J.A.McArthur

Article Topics

My thoughts and the thoughts of talented others on digital strategic communication, digital & media literacy, information design, education & instruction, and the field of human communication.

  • Social Media in PR: Is it really necessary?

    JAMcArthur

    In what ways have social media expanded the ideas of public relations instruction? How does social media challenge traditional models of instruction? How can social media impact research? Is social media even valuable at all? These questions guided the conversation today in the NCA panel entitled,”Bridging Social Media with Teaching, Research and Practice: Exploring the…

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  • Training Organizations for a Digital Marketplace

    JAMcArthur

    Corporations, non-profits, and public institutions alike are all concerned with managing their images in online environments. Yet, use of a technology typically preceeds training on effective use of that technology. At the National Commmunication Association annual convention, researchers are presenting on the issues of conducting business in a global, virtual world. In sum, these papers…

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  • Cloud Computing at NC State: Equitable Technology for all students?

    JAMcArthur

    “What’s really interesting for communication scholars is the distance that we can go in a digital communication world.” In her presentation entitled “Cloud computing, virtual computing labs, and technologically facilitated communication: The promise of advanced technologies in teaching, learning, and the community,” Sarah R. Stein of North Carolina State University discussed connections between teaching, learning…

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  • Language and Social Interaction in CMC

    Language and Social Interaction in CMC

    JAMcArthur

    Scholars in language and social interaction study face-to-face, oral conversations. However, some are turning their attention toward Internet-based conversation. In this panel, entitled, “Language & Social Interaction Research into Internet-Mediated Communication,” presenters discussed the relationship between language, social interaction, and conversations on the Internet. The major question here is whether (1) the medium drives the…

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  • Plagiarism rears its digital head

    JAMcArthur

    Plagiarism is not just a student issue. It’s a people issue. And plagiarism becomes an even broader issue in the realm of digital media. Web Shames Magazine for Plagiarizing Blogger’s Article – http://on.mash.to/bYCufl — Mashable (@mashable) November 6, 2010 (tweet embedded using the new WordPress version of “Blackbird Pie”) Plagiarism occurs when someone uses another’s…

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  • Space in the Margins

    Space in the Margins

    JAMcArthur

    When I teach Layout and Design, we spend a great deal of time talking about margins. Margins organize space in a design by allowing “white space” to offset the area containing the content on a page. For example, on this website, you’ll see a margin to the left containing, well, nothing, and a margin to…

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  • The Laws of Simplicity (Maeda, 2006)

    The Laws of Simplicity (Maeda, 2006)

    JAMcArthur

    The Laws of Simplicity: Design, technology, business, life by John Maeda (2006) “Simplicity is sanity,” says Patti Palmer, quoting John Maeda. “Maeda is trying to get us to examine ourselves and simplify our lives.” It’s not an attempt to have us root out our craziness, but rather to articulate balance in our lives. One of…

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  • What’s Mine is Yours (Botsman & Rogers, 2010)

    What’s Mine is Yours (Botsman & Rogers, 2010)

    JAMcArthur

    What’s Mine is Yours: The rise of collaborative consumption by Rachel Botsman and Roo Rogers (2010) “Unbeknownst to me, this was a book I was meant to read,” says Amy Martin. The need and market for trading, sharing, and reusing stuff is growing. Landfill space and space for storage is outpacing our growth as a…

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  • Putting the Public Back in Public Relations (Solis & Breakenridge, 2009)

    Putting the Public Back in Public Relations (Solis & Breakenridge, 2009)

    JAMcArthur

    Putting the Public Back in Public Relations by Brian Solis and Dierdre Breakenridge (2009) “I’ve always been curious about the use of social media in public relations,” says Valarie Udeh.  “Putting the Public Back in Public Relations is about putting the relationship, the conversation, back into the old-school public relations model.” Solis and Breakenridge discuss…

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  • Defining Digital and Media Literacy

    Defining Digital and Media Literacy

    JAMcArthur

    It’s not your daddy’s literacy. Discussions of media literacy in America have traversed the media landscape from newspapers and advertising, to television, radio and film, to Internet-based media. With new focus turning to literacy in digital realms, some, like Knight Foundation and Queens University of Charlotte, are examining media literacy in its increasingly digital form.…