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Theopolis K. Caldwell Sr.’s New Media Communications Timeline Goal

Before I began the New Media Communication course I expected to dive into the knowledge required to past the course. I had two goals in mind before I began this course. After viewing the syllabus my Professor, Meredith Cochie presented I expected to gain plenty of knowledge of how to post newsworthy content to online platforms. My second goal was being able to learn the new media trends versus what I learned as an undergrad and freelance writer.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

 What I didn’t expect was the wide range of information coming my way. For the first time I was tasked with learning what type of audience that I sought out. I never really thought about that question before. I knew that I wanted to be a sports blogger but knew that it was going to be more than just “I know the facts about sports so I can write whatever”. This course challenged me to change my whole paradigm of what it is to be a journalist. Knowing the personality of your target audience is everything.

 Now that I’m at the end of this course, my understanding is much deeper than before. This is exciting because I’m thinking ahead for once. Eight years ago social media was not a huge hit on media when I graduated from undergrad. According to an article in People-Press.org roughly 44% of Americans say that got news through one or more internet or mobile digital sources.

Now it is how we get our news, it gives our audience a voice and myself as a journalist a different perspective of the digital age than I did eight years ago. The transition is much more fluid.

 Professionally I have learned that I can do so much more than I expected at the beginning of this course. I credit my classmate’s insights throughout this course, their perspective on the industry showed me how widen my focus was and helped to be able to narrow it down.

                                                            References:

 Peoplepress.org (2010, September 12). Americans Spending More Time Following the News Retrieved November 20, 2016 http://www.people-press.org/2010/09/12/americans-spending-more-time-following-the-news/