Move Aside, Netflix! Dish Network To Introduce Online Movie Rentals

Some more bad news for Netflix!

Not only have they raised their prices, leaving customers VERY upset, but they've also just recently lost out on their deal with Starz, dropping their stock price by 9% last Friday.

And NOW they have new competition.

The Dish Network is looking into releasing their own movie subscription that will include online streaming as well as mail and in-store rentals, AND on-demand rentals.

Dish also owns Blockbuster, which means they would be getting existing customers as well as possibly picking up the Starz deal that was broken with Netflix.

This is some major competition for Netflix and with so many customers angry at the company for raising their prices, they could very well see another drop in user subscriptions.

Yikes!! We'd think twice about our pricing decisions if we were you, Netflix! Things aren't looking good for you…

Tags: blockbuster, competition, dish network, movie rentals, netflix, prices

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Sourcing and Buying a Dell Motherboard Online

It has to be said that the Dell motherboard is one of the most complex motherboards among laptops, this can make rebuilding or repairing a Dell motherboard a long and tedious task, but there are some other options we can look at, that will not cost a fortune in time or money and can at times, even save your finances to a greater degree as opposed to when you try to repair or replace components on the current motherboard in your Dell machine.

The other options we can look at to get your machine back up and running are as follows we can look for a Dell motherboard from the Dell site online, however we know that as with most manufacturers, purchasing the part from Dell gives us the assurance of quality, but not so much assurance on the price that they will charge us for the Dell motherboard - so it's a good idea, but not perfect.

The next idea, we could look at popping into our local computer repair centre, they would be able to source the part for us surely? Indeed they can, but this time we may get a more competitive price for our Dell motherboard, but what assurances of quality do we receive here, very little or worse still, none at all.

This leaves us yet another alternative and the ability to combine the advantages of both of the above. We can seek for a store online, this we know, will offer a very competitive price, maybe even lower than the other two sources of the Dell motherboard, and to combine the great price with quality we can seek around online to find a store that will offer us warranty or a guarantee. One guarantee that is completely undisputable and difficult to ignore is the Never Fail guarantee offered by a well renowned laptop parts and accessories store, and to make this an even more perfect solution for the Dell laptop motherboard replacement they offer a great variety for all models of Dell, meaning your new motherboard is waiting just around the corner.

Dell are great machines and when something goes wrong it is a shame to lose it all, the comforting thin now is knowing that we can obtain a new Dell motherboard [http://www.laptopaid.com/store/cat-products_11_Motherboards.aspx] quickly, easily, cheaply and comfortably online with a site such as LaptopAid.com, so we can continue to have many happy years with our laptop knowing it has a quality Dell motherboard installed that will never fail on installation as secured by the guarantee.

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Laptop Motherboards For Sale Online

Laptops are very popular and increasingly used nowadays. They are ideal for businessmen and travelers or anyone who is constantly on the move. They are small and weigh less and are thus easy to carry around. Just like personal computers, laptops too have parts like the monitor, keyboard, disk drives, hard drives, ports, computer chip and motherboard. The motherboard is also referred to as the system board.

A laptops motherboard is a lot different from the motherboard of a personal computer.

Components of A Laptop Motherboard

Generally the laptops motherboard is specifically made to suit a particular system. The various components of a laptop motherboard are as follows:

* Hard drive connector

* DVD connector

* Volume control component

* Audio jacks

* Video components

* USB ports

* Battery connector

* Keyboard connector

* Ethernet/network ports

* RAM

* Memory slots

These are just the generalized components that most laptops motherboard has. Different brands have come up with their own specialized motherboards that are unique and have many additional features. These cannot be replaced as easily as the personal computer's motherboard. However, nowadays due to great increase in the usage of laptops, many companies are selling motherboards specifically made for laptops.

Available Online

In order to buy laptop motherboards, all a user has to do is go online and search the net. There are many websites that sell authentic motherboards. These motherboards are sold as per company specifications. A customer needs to know what kind of motherboard goes into his laptop before making the purchase. This is because buying just anything will not do. Even laptops made by the same company will have different motherboard specifications based on the features of the laptop. Customers need to understand all this before making a purchase.

Once these details are known, it is easy to locate the required motherboard online and make the purchase. Sometimes, they are available at a much lower rate than when the purchase is made directly from the company. Also, getting the product from the company may take more time when compared to making a purchase from an online store. These stores generally have minimum shipping time and often the shipping is done free of cost.

Changing the laptops motherboard is a sure way of upgrading the laptop without having to purchase a completely new one. When you buy a laptop motherboard, you can buy a little more advanced one where there are additional features so that it adds on to the system's features.

However, this should be done with caution as there is possibility that the motherboard may not suit the laptop. Companies are now trying to make the motherboard more replaceable and are also trying to make laptops that permit advancement of features.

To buy the best motherboards, visit a website that is recommended by many customers. It is important to make sure that the site is reliable particularly with regard to the genuineness of products offered. Most of these sites also offer other laptop and computer related products like disk drives, audio drives and battery. Often, the most important item these stores offer is the laptop motherboard as it comes with most of the components attached to it.

http://www.laptopmotherboards.org is a great website for purchasing laptops motherboard. The store has motherboards from all brands with a lot of additional features.

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Social Media Tools - Connect, Manage, and Transform Your Business Online

Whether you want to find new customers or you need a way to manage your existing audience, it's important to have the right social media tools in place to keep your business running. As social media channels diversify and people turn more heavily toward this form of advertising, you'll find more products available that can help you manage your online presence efficiently. Check out these tools that can increase your online success, starting with the beginner's basics up through the expert's instruments.

