By: Karl Kirschner, Jr
Mass Media Industries Blog Staff Writer
BLUE BELL, PA--Students at Montgomery County Community College have a great amount of raw talent, from music to acting and other performing arts. What others don’t know are the challenges some students encounter on the local music scene.
Tim Balch, a Montco student and member of the band Andross, says his band was scheduled to perform a record release show at a local venue, Landsdale Legion. But Andross was not given a chance to perform. Violence during a show by another band led to employees being ruffed up and the ones who caused the violence refused to leave. Thus, all shows after the incident were cancelled, including the Andross record release show.
This was costly for the band. All of the promotional merchandise they had on-hand was paid for by band members. So instead of making money, the members lost money. Balch made it clear that writing music and putting on a live show is less about the money for him or his band, it is always about making music. He loves creating music others can listen to and love. “Business is killing the music scene,” Tim says.
Every local venue has a promoter that is looking for the best way to make money. So if your band is not part of the current trend getting a gig is twice as hard. Knowing that promoters are looking at the music scene as a business venture, it is more important than ever for the crowds and musicians to remain respectful of the property where bands perform.
The music scene is a difficult one. Some say it is a “dog eat dog” environment. A band has to be part of the “in” crowd for promoters to give them a shot at going big. Balch says, at the end of the day, “Communication is [the] key to the future of this scene.”
Monday, April 6, 2015
Free-Dom At Last: College Tuition?
By: Alistair McDonald
Mass Media Industries Blog Staff Writer
BLUE BELL, PA-Imagine a world where college is free. Imagine not having huge tuition bills, long-term payments, financial aid problems or taking out student loans.
On January 20, 2015, President Obama brought this idea to life by announcing his decision to try to make the first two years of community college free. “Forty percent of our college students choose community college,” Obama said. “Some are young and just starting out. Some are older and looking for a better job. Some are veterans and single parents trying to transition back into the job market...this plan is your chance to graduate...without a load of debt.”
Obama felt that if students were able to gain the same access to schooling like public schools, then enrollment and graduation rates would be higher. He also stated that this would boost more people up to middle class by not having young people in debt from student loans.
But the president made it clear that a grade point average of 2.5 of higher must be maintained and this program will only be for the first two years when students take their prerequisite courses. This plan allows the federal government to pay for 75 percent of college tuition fees and the states would pick up the rest. The biggest question is can this realistically work and how soon will it start?
Michael B. Horn from CNN says that the plan is a good idea but it realistically won’t work. “The proposal would not only pile up more debt by further subsidizing runaway college costs, it would also perilously undercut the emergence of more innovative educational programs designed to help students succeed in the workforce,” said Horn.
Students around the Montgomery County Community College campus had mix feelings about the tuition free plan. Shelley Santos, a student in her second year, said, “Well, I wish he did it sooner before I paid all the money.” Students Aaron Hall and Nick Kirk said the plan is a great idea but it better hurry up and start before they hit their second year.
The terms of President Obama’s plan are still in discussion. Regardless of the various opinions around campus and around the nation, Obama still has not said anything about abandoning the idea. As for the future of community college enrollees, only time will tell if this will become a reality.
Mass Media Industries Blog Staff Writer
BLUE BELL, PA-Imagine a world where college is free. Imagine not having huge tuition bills, long-term payments, financial aid problems or taking out student loans.
On January 20, 2015, President Obama brought this idea to life by announcing his decision to try to make the first two years of community college free. “Forty percent of our college students choose community college,” Obama said. “Some are young and just starting out. Some are older and looking for a better job. Some are veterans and single parents trying to transition back into the job market...this plan is your chance to graduate...without a load of debt.”
Obama felt that if students were able to gain the same access to schooling like public schools, then enrollment and graduation rates would be higher. He also stated that this would boost more people up to middle class by not having young people in debt from student loans.
But the president made it clear that a grade point average of 2.5 of higher must be maintained and this program will only be for the first two years when students take their prerequisite courses. This plan allows the federal government to pay for 75 percent of college tuition fees and the states would pick up the rest. The biggest question is can this realistically work and how soon will it start?
Michael B. Horn from CNN says that the plan is a good idea but it realistically won’t work. “The proposal would not only pile up more debt by further subsidizing runaway college costs, it would also perilously undercut the emergence of more innovative educational programs designed to help students succeed in the workforce,” said Horn.
Students around the Montgomery County Community College campus had mix feelings about the tuition free plan. Shelley Santos, a student in her second year, said, “Well, I wish he did it sooner before I paid all the money.” Students Aaron Hall and Nick Kirk said the plan is a great idea but it better hurry up and start before they hit their second year.
