The web is in motion

Web 2.0 is taking over the Internet and most importantly the mainstream media. Cole Camplese wrote an article about Web 2.0 and used 'Charlie Bit My Finger' as a classic example of what the Internet is becoming. The article was posted on the Christian Science Monitor (CSM). CSM is an international newspaper published by The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston, Mass.

'Charlie...' is a simple home produced video about a baby biting his older brother's finger. Who would believe such a simple concept for a video would become a big hit on the Internet? There was no concept to begin with for this video. The parents were just trying to record home footage of a big brother playing with his little brother. The funny thing about this video is that the kid continues to let his little brother bite his finger. He even puts his finger to his mouth basically asking him to bite.




Camplese uses this to discuss how any person can become famous on the Web. Camplese is the director of Education Technology Services at Penn State. He brings up how this video had no marketing or significant cost to producing this and it turned into a Web sensation. This video has more views than some movies in current theatres in the United States.

I agree with his point that people are posting to the Web for attention. As Camplese states, many traditional news organizations will cite the social medias, such as Facebook, You Tube, Twitter, Myspace and others in their news reporting. Since we are so close to election time, he says the social media will play a big role in news reporting. I have to agree, especially when people with little knowledge about computers can post a video on You Tube and receive air time.

One phenomena that reminded me of 'Charlie...' was the craze around new teen rapper Soulja Boy. He had a song called 'Crank That'. You Tube will not allow me to embed the video in my blog, so just click on the link and it should take you to the video.

He self-produced the song and posted it on You Tube initially. He made millions of dollars off the song. By typing in the key words 'Crank That' on You Tube, viewers can find so much material relating to the song. Here is one example.



Viewers can find the official video for the song, home videos and mash ups from popular media. Someone on You Tube took the time out to do a mash up with the loveable purple dinosaur, Barney. I know I do not have that much time to create something like that. A creation like that still takes talent.



A major chunk of Camplese's article talked about teens and their heavy usage of social media. As from the Soulja Boy example, the social media is another alternative to becoming discovered.

What Could Have Been: A multimedia look at a sad day in sports

A new rookie class will be drafted on June 26 for the National Basketball Association (NBA). ESPN.com takes a look back at one of the top players from the 1986 NBA draft and remembers the legacy he left behind in a special report. The elements brought in to telling the story enhanced the interest in a highly debated topic. The person is Len Bias, who was a two time Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year. He played for the Maryland Terrapins and was drafted by the Boston Celtics. Two days after the draft, Bias died of a cocain overdose. Twenty-two years later, the issues surrounding the death remain topics of discussion. The photos used throughtout the story connect readers to the situation. For instance, the picture of Bias' grave, which is located next to his little brother, Jay Bias, is really a sad photo to see. For added feeling to the picture, the Boston Celtic jersey of Bias is layed over his grave and the high school jersey of his brother is layed over his grave. According to the article, Bias was held at the standard of Michael Jordan when he was drafted to the Celtics. His legacy lives on to this day because of the changes his death caused to laws regarding illegal drugs.

The story overall is very well done because of the different perspectives. In one part there is a segment about his mother and how she believed her son died to be used as an example to the world. Another example is told from a buddy of Jay Bias and how the effects of Bias' death changed his life negatively.

The different videos posted tell additional stories, such as an Outside the Lines report discussing the social impacts of Len Bias' death, which is located in the story. Also, the highlight films which cover the on the court success of Len Bias.

An additional picture of Jay Bias crying at the funeral was posted with the story, which is very vivid and gives a feel to how devastating his death was to his brother. As explained in the story, Jay Bias never really recovered from the death of his brother and eventually died less than five years after his older brother. The photos from the funeral and of Len Bias on his draft day are easily distinguished as old photographs in comparison to the new photographs in the story. The older photos have an orange look to them, but there was a good editing job done to these photos.

Overall, this is a good job of multimedia uses in telling a sad story, which took place 22 years ago.