Communications and Media

Communication is vital to all organizations because it influences fundamental beliefs, values, and attitudes necessary for employees empowerment and commitment to quality and service (Martin, Krapels,  Douglas, 2006, p. 296). An effective communication program delivers information and knowledge sharing, which increase employee understanding and decreases employee dissatisfaction. Research shows effective communication and knowledge sharing increases individual and team productivity (Kotter  Schlesinger, 1979).

Many organizations provide communication through open forums, roundtables, email, and newsletters. Receiving and providing communication enables employees to share knowledge between team members, managers and employees, and among various other departments. An organizations ability to receive and deliver direction requires various forms of communication channels. The channels allow directions to flow upward, downward, side-to-side, and in a multi-directional pattern. Receiving and providing directions allow an organization or team to be informed simultaneously, reducing confusion and increasing the opportunity for innovation through shared knowledge.

Penley, Alexander and Norton (1983) believed that communication style provides signals for the receiver, enabling the receiver to interpret, filter, or understand literal meaning (p. 47). The receiver categorizes the points the provider transmits using verbal and nonverbal cues. Each leader has his or her own cues that allow the receiver to understand meaning. Without understanding the meaning of the verbal or nonverbal cues, the receiver can misinterpret directions. Therefore, style gives communication both form and function. (Martin,et al, p. 295) The form and function of communication enables others to understand the meaning of what is being communicated.

Suchan (2006) indicated that organizations and researchers spend time and money determining how to change communication style, patterns, and flow. Faber (2002) believed change is a difficult process, and organizations that want to communicate strategy have to change the organizations language and direction. Changing the organizations language and direction allows the organization to redevelop how the organization interprets, delivers, and receives information from all employees. Changing a restrictive communications environment requires organizational leaders to break with past communication assumptions (Suchan, 2006). In some cases, leaders understand their organizational culture and leadership style can prohibit employees from receiving directions.

Employees feel empowered when they are involved with decisions and receive information for input (Martin et al., 2006). Employees feel a sense of personal power and increased job satisfaction when they can freely share information and locate information (Martin et al., 2006). According to Martin et al. (2006), employees are empowered to act and be innovative because effective communications provide the necessary information for actions to occur (p. 299). Researchers believe open communications encourage both individuals and teams to seek information from different sources within the organization (Martin et al., 2006). Accessing information from various sources and through different communication channels and outlets requires cooperation. Martin et al. (2006) believed communication among team members and teams from various departments to be a predictor of employee involvement. Through knowledge sharing, employees and team members can locate information even if it was not readily available.

Communication theorists, such as Bass (1999), believe communication flow reflects the type of managerial leadership within an organization. Communication skills have a direct impact on job performance, job skill level, and career advancement of employees while having a direct correlation with organizational effectiveness (Argyris, 1962). Lateral, vertical, and multi-directional communications are transmitted in specific ways. The vertical style of communication transfers information and knowledge from the top of the organization downward to frontline workers (Spillan et al., 2002). Lateral communication transfers information from one employee to another or within the same department at the same peer level (Spillan et al., 2002). Multi-directional communication transfers knowledge from all directions within the organization simultaneously (Gutterling  Kuttschreuter, 2005).

The flow of communication is indicative of the quality and level of knowledge sharing among managers and employees. Within any organization, divisions and departments provide different communication patterns based on how leadership teams manage employee needs and departmental goals. The effective use of a cohesive communications strategy plays a role in organizational innovation.

Effective Communication
Communication is effective when it contributes to positive effects on innovation or team dynamics. Communication can be effective or ineffective, resulting in negative or positive outcomes for an organization. The effects communication has on a team or organization has been researched in both quantitative and qualitative studies. Communication effectiveness is a popular topic for research because communication is vital to all functions of an organization (Goris et al., 2002, p. 664). Communication is a vital part of leaderships ability to meet environmental pressures and inform stakeholders of organizational goals, beliefs, and direction.

One aspect of communication effectiveness is risk communication. Risk communication affects information transfer, persuasion of dialog and the direction of communication through empirical and theoretical studies (Gurabardhi, Gutteling,  Kuttschreuter, 2005, p. 500). Gurabardhi et al. (2005) described risk communication as a dialogue among all stakeholders that reveals a decision based on the action that is to be implemented.

Conversations and information sharing sessions allow all stakeholders to make informed decisions. Informed decision-making is considered risk communication, because the stakeholder is capable of making his or her own decision without the influence of others. Therefore, organizational stakeholders have subjective ideas that are expressed within the organizational culture. Subjective opinions are risky because communication is fluid and unfiltered, allowing stakeholders to share information liberally.

Risk communication is information that is openly shared through several communication channels at once. The possibility of communication overload exists because there may be too much communication without boundaries. Conversely, too little communication and too many boundaries can cause communication under load. Goris et al. (2002) stated that communication overload consists of too much information and that communication under load results in the need for more information. Communications overload and under load affect employee job congruence, also defined as the job characteristics model, that is the relationship between job performance and job satisfaction (Goris et al., 2002).

Communication and job satisfaction
Job satisfaction is directly correlated to the accuracy of information employees get from their organization. Employees who are less satisfied with their jobs state that the information they receive is inaccurate. Goris et al. (2002) revealed that the accuracy of information and communication load were predictors of job satisfaction (p. 665). Goris et al. (2002) reported that communication overload and under load have a direct effect on employee performance and satisfaction. As a result, communication overloads and under load affects team dynamics and organizational performance, negatively or positively affecting innovation.

Jains (1973) early study showed a positive correlation between communication satisfaction and supervisor job performance. Jains (1973) research provided a questionnaire interview format to examine the relationship between communication effectiveness of hospital supervisors and their job performance as perceived by subordinates. Effective criteria were supervisor behavior, supervisor-subordinate communication frequency and amount, employee knowledge of policies and procedures, employee communication satisfaction, and non-supervisory formal communication channels use.
In a study by Pincus (1986), 327 hospital nurses were surveyed to measure nine communication factors, grouped into three dimensions (a) informational, (b) relational, and (c) informationalrelational. The results reflect that employee perceptions of organizational communication satisfaction relates significantly to both job satisfaction and performance. Data indicates a stronger relationship between communication satisfaction and job satisfaction than communication satisfaction and job performance. Similarly, in a study by Pearce (2004), analysis of the data showed communication satisfaction correlating strongly with staff evaluations, but not correlating significantly with job performance itself.

Clampitt and Downs (1993) used Downs and Hazens (1977) communication satisfaction survey to measure perceptions of eight of the nine factors Pincus (1986) measured. Respondents were 65 employees of a service firm and 110 employees of a manufacturing firm. The respondents perceived all eight communication satisfaction factors as affecting their productivity (a) coworker communication, (b) subordinate communication, (c) supervisory communication, (d) media quality, (e) communication climate, (f) organizational integration, (g) corporate information, and (h) personal feedback. The strongest relationships are between personal feedback, productivity, communication climate, and productivity.

Knowledge sharing within an organization can be explicit, implicit, or tacit. Nonaka (2001) stated that explicit knowledge can shape the knowledge development of others through writing and reading, as well as talking and listening (p. 34). Therefore, explicit knowledge prospers when a communication style is effective. Tacit knowledge cannot be transferred to others by writing or speaking. Tacit knowledge transfer is difficult to achieve despite having different communication styles. According to Nonaka (2001), implicit knowledge is in between explicit and tacit knowledge and can be communicated after an exploration of its full meaning. According to Nonaka (2001), using one form of communication to share knowledge and increase innovation would be too exhaustive to linguistically convey all personal experiences or because some experiences do not lend themselves to thematization (p. 33).

Nonaka (2001) maintained that there are four learning model concepts (a) externalization, (b) combination, (c) internalization, and (d) socialization. Externalization relates to the expression of tacit knowledge and its communication with others, which is clear and comprehensible. Combination converts explicit knowledge into more complex, explicit knowledge. Internalization relates to new knowledge that is translated from explicit knowledge into tacit knowledge. Socialization relates to sharing knowledge among many individuals.

Nonaka (2001) believed that bestowing knowledge is the most favorable way for an organizations staff to share knowledge. To bestow knowledge, an organization has to develop multi-directional communication patterns allowing staff members to communicate with anyone in the organization at any given time. Nonaka (2001) acknowledged, unlike seizing knowledge, bestowing knowledge characterizes individual knowledge development where organizational members make themselves mutually accessible (p. 42). Employees benefit from bestowing knowledge because employees are more helpful to one another and no one person is left to achieve a task alone. Team members and staff work together across departmental lines. Staff members are encouraged to seek and share knowledge by communicating throughout the organization. Nonaka (2001) believed that bestowing knowledge allows staff members to ask for help improving their performances. Multi-directional communication facilitates this knowledge transfer.

Effective Communication and Age and Racial Disparities
Effectiveness of communication is also affected by age or generation gaps. Field (2007) claimed that one of the biggest problems in the workplace is conflict avoidance, by avoiding conflict critical details are never resolved. Lander (2006) added an additional reason that multiple generations struggle in embracing and resolving conflict is that members tend not to communicate well with each other. Lander goes on to say members from all four generations tend to communicate differently members of the Matures and Baby Boomers generations often prefer face-to-face communications and will use the telephone, whereas members of Generations X and Y tend to prefer email and text messaging. Generation X and Y members tend to have less layered, more informational communication styles.

