Content Analysis of Digital Websites

The web can be a useful tool if utilized properly.  It can be a great place to not only gain information, but a place to share it with the world.  The following three websites are examples of sites that offer a great user experience while still portraying a singular message they wish to convey.  The three websites critiqued are a digital portfolio, nontraditional new site, and a content driven website.

John Chleborad

Direct is a word to categorize Chleborad’s work.  The solid black screen takes the background while along the side in white tabs are his work displayed as TV, Print, Digital, and OOH (out-of-home).  The top of the portfolio are tabs showcasing his Portfolio, Latest Work, About, and Contact Info and Resume. As a Senior Vice President, Director at BBDO Worldwide Chleborad must know how the game is played.  He uses minimalistic colors and showcases his work directly when the page is opened.  The fonts used exhibit maximum readability and allow the viewer simplicity.

Buzzfeed News 

This nontraditional news site is redefining online news, entertainment, video and more with its social, interactive, and content-driven publishing technology.  Buzzfeed News shows viewers a picture and a short description of the story right on the main page.  If a reader decides they wish to learn more on the subject they may click and be directed to the whole story told in a concise manor either in words, pictures, or a combination of both. The ease and simplicity of the site allows for understanding of happenings.  The reasonable site setup showcases the main stories while also giving the reader a chance to sort by type of news. Overall it is a very appealing site used to stay current on news events.

Words Can Save 

This interactive social project shows adults how serious cyberbullying is in current times.  This site attracts the attention of adults and shows them the heart and importance of the growing problem.  Driven by responses the site tells of the harsh realities behind cyberbullying.  With a very easy user experience, complete with visually-distinct graphics and visually-appealing videos, it becomes a very powerful and moving site.

Project 2 Reflection

Writing about a concept that is close to your heart is challenging.  You want to do it justice while at the same time approaching the subject objectively as to best tell the story.  As the collegiate chapter of my life comes to a close, it felt necessary and important to reflect on what friendship means to fellow seniors going through the same situation. What I did not expect was to face the difficulty in getting to the root and ideals behind the concept of friendship.

When the three friends gather to talk about themselves, I thought the conversation would flow naturally.  I believed that they all would know the reasoning behind their friendship and be able to tell me why they are friends, how they have stayed together so long, and the future of their relationships.  However, it was not so simple.  Each one of them had a different stance on the topic and were in the friendship for different reasons.  There was not a unifying factor that solely held them to each other, yet each of them gained different aspects from their friendship with the others.  It was interesting to get a differing response then what I expected to receive, but overall that is why I choose to do the piece in the first place.

The most challenging aspect of this project was to keeping the conversation flowing in the direction that I wished.  With three best friends in the same room, it was very challenging to keep the discussion on topic.  Many of times the chat would turn to happenings of their day or general friend talk that while was interesting to watch, did not help me uncover the depth of their friendship.  At some points it felt overwhelming to refocus the conversation to the topic at hand, but overall everything did help when learning about the friendship they hold.

The Bonds and Belongings of Friendship

Sitting at the table they have gathered around numerous times before, three friends look apprehensive and nervous about what what is to come.  The space which is seemingly familiar, holds tension as the future of the night is unknown.  Andrew Cobb, Lauren Butz, and Tess Hejna are all seniors at Saint Louis University.  Together they are tied through an invisible bond: friendship.

Tess Hejna, Andrew Cobb and Lauren Butz discuss their friendship Tuesday, March 31, 2015.

Friendship gives people a sense of belonging.  It is what captures us in a good mood when times are difficult or it is what drives us to insanity when it falters.  In the world toady negatives are emphasized.  We hear what moves people to action: fear.  This interview was about a different f-word.  It is about a concept that is easy to possess but difficult to put into words.  This discussion revolved around three best friends creating one friendship.

Agreeing to be interviewed without knowing the subject matter is a brave risk.  Knowing that they could be asked about any subject, any concept, or any ideal but still agreeing is either testament to the bond formed between this group of friends or a foolish choice agreed upon under a fear of missing out.  Luckily for this group, it was a matter they all understood beautifully otherwise their participation would not have been called upon.

