Concept of The OTHER

The concept of the Other is a philosophical concept opposed to the concept of Same. It attempts to refer to something other than the norm, something different.

It's funny how in one location you belong to the majority and in another you belong to the minority. If only every one has the opportunity to taste both sides, then we truly can know how it feels and not lord it over those who fall into that category under any circumstance.

While at home, I never saw myself as different, I did not have to bother about my race, not usually about my religion and seldom about my ethnic group. But living in a different country has brought me face-to-face with more of what makes me different. Not only do I (and others who share my skin color) stand out in a crowd but reference is made to my different accent, clothings, culture of respect etc.

Previously, like fish in the water, I was in my comfort zone and I blended well; now I have to either embrace the difference or calculate the days that will see me back to my sweet home country where again I can enjoy and definitely now place a value on the class I came to without price – the class of the majority.

For every immigrant (how I dislike the word alien with a passion), peace corp traveler, every study abroad student, every global worker etc; the concept of the Other has become more alive with crossing borders.

GREat Diversity

The issue of haves and have nots now transcend the physical borders into the boundless virtual space. The more proponents of diversity make a case for it the more racism push the borders of inclusion.

Students and teachers strike during my first degree cost me a year in college during which the need for diversity led me to prefer study abroad for a master degree. But, how? Though I could use the internet, I did not know beyond the basic workings of the computer. Today folks are talking about IT rights; making it available even in places where electricity is still a dream. The question is, how much access to information does having a tool you do not know how to use provide?

When the opportunity for study abroad came miraculously, I realized the part that access and skill played. But access to the internet and skill to search out necessary information would not have been adequate if my nightmare – standardized exam – was not waived by my dearest CIS-OU.

The fear of standardized exams have kept millions from acquiring more knowledge to better their lot, it has limited the opportunities available to thousands. How do I ever understand the feel of the word “snow” if I only see it in the pages of books and on television? How will I use the word “ubiquitous” if on my side of the divide omnipresent or everywhere is sufficient. Yet, the GRE continues to be used as a tool for discriminating against the haves – who have access to big unnecessary vocabulary – and the have nots – who are only fortunate to receive education. Why need I do math – my weakness – if I signed out of it years back in other to focus on my core area, humanities - my strength.

Even the GREat creators and evaluators of GRE says it is not a test of intelligence only a test to see how one can respond to standard “regimented” command or better put political order that has come to characterize the academic world.

The pill of GRE, GMAT etc is now being prescribed all over the world as a medication to limit and exclude the have nots. A man who has struggled through the village ranks may never find out what GRE is but will find out to his dismay that he lost the job because he did not possess what he did not know about. Countries have been deceived into oiling the western wheels through an exam that is designed for westerners who have studied from elementary to college in the west.

I once helped a boy in an elementary school survive a simple fraction nightmare by using my own BODMAS (Brackets, Order, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction) method. The boy had been labeled “special” for his inability to understand PEDMAS (Parenthesis Exponents Division Multiplication Addition Subtraction) yet he used the method I taught him to the surprise of his teacher who had to look for me to make sense of the simpler method. To my surprise she said “I can’t teach this [shorter] process to the others, but if he understands it this way, I’ll be glad to let him use it.” I can’t tell if she kept her promise but if she did how will the boy survive the standards fashioned in steel years ahead of him?

The day we modify GRE to have different methods that test different personality and knowledge types will be the day when GRE becomes truly a GREAT test of true knowledge.

We the Media

We the Media: Grassroots Journalism by the People, for the People published in 2004 by Dan Gillmor use personal experiences and the experiences of other credible journalists to trace the origin and time line of the media development especially online journalism. The author has been part of the media development as he started one of the first blogs by mainstream media journalist.

