AB1: MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

Nicholas Sparks is known for his spectacular works about love. His third book is entitled "Message in a Bottle."

The story runs around Theresa Osborne, a divorced woman with a son. One day, as she was spending time alone in a beach, she found a bottle washed ashore. In it, she discovered a letter written by Garrett Blake, a man who lost the love of his life in an accident.

Theresa is a writer for Boston Times. One idea of this profession (journalist) that pretty much applies to the real world is the concept of "Her years as a reporter had taught her to take nothing for granted, to make a plan, and to do her best for anything." Another thing that can be used from the story is the importance of one language skill, also a tool of communication, i.e. writing.

Sparks believes in the lasting power of love and in this story, the characters were connected through the letters. This one had a special twist in it – it used bottled messages – to give more value to its worth, to make it more special.

Before technology advanced as they are nowadays, there was just snail mail. However slow it may be, as long as the message was sent, it was all that matters. These kinds of letters can be kept and their importance will never fade because they will always contain the feelings and message being expressed, as well as the effort dedicated to accomplish the output. This kind of story wants us to once again appreciate the worth of letters.

“The immediacy, accessibility, and simplicity of pen and paper are indispensible.”

(Reader's Digest January 2011: Cyndi Freiman)

Annotated Bibliography Special Series

Media Studies is a good subject for media practitioners to take because it analyzes all possible tools of communication and how they are utilized in different forms every day. Knowing that each one is powerful in their own ways alone, what more if they are combined with the others? Furthermore, a lot of stories can be derived from them in film, advertisement, print, and the likes.

Print, the focus of this entry, specifically books, is a product of the need to communicate and relay messages or lessons – be it non-fiction or fiction. Academic books, for example, educate by discussing different topics that are applicable in real life. Fantasy on the hand, entertains by revealing a story that narrates the life of the character. This is just one genre. Fiction has different genres that an individual can choose from depending on his interest. In this kind of print, authors use a combination of various communication tools because it can the profession of the protagonist or s/he uses them for any reason (it cannot be denied that anyone uses at least one form anytime and anywhere).

This series will talk about three fiction novels.

WRITING/PRINT:

Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks

BROADCAST/RADIO:

Please Don’t Come Back from the Moon by Dean Bakopoulus

ONLINE/INTERNET:

.hack// Another Birth (vol. 1// Infection) by Miu Kawasaki

TVC*: Television Change

What do you think are the changes and challenges of television?

Since its beginning, television in the Philippines has changed a lot. Many challenges came but it helped in the development. However, as a student of mass communication who became media literate who have been studying this particular medium for quite some time now, it improved not entirely for the greater good.

Listening to the group reporter's discussion, the main reason for its acquisition is to channel educational programs. Television really has a great power in influencing; it has great potential if it is maximized to its full capabilities. Nowadays, yes, it still does educate, but it's more on the business sector. Networks give audience what they want, not entirely what they need. That much I know is the result of change as time pass by. It just can't be denied that it really became beautiful as technology became more advanced.

Presently, we have to be careful in using different kinds of mediums. We have to remember that "we use it," not "it uses us."
------------------------------------------------------------------
*TVC - an acronym for Television Commercial

Dear Reader

I was not born as a writer - that’s what I believe. I became a writer because I became interested in it and I went through years of training as I grow up. On a physical aspect, many people tell me that I have a beautiful penmanship using cursive writing. But really, I like writing to express myself. Without further ado, I would like to present my answer to one question in an exam in Media Studies. I hope the people will learn again to appreciate this simple form of communication and a form of art.

What field of media is used in the movie as an interest of the main character? Explain.

Among the different mediums available nowadays, in the movie “Boy,” the field of media used is creative writing. It is the interest of the main character that helped in getting the story going because he expresses himself through literary pieces, specifically through poetry. Words, when used beautifully to create a piece, relay a wonderful message that is the power of writing. The main character did not stop doing what he likes most – his passion. What he did also added flavour to the creative execution of the story because it used figures of speech and it was used to end the movie and present the tile.

Which comes first, L or M?

In today's learning environment, what is more important,

LEARNING or MORALITY?

In today's learning environment, I believe that learning and morality are equally important. However, if it is really mandatory to choose only one, I would pick learning. Learning is a process of acquiring knowledge, both basic and advanced, and it is also through learning that morality can be developed. There would be times that people are moral but was not properly educated, but I think it is better to understand it by starting in the beginning and taking the first step.

Just to add, the idea of what is right or wrong sometimes depend on the value and character of a person. What may be right to one may be wrong to the other. That's why in some movies or films, it is depicted that people experiencing poverty point out to other people that they may not be educated but they know what is right. So, morality is important. But I will still stand on choosing learning even though I don't so much trust education in the Philippines yet, hoping that one day it will be better.

Push Your Luck?

Playing again in an amusement park after quite some time proved to me that it reflects the reality. Yesterday was a random Monday night out with friends. These are the following lessons I gained:

1. Bingo - I've learned in my class under Sir David Nye that I have no luck in gambling. It is a fact at times for at least there are still moments that I get lucky. This tells us that we should not take chances in the present because it can affect our future. We should plan ahead.

2. Arcade - Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. In the end, it depends on your performance. Hence, in reality, if you want to keep winning, strive harder.

3. Racing - I was the first in the beginning but I wasn't able to maintain it. I ended up as the last racer. There are times that I won't always be on the top. Therefore, if you want to keep leading, focus and be consistent.

So, do you still want to push your luck? The choice is yours.

Remind Me (1)

I, Eric Pastor, a current LPU Manila graduating student, taking up AB Mass Communication with specialization in Broadcast Communication, because of my journalism background in high school newspaper, do hereby solemnly promise and write this document to take an oath to fully commit to the field I chose, by balancing my academics, extra-curricular activities, and outside and social life using my elective “Media Studies” by watching television at least 30 minutes a day or 1 hour if possible; by reading news either printed or online whenever I have vacant time, when in school library, or when visiting social media site or surfing the net; by analyzing commercials and billboards or any form of advertisement and taking note of details; by listening to radio, both FM and AM, as much as possible while travelling (through phone or stereo) or at home during weekends and rest days; allowing anyone who reads this to bother me and remind me of my duties and responsibilities and whenever I read this again, it shall serve it purpose to prove that I shall abide to this agreement to ensure my success by achieving my goal.