Media is a never stopping engine that employs millions of people to deliver news on the more than six billion people of the earth to the more than six billion people of the earth. By studying media we not only think about how we think, but we also explore the career possibilities once we as students leave school behind and enter the work force. Aside from job prospects and details, media is also about communication. When we watch TV, the newscaster is communicating information to us. It is the same with radio, newspapers, and magazine. More recently with the Internet, this communication process has become two sided and as a result, has evolved. For example, blogs on the Internet have recently become one of the most popular sources of news for most individuals. The importance of blogs are a result of many countries like China who regularly censor or lie about what happens when they report the news. The remarkable thing about blogs is that anyone can start one and write in one. The term blog is shortform for web log. One of the key features of a blog is that you can leave comments about what was written and quite often the writer of the blog responds to your comments just as others can respond to your comments. This makes for a dynamic news mechanism. For example, a blog writer, also known as a blogger, might report an item of news. Other people may leave comments on his blog to clarify or provide more information. Others may provide opposing comments to suggest that the news is not entirely correct. Currently, with China blocking all news about what is happening in Tibet, many people around the world are turning to blogs to find out what is going out with the citizens of Tibet and their struggle with the Chinese government. Finally, another benefit of studying media which as we said is about communication is that it makes us better communicators. Newspaper headlines for example, summarize the story and capture attention with just a few words. People who read content on websites, another example, are not interested in lots of useless information. They don't have the patience to search through paragraphs and paragraphs of text. Let's not forget how well reporters and newscasters are at public speaking. When newscasters speak they use proper vocabulary and never speak in slang. Their speech isn't filled with "ums" and "ahs". They look directly at the camera when they speak and always look professional. Students have a lot to learn about communication from the media.
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