The friends were as a series of questions ranging all over the friendship spectrum. Who do you consider your best friends? How do you know you all have reached the level of best friendship? How do we gravitate towards certain people, forming tight connections we label as friendships? How do you keep in contact with your friends? All of the questions asked attempted to uncover the secret of friendship.

Lauren Butz and Tess Hejna discuss how their friendship began during and the outlook for their future while being interviewed on Tuesday, March 31, 2015.

Being someone’s friend is something many hold to a high esteem.  It is an honor. To some, friendship is a quality handed out quite easy. According to Cobb, “It [friendship] is effortless to give out to a worthy individual, but difficult to find a someone you trust enough for the title of best friendship.” Cobb believes it takes a good amount of time to vet a best friend.  It is not a title that is given out on the first meeting, yet a honor someone grows into.

Andrew Cobb attentively listens to Tess Hejna while talking about how one becomes a best friend.

Describing the ways and characteristics of a best friend was hard to some.  Hejna kept second guessing her statement regarding what qualities a best friend should possess.  She stated, “Best friendship is a concept that is easy to think of. But when you personalize it, it becomes challenging to pinpoint all attributes of a great best friend.”  Best friendship is an honor, that is something the friends agreed upon, yet they came to the conclusion that what defines a best friend changes for each person.  Hejna said it best, “Asking me to describing why I am best friends with who I am with is like asking me to describe the why red is my favorite color.  It just is.”

Tess Hejna talks about what she looks for in both a regular friendship and a best friendship.

Looking at past relationships can be emotional.  Knowing at one point you and another held each other in such high regard and now barely speak is a thought process that brings back sensitive feelings.  Over the course of her life Butz has had eight best friends.  While discussing past best friends Butz said, “It is sad to think that I once consider those people my closest friend in the entire world and now I don’t even talk to them.”  Friendships end.  It is a harsh reality this is difficult to face.  Butz stated, “It is an emotional thought process to have especially at this turning point in my life.  Soon we will all be in different states pursuing our career aspirations, it will be a challenge to keep our friendship at the level it is now, but I think we can do it.”  The distance they all would be putting between them has been a great concern as graduation approaches.  Though as Cobb put it eloquently, “you can’t dwell on the mights of the future, you have to stay in the gift of the present.” To be fair he said he might have read that in his horoscope recently.

Lauren Butz gives consideration to what her best friends are saying while discussing how friendships come to an end.

Discovering the reasoning of friendship proved difficult to uncover, yet the process of trying was well worth the time.  Friendship is an amazing concept which people enjoy daily. It is an invisible tread that ties us together.  While it is not tangible nor easy to discuss because it is abstract, it is important to have conversations about.  Talking about friendship, especially at major turing points in one’s life such as leaving college, is important to do.  Keeping healthy lines of communication open is essential to maintaining friendships.

Three people sitting in a room discuss one similarity that binds them together: friendship.  This is a friendship they believe can last the span of their lifetime, after all they did blindly agree to this interview.  As Butz then stated,  “If we can make it though this interview talking about our friendship, then I am sure we will be just fine.”

*Wish to get in touch with any of the participants of the interview? All can be reached via email and are ready for any questions you may have regarding friendship!

Lauren Butz: lbutz2@slu.edu

Andrew Cobb: acobb8@slu.edu

Tess Hejna: thejna@slu.edu

Project 1 Reflection

At this moment in my life there is much uncertainty.  Did I choose the right field of study? Am I going into a profession that I will love and be passionate about?  Will I regret any decisions that I make now that are sure to impact my future?  I am hesitantly nervous about many things but what I am certain of is my drive to connect with people.  This project offered the perfect outlet to do just that.  Though this project I was able to showcase the amazing work of a fellow student.  In doing this all uncertainties and hesitancies are forgotten aside and true intrigue is able to shine through.

There was a story to be told and I believe it was relayed in the best possible way-through people.  That personal connection of having the author, a participant, and reader really added to the story.  The Series’ are all about people so to show people in a video almost seems a natural progression of the story.  Challenging aspects of the assignment came from time management.  This will always be something I strive to overrule but unfortunately a hint of procrastination seems to linger.  Apart from this, not too much about this project deemed unobtainable.  Program workings, downloading, exporting, uploading all acted   coherently which was a welcomed surprise that made this project truly enjoyable.

