Strategic Management in the Media: Theory to Practice

Lucy Kung in her book “Strategic Management in the Media: Theory to Practice” explores the elements and the applications of strategy in an analytical and comprehensive way. She uses examples to explain and discuss that why and how media strategic theories should be altered in different media settings. This book concentrates on media companies’ strategies and actions in response to the change of media markets, for the purpose of helping the readers to understand media companies’ choices and the reasons of their decisions in the fast changing world of media.

The New Rules of Marketing and PR: How to Use News Releases, Blogs, Podcasting, Viral Marketing and Online Media to Reach Buyers Directly

As the new media grow fast, the new marketing tools which can reach the audience cheaply and effectively are urgently needed by marketing and public relations practitioners. In the book “The New Rules of Marketing and PR: How to Use News Releases, Blogs, Podcasting, Viral Marketing and Online Media to Reach Buyers Directly”, David Meerman Scott shows how the marketing personnel can use the web-based communication tools to get the audiences engaged in the marketing campaign, persuade them and lead them to take actions. This book is a detailed guide, which provides step-by-step action plan for marketing and PR practitioners to make business with the help of the Internet.

Desperate Networks By Bill Carter

Desperate Networks by Bill Carter is a mind-blowing piece of information for any TV fan; it does not matter if you are a reality show “addict” or a Desperate House Wives fan. Carter describes the different obstacles these particular TV shows had to go through before even being considered for future pilots. He goes over the rejections that some of today’s top rated shows went through and how they were over looked by some networks—networks that later regret their decision. But Desperate Networks is more than a recollection of events and challenges that contributed to the success of TV’s top rated shows such as Lost and Desperate House Wives and how they contribute to the resurgent of ABC as a top competitor. Desperate Networks is a must read not only for couch potatoes, reality shows fans or critics, but also for any one who want to understand the rating war between networks.

extra credit review: Blink by Malcolm Gladwell

One of my favorite books to read this summer was Blink, by Malcolm Gladwell. In this book, Gladwell focuses on snap-decision making in museums, police cars, psychology, emergency rooms, and everyday life. This snap-decision making is referred to as rapid cognition.
Rapid cognition is a type of snap-decision that one makes without thinking about consequences both long-term and short-term. It’s an instant decision so one does not consider their thought process or beliefs. This decision is made primarily through sub-conscious.
In this book, Gladwell makes it a point to convince his audience that these decisions are as good, if not better, than decisions made with reasoning. He also discussed how the rapid cognition results can be improved.
Although this is of the more interesting parts of the book, the main subject of the book is called “thin-slicing.” “Thin-Slicing” is our ability to gauge what is really important in a short period of time. The author draws many examples from our everyday life. Overall I really appreciate this book and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Tipping Point: It's So Trendy

Trends come and go but how do they take form? That question is answered in Malcom Gladwell's, "The Tipping Point". From the questionable purchases of pet rocks by a generation of children to the popularization of Vans shoes; Gladwell gives a meticulous description of how these trends were influenced by a series of events and people. I had always thought that trends were a result of a large pocket book and a team of marketing professionals for large companies but Gladwell's, "The Tipping Point" explains how there is a formula for creating a trend. Gladwell describes the three basic components which create the foundation for starting a trend. These components are the following: The Land of the Few, The Stickiness Factor, and the Power of Context. The Land of the Few is the notion that key individuals with certain personality attributes serve different purposes to advocate a common thing which in turn spreads among the masses. The Stickiness Factor is more of an abstract concept which means that the thing which is to turn into a trend has an undeniable attractiveness that makes it difficult to ignore. Lastly, the Power of Context is essentially the social or environmental changes which allow the thing that is advocated by influential individuals to flourish in popularity. Gladwell does an amazing job in defining an event such as the occurrence of trends in a clear and substantial manner. There are a few instances in which the ideas highlighted were much too abstract to be defined as a significant piece of information but as a whole it does not detract from the main points of the book. Overall it is a great read for anyone interested in understanding the nature of what makes a large group of people drawn to one particular thing.


