It seems you can’t open a page in the media without coming across a metaphor of conflict or competition with regard to social issues. Scholarly observers and Feminists, among others, have long pointed out that the media seems to delight in the use of violent metaphor with regard to what are essentially non-violent issues. For example, our current long-running presidential primary is seeing statements like “Increasing numbers of Democratic primary voters have become entrenched behind their candidate,” (the Associated Press) and Barack Obama “Should be respectful of Clinton if he wants her army of activist supporters to line up on his side in the general election should Clinton lose the nomination”  (The Boston Herald.com.) Regarding Chris Dodd, “Dodd battled for attention and campaign contributions, and earned less than 1 percent of the vote.” (the Associated Press)

Of course the Primary is just the most easily found glaring example of this phenomenon. Business communication is also rife with examples, as are the mutterings of the “pundit class.” Here’s an example from Rush Limbaugh: (May 8, 2008 transcript) “So our {oil} production has been cut in half in 20 years. And, see, it’s been a slow bleed.  That wasn’t a dramatic overnight thing, and so its impact was not immediately felt…. There’s enough American oil we could go get, 112 billion barrels, which would be enough to power more than 60 million cars for 60 years, but we have moratoriums on drilling for all this.  The environmentalists are the only ones who are happy about this.  This is an attack on capitalism.  It’s nothing about environment. It’s nothing about saving the planet. It is an attack on capitalism and an attempt to cut this country down to size.  And they’re succeeding with the help of the Democrat Party.” Chris Matthews, the presenter on Hardball,  in his December 20, 2007 edition, Matthews asked: “Is the Hillary Clinton campaign trying to obliterate Obama’s candidacy? Not just beat it, but strangle it in the crib before there’s any chance he catches on?”

Everyday conversation is full of competitive and violent imagery, as well. Consider “I could just kill you,” “clawing their way to the top,” “that cut me to the quick,” and so forth.

Prior to research which showed that viewers tended to suffer from “compassion fatigue” when being shown public service advertisements and the like with pictures of bruised and battered women and children, ¹ most advertisements that were meant to increase the public’s support for issues like the prevention of child abuse and the prevention or response to domestic violence used these negative and disturbing images. Prevent Child Abuse America, a national leader in the effort to prevent child abuse or neglect, took notice and accordingly their communications became much more focused and grounded in what CAN be done to make a positive difference in society, rather than to be focused on what we don’t want, e.g. children getting hurt.

Tom Sebok, in a paper located here: http://www.colorado.edu/conflict/full_text_search/AllCRCDocs/93-20.htm  said “Social conflicts involve challenges to values, mores, customs, norms, laws, etc. Often in these conflicts participants seek to dramatize their beliefs and/or positions to make others aware of their concerns and motivate them to action. When opposing groups confront or refer to one another, they may engage in negative labeling (name-calling and insults), sarcasm, moral judging, threatening, and/or, in the most extreme cases, physical violence and/or property damage against those on the “other side.” These behaviors do not illustrate constructive confrontation of conflict. It is possible that some of these behaviors are so unpleasant that the desire to avoid them could motivate one side to negotiate with the other. However, it is also likely that, at least for some period of time, when participants engage in these kinds of behaviors, the effect is that the conflict is merely perpetuated in its current form, or escalated and made more intractable.”

Neither Mountainside Media nor this writer wants to see our clients, friends, or co-workers become victims of the annoying and potentially dangerous “Politically Correct Thought Police.” However, we do suggest that organizations, and individuals, can benefit from close attention to the way our communications are phrased and framed. It has famously been said “Fighting for peace is like making love for virginity.” This quote is attributed to George Carlin, among others.

Don’t go around saying that you are fighting for peace, if you want to be taken seriously! Or, more importantly, if you want to be effective, which is the whole point of bothering to communicate in the first place.  

