Jessica Billingslea
Professor Yerks
English 106 section 002
24 April 2009
The Future of Blogging
“Clearly, we are only at the beginning, as the news industry faces one of the most significant transformations in its history” (Bradshaw 52). Blogs, message boards, and texting have all changed our way of story telling. Comparing the use of certain details to telling the full story, things such as diaries and notes are more personal to telling a full story because it is used to express the way someone feels. Blogs and other sources of social media are public, which would mean certain parts of a story are left out due to the fact that the public will be able to read what the author wrote.
Most people that write in a diary use it for venting purposes and do not let others read it. Personal bloggers tend to write blogs for feedback on situations or advice on what to do. The main reason I write in my diary is because it is a place of privacy, somewhere that I can go and express my feelings so no one can judge me or have to know about it. When talking to my friend Branden about his blog he said “I blog to network with other people and to get advice on certain issues that I need help with, like how and where to start a music career”. Those are just some of the differences of blogs and diaries.
The similar qualities and characteristics between blogs and diaries are that both are a way of expressing yourself. They both give the writer a chance to freely say what they want and announce issues that are bothering them. I use mine to think personal issues out and try to get an understanding of how or why someone else would react a certain way depending on the situation. Blogs and diaries are both opinionated writings that can be used for venting purposes or just to record something that happened on a certain day. In a way, they can be personalized journals to keep track of the events that happen to them. In the novel Microserfs by Douglas Coupland, the main character Daniel types a personal journal on his computer at work everyday. He talks about the things that go on in his work place and within his life. As the days go past the subject of death and the afterlife comes up almost everyday, which is on of the major topics within the novel, and he types the journal to get a better understanding of death because he doesn’t have an opinion on it himself. Even though he types is thoughts and feelings on the computer, he isn’t using a blog to express himself.
Observing other blogs on the web, I found that the details that were put into the stories that are written on them are vivid and was descriptive and others were just full of thoughts that were to be followed by comments from other bloggers that were following up on that person’s blog. For example, the Grimes Family blog was describing their trip to China and goes as follows:
Last week this time we were preparing to land in Jax and see our boys. I couldn't wait to wrap my arms around both of them. Over the last 3 years we have flown occasionally, and each time we came back home I would say, "one day we're gonna come around this cornor with our little girl!" That day finally came! As you might imagine, it was quite emotional. My sweet Jason tenderly cried on his daddy's shoulder before greeting his sister with a sweet kiss. Andrew was running late due to an out of town tennnis match. His Aunt Cheryl was not gonna allow this moment to slip away from him, so she rallied our youth pastor to rendevous with the team and Andrew made it to the airport while we were in luggage claim. He was adorable as he ran through the airport to meet his sister. My heart was so full in that moment! They are so loving and patient with their sister. She is blessed to have them!
Depending on the writer of the blog and the purpose of the blog makes a big difference as to how much detail and description is put into the blog. Blogs aren’t just used for personal purposes, journalists use them as well.
Journalist have been adapting to the change in the use of blogging. Some feel as though “their work had been changed by the simple act of blogging” (Bradshaw 51). Some journalist “use the blog to put the call out for information and sources” (Bradshaw 51). They don’t just go out and do their own research anymore, which has its benefits and consequences, instead they blog with people that have similar interest or knowledge to get more information about their story, making the feedback from other bloggers their research. As Kate King says “journalist no longer control the message. Today digital publishing is practiced by the masses, and it is inseparable from the practice of journalism” (12). We do not know exactly how the use of blogs will contribute to the future of newspapers and scholarly articles, whether blogs are going to be the new source of information or if newspapers are going to be modified to fit with the new system of gathering information.
Considering the different uses of blogging and the different people that use them, it is hard to tell the future of blogging if it changes the effect of story telling and the life of newspapers and scholarly articles. Diaries and blogs are used for personal purposes to either vent or to get an idea out there to get a respond or some type of advice. Journalists also use blogs for their work. They use them to easily find research from people with interest on their topic or knowledge on it already. This makes their job easier in terms of having to find the information by traveling and doing face to face interviews. It looks as if blogging is going to take over the world of communications.