-Andrew Austria <3

Season Finale

Season Finale: The Unexpected Rise and Fall of the WB and UPN is the fascinating portrait of two broadcast networks' struggle to thrive in the heartless, unpredictable business of corporate television. The WB programming executive Susanne Daniels brings us inside the television offices, conventions and cocktail parties with honest and descriptive storytelling, sprinkled with esoteric details of company buyouts and mergers, tension among executives and the ongoing pursuit to reach viewers and form a network identity. Season Finale is an insightful and satisfying read for anyone curious about inner workings of the television industry.

Ways to Thrive: Media Advertisment

Giving insight and ideas on how to market to ones target audience, in a way that will add to ones success in sales by using the media, is exactly what to expect from reading Marketing Outrageously. This provocative read stresses the importance of touching the consumers emotions and “motivate the buyer to buy” by evolving from bland marketing techniques (46). Businesses need to find their own notch in the market, by studying competition and offering goods that the leaders do not. Author Jon Spoelstra states the importance of differentiating ones company, from others in a creative way. Jon paints a realistic picture on how advertising in multiple forms within the media, as well as entertaining customers is a good way to inform ones audience about whom you are and why they can benefit from your product. This is a useful book when investigating strategic approaches on how to provoke ones targeted audience to feel rushed or anxious to purchase the promoted product(s), by stressing a “sold out mentality” (161). Jon offers many creative and innovative thoughts for one to consider when expanding a business, especially when using advertisement throughout the media.

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Throughout our lives, many people concern themselves with popularity. The notion of “I’m popular, you’re not,” becomes a measure of success. In Dale Carnegie’s, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Carnegie outlines the fundamentals of social skills. Although the title is fairly self-explanatory, this book also provides leadership skills and a variety of ways to interact with other people. I found the author to be very insightful, especially when discussing how to get the best of an argument, which is to ignore it. The book teaches you to gain respect by showing respect for other people. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Blink by Malcolm Gladwell

There are times we spend months on a decision that could have been made instantly intuitively. When taking an exam chances are that your gut instinct is right. Often when we second-guess ourselves we are wrong. Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink explores various situations in which the gut instinct takes over. Although he stresses that a majority of the time our first reaction is right, he also gives examples of how our instincts can be the product of media. Blink is a compelling novel that tells you the reasons behind your gut reaction, and suggests that you should listen to it once in a while. 

The Perfect Thing by Steven Levy

The Perfect Thing by Steven Levy is a wonderful piece of information; it describes what was involved in the creation and later transformation of the iPod into one of the most wanted devices of our times. It is the perfect timeline description of the identity and the origin of the iPod. The book describes why it became the coolest possession in the world and how it later on transformed into a personal device. Levy talks about the iPod features such as downloads, podcasting, shuffle and how they innovated/changed the way music was being sold, the way podcasting allows regular people to broadcast over the web and to the world. But at the end The Perfect Thing is more of a recollection of events and challenges that contributed to the iPod success and the Apple resurgent in the late 90’s. The Perfect Thing is a must read not only for those who are not yet familiar with iTunes, Podcast, and all the different generation/transformations of the iPod but also for any one who want to understand the history behind one of the most successful devices of the twenty first century.

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

Have you ever wondered why some people are extremely successful and others are not? Is there something that has always set successful people apart? How can you be successful like them? In Malcolm Gladwell’s third book, Outliers: The Story of Success, he reveals and decodes the secrets about success. His book reveals secrets to extraordinary success with stories of real people told from an unbiased perspective. He explains what Bill Gates, the Beatles and other world-class successes have in common. Successful people need to be understood by their background, where they’re from, their culture, their family, and their generation. Throughout the book Gladwell overturns many ideas about what makes a person successful and he suggests ways to give people the best opportunities to succeed. This is a must read book for anyone who is interested in why people are successful and obtain a better understanding of society. Outliers is inspirational and anyone can benefit from reading this book.
“Extraordinary achievement is less about talent than it is about opportunity.”

How Well Can You Make it Tip?

Disease, crime and politics explain it all in Malcom Gladwell’s The Tipping Point. This moderately quick read connects common sense examples with complex theories of the mob mentality through the metaphor of “tipping.” This book will be a hit among history buffs that love explanation through example and stories. Recommended for those who want more insight of how little things can make a big difference, Gladwell's The Tipping Point serves as an effective educational tool.

