Modern Examples of Censorship

June 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

While many people believe that there is no censorship in the United States media that is not true. The Federal Communications Commission has outlined some rules and guidelines that TV shows must follow or face censorship. Here’s a look at some of the things that could face censorship should a regular TV station wish to air it.

Graphic Content and Nudity. TV stations and TV shows are restricted from entering any type of graphic content and nudity. Depending upon the level of graphic content and nudity the show may be acceptable by just having a small blurred out section or even a parental disclaimer. TV stations and TV shows are also allowed to show certain images at a specified time in the evening. For example, shows would not be able to show any typing nudity at one in the afternoon but might be able to show the same show at 10 PM.

Public Safety. TV stations and TV shows are protected under the freedom of speech and press. However, should a story put the public safety at risk the local, state and national government have the option to pull the story or ask the media outlets to not air it. This type of censorship really happened and could be a long drawn out court battle as many TV stations will generally air the content if they want. Some services like direct tv sunday ticket be very careful and telecast only shows that are only legal.

Swearing. The censorship of swear words is probably the most commonly used form of censorship. TV shows are not allowed to air the full words of swear words during specified hours. This is to prevent children from picking up and learning these types of words.

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The Evolution of Human Communication in The Twentieth Century

January 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Technology is a wonderful thing. If we take a moment to look back and reflect upon the advancements that have been made over the past 100 years, it is astonishing. This concept is particularly evident when it comes to communication. In the early twentieth century we were still transferring mail via horseback, messages through telegraphic wiring networks and depended on the radio for most news taking place outside of our hometowns. Fast-forwarding 100 years, the entire face of society, and communications specifically have drastically evolved. It is nearly impossible to go anywhere by today’s standards and not get a piece of some form of news, or large scale occurrences taking place around the world.

One of the largest accomplishments that assisted in the vast evolution of fast and efficient communication was the television. Before television, radios were the dominant source of media; television opened up an entirely new spectrum of media and news travel potential. After the induction of this wonderful picture box, computers moved in a few decades later. When the personal computer was first being utilized, it was not nearly what a personal computer is in modern society, it was more of a box that stored information and made complicated calculations. However, as the internet popped on and massive networks became interlinked, computers began making their way into the everyday residential household.

Moving ahead another twenty years, the number of computers in residential households is growing at a seemingly exponential rate. As the number of computers grow, as do the number of people plugged into the internet. The internet proves to be the fastest and most efficient way to find and obtain information. Whether the information comes from a streamed media site run by a large broadcasting station, or is simply and RSS feed from an entertainment site; when something big happens, it tends to find it’s way to the internet within the hour of the occurrence, providing incredibly up to date and nearly real time information for people.

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Is Television Scheduling Headed for Museums?

December 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

On a recent evening, my small children expressed their shock that to watch a show on network television, we had to be in front of the television at a pre-determined time. At their tender ages, they have become accustomed to Hulu, Netflix, and other web-based, on-demand ways of watching television shows without adhering to a schedule.

Studies indicate that this move away from watching television shows on the screen when they first air is not a simple trend. In fact more people are beginning to use the internet for their television needs daily. This move begs the question: is television scheduling becoming a concept for a communications museum?

When television first was available to a large number of people, there were no set shows. Older folks talk of turning on their television and waiting in the hopes that a show would come on. Slowly, evening news became a standard, and information important to our society was available to most people on a nightly basis.

Eventually television executives realized that they could sell more advertising by having schedules so that people would know when to tune in. This concept of random television shows is an idea now suitable for communications history now as few people remember those days.

The use of the internet to disseminate information is making scheduling now look like a thing of the past. If one misses a show, there are no worries about what happened. It is easy enough to log onto the internet in the next 12 hours and see the show re-run. Typically one can see these shows with fewer”or even no “commercials and have the option to start and stop as they please.

Given this advent, it is no wonder that television scheduling soon will belong in a museum as an anomaly in the entertainment world.

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Television is Quickly Becoming a Living Thing

December 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Television has been an ever present resource for news, entertainment and information for almost a century now and it is advancing in leaps and bounds each year. You can find a television in just about every home and most people use them every single day. You can even go in stores, bars and restaurants and find televisions used for sports, advertising and news. It’s amazing to think that your grandparents probably only saw a few televisions during their entire childhood.

It is almost impossible to imagine a life without television. People have taken for granted that they will always be there. When people are bored, often times they turn to television because of the many options that it offers. There are hundreds of channels available where you can watch movies, sitcoms, game shows, sports and concerts. Services like on demand give people the opportunity to watch basically anything they want, whenever they want. Now, that is convenience.