Social Media 101: Finding New Customers

Facebook: If your business is just venturing into social media, one of the first places you should begin is Facebook. Perhaps the original social media giant, Facebook continues to be extremely relevant today and only continues to grow more. Many of your potential customers are already using Facebook every day. This social media platform gives you an exclusive opportunity to connect with them.

Twitter: Twitter is another one of the best social media tools to begin working with. It's easy to set up a Twitter account and to begin tweeting right away. Soon you'll begin noticing that your followers are multiplying and passing on the word to others. Twitter also gives you a chance to stay up to date with all the latest news and messages from anyone you're interested in following.

ClientTouch: Marketing with an email list is a great way to stay in touch regularly with your clients, prospects and business partners to help them keep your name in mind. Through Client Touch, you can easily manage your outgoing emails, integration with other social media sites and your analytic data. Client Touch allows you to keep track of your subscribers and the number of messages that get read, as well as to send out messages with customized HTML formats. It's an easy to use tool that caters to exactly what a businessperson is looking for to automate the follow-up, top of mind process.

Maintaining Your Online Success and Looking Toward the Future

Google Apps: As you begin to build up a successful online presence and you start looking toward the future, you should begin looking for tools that will help you manage things more efficiently. With a tool like Google Apps, you can easily enjoy the benefits of Google's well-known revolutionary software. One of the greatest benefits of Google Apps is the ability to host user email addresses at your website from within the program. You also get to use programs like Google Docs, allowing you to share and edit documents; Google Calendar, helping you manage your schedule and share it with friends; and Google Sites which can help you create websites and manage group information.

Basecamp: Basecamp is a popular project management tool for businesses that need help getting organized and communicating. One of the greatest benefits to Basecamp is that workers can track projects and communicate together from within the program, using instant messaging, file sharing and to-do lists. These will help to keep everyone in your company on the same page at the same time, creating a more efficient workflow for everyone involved.

Take Your Business to the Next Level

Monitter or TweetDeck: These programs are great tools that help you to manage your Twitter stream, as they organize the constant flow of information you receive. Both, Monitter and Tweet Deck are similar in their setup and their user interface systems look pretty similar. However, each also has its own unique benefits. Many people who use Monitter prefer the ability to have more than ten columns open at one time, while TweetDeck users prefer its reliable service over that of Monitter. Whichever you choose, you'll be able to see who's tweeting at you and who you've tweeted at. You'll also be able to monitor trending topics and search for specific terms easily, all from within the same screen. Once your business is using Twitter regularly, use one of these programs to manage all your interactions and keep things organized.

YouTube: YouTube is another popular form of social media that many companies ultimately fail to use effectively. While YouTube can have great potential as a successful advertising tool for your company, it's best to introduce it to the plan once you've mastered some other basics of social media. When you're starting out with YouTube, you can begin to become familiar with what it offers by linking your customers to videos that they may be interested in, or by providing informational clips. After you've spent some time there, you can begin to shoot your own videos and start posting. Before you make yourself an authoritative source, be sure you've spent the time learning the ropes. When you take advantage of these social media tools, you'll have a great set of resources to help grow your business and pursue new heights.

And now that you know about these tools I'd like to give you my free 21 page report: Social Media Marketing

Enrique Barba is the principal of Sway New Media where he provides premium SEO services, Social Media Management and Marketing resources.

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Online Digital Media Production Higher Education Options

The high demand for digital media has created a wave of continual technological upgrading and production. Students that want to enter careers in this area have several options. Higher education in digital media production can be pursued through online colleges and universities that dedicate specific programs to this area of study.

Students will learn a wide range of skills like understanding how to write scripts and generate graphics. Education can be completed online at the associate's, bachelor's, and master's degree level of education. Career goals and the amount of time students can dedicate to education will help them make a decision as to which educational route would be best for them. Students can also choose concentrations inside a program that may include commercials, music videos, and sporting events. All programs present students with understanding in production planning, sound editing, directing, and more. Depending on the level of education training may be examined from an introductory or advanced standpoint.

An associate's degree program teaches students about the design of media tools. Students will explore various areas of the profession to gain a foundation that will prepare them for careers or further education. Presentation creation, video production, and web page conception are some specific areas that are included within a two-year associate's degree program. Common online courses could include:


Intro to Media
Digital Photography

These courses and more develop the needed knowledge in basic audio and video media production. Education prepares students to work in various industries. Students can put their training to use in graphic design firms, advertising agencies, and more.

Many students begin their education with a bachelor's degree program. Interactive software is a large component inside the profession and students will learn how to use various programs. Education trains students to understand film production, design, scriptwriting, and more using a variety of software applications. Adobe Premiere and Apple Final Cut Pro are some computer programs used in the production process of digital media. Online courses that may be integrated into a program could include:

Illustration
Computer Animation

The understanding of design principles can be applied to several careers. Students that complete a program have a thorough understanding of the field to become digital media editors, web media developers, and virtual animators.

Education at the master's degree level takes a different approach. The first year of education trains students to produce digital media while navigating the different challenges that can occur when working with computer technology. The second year is highly focused on giving students the knowledge to find solutions for digital media production problems regarding the latest technology and software. Students learn to become proficient with handling problem areas and developing new methods to fix them. Common courses may include:

Storytelling
Theories of Interactive Media
Digital Communication

Students can step into careers as animators, creative directors, digital media consultants, and more upon completion of a program.

Accredited online education allows students to master digital media production at any time and from anywhere. Full accreditation is proof that a quality education will be received. Agencies like the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges ( http://www.accsc.org/ ) can fully accredited programs that meet certain criteria. Students interested should complete an online digital media program and become in demand professionals.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERIC OUTLINE and may or may not depict precise methods, courses and/or focuses related to ANY ONE specific school(s) that may or may not be advertised at PETAP.org.