Entreprenuership: A Process Perspective: An insightful look into new ventures

Although it is a textbook, Entrepreneurship: A Process Perspective by Robert Baron and Scott Shane, was a very informative read about starting and running a company. The topic of management is brought up constantly throughout the book, which is full of great tips and important things to be aware of as a manager or executive. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is serious about elevating their management career or starting and running their own small company.

The Big Moo is a Big Success!

What did the purple cow say when he walked into a remarkable idea?

“Where’s the next remarkable idea?”

What did the purple cow say when he walked into the next remarkable idea?

“Big moo….!!!!!”

In the preface of The Big Moo, editor Seth Godin explains how the term “purple cow” came from a story about how boring cows are and how remarkable a purple cow would be. He goes on to explain how a “big moo,” however, is “the extreme purple cow, the remarkable innovation that completely changes the game” (Godin, xiii); it’s the ability to continually churn out revolutionary products and ideas. Think FedEx. Think NetFlix. Think iPod.

The Big Moo is a compilation of 33 of the world’s top business leaders; guiding the reader through numerous anecdotes about being remarkable and creating something remarkable. This book is successful at shedding some light on a pretty intangible topic: How to continue creating products that sell? From stories about unveiling your secret genius to the “three rules of life ”, The Big Moo is an easy read. Because it is broken up into little stories, this book is perfect for reading on the go. I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to find success in any industry.

'IN Control' book review

'IN Control : No More Snapping at Your Family, Sulking at Work, Steaming in the Grocery Line, Seething in Meetings, Stuffing Your Frustration' written by Redford and Virginia Williams may work on readers as long as they put a lot of work in to it. 'IN Control' has the reader follow an eight week program to gain control over life and emotions, particularly anxiety and anger. Each week gives tasks for the reader to practice such as communication, learning to say 'no!' effectively, reaction control, and how to be optimistic. In starting the program, the reader is instructed to take a self-assessment test, and once again at the end. Even though I found several of the eight steps to be common sense practices, I would not recommend this book for a first time reader of the 'motivation' book genre; there is simply too much information to keep this an easy read in an already stressful life. 'IN Control' is great for picking up helpful tips on managing stress and overwhelming emotions, but could be even more effective if cut down to the point, and not involving an eight week commitment.

By: Amanda Langdell

The Dip

Did you ever wonder how successful people were able to accomplish such impossible goals? In The Dip, by Seth Godin, the secret to their success is revealed. The Dip is the uphill climb that people endure to achieve their goals. Most people quit during this process because it takes too long, becomes too difficult, or requires too many resources. The Dip offers strategies on when to know what goals you should quit and when to push through to the end. Reading the book offers great advice on agenda setting and gives encouragement to accomplish your goals. The Dip allows for a person to self reflect on the goals they have tried to achieve and a great book to help those questioning if their goals are worth pursuing.

The Dip

101 SALARY SECRETS: How to Negotiate Like a Pro

You will NOT be wasting your time by reading this book.  Daniel Porot and Frances Haynes do an incredible job feeding you the tips you need to know when negotiating a salary during an interview.  The interview curve, The Nuts and Bolts of Salaries, Eleven Proven Principles and the Seven Specific Strategies are handed to you in this book.  Of course I could tell you what all of these topics consist of, but it is up to you to find out on your own.  This book answered a lot of my questions and concerns about interviewing and negotiating that first salary.  Don't let salary negotiation petrify you or keep you from landing a job, do your research and be one step ahead of the game-READ THIS BOOK!

Real World Media Ethics

"Integrity" has been reported the most looked up word on Webster's online dictionary, according to the LA Times.  Why are you supposed to care?  It is pinpointing to the fact that millions of people are also looking for guidance in this scandal-driven world.  Philippe Perebinossoff's handy novel does not give you solutions to various ethical questions, but instead illustrates the various kind of real-world ethical situations that you may come across in your media future.  From someone who hates reading books with ridiculously hard vocabulary, this is an EASY, FRIENDLY, AND UNDERSTANDABLE read!  This book has everything you would die to know about ethics.  It gives you the inside scoop from ABC Executives themselves and interviews about TV and Entertainment Industries.  Definitely a "MUST READ" that provides you with tools that you can utilize while finding your own personal interpretations and solutions to the MANY ethical issues you may face in your near future!