The terms of President Obama’s plan are still in discussion. Regardless of the various opinions around campus and around the nation, Obama still has not said anything about abandoning the idea. As for the future of community college enrollees, only time will tell if this will become a reality.
Social Media Creates an Inaccurate World
By: Eddie Madrid
Mass Media Industries Blog Staff Writer
BLUE BELL, PA--In May 2014, Indiana University’s School of Journalism reported that 40 percent of journalists said social media networks are “very important” to their work. Over a third said they spend between 30 to 60 minutes each day on social media websites.
The top social media platform used by journalists were microblogs, such as Twitter, with 53 percent of journalists saying they use it regularly. In addition, 80 percent of journalists said they regularly use social media websites to stay on top of recent developments. Over 70 percent of journalists specifically cite using social media to check on what the competition is reporting on, find ideas for stories and stay in touch with the audience. Only 25 percent of journalists agreed that social media has improved their own productivity and 6.3 percent said it decreased their total workload.
Numbers show that professional journalists’ trend of using social media to obtain information has no signs of slowing down. According to William Bender, a reporter for the Philadelphia Daily News, “Now, [social media] is a part of everything. It’s unavoidable. If you put something out there, sometimes [the story] can catch on, and you might get twice, three times, ten times as much traffic if it gets picked up somewhere else.." He says reporters are not only responsible for writing the story but its distribution and status on the Internet.
Social media has also opened the door for reporters to use the information their audience provides as their base of information for breaking news. Bender says this has led to multiple mistakes being made during breaking news One such mistake was multiple news organizations reporting the wrong name of a bombing suspect during the Boston Marathon bomber manhunt.
“With the competition being so severe on the Internet, whenever something does happen, there’s this goal to get it first...I think the trend going forward is [the public is] going to get information that isn’t 100% accurate, and then gets more accurate over time." Bender concludes that the trend now is to get what you know out there and try to make it more accurate as you shape the story throughout the day or week.
If the public does not call out professional journalism’s over-dependence on social media, then we are left in a society with news that is potentially inaccurate. Social media has put immense pressure on journalists to do everything faster, which tends to lead to more mistakes. The news is our connection to the world around us and it needs to be accurate and trustworthy.
Mass Media Industries Blog Staff Writer
BLUE BELL, PA--In May 2014, Indiana University’s School of Journalism reported that 40 percent of journalists said social media networks are “very important” to their work. Over a third said they spend between 30 to 60 minutes each day on social media websites.
The top social media platform used by journalists were microblogs, such as Twitter, with 53 percent of journalists saying they use it regularly. In addition, 80 percent of journalists said they regularly use social media websites to stay on top of recent developments. Over 70 percent of journalists specifically cite using social media to check on what the competition is reporting on, find ideas for stories and stay in touch with the audience. Only 25 percent of journalists agreed that social media has improved their own productivity and 6.3 percent said it decreased their total workload.
Numbers show that professional journalists’ trend of using social media to obtain information has no signs of slowing down. According to William Bender, a reporter for the Philadelphia Daily News, “Now, [social media] is a part of everything. It’s unavoidable. If you put something out there, sometimes [the story] can catch on, and you might get twice, three times, ten times as much traffic if it gets picked up somewhere else.." He says reporters are not only responsible for writing the story but its distribution and status on the Internet.
Social media has also opened the door for reporters to use the information their audience provides as their base of information for breaking news. Bender says this has led to multiple mistakes being made during breaking news One such mistake was multiple news organizations reporting the wrong name of a bombing suspect during the Boston Marathon bomber manhunt.
“With the competition being so severe on the Internet, whenever something does happen, there’s this goal to get it first...I think the trend going forward is [the public is] going to get information that isn’t 100% accurate, and then gets more accurate over time." Bender concludes that the trend now is to get what you know out there and try to make it more accurate as you shape the story throughout the day or week.
If the public does not call out professional journalism’s over-dependence on social media, then we are left in a society with news that is potentially inaccurate. Social media has put immense pressure on journalists to do everything faster, which tends to lead to more mistakes. The news is our connection to the world around us and it needs to be accurate and trustworthy.
Here are four student films to whet your appetite for this semester’s COM Screening, scheduled for May 11, 2015.
BLUE BELL, PA--
Chelsea and the Community College
Directed by Matt Mashaintonio
It's Willy Wonka meets Montco. “Chelsea and the Community College” is a parody that uses Montco as a magical world where dreams come true. Tech Services staff as Oompah Loompas and all. We follow the story of Chelsea, an aspiring singer, as she navigates Montco and her hectic schedule to make music. Featuring Neil Goldstein as Willy Wonka.
