Media Trends Blog 10, Question 1 (April 17th)

What do you think is the most important trend that is cutting across all media industries and having the biggest impact on both professionals and consumers?

*Note: For the final blog posting, you must still use three readings to support your responses. They can be from any point in the semester and they must be assigned readings for the class (no additional outside article/source required).  Limit: 9 responses

Media Trends Blog 10, Question 2 (April 17th)

Which two industries do you think will undergo the most change in the next 10 years? How will media professionals and consumers be impacted by those changes? 

*Note: For the final blog posting, you must still use three readings to support your responses. They can be from any point in the semester and they must be assigned readings for the class (no additional outside article/source required).  Limit: 9 responses

Sports & Celebrity Blog 9, Question 1 (April 3rd)

Which celebrity has the strongest overall brand? What makes the brand so strong and what are some of the ways that the celebrity leverages her/his brand in the marketplace? Which celebrity’s brand needs to be revamped and why? What are some of the current problems with the brand? Limit: 8 responses

Sports & Celebrity Blog 9, Question 2 (April 10th)

Why is branding so important in sports? How is it similar to, and different from, celebrity branding?  What are some of the ways that successful athletes and franchises leverage their brands in the marketplace?  Limit: 8 responses

Sports & Celebrity Blog 9, Question 3 (April 10th)

Has sports media reached a tipping point in its reliance on traditional/legacy media? What changes, if any, do you expect to see over the next 3 – 5 years?  Limit: 8 responses

Music Blog 8, Question 1 (April 3rd)

After years of declining sales, the music industry has seen revenue increases the past two years. Do you think the industry has finally found a way to adapt to the changes in ways people consume music? Do you think that sales will continue to increase, flatten, or decline in the coming years? Limit: 8 responses

Music Blog 8, Question 2 (April 3rd)

Which streaming service has the most sustainable business model? And which one do you think is struggling?  Limit: 8 responses

Music Blog 8, Question 3 (April 3rd)

What does it take for an artist to be successful in the music industry today? What are some of the different ways that artists have promoted themselves and their work? And do artists still need the backing of a major record label in order to succeed? Limit: 8 responses

News Blog 7, Question 1 (March 27th)

How have changes in the way we consume media impacted the news media industry? Where are people getting their news today? And what can journalism outlets do to keep younger audiences, in particular, engaged?  Limit: 9 responses

News Blog 7, Question 2 (March 27th)

What is the role of journalism in today’s highly partisan political climate and how is so-called “fake news” impacting the profession? Also, what, if anything, can news media outlets do to combat the “fake news” stigma? Limit: 9 responses

Black Panther Blog 6 (March 20th)

What are the positive aspects and what are the limitations or problems with representations of race, ethnicity, and gender in in Marvel’s Black Panther? What is the cultural significance of the movie and what impact, if any, will the film’s success have on the film industry?  

**Notes: First, ALL students must answer this question. Second, for this week’s blog, your two course readings should come from the Film Industry week (March 6^th). Third, instead of including a third article of your choice, you MUST refer to at least three specific scenes and/or characters from the film in order to support your responses. The film references will count as your third source for the week.

Film Industry Blog 5, Question 1 (March 6th)

Compare the top box office hits from last weekend, last year (2017), and the previous year (2016). Describe two trends that you see in the data. Which studios/companies were most successful in capitalizing on these trends? And do you see these trends continuing in the next 3 – 5 years? Limit: 9 responses

Film Industry Blog 5, Question 2 (March 6th)

Hollywood has started to take steps to address critiques over its lack of diversity, particularly in the areas of race and gender. What else, if anything, needs to be done to make the film industry (behind the scenes) and its products (movies) more representative of its audience? Limit: 9 responses

Lifestyle & Niche Media Blog 4, Question 1 (Feb. 20th)

What is the appeal of lifestyle and niche cable TV channels and/or programming? How are these channels/programs managing to retain viewers in the SVOD era? 

Limit: 8 responses

Lifestyle & Niche Media Blog 4, Question 2 (Feb. 20th)

How are magazines adapting to their audiences? What are some of the strengths of magazines and what are some of the challenges facing the magazine industry today? 

Limit: 8 responses

Lifestyle & Niche Media Blog 4, Question 3 (Feb. 20th)

How are brands and advertisers using social media influencers to target audiences? What are the plusses and minuses of using YouTubers and Instagram stars to promote products?  

Limit: 8 responses

TV Industry Blog 3, Question 1 (Feb. 13th)

What are some of the things broadcasting and cable networks are doing to attract and keep viewers? How have these efforts helped them compete with SVOD services? In 3 – 5 years, what do you expect the TV industry to look like and what role will broadcast/cable/streaming play?  Limit: 12 responses

TV Industry Blog 3, Question 2 (Feb. 13th)

Some critics have labeled the last few years the “Platinum Era of Scripted Television.” But are we reaching a “peak,” as some researchers argue, or will this surge of creativity continue? And can the marketplace sustain the growing amount of TV content?  

Limit: 12 responses

Audience Metrics & Advertising Blog 2, Question 1 (Feb. 6th)

How would you assess this year’s Super Bowl – from the commercials to the halftime show to the game itself? In this changing media environment, is the Super Bowl as influential as a showcase for advertisers, performers, and the NFL as it was in the past?   Limit: 12 responses

Audience Metrics & Advertising Blog 2, Question 2 (Feb. 6th)

Given the changes in how audiences consume media, do ratings still matter? Why or why not? And are there alternative ways to track media consumption?   Limit: 12 responses

Media Consolidation & Multiple Platforms Blog 1, Question 1 (Jan. 30th)

Which major media conglomerate is best positioned to succeed and which organization will face the most challenges in 2018? Limit: 12 responses

Media Consolidation & Multiple Platforms Blog 1, Question 2 (Jan. 30th)

How sustainable are the business models of SVOD services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and YouTube Red? Limit: 12 responses