Blink! The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by: Malcolm Glawell

We have all heard the expression, don’t judge a book by it’s cover,and have been taught not to make decisions of first impressions. Inthe book Blink, the author Malcolm Gladwell tries to teach the readerthat this form of decision making is okay and time saving. Using themethod Gladwell calls “thin slicing” we learn to use our gut feelingson a first impression which will usually lead us to a good analysis ofthe situation – all in two minutes flat. Gladwell goes on to give usexamples of his theory in action, one being a short story on a greekstatue that most experts knew was a fake from the very first glimpse.Something about the statue would make him feel revulsion, which ledhim to believe it was fake. This is a good read and a good lesson forthose who over analyze many decisions by teaching them that its okayto go with your instincts.

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell (This is Gregory Kendall)

Once more for credit, THIS IS GREGORY KENDALL.

Outliers is a book that is about socio-economic background and how it effects talented people. Malcolm Gladwell makes the claims and has very valid points to backup his information. ONe fact is that many of the very successful athletes were born in January or February and this enabled them to be bigger and stronger than their peers. Having this edge from their childhood enabled them to be so dominant for so long. Another interesting point Gladwell makes is that the reason that the Beatles were so big and talented was the fact that they lived in Germany during a musical revolution that the West had not heard of. They were able to take these talents and styles and be successful in the UK and the rest of the West. The final big statement he makes is tha Bill Gates, Steve Wozniak, Bill Hewlett, David Packard, and Steve Jobs are all about the same age. When they were starting their companies they had just graduated college but had not started familes yet. This made it easy for them to take the risks that were necessary to create their hardware and their business. Overall it is a very depressing book. You could feel like you will never be successful because you don't fit his positions but I don't. My ego and ability is too great to be silenced by some author. Other than that, it's a great book. Read It!!!!

The Dip by Seth Godin

The book, The Dip, by Seth Godin is a short 80 page book about when to quit or persevere in one’s career and in one’s life. Do not let its lack in length steer you to think that it was written on a whim. Godin does a good job of being thorough and getting straight to the point without any unnecessary fluff. The book is filled with short excerpts on steps to evaluate whether you should stick with the “dip” or in other words, a slump, in your job or quit and take another route. Godin also provides the reader with examples of successful individuals who decided to stick with the dip or quit the dip. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to others to read. I enjoyed Godin’s preciseness in writing and wittiness that is sprinkled throughout the pages of this book. If you are not sure whether to quit or stick with it, whether in your job or life, take some time to read The Dip.

The 12 Simple Secrets to Microsoft Management

For anyone who is interested in taking their company to the point where it is rivaling some of the top competitors in its industry, I suggest you read David Thielen’s, The 12 Simple Secrets of Microsoft Management. Make no mistake about it, Microsoft is one of the most powerful companies in the world. Thielen gives us some insight in to how it is that they conquer almost any business they set their sights on. He says the secret, lies in their management. Hire only the best, and you will receive only the best results.

The Dip by Seth Godin

The book I decided to read for book review number one was The Dip by Seth Godin. “The Dip”, as explained by Seth Godin, is a situation in which almost everyone falls into when starting something new and the fun begins to end. This book teaches you how to identify “the dip” and how to overcome it if you want to be the best in the world in whatever you are doing. Godin also talks about quitting and how sometimes quitting something is better than being in the “Cul-de-sac” dip, where no matter how hard you try, you never get anywhere. The best thing to do when you fall in the “cul-de-sac” is to quit.
Another good point that Godin talks about is that we should always analyze and plan everything before we start anything new (ex. Dancing classes, singing, a new sport, music lessons, starting a new business, ect). That way, you know before you start if you have a shot at making it and if you are willing in overcoming the dip. If you start something new and then quit when you fall in the dip, everything you did before will be worthless and you just wasted your time.
This book is relatively short and easy to read. I recommend it!!