Members of the Matures and Baby Boomers generations are often more structured and prefer formal communication styles Marshall (2004). Despite the communication differences, the answer may be in communication. Rainmaker Thinking, Inc., a Connecticut-based strategic think tank that helps companies manage better the mutigenerational workforce, suggested bringing employees, managers and leadership together to discuss generational differences (Flynn, 1996). The more groups discuss the issues between older and younger workers, the less likely the grudges against work styles will fester. The conundrum is that younger workers may not be willing or capable of communicating well enough to allow multiple generations to work together in a group or as a team.

Racial disparities affect effective communication in the workplace as well. Blacks often face hindrances to effective communication and this affect their workplace performance and promotion.  Although their skills receive acknowledgement, they face hindrances from advancement as these white managers wanted to keep them in tow and wanted to keep them as part organizations (para. 6). According to Maume (1999), analysis showed that African Americans and White women waited longer than did White men for the managerial promotions they received. The findings suggested the impact of a glass escalator for White men, a glass ceiling for Blacks and others, which contradict the notion of a declining significance of race.Oswell (2005) posited that, unless the effects of diversity are well managed, turnover, miscommunication, and interpersonal conflicts may increase, resulting in lower productivity and ultimately lower performance on profit, market share, or other strategic goals. Branch (1998) stated that blacks are not wholly buying into the hype surrounding diversity in the workplace and that majority of them believed that top black executives are in their positions just for the sake of the corporations image. This perception emerged from the observation that companies offer opportunities for black advancement rarely and that the Blacks do not receive similar levels of regard from the senior executives compared to the Whites (Branch, 1998).

In the Aday, Livingston, and Heberts article, the issue of embedding in relation to popular or mass media is assessed and focused upon. In particular, the main argument or thesis of the abovementioned authors is that the news norm is generally influenced by aspects of culture and beliefs instead of merely being driven by actual events to further explain, it is highlighted in article that the while objectivity remains at a suitable degree, implied messages may still be indirectly perceived as events and stories focused are selectively chosen instead of having biased reports (Aday, Livingston, and Hebert 17). Of course, an appropriate approach to prove such a point has been considered and applied for the study. Both American and Iraqi networks, especially in terms of the news programs in which war coverage is featured, have been thoroughly evaluated. Furthermore, aside from particularly assessing the tone of the reporters, the stories tackled in such networks have also been identified (Aday, Livingston, and Hebert 8). Considering that the study incorporated a quantitative approach in measuring the aforesaid aspects, it would only be proper to state that a reliable means of comparison has been used throughout the study.

After discussing a brief background regarding the study reviewed, it would only be proper to focus upon and delineate the specific evidences used to support the thesis. For one, it has been noted in the article that in almost all the networks reviewed maintained a neutral tone of around 90 percent throughout news features (Aday, Livingston, and Hebert 8). Expectedly, results pertaining to the stories emphasized throughout networks may be considered as supportive to the aforesaid argument of the authors. Hence, important evidence brought forth from the results of the study is that American networks did not feature stories which would not support the Iraq war and instead highlighted the recent updates regarding military operations (Aday, Livingston, and Hebert 17). In order to point out cultural differences in terms of news coverage by the Iraqi network, specifically the Al-Jazeera, a similar review of the stories commonly shown has been accomplished. Distinct, from the American networks, Al-Jazeera highlights news on the relevance or the need for a war as well as protests (Aday, Livingston, and Hebert 17). Given such findings, it is undeniable that the argument is undeniably well supported.

Of course, it would also be a worthwhile endeavor to determine whether the abovementioned argument is supported by literature. In relation to this, the role of news and the manner in which stories are discussed and selected may be both represented by both the transmission view and ritual view of communication. To further expound, the two views may be effectively differentiated according to the expressed role of communication the transmission view highlights the need to convey information while the ritual view emphasizes the need to embody beliefs and culture (Carey 15, 18). The concept of the transmission view in part explains the presence of a generally neutral tone in disseminating stories regarding the war, as the accuracy of the information is regarded of utmost importance. As noted beforehand, certain evidences in support of the argument may also be reflected by the ritual view of communication. Specifically, the distinctions between the stories covered and selected between American and Iraqi networks may be explained by the fact that shared beliefs may also be considered as the focus or main rationale of news and discussions. Interestingly, the similarities and distinctions among American and Iraqi networks may also be understood as a means to appeal to the culturally defined demands of their respective geographic location particularly, acceptance and acclaim would only be possible if the audience would be able to appreciate and relate to the expressed by media (Kellner 15).

As one may realize from the supportive points found throughout literature, the findings regarding tone and story selection are in fact rather expectable. In this sense, it may be considered that the authors of the article, as well as those of the mentioned literature, argues against the point that culture and concepts do not affect the manner in which news are presented as objectivity is always upheld. Interesting, others may argue that objectivity cannot be maintained if culture would affect the selection of stories to be covered. However, this point still not be regarded as a possible means of weakening the main argument in the article as such do not denote biases or practices of blatant embedding but merely reflect cultural trends. From a personal perspective, such support for the thesis is rather unsurprising as well. Although, admittedly, realizing that a neutral tone is still generally present throughout mass media, not only in the United States but in other countries as well, is still without doubt an unexpected finding indeed. Given that an appropriate attention to detail has been applied throughout the article, there would be no reason to doubt the reliability of such findings regarding the neutrality of tone. Hence, oversights and evidences which may weaken the argument and thesis maintained throughout the article are not existent.

Throughout the discussion, it has become evident that the argument of the articles authors is not only supported by literature but is also in agreement with personal knowledge of the issue. Specifically, throughout the course an emphasis on the role and impact of culture upon mass media has been maintained and thus after reading such an article such notions are only further confirmed and supported. Furthermore, personally, a better means of understanding the issue of embedded journalists as well as media bias has been developed. To reiterate, among the most vital points made in the article is that embedded journalist still maintained a neural and objective tone in providing war related news (Aday, Livingston, and Hebert 15). Therefore, it may be said that the article is a success in two aspects first in terms of proving that embedding does not compromise objectivity and second in broadening ones views regarding the determinative role of culture.            

Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to explain the work design approaches that Nemiro discovered, when and why they would be useful in future learning teams and the interrelationship between creativity and communication.

There are various kinds of work design approaches. Nemiro discovered that there were three work design approaches which were mostly followed by virtual teams, starting from idea generation and finally ending on the closure of the creative process. According to Nemiro the three work design approaches are called the wheel, the modular and finally the iterative approach (Nemiro, 2004).
Nemiros first work design approach is an example of a communication network in which there is one person, who is the leader and he is the only one who communicates with the team members. In the wheel approach the leader will start the creativity by giving out work to the team members, at his discretion or the subordinated giving their ideas to him. In this approach there is no horizontal communication within the team and moreover it is avoided.

The modular approach, which is Nemros second work design approach, is based on group work. In this approach the team members will first meet and decide what work, design, project etc is to be done. Then once this has been decided, the work will be given out as a group or then, it shall be divided into parts and each member will get a particular part based on his expertise. When everyone is done with their part of the work, the team members will again meet with their completed parts and join them together, resulting in an impressive final product. However in this approach, since each member does his part and there is no involvement of anyone in that part of his, the team loses creativity which comes with two or more than two people thinking about the same thing.

Nemros third work design approach called the iterative approach. This approach is based on the idea of frequent consultation, small brainstorming sessions and frequent interaction between the team members. In this approach each team member does a little part of his work and then presents it in front of all the team members. The team members would then give him feedback on it. Using this feedback he would then work further on his part and this will keep on happening until the project is complete. During this time team members will also interact via email or other informal means in the organization. However it has been seen that this approach is normally integrated with the wheel and modular approach.

However not all approaches are suitable for all situations. It is the virtual team designer who has to decide when and why particular approach will be useful. For instance, in case of the wheel approach, it will work well, only when decision making is in the hands of a superior team leader, who the team members know is here to stay and will be there for a long time. Moreover this approach will be successful only when each team member trusts the other to complete the part assigned to that team member and this will happen only when the work of one team member does not require the advice of another team member.

Besides this, this approach will work for future learning teams who are eager to give their input on things, when the team leader takes the input of each member individually and utilizes it in the project.
Similarly the modular approach will work well with future learning teams when the task on hand is such that it can be broken into parts and given to each member of the team based on his experience and expertise in that field.  This approach will work well when, the work once allotted, does not require feedback from anyone because the member is already an expert in that department. Another advantage of this approach is that, there is full accountability of each team member, regarding the work he has done. This is possible because that individual was the only one working on that part and hence no one else can be held responsible if anything was wrongly done.

Moreover many people do not like a dictatorial way of working and this approach gives them that. This is because this approach is more on the lines of democracy.

Nemros third work design approach will be useful in future learning teams because this approach works well with certain situations as well. When the project is big, there is a lot of time available on hand. When this is the case, team members have enough time to do a little part of their work and then sit down and discuss it, thereby getting feedback. This approach will work well with future learning teams because, now a days the trend is to give open and honest feedback. When feedback will be honest, the person getting the feedback will be able to improve his work.