Demons
Directed by Tom Kraft
“Demons” is a horror film about a military experiment gone wrong when five people are test subjects for a new gas. This film is co-written by Jeremy Bierson, produced by Hailey Beattie and Shawn Letsididi and cinematography is by Josh Fleisher.
Survivor
Directed by Justin Carr
“Survivor” is a psychological thriller about a girl suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Having survived a brutal attack by a serial killer, she finds herself trapped within her mind. She relives the attack in an unending cycle.
Mafiasco
Directed by Nathan Hagel
“Mafiaso” is a fish-out-of-water comedy about a boy who escorts a member of the Italian mafia. He then realizes he's in way over his head and hilarity ensues.
Edited by Dave Aston
Chelsea and the Community College
Directed by Matt Mashaintonio
It's Willy Wonka meets Montco. “Chelsea and the Community College” is a parody that uses Montco as a magical world where dreams come true. Tech Services staff as Oompah Loompas and all. We follow the story of Chelsea, an aspiring singer, as she navigates Montco and her hectic schedule to make music. Featuring Neil Goldstein as Willy Wonka.
Demons
Directed by Tom Kraft
“Demons” is a horror film about a military experiment gone wrong when five people are test subjects for a new gas. This film is co-written by Jeremy Bierson, produced by Hailey Beattie and Shawn Letsididi and cinematography is by Josh Fleisher.
Survivor
Directed by Justin Carr
“Survivor” is a psychological thriller about a girl suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Having survived a brutal attack by a serial killer, she finds herself trapped within her mind. She relives the attack in an unending cycle.
Mafiasco
Directed by Nathan Hagel
“Mafiaso” is a fish-out-of-water comedy about a boy who escorts a member of the Italian mafia. He then realizes he's in way over his head and hilarity ensues.
Edited by Dave Aston
The SRT Program at Montgomery County Community College
By: Evan McHugh
Mass Media Industries Blog Staff Writer
BLUE BELL, PA--Digital Audio Production is a popular area of study for many students at Montgomery County Community College. However, some students have had trouble when trying to transfer to another school. Sometimes it gets messy because the major requires courses that are broken into a two-credit lecture and a one-credit lab. Knowing this, Montco instructors decided, starting in the fall semester, to change the Digital Audio Production program to the Sound Recording Technology program, or SRT.
Professor Morgan Betz, who teaches audio classes here at Montco, is very excited for the new SRT program. Betz hopes that this will clear up issues with partner schools when students transfer to partner schools to continue their education.
Dom Coppa, who is currently taking digital audio classes at Montco, likes the change. “The change to [the] SRT [program] will definitely simplify the transition to another school.” After Montco, Dom is hoping to transfer to Temple University. Temple is a partner school and has a well-known audio production program. The new SRT program is designed to make it easier for all digital audio production students to transfer.
Students in the Sound Recording Technology program can explore the life of audio producers and engineers by becoming joining the student club The Audio Producers, or TAP. TAP is for students who enjoy producing music or other audio projects at a professional level.
For more TAP information, or to get involved, anyone interested can email Vince Tomas at vthomas7383@students.mc3.edu, Kevin Folk at kfolk7521@students.mc3.edu or speak to Professor Betz.
Mass Media Industries Blog Staff Writer
BLUE BELL, PA--Digital Audio Production is a popular area of study for many students at Montgomery County Community College. However, some students have had trouble when trying to transfer to another school. Sometimes it gets messy because the major requires courses that are broken into a two-credit lecture and a one-credit lab. Knowing this, Montco instructors decided, starting in the fall semester, to change the Digital Audio Production program to the Sound Recording Technology program, or SRT.
Professor Morgan Betz, who teaches audio classes here at Montco, is very excited for the new SRT program. Betz hopes that this will clear up issues with partner schools when students transfer to partner schools to continue their education.
Dom Coppa, who is currently taking digital audio classes at Montco, likes the change. “The change to [the] SRT [program] will definitely simplify the transition to another school.” After Montco, Dom is hoping to transfer to Temple University. Temple is a partner school and has a well-known audio production program. The new SRT program is designed to make it easier for all digital audio production students to transfer.
Students in the Sound Recording Technology program can explore the life of audio producers and engineers by becoming joining the student club The Audio Producers, or TAP. TAP is for students who enjoy producing music or other audio projects at a professional level.
