When to Abbreviate, Etc.

When to Abbreviate, Etc. When to Abbreviate, Etc. When to Abbreviate, Etc. By Mark Nichol When is it appropriate to abbreviate words? The answer to this question, as with many matters in writing, is not a simple one: It depends on type of content and the degree of the content’s formality. In technical publications and scholarly journals, abbreviation of statistical information or references to dimensions and durations abounds. Furthermore, the American Medical Association’s manual of style dictates that periods be omitted in many abbreviations. However, in general content intended for professional publication, consider whether to abbreviate, especially in contexts in which multiple various abbreviations might be distracting. Social titles such as Mr., Mrs., and Ms., are usually superfluous altogether but are abbreviated when they appear, except in generic usage such as â€Å"Hey, mister!† Doctor is abbreviated before a name but otherwise spelled out, as is saint. (Note, however, that cities and other geographic designations differ in using Saint or St.; consult a resource to verify the correct style for a particular location.) Military and quasi-military ranks are spelled out or abbreviated depending on context, but as with other titles, they should be spelled out in isolation (for example, â€Å"The captain returned the salute†). Regarding i.e., that abbreviation and its close cousins e.g. and etc. are convenient, but they are no improvement on the English equivalents (â€Å"that is,† â€Å"for example,† and â€Å"and so on,† respectively). Style for scholarly journals is to use the abbreviations in parentheses and spell out the English phrases outside parentheses, but this distinction is not recommended for general-interest publications; avoid them altogether. Names of countries and other geopolitical entities are usually spelled out as nouns but abbreviated as adjectives (â€Å"the United States,† but â€Å"the US economy†); note in the previous example that periods in such designations, as in most other capitalized abbreviations, are unnecessary. Designations of thoroughfares, like many other words, can be abbreviated in lists or in graphics where space is at a premium, but generally spell out such terms as avenue, road, and street even when they are part of an address. Titles of senior corporate executives- CEO, COO, and CIO, for instance- are almost always abbreviated in all references, but VP (â€Å"vice president†), SVP (â€Å"senior vice president†), and the like are generally spelled out in all instances. Corporate terms such as PR (â€Å"public relations†) and HR (â€Å"human resources†) can be spelled out or abbreviated depending on context; they’re likely to be spelled out in a formal report and probably will be abbreviated in a casual reference in a mass-market book. Academic degrees are often abbreviated after a person’s name, but it’s better to refer to someone receiving a bachelor’s or master’s degree or a doctorate rather than a BA, an MA, or a PhD. Likewise, â€Å"curriculum vitae,† or the plural form â€Å"curricula vitae,† is preferable to CV. References to media such as CDs and DVDs are ubiquitous (or at least were before they began to give way to online access to music and films), and there’s no need to spell those initialisms out. (You’d likely have to look up that DVD originally stood for â€Å"digital video disc,† though the second word has since been supplanted by versatile. And who knows, or cares, that URL stands for â€Å"uniform resource locator†? The initialism will do in all cases.) However, words for parts of a book or other printed publication should be spelled out (for example, â€Å"In my copy, chapter 6 starts on page 47†), and MS or ms, for manuscript, should be used only in informal contexts. No. is sometimes used as an abbreviation for number in phrases such as â€Å"No. 1†; it’s a compromise between spelling the word out and using the number symbol (#). The abbreviation for versus, vs., is acceptable in informal content, as is OK. (Okay is a common variant, but the initials are more accurate; the most likely derivation of OK is the jocular misspelling â€Å"oll korrect,† the only survivor of a short-lived flurry of such locutions coined during the nineteenth century.) Terms of distance and duration, such as foot and hour, are generally spelled out when accompanying numerals except in technical writing, as are designations such as Celsius and Fahrenheit; the same is true of phrases such as â€Å"miles per hour† and â€Å"pounds per square inch.† However, the abbreviations am and pm, often capitalized and/or with periods, are always acceptable, though a phrase such as â€Å"one o’clock in the morning† is appropriate for a casual reference in fiction or nonfiction. Abbreviations are much more likely to be employed in ephemeral publications such as newspapers than in more durable materials such as books, though formality varies widely in the latter format; online usage differs as well. Ultimately, the careful writer will consult a style guide appropriate to the type of print or online publication for guidance or at least will consciously consider the visual and cognitive impact of abbreviation. (See this post for more guidance on abbreviations, and search for â€Å"abbreviations† on DailyWritingTips.com for additional assistance.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:30 Synonyms for â€Å"Meeting†50 Synonyms for "Assistant"Personification vs. Anthropomorphism