Similarly future learning teams will also benefit because, there is a well designed system for communication. Communication is the backbone of any organization. When the system of communication is well defined, team members can effectively give their thoughts and feedback. However it is also essential that team members can take constructive criticism and are not hurt or become annoyed by those points of views which do not conform to their own point of view.
There has been a lot of improvement and innovation in technology in the past few years. Future learning teams will be exposed to even more innovations. Hence this approach will also help them because an essential part of it is, sharing of views and ideas via technology and less through meetings.

When we say that teams are creative and are coming up with innovative ideas, this means that they are communicating. Only when a team will communicate within itself can it agree on a single idea which is acceptable to all and can be presented to the higher ups as the teams idea. This shows that there is definitely an interrelationship between creativity and communication. Creativity is actually the ability to imagine new, unusual and unique ideas (Rigie M, 2009). However all these idea and thoughts would be of no use if they are not communicated to the team, so that they can be deliberated over and it can be decided if an idea should be pursued further.

I have seen in my personal experience that many people among the team have very good ideas, which can benefit the company and give a good name to the team as a whole. But some of these people with idea are too shy and may be even worried how their idea will be reacted to during team meetings. This causes them, not to put forward their idea, when the time is right. Instead they talk about it to a person or two alone and when its too late. I would like to implement the informal rule that every member has to give some idea or the other. This will encourage such member to come forward with their ideas, which will ultimately benefit the team.

In dealing with the circumstances which life provides for us, we usually resort to certain mechanisms which can make it easier for us to handle our circumstances. Particularly with our personal or professional happenstances, not everything that is there evoke a morsel of light laughter or cheery disposition. Sometimes, there would be trying times that will test our character and our mode of adaptation (Solso 1988). In times like these, it is very important for us to have a great knowledge about the two effective mechanisms which can largely help during these times  critical thinking and creative problem solving.

Critical thinking and creative problem solving are two mechanisms which we can use to get the better out of the tests we encounter everyday. Both of these mechanisms demand an utmost maximization of our mental capabilities as they are both propelled by our capacity to think and analyze our situation.

Critical thinking gives us the privilege of seeing the complexities that lie beneath a particular object or situation. This mechanism forces us to push the limits we subconsciously set to ourselves by not being easily fooled by what we see on the surface. Instead, we stretch our views and dare to scrutinize the underlying structures which can be found in every situation. On my part, whenever I go shopping, I do not easily get persuaded to buy something just by merely looking at the brand name of a certain product. I am aware that looking only at the brand name does not guarantee the quality of a product. I also consider the reputation of the producer and closely look at the texture, the appearance, and if applicable, the color of the product which I am planning to buy. This particular example is one of the many ways by which critical thinking can be manifested. It only shows that by having a critical mind, we exhaust all the factors that can be looked at and analyzed before coming up with a decision. More so, even if we have already come up with a decision, that decision will still be open to changes and never final and absolute. A critical thinker acknowledges the fact that there can be no absolute idea so a ceaseless dialogue must be maintained open to constantly update their validities. Upon reconsideration, we might arrive at the epiphany that this acknowledgement of not having an absolute idea only goads and support our critical thinking.

A critical thinker definitely must not settle too easily on a particular idea or standpoint. He does not stop from questioning and encouraging the idea that their can be other, better alternatives. When I was choosing a leader for the organization where I was member and the candidates were each given the chance to speak to all of us and share their rostrums, I did not stop from listening even after I thought that one candidate has already spoken the best possible vision I can hear. After staying to hear what the others have to say, I was proven wrong. There was an even better candidate than the first one. This case only shows how a critical thinker must not rest after being impressed by one. He must be open to the possibility of having more greatness to come and must not get easily satisfied with what are already there.

Like the critical thinker, a creative problem solver also has that rare ability of seeing beyond the physical level of things (Burton 1960). Solving a problem is already difficult. You must know the possible roots of the problem and must be able to think several ways by which the problem can be addressed. When the options are already laid out, you must have the acuity in deciding what options you should use. Certainly, solving a problem with an accompanying creativity is a much harder thing to do.

In doing this, we are able to understand the complexities of the problem we are facing, formulate possible solutions and actually apply that solution in a manner that is engagingly amusing. In that sense, problem solving becomes a fun thing to do since we are doing it in a creative way. We are solving a problem not only for the sake of solving it we are solving it while we are also tapping our creative senses.

One personal experience I can share which relates to this is when  I found out that I did not have enough money after I already ordered some drinks in a quite fancy restaurant. After sweating out profusely and getting paranoid thinking upon what to do, my creativity in looking at the problem worked wonders for me. First, I calmed myself and pretended that nothing was amiss. Then, I spotted a decent-looking woman who was sitting alone in a table near my right.

What I did was approach her, carry my drinks with me and asked her politely if I can sit with her. She was apparently surprised at my gesture but nonetheless agreed. I interestedly conversed with her and she seemed to find me likable. When I felt that I have already broken the ice between us, I told her about my predicament and asked her if she can offer me some help. I just promised that I would repay her when we go out. To my joy, she agreed After that, I remunerated her when we already got to my place  and we remained friend since

This case exemplifies creative problem solving as a mechanism that involves delicate processing and executions of plans that often only applies to circumstances which are not-so often encountered.

Having said that, it ought to be clear that creative problem solving gives a nice twist to the ways we respond to our misfortunes. We get rid of the excessive worrying as we bear in mind that there are several ways to clean up the mess. Hence, this mechanism changes our perspectives as well. It instills to us that dilemmas exist to be overcome and in attempting to do that, we can resort to several fun and easy-to-do ways.

Creative problem reflexes our mental nerves. It constantly reminds us that there is no single formula in solving our problems that there are limitless ways of troubleshooting and it is up to us on how can we discover and apply the solving ways we have known. Like critical thinking, it does not give us the immobilizing privilege of resting on a seemingly paramount ground. Rather, both mechanisms encourage restlessness in exploring the possibilities in order to come up with the best answer (Solso 1988).
 
Ultimately, that counts as the focal point and clear advantage of these mechanisms. Both confer to the individual the power to take over his problem and avoid those problems ruining his day. These mechanism only prove that the individual has the potentials which he must only realize. Critical thinking allows him to endlessly ponder upon his immediate situation, consider all factors and give scrutinizing peeks at every facet. As an end, it allows us to come up with a sharp and staunch answer that is borne out of rigorous analysis. Meanwhile, creative problem solving lets us navigate through the extensive realm of solutions to whatever dilemma we are currently into. These navigations will only lead us to the discovery of solutions that can come in amusing forms. Later, we will find ourselves enjoying what we are doing and the problem eases off in our minds. With these two mechanisms, our circumstances can never faze us yet again, we will always be equipped with the knowledge that we have control over our circumstances and with careful actions, we can breeze through them and live a more burden-free life.

Popular forms of media, such as movies and television, are thought of as windows to the world so much that majority of individuals believes that the cultural connotations, portrayal of individual ethnicities, and characterization of different races that are shown to them are based on reality however most of what is seen is meant to entertain and caters to the amusement of the audience and as a result truth is blended with fiction to such an extent that fiction is at times  mistaken for reality.

Sometimes these impressions can have a negative impact on how a particular ethnic group is thought of in reality. In movies and television different races and ethnicities always seem to have their own unique characterization so much that they are rarely seen as anything else - an example of this is the characterization of African Americans as loving to wear bling (a.k.a expensive, shiny forms of jewelry), or that nearly all of them are gang affiliated, love to fight, have tattoos and have their head shaved bald. In reality, this may not be necessarily true as evidenced by the current U.S. President who is an African American and does not fit the image portrayed by the popular media. Another ethnic group that is commonly portrayed in movies and television shows are Asians. Common connotations associated with them are an inability to be understood, lack of English language understanding, possessing strange accents and lastly a belief that a majority of Asians seen on the streets are of Chinese origin. Such discrepancies are common due to their portrayal in popular culture however a distinction should be made between the fiction that is being portrayed in movies, TV series etc., and actual facts on how these ethnic groups actually are in reality. This paper focuses on the difference between how Asians are portrayed in popular media through their characterizations, cultural connotations attributed to them and how they actually are in normal setting. This paper also seeks to prove that the portrayal of Asians in popular culture such as in movies and TV shows is geared towards entertainment and not as a portrayal of actual facts.

Different Characterizations of Asians in Popular Culture
One of the most popular portrayals of Asian Americans is their characterization as foreigners who cannot be assimilated due to the fact that they are culturally and racially different from what can be considered a normal American. There is an ongoing notion that people of Asian decent are unable to be incorporated into American society due to the fact that anything Asian is by its nature alien or different to America. This notion is shown in the media by the large number of unassimilated Asian characters in movies speaking with foreign accents or in a foreign language that is hard to be comprehended or understood. An example of this would be when the main character in a movie visits a Chinese run store, goes to Chinatown or barges into a Chinese restaurant. In nearly all of these cases, we find an old Chinese woman shouting in a high pitched tone at the main character and speaking in Chinese or if they do speak English it is usually broken English (a form of speaking English wherein a person abruptly stops a sentence without a flow of continuity to the next) which is heavily accented in a comedic way. This portrayal suggests that anything Asian must be considered distinctly separate from regular American society since it cannot be understood or interpreted. This notion is highly flawed since most of the descendents of Asian immigrants have acculturated themselves to such an extent that the way they talk, think and even interact with people is distinctly American with hardly any traces of their past culture, and most importantly of all, they can be understood rather easily in fact, at times they speak better English than some White Americans.

