Rationale Paper

            Every day, people are using blogs to communicate their opinions, ideas, and thoughts to anyone who is willing to read it.  According to Nobles (2005), "blogs are online journals that can be used in a variety of different ways.  In a personal sense, families can keep track of each other across the globe by posting to a family blog.  One family member posts, then another member adds their comment underneath the post, and so forth.   Businesses can announce new products and services, discounts, discontinued items, or holiday promotions in their blogs."  Blogs give writers the opportunity to make their voices heard and each blogger has a different way of composing their personal or professional blog.  There are a few main components in which I had to keep in mind when starting my own blog; purpose, design, content, and audience.  In this paper, I will explore each of these facets of creating a blog and how I used them to make my own successful blog.

            First and foremost, every blog should have a clear and apparent purpose.  This can simply be achieved by the title and sub-heading of the blog itself.  I think that the best thing to do when starting a blog is to analyze the type of information you will be including in the blog and then choose a specific, but still general, title.  This way you are free to discuss what you what to discuss but will still be keeping with the main purpose of why the blog was created.  Further detail can be described in the blog's subheading which will explain in more depth what the blog is about.  These two components work hand in hand to establish an obvious purpose to which the blog is serving.

            Another important aspect of creating a blog is to consider the design.  There are many things that a blogger can do to impact the design of their blog including fonts, colors, graphics, white space, links, etc.  The possibilities for design are endless.  According to Martin, " A great design does something more.  It goes further than the regular web site and it makes itself unique.  Great designs have a certain aspect that makes them better than other sites.  Something about them that is worth remarking upon."  When I created my blog, I decided to stay with a color scheme and to use white space to highlight my posts.  I also used different fonts to break up the monotony of the page to make it more interesting.  Many things can be done when designing a blog but I think it comes down to personal preferences.

            Along with the design and the purpose of the blog, the content is also an extremely important component.  The content is what you are trying to communicate to your audience.  What are you trying to tell them?  What do you want them to know?  These types of questions are what should be considered when deciding on the content for any blog.  For my blog, I used my personal opinions and assignments from my class to communicate my ideas to the readers.  For each blog, the content will be different but it should be the "meat" of any good blog and make the reader want more.

            Lastly, a blogger must consider the audience to which they are trying to communicate.  There are many different target audiences and strategies that can be used to reach certain audiences.  Everything on a blog can be customized to reach a certain audience.  For instance, if I were trying to reach primarily women, I would use a warm, conversational tone, a more feminine color scheme, and different advertising.  According to Nobles (2005), "the biggest challenge is to get your target audience to read your blog.  That's why you need a 'blog with a purpose.'  You need a reason for your audience to visit your blog on a regular basis.  What would make your blog special to your audience?  Why would they want to bookmark your blog?  Why would they want to link to it and tell others?  That should be your ultimate goal."  Just by identifying your target audience, you will be able to keep in mind the things that are important to them and customize your blog to fit their needs.

            In conclusion, every day, people are using blogs to communicate their opinions, ideas, and thoughts to anyone who is willing to read it.  By considering the purpose, design, content, and audience of your blog, you will be able to reach more people and, in turn, have a more successful blog.  Blogging is informational but can also be fun and with a little know-how, anyone can create a great blog.

References

Martin, M.  (June 26).  7 Elements to Make you Blog Look Great.  Pro Blog Design.  Retrieved November 10, 2010, from http://www.problogdesign.com/design/7-elements-to-make-your-blog-look-great/.

Nobles, R.  (2005).  Blogs with a purpose.  Search Engine Workshops.  Retrieved November 10, 2010, from http://www.searchengineworkshops.com/articles/blogs-purpose.html.

Proessional Organizations

Broadcast Education Administration - According to the BEA website (2010), "the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) is the professional association for professors, industry professionals and graduate students who are interested in teaching and research related to electronic media and multimedia enterprises."  The target audience for the BEA is primarily people who have received their education with the intent of working in the broadcast industry.  The purpose of this website is to connect people with similar interests and to get notifications about things going on in the broadcasting field.

National Communication Association - According to the NCA website (2010), "the NCA serves the scholars, teachers, and practitioners who are its members by enabling and supporting their professional interests in research and teaching.  Dedicated to fostering and promoting free and ethical communication, the NCA promotes the widespread appreciation of the importance of communication in public and private life, the application of competent communication to improve the quality of human life and relationships, and the use of knowledge about communication to solve human problems."  The target audience for the NCA is mostly people who have an interest in communication and also have the desire to learn and grow within their profession.  This website provides people with the opportunity to connect with people from all over the world and to promote communication scholarships and education.

Public Relations Society of America - According to the Public Relations Society of America website (2010), "the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) is the nation’s largest community of public relations and communications professionals.  We provide training, set standards of excellence and uphold principles of ethics for the global public relations profession.  As a leading voice in the industry, we also advocate for greater understanding and adoption of public relations services."  Their target audience is mainly people who are in the public relations field with a desire to make connections with people of similar interests, keep up with the latest news in public relations, and advance in their careers.