Doing something that you enjoy never feels like work.  This is how I felt throughout this project; all the effort place into this never felt taxing or tiresome.  Instead it felt intriguing, alive and basically completed itself.  It is reassuring to see how quickly and efficiently this project was compiled.  Knowing that a solid project is complete it gives me confidence that I am on the correct path.

An Introvert’s Creation of Extraversion

Many in college do what is required, the bare minimum, in order to obtain a degree and enter into the real world in their desired field of study.  For one Saint Louis University student this is not the case.  Matt Meyers, a sophomore, has a different approach for his time spent at college.

Beginning as a class project, Meyers created The Quiet Series, a look into how introverts hold their own in a extroverted world.  Going beyond the requirements of the project, Meyers published his work and is available for purchase for those who wish to have a hard copy.  Not stopping here, Meyers decided to continue his series in a new work entitled The Social Series.

The Social Series will highlight the many different forms of extroversion in today’s society.  “Continuing on with extroverts seemed a natural progression.  I am ecstatic that people are being super supportive in my quest to move forward” said Meyers when asked about the creation of the The Social Series.  Currently Meyers is gathering all information necessary for the new publication.  Though with fifteen extrovert’s schedules and school work of his own, he is not putting too much of a timeline towards this piece.  Here are Meyer’s steps involved in creating his magazine:

1. An Idea-Everything always comes back to or centers around this idea.
2. Gather Participants-With the works centralized around people possessing a certain attribute, participants are fundamental to the project.
3. Collect Content-This step includes taking photos, interviewing and writing.
4. Production-Putting everything together in a coherent, logical and rational way is crucial for the feel of the final piece.  This step includes designing the layout, selecting photos, inserting of writing samples and creation of the hardcopy.
5. Exposure-Getting people interested and excited about the work in order to expand the client base and further the Series.

Meyers already has his sights set on a third publication; he is wasting no time during his college education.  While many would be content to wade through their time in college, Meyers believes that one should not wait to start going for one’s dreams.  Just take a look a his work and you will see that philosophy shine though.

5 Ways to Aviod Getting Sued When Posting Online

The online as a medium has become a central tool in the modern world.  As popularity switches to online material it is important to understand the legal components to avoid getting sued when posting online.  By having a general understanding regarding legality online your content is safe to be viewed and shared across platforms.  Below are five ways to avoid legal liabilities on the web:

1. Cheaters never prosper. Stealing intellectual property of another is a very big issue.  Publishing the works of others without consent from the original owner is grounds for liability.
2. Not sure it’s true…don’t post it! Any information that would harm a reputation, do not publish it.  Anything that harms a reputation, the reputations of a person, group, or organization are all protected from defamation and false light.
3. Permission, permission, permission.  So important it had to be stated three times.  Private or personal facts can only be published with permission.  Though everything might be factual, without permission it could lead to legal liability.
4. If you don’t have anything nice to say…then don’t write it. Problematic comments will lead to problems.  Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act will protect you from third-party statements but it cannot cover all your bases.  Make sure you watch out for potential problematic areas.
5. Secrets, secrets are no fun!  If you are being paid to endorse a product from a company, this must be stated.  It is most important that your reveal any relationships with companies.

With great power comes great responsibility.  Online opens so many endless possibilities.  Unfortunately, these possibilities also come with potential for legal troubles.  It is important to keep up with correct procedures and legal components of utilizing online media.  Beginning with these five easy ways to avoid being sued is a great place to start.

Story Ideas for Project 1

Idea 1:The Quiet Series

What:  Matt Meyers, sophomore at SLU, decided to create and publish his own magazine.  The central focus of this project would be a profile piece detailing Matt’s magazine and how it came to be.

How:  I feel this story would be best represented utilizing video and online writing.  With a video action can be captured and a time line can easily be established.

Source 1

• Name & title: Matt Meyers, Creator of The Quiet Series 
• Contact info: Telephone
• Contribution: I expect Matt to give me a detailed understanding of his thought process behind starting this undertaking.
• Five questions:

1. What sparked the idea behind The Quiet Series?
2. When did you know this was a project you wanted to achieve?
3. How has the magazine done so far?
4. Any unforeseen troubles you have come across?
5. What are your aspirations for the magazine?