Sports and Enhancement Drugs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Sports and Enhancement Drugs - Essay Example The use of stimulants and performance enhancing drugs in sports gained momentum in the 1950s-60s. The full fledge use of performance-enhancing drugs was initiated by the Russian athletes who during the 1954 Olympics held in Australia gave a power packed performance outshining their competitors especially the Americans. This started a war of steroids as the Americans came up with their own steroid. Since then performance enhancing drugs especially steroids have become a regular feature in the world of sports. Stories about athletes and sportsperson using performance enhancing drugs often make headlines. For days print and TV media disclose events and incidents and finally confessions from sports person who failed the dope test. These prodigal sons and daughters of the soil are then labeled as â€Å"cheap cheats† and stripped of all the honors and medals they had earned for their country. People criticize the fallen idol for sometime and the sports world calls for stricter measu res to discourage the use of performance enhancing drugs but then everything hushes up until a new member is inducted in the Hall of Shame. Even though they bring so much disgrace, the use of performance enhancement drugs is on the rise among sports person. What are performance enhancing drugs? Do they really affect an athlete’s performance and why do athletes take the risk of using them when they bring nothing but pain in the end are some questions which will be answered in this thesis. Also should the use of performance enhancing drugs be legalized will be discussed here.The new century has given a new meaning to â€Å"sports†; earlier international sports were events where athletes from all over the world met and competed. There were humble winners and graceful losers and the ambience was friendly. The purpose of sports was to cultivate peace and understanding and acceptance of other cultures and values. An athlete was valued more for his sportsman spirit than recor ds he set. Today sports mean do or die. The advent of technology has helped the athletes improve their skills and techniques but has also killed the sportsman spirit. The attitude of the spectators has changed too; the winners are showered with praises and prizes while the losers are blamed and blasted both by the media and the public. After a defeat many heads including those of coaches roll; this extremity has made the coaches and athletes turn to desperate measures such as the use of performance enhancing drugs. Gone are the days when sports were all about sportsmanship and fair play when the team which performed well won the competition. Today every aspect of sports is measured in superlative and only the strongest, fastest and quickest players are the winners. To gain these qualities, the athletes turn to other means besides training and practice. One of the most common methods is the use of performance enhancing drugs. Generally performance enhancing drugs are defined as any s ubstance which when taken orally, injected or applied as cream boosts the endurance level, strength, power and speed in a body for the purpose of enhancing athletic performance (Hales 126). The use of these drugs is common all over the world and in the United States alone nearly one to three million people including twelve percent of young men and two percent of young women take performance enhancement drugs for various purposes

The Road to the Ocean Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Road to the Ocean - Essay Example â€Å"You’re too young to drive,† her mom said. â€Å"The road is not for kids, I mean, teens,† her dad added. When Leah’s face fell and her eyes moistened, her mother came toward her, only to be met by the â€Å"hands off† hand gesture. In other words, the gesture said: â€Å"Talk to the hand that would never hold you again for a million years.† Leah felt betrayed. She expected her father to back her up, to say yes to her favorite and only daughter. She knew her mom would say no. Mothers created the word â€Å"paranoia.† But fathers, no, fathers were supposed to be a lot cooler, a lot more trusting. She knew that her father would knock on her door and explain himself. She wanted to turn him away. But she never could. Her father was a military official and when he was there, she knew how precious time was. When Lt. Col. James Madison knocked on his daughter’s door, Leah said: â€Å"You know it’s open.† She could im agine him sighing. His bulky frame covered the whole door. He was massive and scary-looking. But for Leah, he was only her father. Her Daddy. He was the best father in the whole world, up until that moment when he betrayed her and did not let her drive. It was not even his car. And that thought made her angrier. She did not want to turn to him. She wanted him to see her straight and angry back, as she read her book, which she was not reading. But again, she failed. She glanced at him and there he was, 200 pounds of lean flesh, looking like a torn puppy. She imagined him whimper and she understood why her mother loved him so much. He was the biggest and most tender man ever. He loved them so fiercely. He would kill anyone who would deliberately hurt his wife and daughter. â€Å"Sorry Leah. I mean. I am not sorry, because I know what the streets are nowadays. I am just sorry I hurt your feelings and trust in me. One day†¦Oh, you know what I mean.† â€Å"No, I don’t . I’m a year shy of sixteen. What’s wrong with driving? I mean, learning to drive? It’s not like I’ll go off and have some random sex with any guy I meet at a club and get pregnant because of a stupid one-night stand.† â€Å"You know I trust you.† â€Å"It’s the world you don’t trust. I get it. But I don’t get it. Just please leave me alone. I want to go to another place, while staying here in my room.† â€Å"Oh, Leah. Okay, good night sweetie.