Work – Shainne Hostalero

Review & Revisit: A Case Opinion Piece on the Effects of Mass Media and its Digital Dive

This case opinion study is to review and revisit the case study in 2016 about the effects of mass media on a group of individuals (Millennials) to discuss the impact of such platforms on their work, personal, and day-to-day activities.

The case study made in 2016 was submitted as a work/requirement for the Development Communication Concepts & Approaches course in the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Master of Development Communication (MDC) program. It has been then expanded to support other studies or research and craft case opinion pieces such as this to review and revisit the development of approaches not only in development communication but in the field of communication and mass media per se.

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All content © Alessa Shainne L. Hostalero, MDC unless otherwise specified. The opinions expressed here do not represent those of any organizations, individuals, or companies that the author might be affiliated with or employed by. All content aimed to be highlighted or referred to for another study, article, write-up, research, etc., shall be used with permission and citation:

Hostalero, Alessa Shainne L. (2022). Review & Revisit: A Case Opinion Piece on the Effects of Mass Media and its Digital Dive. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.17463.39841

Information and Its Coining Properties to Present Reality

Information makes up our reality today. It progresses through interaction, culture, and modality (technology advancement), to name a few. Information functions may have developed; thus, they reflect present reality.

Published on ResearchGate on 19 June 2022 | DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.19899.69924

“Anyare?”: The Collective Mind

Collective Mind is how we can explain it, how we could describe it, and how we can answer the question simply put as “anyare?” or suffice to the wonders of our minds and reactions whether positively or negatively–“wow!”

During my master’s, I read an article written by Dr. Alexander G. Flor, the former dean and a professor in the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU). Currently, Dr. Flor sits as a member of my dissertation committee, and my professor too in my two subjects this semester. The article I’m talking about is “Communication, Culture and the Collective Psyche.”

The reason I remembered was during our recent class, timely as it is, Dr. Flor brought up the said article. Since we are in the middle of the post-electoral scene from the recent 2022 National Elections, the article does make sense to at least navigate us through one of the many answers, if not the sole conclusion, to our questions about the said elections–like, of course, “how did IT happen?”

As a development communicator, one of my objectives, as also shared by Dr. Flor in the article, is a development communicator researcher’s biggest ambition–“to understand and explain how a socially beneficial idea assumes a life of its own and spreads throughout society without the benefit of planned and funded campaigns” (Flor 2007, p.99).

Collective Mind is how we can explain it, how we could describe it, and how we can answer the question simply put as “anyare?” or suffice to the wonders of our minds and reactions whether positively or negatively–“wow!”

This Collective Mind refers to the synergy generated through individual minds in the social system (p.106). Thus, our society has its social system and its collectivity has a mind. Communication plays a huge role in this narrative. In fact, socialization by sociologists and acculturation by anthropologists can only be achieved through communication (p.111).

Society refers to a whole comprised of various individuals. Apart from they share the same spatial, they are typically subject to dominant cultural expectations. In a democratic country just like the Philippines, people have invested power to decide, in our recent case, elected officials in the government, through representation. Communication and comprehension of what’s being communicated craft the society we live in; education, and media/digital media play a huge role today that make or even break forms of information and social construction.

Many may point disinformation and misinformation as part of it, the seeds that are planted reap differently than what was expected of many, now as far as the election results go, the minority (I’ll concentrate more on this in another research). Needless to say, communication is an essential element, if not the main key, of politicking. Hence, as communication scholars, and development communicators at that, (in unison with the sociologists, media personnel, and journalists), we all have a crucial role to play. May it be breeding new sources of knowledge or research, but also understanding societal engagement and cultural communication unbiased more importantly, as we try to be.

Collective Mind is how we can simply glue how we came about, the same goes with the People Power I or EDSA 1 in 1986 and People Power II or EDSA 2 in 2001.

Reference:

Flor, Alexander G. (2007). Communication, Culture and the Collective Psyche. Chapter 10 in Development Communication Praxis, pp.99-114. University of the Philippines Open University Office of Academic Support and Instructional Services. Diliman, Quezon City. ISBN 978-971-767-200-7.

Featured Image from the internet / Pexels.

Media And The Social Welfare: Access To The Juvenile Dependency Courts

Photo from: jcomp/Freepik

The common point of complaint regarding the communication between public agencies serving children and the media has always been the fear, mistrust, and subsequent misinformation.

On one side, you have a child welfare system burdened with the nearly impossible task of mitigating the worst effects of societal dysfunction: child abuse, neglect, and child death. On the other side, you have a cast of overwhelmingly well-intentioned journalists, working under a strict deadline, who are met with a foster care system practically and – in more than half of the states – legally cloaked in obscurity.