The foundational basis for the development of media is the First Amendment which supports the freedom of speech. Thomas Jefferson famously said that if given the choice of newspapers and government, he’d take the newspapers. From pamphleteers to newspapers to telegraphs to mud crackers, the book captured the very essence of the development of the media. The power inherent in the media is evident in the inflammation of public opinion which led to the Spanish-American war in 1898, brought down a law-breaking president. The interpretation of various cartoons has led to religious riots worldwide. Despite the freedom of speech, journalists are still dying elsewhere in the world for what they write and broadcast.

He drew comparison between radio, television, internet and digital technology. According to him, mass media still reach the biggest audience. One of the most significant differences between print and the web is that web-based conversations transcend geographical boundaries (pg. 113). The internet has however been able to go a step further by its use of linking which points readers to other people’s content. This in my opinion has made the internet an unequaled research tool.

It was surprising to find out that what is today called blogs is actually web logs. To Dan, weblogs have been slow to take off in the mainstream media due to the innately conservative nature of the big media and mistrust among traditional journalists and editors of the initiative which was initially seen as a threat to undermine what they consider the core values of journalism. He spells out the characteristics that make any blog worth reading as voice, focus, real reporting and good writing (pg. 114)

The new media shares media with others and takes their audience as active participants (not mere readers) whose contributions have helped to drive the industry. The audience has become an integral part of the process; welcome and unwelcome collaborators. The revolution of the internet has made it a medium for which the audience claims ownership based on the fact that it gives them a voice without querying what they know and how they know it.

Throughout the book which is written in simple English with a well-laid out and readable format, Gilmor critiques some of the attitudes of journalists e.g. leaving out contact information when the articles are posted on web, leaving the audience to interact with themselves (not being involved), not linking to competing sites etc. With personal media, a new and less expensive media was created and everyone can now make news. Though there are obviously risks in having an industry that has become border-less, the advantages outweigh the risks. What may be needed are disclaimers or gate keepers who can point out the shortfalls and insist on an open source policy.

The establishment of blogs has created a working relationship between the journalists within and those without; the professional reporters now read news worthy information or stories they otherwise might have missed. The pace of deciding to cover some from a professional stand-point is now driven by what people are writing and/or reading about. It has begun a global conversation across gender, race, religion, ethic group and orientation.

Despite what seem like a ground breaking relationship, professional and non-professional journalists still come in conflict every now and then because they now share a huge stake in the end result one higher than the other. The friction has led to creating a brand for the bloggers – citizen reporting. Citizen reporting has become a welcome audience as they cover a wide range of issues. It also has compelled traditional/professional journalists to listen to online critics as a way of increasing credibility.

Bid media companies have contributed to the development of the new media by asking readers to join the global conversation in a slightly more formal way. There has been a convergence of old and new media with the September 11, 2001 incidence serving as catalyst and the internet serving as the master key to web logs which are individualized perspectives. We have transcended the days of scrolls, desktop publishing, snail mail, traditional journalism, wire service, telephone, personal computer and arrived at emailing, short message service (sms), camera photos, mobile connected cameras, internet-broadcasting, hyper text mark-up language (html) etc. Web logs have moved from being mere diaries or journals to include audio, visual, animation and news makers now benefit from the real simple syndication that let them know news tilt across the world. News is now be shared through the new technology e.g. mobile messaging, the audience now participates actively in the news.

The book traces the history of the new media giving enough detail to give students and practitioners a broad view of what obtained and what now obtains. The challenge for the book however is the fast pace in which the new media changes. To keep up with the changes new editions with updated information could be published periodically. Notwithstanding, the book is highly recommended for students of Journalism.

Concept of the Other

It's funny how in one location you belong to the majority and in another you belong to the minority. If only every one has the opportunity to taste both sides, then we truly can know how it feels and not lord it over those who fall into that category under any circumstance.

Creating Inclusion

While OU carries the diversity tag, teachers, students have to find a way of entrenching inclusion which is stated but not particularly enforced.

Food Culture

You would think what you eat from a Chinese restaurant for instance is authentic Chinese food?