Southern States Communication Association - According to the SSCA website (2010), "our purpose is to promote the study, criticism, research, teaching, and application of the artistic, humanistic, and scientific principles of communication.  SSCA, a not-for-profit organization, exists for educational, scientific, and literary purposes only."  The target audience for this association is primarily people who have an interest in communication and all of the aspects that go along with it.  The purpose of this website is to promote the study of communication and connect people with similar interests.

American Communication Association - According to the American Communication Association website (2010), "ACA is committed to enabling the effective use of new and evolving technologies to facilitate communication instruction, research and criticism, and to offering a technologically supportive venue for all who study the ways in which humans communicate.  While the Association is based in the United States, it is a virtual organization that welcomes participation from academics and professionals throughout the world."  The target audience of the ACA is anyone who has either a degree or an interest in the communication field.  Its main purpose is to connect people of similar interests and to help people stay updated on the latest communication news.

All of these websites have primarily the same purpose, to help people of similar interests to get connected and learn from each other while staying updated on the latest news and trends happening in communication.  Their target audiences change according to certain specialties within communication.  As some of you know from our blogs, I am a very visual person and need to be drawn in to a website or article by its aesthetical appeal.  If I had to choose a couple of these associations to be a part of just from evaluating the information on their websites I would choose the Southern States Communication Association and the Public Relations Society of America.  I like the way both of these websites are laid out as well as the information that they have available as resources.  I think that they would both be of value to me because of what I am trying to do when I graduate as well as what I might want to pursue at a later time.

References

Broadcast Education Administration.  (2010).  Retrieved November 9, 2010, from http://www.beaweb.org/index.html.

National Communication Association.  (2010).  Retrieved November 9, 2010, from http://www.natcom.org/.

Public Relations Society of America.  Retrieved November 9, 2010, from http://www.prsa.org/.

Southern States Communication Association.  (2010).  Retrieved November 9, 2010, from http://ssca.net/.

The American Communication Association.  (2010).  Retrieved November 9, 2010, from http://www.americancomm.org/.

Career Fields

Possible careers for Communication majors:

Teaching - According to the US Department of Labor, " teachers teach children to read, write, do math, and much more.  Teachers try to make their lessons easy to understand.  They teach things in different ways so that different students can learn in the way that is easiest for them.  Teachers might use a chalkboard, a projector, or a computer.  They make posters or worksheets before class starts.  Teachers plan the schedule for the day.  Most teachers have to teach what the principal tells them.  Teachers also assign homework and class projects.  They often have students work together to do projects.  When students are not doing as well as they should, teachers help them.  After class, teachers grade papers and projects. They also create tests. They write students' report cards. And they meet with parents to try to help their children do better in school. Teachers sometimes go to workshops to learn how to teach better. Some teachers also help with sports or other after-school activities."  Teachers in public schools must have a teaching certificate and a license to teach.  Depending on the age that is to be taught, different certifications are needed.  They are also expected to have a four-year degree from a college or university.  The job outlook for teaching is good expected to move to excellent depending where you live and what subject is being taught.  According to the US Department of Labor, "in May 2008, elementary school teachers had average yearly wages of $52,240.  Middle school teachers made an average of $52,570 each year, while high school teachers made $54,390 each year."

Social Work - According to the US Department of Labor, "social workers help people overcome problems and make their lives better.  They might work with people who are homeless, sick, or having family problems.  Or they might help students who are having trouble in school.  One of the ways social workers help is by finding resources for people.  For someone with family difficulties, social workers might find a parenting class or support group.  For a homeless person, they might find a place to live and a career training program.  For a student, they might find a mentor or a learning disability expert."  Social workers are expected to have at least a four-year degree but encouraged to receive further education with credits in psychology, sociology, economics, and ethics.  The US Department of Labor states that "before they can get a job, social workers need a license, certification, or registration.  The rules for getting these things depend on the State where you live.  Workers can also get a certification from the National Association of Social Workers.  This certification makes it easier to get some jobs."  Employment for counselors is expected to grow faster than average and the median annual wages in May 2008 were $43,120.

Counseling - According to the US Department of Labor, "counselors work in diverse community settings designed to provide a variety of counseling, rehabilitation, and support services.  Their duties vary greatly, depending on their specialty, which is determined by the setting in which they work and the population they serve.  Although the specific setting may have an implied scope of practice, counselors frequently are challenged with children, adolescents, adults, or families that have multiple issues, such as mental health disorders and addiction, disability and employment needs, school problems or career counseling needs, and trauma.  Counselors must recognize these issues in order to provide their clients with appropriate counseling and support."  A counselor usually must have a master's degree and must have some credit hours from counselor education programs which are offered at most colleges and universities.  Depending on the state, there are different licensure procedures.  Counselors can also elect to be certified with the National Board for Certified Counselors which is voluntary but can help to avoid some of the credentials needed.  Employment for counselors is expected to grow faster than average and the median annual wages of educational, vocational, and school counselors in May 2008 were $51,050.