† He waited. â€Å"Good night. Good night Daddy.† And she stood up to kiss him at the cheek. She had to tip toe to do it. She embraced him quickly. So much for her rebellious daughter act. She just could not stand being angry with her dad. Sunday, the next morning, Dad and Mom left Leah to Aunt Millie. They had second thoughts, because Millie was not exactly a very responsible adult. At the age of 31, she was still single and a party bug. But no one else was ava ilable, and Dad wanted to bring Mom somewhere special, because he was leaving for an overseas mission in a few days. They wanted to celebrate their wedding anniversary in advance. They left with creases on their foreheads. Before their SUV drove away, they both made the sign of the cross, praying that Millie would miraculously be an adult for just twelve hours of her life. Leah did not feel excited. She used to enjoy Millie’s companionship. But she was now sore and bitter, or more like sore from being bitter. Millie asked her what she wanted to do, and she said nothing. Millie promised her that they could do anything she wanted. Leah said she wanted to learn to

Business Management and Strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Business Management and Strategies - Essay Example Some models mean the same thing but are given different names by their creators. With the evolution of the internet, many new models have emerged. At the same time, some do not stay long and have gone. Rappa (no date) identifies nine generic forms of business models, including the brokerage model, advertising model, infomediary model, merchant model, manufacturer model, affiliate model, community model, subscription model, and utility model. Timmers (1998) classifies business models by positioning them along the two dimensions of the degree of innovation and functional integration. In Novak and Hoffman (2001)'s customer-centric framework, for any business model to be successful, it must integrate customer models, value models, and revenue models. In this paper, the customer-centric framework of Novak and Hoffman (2001) will be adopted as each of the three subsidiary model answers questions such as who are the communities or customers served by the firm, how the firm attracts target a udience, and where does the revenue for the firm come from respectively. A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK: NOVAK AND HOFFMAN'S CUSTOMER-CENTRIC BUSINESS MODEL According to Novak and Hoffman (2001)'s customer-centric framework, a successful business model consists of customer models, value models, and revenue models. A customer model is a segmentation of the users of the electronic business. The four groups of users are businesses, consumers, agents, and employees. Each customer model consists of two groups of users. The most common type of customer model seen on the internet today would be businesses to consumers. Businesses to businesses and consumers to consumers are not uncommon as well. Therefore, fourteen segmentations of customer models are possible, as shown by Figure 1. Figure 1 Customer Models Business (B) Consumer (C) Agent (A) Employee (E) Business (B) B:B B:C B:A B:E Consumer (C) C:B C:C C:A C:E Agent (A) A:B A:C A:A A:E Employee (E) E:B E:C E:A E:E Novak and Hoffman, 2001 The value model of Novak and Hoffman (2001)'s framework seeks to address how firms can attract target audience by providing them value. The twelve possibilities of how the web can create value are by offering brokerage service, content, search tools, incentives, freeware, communication, control, outsourcing, entertainment, transactions, affiliate opportunities, and communities. Of course, any model would not have commercial feasibility if it does not generate revenue for the firm. The revenue model identifies the revenue stream of the firm conducting electronic business. The seventeen revenue models are transaction fees, hosting fees, referral fees, subscription fees, license fees, pay-per-view, pay-per-performance, micropayment, advertising, sponsorships, ransom model, margin on sales of goods or services, sale of customer data, offline customer response, efficiency and effectiveness gains, value-added services (linux model), and virtual real estate. Various value models and revenu e models can be created

Integrated Marketing Communications and Social media

Integrated Marketing Communications and Social media The research focuses on two important areas, Integrated Marketing Communications and Social media. However, before reviewing them, it is vital to understand the concepts behind Media and Marketing Communication in general. This would lay a foundation for understanding both the areas covered in the research. Then the real issues: Integrated Marketing Communications and Social media will be covered. 2.1.1 Media According to Harper (2001), the term media in communication can be defined as: The storage and transmission channels or tools used to store and deliver information or data. It is often referred to as synonymous with mass media or news media, but may refer to a single medium used to communicate any data for any purpose. Thus, any information transmission channels or tools used for delivering marketing messages to the audience can be referred to as media. Media is synonymously used with mass media or mass communication, which Dijk (2006) depicts as a type of communication using media to distribute sound, text, and images among an audience. Mass media is an old terminology, but starting from a single medium that is print in 1500s it has grown to incorporate vast types of mediums. Caspi (1993, cited in Wilzig Avagdor, 2004) provides a four stage model of media development: 1) Inauguration where the