Topic Proposal

Given the increasing landscape of digital convergence through media, several new and create forms of communication have occurred such as: instant messaging, webinars, text messaging, and blogging. just to name a few. However, with all of these the blogsphere seems to be gaining the most impact and usage. In some cases, blogs have become a new form of influence in the cultural, technological, social, and political forums. With that in mind, one can make the argument that blogs as they are increasing in usage and impact, can be akin to the beginning of Unions and the union movement. This paper will aim to show the correlation between blogs and unions, their growth, impact, and relation.


* Please note this is a very rough thesis statement :) !!

Class Direction and Paper Topic Proposal

Given the fact that I knew very little about digital convergnce, its'conception, meaning, or application, before this course, I feel that our paper should be a syntheis of the past, present, and future of digital media convergence. With the broad scope of our class definition and the various meduims of digital convergence that we are exploring in class, coupled with the depth of information and unbridled scope of possibilites, I feel that a simple paper on one specific topic would do digital convergence an injustice. I propose that the paper use the following format: Each team member would take a particular aspect of the paper-history, present, future and the remaining member(s) would find and implement examples of dital convergence within the paper. I also think that it would be interesting if we could present our papers using digital convergence to the class to actually apply what we have learned and studied. The paper and presentation should be seamless, as if one person prepared the entire assignment, yet it should exlemplify all of what we would have learned digital convergence to be.
I think this direction is very important given what Mc Laughan states on pg 3 that "Convergence occurs within the brains of indiviual consumers and through thier social interactions with others." Is this true? Can we as a class/group prove that convergence occurs within the brains of consumers or is it shaped and driven by the media as some assert? What do you think?

My formulating thought

African-Americans and the Internet
10/22/2000 Report Tom Spooner Lee Rainie
While there has been strong growth, African-American adults still lag far behind their peers in other ethnic groups. This growth has been primarily driven by women, creating a notable gender gap that isn’t found in other ethnic user populations. Also, the African-American Internet population is younger, has more modest incomes and a higher proportion of users without college diplomas. When African-Americans go online, looking for information that is beneficial to their lives, like searching for a new job or place to live, is especially popular. Entertainment features online are also popular, which is most likely a result of the relative youthfulness of the African-American Internet population. Because of the relative inexperience of the average African-American user, the Web has not been fully integrated into his or her daily life. African-Americans are less likely to use the Internet on a daily basis and also spend less time online than their peers.
View PDF of Report

What am I thinking?

So far, I have truly enjoyed this class, although I feel a little disadvantaged. I never thought that there was so much to the internet and to the digital convergence process. As a reslut, I am having a very hard time trying to decide what I would like my topic to be. I have an idea but I am trying to formulate it in my head. Oh well.....I am going to research my formulated thought and complete my homework for week 4.
Adrina