The system’s culture of confidentiality invariably erodes the news media’s confidence in it, resulting in a more sensationalist coverage that the foster care professionals are scared about. It is a case, which has showcased us the current warped public perception of a broken foster care system. The logical result is that myriad opportunities to engender civil and political will are missed, and children suffer as a result.

In those jurisdictions, where media has been granted to sensitive juvenile dependency hearings, positive change has resulted.

The Responsibility Of The Media

In this era, media has a huge role in communication – delivering news, telling opinions, and revealing more profound ideas and information for the public’s knowledge, by which, in a nutshell, has a higher responsibility with proceedings and social issues no matter how sensitive those might be.

In the articles of Karen de Sa in Mercury News about broken families and courts, different situations have been cited:

Part II: A timid advocate for parents’ rights

Marquita Jackson, 20, a young mother, who reportedly had her baby allegedly shaken by the father that caused brain hemorrhage to the infant had lead to some stir in court. The case was considered public and was handled by Juvenile Defenders’ Attorneys, it had not looked upon thoroughly or deliberately out of focus. In most cases, when inadequate time and resources were given to the victims and case filers, representations in the court system tend to be poor.

In the discussion of Jackson’s case, a reporter was warned in one interview to not overestimate the importance of due process. Thus, the instance applies to the parents the Juvenile Defenders’ represent; hence, things might sometimes be out of control during the initial hearings: difficulties in getting a social worker to report early and track down some transient clients.

In sensitive cases like Jackson’s, where events weren’t entirely recorded, and evidence wasn’t sufficiently blown presented – due to the complexity of data; including the parents’ emotional standing, personal relationship with the suspect, and the current status of the child – getting more concrete information has been challenging.

Part III: ‘If it was about me, why didn’t they…’

“If we deny youth the opportunity to participate, we really have set up a system that perpetuates injustice.” – Jennifer Rodriguez, a foster youth.

Traditionally, having children in court to attend hearings and proceedings are not usual and inappropriate. The jury believes that having them to participate in susceptible situations are more likely to add to their traumatic insight; hence, don’t contribute to their speedy recovery and emotional healing.

In the case of Zairon Frazier, 14, who got whacked with a belt by his mother: it seems that the case was going towards defending that he is abused. In the mind of Frazier, this could be more than just child abuse. Getting beaten by his own mother could affect not only his physical state but as well as his emotional being – the feeling of belongingness and appreciation by his own biological parent could be considered stained in his mind.

In the circumstance of the prohibition of children to attend court proceedings can make any case more inaccessible and too sensitive. In fact, a reporter who won the court’s approval to observe confidential proceedings in Santa Clara Court in California for more than two weeks has reportedly observed children in only a fraction of hearings.

In The Name Of Responsible Reporting

Media must observe all situations and conditions given: the due process, the consideration of behavior, sensitivity, and perception most specifically of the answering party especially in case of children.

No matter how fearful and nearing the deadlines are, it is essential to observe the proper ways of getting and handling statements or appropriate stories, and more exclusively the unbiased and objective reporting to not affect and feud-up the issue.

It is the journalists’ duty and responsibility to connect personally with the victims and to the witnesses to get a piece of their head without a form of abuse in the name of reporting. In fact, it is part of their sworn obligation to perform their jobs in the most socially responsible way. Understanding the pedagogy of cases shall be dealt with grace by the journalist.

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Hostalero, A.L. (2015). A Social Welfare Activity Report for J4SC101 – Journalism for Social Change, the University of California Berkeley via edX.

References:

De Sa, K. (2016, August 14). Part II: A timid advocate for parents’ rights. Retrieved from https://www.mercurynews.com/2008/02/10/part-ii-a-timid-advocate-for-parents-rights/

De Sa, K. (2016, August 14). Part III: ‘If it was about me, why didn’t they ask me?’ Retrieved from https://www.mercurynews.com/2008/02/11/part-iii-if-it-was-about-me-why-didnt-they-ask-me/

A Fostering Media Connections. (2012). Watched System Forum [PDF]. California: BerkeleyLaw University of California

PeoplexTransition: Rara Solitario

Rachelle Ann N. Solitario or Rara Solitario is one of the go-to-people of her friends, a traveler and an explorer. She is the only child of Cely and Carlos Solitario who grew up in a serene subdivision in Meycauyan, Bulacan. Being raised as a solo child, Rara knows how to make it to moments alone. Growing up was fun even without siblings for her cousins and friends’ presence sufficed and with them, she shared and remarked a wonderful childhood.