new medium is given much public attention; 2) Institutionalization where there is widespread public adoption and routinization of the new medium; 3) Defensiveness where the power is threatened by a new medium; and 4) Adaptation the fine line differentiating between old and new medium. Since the inception of first mass media, each new media has gone through these stages and has developed its place in the media environment. With every new emerging media, the previous mediums had to co-exist with the new one at the end. In his research on mass media, Ahonen (2008) specifies a 7th mass media which is mobile. This idea was proposed in 2006. Various media content like music, videogames, tv, news, social networking, internet services and above all advertising is migrating to mobile which is making it a dominant mass media. While discussing the previous mass mediums, Ahonen regards the initial five mass mediums as unidirectional and states that it was only after internet arrived that it acted as inherent threat to all previous mass mediums. This was because internet had certain features that its predecessors did not have like interactivity, search capability, and social networking (discussed in detail later in report) and it could offer all that its predecessors offered. Therefore, cannibalization started occurring with internet. Similarly with the advent of mobile, this medium too can offer what its six predecessors could offer: one can read news, magazines, listen to radio and podcasts, watch TV, movies, play video games and above all consume all content available on internet. To a greater extent it supercedes the interactivity of the web with email and instant messaging (IM). Therefore, mobile would inherently threaten the internet. The idea of mobile being the 7th mass media is supported by Moore (2007), where he states that the historic technology revolution is setting grounds for mobile as a mass media which supports greater reach. Unlike other mass mediums, which are losing their audiences and revenues, mobile like internet is interactive; enabling it to fully capitalize on social networking and digital communities. According to Moore, mobile is the only mass media that is carried by the owner at all times and therefore 100% accuracy is possible in measuring the audience. Therefore the above researches claim that the mass media of 2000s is mobile and as with every new media that erupts, it has the power to cannibalize but not replace the previous ones. 2.1.2 Marketing Communication Engel et. al., (1994 cited in Koekemoer Bird, 2004) defines marketing communication as: the collective activities, materials and media used by a marketer to inform or remind prospective customers about a particular product offering, and to attempt to persuade them to purchase or use it. Marketing communication is the use of the media to target customers and interact with them and the basic aim of this interaction is to deliver brand and marketing messages by the use of the most effective medium. There are various marketing communication tools available to a marketer. These include: selling, advertising, sales promotion, direct marketing, public relations, sponsorship, exhibitions, packaging, point of sale and merchandising, word of mouth, e-marketing and corporate identity (Smith Taylor, 2004). The marketers may use different blends of these communication mix elements depending on the strategy they want to use, but the most effective communication happens when all the tools are used appropriately and synergistically (Koekemoer Bird, 2004). Moreover, it is important to note that marketing communication has over the years changed from being unidirectional to two-way, with the consumers being more demanding and conscious of choices (Koekomoer Bird, 2004). Therefore, it can be inferred that media is the channel and marketing communication is the use of these channels to direct marketing messages efficiently to target customers. The next sections would build on to these concepts and explain the two major areas of interest, Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) and Social Media. 2.2 Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) Social media is one of the many mediums that are used as IMC tools/components in designing any marketing mix. This section aims to describe the concept of IMC, its emergence and the changing trends in IMC composition (or the communication mix). 2.2.1. Defining IMC As per Kerr Patti (2002) Kerr et. al., (2008), IMC has been one of the most controversial areas of marketing education during the past decade. While many definitions of IMC have been put forth, agreement on the disciplines constructs remains unresolved. This is because IMC is a concept that still lacks rigorous theory according to IMC authors Cornelissen Lock (Kerr, et. al., 2008). One of the much agreed definitions of IMC and the one to be used/ assumed for this research would include that given by one of the first advocates of IMC concept, Don Schultz (2004, cited in Kerr, et. al., 2008): IMC is a strategic business process used to plan, develop, execute and evaluate coordinated, measurable, persuasive brand communication programmes over time with consumers, customers, prospects, and other targeted, relevant external and internal audiences. The key difference in this definition of IMC from that of simple Marketing Communication is highlighted by use of three words: i) strategic, ii) evaluate and iii) measurable. In essence, IMC enforces use of marketing communication mix in such a way that it is strategically designed to achieve certain objectives and is also measurable to enforce accountability over marketers. These elements are also stressed on