In some movies and television shows people of Asian descent are portrayed as being inherently predatory in a sense that they take from country without giving anything back or are from a criminal background and wish to gain more money and power through illegal means. An example of this would be in the movie Falling Down, wherein the white main character accuses a grocer of Asian descent (Korean) of using American resources without trying to fit into American society. This accusation justifies the action of the lead character when he destroys the grocery store. Another movie Rising Sun portrays another situation that discriminates Asians when Japanese businessmen attempt to take over American industry through murder and deceit. Several other movies and TV episodes ranging from Rush Hour 1, 2, 3 as well as The Shadow and L.A. Confidential have portrayed the numerous Chinatowns as breeding grounds of crime. Such portrayal maligns hard working Asian businessmen who strive to become pillars of their community and who pay their taxes on time, wherein most Chinatowns hardly have a criminal element similar to what is portrayed in popular culture.

An ongoing theme in movies involving Asian Americans is a certain restriction to clichd occupations that are again and again, such as the Chinese being restaurant workers, Koreans as grocers, the Japanese as business men, and other careers attached specifically to Asians martial artists, Buddhist monks, miracle healers, laundry workers and scantily clad prostitutes. While it may be true that at some point in Americas history when a lot of Asians immigrated to the U.S. those were the only sorts of jobs they could get at that time however what was true then is not true now since the current Asian workforce is rather diverse and consists of individuals of a plethora of different professional backgrounds not limited to what is portrayed in popular media.

Since Asian racial features, their names, accents, unique mannerisms and other distinctive Asian characteristics are less common in the United States, movies and TV shows often use them for quick and easy gags or just as a way to bring out a cheap laugh. An example of this would be the thick accent of the funny Chinese exchange student in Sixteen Candles--who is given the name Long Duk Dong which is used for cheap laughs at this expense, or the twins from the movie Austin Powers Goldmember who are named Fook Mi and Fook Yu the hidden connotations of their name are apparent when combined with the sexually liberated Austin Powers jokes.

In the realm of sexuality popularly portrayed by the mass media, the concept of Asian male sexuality is usually seen as negative, cold and non-existent while Asian women on the other hand are frequently portrayed as sensual and exotic partners for white men. Some examples of this would be in the movies Sayonara, and The World of Suzie Wong, to name a few. Unfortunately, though Asian men never seem to have a positive relationship when paired with women of any race, this is similar to what is also happening to African Americans when they are portrayed in popular media. In such cases, for both Asian and African American men, the relationships do not work out and end badly. A popular example would be the film Wax Museum starring Paris Hilton where she was portrayed as having a sexual relationship with an African American male and towards the end of the film would wound up dead. On the other hand, Asian men are shown as either corrupters of white women or as eunuchs lacking any sort of feeling whatsoever. An example of which would be the movie Showdown in Little Tokyo, wherein the Asian villain sexually forces himself on a white woman and kills her before threatening the Asian female love interest. When such cases are presented to the public, they at times carry the connotation that a bi-racial relationship would end badly, however most bi-racial relationships are exactly the same as any other whether the party involved is a male or female Asian.

In the movie Daughter of the Dragon, the daughter of Fu Manchu sees a British detective and falls in love with him at first sight, the movies The Bounty and Come See the Paradise also have scenes where an Asian woman falls in love with a white man at first sight. It is rather obvious what the recurring theme in these movies is and what they are trying to portray, namely that Asian women are romantically attracted to white men because the men are white. This insinuates that the whiteness of a persons skin is inherently more important than any other romantic quality and also more appealing than any other skin color. This sends the wrong message about Americanized Asians, since a lot of Asian women marry Caucasians partially because the likelihood of meeting one is greater due to the sheer number present, most of the time most ethnicities, if given a choice, tend to stick to their own kind so to speak.

Another concept portrayed by popular media is that Asian women are China dolls in that they are often shown as being exotic, subservient, industrious, compliant, and above all eager to please their male partners. While this may be somewhat true in original Asian countries where most Asians come from, this is often not case of Americanized Asians since they normally possess the strong sense of independence and liberation associated with American women. Cultural attitude is the source of how most people tend to act and since a lot of Americanized Asians were born and grew up in the U.S., they adopted the traits inherent in the population of the country itself.

 A rather interesting concept of Asian women is that they are dragon ladies in that Asian women are inherently violent, scheming, untrustworthy, and would back stab you should the chance come up. The nickname dragon lady came from the Asian villainess in the vintage comic strip Terry and the Pirates. Some examples of this particular stereotype are the daughter of Fu Manchu and the gangsters molls in The Year of the Dragon as well as other numerous Chinese women in some Bruce Lee movies.

One rather unique and ill-conceived notion of Asian Americans is that they are a model minority. This particular portrayal occurred when the Asian American communitys concerns over media images which portrayed them in a bad light caused some producers to make good-faith effort to create more positive portrayals. What happened was that some of these portrayals went too far in other direction and depicted Asians so flawless that they practically lost their humanity. One particular image that has proliferated itself due to popular culture is that Asian Americans are over-achievers with little emotional life, an example of it is the Asian American classmate in the canceled TV sitcom Pearl. In such a situation, it can be just as bad as a negative portrayal since the expectations set upon by virtue of their supposed ability can be just as daunting.

In most movies involving mysticism, magic or fantasy origin of a certain unique power or gift from Asia is often used as a quick and convenient reason for a person or an object to have a certain magical or supernatural element to it. In the movie The Shadow, the titular character Lamont Cranston supposedly acquired his mental powers of invisibility from the mysterious East. Due to popular media, there is a growing assumption that Asian cultures are based on mysticism and strange magic such that they can defy the physical reality of the world. While it may be true that in some instances of fiction Asian magic shows itself to be force to be reckoned with, most Asians if not all have hardly a drop of magic in them, the concept of Asian cultures being based on magic is just that concept with no real basis on reality which has been exaggerated by the mass media and entertainment industry to ridiculous heights.

Experiences with Unmediated Asians Mall Visit
When going out with four Asian friends to the nearby mall to get out of the repressive heat you would not think from the sound of their voices that they were Asian at all. They did not have the shrilly high pitched voices of an angry Chinese woman that you get to see in movies nor did they have broken English but rather spoke it clearly and easily. Further evidence of this would be the types of clothes they wore. The two female friends of mine wore spaghetti strap shirts from Gap along with shorts made out of Denim from Banana Republic and wore Hawaiians slippers while the two guys in our group wore Levis jeans, brand name shoes and DG shirts. In other words, they had the same American obsession over brand name goods as the rest of the population and were living up to the American culture. We dropped by a family owned McDonalds that one of my friends family members owned and had a snack there while she talked to her father who was the owner manager of the store.

This particular situation showed the Asians within the U.S. are not limited to certain job stereotypes as shown in movies and on TV. Rather, they have a very diverse career portfolio. Not only that but two of my friends were actually in a relationship with Native American and another Asian, so the supposed love at first sight connotation due to the skin color of the person in some movies was far from the truth. Another concept to address is the supposed China doll connotation attributed to Asian women. In this case, it is far from truth since my Asian friends who were girls were actually into kick boxing and also somewhat tomboyish, so that concept really does not seem to apply to the common stereotypes. In the sitcom Pearl we can see a situation wherein Asians are shown as being overachievers. Unfortunately though, the case with my friends it not like that at all.  This also goes to prove that what is shown by popular culture is not always the case in reality.

Conclusion
What is portrayed by popular culture and in the movies is not always true. In fact, the reality of how things really are would make anyone to realize that what is being shown is nothing more than satire aimed at trying to make people laugh or entertained with little connection to how reality is actually like. In this essay about how Asians have been portrayed by the media, you can come to realize, especially if you have Asian friends who have been raised in the U.S. that they are no different from you or me. The preconceived notions that have been developed about Asians are nothing more than fabrications of the entertainment industry and everything you see on TV and in the movies is not how the world actually is like.

1. The word ethics derives from the Greek word ethos, which means
a. truth above all else.
b. traditions that govern a culture.
c. fairness to all humans.
d. respect for the rights of others.
e. and justice for all.

2. Which ethical question is raised by a reporter who creates composite characters in hisher articles to illustrate certain situations
a. fairness
b. privacy
c. truthfulness
d. responsibility
e. bias

3. When government officials intentionally mislead the press and public, they are engaging in an act of
a. misrepresentation.
b. distortion.
c. disinformation.
d. damage control.
e. political rhetoric.

4. Washington Post reporter Janet Cooke lost her job because she had
a. made up information.
b. created a composite character for a news story.
c. relied on insider friendships.
d. been caught in a conflict of interest.
e. broken off her romance with the managing editor.

5. When reporters go on free trips andor are given free passes to entertainment events, it could result in
a. checkbook journalism.
b. misrepresentation.
c. conflict of interest.
d. disinformation.
e. distortion.

