Who Am I and What Do I Think?

That's me! Attractive eh?

I'm Leah Shearer from Baltimore, MD, a Public Relations major graduating in December. I've recently learned to write everything in your calendar in pencil and be flexible! My plans for the future haven't panned out like I had hoped, so I'm in a transition mode now of figuring out what to do with the rest of my life, easy right? I'm not exactly sure where in the country I'll end up but I want to do PR work for a company I love and really enjoy going into work everyday for. I'm really pretty flexible about where I end up, but Ive got a sweet spot for sweet tea and the South.

Honestly, I had no "fun" media experience this summer. I spent my entire summer working a full-time job, a part-time job, AND volunteering. However, with all my down time at work I got into the habit of reading the newspaper everyday. The fun parts of my summer included being disconnected from media!

What I love about 21st century media culture is the endless amount of information right at your finger tips. Can't remember who that guy is in that movie? IMDB it! What I hate about 21st century media culture is how everyone knows everyone on Facebook (or Twitter, etc.) but then you don't actually know them in real life; and when you finally do meet them? Oh yeah I already know everything about your life, awkward!

I've only been in this class for about four weeks so far but I've learned quite a bit. The four most important media-related concepts I've learned so far are as follows:

• Don't rely solely on the internet!

The internet is an incredibly invention. You can find and plagiarize any piece of work or information in a matter of seconds! It's fantastic to keep in touch with friends and family and be an individual (along with the rest of the world.) However, could the internet possibly be making us stupid? It's important not to rely on the internet for everything; your brain needs stimulation. Way back before the internet, or even television, people were much more intelligent and articulate. They had greater attention spans and, yes, actually ENJOYED reading!

• Be aware of gatekeepers

Ownership of the medium is something to consider when consuming it. Remember that there have been a number of gatekeepers editing and censoring the medium before it reached you. Be aware of this and keep it in mind when analyzing what you see or hear.

• Don't just consume, create!

With the introduction of the internet, consumer are no longer just consumers, but also producers! The internet provides endless outlets for creativity. In fact, check out this video my classmates and I made:

• Technology can lead to a slippery slope

Although the Feed world seems like a stretch of the imagination, it could one day be a possibility. With our ever changing technology and capabilities it could quickly become a slippery slope. This again leads back to not relying solely on the internet. Get outside and get some fresh air every once in awhile!


Now to the obvious most important piece of this course, the four tool sets. My relationship with them is going quite well. I'm very comfortable with the triune brain and the 29 T.O.P. I still feel like I need the pack in front of me for the other two sets however. As far as the T.O.P. go, I feel as if the average consumer today is too smart to be fooled. The best T.O.P. will appeal to the limbic and reptilian brain. The neocortex brain thinks too much and can easily debunk the T.O.P.


There is, however, media related question I can't seem to wrap my head around. I don't understand the concept that machinces/technology/media is smarter than humans and is scary or why we should be concerned. Humans make machines. Humans teach machines what they know. I don't fully understand why I should be concerned about the direction technology and media are heading in.


Now that you've gotten a taste of who I am and what I think, would you like to know what I'm doing?