by various IMC authors (Schultz, 1996; Duncan Caywood, 1996, cited in Kerr et. al., 2008), who believe that although concept of IMC is not new, but the fact that previously marketing communication was not coordinated strategically and strategy is now deemed critical, gives this concept a new look. Another definition of IMC given by a well known author on IMC literature, Kliatchko (2005, cited in Kerr, et. al., 2008) reflects the same concept. As per the author: IMC is the concept and process of strategically managing audience-focused, channel-centered and results-driven brand communication programmes over time. This definition is a bit more specific and along with strategy and accountability it emphasis specifically on communication being channel-centered and audience-focused. The common point, however, in almost every definition of IMC is the fact that it enforces accountability over marketers and hence more and more marketers feel the need of using mediums that offer better measures of performance. Also different modes of communication are now used strategically to compliment each other. Managing and coordinating the integration of companys communication across different media and channels is an important aspect of IMC. IMC does involve a process/plan aimed at providing cons istency and impact through integration of communication via different mediums (Larich Lynagh, 2009). Moreover, Kitchen and Schultz (1997, cited in Kitchen, 1999 p. 63) believe that integrated marketing communications has significant value for the organization, specifically in lowering costs and having greater control over the marketing communications program. This is supported by Duncan and Everett (1993, cited in Kitchen, 1999 p. 63) who extend the benefits to include gaining competitive advantage through IMC. It can be generalized that the idea of IMC used in above theories/definitions revolve around a 360 degree marketing communication programs for any of the brand that is strategically designed to achieve desired objectives. Hence, it would be fair to say that IMC includes all kind of communication programs that targeted for the same objective, regardless of the medium used, be it TV, Print, Radio, Street Marketing, Social Marketing, Internet Marketing, PR, Green Marketing, or any other thing. 2.2.2. Emergence of IMC and transformation by Marketing Agencies The world-renowned management guru Peter Drucker (1955, cited in Smith Taylor, 2004) believed that any business has only two basic functions: marketing and innovation. Even though it was said more than half a century ago, but it still applies in todays world; that all marketers should be mindful of the need to measure the effectiveness of all marketing activities. The world of marketing communication has moved from big budgets and little accountability to a more demanding marketing environment where every action has to be justified with proper quantification of benefits of the actions. Earlier, the various tools of marketing communication were regarded as separate functions and were handled by experts in the relevant area. This resulted in overall marketing communications being uncoordinated and inconsistent (Koekomore Bird, 2004). This was then solved with the move towards IMC in 1980s which emphasized coordination of all tools of marketing communication (Belch Belch, 2004). Before the emergence of IMC concept, marketing communications were a lot concentrated on very few mediums of communication but then it was evolution of media management structures in agencies that brought forward the segregation of media agency experience into a) Traditional Media b) New Media. Traditional media includes mediums like television, radio, magazine, newspaper, and other options that agencies had expertise on prior the media revolution in 1980s and 1990s. On the other hand, new media comprised of other mediums like interactive, buzz street marketing, direct response, electronic, and other areas that were adopted by agencies during 1980s and 1990s to make the communication a lot more competitive (Sasser, et. al., 2007). Many companies are now realizing that effectively communicating with customers and other stakeholders involves more than traditional marketing communication tools. Marketers as well as advertising agencies are using the IMC approach and have adopted a complete marketing communication solution, which includes use of both traditional and new media. This is because with the emergence of more technological formats, the audience is being less responsive to traditional methods and the traditional formats too have become fragmented and have started targe ting specific audience (Belch Belch, 2004). Lately one of the greatest influences of this change on media has been that of Information technology. This idea is supported by Kitchen (1999) who believes that it is only with more reliance on electronic technology that concepts like interaction and integration in marketing communication has become more main stream. This transformation over the years has been described by classification of marketplaces in three categories by Schultz (1998), who is a well known author on the area of IMC. According to him these categories are: a) Historical Marketplace, b) Current Marketplace; c) 21st Century Marketplace. In Historical Marketplace marketing organization mostly had information technology, in sense of having IT departments within the organizations. In the Current Marketplace (also the second marketplace), the Channel actually became a dominant force. This was because information technology, in the form of point-of-sale systems, scanners, retail data gathering resources and the like, had given the Channel more and