Totally blogalicious? Are college students reading blogs?

This semester I completed a research project for my COM research class. My group project was centered around one main question:
Are College Students Reading Blogs?

The answer, my friends, is very simple.
And scary.
NO.

Out of the 105 students we surveyed, only 27 said that they read blogs!

We surveyed 25 students at BU's student center and the results we found were very interesting.

• significantly more males were reading blogs. (64%)
• it seems like female students can't actually identify what sites are blogs..."is like Perez Hilton a blog?"
• NO ONE (we surveyed) read more then 10 blogs! (SERIOUSLY!)
• While 74% of respondents spent 10-30 hours on the internet a week, 75% of respondents spent less than 5 hours a week reading blogs.
• Word Of Mouth is an incredibly powerful medium in college circles

These statistics really surprised me. Sure our sample was made up of students from the different colleges at BU. But it really seems that college students either don't want to, or don't have time to emerge themselves in the blogosphere. Although it doesn't surprise me that there aren't students from the health sciences school represented in our survey, I would think that more students from our College of Communication were reading blogs.

My question is how are communications students gonna keep up today's fast paced media landscape?

Sure, I do know some students that keep blogs. But these students are RARE! Most people who know me as a blogger think I'm slightly crazy. Blogs, seriously Danielle?

It's true!

Don't get me started on what they think of Twitter. I explained twitter to my interactive marketing class and people thought that I was nuts!


Should more colleges push students to be active online? Should they introduce students to different social media sites? Should it be integrated into everyone's education?

Are you a college students who reads blogs? What do your friends think?

Would Carrie Bradshaw Blog? My growing anticipation of the Sex and The City Movie.

For a few days, it seems that wherever I look and whoever I talk to, one thing is on people's minds. These people (numerous actual friends and also Perez Hilton and other fabulous sites) have directed to checkout the Sex and The City Move trailer. I tried as hard as I could to distract myself from this much anticipated and much hyped video, but I just couldn't stay away.

Then I started thinking...
Would Carrie Bradshaw Blog?

She could quite possibly be one of the LEAST computer savvy people portrayed on 90's TV, (lets not forget she taught a whole generation of people the importance of backing up their work!) but we still love her anyway. I think her column would be well translated to the blogosphere because of her clear, and honest voice. I think that once she stepped back and slipped out of her manolo blahniks and learned about a few new computer tricks, Carry Bradshaw would be a wonderful blogger.

As I started thinking about this, I came across some rather hilarious websites, not only devoted to S&TC, but to this Carrie Bradshaw character herself. My question is do the women (I assume) who write these blogs realize that all they are really doing is just expanding the S&TC brand? This site was too good to skip over. Basically its a faux campaign page to make Carrie Bradshaw the next president of the US. I'm certainly not gonna claim to be any political junkie, but seriously, do we need to go to these lows? Have we falled this low as a people? It's entertaining, but do we need to actually Suggest that fictitious people are best served to be our president?

This is just too much "Ladies and gentlemen, there's a new party in town...and it's hot! Vote Carrie Bradshaw for a more stylish America!"
I mean, sure character blogs are cute, but this is just too much!


So: Here ya go... And don't feel bad, I couldn't resist either!


until next time.

Power To The People: Hollywood Writers and Broadway Stagehands, that is!

So unless you have been living under a rock these past few weeks, I'm sure you've heard about the Hollywood writers strike. Not to be left behind, Broadway stagehands have also been striking, causing many NYC theaters to remain dark for over a week.

Now, let's use this as an opportunity to combine two of my favorite things: Musicals and Social Media.

One of the things that I love about social media is that it is such a humanizing force. Does this idea ring a familiar bell? This strike is all about giving the writers / stagehands what they deserve. (Isn't that what every strike really is about?)

Personally, I think the writers have an interesting perspective in their demands. Because so many TV networks have begun to put their content online, by using on-demand websites, even YouTube or buying episodes with iTunes, now people can go directly to those sites and seek out what they want.

And as a active consumer, I love that!

But, for all these online views and sold content on iTunes, the writers are getting nothing... Sounds to me like they are getting screwed.

No wonder they are on strike!

This whole situation really makes me think about user generated content -- I mean, it seems like the networks are happy to increase their viewers, and they are successfully doing just that -- It started with ABC, but now almost every network needs to put episodes online to compete. But remember, these shows would be nothing without the writers! An actor can only be funny when he has good lines to recite.

They must find a way to compensate the writers.
Things can not continue as they have in the past. Look around, things are changing and TV needs to follow in this crazy, mixed-up world!

I really thought about a way to connect the Broadway strike and New Media. After a few minutes it hit me: Both the strike and the Internet give power to the people. Blogs are the perfect tool for people to use empower themselves.

I've taken a look at the blogosphere and it seems that Broadway actors, stagehands and even fans are using blogs to make their voices heard. This is just one of the many reasons I LOVE blogs. It's been very cool to check these out and hear what everyone is saying about this situation and what it means both for theater-goers and shows themselves.

So please get out there, (especially if you live in NYC), and continue to support the arts, restaurants and other local businesses being hit hard by this strike.

Do we have time to LISTEN?

Yesterday, in Chris Brogan's blog, he has this post about the importance of listening.

Of course, I have a little something to say....
This post, which I found very interesting and really rather important really got me thinking about my generation in terms of listening to blogs and social media.

The thing is: I don't think we ever listen.

In an age where we are constantly connected, we are consequently growing increasingly impatient. I can hardly wait for a you-tube video to load, a friend's ringback tone to go to voicemail or the how long it takes the Boston T to take me to my final destination.

The thing is: although I am impatient, I do often take time to surf the web. I may lead a relatively busy life, but the truth is that I find a few minutes to read blogs and listen to and sometimes even participate in what people are saying. The truth of the matter is, to someone who is newly interested in social media, reading blogs and finding more info from them is the number one thing I can do to learn more. And although I think that most people my age claim to be incredibly busy -- and maybe too busy to read and follow blogs and trends, I enjoy it and right now it is something that I will continue to do.

weekly addiction.

I wouldnt say that I have an addictive personality.

I'm not one of those people who has
to do something at the same time everyday. There are just websites, stores, songs de jour, tv shows and other random things that I like to often check, shop at, listen to, watch and do.

What I think gets me about post secret is the truth. Its just so good.
and its always changing.

This is one of the most successful and innovative blogs.
I have been checking post secret for over year and a half.
Before I even began stalking perez hilton, I was so touched by the honesty and raw emotion on PS.

I have always wanted to send in secrets and I also think that since everyone has secrets its mass appeal is what makes it so universal.
the ability the site has to change peoples lives is what also always makes me smile.