To the beautiful guys in my life at Valentine

Like many other Valentines I’m receiving calls from all over and lying in bed wondering what to do with me. It would have been great to show some love to the homeless, those in hospitals, friends going through tough times yet I have nothing planned save for a couple of I care calls.

Yesterday, I watched Oprah interpret Valentine in a way that brought tears of joy to my eyes as I saw a woman make it happen for her hubby through a Patti LaBelle duet - her husband idolized this icon, a lady said I love you to her grandma through a red convertible Volkswagen (please don’t think old beetle o even beetle has come of age in this depressing times) and a guy went all out via a Super Bowl infomercial to say the ILY words.

While watching the show, I thought of all the men that have walked – some aimlessly – into my life. All have taught me life lessons, some have made my life beautiful and some have made me wonder on what side of the bed I woke to such weird collusion.

1.
He was full of life and so bold. At a time when others felt I had a fire they wouldn’t dare he dared beyond words but much more than words were needed with a woman that could read your head and give you a run for your affection. His friend had more than words but as close as I was to his friend; it was he who was asking. At the end, it was religion which should speak peace that came between me and this lovely soul.

2.
He was upbeat yet quiet and I’m still wondering how those two qualities got matched and how love played me into the hands of this Ilya Kegito at a time when you had to spend five months to actually make me understand you are trying to spell love. He spelt it eventually but sex and unfaithfulness became a divider. When Holy Spirit saved my behind from his cult neighbour who tried to rape me to prove a point that the no-sex-now woman could be forced into action, I knew walking away would save lives.

3.
A friend and another friend. How do I make these two friends understand that I’d rather let go of both of them than knock heads or be split in half. One was mature; filled with equal measure of cares and lies. The other was timid; filled with equal measure of niceness and jealousy. I arranged one for a friend who didn’t mince words in letting him know she loved him and the other went to sow his lies to the woman who could live with it.

4.
Service year brings orisirisi. Handsome and nice, playboy of sort yet hello-hi brought us together. Isn’t it okay to ask for a line to be drawn between friendship and love? But this made him cry and he never just could get over my assuming we were friends because he didn’t ask for love. Duh!

5.
Handsome and fun to be with yet lack of self esteem colour ones life with such dark hues. How I prayed and hoped this would step up and step in. But after all the compromise on both sides, it was esteem that changed the multiplication to division. Years after, even his “You were my first true love... I realized it late” couldn’t change the hues. When he had my number, you needed a sacrifice to enjoy a meaningful chat now he wants my number but he'd need his madam's permit.

6.
A social butterfly; all his friends knew he had finally found the woman of his dreams but the woman – me – did not get wind of it until he was signed on the sacrificial altar to someone else. Hmn; no matter how socially aware you are some guys just need to return to school to learn the basics of living and loving.

7.
A “spiri” brother. You visit a woman and spend quality time yet all you have to lay on the table is that you’ve got similar talents. Geez! There’s got to be more about asking a woman out that church men are yet to figure out. Just the mere thought of #3 returning into my life drove this one beyond the bend. It drove him so hard that he consented to me paying for lunch on what became our last date; why spend my money when she may not say yes.

8.
Every one questioned what I saw in this News Producer. Like most of the men that come my way, he spelt his intention out in misty letterings yet it was obvious he wanted more than work relations. I loved him so much but the humane me began to question the hearts he would break if our bi-racial contract saw the light of day. It was hard to watch him go but it wasn't my letting go that broke my heart. I respected and believed in him so much that it was not an issue to speak up for him to get a position at my new work place only to find out the position he consented to was the very one I held. Still I thought, if I ever thought he could be my spouse then working together shouldn't be a problem but soon he began to play boss. I hid my hurt by stepping aside.