6. Which overriding ethical question is raised when the media report that a famous person is suffering from AIDS
a. Is this a conflict of interest
b. Has the person been defamed
c. Is the story in poor taste
d. Is it an invasion of the persons privacy
e. Is the person going to file a lawsuit

7. The media faces all of these ethical issues except
a. Fairness
b. Truthfulness
c. Responsibility
d. Privacy
e. None of the above

8. Making decisions based on principles that you want to be universally applied is an example of
a. Kants categorical imperative.
b. Aristotles golden mean.
c. Rawls veil of ignorance.
d. Fromms treatise on love and mutual respect.
e. John Stuart Mills principle of utility.

9. The journalistic concept of fairness is reflected in
a. Kants categorical imperative.
b. Fromms treatise on love and mutual respect.
c. Aristotles golden mean.
d. Mills principle of utility.
e. Rawls veil of ignorance.

10. Which of the following best describes Rawls veil of ignorance
a. Be gentle and kind with those less fortunate and intelligent.
b. Love your neighbor as yourself.
c. Moral virtue is the appropriate location between two extremes.
d. Justice emerges when negotiating without social differentiation.
e. Truth is found by weighing the merits of arguments of each side and reaching a compromise.

11. Codes of ethics established by professional and industry groups
a. have the force of law, and violators can be prosecuted.
b. are voluntary and have no penalties.
c. strictly regulate the personal and professional conduct of journalists.
d. have the force of law, but are rarely enforced.
e. must be approved by regulatory bodies, such as the FTC and FCC.

12. In most cases, a reporter who makes an ethical mistake
a. could go to jail.
b. will be forced to pay damages.
c. could be sued for libel or invasion of privacy.
d. will not face a lawsuit.
e. will be fined by hisher news organization.

13. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) code
a. was abolished after a decision by a federal judge that the provisions violated the First Amendment.
b. offers guarantees to broadcasters under the First Amendment.
c. is the broadcast and cable industries most effective form of self-regulation.
d. was the first of the ethical codes established by professional media organizations.
e. all of the above

14. The U.S. medias response to media criticism has included
a. the creation of a national news council.
b. employing readers representatives.
c. creating correction boxes in newspapers.
d. creating their own rules for ethical behavior.
 e. all of the above

15. A readers representative (ombudsperson)
a. is also usually the editor of the paper.
b. is never responsible for the correction box in the paper.
c. acts as a go-between from the public to the newsroom.
d. is not allowed to criticize the papers actions.
e. is hired by the public to oversee local news operations.

16. Which of the following is an example of unethical journalistic behavior
a. Janet Cookes Jimmys World story
b. a stock columnists providing advance information to friends
c. journalists accepting a free trip to Disney World
d. altering photographs to indicate something that is not true
e. all of the above

17. A news council
a. is required by law in every U.S. city.
b. has ultimate enforcement power over media.
c. reveals the medias mistakes to the public.
d. reviews complaints from the public and reports its findings to the offending news organization.
e. reviews complaints from the public and has the authority to file civil suits against offending news organizations.

18. Which of the following ethical breaches was not involved in the case of Jayson Blair and The New York Times
a. plagiarized material from other new sources
b. concocted scenes
c. insider friendships
d. fabricated comments and quotes
e. misrepresentation of reporting location

19. Disinformation is the practice of
a. government misleading the media to achieve its objectives with the public.
b. lying by reporters.
c. a reporters making up quotations.
d. an editors suppressing a news story.
e. using a computer to alter the content of a photograph.

20. Situational ethics, often applied by journalists to their reporting, may at any time involve which of the following philosophical principles
a. Aristotles golden mean
b. Mills principle of utility
c. Rawls veil of ignorance
d. Judeo-Christian view of persons as ends in themselves
e. any combination of the above

21. When former NBC employee Maria Shriver used her contacts at NBC to keep the author of a book about her husband, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, from appearing on NBCs Today Show, which ethical principle was breached
a. truthfulness
b. fairness
c. responsibility
d. privacy
e. all of the above

22. Which of the following is an example of checkbook journalism
a. Walt Disney Worlds paying expenses for journalists attending a Disney event
b. People Magazines making a donation to charity in return for a picture of pregnant actress Angelina Jolie
c. CNNs reporters blending in with Fish and Wildlife agents during a raid on a ranch in Montana
d. A freelance photojournalists ramming the car of actress Lindsay Lohan in order to get photographs of her reaction
e. Payment by a public relations firm to syndicated columnist Armstrong Williams to promote No Child Left Behind legislation to African-Americans

23. Which of the following activities runs counter to the Society of Professional Journalists ethical guideline to act independently
a. A freelance photojournalists ramming the car of actress Lindsay Lohan in order to get photographs of her reaction.
b. Washington Post reporter Janet Cookes admitted fabrication of an 8-year-old heroin addict from a composite of several children she had interviewed.
c. CNNs reporters blending in with Fish and Wildlife agents during a raid on a ranch in Montana
d. The Des Moines Registers disclosure of rape victim Nancy Ziegenmeyers name with Ziegenmeyers voluntary cooperation.
e. None of the above.

24. When the Detroit Free Press published a column by author Mitch Albom in which he reported that certain former Michigan State basketball players had attended a game they hadnt, based on interviews he had done before the game, which ethical principle was violated
a. privacy
b. insider friendships
c. fairness
d. truthfulness
e. conflict of interest

25. Which of the following is not true of the Code of Conduct of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB)
a. It was later the basis of the code of the Radio-Television News Directors Association.
b. It applied to both news reporting and entertainment programming.
c. Compliance with the code was represented by display of the NAB Seal of Approval.
d. It was struck down in 1976 by a U. S. Federal court.
e. It specified that programs involving violence should present the consequences of violence to victims and perpetrators.

In order for a company to succeed, it needs all the vital information required both from the field and it customers so as to improve its standards of offering both services and products to the customers. Collaborative technologies are changing the way business is conducted, while maintaining the trusted relationships that exist between participants in the business process. Executives in highly competitive markets need to understand the concepts behind collaborative solutions and how they can be implemented to improve productivity and relationships with customers, suppliers, and partners in order to remain competitive hence maintaining its image to the public.

Dell is a company that deals with the manufacturing of technology that are widely use all over the world as they have computers, laptops PCs ipods and all related technology used for communication. It is one of the growing industries well known for their high quality technology that comes fully installed with all the software that will ease communication process. Dell in partnership with skype allowed users of this technology to access internet easily and also provided them with easy access to skype voice and video internet calling software. Also the Dell users will be able to pre-load skype on the XPS 2010, a unique mobile internet system with a high definition display with integrated webcam and this partnership has helped Dell to remain competitive in the market.

Some of the collaborative services available to organizations include
Collaborative Consolidation (Technology Assessment) There are loads of collaborative technologies on the market today that support a host of critical business functions including online meetings, training, projecttask management, document sharing, application sharing, etc. Dell has been well known to be the first technology that uses skype and Yugma to render education services to distant learners who are taking an online program in universities and they live in a different state as Dell is designed in a way that accepts both skype and Yugma to function at the same time with each set to perform different functions. Most of the lecturers can prepare and upload related handout material, and email reminders logged on skype at the appointed hour and as soon participants log in and they can involve in a discussion as well without any problem. At the other hand Yugmas enhanced version includes the ability to record and playback the presentations at a later date. There is also a provision for making all of the hosts illustrations view only. The Dell Video Chat powered by Sight Speed is an application that comes installed on the Linux build of Dells inspiration mini 9 devices which is also installed on windows XP version which enables the users who have Dell to design spontaneous video calling and worldwide telephone calling, hence paving way for easy, high quality and face to face communication from any broadband connection

 Selecting the right technology for your specific needs can be challenging. In addition, often larger enterprises have had groups pick a variety of different collaboration technologies, and when these become overwhelming (in terms of support and management costs) often IT wants the enterprise to consolidate collaboration technologies. This can be a difficult and challenging process
Skype is a synchronous communication tool used for communication over the Internet.  Skype users chat using text, audio, or even video. As a computer-to-computer communication device, communicating with Skype is free and is the primary focus of this evaluation. However, the software can be used to telephone landlines or mobiles at a low rate hence making an organization to save a substantial amount of money which is used in buying airtime. An organization can apply for a local number that people can call using their telephones for a monthly fee which is cost effective to an organization. Using the text-based group chat available on Skype, up to 50 officials within an organization can interact within a given chat with the executives. This chat can be bookmarked and members can return to the room for either a prearranged board meetings or for group meetings on a collaborative project.  The moderator has the ability to set the access permissions so that the organization can be somewhat secure from outside parties.  As well, posting guidelines can be set for workers reminding them of major outcomes, etiquette guidelines or schedules.

Within Skype Chat, the participants also have the ability to Conference Call with each other thus taking advantage of Skypes main function the Audio Call, where up to 5 users can conference together (10 with a powerful computer). Thus, Skype can be used to collaborate with others using audio while the basic Skype package lacks the features of other commercial web collaborating programs such as Elluminate Live, it is important to mention that using the Extras under the Do More menu, the features of Skype can be expanded at a cheaper price to include a whiteboard, application sharing, document collaboration, text-to-audio translating and even conferencing with up to 500 people with hand raising and recording of the session.

