Online Semester 3 - Week 12

The entire lesson was spent finishing off all our work. This included doing the final bits of my critical evaluation and fine-tuning my individual project. In the week since I last went to lesson I had changed my website design as I wasn't particular happy with the way it was laid out.

Online Semester 3 - Week 11

In this lesson only me and Paul turned up. Mike was also in the university but was focusing on stuff for the university newspaper, which was understandable. I started to write some content for my individual site. Over the holidays I decided to do a website called Sinful Listening, a guilty pleasures type of website but with music. I had registered the Wordpress domain name and had sorted out some basic blog configurations including a template that I wanted to use.

I also carried on with my critical evaluation, which I started working on throughout the Easter holidays.

Online Semester 3 - Week 10

In the final lesson before Easter, me, Mike and Paul turned up to the lesson. We researched more ideas for Techmole and agreed to record another podcast tonight. After the failed attempt last time we decided to make the new attempt more concise and more planned. I also started thinking about my individual project and, whilst I know that I want to do a music based website, I'm still trying to pinpoint a specific subject.

Online Semester 3 - Week 9

Today, only me and Mike turned up to class in another low turnout. Since the last lesson me, Mike and Ken have added more posts to the Techmole site and we've started to receieve pingbacks (websites linking to us). My contribution to the website is now at two news posts and two features.

I would have prefered to have more people in as we could discuss how we could move the website forward and perhaps talk about podcasting but because of the low turnout that hasn't been an option. I'm hoping that in the final week before Easter everyone turns up so we can discuss how we can continue to maintain the website over Easter. 

Online Semester 3 - Week 8

All five of us turned up this week. Ken said to me that our pilot podcast (which me, him and Paul did last week through Skype and was deemed the 'molecast' by Paul) wasn't good enough to be used and said that we needed to do a better one with more structure to it, kind of like Giant Bomb's podcast.

The main issue was with Jack (again). He decided to sit away from the group and wanted to work on his video content. He had already given in a video review but it had a lot of swearing and was unsuitable. Me, Ken and Mike then had an argument with Jack - we were saying that he took criticism too seriously and that he should pull his weight, whilst Jack was suggesting that we did no work, even though he was wrong.

He then threw a dictionary at a Mac computer.

Online Semester 3 - Week 7

Today, only me, Jack and Paul showed up as Ken was at home tinkering with the design and Mike was in Berlin for an out-of-class project. Ken called us during the lesson to suggest that me, Paul and him should do a podcast later on in the evening to try and get something up on the site.

Meanwhile, Jack was getting angry at the fact that Ken had criticised his work. This led to a rise in anger before he exploded in my face. This was pretty uncalled for as his worries were actually non-existent. The website was going along at a steady pace and all he was annoyed about was that his work was being criticised. All we're doing is trying to help him and he responds with the maturity of a 13 year old.

Online Semester 3 - Week 6

This week, I was absent from the class due to illness. However, I managed to get an article submitted onto Techmole using the Wordpress dashboard from home. I was also kept up to date with any developments in the lesson.

Online Semester 3 - Week 5

In today's workshop session, we decided to do some more research on potential Techmole stories. I also started to loosen up a bit in terms of subject area. At the start I was wanting to do some music related stuff but I've started to move away from that and have begun to do other posts on subjects relating to gadgets like the iPod and internet software like internet broswers as well as gaming related news.

Online Semester 3 - Week 4

Today we looked at content management systems (CMS). We looked at systems like the Immediacy Editing Model that sets itself up as a database for users of the website to create posts for their website. This is something that can be used for large websites and can cost several thousands of pounds to create.

We also looked at the option of creating forums for users to interact with. Forums can be used as a way for users to discuss the website and content featured on the website. Some forum software is free and doesn't cost anything, though the higher quality forum software costs money to maintain and run.

Finally, we started to plan how we would manage our content on Techmole. Unfortunatly, only me and Mike were in class so we couldn't discuss any real progress on the development of Techmole, which was disappointing for both of us.

Online Semester 3 - Week 3

We discussed more plans for Techmole with the group, including Ken who joined the lesson from his own computer in Brighton. We confirmed what articles we would be writing for the site and we also started looking at designs, since we had now brought together the hosting servers with the newly-acquired domain name. A design was finally chosen on, which looks more like a magazine style site.

Online Semester 3 - Week 2

Week 2 was delayed by a week because of the snow chaos that hit Farnham. Today we talked about website statistics and how useful they are people to run them. One program in particular that we looked at was Google Analytics, which a lot of websites are increasingly using. Whilst it is a powerful tool, there are some aspects that are very user friendly. The final tool we looked at was the Google Keyword search tool, which tells you what search terms are popular and to assist writers in developing SEO (search engine optimisation).

Keeping a blog at university

In regards to the debate over students being encouraged to keep a blog whilst at university course studies and after they have graduated, I tend to agree with what Paul Bradshaw said and what Neil McIntosh said last month in their own respective blogs. I think it is more than obvious that whilst you are studying online journalism that you have to keep a blog of some sort. Otherwise, you're sort of defeating the objective of the course itself.

There's also other reasons to keeping a blog during the course. If you maintain a blog well over the typical three years at uni then you will:

1. Get regular feedback and suggestions to improve it.
2. The writing quality will get better and better.
3. As you find a placement, you will have a portfolio blog with lots of entries that show off your skills as an online journalist.

That's what I would like to get out of the course I am doing anyway - the oppurtunity to improve my skills and to be in a position a couple of years down the line where I am in an employable position. People like Dave Lee have put hard work into their blogs and have found ultimately found a new career, whilst studying at university. That is because they used their time at university effectively, and have thus built quite an extensive portfolio, which would easily impress any potential employer.

As for what employers look for, I still think that the actual writing side is the most important aspect. At least, that's what I'd like to think anyway. But other skills that they look for is:

1. Use of the media that is available to them (video, podcasts etc)
   
2. How aesthetically pleasing their blogs look
3. Blog maintenance skills (and by that I mean updating regularly, making sure everything on the blog works and isn't broken).