9.
The day he walked into my apartment and said, “You live alone?”, I knew my independence will cut this one loose. We met on the wires and then physically and then he’d call in the middle of the night and when I become half awake and call him back expecting to hear the love lines he’d say, “That’s how I call to hail my friends”. Common! In the middle of the night? Well, it turned out his dream was to sojourn to her Majesty’s land and he found a woman who made it happen. At a time when neither he nor I knew God would send me to the land of opportunity, he walked away. This loser called to say I love you on board a plane to be knotted to his wife. He wanted the dance to continue but the music was out.

10.
Geez! The way people try to hook me up yet they fail to see that though the calendar calls me mid-age and society questions why I haven't found a man to zip my gown, I am just not in a hurry to hook up with the wrong guy. The way this banker came at me, you'd think I need a lawyer to make a case for three months courtship. The impression of him by my senior colleague who introduced us was genuine from her side of the spectrum. With prayers, it became obvious that his plan was to have me foot my own bill across the ocean (he graciously offered to share) to gratify his libido during the yuletide season and possibly work out his study abroad while scheming to join me. This is my second tale across race line.

11.
All the way from Nigeria, he travelled to meet the woman of his fantasy yet from his first phone call “I’ll kill somebody o” I knew I had bitten more than I could chew. A Prophet warned but love had driven me round the bend to give illusion a chance. In one week I knew a grave was dug and going ahead with this one would only mean planning a funeral. To avoid blood on my hands, I let him cut loose.

12.
For years he circled my mountain; sending mails, gifts and calling. When we swung a date across borders to meet friends, family and church, I said just maybe. But in time, I found out that academics teach you how to get great grades but not how to do something as simple as making up your mind about who you love. When he did make up his mind, even the woman was surprised to find out she’d be married in one week.

13.
What sort of men are now out there? At times I wonder what the married gave in exchange for their sanity. Kind-hearted, nice, understanding yet I still don’t get how you can initiate sex with a woman you are yet to see physically; maybe I’m old school. Depression has a way of robbing you of the future; a sane man would rather bury his wild emotions to get a woman of his dreams. After all, the woman would have to learn to live with your freaky ways once the papers are signed.

14.
How do you become a captain when you don’t apply to the marine or naval corp? When handshake passes elbow you need to begin to ask questions. One moment he was asking us to be friends, the next moment he was insisting that two masters cannot steer the ship. His mails are now unreplied and he is still asking whether to find his square root. There was never a square how then would it have been rooted?


There’s still my great friend whom death took from us some years ago, my very first admirer who wrote me a letter per day when I was rather young to understand, the love-at-first-sight guy I met in Niger State whose name I'm still trying to figure out, the UN man who locked up his love for me in his heart to save his calling, the pharmacist (or is it physiotherapist) who just couldn’t get the words out, the free-thinker lawyer who is on the brink of divorce, the newscaster whose wife signs off with his name, the senator who is mapped out as having integrity, the scientist who believed being nice should be interpreted as being in love, the doctor who had a woman abroad and the watch-seller who thought being in choir with me was license for dating and the professor who would call for an academic meeting just to chat and the visa lottery immigrant who had the effontery to ask for the size of my 'attack' and 'defence' (asking him for size in response made him mute) and the old school mate who discreetly omitted mentioning he was married and the call center guy turned banker who spent two years researching me but never really found out the most expedient information - I just don't date younger guys (!) and…

On a day like this, I’m wondering how I have attracted such wide range of…

Yet, there are three beautiful souls that my heart go out to at a time like this. One taught me how to open my heart to love – he is hooked on a sister in Christ, the second is teaching me how to accept love – he is hooked on a long lost friend, the third – hooked on himself – is teaching me about waiting patiently when in 36 years that’s one great lesson I have learned.

Happy Love Day

(c) Excerpts from Men. Men, Men!

