Lesson 3. Communicating in an Emergency
Effective Communication (IS-242.b)
February 2014 Student Manual Page 3.21
Job Aid: Social Media Descriptions
Blog
A blog (a contraction of the term Weblog) is a Web site, usually
maintained by an individual, with regular entries of commentary,
descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video.
Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. “Blog”
can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a
blog.
Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others
function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text,
images, and links to other blogs, Web pages, and other media related
to its topic. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive
format is an important part of many blogs.
Citizen Journalism
Citizen journalism is based upon public citizens playing an active role in
the process of collecting, reporting, analyzing, and disseminating news
and information. The availability of technology such as smartphones
with cameras and video capability makes it possible for individuals to
report breaking news often more quickly than traditional media
Micro-blog
A micro-blog is a form of multimedia blogging that allows users to send
brief text updates (say, 140 characters or fewer) or micromedia (such
as photos or audio clips) and publish them, either to be viewed by
anyone or by a restricted group that can be chosen by the user. These
messages can be submitted by a variety of means, including text
messaging, instant messaging, email, digital audio, or the Web.
Photo Sharing
Photo sharing is the publishing or transfer of a user’s digital photos
online through both Web sites and applications that facilitate the upload
and display of images. The term can also be loosely applied to the use
of online photo galleries that are set up and managed by individual
users, including photoblogs.
A podcast is a series of visual or sound files that are distributed over
the computer by syndicated download, through Web feeds, to portable
media players and personal computers. Though the same content may
also be made available by direct download or streaming, a podcast is
distinguished from most other digital media formats by its ability to be
syndicated, subscribed to, and downloaded automatically when new
content is added. Like the term broadcast, podcast can refer either to
the series of content itself or to the method by which it is syndicated;
the latter is also called podcasting. The host or author of a podcast is
often called a podcaster.