¹ See The Frameworks Institute’s “Discipline and Development: A Meta-Analysis of Public Perceptions of Parents, Parenting, Child Development and Child Abuse” at: http://www.frameworksinstitute.org/products/pca_americameta.pdf

Keeping up with the pace of today’s technology can be a frustrating and sometimes confusing ordeal. Arguably an even faster moving technology is that of the web. I can remember as I approached graduation at ITT Tech that a good bit of the programs, languages, and various tools that we had been learning and working with were already beginning to go by the wayside. So if you are working in the field of web as a designer or developer, here are a few simple ways to keep yourself informed:

Blogs
There are many, many blogs out there that are done by experts in the field. Some focus more specific areas than others and some will cover a broader range of topics. When you find a blogger that you find helpful, always make note of any links they have displayed. Most of the time, bloggers will post links to their favorite sites and/or blogs. If you have found that blogger helpful, then more than likely you can find good use in the sites that they link to. Also, add the blogs that you like to your RSS feed reader when available. This allows you to see any updated entries quickly, without having to go to each site individually.

Podcasts
I am a confessed late bloomer to podcasts. That being said, I was very suprised when I finally decided to look into it, of the plethora of podcasts in the field of web. I have found plenty of useful podcasts for both the design and development aspects of web and most are free to subscribe to. However, podcasts are like the inernet in that you need to investigate a little to be sure the person knows what they are talking about instead of just taking their word for it.

Tutorials/Training
Something else that is very helpful is taking part in various tutorials, trainings and webinars. There are a ton out there that are available and most of them stay on top of the ever changing climate of web technology. Lynda.com is an online video tutorial service that we at Mountainside Media have benefited a great deal from. They even go outside the box of web and include tutorials on graphic design, video production, and much more.

To conclude, there is a ton of information out there. Finding what is helpful to you in staying on top of these technological advances can help make these transitions smoother and easier to endure.

Spring is here and soon our landscapes will be saturated with spectacular color. Since color is a manifestation of mood, it is not a coincidence that we feel rejuvenated and invigorated when spring shows it’s colors. Colors go beyond just making things “pretty.” It is widely recognized that the presence of color actually creates an emotional reaction.

The first and most powerful sign of spring is the sunny yellow daffodil. Yellow is symbolic of brightness, joy, optimism, light and warmth. Yellow causes stimulation of the nervous system, activation of memory and encourages communication.

Another sign of spring is the return of the robin. Every since I was young I have always looked for the first robin to show that spring has actually arrived. I witnessed my first robin last week, hopping through the grass collecting straw for her much needed nest. No one can deny the vibrant orange color of the robin’s breast. Orange evokes feelings of vitality, fun and energy. Orange is also said to help balance one’s emotions and encourage socialization.

I love going barefoot in the summer and feeling the grass between my toes, so it always emits a level of excitement from me when the grass begins to grow flourishingly and changes from a drab brown shade to a vivacious green. Another delightful sight is the emerging of buds from tree branches and the unfolding of delicate new leaves. Green signifies growth, renewal, and health and offers a sense of self-control.

And who can forget the emotional healing power of glorious blue skies! Blue generates a peaceful calming effect. It is also associated with stability, truth, confidence and wisdom.

Color is considered one of the most useful design tools an artist has due to the emotional response it creates. Just as the colors of spring influence your mood and disposition so do the colors used in graphic design. Careful consideration of color choice should be a part of your design decisions.

Note from Mountainside Media: Paula will soon be graduating from St. Joseph’s High School in Huntington. We were privileged to have her interning with us for two weeks in March and as part of her assignments, asked her to write a blog about choosing a career in a creative field. We enjoyed our time with Paula and wish her luck in her future endeavors!

…………………………………………………………………

A child growing up will be asked the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” countless times, but it’s not until that child is much older that they actually seriously consider the weight of that question. Choosing a career path to follow is one of the most difficult choices a person has to make in his or her lifetime. Think about it. In the short period time lived between seventeen and twenty years of age most people are expected to make a series of decisions that will change the outcome of their lives. Which college? What major? Two-year associates, bachelors, masters, or even a Ph.D? What career? After three uneventful years of high school education, you’re suddenly charged with the responsibility to choose what you’re going to do next: and you don’t have a lot of time to make up your mind.