Overall, Skype is a powerful synchronous communication tool with many applications in distance organizations like Dell. Dell basically uses skype to bring workers, executives together over a distance and collaborate in real-time for projects, seminars or even shared browsing.  Furthermore, its features can be enhanced to compete with that of expensive commercial applications, such as Elluminate Live, at very little expense.

Yugma Skype is unique software used by Dell for desktop sharing capability and providing a free basic desktop sharing service that can have as many as ten participants in a desktop sharing session. Session recording and file sharing options makes it a more feature rich platform. Going forward they are looking to introduce features which provide single application sharing, tighter linkage to voice conferencing services and a Face book interface as well as to migrate user interfaces currently available in the general Yugma desktop sharing application to Yugma Skype.

These software are very effective as on the other hand they support  and allows individuals and organizations like the Dell to easily meet, present information, demonstrate products online, and collaborate on documents, thereby improving communication with employees, partners, customers, prospects, students and online communities. Yugma is available as a free basic service, as well as a premium service, available on a paid subscription basis. The free version may be sponsored by advertising, which is visible to users of the free version. In order for an organization to be able to use this service it must register and provide some information about the company and you will also be required to update the information about the organization so as to keep Yugma current and if they discover the information given is inaccurate they may terminate your rights to access and receive the product immediately upon notice.

Yugma allows the registered user to easily meet present information, demonstrate products online and collaborate on documents, thereby improving communication with employees, partners, customers, prospects, students and online communities. Yugma offers free and paid-subscriptions services if you subscribe to a paid-subscription service, your subscription will continue and renew automatically at the existing service level unless terminated by Yugma or until you notify Yugma of your decision to cancel your subscription. For an organization it will be cheaper to use the credit card as it will be economical to the company.

When confronted with a new technology, individuals try to understand it in terms of their existing technological frames, often augmenting these frames to accommodate special aspects of the technology. If the technology is sufficiently different, however, these existing frames may be inappropriate, and individuals will need to significantly modify their technological frames in order to understand or interact effectively with the new technology. How users change their technological frames in response (Neilson 1997, p.42).

The main aim and objectives of using collaborative technologies in an organization is to cut on the costs used on communication which most are post paid and gives the employees in that organization an opportunity to misuse office phones. For example Dell is cost effective as it comes fully installed and supports all the communication software as other technology software that perform the same function can not be supported if installed all at once.

For a collaboration strategy to add value to the business, the plans for improvement must be measurable, held accountable by the business, the Chief Information Officers (CIOs) must be able to show the concrete results of initiatives. Both quantitative and qualitative measures can play an important role, but they must be meaningful and they must probe deeper than a simple analysis of financial costs and returns. It can be difficult to measure the effects of collaboration, but that doesnt mean the value cant be found.

Why choose these tools
As Gartner Research asserts
Illustrative cost savings can be conceiving, even if they are not very precise. For example, describe a particular process currently performed in the organization and state how it could be changed by applying the proposed investments. Will the process take less time, have fewer steps and fewer errors, and will better decisions be made as a result of these investments It is fairly simple to translate these expected improvements into illustrative money savings. These benefits can manifest themselves as increased productivity, less travel, fewer labor requirements and fewer errors. Or sometimes a particularly powerful idea can lead indirectly to enterprise wide changes in culture, increases in revenue or greater market share.

How ICT support different forms of collaboration between and within organizations.
Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) support different forms of collaboration between and within organizations thus reducing expenditure on communication within the organization, training and many others. This is to the advantage of advances in Information Technology (IT) that have changed ways of communication in organization and delivery of services within the organization and the society at large, and the best example being Dell which has their technology installed with all the necessary software that support collaborative ness. Some new delivery technologies using for example electronic learning (e-learning) in virtual programs, internet courses delivery strategies, audio and video communications have changed and challenged ways of knowledge delivery in the education sector and also in organizations where they organize for in house training of their employees. The current trend in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has brought a phenomenon which can be termed a fourth revolution in IT. The first revolution comprised of films, radio, television and satellite broadcasting, while the second comprised telecommunications and microcomputers (Paisley, 1985).The integration of telecommunications and microelectronic technology in computing was termed a third revolution and came to be what is called Information Technology (IT).

The advantages of Dell have been recognized worldwide and national policy makers have realized the potential of these to restructure organizations, promote collaboration, increase democratic participation of citizens, improve the transparency and responsiveness of governmental agencies, make health care more widely available, foster cultural creativity and enhance the social integration of individuals with different abilities and groups of different cultural background (Kozma, 2005). The policies crafted should aim at programs that promote economic and social growth in societies.

Conclusion

If all the organization adopt collaborative technology like skype and Yugma, built and made better by the Dell company, it will end up saving lots of money used for traveling to different places for training, communication or meetings as this collaborative technology can allow organization to share files, messages converted to audio and video which will enable most of the organization to hold meetings for all branches at the same time. This technology if taken with serious consideration, an organization will achieve the best hence making it to remain competitive throughout.

The Agenda-Setting Theory of Communication was introduced by Maxwell McCombs and Donald L. Shaw in 1972 in their ground breaking study of the role of the media in 1968 presidential campaign in  HYPERLINK httpen.wikipedia.orgwikiChapel_Hill,_North_Carolina o Chapel Hill, North Carolina Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

The theory clearly states that the mass media, particularly the news media has a large influence to the audience of the same environment regarding on their choice of what news or story is worth believing.

This theory also answers why people with similar media exposure gives importance on the same issues. Although different people have different perceptions about issues at hand, most of the people feel the same issues are important.

The Agenda-Setting Theory comes from a scientific perspective, because it predicts that if people are exposed to the same media, they will place importance on the same issues.It has explanatory power because it explains why most people prioritize the same issues as important.

Scientific perspective gives the idea that knowledge could only be acquired through empirical, measurable and observable occurrences. According to Chaffee  Bergers 1997 Criteria for Scientific Theories, Agenda-Setting Theory has a great conceptualization because it has these major qualities it has predictive power because it predicts that if people are exposed to the same media, they will feel the same issues are important, it is easy to understand, it can be proven unreal becauseif people arent exposed to the same media, they wont feel the same issues are important, its meta-theoretical (philosophical discussion of the foundations, structure, or results of some theory, such as meta mathematics, (ref Collins English Dictionary)assumptions are balanced on the scientific side, it is subjected for further research and, has organizing power because it helps organize existing knowledge of media effects.

Media is very powerful, thats why there is a belief that once an issue is published on the newspaper, shown on the television and heard on radio, whether it is true or not the majority of the peoples response is for the affirmative side, not until after an investigation is conducted.

Agenda-setting theory best fits in a scenario of political campaign during election for future government leaders, wherein politicians put their best efforts to beautify their names. This is achieved through different modern and old fashioned techniques.

These gimmicks are being feasted by media people for their scoop and news features including the candidates caucuses together with the members of their parties, composition of campaign songs and giving of campaign paraphernalia, motorcades, debates, forums and many more publicity stunts.
During the campaign period, the candidates will persuade people to vote for them by saying good things about their past, what they have done for the public and their plans and programs for the future.

Infomercials are also very advantageous for the candidates to connect with the people and to create awareness about who they are and why the public need to vote for them its up to the audience if they will believe the contents of the infomercial or not.

Some candidates also put some stain on their opponents reputation by doing a black propaganda which means, false material where the source is disguised. It is  HYPERLINK httpencyclopedia.thefreedictionary.comPropaganda propaganda that declares to be from a source on one side of a conflict, but is actually from the opposing side. It is typically used to embarrass or misrepresent the enemy.

By the time these things are shown to public different feedbacks will occur and the people will judge whether it is believable or not. Numerous teams of supporters will be formed who truly trust a candidate and from these supporters, detractors will also be present to oppose their candidates rival.
Now let us go back to the discussion of theory itself. The agenda setting theory has its components. First is the Public Agenda wherein the concerns are discussed personally to the members of the public, next is the Media Agenda in which issues are discussed through media like television, radio and newspaper, third is the Policy Agenda are issues that talks about the importance of policy makers and lastly, Corporate Agenda wherein the subject matter is about the significance of big businesses and corporations.

These functions are somehow relative to each other and are essential matters of the agenda setting theory.

Another dramatic example for the agenda-setting theory is the issue of cigarette smoking in America. Prior to 1970, smoking was a major social problem in America wherein millions of people die because of cancer but it was not a very important issue, then after 25 years almost 30 million Americans quit smoking. How did this problem become an issue The answer is the anti-smoking issue got on public agendas (citizens group lobbied for legislation to force the airline industry to ban smoking on all flights), media agendas (fewer characters, both heroes and villains now smoke in primetime television shows), and policy agendas (Los Angeles pioneered in banning smoking in all restaurants that spreads to other cities). (Reference Communication Concept 6, Agenda Setting by authors James W. Dearing and Everett M. Rogers,)

These examples proves that the agenda-setting theory may be an effective replacement for individual-level or direct media effects because, essentially public agenda setting also pertains on the indirect effect to an individual, or what to think about not only on the direct effect of the media, or what to think. It gives a deeper effect to the people or to the audience.

Every theory must have a thorough research and several applications to be proven effective and correct so that people can apply it properly in the future.