greater information about the consumer and the marketplace than it was available to the Marketer. The third marketplace (the 21st Century Marketplace), are those of some organizations today, but mostly it is the marketplace of the future. It is, however, the 21st Century Marketplace that is expected to bring about the greatest changes. The first two marketplaces were focused on outbound communication systems, such is, not the case with 21st Century marketplace. The communication here would be interactive. These communications would not be controlled by marketer or communication agency but by the customer. Schultz (1996, cited in Kitchen, 1999 p. 63) warned that communication technology and wider technological evolution would continue to drive integrated marketing communication and the old models of communication like homogeneity must be rethought. Its worth noticing that almost all of the new media introduced after 1980s has been digital, e.g. Internet, Mobile, Podcasts etc. This is one good reason why New Media is often used interchangeably with Digital Media in theories. New Media is associated with characteristics like interactivity and electronic (Manovich, 2002 cited in Wardrip-Fruin Montfont, 2002) which actually imply digital technology. To sum up, it can be argued that change in media management structures and move towards 360 degree integrated communication is a result of more strategic and measurable approach by companies which is nothing but the adoption of IMC. Also the advent of new media has increased the challenge for marketers, giving them more options with limited budgets and yet enforcing accountability. But have these additional options made an impact or have changed the trends in overall composition of marketing communication? The next section attempts to explore the same. 2.2.3 IMC composition Changing trends Media has undergone an extensive phase of development in the last ten years. Marketers were previously focusing on promoting their product/service through traditional mediums like TV, Radio, Newspapers, however, now the future of marketers appears to be digital as technology has become an important part of daily lives (Pall McGrath, 2009). Concepts like convergence have come in to bring more versatility in the communication mediums being used. As per Jenkins (2006) who is a renowned author on the topic of media convergence, the term convergence is defined as: Convergence represents a paradigm shift a move from medium-specific content toward content that flows across multiple media channels, toward the increased interdependence of communications systems, toward multiple ways of accessing media content, and toward ever more complex relations between top-down corporate media and bottom-up participatory culture. The concept certainly talks about making the communication mix interdependent bringing in more integration and moving towards having multiple ways of accessing media, i.e. bringing in more versatility in the marketing mix by using a mix of traditional and new media. Moreover, it refers to the behavior of media audience as being migratory, i.e. shifting to the media that can provide them their desired experience. In such an environment, consumers are actively involved in seeking new information and make connections among dispersed media content. Convergence has played its parts in shifting the trends. In the 1990s the digital media revolution paradigm suggested that new media would push aside traditional media and that internet would displace television, and by convergence it was meant that old media would be absorbed fully in emerging new media. However, the convergence paradigm proposes that old and new media would interact in ever more complex ways. New media has paved way for convergence as it has broken barriers that were separating different mediums. Since the beginning, each old medium is forced to co-exist with the emerging media. The concept of convergence indicates that the old media is not being displaced, rather their functions and status are being changed with new media options (Jenkins, 2006). Media convergence is more than simply a technological shift altering the relationship between existing technologies, industries, markets and audiences. The cell phone being a telecommunication device; also allows its users to play games, download information from the internet and receive and send photographs or text messages. These functions can be performed through other media appliances too. For instance; one can listen to The Dixie Chicks through a DVD player, car radio, walkman, computer MP3 files, a web radio station or a music cable channel (Jenkins, 2004). Convergence has brought dramatic changes in the media ownership and has increased media concentration. One such example is when News Corp, owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch made its first internet purchase and bought MySpace in 2005 (BBC News, 2005). This was because it had realized that significant amount of advertising dollars were being moved from traditional to internet. Yahoo bought social networking sites Flickr, Upcoming.org and del.icio.us to enable content sharing with friends and family (PWC, 2006). Similarly, Walt Disney has become a multimedia giant since last two decades and has acquired various different media companies. It now has several film studios, printing companies, magazines, radio stations, television networks, publishing companies, and cable TV networks. This is one of the classic examples of convergence by a media company (Folkerts Stephen, 2006). Focus of marketers towards concepts like convergence and IMC have already made an impact on consumption of traditional media. More worrisome for traditional operators, however, it is the fact that an entirely new media sector has emerged over the past decade with countless new players who are both unregulated and well-funded (Therier Eskelsen, 2008). Hence, some media agencies have witnessed a trend whereby new media is becoming regular part of communication mix. According to Nielsen Wire (2009), one of the top media trends for 2010 would be that companies would have to make optimization of media convergence their top priority. Therefore, it is vital that media companies become a part of this new paradigm shift where converging old mediums with new would be required for greater returns on their investment. 