For more TAP information, or to get involved, anyone interested can email Vince Tomas at vthomas7383@students.mc3.edu, Kevin Folk at kfolk7521@students.mc3.edu or speak to Professor Betz.
Video Games: Past, Present and Future
By: Brandon Bailey, Dillon Campbell, Patrick Eck and Nick Rodriguez
Mass Media Industries Blog Staff Writers
BLUE BELL, PA--It is tricky to know when the “first” video game actually appeared on the marketplace. Some think gaming started in the eighties, others say the sixties. However, the earliest form of electronic gaming was in 1947. Called the Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device, it was made by Thomas T. Goldsmith, Jr. and Estle Ray Mann.
The invention of the “Brown Box” by Ralph Baer is considered the first home console ever made. When it was manufactured and distributed in 1968, it could play a number of sports games, maze games and quiz games. Over the years, Baer was sued a number of times by opposing companies who made similar systems ranging from Nintendo to Sega to Activision and Mattel.
The video game industry was doing well until 1983 when the video game market crashed. Among factors contributing to the crash, included two failed video games, Pac-man and E.T. and developers releasing unlicensed games and consoles. Nintendo wanted to do business in the United States but video games were considered a dirty word. So the Famicom was released as an “Entertainment System” rather than “console.” Nintendo’s branding of the Famicom as the Nintendo Entertainment System, better known as NES, saved the video game market in America and arguably around the world.
CONTROVERSIES
Video games have been in the spotlight of many scandals, controversies and ethical issues over the years. Many of these relate predominantly to the violent and sexual content as well as the psychological influences they can pose to children of a young age.
One of the most well-known scandals in video game history involved Jack Thompson. Thompson was opposed to the game Grand Theft Auto, a game that promoted the crime it’s named for as well as murder, sexual assaults against women and other crimes. He stated that, “We were all becoming serial killers because we are all playing murder simulators.” There is a lot of speculation regarding Grand Theft Auto and what it does to young people.
Rockstar Games, the publishers of the game series Grand Theft Auto, originally made the game from a police officer’s perspective, however they switched into the perspective of the criminal because they thought it would make the game more enjoyable.
MEDIA INSIDER PERSPECTIVE
Paul Crockett of Rockstar Games says the trend of playing games in a digital domain is increasing because it offers more ways to enjoy, stay connected to and play them.
The concept of paying real-world money for something that the consumer cannot physically touch is being embraced by mainstream society. A lot of the acceptance can be correlated to iTunes where consumers purchase movies, music and other content that they cannot touch.
While it will not fully replace the current brick and mortar outlets to purchase physical games, it will continue to impact the overall market.
FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY: Virtual Reality and Mobile Gaming
Virtual Reality is not a new thing. However, the company Oculus has produced a virtual reality headset known as the Oculus Rift. The Oculus Rift provides gamers the experience of being inside their games by using a headset which has a 360-degree view of the digital environment. A pair of headphones allow users to also hear high quality sound from tuned for the environment the gamer sees.
Games purchased or downloaded on mobile devices allow avid gamers and average persons alike to play video games on-the-go. From handheld game systems like the Nintendo 3DS to games like Angry Birds for a smartphone or tablet.
Mass Media Industries Blog Staff Writers
BLUE BELL, PA--It is tricky to know when the “first” video game actually appeared on the marketplace. Some think gaming started in the eighties, others say the sixties. However, the earliest form of electronic gaming was in 1947. Called the Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device, it was made by Thomas T. Goldsmith, Jr. and Estle Ray Mann.
The invention of the “Brown Box” by Ralph Baer is considered the first home console ever made. When it was manufactured and distributed in 1968, it could play a number of sports games, maze games and quiz games. Over the years, Baer was sued a number of times by opposing companies who made similar systems ranging from Nintendo to Sega to Activision and Mattel.
The video game industry was doing well until 1983 when the video game market crashed. Among factors contributing to the crash, included two failed video games, Pac-man and E.T. and developers releasing unlicensed games and consoles. Nintendo wanted to do business in the United States but video games were considered a dirty word. So the Famicom was released as an “Entertainment System” rather than “console.” Nintendo’s branding of the Famicom as the Nintendo Entertainment System, better known as NES, saved the video game market in America and arguably around the world.
CONTROVERSIES
Video games have been in the spotlight of many scandals, controversies and ethical issues over the years. Many of these relate predominantly to the violent and sexual content as well as the psychological influences they can pose to children of a young age.