High School moments are one of the cherished times Rara will always be thankful for as it prepared her to the most vital occasions of her college life not knowing at first that these events will change her entirely – her beliefs, emotions and point of views just to name a few.

At present, Rara walks towards the path of these transitions embracing another year of life that just recently unfolded. Another year, another time and another chance to begin, grasp changes and most importantly, improve. As she moves on from her dad’s bereavement, she gets all of her strength from her mom and from all the memories she had with him; knowing that her dad will always be there for her suffices and makes her going.

A week before her 20th-something birthday (which age is not to be divulged), she sat down in a coffee shop with full of hopes to make the day fun as per usual. During that time, Rara was inquisitive (and perhaps, still is up to this point) about how this another year of her life will turn out.

Towards this transition, it can’t help her but go back to how it was before and it felt like certain questions were needed to be answered.

College
Rara Solitario was once a Corporate Secretary for FEU – Junior Marketing Association where she served one whole term for the said post simultaneous with her taking up a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce major in Marketing Management. It was indeed a remarkable experience for her because she was able to gain new friends, learn more about other people and became closer to everyone she considered as her true confidants up until today.

She was able to make it for a scholarship achieving a necessary General Weighted Average (GWA) to qualify. Her focused was entirely whole and concrete during the given phase up until she met her then boyfriend that in way affected her studies and relationship with people close to her.

Rara admittedly lost her focus and orientation, especially during the times that she and her then boyfriend were facing the challenges of being in a long distance relationship. She was not able to prioritize the more important things she should have taken a first look on. Being in love, like totally in love, was all new to her and that being with her special someone was what she craved for every day.

When the relationship fell into pieces, Rara knew that she should have listened to her mother because she knows best. If there was one thing that the experience have thought her was to learn how to make all the right decisions and that it was important to listen.

Post-College
College was a roller-coaster ride. It was indeed fun and unforgettable; reasons why it was so hard to move on from college to a working individual. Luckily, Rara were one of those graduates who immediately had a job right after graduation. The feeling of getting her first salary was exciting but being unsure of what path is the right to take or she wanted to take haunted her the same with everyone else.

“Everything has changed,” she shared. The first-time-grasp of the corporate world was not as wonderful as she thought it would be and that was normal. When she felt that it was time to go, she pursued, let go and moved on and found her passion.

Rara is now doing events – product activation, press conferences, product launches to name a few. She has found her passion doing the things she has an eye for ever since. “If you don’t love what you’re doing, it doesn’t matter,” she exclaimed. “There’s an endless reason about people’s satisfaction and how they are not satisfied at most times,” she added.

Rara shared that her expectations were once high and like most of people there’s still so much to learn and life will teach people everything they need to know.

Love
Like some, Rara had her heart broken. She felt like it wasn’t always enough and that doing all the work in a relationship won’t get her anywhere. She had her reasons. As sensitive as it is, the topic about love is one of those dreaded topics to talk about when face with transition.

There are things that she wishes to happen but very open to accept that some things can’t be controlled. She fell in love deeply. The relationship run for three years and thus became a habit, and she admitted that it was so hard to quit.

With all discreet reasons of why the relationship turmoil happened, Rara has hopes that everything will be okay. She accepted the fact that leaving was hard because she already got used to it – the whole relationship setup of early morning messages, calls and special moments together. But when she was asked if she was still happy, a look on her face just came through depicting that she was not anymore.

To find the courage to fully end the relationship she has is for her to fully discover.

Now
Now, Rara focuses on things that serves her right – her job, family, friendship and places she wanted to visit. She is also focused on making herself a better person as she face new things with courage and she looks forward to the most amazing things that the universe has to offer.

Frame Your Problem: The Frequencer

Every day, we learn something new; and every day we have the chance to make a difference, inspire other people, assess ourselves and solve our problems in the most creative ways.

Today, let me share to you a very inspiring story about Louis Plante.

Louis Plante
Screenshot Photo of User Innovation: Entrepreneurship class video
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Last night, I attended my User Innovation: Entrepreneurship class. It was about “Frame Your Problem.” The topic featured Louis Plante. He is an Electrical Engineer and a Musician who has Cystic Fibrosis – a disease that causes thick mucus to build in the lungs and damage the respiratory system.

The only cure for Cystic Fibrosis is through clapping or tapping the chest to create vibrations to the lungs. This type of treatment is kind of painful.

Because Louis Plante wants help to cure his illness, he thought of all possible ways on how he can actually help himself; and he was able to come up with an idea of the Frequencer.