I, like my peers, struggled with these very same questions these last two years. As a high school senior at St. Joseph Central Catholic High I suddenly realized I was running out of time. Thankfully, at St. Joseph we are given the unique opportunity to pursue a two-week internship with a profession of our choice in order to help us make these difficult decisions. Through internships we learn what it’s really like out in the work field and can better decide if an occupation is right for us or not. By this time I had already narrowed down my choices to select a Bachelors in Fine Arts: Film with a traditional animation emphasis at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in the arts because I loved drawing and painting, but decided against the road of a traditional fine artist in favor for a commercial one. This way I could get employment while still doing something I enjoyed. Animation is a fast-growing field that improves in leaps and bounds every year and I am excited to help support that cause. The juxtaposed combination of light, color, sound and time makes 4-D art something exciting and unique in comparison to other artistic fields.

However, this choice made my options for an internship extremely limited. There aren’t exactly any film-based animation studios in Huntington, West Virginia. This lead me to decide on an internship at Mountainside Media. Mountainside Media doesn’t only create spectacular graphic design, but they do video, power point and web-based design as well. This versatility in a wide range of graphic design fields is what drew me to their company. Interning at Mountainside Media has so far been an entertaining and educational experience. I have been able to watch first-hand the production and work that goes into making various graphic design projects. The people here are kind and fun to be around creating a relaxed work atmosphere. I am grateful for the opportunities I have been given by Mountainside Media.

Email and faxes and web cams, oh my! Technology. Ah, yes, it was only a decade ago that we were told the need for traveling to meet face-to-face (FTF) would soon be obsolete. Not so fast my friend. It seems research confirms what your own experience has probably already proven. There’s no denying the power of face-to- face communication.

A study by specialist journal IRS Employment Review found that, while organizations use an extensive range of communication methods, including online systems, handbooks, newsletters and memos to communicate with staff, employers still value face-to-face sessions as being the most effective.

No matter how much we may value the FTF meeting we’re still left with the issue of overscheduled team members and colliding calendars. The challenge becomes orchestrating that FTF meeting and ensuring all participants feel it was a good investment of their most precious resource; time.

I would argue the most crucial element in making the most of your time together is effective communication. Why, you ask? Because with effective communication you meet one of the basic needs of every human being; to feel heard and valued.

Meeting basic human needs? But all you wanted was to approve a budget! Yes, I get that, but I submit that by understanding the empowering potential of your FTF time through good communication, you can help your team achieve your goals like never before.

So, stop talking and communicate! Here are just a few tips:

• Silence is a great communication skill. So much of communicating successfully is listening successfully. Repeating what you think you heard can often head problems off at the pass.

• Know what your body is saying - Body language accounts for more than half of what other people respond to and make assumptions about when they connect with you.

• Eye contact: Eye contact is one of the most important nonverbal cues you have for communication and connecting with other people.

• Attitude is infectious and drives behavior: Your attitude is the first thing people pick up on in face-to-face communication and it is contagious.

Because Mountainside Media values the effectiveness of FTF communication, we are proud to announce Bizgigs, a new division devoted to effective meetings, conferences and events.

At Bizgigs we intently listen to you. We combine the elements of FRAMEWORK, CREATIVITY AND TECHNOLOGY to design the environment that will deliver the results you want from your FTF events.

For more information, visit us as www.bizgigs.net

Have you looked around lately? Everyone is looking at a screen. They are checking the news on their I-Phone, getting directions from a video sign or uploading photos on their laptop. As a culture, we are mesmerized by our screens –we can’t take our eyes off them.

Kevin Roberts, CEO of Saatchi and Saatchi Ideas Company, says that marketers need to learn how to get their message heard in an Attraction Economy – an age where audiences are becoming more and more selective about the information they will pay attention to. The messages that successfully cut through the clutter are the ones that entertain, persuade, respond and illuminate. A key tool in this effort is sisomo – Sight, Sound and Motion.
(more…)

Tell me a fact and I’ll learn. Tell me a truth and I’ll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever.
~ Indian Proverb
 

One of the most interesting and exciting projects that I am working on at the moment is Mountainside Media’s “Storybanking” process. We are developing a system to collect and inventory personal stories that our clients can use in a variety of ways to communicate about their work.
 

A Storybank is a powerful way for organizations to be very prepared, on a continual basis, to share with the public what their work is really about. Studies have shown that, in general, people respond more empathetically, and with more comprehension, when they are told a story about something, than when they are presented with “just the facts.”
  (more…)