One of the most well-known scandals in video game history involved Jack Thompson. Thompson was opposed to the game Grand Theft Auto, a game that promoted the crime it’s named for as well as murder, sexual assaults against women and other crimes. He stated that, “We were all becoming serial killers because we are all playing murder simulators.” There is a lot of speculation regarding Grand Theft Auto and what it does to young people.
Rockstar Games, the publishers of the game series Grand Theft Auto, originally made the game from a police officer’s perspective, however they switched into the perspective of the criminal because they thought it would make the game more enjoyable.
MEDIA INSIDER PERSPECTIVE
Paul Crockett of Rockstar Games says the trend of playing games in a digital domain is increasing because it offers more ways to enjoy, stay connected to and play them.
The concept of paying real-world money for something that the consumer cannot physically touch is being embraced by mainstream society. A lot of the acceptance can be correlated to iTunes where consumers purchase movies, music and other content that they cannot touch.
While it will not fully replace the current brick and mortar outlets to purchase physical games, it will continue to impact the overall market.
FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY: Virtual Reality and Mobile Gaming
Virtual Reality is not a new thing. However, the company Oculus has produced a virtual reality headset known as the Oculus Rift. The Oculus Rift provides gamers the experience of being inside their games by using a headset which has a 360-degree view of the digital environment. A pair of headphones allow users to also hear high quality sound from tuned for the environment the gamer sees.
Games purchased or downloaded on mobile devices allow avid gamers and average persons alike to play video games on-the-go. From handheld game systems like the Nintendo 3DS to games like Angry Birds for a smartphone or tablet.
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Creators' Rights and Infringement
By: Timothy Salley
BLUE BELL, PA--The Webster‘s Dictionary definition of copyright goes as follows: “The exclusive legal right, given to an originator or an assignee to print, publish, perform, film or record literary, artistic or musical material, and to authorize others to do the same.”
Copyright infringement occurs when someone other than the copyright holder copies the “expression” of a work. This means that the idea or information behind the work is not protected but how the idea is expressed is protected.
Seemingly since the beginning of time, artists of all types have been hit with major, if not minor, cases of copyright infringement. As an originator and creator, you own more than just the rights to reproduce works filed with the U.S. Copyright Office and infringement can occur with each right.
These rights include:
• The Right to Derivative Works:
This is the right to modify work to create new works. New work that is based off of an existing work is “derivative.” Copyright infringement here occurs if someone releases or remixes a song that you made without your consent.
• The Right to Distribution:
This is the right to distribute works to the public by sale, rental, lease or lending. Infringement occurs here when file-sharing web services violate distribution rights held by record labels.
• The Public Display Right:
This is the right to show a copy of the work directly to the public by hanging up a copy of the work in a public place, displaying it on a website, putting it on film, etc. Infringement occurs here if the someone other than the copyright holder offers a work for public display.
As media creators, our jobs are to understand and protect our rights to our personal works and not let copyright infringement take a toll. In understanding the many rights you obtain as a creator, specifically as an artist, whether you desire to be a logo designer or a musician, there are clear precautions you must take with protecting your work in order to sail smoothly within any mass media industry.
BLUE BELL, PA--The Webster‘s Dictionary definition of copyright goes as follows: “The exclusive legal right, given to an originator or an assignee to print, publish, perform, film or record literary, artistic or musical material, and to authorize others to do the same.”
Copyright infringement occurs when someone other than the copyright holder copies the “expression” of a work. This means that the idea or information behind the work is not protected but how the idea is expressed is protected.
Seemingly since the beginning of time, artists of all types have been hit with major, if not minor, cases of copyright infringement. As an originator and creator, you own more than just the rights to reproduce works filed with the U.S. Copyright Office and infringement can occur with each right.
These rights include:
• The Right to Derivative Works:
This is the right to modify work to create new works. New work that is based off of an existing work is “derivative.” Copyright infringement here occurs if someone releases or remixes a song that you made without your consent.
• The Right to Distribution:
This is the right to distribute works to the public by sale, rental, lease or lending. Infringement occurs here when file-sharing web services violate distribution rights held by record labels.
• The Public Display Right:
This is the right to show a copy of the work directly to the public by hanging up a copy of the work in a public place, displaying it on a website, putting it on film, etc. Infringement occurs here if the someone other than the copyright holder offers a work for public display.
As media creators, our jobs are to understand and protect our rights to our personal works and not let copyright infringement take a toll. In understanding the many rights you obtain as a creator, specifically as an artist, whether you desire to be a logo designer or a musician, there are clear precautions you must take with protecting your work in order to sail smoothly within any mass media industry.
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