• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
 
Maddie Hayes1/26/08Media ImpactSynthesis PaperI was not quite sure what to expect for this Jan Term trip. When I gotaccepted into the program last year, I could not wait to experience New YorkCity and Washington, D.C., two cities I had never seen, but I did not know muchabout the mysterious “media executives” we were to meet with. When I finallyreceived the list of places we were going, there were a few I was really excitedfor, but I did not realize the trip would be so journalism focused, instead ofmedia in general like I had thought. Initially, I was worried I would not be able totake much away from this trip, but now that it is over, I am happy to report thatthat is not the case at all.As a marketing major, my passion is really rooted in visual media –posters, commercials, ads, websites, and other promotional media. Because ofthis, my favorite meeting of the whole trip was with Saatchi & Saatchiadvertising. We visited Erin Lyons, a communications team leader. I was reallylooking forward to this meeting since marketing and advertising is the field that Iintend to enter after graduating from college, or with some luck and hard work,before I graduate. The office was on the sixteenth floor of this amazing buildingin Manhattan. The view from the wall of windows was spectacular. It felt like wecould see the whole city. The hallway was lined with colorful art and aseemingly important meeting was ensuing in a peek-a-boo conference roombehind the reception desk. Erin was extremely inviting and seemed truly pleased
 
to meet with us. She showed us down to a conference room where we watched ashort video of commercials, or “spots,” that Saatchi & Saatchi had done. Theyhad some very well known clients, like JC Penney and General Mills. There wasone commercial for Pillsbury that I remember seeing multiple times duringChristmas break. It was weird to be sitting in the office of the company thatmade that advertisement.She took us on a tour of the entire office. It was a really beautiful, openspace. Erin said that it was so open because it facilitates more team workbetween the employees. She took us up to the roof to see an absolutely beautifulview of New York. We could even see the statue of liberty. During our Q & Asession, we got some good information. One concept that I found reallyinteresting was the idea of “Love Marks” that their CEO, Kevin Roberts, hascome up with. It’s the idea that we all have brands that we emotionally connectwith on a deeper level than just liking it. She also mentioned that for theircommercials, they almost always film outside of the United States because itcosts less. I would have thought that it would be cheaper here, especially withthe insane airfare these days.Overall, I really enjoyed this meeting. I know that I want to go intoadvertising, but this helped solidify that fact in my mind. I could see myselfworking in that environment, and it was especially encouraging to find out thatshe had gotten that job without a college degree! It gives me hope that I will beable to find a good job that I’ll enjoy once I graduate.Another meeting in New York that I really enjoyed was with Bill Bastoneof The Smoking Gun. Surprisingly, their business was simply a three person
 
operation working in one office. They keep it small because it worked well in thepast, and changes to that formula throw them off balance. Their website hasbeen up for almost twelve years (they started in April of 1997). They started itout of their homes as a side project and it has evolved into this hugely popularsite. Now, they’ve technically sold ownership of their project, but keep running itevery day like they did twelve years ago. They always respond to emails theyreceive because they want to keep in touch with the public to find out what theywant. All in all, it was really quite inspiring to meet with them. The three guysseemed so laid back, and yet they have a really well known website. I feel likethey personify the word “entrepreneurship.” They started this whole project outof their homes as a side to their jobs. It shows that with the development of theinternet, truly anything is possible. Now, we all have an equal opportunity tocreate something. You can apply the same principle to youtube.com. Anyone canupload a video, and potentially be seen by the entire world. The internet hasallowed for anyone to be successful.The internet is a topic that was widely covered in almost all of themeetings we had. The internet is revolutionizing the way that all businessesfunction, especially those in the journalism and media sectors. Joe Randazzo ofThe Onion said that about 70% of their readers are online. Some are not evenaware of their newspaper publication. They went online in 1996, and it hasobviously affected the way the public reads their publication. The internet isalso really important for online newspapers such as the Huffington Post, and theWashington Post Online. In Washington, D.C., we met with Chet Rhodes of theWashington Post Online. Like most people we’ve spoken to on the trip, he did
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...