Making New Connections

Unveiling Journalists' Stamps

The multipurpose hall on the second floor of the Baker Student Center was not as packed full as I expected on the 30th of April, 2008 at 2pm. But, the speakers who are seasoned practitioners were on hand to shed light on “Making New Connections: Social Networking, Blogs and Mobile Media”. There were three speakers:

Bob Benz, a Partner in Maroon Ventures. He served previously as vice president of interactive media for E.W. Scripps Co.'s newspaper division and as editor on "The Plutonium Experiment," which earned a Pulitzer Prize. Benz has also served on Ohio University Scripps School of Journalism Advisory Board.
Randy Ludlow, a veteran reporter with The Columbus Dispatch who continues to do the job of sourcing for credible information and passing same to his readers through his newspaper and web log reports on public records and First Amendment issues. Mr. Ludlow was named 2006 Best Reporter of the Year by the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists.
Steven Siegel, vice president of the HipCricket, a mobile marketing company. He worked previously in the same position at Enpocket (now Nokia Ad Solutions). To his credit are numerous brand accounts and mobile adverts including the History Channel, McDonalds, Verizon Wireless, Sprint and New York Times.

I was most thrilled by Mr. Siegel’s presentation about the hip, progressive and cool impact of mobile telephone marketing. According to him, HipCricket was set up as a mobile marketing solution provider in 2004 to tap into the idea of reaching everyone everywhere through text messaging which offered the advantage of transmitting codes and images. The developments in journalism have led reporters to seek systems that will ensure feedback from readers; journalists now anticipate and keep a tab on e-mail responses which are much faster than the snail mail to get a feel of readers’ responses. Instead of waiting for responses, mobile marketing means people can be reached in real time with consumer focused adverts. Mobile marketing provider track what works and what does not and usually make adjustments towards achieving the desired result.

Though able to reach everyone who has access to a mobile network, those reached by mobile marketing is permission based. People have an opportunity to get on the marketing route by sending messages to a short code to subscribe. According to Siegel, the present generation of young people has enough skills to tune into and tune out of mobile marketing which is often targeted at certain demographics for best result. One thing Mr. Siegel did not talk about but which was apparent in one of his examples is the deception inherent, in mobile marketing. When a popular television figure approached HipCricket for promotion of his program, the responses received went beyond the target because respondents believed the text came from Dog the Bounty Hunter directly.

Mobile marketing thrives on customer loyalty and is tailored toward creating a lifetime friendship and ultimately a lifetime value with and for the client. Through the adverts, the brand connects with the consumer with a promise to deliver the value promised. The mobile marketer rides on the wings of the values already offered by the mobile device e.g. ring tones, streaming, videos, games, wall paper, internet access.

2.7 billion people use at least one mobile device. Over 50% of those who are below 34 years use mobile phones for text messaging while the majority of those between the ages of 34 and 44 years use the mobile device more to access the web. The mobile telephone has become a digital extension of self. The WAP (wireless application protocol) has opened up more opportunities via the mobile phone. This led mobile marketers to go beyond traditional advertising to connect to people even during festivals. HipCricket teamed up with Jameson, America’s fastest growing whiskey brand, to send “unique Irish toasts” through assorted humorous, entertaining, and thought-provoking text messages to whiskey fans over the course of one month in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.

The moderator of the session, Professor Bernhard Debatin, did a great job of tying the different presentation together; he pointed out the breach in border lines between what was formerly considered sacred, private and public using the example of phones going off in churches and people making calls in the presence of others who may even be strangers. He defined the benefits of mobile phones using three terms, namely, immediacy, connectivity and ubiquity. Power according to him is not the access to mobile devices but the decision not to answer phones when it calls the owner or user to order via the ring tone.

Participants at the session were not dormant they asked questions and made comments which led the speakers to speak more about the advantages and disadvantages of making new connections via blogs and mobile phones. Though browsing helps to search out stories it also excludes important stories which bloggers focus on from time to time. Whereas personalized information is great and ensures receivers do not get spams but it also means people may lose important general interest stories. Out-blogging the unprofessional bloggers would have helped to define the borders for professional blogging instead there has been “coopetition” cooperation and competition which has led to the kind of camaraderie which resulted in bloggers and journalists linking to each other’s stories.