Copyright 2010 - All rights reserved by PETAP.org.

Renata McGee is a staff writer for PETAP.org. Locate Online Digital Media Production Schools as well as Campus Based Digital Media Production Schools at PETAP.org, your Partners in Education and Tuition Assistance Programs.

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Train For a Career With Online Media Studies

Writing for a newspaper, working for a radio station, and delivering the news on a television station are available options that result from earning a college degree. The discipline of media is a large industry that can have students training online from a number of colleges. Interested students have many options to consider when deciding on a degree in media studies.

The overall goal of media studies is to prepare students in a wide selection of areas to disseminate information to a specific audience. The act of dissemination is practiced in all media areas including public relations and broadcasting. Online study offers students the chance to learn how to function in each of these media areas. Programs teach students how to write and successfully communicate. Each degree has an overall general path in mass media with a concentration in one area.

The ability to train for a career online fits perfectly with the goal of media.


The goal is to communicate in an effective way using the variety media options.
This is also coupled with the theory that what drives media is its constant state of change.
The Internet goes with this theory because the media has to constantly change with technology to continue to reach all intended audiences.

Media professionals still need to reach people who don't get their information from the Internet but still read the newspaper, listen to the radio, etc. Conversely, individuals that only use the Internet to view information also have to receive news. Studying online allows students to use the multi faceted realm of the industry while seeing first hand how communication is handled via the Internet. Student's ability to receive education online goes hand in hand with what the industry of media is all about.

Online education offers students many different degree paths to choose from.


Depending on the major students can usually receive a degree from an associate's to a doctorate.
Each level of training teaches students how to deliver their media's message through the correct form. For instance, the curriculum within a journalism degree will focus on teaching a student how to write in a journalistic format for newspapers, and the Internet.
Courses could include reporting for the media, sports writing, and editing.

A degree can be earned through enrolling in a communications major with a concentration in journalism. Students can follow this degree program from a bachelor's to a doctorate degree. A bachelor's degree program will prepare students to obtain jobs as reporters and copy editors.

Degree programs center strongly on communication through different mediums.


Students gain an extensive understanding of how to produce and disseminate information to the masses through concentrated degrees and courses.
This knowledge includes two major principles in order to be successful, which include having great verbal and written communication.
Courses effectively establish these two industry expectations so students will be seen as professional by coworkers and employers.

Students should research if this field offers a degree path that coincides with their desired career. Join the other mass media professionals today by earning an accredited online degree in a concentrated area. Full accreditation is a schools proof of their ability to provide a quality education. The Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (www.accet.org) is just one of the agencies that can provide accreditation.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERIC OUTLINE and may or may not depict precise methods, courses and/or focuses related to ANY ONE specific school(s) that may or may not be advertised at PETAP.org.

Copyright 2010 - All rights reserved by PETAP.org.

Renata McGee is a staff writer for PETAP.org. Visit http://www.petap.org to locate Online Media Studies Degree Programs providing the education you're looking for. PETAP.org, your Partners in Education and Tuition Assistance Programs.

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How Social Media Will Continue to Impact Online Search in 2010

Effective online search has previously relied upon the positioning of a Web site in the search engine result pages (SERPs), based mainly upon how many links were pointing to the site, thus indicating popularity, and how high of a page rank (PR) the site had been crowned by Google. Now, with the steady increase of the social media phenomenon, we can foresee this unstoppable force anchoring itself mightily and building a sturdy home. Page rank is quickly being replaced by friend rank.

Social media is not only the here and now; it's also the wave of the future that is here to stay. It will continue to grow and enlarge at rapid speed. Social media is by far a trend. According to Nielsen Online, social media networks and blogs are now the forth most popular online activity ahead of personal email. Member communities are visited by 67 percent of the global online population. The time spent in social media Web sites is growing at three times the overall Internet use rate, accounting for almost 10 percent of all Internet time.

Social Media's Effect on Google, Bing and Yahoo

Although the SEO ship has not sailed and should definitely be a part of your online marketing campaign, social media marketing is the alpha male in the online jungle and he brings many changes. Google used to separate "social" content. Remember the separate Google search bar you had to download for blogs? And another one for video and yet another for images, while nothing from the social media sites showed up at all? Now Google streams ALL platforms into one system called Universal Search. This means blogs, videos, images, news and user profiles and comments from social media sites are now integrated into the natural SERPs, shoving many previously placed Web sites right out of those coveted top spots. Bing and Yahoo both have incorporated very similar systems.

With that said, you now understand how critical SMO is to your online marketing campaign. By using social media sites such as facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, you can actually capture a greater number of organic search positions. Did you know facebook alone has about 350,000,000 members from across the globe? Talk about having your audience right at your fingertips! Once you learn how to identify and connect to your target audience, you can definitely take your business to the next level and the next.

Intertwining Social Media Optimization and SEO

When properly executed, social media optimization can seamlessly dovetail SEO efforts. The ongoing, fresh content creation, social bookmarking, engaging and conversing directly with your audience, attracting inbound links by being a resource for your audience, etc. - these methodologies are essential for pushing your Web site higher in the SERPs, increasing Web traffic and reaping the rewards of conversion and overall ROI. SMO leverages an additional, effective set of online tools to accomplish the same goal as SEO: more exposure and better positioning for your Web site on Google, Yahoo, and Bing. The challenge lies in knowing how to use those tools effectively and without spending all of your waking hours in vain.

The bottom line is this: The days of launching a basic SEO campaign alone within such a competitive online space and joyfully watching your site rise to the top of SERPs are long gone. Not only has SEO become far more complex than it was just a few short years ago, but SMO has transformed SEO from a relatively straightforward strategy into an intricate discipline that is confusing and frustrating to most.