In the next decades, innovative scholars will be exploring the other dimensions of agenda setting theory, going beyond politics and government. The examples I gave about the campaign scenario and how America somehow decreased the problem in smoking are just 2 of many doors to reveal the power and ethical responsibility of the news media, and how it will continue to open other intellectual doors in communication.

Society has brought us up to believe that the male and female species are wired to communicate in different ways. It has been said that a woman can speak almost double the amount of words than a man. It has also been said that women perceive mens short and precise answers during communication as a sign of disinterest. This paper seeks to bring forth theories, concepts and examples that may or may not support the fact that gender determines communication methods. It will use Julia T. Woods texts and a couple of films to further show examples and scenarios of this.

Gender Communication
Gender communication is an issue that has been debated and contested for the longest time. The different methods and ways used by males and females to communicate emotions, feelings and general messages differ. It has many a time caused conflict between the two genders because men do not understand the need for women to break it down while women do not understand why men respond with grunts and short answers. According to Julia T. Woods text Interpersonal Communication Everyday Encounters, social situations as well as ones perception of themselves and society is one of the reasons why communication between males and females differ. In the films Hurt Locker (2008) and Precious (2009), it is easy to see how different as well as similar communication of emotions between the two sexes is. There are various aspects of communication between genders that greatly differ and these include verbal and non-verbal forms of communication. Communication between genders is an important issue because it is necessary to understand how both genders react to different situations in order to fully understand where they are coming from. It will be easier to cope with the opposite as well as same gender when they are in trouble, faced with a traumatizing situation or just want to pass a message across.

Verbal Communication
Speech, language and other forms of verbal communication is one of the ways that males and females differ. To begin with, reference to males and females speech wise is different. For example, a sportsman will be lauded for his or her efforts in sports based on his skills while a sportswoman will be noted for what she is wearing or how she looks. At the same time, when it comes to sexual relations between both sexes, language and speech have been set in such a way that males are the dominant species. It is considered that a man is the initiator of a sexual encounter. In the film Hurt Locker, we see that the roadside bomb that the Thompson team is trying to disarm is referred to as a female. When they are unable to penetrate it, one of the soldiers says that they should picture their penis trying to penetrate it. This is also seen in the film Precious when her father forces himself on her. In language, females are referred to in terms like baby, doll, sweetheart and even bitch even by people they do not know (Woods, 1999, p.124). To a man, it is considered normal to call a female that but to most females, it is considered derogatory. Society has made these terms so regular that some groups of females will refer to each other in a negative light using these terms. For example, in Precious, Mary Lee constantly referred to Preciouss teacher as a bitch and heifer and form time to time will use these same terms when addressing her daughter. Men as well in particular communities will refer to each other in terms regularly referred to as derogatory in an endearing way, in particular the N word used in African-American communities.

When it comes to verbal communication between males and females, the male fraternity prefers to speak less than females do. When a female is asked how her day was, she will discuss it at length, while males will answer the same question in short responses. Men prefer not to speak about their emotions as well as their feelings. They will instead use other avenues to vent. In the film Hurt Locker, Sergeant James prefers to do things his way and will choose not to react pr talk about his feelings. When he misses home, he chooses to call his wife but says nothing. It seems that hearing their voices is enough for him. In Julias T. Woods book, Gendered Lives (9th Edition), she states
The masculine speech communities, in which most men are socialized, however, regard the primary reasons to talk as solving problems and achieving goals...whereas many women feel that ongoing talk keeps problems from developing. (p. 221)

This is not always the case as seen in Precious. This is because Precious does not talk about her feelings, insecurities as well as the abuse she has faced in her life. She instead puts on a tough exterior and daydreams about a glamorous life whenever she is faced by a threatening situation as seen when she is made fun of by students in her class and when she is being attacked by her father. In the same film, her alternative school teacher Miss Rain believes that by writing a journal and putting ones feelings down and also talking about them will help to settle conflict. In the end, both sexes will eventually speak out when something needs to be said. This is seen in

Hurt Locker when Sanborn seems to be affected by the war situation and eventually breaks down in front of Sergeant James by saying that he has had enough of the war zone and wishes to return home. He also wishes to have a son and see his family again. Specialist Owen is yet another character in the film who tries to put on a brave face in the war-torn situation. At the beginning of the film, he feels that he is responsible for Sergeant Owen when he did not take down a terrorist that he spotted. He is visibly shaken at the sight of death and he has sessions with the base psychiatrist. This means that there are males that are more accessible to their emotions in an open manner, but it is important to note that a situation like war is an important place to ensure that any demons one may have need to be addressed to avoid negative psychological situations. Language and speech can be used to break or make stereotypes.

Stereotyping is related to totalizing because when we stereotype someone, we may not perceive other aspects of the person, aspects not represented in the stereotype. (Woods, 1999, p. 106)
Stereotypes can help to somewhat understand a given group of people, but it may take the individualism from members of that society. For example, since the World Trade Center attacks, it is no secret that many believe that every person of the Islam faith is a potential suicide bomber. There is a scene in Hurt locker where a man with a bomb strapped and locked on him penetrates the lines placed by the army. All but Sergeant James believed that he should be shot or allowed to blow up. Thanks to a translator, they find out that this man was not there willingly and that he wishes to live as he as a family. James wishes to save him but unfortunately cannot. This destroys the stereotype anyone had of Muslims being only too willing to die for their cause.

For both sexes, there are a number of non-verbal actions and reactions that are witnessed as a way to avoid the situation or deal with it the best way an individual knows how.

Non-Verbal Communication
For both sexes, there are various kinds of non-verbal communication methods and styles used in order to deal with both negative and positive situations. In the film Hurt Locker, there are various ways that the soldiers react to the situation they are in. Twice in the film Sergeant James and Sergeant Sanborn playfully fight as a way to get rid of the tension caused by each day in the field. When Sergeant James first joins the team, he makes a decision based on impulse but by the book Sanborn, who is meant to be the lookout for James, punches him telling him to never take off his headphones. This means that men have a habit of using aggression as a way of handling negative situations. Precious is the complete opposite of this film because it is a predominantly female storyline and even from the voice-over narrative to almost every scene in the film, the solution to the situations faced is by talking, or writing about it.

In sum, four principles provide a foundation for understanding nonverbal communication. First, nonverbal behavior may supplement or replace verbal communication. Second, nonverbal behaviors may regulate interaction. Third, nonverbal behavior is more powerful than verbal behavior in expressing relationship-level meanings. Finally, nonverbal communication reflects cultural values. (Woods, 1999, p. 129)

Based on the above quote, it is clear that the misconception that nonverbal communication is not communication is unfounded. It is in fact seen as an enhancement of the communication process. For example, in the film Hurt Locker, Sergeant James becomes attached to an Iraqi boy that sells DVDs near the base. During one of their runs in the field, they find that he had been killed and a bomb placed in his body. This greatly affects James who takes the boy body and then proceeds to find out how he was killed which includes risking his life to break into a home that he was told was where Beckham and his family stayed. This shows that he uses nonverbal communication supplement verbal communication. Sergeant James seems to have faced many adverse situations while in service that he seems to live on the edge as well as breaking the rules. He constantly drinks, a way that many people choose to deal with their situations. As the movie progresses, we see that he shows Sanborn and Owens a box where he keeps items that nearly killed him while on active duty. Nonverbal communication as a way to express relationship-level meanings is seen when James calls home but doesnt speak on the phone. This seems to be a way to feel better by hearing his wifes voice.

According to his stories, he thought he divorced his wife but he considers her loyal for staying around even after that and this seems to be a nonverbal way of showing her that he still loves her by still having her in his life. Nonverbal communication as a way to deal with various cultures is seen when the psychiatrist joins the team in the field and at one point uses his skills to try and disperse a group of locals, and they seem to be ignoring him. It is only after he gets hostile and waves his gun at them that they decide to disperse. In Precious, we see that Precious does not know how to express her emotions and is taught how to write about them. Her mother, Mary Lee, uses violence to vent her anger out on her daughter as well as calling her names. Another nonverbal communication moment in this film is when Mary Lee pretends to be living with her granddaughter so as to get a welfare check.

This is seen when the grandmother quietly plays along with the ploy but is constantly shaking her head in disapproval. This is a way of expressing relationship-level meaning, and this means that she wants to keep her family together and taken care of but she does not approve of how it is done.
In conclusion, communication of any kind is an important issue when it comes to gender. Thi9s is because it helps one to understand the opposite sex as well as communities different from ours. It is also important because it is a great way to deal with situations we face in everyday life like relationships, current affairs, business life and also personal life.

The best way to understand what one is dealing with when it comes to communication is by having an open mind when dealing with those different from them, understanding various cultures and communities as well as empathizing with situations that other people go through. Through communication, it is easy to handle everyday life.

Cinema has always played a crucial role in defining the social standards and charting out new courses. Animated cinema, especially cartoons, played an even bigger role during the 1930s and 1940s in establishing the racial stereotypes in children and adults. Stereotypes and racism embedded into cartoon shows explicitly  and implicitly  affect a childs mentality and instills the negative or positive attitudes about the broader segments of society and different lingual, ethnic and racial groups. American cartoon films before, during and after the Second World War are perfect examples of racial and ethnic stereotyping with visible hints of white supremacy. These films, banned by TV channels and cinemas, should remain so as Americans cannot afford any rekindling of racial hatred.