Another aspect of television that makes it so attraction to the masses is the high picture quality. With the introduction of high definition, the television market took off. You can watch broadcasts in crystal clear quality, sometimes making it look almost too real. Movies and TV shows are brought to life with vibrant colors and smooth movements, keeping viewers glued to their sets for hours on end. Recently, 3D televisions have come out and further raised the bar for a quality television watching experience.

Television has taken the world by storm, giving people a real life experience right from their own homes. Looking back on television from only a short time ago, anyone can see that they have advanced in giant steps each year. Picture quality and sheer volume of programs to watch have been a key factor is the success of television. Can you imagine what kind of world we would live in without the invention and evolution of television?

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Broadcast Communication Careers

September 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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There are a number of careers available for individuals that want to get involved in broadcast communication. Two of the mostly highly sought involve careers in news reporting and as a TV/video camera operator or editor. No matter which area you are interested in a career in broadcast communications can be very challenging and rewarding.

News Reporting

A career in news reporting can include working as a news analyst, or a reporter, or even a correspondent. You must be well skilled in gathering information and then disseminating it for viewers. Individuals must have a degree in either journalism or communications. There are numerous options within this field including local or nationwide broadcasters; also sports and weather reporting are two very popular segments. In order to be successful you must be tolerant of long and abnormal hours as well as to the pressure of working under deadlines.

TV /Video Camera Operators and Editors

If being in front of a camera isn’t what you are looking for, then maybe try out a behind the scenes career as a TV/Video camera operator or editor. A camera operator is in charge of operating the cameras, being aware of which types of cameras need to be used in certain situations, and the proper angle and lighting for taking shots. Editors are in charge of editing footage or sounds in order to make it ready for broadcast or distribution.

Individuals that wish to enter these fields don’t necessarily need to obtain a particular type of education, albeit there are many institutions that offer degrees in both fields. You will need however the ability to think quickly on your feet, be very creative, and have the ability to learn quickly in a hands on situation. Technical prowess is also an essential skill. These positions are highly competitive and heavily pursued.

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Getting a Degree in Broadcast Communications

September 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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There are a number of schools that offer a degree in broadcast communications. Individuals seeking a career within the many opportunities offered in television and video production should look into pursuing a degree within broadcast communication to provide them with an increased opportunity to succeed. You should take the time to research any school you are interested in to verify that their curriculum offers what you

Most programs will offer students a well-rounded curriculum that allows them to explore the various areas within broadcast communications. The curriculum usually includes digital television, digital radio, video production, video and audio editing, media advertising, sound design, sports broadcasting, introduction to theatre, programming and management, public speaking, and more. Students will also gain exposure to hands on experience as a result of the many labs and equipment they are able to work on as part of completing their coursework.

Schools that offer degrees in broadcast communications require that their students go thru internships. Internships are a way that students can work in the actual field they are interested in entering. Internships are completed at various TV stations, radio stations, digital medial firms, and even Internet video firms. Students can get experience with editing, camera operations, sound editing, writing, journalists, reporter, and news correspondent even in the management side of broadcast communication.

Upon graduation there will be a pretty good job market to enter depending on exactly which area of broadcast communications you wish to enter. Competition for certain positions will be stiff and your chances in obtaining these positions will depend on the school that you’ve graduated from, your practical experience, your G. P.A. and your overall ability and skill. It is important to realize that in any career comes hard work and dedication. The more that you put into your broadcast journalism career the more you will get out of it.

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How the Communication of Ads Have Changed Over Time

September 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment
"FOR SALE" - a classified ad in a ne...
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The ways that humans communicate with each other is ever changing. There are many factors that go into the way that we communicate with each other, and the minute one element of those factors changes, the way we communicate changes completely. Taking a brief look at one isolated example can really show people how communication has changed over the years. Consider how sellers have communicated to prospective buyers through advertising.

Before radio, TV, or the Internet, the main resource for information was the newspaper. Merchants would advertise through ads in the newspaper, often times taking out small corner ads or even full-page ads, which showed exactly what they were selling and how consumers would be able to get them.

As newspapers started to be phased out, the next logical step for advertisers was to switch to radio ads. Radio ads featured brief jingles about the featured product. These small featurettes ranged from 30-second ads to whole 5-minute ads regarding the product.

Radio quickly became a thing of the past, in terms of communication growth, and was followed by the television. TV ads quickly started popping up and at first featured very similar themes to radio ads. There were jingles, songs, and little stories for commercials or ads. Over the years, TV ads have become shorter and a lot more have been jammed into the short time frame.

The latest trend in advertising is that of the use of the Internet. Companies have started using the internet as a way to get potential customers. There are so many different resources that can be used on the internet that the potential client appeal is amazing.

Next time you receive a piece of e-mail for a refinance car loan option or see a pop-up ad, just think how far ads have come.

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