2.2.4. Factors that influence IMC composition There is certainly a change in the trend of IMC composition. This section tries to explore what are some of the possible factors that may influence the composition of IMC. Study by Sonia Livingstone and Moira Bovill (1999), answers the potential reasons for evolution of digital media over the years and these factors certainly impact the composition of marketing mix too. These include: Parental fear for outdoor activities: The parents and children often explicitly link restrictions on the childs access to the world outside to increase media use within the home. A lot of parents dont want their children to go out much and then this time is spent watching TV or surfing over the internet. Income lifestyle: The usage of media is directly linked to the income level of household and their lifestyle. Working women are likely to have children who will be media-rich users. Children in reconstituted families are particularly likely to have screen entertainment media (TVlinked games machines, gameboys, PCs and television sets) that are not to be found elsewhere in the house. Children from one-parent families are more likely to have less expensive items such as books, walkmans and radios. The rise of bedroom culture: This trend evolved in the early 1980s from the European countries, significantly booming the media-rich users, where children were given access to their private TVs, computers and other media. Absence of leisure activities boredom: People that do not have a lot of social activities, engage themselves with media. Also loners are more likely than all other groups to turn to television, videos and interactive media when they are in need of excitement. Appeal of enhanced experience: The technology is becoming more interactive with each passing year. Interactivity incorporates several dimensions which characterize the changing modes of involvement with media: the exchange of roles involved in a two-way interaction; the degree of user control and management of content and timing of the interaction; thus enhancing the experience. The factors described above focus on youth by and large and this is due to the fact that technology adoption has proven to start from youngsters, because they tend to be accustomed to the new trends and are the early adopters. 2.3 Social Media

T.S. Eliots The Wasteland Essay -- Eliot Wasteland Survival Essays

T.S. Eliot's The Wasteland Cooperation is the key to human survival, and over time humans have been known to group together to survive. This strategy has allowed humans to develop massive cities and countries of immense power. Without the natural instinct to cling to one another, humans would not be as advanced as they are today, and may not have even made it out of the caves. Many authors display our natural instinct to cooperate in their works, allowing the characters to become more real to the readers. T.S Eliot’s The Wasteland displays our natural instinct to cooperate with each other as a key to our survival. As we struggle to survive when our world begins to fall apart, our basic instinct to cooperate with each other kicks in and we cling to each other for comfort. This concept is brought up in Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart. And again W.B. Yeats’s says in one of his poems, "Things fall apart; the center cannot hold." In either case the concept of clinging to one another and cooperating when things fall apart is displayed as a basic instinct that is the key to our success as humans. The Wasteland describes how humans cling together as the world falls apart by depicting a world from a much different point of view then we are used to. Instead of seeing the world in a positive view, Eliot depicts the world in despair. As this world falls apart, humans cling together and cooperate to get through the bad times. Lines 139-172 depict a scene in a pub that illustrates how we cling to one another even though we may not be supportive of each other. In this scene, Albert tells his wife how he thinks she is ugly and can’t fulfill what he desires of her. As he goes on, she makes excuses about why she is ugly and can’t... ...Org: Public Affairs on the Web. 13 Dec. 2000: 24 Jan. 2001. http://www.c-span.org/campaign2000/bushspeech.asp. Brooks, David. Bobos in Paradise : The New Upper Class and How They Got There. New York: Simon, 2000. Eliot, T.S. The Waste Land, Prufrock and Other Poems. New York: Dover, 1998. Gore, Albert Jr., Concession Speech. C-Span.Org: Public Affairs on the Web. 13 Dec. 2000: 24 Jan. 2001. http://www.c-span.org/campaign2000/gorespeech.asp. Jin, Ha. Waiting. New York: Vintage, 2000. Maddy, Yulisa Amadu. No Past No Present No Future. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann- Reed, 1996. Tanksley, Charlie. Speech on the Proposed New Flag. Ajc.com. 30 Jan. 2001. < http://www.accessatlanta.com/partners/ajc/flag/tankspeech.html>. Taylor, Mark. Remarks on the New Flag. Ajc.com. 30 Jan. 2001. http://www.accessatlanta.com/partners/ajc/flag/taylor0130.html.