Source 2

• Name & title: Edward Stephens, model for The Quiet Series
• Contact info: Telephone
• Contribution: Eddie will be able to give a different viewpoint on the piece.  He will be able give an insider look to the process of creating the magazine.
• Five questions:

1. How did you get involved with The Quiet Series?
2. What are your thoughts about the magazine?
3. How did the photo shoot go?
4. Why did you agree to be apart of this commitment?
5. What was your favorite part of this process?

Source 3

• Name & title: Katie Hallahan, reader of The Quiet Series
• Contact info: Telephone
• Contribution:  Showing the perspective of a third party viewers will be able to bond with the story through Katie.  The questions they want answered can be asked without getting a bias opinion from the author or a contributor.
• Five questions:

1. How did you learn about The Quiet Series?
2. What are your thoughts on the first issue?
3. What do you hope to see in future issues?
4. Do you see a market for this type of magazine?
5. Would you recommend it to others? Why or why not?

Visuals:  To best tell this story I will include a variety of different types of video shoots.  By mixing up tight, medium and wide shots the audience will stay engaged and interested in the story.

Idea 2: Saint Louis Football Club

What:  Julie Hendrickson, senior at SLU, gained an internship with the newly formed Saint Louis FC.  This project would focus on the clubs journey to St. Louis, its first year, and what is in-store for the team.

How:  I feel this story would be best represented utilizing video and online writing.  Interviews can be recorded and pieced together gaining a comprehensive understanding of the Saint Louis Football Club.

Source 1

• Name & title: Julie Hendrickson, Intern for the Saint Louis Football Club
• Contact info: Telephone
• Contribution: Julie will be able to give the audience an account of the FCs process to become a St. Louis team.
• Five questions:

1. How did you find out about the Saint Louis Football Club?
2. As an intern, what does a typical day look for you?
3. What is your favorite part about working with the FC?
4. Is there a future for you at the club past graduation?
5. Is there a strong market for soccer her in St. Louis?

Source 2

• Name & title: Andrew Adcock, Saint Louis Football Club Fan
• Contact info: Telephone
• Contribution: Andrew will be able to provide the insight of a fan.  He would give a more uplifting tone to the piece and hopefully turn the audience into fans of the FC.
• Five questions:

1. When did you hear of the Saint Louis Football Club coming to town?
2. Is there a large soccer fan base in St. Louis?
3. What type of environment does the FC foster?
4. What is your favorite aspect about watching soccer vs watching any other sport?
5. What made you a soccer fan?

Source 3

• Name & title: Tom Rodgers, Saint Louis Football Club Communications Manager
• Contact info: Email-trodgers@saintlouisfc.com
• Contribution:  Speaking with a full-time member of the staff will bring credit to this story.  Tom will give knowledgable information to the story that will inform the audience.
• Five questions:

1. Give a brief summary of how the Saint Louis Football Club came to be?
2. What struggles has the corporation come across that were unexpected?
3. As the season draws near, how is the Saint Louis Football Club run on a day-to-day basis?
4. How did the Saint Louis Football Club become a reality?
5. What is one aspect of the Club that most people do not know?

Visuals:  To best tell this story I will include a many shots including action.  Soccer is a fast-paced game.  By including motion and movement the audience will get to progress at the speed of the game.

Rachel Moylan’s Five Tips for Online Writing

As a shift is made toward online media, it is important to learn the correct policies and procedures for writing online.  Writing for the web is different from writing for the mediums.  The audience scans a screen different then they would hard print.  Utilizing a few simple techniques can greatly improve readability for online writing.

1. Be clear and overly concise: Make sure all words have purpose.  Think about what the true focus of the piece is and stick to it.
2. Lists, formatting, and links are your friends: Searching for information becomes easier with the addition of lists, bullet points, bold, italics, highlighting and links.  They offer quick information without wading through unnecessary words. However as stated by Debora Wenger in her piece, Online writing tips sheet, they must be used appropriately.
3. Medium for the message: Publishing online can take many forms. Choose the medium that best fits the message wished to convey.
4. Use examples but remember timelessness:  Illustrate main points and emphasize key ideas with fitting examples.  But remember that pieces online have a longer life then print.  Avoid dating your writing by leaving out dates and vague references to time.
5. Utilize Search Engine Optimization: SEOs is the process of affecting the visibility of a website or a web page in a search engine’s search results.  Knowing how SEOs work will help bring your audience to your piece.