While social media optimization is a must for any business seeking to boost exposure in the search engines, most companies are not up for the task at hand. Turning to someone with social media expertise and experience to successfully go head to head with the alpha male of the jungle is the key reaping rewards from your online efforts.

Contact Crystal Frog Marketing today to face the alpha male for you. Also, keep your eyes peeled for our next article: Your Social Media Marketing Campaign: Top 5 Tips for Successful Execution.

Natalie Revell is the President/Marketing Director/Founder of Crystal Frog Marketing. Crystal Frog Marketing (CFM) produces Clear Solutions and Giant Leaps by utilizing new perspectives and new media strategies to take small and median businesses to the next level and the next. By partnering with their clients and focusing on two primary areas of concentration: the business profile and how customers perceive the business profile, CFM is able to help clients solve problems in the niche markets, gain visibility and positioning in their marketplaces, increase brand awareness and become 'the one to call.' CFM has successfully launched and strengthened many businesses and has extensive experience in the logistics and mortgage/credit repair industries. For more information, please visit http://www.crystalfrogmarketing.com/

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Media Communications Online Schools

Online Media Communications schools offer courses that differ from media studies in that Media Studies stems from theatre, film, and speech, and emphasizes the study of quality, interpretation, cultural viewpoints, and the effects of media on populations. Media communications, on the other hand, is more inclined toward the concepts and skills of writing, journalism, television, and various other types of Mass Communications.

Media Communications programs of study will include looking at global communities; working with digital media; studying speaking and rhetoric, writing, interpersonal communications; reporting, and broadcasting, etc.

The Internet plays a large role in the conveyance of information today, affecting large populations in the process. The Internet is a major tool for media communications, however, media communications relies heavily on the creative skills of individuals who guide, shape, and dispense information. Developing technical and creative talents will be the most important factors in a good education in media communications.

Online media communications schools, colleges, and universities vary in the use of terms applied to journalism, mass, and media communications studies. When choosing a school and courses of study, it will be wise to rely on course descriptions rather than on course titles to make choices.

Graduates of Online Media Communications Schools can expect to find positions in various communications fields - traditional news media, publications, advertising, and public relations.

If you are interested in learning more about Online Media Communications Schools [http://www.schoolsgalore.com/categories/4/media_communications_online_schools.html] and other types of schools, please search our site for more information and resources.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Copyright 2006 - All Rights Reserved

Michael Bustamante, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc. for SchoolsGalore.com

Notice to Publishers: Please feel free to use this article in your Ezine or on your Website; however, ALL links must remain intact and active.

Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. in association with SchoolsGalore.com. Find Colleges, Universities, Vocational Schools, and Online Colleges at SchoolsGalore.com; your educational resource to locate schools.

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Can Media Coverage Build An Online Business? You Bet It Can!

As someone with expertise in media relations, I've been asked if media coverage and publicity can build an online business. The real question is whether what happens offline really matters online. And the answer is unquestionably, "Yes!"

Here are ten reasons why media coverage can help your online business grow:

Every one of us, even if we spend four to eight hours a day in front of a computer screen in our underwear, still lives in the real world. Our opinions, desires, priorities, and decisions are heavily influenced by television, radio, books, magazines, and newspapers. Every business, online or offline, can benefit from positive media exposure.

Almost no business can afford to be absent from the Internet these days; even a local real estate agent gains a competitive edge from having a web site. By the same token, an online business gains a strong advantage by having an offline presence. Online and offline marketing of all types support each other.

Search engines won't bring most web site owners business. I just did a Google search for "books", and found about 85.2 million entries. Ninety-five percent of searchers will likely click on the first two (Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com), most of the others will never get to the second page of the searches. This means that 85,199,990 web site book sellers cannot rely on search engines. How about searching for the word bookstore? Still almost seven million entries, and guess who the top two are?

You can't cheat the search engines. Try a search for books and carpentry. The odds are much better, with only 106,000 entries. That still means 105,990 web site book sellers will rarely be found. How about books and promotion? Almost two million entries. If a million carpentry book sellers are reading this article, five are smiling. The rest will only smile with an offline presence, such as a great article in their local newspaper or a call-in show on a radio station half way across the world.

The media can create interest in your product or service if they feature you as part of an interesting story. Online or offline, that's what media coverage does. A good story is gold.

The media is just starting now to wake up to the exciting things happening online. Timing is everything and this is the time.

The media are now working increasingly online. The online and offline worlds are converging more than ever before. Articles that appear in local papers, industry magazines and even commentary on radio broadcasts find themselves on the Internet. That can often mean powerful links to your web site. Publicity offline means promotion online.

If you are running a contest, placing a new interactive program on your site, winning an award, taking donations for a charity or doing anything noteworthy online, it is of interest in the offline world. The media can act as a funnel for people who spend less time than you and I do in front of a computer screen.

In the mainstream media, you are trustworthy. If they see it on TV or in the newspaper, people believe it. (Funny, they SAY they don't trust the media, but their actions speak louder.) Since web marketing is about relationships and trust (That is your strategy, right?), you can build that relationship with people who are only now getting online or who may not even be online for another couple years. By the time they are ready to buy from you, the relationship has already begun because they have carried your offline credibility (that's the biggest value of media coverage) with them onto the Internet.

In the mainstream media, you are real. I know many people who still don't buy anything online. They simply do not trust someone they cannot see. Sure, you might be honest, but how do they know? You could disappear into the ether tomorrow. While bricks-and-mortar stores can close just as fast, there is an impression that they are more real and more permanent. You can increase your realness and permanence through a media presence, and thereby increase your customer base.

