Results tagged “future” from eHub

In a week, I will walk down the hill as a graduate of the University of Kansas with a journalism degree.  I know I should be proud of my accomplishment, but lately I've been asking myself: How much is a journalism degree worth these days?

Reading a recent article by Brian Solis about how social media Web sites such as Twitter and Facebook have changed the face and outlook of journalism made me think about how often I have seen articles on Twitter in the past month. It seems like every day I see another headline about how Twitter is blowing up. But journalists need to quit writing about Twitter's popularity and start taking advantage of it.

Some of my friends who are not on Twitter keep telling me the same thing: "I just don't understand the point of it."

Now, these people are not journalism majors and therefore might not be as inclined to use and love Twitter, but I always defend Twitter in response to their remarks.

I think that Twitter is a great way for people to read social news and to get factual and legitimate information through following news sites. By adding themselves to Twitter, news sites can help themselves to get information out to people in a way that consumers want it: conveniently in one location.

Blogging

Some journalists seem to be scared lately that bloggers will take over their jobs with the content they come up with and then put out on the Web for all to see. But really, I don't see why.

I mean, think about it. What would bloggers have to blog about without the news they get from news sites? Bloggers would become the new town criers. They might occasionally hear of newsworthy events that they'd post, but without any journalism training, their information would not really appear as legitimate.

Johnathan Bailey from Plagiarism Today wrote on bloggingtips.com five things that bloggers can learn from journalism school, which I guess as a person who has never taken journalism classes would be very helpful. But still, bloggers will never have the same finished product as a good journalist.

Journalist and blogger Mark S. Luckie wrote a good blog about "Why J-Schools matter." They definitely do matter and show the difference in the quality of blogs put out on the Web today.

As Brian Solis says in his entry, "Content becomes a social object that inspires communication and action." I also agree with him when he says that good journalism will always be upheld. It will be what inspires bloggers to talk about.

Money

It's interesting that Solis brings up the idea that news sites may one day charge their readers to read the news. I understand that the Internet will change and evolve with time, but part of the beauty of the World Wide Web is its accessibility.

When I  read over the idea that Solis addressed, I couldn't help myself say "bleh" out loud. I think that if this were to happen, less people are going to be inclined to read the news. I can foresee a jump back to print if that is what happens. 

Solis also addresses ads, which is an interesting topic. It is definitely, as he says, disappearing from the print side. 

I think that digital ads are going to take over even more so than they already have because of the capabilities they can have. Consumers, if interested, can click and go directly to the business, ads can have and animation, and size isn't as big as an issue on the Web.

Mashable.com has an interesting blog about online ads. Jennifer Van Grove discusses how lately ads have been noticeable on YouTube videos.

Statusphere is ultimate way to share news

Again, I agree with Solis that RSS feeds on news sites are on their way out. There will be more "Share this" options in which consumers can tweet about stories or share them on Facebook, etc.

Social media sites allow for people to get all information in one personalized spot. It saves time, and it lets consumers pick and choose what they want to read. 

Is this bad for journalism? Yes and no. Of course, it's a little sad that more stories are probably not going to be read as much. But it's also great for journalism because with all of the changes happening now, it's a fresh start. WIth all of the sites that monitor Twitter trends, it will be easier for journalists and news sites to figure out what people are reading, what they respond to and why. 

Right now is a weird transitional phase in journalism, but I only see things getting better as journalist figure out how to incorporate social media sites into their profession.

My dad's company is a snow removal company and many of his subcontractors do work outside of the snow removal industry, in construction and tree removal services, etc.
The first snow is a sign of the end of the year for most landscape and construction contractors. But for a growing number of contractors, winter brings more opportunities for new business. Although some companies, like True North, only do snow removal, many of its contractors work year-round in neighboring industries like landscaping, tree removal, and construction. For these individuals, snow removal is a seasonal side business.  
While snow and ice removal can be profitable for some companies, it is difficult to manage. The nature of the business demands excellent budgeting, planning and communication.
True North is working to better serve its subcontractors by providing a local and organized network through which they can meet others just like them and establish connections. This organizational community would create a link between subcontractors by providing company names, services and contact information in a central location.
An article by the Irrigation and Green Industry said landscape contractors expand into snow and ice removal for a variety of reasons, a primary reason being to carry their companies through the winter and to maintain good employees year after year. It also said that other businesses added snow and ice removal because of pressure to stay competitive by offering year-round services.
The client relationship is one of the primary reasons landscape companies expand into snow and ice removal. If you would like to be added to True North's developing network, please visit this page and list your name and services.

The Future of the Industry: Quality, Not Quantity
The snow-removal industry is, by its very nature, a risky business.  With the ever-present uncertainty surrounding the next year's precipitation amounts, concerns about the long-term future of the industry are often neglected. The economic woes have undoubtedly affected all involved parties -- contractors, subcontractors and customers alike.
A difficult economy creates an environment in which fewer projects can be sustained. Less business activity naturally highlights the competitive nature of the industry. Although competition is no stranger to snow-removal, it tends to compel companies to drive down prices. Even when security and snowflakes are scarce, the industry innovates. Companies are continuing to use down time to economize operations and weed out inefficiencies. The snow industry is evolving and quality demands continue to influence the future of snow removal operations.
Snow removal contractors can count on increased demand for their services because society is less and less tolerant of snow-covered roads, parking lots and walkways. So how will service companies hold up under increased pressure with less revenue to work with?

Equipment
One of the most important step for a successful and profitable winter season is equipment inspection and repairs before winter arrives. Contractors want plows and other snow management equipment with better diagnostics that are user-friendly and effective. Before the season begins, it is important to find a repair company that can service machines on-site, even if there is an in-house mechanic. Having external manpower you can depend on in tight situations provides an invaluable peace of mind.

Personnel
The success of any company is directly affected by the quality of the people running its operations on a daily basis. Specialized training for subcontractors and office personnel improves the flow of operations, snow or shine. Clearly defined expectations from the management funnel through and positively affect both the employee and customer's experience with the company.  Demand for personalized customer service is growing and businesses will find it increasingly important to ensure employees understand the contract and level of service each customer requires.  

Communications
Clear communication of service expectations, quality, reliability and price are vital to successfully fulfilling customer expectations and executing company objectives. As customers' expectations rise and profit margins decrease, getting it right the first time is more important than ever. As the client, communicating your direct requirements and working to establish a long-term relationship is much wiser than signing with a contractor that is only focused on the dotted line. For the contractor, maintaining constant communication helps stabilize customer retention and satisfaction. Seeking out available opportunities through focused effort, commitment and a single-minded approach will create excellence, and customers will notice.