Following these five tips for writing online will place you ahead of the game.  With knowing the important key facts and guidelines about online writing others will notice your work in no time.

The Scoop on the Hill

Within this assignment I decided to pick a news organization that I had no preconceptions about.  After some research I chose to commit to The Hill.  The Hill is newspaper published in Washington, D.C. written for and about Congress.  It focuses on business and lobbying, political campaigns and events of Capitol Hill.  For my 24-hour evaluation I watched The Hill’s online presence, app, and Twitter account.  It was a full scale news watch party.

Downloading a new app is a rare accourance on my phone.  An app has to be pretty special and significant to take up space on my phone.  Let’s just say after this evaluation The Hill did not get a majority and is voted off my hard drive.  I was unimpressed and bored.  With upcoming elections I have made it a goal to stay current on political happenings.  I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to find my ideal news organization that I will follow for the next year.  The Hill seemed to have everything I wanted.  It was dedicated to politics, but after following it for 24 hours I became less involved for my quest to stay politically current.  It was too wordy.  Text on text on text assaulted me from every digital presence.  The online website was the greatest offender, followed by the app, and their Twitter presence was the best by far.  With a limit characters, Twitter forced The Hill to stay concise.  They used rules out of the page book of Melissa Leiter with Ragan.com and created tweets with clever hooks paired with an article link or visual representation.

I applaud the employees of The Hill.  I for one could not stand to write pieces covering the events on Capitol Hill.  It must take great understanding, dedication and talent to continue to cover the political circuit.  All I ask is for maybe a more simplistic online approach to new reporting.  There is a lot happening on the opening webpage.  It is overwhelming and distracting.  On the app there is also a lot of text and I do not know where to start.  Maybe if they had a relevance scale or importance meter viewers could narrow down the stories they wish to read.  Who knows maybe I am the one who needs to adjust.  If it is my goal to become more politically savvy then maybe I should change my simple is more mentality and give The Hill a chance to prove its worth.

You Think it’s So Easy…Then You Try it

Scrolling through Buzzfeed articles the thought has crossed my mind a time or two that I could definitely do this.  I can find topical relevant photographs, video or gifs, add a witty phrase or two and BAM instant comical, online genius.  I mean really how hard can that be?  Well apparently it can be pretty dang hard.

Immediately I hit a creative block.  Each suggestion of a possible topic seemed lamer than the last.  Days past before I could even think of picking up the iPad mini.  Of course during this time of intense thought and meditation I spent a lot of time “researching” on Buzzfeed.  Finally once I had thought of an idea that did not make me cringe I was at a loss of how to begin.  Should I take the photos first or write down words and base my photos off that?  Should I just make a video instead and forgo ample writing of words?  Should I just switch topics again??

Photos.  I decided to first take the photos of the problem areas of the apartment.  This step was not the hardest thing in the book.  Point and shoot.  Capturing photos on the iPad mini was simple enough but then came the question of editing.  Did I want to touch-up, crop, or alter my photos in any way?  We are in the age of digital change.  Everything now is not complete with out a hashtag or a filter.  After some fun times playing around PS Express I decided that my photos were perfect the way they are and they do not need a ‘Superpunch’ or ‘Vivid’ tint to stand out.

After an intense clean-up of the apartment, for which my roommates love me and think I should do projects like this more often, I was left with pulling my hair out trying to upload, write, and format correctly on WordPress.  Wordpress and I were going through a rough patch in our relationship.  I stuck by it through the unnecessarily difficult website upgrade.  It stayed by my side during last minute blog entries, but just when I needed it the most we fell short.  We each had our shortcomings.  I could not get over typing on the screen and WordPress decided to unexpectedly quit on me numerous of times.  But alas I am happy to say that we settled our differences and made it though.

This project taught me a lot.  I learned that I might not be as technology inclined as I thought.  I figured out that sometimes a break is needed when things are not working for the fifteenth time.  Overall I learned that new and different can mean exciting and interesting.  So while I might put my career aspirations to work a Buzzfeed on hold for now, I am proud of myself for mastering the iPad mini.  I feel as though this bonding experience paid off and I might even turn to my own iPad mini for projects in the future-it felt neglected this weekend.