Revisions
Assignment # 1 – Writing Sample
Assignment # 2 – Revision of Writing Sample
Just Text Me - Revised (Correction in Italics)
September 7, 2008 by qthat
Audience: Those interested in the growing text messaging trend.
Search Engine Keywords: text messaging, communication,s hort messaging service, shorthand, messaging, texting, mobile communication, cellular communication, cell phones, mobile service
Abstract: Text messaging is one of the most popular forms of communication with teens. Text messaging is on it way to becoming as big as email when it comes to modern methods of communicating. The key to texting, is being able to understand the shorthand often used in text messages.
Text Messaging Craze
Text messaging is the newest communication craze sweeping the nation.
Softpedia reports that 95.4 billion text messages were sent by US mobile subscribers during the first quarter of 2008.
In a recent Nielsen Mobile press release it was reported that 116 million Americans subscribe to text messaging services.
According to a December 2007 Pew Internet & American Life Project Survey:
• 75% of all American Adults own cell phones
• 58% have sent or received a text message at some point
• 31% send or receive a text message on a typical day
Text messaging allows one to communicate with others that have short message service (SMS) via short text messages usually 160 characters or less.
Political Role of Text Messaging
At 3:32 a.m. on August 23, 2008 I was notified via text that Senator Joe Biden would be presidential candidate Barack Obama’s running mate for this year’s election. Nielsen Mobile reported that 2.9 million potential voters were notified of Senator Obama’s vice president selection via text messages.
Emergency Usage of Text Messaging
Numerous colleges are taking advantage of the texting craze by using it to send “Alerts” to students, faculty and staff when there is a campus-wide emergency. This concept is similar to the “Amber Alert” system that is being utilized throughout the country to assist with missing persons.
Communicating With The Next Generation
I recently visited my hometown of Fremont, NC, for the weekend and I got a chance to spend some time with my 16-year-old godsister who is a senior in high school. I have had better luck staying in touch with her recently, now that she has a new Samsung Glyde cell phone equipped with a complete 32 key, QWERTY keyboard.
This new phone is putting her in the running for “Text Messenger of the Year”. Before she got this phone there was a 50/50 chance that she would answer a call. The odds of her answering a call now, is no better but if you send a text message, you can expect a reply within seconds.
The convenience of being able to type a quick message, full of acronyms and text shorthand, is the preferred means of communication for today’s youth.
However, the trend of communicating via text message is growing rapidly and the age gap between those who do text and those who do not is shrinking.
Marketing Mobile Service Users
A new Verizon Wireless commercial highlights the convenience of its SMS. This commercial, set on the first day of school highlights today’s technically-savvy younger generation. The kids in the ad demonstrate to their parents the numerous ways they can stay in touch. The kids show their parents how to text message, send emails and even take and send photos, as they send their parents off to work. This commercial’s role reverses, shows that today’s youth are on the cutting edge of technology.
Communicating via Text Messages
Text messaging can be a quick and convenient way to communicate. Text messaging works well if you need to ask someone a quick, easy question, and you do not want to get involve in a prolonged conversation. Messaging also avoids the risk of interrupting the message receiver with a ringing phone at an inopportune time. Often a text can be received and replied to unnotice by others.
When communicating via text message, you run the risk of not being able to get your intended message across; if the message receiver can not translate text message acronyms and shorthand.
Per http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/4283
A while back I got a text that read, “R U N C H”. It took me a minute to figure this message out. For those that are like me, that are not up to par on their text shorthand it translates to “Are You in Chapel Hill?”
Acronyms and shorthand might be reasons that this means of communication is so appealing to the younger generation. Acronyms and shorthand allows text senders to develop and communicate via their own secret code, which can not easily be interpreted by those the message is not intended for.
Future of Text Messaging
Like other technological advancements, only time will tell what role text messaging will play in the future. Text messaging is quickly establishing its own place in the world of communication. When I enrolled as a freshman 14 years ago at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1994, I would never have thought that email would emerge as such a major form of communication. Now with 3 or more email accounts, I do not know what I would do without it. I feel lost and out of touch with the world if I can not check my email at least once a day. Well the incoming freshman classes of 2008 feel the same way about text messaging someday?
Assignment # 3 – Wayne-Wilson News Leader Now Online (Revised critique by incorporating recommendations, reduced description and more suggests and examples of how recommendations will work.)
Taking Newsleadernow.com to the Next Level -(New Headline)
The Wayne-Wilson News Leader is the weekly newspaper for Fremont, NC and surrounding areas. The News Leader speaks on the local issues that may not be addressed by larger media outlets in the area.
The paper is mailed to subscribers on Wednesday of each week and copies hit local newsstands each Thursday. About two years ago the News Leader decided to expand its distribution by posting the content of the weekly paper each weekend on www.newsleadernow.com.
At $0.75 per copy the paper operates on a tight budget.
Audience
The Wayne-Wilson News Leader serves the towns of Fremont (2000 census listed population at 1463), Pikeville (2000 census listed population at 719), Eureka(2000 census listed population at 244), Stantonsburg (2000 census listed population at 754), northern Wayne and southern Wilson Counties. Newsleadernow.com’s audience is made up of hardworking educators and blue-collar workers that are information seekers.