The Dip by Seth Godin

“Quit or be exceptional. Average is for losers.” This quote by Seth Godin is the theme of his short, yet inspirational book, The Dip. Godin explains that when we do things in life, whether that be going to school, starting a new hobby or even engaging our everyday jobs and careers we will always face a “dip” or challenging portion of the activity. The dip comes after you have started the activity but before the activity has taken you to where you want to be. Godin’s challenge for society is to know when to stick it out and push through the hard parts of the dip or to know when to quit. His advice is basic and to the point. If you can’t make it through the dip, don’t start the activity. If you are going to do something, he wants you to be exceptional or as he says, “be the best in the world!” I agreed with Godin’s blunt ideas and realistic take on how to handle situations in life. I would recommend this book to college students in particular because it makes you re-think some of the decisions you have made, are making and those you will make in the future. We must know when to quit and when to keep pushing through the dip.

Season Finale -- Tales of the WB & UPN

Season Finale -- by Susanne Daniels, Cynthia Littleton
This book tells the story of the rise and fall of the 5^th and 6^th networks, the WB and UPN. Told by two former execs from each network Season Finale dives deep into the creation and dismantling of these hopeful networks. Season Finale also goes behind the scenes on some of the extremely popular shows that these networks pumped out in their short lives. This is a book that can be read by a TV novice or an expert, and both will learn about how the internal affairs of television go down. Hands down if you’ve ever been interested in how come two networks disappeared and a new one, the CW, came to be , read this book!

Book: "Get People to Do What You Want"

The book, Get People to do What You Want: How to Use Body Language and Words to Attract People You Like and Avoid the Ones You Don’t by Gregory Hartley and Maryann Karinch, is a book that teaches its readers about people’s needs, wants, and behaviors.  It teaches its readers how to manipulate and use those needs, wants, and behaviors to their own advantage in a business setting. 

In the book, a lot of psychology is reviewed. First, the book talks about Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.  It states that we first need fill our biological and physiological needs, then our safety needs, belonging and love needs, and then esteem needs in order to achieve self-actualization.  In terms of the business environment, the book states we are most driven by one of those needs, the need to belong.

In the work place, we strive to belong, and then after, we strive to differentiate.  This book teaches us how to recognize this and teaches us how to differentiate ourselves by making ourselves stand out in a work environment.  For example, the book teaches its readers how to be more charismatic and how to apply those charismatic traits in a work environment. 

The book also discusses how people become leaders and it tells us the difference between formal and informal leaders.  Formal leaders have the title, but informal leaders are natural leaders that come out of a group.  The book points out the qualities of leaders and tries to teach its readers how to become a great leader.  If you’re a formal leader, it teaches you how to make people respect and follow you.  If you are not a leader, it teaches you how to become a great informal leader.

The book, Get People to do What You Want, is a good and informational read that will help you achieve goals, learn to become a leader, and learn how to improve your work in your workplace.   

Book Reviewed by: Rachel Perey

Book review - Blink - Malcolm Gladwell

Blink is about the power of thinking and decision making in the blink of an eye. Throughout the book, Gladwell presents to his readers that the decisions we make in the first instant are often the best ones. He stresses the fact that when a person has to much information about a subject, it can hinder them from making a “good” choice. He uses a lot of studies to portray this message that I thought were all very interesting. There are two main points in this book: 1. Sometimes less information is more information, and 2. People who are not experts in a subject should not be making decisions for that subject.

SWAY: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior

“Sway” outlines several situations or circumstances in which irrational behavior and thinking takes over the brain’s ability to use critical thinking.  Some of the modes of thinking discussed in the book that lead to irrational behavior are loss aversion, commitment, diagnosis bias, the “chameleon effect”, the “mirror, mirror” effect, the anticipation factor, and group dynamics.  Using research from the fields of social psychology, behavioral economics, and organizational behavior, as well as several explanatory stories, Sway discusses the many dynamic and psychological forces that influence all aspects of our lives. SWAY is a very thought-provoking text, with many real-world life examples, studies, and experiments that make sense of the irrational behavior we see everyday in all facets of society, from the government, to the workplace, to our personal lives.  SWAY provides the skills necessary to practice rational and logical thought at all times, no matter what other psychological forces are involved.  If that’s not enough, the book is put together in a very smooth-flowing and easily read matter, so just about anybody could learn something from this book.  I would say that the biggest impact this book had on me was the it got me to start thinking a lot more about the way I think and psychological forces behind it all.   