Media relations is not always easy and not everyone can make it. You have to have something interesting to tell and have a creative way to make it newsworthy. But it is a low-cost way to drive traffic to your web site. And you may not need to get onto the front page of USA Today to succeed. You may simply want a mention in a few niche magazines where your targeted traffic can be found.

So if you don't like the idea of being a million entries down on a web search, or even 60 entries down, consider a low-cost, effective alternative - the media. With the right angle, media relations and publicity can expand your engine faster than search engines.

About The Author

After a decade and a half as one of Canada's top consumer advocates, often conducting over 600 media interviews each year, David Leonhardt is sharing his knowledge with others. Pick up a copy of his special report "Get In The News!" at http://www.TheHappyGuy.com/publicity-self-promotion-report.html

amabaie@phastnet.com

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Online Training Options for Media Studies Careers

Media studies is considered to be a broad academic field that allows students to study all forms of communication and how they affect society. Students have the opportunity to learn how to effectively use the latest technology to disseminate information in a variety of ways through higher education. Online training is available at several degree levels.

The field is predominantly made up of careers in journalism, broadcasting, and advertising. However, the content of education can be applied to numerous disciplines. Online education can be pursued as a general approach or a specific concentration such as journalism. Education is most commonly completed in one specific area of the field as students learn about the industry as a whole. Concentration courses and general courses are taken inside all degree programs. This interdisciplinary approach allows students to step into various careers because their knowledge of the communication field is broad. Associates, bachelors, and masters degree programs are available to students online. Certificate programs are available at some schools and are typically geared towards working professionals that need to brush up on technology improvements in their field.

American and global media is studied in a broad context within an undergraduate degree program. A number of concentrations can be entered that include photography, digital media, and advertising. Culture and society is heavily explored to give students an understanding of how media relates to the perception of communication. General topics typically include composition, writing for television, web design, and new media. Students working to complete a journalism degree program study how to write and disseminate information for a variety of mediums. Education will cover newspaper, television, advertising, and broadcast writing styles. Undergraduate training is concerned with giving students a wide skill set to prepare them for the workplace. Many careers have professionals doing a variety of tasks so the broad knowledge gained is essential for career success. Earning a degree opens a variety of careers that include:

Broadcast Journalist
News Journalist
Film Editor
Marketing Analyst

Media studies at the undergraduate level train students for a career and further schooling if desired. Online education at the graduate level is mainly available within a master's degree program. Students can expect to explore the procedures and effects that different forms of media have on communication. Advanced positions are available to students with this level of schooling. Cultural media, media theory, management, and social media are all topics included within a master's degree program. The growing field opens up numerous careers for students with a master's degree, which include:

Media Producer
Web Designer
Public Relations Manager
Filmmaker

Some online colleges and universities offer PhD programs in communication and media studies. These degree programs are academic and research based. They train students for teaching positions and upper-level careers. Research design, media philosophy, global communication, and advertising consumption are areas explored inside a program. This advanced training provides students with the skills to work in all areas of media studies.

Students can develop the skills necessary to work with mass media by completing an accredited media studies degree program. Agencies like the accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (http://www.accet.org/) are approved to fully accredited quality educational training programs and schools. Explore the different options and enter a continually advancing industry.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERIC OUTLINE and may or may not depict precise methods, courses and/or focuses related to ANY ONE specific school(s) that may or may not be advertised at PETAP.org.

Copyright 2010 - All rights reserved by PETAP.org.

Renata McGee is a staff writer for PETAP.org. Locate Online Media Studies Schools and Colleges as well as Campus Based Media Studies Schools and Colleges at PETAP.org, your Partners in Education and Tuition Assistance Programs.

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Top 10 Social Media Blogs - A List of the Top 10 Social Media Blogs Online

In the industry of social networking and online marketing, one of the major components to being successful is your ability to stay up to date with the most current information. By harnessing this knowledge, you place yourself in a position to give back to the community by providing or teaching it back to your prospects, customers and followers.

Sometimes keeping up with the torrential flow of cutting edge information can be difficult, but this is where this list of the Top 10 Social Media Blogs comes in handy. Each and every one of these blogs contains a wealth of knowledge and it's all current. It's not the same jargon being repeated and recycled over and over again. By keeping yourself at the forefront of the social media game and positioning yourself as an authority by contributing to these top 10 social media blogs you are building the foundations - laying the bricks, so to speak - for your eventual and perpetual success online.

The top 10 social media blogs are listed below. Be careful not to get overwhelmed by the vast amount of knowledge contained in them. Remember to take things slow, one step at a time. If you learn something which you can implement straight away, then do it! Don't think after you've just read some crazy new secret "Oh, that's a good idea... I'll apply that to my business tomorrow," and then keep trawling the blogs for the rest of the night. As soon as you learn something, put it into action. Once you're done with that, find another strategy to implement. Step by step you will slowly but surely begin to see concrete results!

So without further ado, I give you... The Top 10 Social Media Blogs!

#1 Mashable.com - If you're looking for the best place to come to for social media news, this is it. It is the worlds largest site dedicated to this purpose. With more than 12 million hits every month, it will definitely boost your inside knowledge on new sites, trends, technologies and services. Come here to find critiques on the newest stuff and get some great tools for your social networking campaigns.

#2 AllFacebook.com - As the name suggests, this blog is all about Facebook. Here you can learn about the newest applications and general news. You can even read predicted trends about the future of Facebook, an excellent way to stay on top of the game. If you need to know anything about Facebook, this should be your first stop.

#3 Twitip.com - Similar to #2, this blog is all about Twitter. There are so many helpful Twitter tips including things like how to get the right followers, how to build relationships and turn them into your real friends, how to build massive followings without getting booted off the system, etc. There is also a wealth of useful marketing information related to Twitter, such as personal branding, effective marketing methods and even useful Twitter tools to help automate your business.