The Frequencer generates sound waves that can travel through the chest and gently vibrates the lungs. This is a very successful invention (or innovation) that he started to share with people who are also suffering with this kind of illness.

Its effect finally helped Louis Plante as the frequency navigate through his chest and caused him to cough. In this way, it created vibrations that loosen up thick mucus developed in his lungs.

To innovate:
According to Eric Von Hippel, our professor: “people frame problems in different ways.” With this, he also suggests that rather than sitting around and thinking about it hard, start messing around and when you get a combination that works, that’s the one that becomes successful.

Same goes with Louis Plante. He has skills to do such invention that helped him with his problem. Moreover, his ideas and eagerness to solve has been rewarding and indeed inspiring.

Surprisingly, the next frame answered questions I have in mind; and it wasn’t just that… it moved me.

Q: What if you didn’t have those skills?
Louis Plante: The world would still be the same, and the problem would still be there. And for me, as the person that I am, I would have to find the solution to that problem.
From whatever point of view you are, your problem is still there. But if you look at it in a certain angle, it’s going to give you another solution. And not to be discouraged by, “oh, maybe the angle is not good.” NO. Go ahead and try it because you never know what, that ‘try’ might solve the whole thing.

Currently, Louis Plante is waiting for his lung transplant. I hope (and I know) that his operation will go well as planned so he could inspire more people with his story, to innovate and to live life to its fullest.

Final words from last night’s class, courtesy of Eric Von Hippel:

“Both the problem’s shape and the skill set will morph as you proceed. So don’t overthink it, just get started.”

After this, we might not be afraid to try new things to the extent that we can even solve those that we are not totally sure of. Let’s just get started.

Product Review: The MSI GS70 Stealth

It’s ON! The All-New MSI GS70 Stealth Has It!

The MSI GS70 Stealth

Whoa! is the first thing I thought of and came out from my mouth when I first saw the MSI GS70 Stealth. I could not believe that this big-screen laptop can be this amazing! Typing these words using the MSI GS70 Stealth just makes the entire usage experience awesome. Gaming, internet surfing and working are all in one place.

The Specifications

The MSI GS70 Stealth carry the latest operating system of Windows – the Windows 8.1. It has the latest 4th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 Processor that boosts up its speed; it offers an enthusiast level NVIDIA® GeForce GTX 765M graphic card with GDDR discrete graphics card that provides great performance and ultra image quality.

MSI GS70 Stealth may be 17″ big but it is the thinnest and lightest 17″ gaming notebook the market has to offer today. An additional of Super RAID with 2 SSD RAID0 gives you over 900MB/s reading speed and has a dual fan thermal cooling that works well in gaming and in a whole day or whole night work. Thus, a matrix display with maximum 4 displays to expend the vision for extreme gaming experience or multi-tasking.

The Killer™ DoubleShot combines high-performance Ethernet and Wi-Fi for superior speed and lower latency of online gaming and streaming. Also, the MSI GS70 Stealth Keyboard by SteelSeries with full color LED backlight and solid feedback design is one of the device’s unique characters.

The Experience

As a gamer (of sort), I sure know and agree that the MSI GS70 Stealth is made for long hours of gaming. Its big screen which carries an awesome graphic display has the ultimate fight for the gaming world. On the other hand, as a Marketing Practitioner and a Writer, I do love the experience with the MSI GS70 Stealth; I got really fancied about its LED keyboard that has changing backlight colors that makes the typing experience more fun and exciting.

Even if you are not a gamer, you sure can enjoy the MSI GS70 Stealth. It is good for internet browsing and of course, work. It also has the highest performance of combining the Ethernet and Wi-Fi, so worry no more about the video “buffering” stint or the web pages that are unavailable. With MSI GS70 Stealth, I can multi-task and finish my work in an instant. The waiting game of loading folders and web pages are not present hence work is done faster and I can insert some online shopping and social networking thereafter.

The Ultimate Go-To Device

I have tried various devices before – laptops, smartphones, mp3 players and cameras; and I must say, the MSI GS70 Stealth is one of the best and useful devices I had get the chance to use and explore so far. Many of us wanted an ultimate device for our everyday tasks and also for our browsing, streamings, and the like. With MSI’s newest gadget, we can have the best of many worlds! Indeed, the perfect catch.

The MSI GS70 Stealth is the ultimate device I can recommend to my colleagues, friends, family and yes, to everyone! It is ideal for all corporate whiz. As a professional, it is an important factor for me to have an efficient device to use to fulfill my tasks. The MSI GS70 Stealth just surpassed all my tech expectations!