Manager Revolution!

The exclamation point in the title of this book is no mistake. Manager Revolution! is a dynamic and powerful read. Yoshio Hatakeyama, President of Japan Management Association, presents a comprehensive yet concise manifesto of effective management skills. Manager Revolution! is clearly written and well-organized. Hatakeyama explains the direct steps of action required for managers to succeed in their positions, build trust in order to motivate workers, leave a lasting change in their organizations, and work more efficiently. Checkpoints after each section make the learning experience more interactive, and easily measure the reader's progress. First published in 1981, Manager Revolution! remains practical and effective in modern management careers. This book provides a solid foundation in the art of human management.

The Google Story

Lava lamps, five star dinning and personal trainers. Those are just some of the things that come to mind when many people think of the Googleplex. The Google Story by David A. Vise and Mark Malseed touches upon these job perks but also goes in depth on how the company came to be. The book is written in an easy to follow story (as the title implies) starting with early childhood background on the creators and then ending with where Google as a company is now. For someone like myself who is not up to speed on all the latest internet and technological advances the writers do a great job at explaining everything in a way almost anyone can understand. Not only will readers of this book be able to leave with a great story they will also pick up great businesses practices from the Google creators.

A Million Bucks by 30

This book is a basic, easy to fallow guide on how to take responsibility for ones own finances and future at a young age. It teaches that self management is the best way to prepare oneself to later manage larger groups of people and larger amounts of money. As silly as the title makes the book out to be, it's an "idiot's guide to saving, investing, and being money smart even when you don't think you have the money to do so." The book suggest setting sub-goals to achieve one's larger goal, investing in real estate and not living outside one's means; the emphasis is on saving over spending, and staying connected to ones community and corporation is see what opportunities are at their finder tips.

Book Review The Dip!

Kurtis Wu
MEDIA MANAG.
BOOK REVIEW

Book Review: The Dip

The Dip, written by Seth Godin, is a book that takes on the saying “Never Quit!” This was a very brief and interesting book that talks about quitting in life. It starts first by addressing that all successful people are quitters. They just quit the right things and at the right time. To pursue something meaningless and unproductive can hold you back for years. This is what Godin believes is the key to obtaining a goal. The goal is also a stressed in this book. Godin believes the same traditional reasons why goals are important in a person’s life. Godin then dives into all aspects of life that involve quitting. Exercising, diet, smoking, jobs, friendships, and relationships are all addressed in the book. He then gives funny anecdotal examples of specific situations.
The Dip is the formula of the book, which is basically a relationship between results and effort. It is a graph states the obvious, which is that the more you want to achieve, the more effort you have to put in. So it is a direct relationship. What Godin means by The Dip is that there is literally a dip in results, as you continue to put in more and more effort. The Dip is what causes many people to quit early before achieving their goal. For example, if your goal is to get a ripped six-pack abs, there will be a dip where you will keep doing sit-ups and there are no results. Not only are there no results, but also you are in pain, impatient, irritated. There are basically periods of time that are frustrating, and Godin says we need to push through it to get to your goal.

The Secret Language of Business by Kevin Hogan

Kevin Hogan’s The Secret Language of Business is a unique book that examines the nonverbal communication important to business and professional relations. In his book, Hogan expresses the importance of mastering and controlling your own body language in order to get ahead in both life and business. Admittedly a very dull read, the book delves into how to read people and how to present oneself. Often compared to poker, the author takes time describing the importance of taking necessary risks, but not before carefully reading the other players involved and how you are coming across to them. Through non-intimidating language, this book stresses the significance of self-awareness and the examination of others. Manipulating body language and filtering information you pass on to others is helpful in creating a positive, honest image of yourself. Hogan explains in his book how appearances and perceptions are very important elements to consider when it comes to business relationships. He urges the worth of controlling how you are viewed and how you interpret others in personal and professional life. Never lying, taking responsibility for faults and never over-selling yourself are just a few issues Hogan pushes the reader to understand. Although boring to read, I would consider Hogan’s advice useful.