Content
Information posted on Newsleadernow.com mirrors the content that can be found in the most recent edition of the printed paper. The News Leader staff keeps its articles simple and straightforward, while writing about community events and issues.
Organization
The space available on the web site can be better used by utilizing a more user-friendly layout. With a different layout the site can provide interactors with more content on the homepage and provide better navigation.
Navigation
The site has a horizontal navigation bar across the top that directs viewers to the different sections of the paper. The site also has a vertical sidebar on the left-side that has hyperlinks to headline news articles. Basically the entire content of the site is easily accessible from the homepage.
Recommendations
Newsleadernow.com was a great idea and helps bring the communities it serves into the Age of the Internet. However I have several suggestions that will help the site and compliment the printed paper.
- Adding some interactive features like editorial blogs and discussion boards will provide participate journalism, which could increase the number of repeat visitors. These features would help get the target audience more involved in the content of the site and make it more appealing to its target audience by speaking direct to their interests.
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Consider changing the domain name so the Wayne-Wilson News Leader is easier to find on the Internet. The preferred domain of www.newsleader.com is taken by Staunton, VA’s News Leader. Domain names, likewww.waynewilsonnews.com or www.newsleaderweekly.com are closer to the name of the newspaper.
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The Wayne-Wilson News Leader should redesign the homepage. They could start by expanding the page width, to utilize more space. Mixing up the layout will help viewers differentiate the different sections of the site, while giving the site more of a professional appearance. This can be done by implementing box elements that separate the sections of the paper. As illustrated in the template below.
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A redesign of the photo gallery would make it more user-friendly. All photos should be enlarged to a size were viewers can see photos in full detail. The photo gallery should have navigation that will allow the audience to maneuver around the photo gallery in any pattern he or she chooses and still have the functionality to return to other pages.
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“About Us”, “Keyword Search” and “Request a Subscription” are key elements that aid in attracting business and need to be positioned on the top navigation bar or near the top of the page so they are highly visible and easily accessible. By placing “The Request a Subscription” in a prime location, readers interested in the printed version can subscribe and have the paper mailed to them weekly.
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A “Breaking News” section would add value to the site. Adding this feature would alert local residents of breaking news in their immediate area. Features like this would attract traffic to the site for information other than what can be found in the paper and in return can be utilized to increase interest in the printed paper.
The News Leader’s website does a good job of providing its target audience with an online presence that speaks to its localized news needs. However a few designs changes and added features would help the paper better fulfill its mission, “We are a good newspaper, but that is not good enough. We want to be the best.”
Assignment #4 -(Revision in Italics)
Headlines, Link and Lists
Q #1 – Find 3 examples online of poor headlines used as hyperlinks:
Headline: Students in Brazil get a New Classmate
Problem: Misleading. Students don’t actual get a classmate.
Solution: Intel’s Classmate PC Expands the Classroom
Revision: Intel’s Classmate PC Expands Brazilian Classroom
Source: CNet News, August 28, 2008
http://news.cnet.com/Students-in-Brazil-get-a-new-Classmate/2009-1042_3-6245413.html?tag=mncol
Headline: Dumbest travel trends – ever
Problem: Bias.
Solution: Usual travel destinations
Source: MSNBC, September 16, 2008
Revision: Travel For Experience, Not Destination
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26664916/
Headline: City Won’t Move For Ronaldo
Problem: Play on words
Solution: Ronaldo and Manchester City Choose to Go In Different Directions
Source: Goal.com, September 16, 2008
Revision: Ronaldo, Manchester City Choose to Go In Different Directions
http://www.goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=866616
Q #2 – Find at least one article on the Web that you think could be improved by deploying lists.
http://www.nchsaa.org/newsletter.php?mode=display&archiveID=785
HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC OFFICIALS FROM SOUTHEAST TO GATHER INWILMINGTON
WILMINGTON – The North Carolina High School Athletic Association is hosting an annual gathering of state association officials from across the Southeast starting on Saturday and running to Tuesday.
The meeting of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Section 3 will be headquartered at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside. States that are included in Section 3 are the two Carolinas, Georgia, Florida,Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee. The impending arrival of Tropical Storm Hanna in the area has caused a some cancellations but most of the participants will be on hand.
Attendees will participate in a number of workshops on Saturday and Sunday and then will hear from an impressive array of speakers on Monday and Tuesday.
Speakers on Monday will include North Carolina State University director of athletics Lee Fowler, East Carolina University director of athletics Terry Holland, Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford and North Carolina State Board of Education chairman Howard Lee.
Tuesday morning’s speakers are scheduled to be Roy Williams, head basketball coach at the University of North Carolina, and Dave Odom, former coach atWake Forest and South Carolina. Both Williams and Odom coached at NCHSAA high schools before heading into college coaching.
All of the sessions will address issues or topics specific to state high school associations and their working with various organizations.
Bob Kanaby, executive director of the National Federation, and Jim Tenopir, president of the NFHS this year and executive director of the Nebraska Schools Activities Association, will also address the gathering.
HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC OFFICIALS FROM SOUTHEAST TO GATHER INWILMINGTON
WILMINGTON – The North Carolina High School Athletic Association is hosting an annual gathering of state association officials from across the Southeast starting on Saturday and running to Tuesday.
The meeting of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Section 3 will be headquartered at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside.
States that are included in Section 3:
· Alabama
· Florida
· Georgia
The impending arrival of Tropical Storm Hanna in the area has caused some cancellations but most of the participants will be on hand.
Attendees will participate in a number of workshops on Saturday and Sunday and then will hear from an impressive array of speakers on Monday and Tuesday.
Speakers on Monday
North Carolina State University director of athletics Lee Fowler
East Carolina University director of athletics Terry Holland
Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford
North Carolina State Board of Education chairman Howard Lee
Speakers on Tuesday
Roy Williams, head basketball coach at the University of North Carolina
Dave Odom, former coach at Wake Forest and South Carolina
All of the sessions will address issues or topics specific to state high school associations and their working with various organizations.
Bob Kanaby, executive director of the National Federation, and Jim Tenopir, president of the NFHS this year and executive director of the Nebraska Schools Activities Association, will also address the gathering.
Q #3 – Re-write the headline for Chpt. 1 assignment.
Original Title: Just Text me
New Title: Generational Effect of Text Messaging Craze
Revision: Generational Effects of Text Messaging Craze
Q #4 – Write 3 different headlines for the story fragments.
- China Blocks Shipments of Tainted US Meat Products/Revision : China Blocks Shipments of Tainted U.S. Meat Products
- China Holts Contaminated US Meat Shipments/Revision : China Halts Contaminated U.S. Meat Shipments
- Questions Arise Over Us and China Exports: China Reacts to US Concerns About Imports Quality?/Revision: Questions Arise Over U.S.,China Exports: China Reacts to U.S. Concerns About Imports
Assignment #5 FAQ Navigating NCHSAA.org (Revisions Were Made and Applied to Link Below)
http://www.nchsaa.org/pages/655/navigating-Web-site/
Assignment #6 Article : Interview: NCHSAA Fantasy Football League
Replaced with Article at the Link Below: ”Inaugural Internet Summit Held in Chapel Hill, NC”
http://qthat.wordpress.com/inaugural-internet-summit-held-in-chapel-hill-nc/
Assignment # 11 Extanet FAQ Page (Revisions Are Noted By Italics)
Topic of FAQ Page
The following Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) page will be available on the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) web site as part of the association’s extranet, which is available to membership schools. The NCHSAA membership will have access to this new feature beginning in 2009 at NCHSAA.org. This feature will be a secure page that will require visitors to provide a username and a password.
How to Submit Your Playoff Team’s Roster Online
During the 2007-08 sports season the NCHSAA implemented an online roster submission. Each team playing in the 3rd round of the state playoffs is required to submit a roster to the NCHSAA before the deadline to avoid a fine. The link to the required form can be found on the NCHSAA website by clicking on the “Select a Sport” dropdown and select the sport for which the roster is due.
Why do you need this information?
This information is collected in advance so that championship game programs can be printed and ready before the day of the actual championship game.
Where can I find this form on NCHSAA.org?
Links to “Roster and Team Information” can be found by going to the “Select a Sport” dropdown box and selecting the sport for which you are submitting the form.
Ex. Baseball
What information will I need to have available to complete this form?
In order to complete this form you will need to have general information about your team, school, location, record, list of coaches, schedule, scores and season highlight information. ie. Conference Champions, lead by McDonald All-American Point Guard Darris Omar.
You will need a completed roster that includes jersey number, players’ names, position, height, weight and year in school.
There is a section for you to include season’s results, schedule and the results of each contest.
You will also need to have information available to complete the notes section, which requires data on the team’s awards and reasons for success.
Is this form secure?
Yes! We ensure this by asking for a username and password on log-in.
How do I get my username and password?
The athletic director at each school has been provided this information. If this information has been misplaced, please contact the NCHSAA, which maintains a database of usernames and passwords for all schools in the membership.
Who should complete this form?
The school’s athletic director or a member of the coaching staff.
How do I add another line for a player’s name or season result?
Click on the “Add a Player” or “Add a Game” buttons at the top of each section.
Once I log in, is there a time limit for completing the form?
Yes, 15 minutes. However you can get additional time by clicking the 
button located after each section of the form. By clicking on the “Submit” button you save the information you have entered and start the clock over with a fresh 15 minutes.
When should this form be submitted?
Once any team reaches the third round, it is required to submit the necessary form.
What is the penalty for not meeting the deadline?
A school will be fined $50 for not submitting the form to the NCHSAA within 24 hours after winning your second round play-off game.
How do I know that you received the form I submitted?
Once you click the 
button you will receive a message stating whether your information was submitted correctly or not.
Can I edit the form after I have submitted it?
Yes, you can go back into a submitted form and make corrections.
Change closing message: Thank you for submitting your roster! We wish you all Good Luck!