Works Cited
Bradshaw, Paul. "When Journalists Blog: How It Changes What They Do. " Nieman Reports 62.4 (2008): 50. ABI/INFORM Global. ProQuest. University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, MI. 19 Apr. 2009 http://www.proquest.com/
Coupland, Douglas. Microserfs. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995.
Grimes Family. “First Look.” Weblog Entry. Grimes Party of Five. 25 March 2009. 20 April 2009. http://grimespartyoffive.blogspot.com/
King, Katie. "Journalism as a Conversation." Nieman Reports 62.4 (2008): 11. ABI/INFORM Global. ProQuest. University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, MI. 19 Apr. 2009 http://www.proquest.com/
Thomas, Branden. Personal Interview. 18 April 2009.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Profile Paper
Profile Paper
Walking in to an office filled with vibrate colors in the form of stripes along the wall with the huge Taco Bell logo placed in the center of the wall, I saw my District Manager, Christina Mims, sitting at her desk talking to one of her Restaurant General Managers about bringing up there customer base. I sat in one of the chairs in front of her desk with my tape recorder and notepad full of questions about the ins and outs of the restaurant industry and Taco Bell. As she ended her conversation with one of her General Managers, I looked around her office and saw all the awards she received in just the two years of being a District Manager and didn’t realize how difficult and rewarding it could be to have her position. With her long sandy brown hair that came down to the middle of her back and her brown blazer, she got off her blackberry and smiled at me. “Good Afternoon Jessica, I’m so excited that you decided to interview me today. Are you ready to start?” was the first thing that came out of her mouth as her eyes lit up and her smile continued to show on her face.
Asking about the differences between Taco Bell and other restaurants, she thought the main differences between them were “Taste, Appearance, and Price.” When compared to Dell Taco, one of Taco Bell’s biggest competitors, she said “Their taste is bland, they have smaller portions of food, there are no common characteristics about all there buildings on the inside and outside, and their prices are lower due to their smaller portions.” Christina also believes that Taco Bell handles their customer complaints differently. We do have a system that we follow when dealing with upset customers to make them want to come back, and keep them satisfied. The system is called L.A.S.T, which stands for Listen Apologize Satisfy and Thank. When approached by an irate customer, this is how Christina attacks the situation, “I listen to the customer twice because they tend to talk about their problem more then once and they just want someone to listen to their problem and sympathize with them. I apologize for their inconvenience to let them know that the company is concerned with the problem and we did not mean to mess up their order. I satisfy them by offering them something more then what they asked for like an extra cinnamon twist or drink. Lastly I thank them for coming to me with the problem and allowing Taco Bell a second chance to correct the problem. That way they know we are more then just a fast food restaurant company, but we are also a company that is concerned with our customer’s satisfaction.
Due to the change in economy I also asked her rather or not she knows of any projects that had to be discontinued because of it. She responded “Yes, there were a lot of scrape and rebuild projects that we had in mind to expand the company and upgrade some of the older stores. Since the company has been unable to renew land contracts there will be some closing of stores, and we are unable to buy more land because the interest rates on loans are so high. Our budget as to how much money we can spend on uniforms, equipment, and other supplies have been cut also.” Christina has found some trends in the food industry despite the economy, “such as sales have increased because people can’t afford to dine in at full service restaurants, pay tips, and a full meal. Also, now a days people want a quick meal because they may have two jobs and don’t have time to cook or eat a full meal in-between shifts. As a downfall on our part, I found that our customer service skills have decreased because everyone is depressed or stressed out from the struggle.” Even though Taco Bell is in the struggle, the company still tries to help out the community by “hiring a lot of people that have been laid off rather then young adults, giving coupons to non-profit organizations, and also participating in donations for World Hunger and the Boys and Girls Club.”
Staying positive is one of Taco Bell’s main focuses with the employees. We believe that a happy and successful company comes from the employees that work there because there is nothing more important then them but the customers. So when hiring people some of the biggest challenges that Christina faces is “finding the right people with a positive attitude, well qualified, that wants to work, and is willing to do the job.” We have various kinds of customers that we have to please so hiring the right people is very important. The three main types of customers we get are “the lunch break customer, kids/teens that are indecisive and play around in the store, and the family that just wants their order to be correct and time isn’t that big of an issue.”