#4 SocialMediaToday.com - This blog is a community made up some of the best social networking and web 2.0 thinkers alive today. There is no limit to what you can learn here! Most importantly, this is a great place to learn how to create an interactive social community. A pretty neat perk: once you have registered on this site, you can begin feeding your existing blog posts (assuming you already have a blog) to the live content flow of SMT and create posts directly on the site, increasing your exposure to a highly valuable community! Now THAT is pretty darn cool.

#5 Techipedia.com - This blog is run by Tamar Weinberg, a social media consultant and techie geek. She truly has some information worth hunting down, and her blog is an amazing resource. One of her recent posts was "How to Create the Perfect Fan Page." Now who in social media wouldn't want to know info like that? For free? She is a freelance writer and author of The New Community Rules: Marketing on the Social Web, who specializes in social media consulting and strategy, blogger outreach, reputation management, and search engine marketing (SEO, link building, and Pay Per Click Marketing). If you're interested in social media, you should be checking out her blog.

#6 CollectiveThoughts.com - Another invaluable blog made up of superstars. Each member of this community is a well-known authority or upcoming figure in their own respective fields, and they all share a passion and thoroughly developed understanding on social media. So thinking collectively, they created Collective Thoughts, a place to share their fantastic knowledge.

#7 BrianSolis.com - Brian is a pioneer as he brings his own unique view to the world of social networking. He takes both approaches of traditional marketing and social media and meshes them together to create one heck of a powerful marketing machine. This blog made the top 1.5% of all blogs tracked by Technorati-which means it really is worth checking out!

#8 DoshDosh.com - This one's a bit different, not what you would call your typical social media blog. But don't let that fool you, because here you will find some amazing resources for cutting edge online marketing and blogging tips, social media and Web 2.0 strategies. I personally like the artistic use of their images and graphics in the various posts.

#9 ScottMonty.com - Scott is the head of social media for the Ford Motor Company. That's right, the big corporations are realising the potential in social media are beginning to stake their claim. On his blog, Scott shares his perspectives on various topics - the convergence of marketing, advertising and PR on the Web - for marketers, agencies, the enterprise and the individual. Not only will learning from him benefit your campaign, you can build your connections as you expand your sources - and Scott is a very good source.

#10 The Viral Garden - Mack Collier is a social media consultant, trainer and speaker. He has been actively immersed in social media since 2005 and is known as a guru in the field. He has some great info on his site where you can learn about the latest tools, tips and trends to enhance your productivity, profitability and online presence.

So there you have it, the Top 10 Social Media Blogs, places where you can hunt down valuable information to help take your business to the next level. Take full advantage of these resources as they will help to brand you as an expert in social media and put you in position to become a top earner in this industry.

Boio Bess Is A Savvy Network Marketer Who Has Seen All The Tricks Of The Trade In The Industry Over The Last Decade. Visit EarnFromSocialMedia.com To Learn The Techniques She Uses To Generate 50+ Leads Daily Using Social Media Sites Such As Facebook, Twitter & YouTube!

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Internet Providers to Help Thwart Online Piracy

In a deal with the major entertainment media companies that has been years in the making, the leading Internet service providers have agreed to a uniform procedure for notifying customers about repeated instances of digital copyright infringement.

The Internet providers, including AT&T, Cablevision, Comcast Verizon and Time Warner Cable, announced the deal on Thursday in Washington with the major trade associations for movies and music, the Motion Picture Association of America, the Recording Industry Association of America, as well as organizations representing independent filmmakers and record companies.

The new procedure, which is expected to go into effect early next year, is known as a graduated response, and establishes a series of six warnings that an Internet service provider, or I.S.P., can send a customer whose account shows signs of infringing activity.

These warnings escalate from simple e-mail notifications to a set of “mitigation measures,” like slowed connections or a block from Web surfing altogether. As the steps progress, a user must acknowledge to his I.S.P. that he understands the notice, and the user can also contest the complaint.

“This is a sensible approach to the problem of online-content theft and, importantly, one that respects the privacy and rights of our subscribers,” Randal S. Milch, executive vice president and general counsel of Verizon, said in a statement. “We hope that effort –- designed to notify and educate customers, not to penalize them –- will set a reasonable standard for both copyright owners and I.S.P.’s to follow, while informing customers about copyright laws and encouraging them to get content from the many legal sources that exist.”

The agreement also sets up a clearinghouse, the Center for Copyright Information, to monitor the alert system and deal with infringement issues. The center is expected to have a board made up of representatives of both the media companies and the I.S.P.’s.

The deal is a victory of sorts for entertainment media companies, which have long complained that Internet providers were not doing enough to combat piracy. Yet while the system establishes guidelines for the I.S.P.’s in how they contact their customers, it does not replace the existing legal framework for online copyright infringement. That process, established by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in 1998, allows I.S.P.’s to shut down an infringing Web site if directed by a copyright holder.

The music and film industries have had mixed success recently with their campaigns to step up enforcement and legislation for copyright infringement.

Last year, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement division of the United States Department of Homeland Security began seizing Web domains suspected of piracy and counterfeiting. The Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act, or Coica, a bill that would give the United States attorney general additional powers to pursue infringing Web sites, stalled in Congress last year, but a modified version of it, the Protect IP Act, has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and is awaiting a vote.