Public Relations Specialist - According to the US Department of Labor, "public relations specialists handle organizational functions, such as media, community, consumer, industry, and governmental relations; political campaigns; interest-group representation; conflict mediation; and employee and investor relations.  Public relations specialists must understand the attitudes and concerns of community, consumer, employee, and public interest groups to establish and maintain cooperative relationships between them and representatives from print and broadcast journalism."  Other than a four-year degree in Journalism, Communication, Public Relations, or Marketing, there are no other required credentials to enter into being a public relations specialist.  Some companies look for employees who have completed internships and display excellent skills in which relate directly to the job but other than that, there are no pre-requisites.  The job outlook for public relations specialists is expected to grow must faster than average in the years to come.  The median annual wages for public relations specialists were $51,280 in May 2008.

Reporter - According to the US Department of Labor, "reporters gather information and write news stories.  These stories appear in newspapers and magazines.  Some reporters appear on television and radio.  To get information, reporters look at documents. They also observe the scene and interview people.  Reporters write about events.  These include things such as an accident, a rally, or a company going out of business.  Radio and television reporters often report 'live' from the scene."  Reporters usually need a four-year degree in Journalism but there are other majors that are acceptable.  There are no certifications or licenses needed for this occupation but an internship with a news organization is helpful for employment.  The job outlook for this career is expected to decline moderately through 2018.  In May 2008, reporters had average yearly wages of $44,030.

I chose these five careers because I am moderately interested in each of them but also, my desired career path isn't really researchable.  Hopefully in the future I will be associated with a college or university helping students with their educational goals.  The most closely related field would be being a counselor which I am really interested in learning more about.  According to HubPages.com, " Most students encounter challenges beyond the scope of teachers’ awareness at some point during their school careers.  In experiencing such dilemmas, many students develop the adaptive coping skills that help them navigate life’s difficult experiences.  Despite the natural coping ability that most students exhibit, their teachers can be ill-equipped to provide proper guidance counseling."  In one way or another, I definitely want to be involved in helping students through their struggles when receiving an education and I think that it's really important for them to have someone that they can trust and talk to.

References

United States Department of Labor.  (2010).  Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/.

HubPages.  (2010).  The importance of school counseling.  HubPages.com.  Retrieved November 3, 2010, from http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Importance-of-School-Counseling.

Delivering Bad News Tactfully and Effectively

            There are a few approaches I would use when trying to communicate bad news or a problem to a person, specifically an employee.  According to Roebuck (2006), "use caution when expressing emotions" (p. 127).  Usually when delivering a problem or bad news, emotions will be involved.  I would try my best to be sensitive but direct about the issue.  I would definitely try to be as clear and "to the point" as possible because communicating a problem or bad news could be painful for the person receiving the news.  In this particular instance, I would tell the employee with which the problem is occurring that I had received complaints from other workers and customers about his or her behavior and it needs to be corrected or else more drastic measures would need to be taken.  I think that honesty and openness are the most important aspects of communicating bad news because you have to be to the point, delivering the message, but also be sympathetic to the person receiving the news.

            People usually think that communicating is the most important part of delivering bad news to a person but actually listening can be a helpful step as well.  According to Sittenfeld (1999), "don't just 'get right down to business.'   Start with a few open-ended questions:  'How are you feeling?', 'How's it going?'.  And when the other person is talking, be quiet.  The trust that you can build just by letting people say what they feel is incredible."  By listening to the person who will be receiving the bad news, they will feel calm and more comfortable.  It's important to not only deliver bad news, but to get some insight into how the person feels before and after he or she receives the news.  This two-way communication can be an asset in any sort of situation.

            When communicating bad new through an email or memo, there are also certain measures that should be followed.  Roebuck (2006) states, "use simple language, as if you were speaking to the reader.  After you have written your e-mail or memo, read it aloud to see if you would speak the way you have written.  If your e-mail or memo sounds pompous, consider revising it!" (p. 124).  I think that the person receiving the notification of a problem or the bad news would appreciate the writer using a conversational tone and being more personal. 

            In conclusion, delivering bad news will never be easy but there are steps that can be taken to make the process easier.  It's important to not only communicate the news effectively, but to listen and to be open to what the person has to say.  Also, it's vital to remember that there are delicate emotions involved when delivering any sort of bad news and to be considerate of that.  Being straightforward and honest is the best way to deliver any sort of bad news especially in a professional environment and it will be greatly appreciated by the recipient. 

References

Roebuck, D.  (2006).  Improving Business Communication Skills.  Upper Saddle River: Pearson.

Sittenfeld, C.  (1999, March 31).  Good ways to deliver bad news.  FastCompany.com.  Retrieved October 28, 2010 from http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/23/buckman.html.