Talk Radio- A "Lost" media

In the world of media types that we have today, it can somewhat be overbearing as to which one you should choose to base your information on. Many people still choose to watch the evening news to get their daily updates. However, with the onset of the Internet, the world of information technology was changed forever. Many people use this medium to get news that may have occured just minutes ago, reading brief exerpts on a developing story. Talk radio is one media that I believe goes overlooked today. If you ask anyone in my generation if they listen to talk radio, they will most likely reply with Z100 or 95.5, or any FM station that offers news and music. Talk radio has always been something that I took as a very influential part in my views on the world today.
Especially with Rush Limbaugh, whom I would definitely catagorize as a right wing conservative, has impacted my life. In high school, my father would pick me up and on the way home, every day, we listened to Rush, and also Michael Savage. It was through Rush's uncensored view on the daily news that really was influential. The evening news seems to just give you the main facts behind a story, but talk radio allows for the host to completely dedicate his/her entire show on one issue if they chose. This lets the listener get a deeper understanding to what's going on, something I hold to be very valuable. Even listening to hosts that may be on the opposite spectrum with left wing ideas intrigues me. I feel like I can get a more rounded view on issues, rather than pretend to know just one side of the story.
However, I think th most valuable part of talk radio would be the listener interaction that they can have. Many times, a host will give a number to call for listeners to give their opinion on what is being talked about. The best is how the host seems to have a free range as to what he can say to these opinions, either agreeing or completely opposing to a view and starting a debate. Rush is definitely one of the least aggressive when it comes to viewer's calls, but other hosts will completely cut a listener's opinion down if they wanted to.
I think, especially in these times, listening to all types of media for information is very important. The best way to stay ahead and protect your future is to be knowledgable, and the ability to form your own opinions through this information is key. Talk radio gives you a chance to listen in, and either agree or disagree. Either way, it's calling an individual to question, which still gives me hope that we haven't been brainwashed into believing everything we hear or say.

The Super Bowl- Americs's Unofficial Holiday

What is it about the Super Bowl that intrigues all of America? Maybe not all, but the millions of viewers that choose to watch it every year increases, and the amount of pre-game and post-game media seems to increase, as well. People around the country go out and get as much snack food as they can, liquor stores have lines out the door and invitations to parties are sent out weeks in advance. Even non-football fans choose to sit down with their families and friends, making it more of a social get together than a football game.
When it comes to media, other than the inaugaration, I can't think of any other event that calls all types of medias into play. Of course, news channels have coverage on the sports slot for the event, showing highlights of pre-game shows and practices. ESPN has its 2 week coverage of the Super Bowl, letting us know if any of the big name players do as much as sneeze. However, its the other media that you wouldn't suspect to have coverage that is really showing how media is constantly changing for the masses. iTunes offers the entire game to be bought to put on a video iPod, the Weather Channel had coverage of the weather that would be occuring at the game every twenty minutes and newspapers had the game front page before it was even played.
I guess the Super Bowl has become much more than just a football game, it's American heritage. It's a way for all of us to get together and enjoy something. The game is a way to allow for social connection and interaction, to give us all something to talk about before and after the game is played. I think, however, the most important aspect of the Super Bowl is its reliablilty. Every year, at the end of every football season, there is going to be a Super Bowl. There is going to be a way for everyone to sit down and enjoy all types of media, whether watching it on the internet, updates on a cell phone, or live on tv. And even if you missed the game, you can still pick up a newspaper the next day with a full recap and pictures.
Especially during these uncertain economic times, the Super Bowl is a way for everyone to sit back and relax for one Sunday, watch some football, and maybe laugh at a couple of commercials. Maybe it's all as Super as they say it is.