Legal Environment of Business Management

Case Questions1. Many states prohibit their lottery tickets from being sold out of the state, so Pic-A-State would have it agent buy lottery tickets in various states and hold them there; someone in Pennsylvania would buy a claim on the tickets held in the other states. Congress passed a law prohibiting interstate transmission of lottery ticket information to be used for lottery ticket sales. Pic-A-State, which was being put out of business, challenged the law as unconstitutional. Was this correct? Pic-A-State Inc. s challenge stating that the law Congress passed prohibiting interstate transmission of lottery ticket information to be used for lottery ticket sale was unconstitutional is not correct. As per out text, the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution provides that â€Å"Congress shall have Power†¦ To regulate commerce with foreign Nations, and amount the several states†¦ † Congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce that includes transmis sion of information by computer for purchasing lottery tickets.Although Pic-A-State did not transport actual lottery tickets across state lines, but only sold interest in lottery tickets via computer, their activity may still be regulated by Congress. Congress has acted under their constitutional exercise and power to legislate under the Commerce Clause. This law has protected the state lottery revenues, and preserving state sovereignty in the regulation of lotteries and interstate gambling.2. Plaistow, New Hampshire, passed an ordinance prohibiting truck traffic during late-night hours at a truck terminal loading and unloading facility.It did so to reduce noise and fumes for the benefit of town residents. The truck terminal had been in operation several years. Most of the trucks came five miles from an interstate highway to change loads. The truckers contested the regulation as a restriction on interstate commerce and maintained that regulating an area (interstate trucking) subject to federal regulations was illegal. Were the truckers right? I believe that the truckers were correct, stating that the regulation was a restriction on interstate commerce. As a person, I can understand the importance of regulating and restricting noise and fumes for the town residents.However, this terminal had been in operation for several years and poses a very important role for truckers as it allows them to pick up and drop of loads of many different products that need to be received in a timely manner by their purchasers. By regulating and restricting the operating hours of these truckers, they were imposing burden on interstate commerce. Only Congress can burden interstate commerce, and since Plaistow, New Hampshire as a state did not get approval from congress, this would be an unconstitutional regulation that imposes on interstate commerce.3. The state of Iowa has a statute limiting to 55 feet the length of trucks on it highways. This made it illegal for commonly use doubl e-trailer trucks 65 feet long to use Iowa highways. The shippers had to either use shorter truckers or go around the state. Iowa justified the regulation on the basis of safety on the highways, and because the bigger trucks caused more damage to it highways. Was this regulation constitutional? No, this regulation is not constitutional Iowa’s law substantially burdens interstate commerce as it uses regulations out of step with all of its neighboring State’s regulations.Moreover, Iowa discriminates against out-of-state interests by providing Iowan’s exemptions that are not extended to out-of-state interests. The safety benefits are not enough to be greater than the national interest in keeping interstate commerce free from interference, and this regulation was completely hindering the interstate commerce.11. A church owned land in a rural area that it used as a recreation area for disabled children. A fire in the area-destroyed vegetation, allowing flooding to occ ur. To protect public safety, the county adopted an ordinance prohibiting any new building in the area until it determined what to do.The church requested to rebuild was denied for six years while the county pondered what the building code, if any, should be for the area. The church sued for loss of use of the land. Could it recover under the just compensation clause of the Fifth Amendment? Yes, the church can recover it loss. The Fifth Amendment provides that â€Å"private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation. † The Fifth Amendment does not prevent the government from taking property from private individuals, but does require that just compensation be paid.