received numerous complaints from customers and co-workers about an employee's substandard work performance. These are never easy situations to solve; however, it must be addressed before it escalates into larger problems and a regrettable incident occurs. Avoiding the situation not only makes for an unpleasant workplace, but eventually it can affect the company's image and reputation. Customers who are treated poorly, or receive bad customer service, will surely spread the word among their business associates and friends. So how does one solve this problem? Cahn and Abigail (2007) say that in today's business world, the idea is that using one style for all occasions presents disadvantages in successful resolution. So the idea that "one size fits all" does not work when it comes to conflict resolution.

While a variety of methods could be invoked in this case, one thing that must be clear in solving the problem is the communication. It is necessary for the supervisor to examine all of the possibilities of what could be causing the employee's behavior. This is where invoking the Stop - Think, Listen, Communicate (S-TLC) method could be very helpful. By using this method, the supervisor has a chance to stop and assess the situation, think about it can be resolved, and listen to everyone's point of view, especially the employee in question. The communication needs to involve what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior. It also needs to be explained how the employee's behavior is affecting the co-workers. If this is a first-time offense, then it is possible to give the employee a second chance to correct the behavior. This discussion can be reinforced with a follow up that involves a written reprimand in which the highlights of the conversation are repeated and a warning that if things do not change, termination will occur.

Finally, since this did involve other employees, it might be necessary to meet with each of those workers and discuss the resolution with them. This does not mean sharing that if changes are not made, a dismissal is possible, but perhaps any extenuating circumstances that may have caused the behavior. An apology from the employee to co-workers may not also be out of the question.

Conflict resolution does not mean one side wins and another loses. Successful conflict resolution means reaching an agreement with which both sides are satisfied. Delivering bad news is never easy, especially in the midst of conflict. But by applying patience and common sense, with good communication skills, it is possible to have a positive outcome for all involved.

References
Cahn, D.D. & Abigail, R.A. (2007). Managing conflict through communication, 3rd Ed. Boston:
Pearson.

Roebuck, D.B. (2006). Improving business communication skills, 4th Ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.:
Pearson.

Communnicating and media technology

The grandkids Twitter and text message the latest hype going on in their worlds; their parents are sharing news on Facebook. You tune in every morning to Good Morning America. Then there is your neighbor, who still relies on ink-on-paper to bring the news to his doorstep. Love it or leave it, no matter how you slice it, media technology has a firm grip on life today. Media technology also plays a prominent role in how societies communicate. This blog includes a look at four media technologies that have helped to shape communication and societies, not only i the United States, but also the world.

Plugging into the world

Media technology has made great strides, particularly in the last 100 years. But nothing probably comes close to rivaling the advent of the Internet. With the click of a button, the Internet can powerfully leverage one's ability to find, manage and share information. Never before in human history has such a valuable resource been available to so many people and changed how the world communicates.

People often mistake the Internet and Wide World Web as being one in the same with interchangeable names. However, they are wrong. According to the Web site, www.webopedia.com, the Internet is a global data communication system; the Web is one of the services that communicate via the Internet. E-mail, online chats, Voice Over Internet, fax, and Podcasts are also services using the Internet.

More than 100 countries are linked into the Internet, which allows exchanges of data, news and opinions. The Internet has made it possible for people halfway around the world to connect by words as well as pictures and video. Businesses can communicate more quickly and efficiently with E-mail, and video conferencing allows a company in the United States to have a business meeting with a company in Australia or Japan with never having to get on an airplane. Web sites on the Internet make it possible for people to catch up on a missed episode of their favorite TV show, and services now deliver rental movies right to a customer's computer. You can shop on the Internet and never leave your home. The Internet has also advanced education opportunities, replacing the old-fashioned correspondence classes, and in some cases traditional classrooms. Online learning lets students from around the world communicate with each other in an electronic classroom.

Advertising on the Internet has been slow, but it is gaining ground. And while newspapers offer partial editions online, advertising on those sites do pay the bills. Print newspapers still continue to make the bulk of the income for those companies. The largest portion of the Internet's target audience is likely to be younger people who have grown up with surfing the Web and blogging. However, the Internet is very popular with Baby Boomers, who have discovered its benefits of using it as a social network to reconnect with long lost friends. It also continues to become increasingly popular among seniors, who like to use it to stay connected with family.

So, where will the Internet take us in the future? Who knows, but step by step, we're moving closer to that once popular space-age family, The Jetsons.

Don't touch that dial

Television did not begin in the 1950s, but it wasn't until that decade that folks really began to own the little boxes. That was when families would gather around the small black and white screen to watch such popular shows as I Love Lucy and Gunsmoke.

The public quickly became enthralled with the invention. After all, it was definitely a better form of entertainment than the radio. This one came with moving pictures, just like the movies! In fact, you became very popular in your neighborhood, very quickly, if your family had a TV set. It was common to see people lingering outside the windows of stores that sold this new contraption - hoping to catch a glimpse of the future. With only three channels - yes, three channels - those days were a far cry from what television is today.

Today, TVs are found in restaurants, doctors' offices and other businesses, grocery stores and bars. Originally programs were broadcast only in the late afternoon and evening. Today images and sounds blast away at us 24 hours a day, even days a week, hoping to catch the attention of viewers. Additional advancements through the years include going from black and white to color, and sets have gone from small to big and bulky consoles to portable and flat screens that are hung against the walls. The advent of videocassette recorders and DVDs also turned the TV into something that is viewed and recorded as opposed to something that was just viewed. Today you can hook up your computer to your TV and it becomes a monitor or a photo screen.