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US Media Going Social - Online, That Is

Online and social media adoption and consumption in the US is growing at an exponential rate.. You would have to live in cave to have not heard this before. If we look at user base as one dimension to consider, we could evaluate media growth and adoption by audience size goals or reaching a certain threshold such 50 million users (reference: socialnomics.net). It took radio 38 years to achieve an audience size of 50 million, while TV took 13 years, the Internet took 4 years, iPod 3 years. Drum roll please. Facebook added 100 million users in less than 9 months! As you can see online social media adoption in the US, based on the tremendous growth of Facebook and other social media sites, the adoption rate of online social media in the US been greatly accelerated relative to adoption rates of off-line media.

One could theorize that the adoption of social media has come at the expense of more traditional media such as newspapers, which according to an article in Yahoo Finance, 24 of the 25 largest newspapers are experiencing record declines in circulation as more user seek news content online.

Those downplaying the growth of online social media in the US may point out that the US population is a lot bigger today than it was when broadcast radio was first introduced in 1906. Population size increase since then would account for some of the reduction in years for a media type to reach 50 million users (more people in US means lower % required to hit 50 million) and so perhaps a better comparison threshold would be achieving some saturation level or % of population. But come on. What about Facebook adding 100 million users in less than 9 months?, What about the current Facebook user base of over 400 million (April 2010), there's simply no denying the pace at which the media landscape is the US evolving, driven by rapid adoption of online social media with Facebook leading the way. Simply amazing.

Not only are the number of Facebook users large, but they are online nearly an hour a day and actively engaged. What's more, according to Facebook, the average user spends 55 minutes per day online or roughly 335 hours in a year! Talk social media, Facebook in this case, driving increased online media consumption in the US. Another eye opening statistic is the 5 billion pieces of content (web links, news stories, blog posts, notes, photo albums, etc.) shared each week according to Facebook. Not only are Facebook users spending a significant amount of time Facebook each day, but they are also actively engaged in the creation and sharing at a rate approach approaching 1 billion pieces of content per day. Not bad when you can get 400 million users to create and share content for free that can then be monetized with contextual and behavioral advertising.

Facebook is a leader in the growth and mainstream adoption of online Social Media in the US. Possibly the most telling sign the Facebook leadership in online social media leadership in the US is that, according to a recent news release by Hitwise, on Mar 15, 2010, Facebook was the top ranked destination of US traffic reaching 7.07% of US Internet traffic as compared to 7.03% for Google. Sure, Facebook had surpassed Google before as the top US Internet destination, but that those were special days when like Christmas and New Years when you expect the surge in Social Media activity, but Mar 15th? While I recognize that comparing Google whose primary focus is Search and Facebook whose primary focus is Social Media.

Growth in online media consumption is not new information. In fact, in a study by the Media Audit release in May 2009, it was found that the average U.S. adult spent 2.1 hours per day online in 2006, compared to 3.8 hours in 2008. This represents an 81% increase over the three years studied. It's possible that Internet usage today is even higher than the 3.8 hours per day from 2008. Another interesting statistic and sign of the times was a subject of a recent report issued by comScore Video Metrix service which estimated that 32.4 billion online videos where watched in the US in January 2010. If you do the math, that equates to 95 videos, on average per every man, woman and child in the US. For certain demographics, such as preteen to through 30s, the actual numbers likely skew much higher.

The Internet and Social Media are not just for the kids anymore. The Internet is now being embraced by all generations including retirees with disposable income. My parents, both of whom are in their 70s and whom I believe to be the norm and not the exception, are online connected anywhere in their home with a wireless network connected through a high speed Internet connection. They are not alone as 95% of active Internet users in the US are connected with high speed Internet connections, enabling them to enjoy a rich media experience online. What's amazing to me is that there are still 5% of US Internet users on dial-up connections. The only explanation I can think of is rural areas where high-speed Internet may be unavailable. Pricing for high speed Internet in a bundled package with phone and TV makes it comparable to the cost of dial-up which typically requires an extra phone line. High definition digital audio, video and online gaming content, fueled by ubiquitous high speed Internet access makes the Internet and Social Media accessible across all age groups.

Why not shop where we consume media? As US media consumption shifts online, then its natural for online sales to grow in conjunction.This is evidenced by the %of retail sales relative to all retail sales in the US, which has grown from.8% in 2000 to over 3.7% as of November 2009 according the US Department of Commerce statistics, representing a 362% growth during that period. So as US media consumption shifts online fueled by increased social media usage, ecommerce will continue to grow. That is why companies are advertising on Social Media such as Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube. This is especially true for large notational companies that are interested in reaching broad diverse audiences or targeting specific niches. The nice thing about Social Media is that it provides businesses opportunities for both.

The bottom line is. You can bet that companies that understand social media use in the US and its impact on traditional media are embracing social media and are integrating into their overall, multi-channel marketing and even customer service strategies. Shouldn't you?

Rick Noel is an Internet marketing expert with over a decade of Internet, marketing and sales experience with General Electric, Bellcore, Telcordia and Burst Media.

Rick founded eBiz ROI, Inc. to provide companies with affordable Internet marketing services and solutions to enable profitable growth through the Internet while increase marketing ROI

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Canceled ABC Soaps Find New Home Online

Ron Tom/ABCA scene from “All My Children,” one of two canceled ABC soaps, with “One Life to Live,” that will be given a second life online.

Three months after ABC canceled the soap operas “All My Children” and “One Life to Live,” the network said Thursday that the shows would be given a second life online by Prospect Park, a two-year-old media and production company.

Prospect Park will produce the two shows and distribute them “via online formats and additional emerging platforms including Internet-enabled television sets,” the companies said in a joint news release.

Fans of the shows — thousands of whom had signed petitions and a few of whom had even protested in public about the cancellations — were relieved to hear of the deal. “Way to go soap fans!!!,” one fan, Sandi Taylor, wrote on one of the Facebook pages that was formed in April to appeal ABC’s decision.