Fast food restaurants have a lot more to them then just the simple cash or credit transaction that goes on between the customer and the employee. Not many people see that, and being an employee I have learned how to treat people that are at work because I know what they are going through. I know that they are not only working, but they are trying to meet goals for their company.
Walking in to an office filled with vibrate colors in the form of stripes along the wall with the huge Taco Bell logo placed in the center of the wall, I saw my District Manager, Christina Mims, sitting at her desk talking to one of her Restaurant General Managers about bringing up there customer base. I sat in one of the chairs in front of her desk with my tape recorder and notepad full of questions about the ins and outs of the restaurant industry and Taco Bell. As she ended her conversation with one of her General Managers, I looked around her office and saw all the awards she received in just the two years of being a District Manager and didn’t realize how difficult and rewarding it could be to have her position. With her long sandy brown hair that came down to the middle of her back and her brown blazer, she got off her blackberry and smiled at me. “Good Afternoon Jessica, I’m so excited that you decided to interview me today. Are you ready to start?” was the first thing that came out of her mouth as her eyes lit up and her smile continued to show on her face.
Asking about the differences between Taco Bell and other restaurants, she thought the main differences between them were “Taste, Appearance, and Price.” When compared to Dell Taco, one of Taco Bell’s biggest competitors, she said “Their taste is bland, they have smaller portions of food, there are no common characteristics about all there buildings on the inside and outside, and their prices are lower due to their smaller portions.” Christina also believes that Taco Bell handles their customer complaints differently. We do have a system that we follow when dealing with upset customers to make them want to come back, and keep them satisfied. The system is called L.A.S.T, which stands for Listen Apologize Satisfy and Thank. When approached by an irate customer, this is how Christina attacks the situation, “I listen to the customer twice because they tend to talk about their problem more then once and they just want someone to listen to their problem and sympathize with them. I apologize for their inconvenience to let them know that the company is concerned with the problem and we did not mean to mess up their order. I satisfy them by offering them something more then what they asked for like an extra cinnamon twist or drink. Lastly I thank them for coming to me with the problem and allowing Taco Bell a second chance to correct the problem. That way they know we are more then just a fast food restaurant company, but we are also a company that is concerned with our customer’s satisfaction.
Due to the change in economy I also asked her rather or not she knows of any projects that had to be discontinued because of it. She responded “Yes, there were a lot of scrape and rebuild projects that we had in mind to expand the company and upgrade some of the older stores. Since the company has been unable to renew land contracts there will be some closing of stores, and we are unable to buy more land because the interest rates on loans are so high. Our budget as to how much money we can spend on uniforms, equipment, and other supplies have been cut also.” Christina has found some trends in the food industry despite the economy, “such as sales have increased because people can’t afford to dine in at full service restaurants, pay tips, and a full meal. Also, now a days people want a quick meal because they may have two jobs and don’t have time to cook or eat a full meal in-between shifts. As a downfall on our part, I found that our customer service skills have decreased because everyone is depressed or stressed out from the struggle.” Even though Taco Bell is in the struggle, the company still tries to help out the community by “hiring a lot of people that have been laid off rather then young adults, giving coupons to non-profit organizations, and also participating in donations for World Hunger and the Boys and Girls Club.”
Staying positive is one of Taco Bell’s main focuses with the employees. We believe that a happy and successful company comes from the employees that work there because there is nothing more important then them but the customers. So when hiring people some of the biggest challenges that Christina faces is “finding the right people with a positive attitude, well qualified, that wants to work, and is willing to do the job.” We have various kinds of customers that we have to please so hiring the right people is very important. The three main types of customers we get are “the lunch break customer, kids/teens that are indecisive and play around in the store, and the family that just wants their order to be correct and time isn’t that big of an issue.”
Fast food restaurants have a lot more to them then just the simple cash or credit transaction that goes on between the customer and the employee. Not many people see that, and being an employee I have learned how to treat people that are at work because I know what they are going through. I know that they are not only working, but they are trying to meet goals for their company.
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