Its broad appeal has always made television a favorite advertising medium. Target markets are determined by such things as age, race, sex, and gender. Many target audiences are determined by programming. Today, cable and satellite TV has broadened the channel dial from the three original networks to more than 200 channels, many of which are targeted to specific audiences. For example, the hit program, Cougar Town, is geared at younger Baby Boomer women, while ESPN Sports Center is more likely to attract a male audience of teenage boys to middle-aged men.

Most recently, new innovations involve analog and high definition screens. Talk is that 3-D screens are just around the corner. You may be able to catch your favorite show on your IPad or phone, but those devices make it difficult for more than one person to watch at time, ensuring that television has a lasting place in society.

A golden era

Radio has been influencing society since the late 19th Century, with the advent of the wireless telegraph and the telephone. By the early 20th Century, those forms of communication had given birth to the radio.

For decades, prior to television, radio was not only a source for news and music, but also for dramas, comedies, and variety shows. Outside of the motion picture show, it was society's main basis for entertainment. From the 1930s to the 1950s, families all across America would gather around their radios to listen to such programs like Jack Benny and The Shadow. Those decades are generally referred to as the Golden Age of Radio.

Despite the advancement of other media technologies, radio continues to be a popular medium. It has moved from the lone AM stations to include FM stations, and what were once stations that offered general entertainment have evolved into specific target audience programming: Pop, rock, oldies, country, jazz, R&B, sports, and talk are just a sampling of the the variety of stations found up and down the dial of today's radios. Many of the stations also are broadcast on digital and satellite stations.

One reason for radio's popularity is because for the most part, it remains free for its listeners. Another important reason is its portability. It is easily piped into cars, bars and stores, making it easy for advertisers to reach not only their target audiences but anyone within the listening area. Target audiences for radio are generally considered to be 18 to 54, but it is narrowed down considerably depending upon the programming of each individual station. Still, it is an ideal advertising medium for both large and small businesses. In a single week, radio reaches more than 228 million Americans. That is 94 percent of everyone age 12 and older, according to Arbitron (Gordon, 2007).

What does the future hold for radio development? Could it be a device that also lets you browse photos, read the news, check the weather, and connect you to your friends through Facebook or Twitter - all while listening to your favorite tunes? Probably not, but while we may wish for advancements in radio technology to be defined in terms of what is on the dial (i.e., new stations or high definition), it's infinitely more likely that advancements will constitute feature and interface transformations that push the boundaries of what "radio" means rather than slide alongside the same bounds where listeners find AM and FM. In other words, consider the possibility that radio for the Facebook generation is likely to be a different type of radio.

Reference

Gordon, K. (2007, April 13). 4 keys to radio advertising. Retrieved from http://www.entrepreneur.com/.

Roll the presses

Americans live today in a world of constant connectivity, where they are just as likely to get their news online as from a print newspaper. People say newspapers are "dying," but I believe those deaths have been greatly exaggerated. Print will survive. They may not be produced in the traditional form we are seeing today, but I believe there will always be a need for print.

According to the Historic Pages Web site, newspapers are one of the oldest forms of media technology. Newspapers actually date back some 500 years,when in Renaissance Europe, they were handwritten newsletters circulated privately among merchants. The first true English speaking paper was the London Gazette in 1666, and in the young Americas, the first newspaper appeared in Boston in 1690. It did not last, however, and it was 1704 before the colonies would see a successful paper.

General, or daily newspapers, usually publish stories on local and national happenings, political events and personalities, crime, business, entertainment, society, and sports. They also traditionally include an opinion or editorial page. In addition, there are numerous specialty newspapers that are printed. They run the gamut from labor groups and professionals to cultures and entertainment.

Along the way, newspapers also spawned the birth of magazines. These specialized interest publications are geared at specific audiences. AARP is targeted to a 50-plus audience while Sports Illustrated draws a much larger audience because of the wide ranging ages of sports fans.

For generaions, the prinmary target audience of a daily newspaper ws the American family: Mom, pop and usually the older children. Today, it seems that audience consists primarily of the Baby Boomers and older. For a while, it was looking like doomsday was approaching for newspapers. However, print saw some good news last year. According to the Newspaper Association of America Web site, the latest biennial media attitudes survey from The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press reports that newspapers are a major local news sourse, even for 18-to-29 year olds. All groups mentione newspapers as a source of local news more frequently than the Internet, with 41 percent citing newspapers; only 17 percent cited the Wide World Web, bucking the belief that young people ignore papers in general. The survey, released Sept. 13, 2009, reported that even those younger than 30 said they get most of their local news from papers (39 percent) than from online (21 percent). Seventy-four percent also said it would be a major loss if their local newspaper, or a large national newspaper (68 percent), were to stop publishing.

Communication experts even agree there will always be a need for print. It just means that news organizations, in order to survive, will have to understand society's changing behaviors and be willing to adapt and distribute information in a variety of formats. That's good news for the fans of the old-fashioned old ink-on-paper product.

References

www.historicpages.com/nprhist.htm.

Newspaper Association of America. (2009). Pew study: Young readers use local newspapers. Retrieved fro http://www.naa.org.