The deal was first reported by The New York Post on Thursday morning.

The companies characterized it as a multiple-year and multiple-platform licensing arrangement, meaning that Prospect Park will produce and distribute the shows, but ABC will retain the intellectual property. They said that under the terms of the arrangement, episodes of the shows will be just as long and just as high quality online as they were on television.

Jeffrey Kwatinetz and Rich Frank, the founders of Prospect Park, declined interview requests on Thursday, but they said in a statement, “We believe that by continuing to produce the shows in their current hour format and with the same quality, viewers will follow the show to our new, online network.”

Mr. Kwatinetz and Mr. Frank are taking a bold step by trying to bring soap operas — a format that originated in radio — onto the Internet, a new and mostly untested medium for premium video programming. They asserted in their statement that the “driving force” in the transition from television to online video was “to have outstanding programs that people want to watch.”

Others in the media industry are gradually beginning to make similar bets. In March, Netflix said that it would present the debut of a one-hour drama, “House of Cards,” on its service instead of buying the show after a television broadcast, and in June the conservative commentator and entertainer Glenn Beck said that he had started an online television network, GBTV.

The soap operas will most likely end their ABC runs on a Friday and start up online the next Monday. Their online homes have not yet been announced.

“All My Children” is set to end on ABC on Sept. 23; “One Life to Live” is set to end on the network in January.

“I’m just so happy that ABC found a home where the legacies of ‘All My Children’ and ‘One Life to Live’ can continue. I’m excited for their future with Prospect Park,” Agnes Nixon, the creator of both shows, said in a statement. “It takes a lot of living to make a soap opera a serial, and the wonderful teams on both shows have done just that.”

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How to Repurpose Your Content Online

How can you leverage your content online?

The following is an excerpt from Marketing Shortcuts for the Self-Employed (2011, Wiley) by Patrick Schwerdtfeger. The book has 80 chapters covering dozens of online marketing tactics that deliver results, especially for small business owners and self-employed professionals. The book is being released on June 7th, 2011. Learn more at 80shortcuts.com.

If you’re smart about content creation, you can create it once … and then repurpose it seven different ways! You can literally flood the Internet with your expertise and work less than most of your competition.

Think about your content as either beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The idea is to give the beginner content away for free to demonstrate your expertise and build trust with your audience. Your beginner content becomes your blog posts, your articles, your podcasts and your videos. The intermediate content is free as well, but only in exchange for their email address. Your intermediate content is used to build your list. And your advanced content is what you’re actually selling; it’s where you drive revenue.

Well, your website or blog is the perfect place for some of that beginner content. Try to organize your beginner content into a series of “lessons” and then write an article about each one. Always make sure your articles are at least 500 words long. If you write an article that’s longer than 1,500 words, break it into two separate articles. Are you ready? We’ll be using your articles in seven different ways, maximizing the bang you get for your buck.

If you don’t have your website built yet, don’t worry. The important thing is to realize how your content can be repurposed on the Internet. Knowing this process will help you deploy your online strategy once you start building.

Step 1 – publish on your blog

First, publish your article as a post on your blog. Easy enough. Your blog is the center of your online identity and any content you publish should also be published (or at least summarized) on your blog.

Step 2 – social bookmarking

Second, ask some of your friends to bookmark your new blog post on a few of the large social bookmarking sites like Digg, Delicious, Reddit, and StumbleUpon. Doing so will introduce your content to a huge audience who then have an opportunity to endorse it and pass it along to others.

Step 3 – blog carnivals

Third, visit BlogCarnival.com and submit your new blog post to a bunch of upcoming blog carnivals. Carnivals are like online magazines. There are large prominent bloggers on the internet who host “carnivals” about one topic or another, and they can feature your blog post within their carnival, exposing your content to their readership in the process.

Step 4 – article directories

Fourth, modify your article slightly and publish it on EzineArticles.com and some of the other article directories on the Internet. You could even use a distribution platform like iSnare.com to get it on hundreds of article directories within days. Each directory will allow you to include a link back to your website so this strategy will result in hundreds of one-way inbound links to your website.

Step 5 – ebook directories

Fifth, summarize your article into a punchy bullet-point PDF file and make sure it includes plenty of links to your website. Upload your new PDF to the many free e-book directories such as ebookdirectory.com or ebook2u.com. Yes, it’s true. There are dozens of e-book directories and their visitors are searching for information. They can find your information . . . but only if you upload it.

Step 6 – audio podcasts

Sixth, read your article into a microphone and record it. Now you have a podcast that you can register on iTunes and dozens of ‘‘podcast directories.’’ Podcasts accumulate incredibly loyal listeners over time with 90% of them listening to your podcasts at the gym, commuting to work or walking their dog. Not only that but audio content does a great job of inspiring trust among listeners.

Step 7 – YouTube videos

Seventh, get a Flip digital video recorder (about $200) and record yourself as you explain the topic you wrote about in your article. Don’t worry. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just speak about the concept as if you were explaining it to a friend. Once you’re done, add your website address to the video and upload it to YouTube. Video inspires trust better than any other type of content. And besides, YouTube is the third highest traffic website on the internet (after Google and Facebook).

These seven effective ways to get your beginner content out into the world will cost you next to nothing (except perhaps if you need to invest in the Flip recorder). Yet very few people take advantage of these opportunities to spread their message across the Internet. By following these steps, you can take one piece of beginner content – one lesson – and use it in seven different formats, populating multiple platforms with your expertise.

This is powerful stuff. It’s extremely efficient and caters to the different ways people use the Internet. Don’t make this more difficult than it needs to be. Most people think they need to create new content for every platform. No way! That’s too much work. You could write one lesson every week or two and end up with a massive online identity within a few months.

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