Television has played an important role in demolishing racial and ethnic stereotypes but the initial years of TV were not free from racial prejudice. Earlier, it was films, both animated and real, that exploited racial stereotypes to their fullest. Cartoon shows, however, had the opportunity to take a new course of racial integration but they followed the strategy of their real world counterparts. Racial stereotypes and offensive storylines were common before the Second World War. They reached their peak during the WWII with racial epithets hurled towards the Japanese and Germans. Blacks remained the butt of jokes even after the WWII and it was only in the late 1950s and early 1960s that animators stopped playing with racial stereotypes. United Artists, being the copyright holder of Warner Brothers cartoon films at the time, censored the most racially offensive cartoon films in 1968.
These cartoon films remain banned to this day with Cartoon Network, other outlets refusing to broadcast these animation films even after the copyrights went back to Warner Brothers, and there are no legal restrictions on re-broadcasting.

Racial undertones in cartoon movies date back to late 1930s when cartoons literally took over American cinemas, giving tough time to the best flicks of that era. Jungle Jitters, part of the Merrie Melodies series of Warner Brothers, was released in theatres in 1938 and comprised of a single-reel film. The cartoon movie depicted an African village with natives going about their daily tasks. The movie intertwined village life with the modern world with the same villagers enjoying merry-go-round.
The very opening of the movie scene is derogatory and is a clear example of outward racial stereotypes. Black-faced characters  with nothing but leaves tied around their private parts and ethnic jewelry  beat drums and dance around their tents. A woman is wearing a tight necklace around her neck and she is skipping with the rope placed on her big pouted lips. The movie shows good maneuvering and skipping exercise but the racial stereotype is very much present and paints a derogatory picture of Africans (CommTen, n.d.).
The cartoon film proceeds to introduce other stereotypes that correlate African villagers, stereotypically shown as savages, with the modern African Americans, the movie paints both with the same brush, with a message that Blacks are uncouth savages that should remain subservient to whites. In further elaboration of the racial stereotypes, the movie shows a white woman as the queen of the village. She is the one that saves a traveling salesman from the savages as they were planning to cook him in a large cauldron. The movie implies that whites are morally and racially superior and thus are best suited to rule the world.
Another example of racial epithet is Hiawathas Rabbit Hunt where Bugs Bunny beats and humiliates a dwarf-like Native American  based on tribal leader Hiawatha  who was out to make a stew out of Bugs Bunny. The cartoon film, which was part of Merrie Melodies series of Warner Brothers and was released in 1941, depicts Bugs Bunny, which was widely presumed as animated incarnation of an All American white male, as the clever among the two that ultimately forces the Native American to abandon his plan and run away.
Tokio Jokio, a 1943 release when the WWII was at its peak, is an excellent example of war propaganda. The film depicts the Japanese as cowards, ignorant and mentally retarded. Two Japanese men that prick needles into each others butts operate the civil defense siren system in Tokyo and the loudspeakers amplify the resultant shrieks as attack sirens.
Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs (1943) takes racism to another level. The cartoon short took enormous creative liberties and transformed the traditional Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs story into an African American social drama during the WWII. The wicked queen of the original story is a food hoarder in the African American edition who is out to make great profits during the tumultuous time. Her daughter is an archetypal Black dame that does all the household chores and laundry. While her mother summons a prince charming through her magic mirror, expecting to ask for her own hand, the prince, however, falls in love with her daughter.
Infuriated, the queen summons Murder Inc. service that offers its services for 1, and free murder for the Japanese. The animation film does not paint every African American as criminal as the dwarfs are patriots with enough patriotic imagery and flags to boost public moral during the wartime. Nevertheless, the main premise of the movie contains strong racial undertones that do not auger well with the African American sentimentality.
The self-imposed ban of TV channels and movie theatres is a commendable effort given the racial sensitivities. It is the moral duty of broadcasters and film studios to abstain from exposing modern audiences to old stereotypes of race and ethnicity because it can corrupt their minds. Children are especially at risk and it is a better idea to ban a racially controversial animation or film rather than inculcating old-fashioned racial stereotypes into the minds of unsuspecting public.
Chaos and racial clash will follow in case of rebroadcast of the Censored Eleven cartoon films. Editing is not an option given the strong racism prevalent in the plot and editors will have to reduce films to a few seconds if they cut all racial innuendos. United States still has issues with race relations but public activism and civil rights have advanced to a degree where no one can publish or broadcast any overtly offensive material. These safeguards protect the physical, mental and emotional rights of every race, religion and ethnicity and thus the Censored Eleven cartoons should remain banned for eternity.

Every person connected with the academe concedes that intellectual honesty must be upheld at all times. That is why plagiarism is a very sensitive issue which warrants the strictest punishmentsbecause the academe promotes learning and stealing ideas from other people is commensurate to intellectual theft.

And while the notion of plagiarism checking is already existent decades ago, it was made even easier by the online services which offer plagiarism-checks, such as Copyscape and Turnitin. However, understanding the logic behind, these online services would not have been there in the first place if not for the internet paving the way for copyright infringement and plagiarism proliferation.

Why Not
Donturnitin.com lists several issues on why students should not use the online service. Here is a condensed version of what is contained in the website
Presumption of guilt -undermines the honor code.

Privacy  anonymity is not guaranteed considering that email addresses and name are required to access the site.

Violation of Intellectual Property Laws  submitting of work for a for-profit business entity.
These three issues will be discussed in depth in the succeeding parts of this paper. Readers are left with the decision of either turning it in or not.

Parallel universe of Music Industry
In the parallel universe of the music industry, both labels and artists suffers greatly from the easy P2P file sharing practices among people which involves music tracks and videos, among others. In the book Sonic Boom, it was stated that the advent of the internet has caused wrenching headaches for the music industry but it has also unleashed unprecedented worldwide distribution of music and unparalleled communication between fans and musicians (Alderman, 2001). This quotation poses a valuable point wherein it shows that while there are detriments present in the integration of the internet in our daily lives, there is commensurate benefit that is received. In the realm of academic writing, the detriment is in using the papers uploaded to the website and Turnitin profiteering from it. The commensurate benefit is that no person in the world will be able to use your very own ideas without his paper being marked as plagiarized. There is a give and take mechanism and despite not being compensated for feeding the database information from your uploaded files.

 However, another common complaint of students is that they are being forced to comply with submitting their papers to these plagiarism-check software or websites. They unwittingly pay for the use of the plagiarism checkers as part of their annual tuition fee. The argument existing being that no person would ever want to pay the police to arrest him.

The Unknown Overseers
Take for example Foucaults Panopticon. The plot was during the time of a deadly plague and that officials were forced to hold everyone under strict military rule in order to control the contagion. What is vividly remembered from the panopticon is the central tower (an architectural wonder built by Jeremy Bentham in 1785) wherein the militia can readily see the people being held in the tower without him being seen by them. This act of surveillance is a frightening parallel example for plagiarism checkerwith Turnitin acting like a CCTV (Close Circuit Television) camera which looks over all students works and carefully checks them for plagiarized passages. It is a tactic by which the professors infuse fear over the students in order to make them follow what it being dictated. As stated by Foucault

By the effect of backlighting, one can observe from the tower, standing out precisely against the light, the small captive shadows in the cells of the periphery. They are like so many cages, so many small theatres, in which each actor is alone, perfectly individualized and constantly visible. The panoptic mechanism arranges spatial unities that make it possible to see constantly and to recognize immediately. In short, it reverses the principle of the dungeon or rather of its three functions - to enclose, to deprive of light and to hide - it preserves only the first and eliminates the other two. Full lighting and the eye of a supervisor capture better than darkness, which ultimately protected. Visibility is a trap.

The students are being enclosed in a schools or classroom, not deprived of light because they are still free to move about and do anything as they please. And the fact that this plagiarism checking is in place is not even hidden to them. They know it well enough. Like the prisoners in the panopticon, it is doubly wearisome for them to be supervised by some unknown force that can inflict severe punishment at point blank. Therefore students in the academe who knowingly have their papers checked for plagiarism by an unknown program makes it a more frightening experience to bear and thus the aim of the professor is achievedto deter the students from plagiarizing anything.

Copyright Woes
In a time of digital transactions, most internet users are being bound by the click-wrap contracts before they get to access a service or a database. More so, this contract is put into place to make sure that the company is given enough protection in case disputes arise. Like the use of copyrighted content by Turnitin in order to check the authenticity of students works against the documents available in its database. As plagiarism-detecting software, Turnitin checks the papers submitted against the information available from the internet and also the papers which are not yet in the public domain, such as recently uploaded theses or papers of other students who use the same service.

But while this seems agreeable enough for most students since Turnitin has caused no harm to the market value of these works (Bailey, 2008), even the act of uploading and storing their work in Turnitins database already violated their copyright by storing their work without permission and using it as part of a for-profit business (Bailey, 2008). Another point of consideration is whether Turnitins database is fully hack-proof that it may boldly announce that no one will be able to break in their database of papers and reproduce them for profit. In the much publicized case of iParadigms lawsuit, the students argued that besides violating their copyright, there are a lot of IT professionals adept with every single nook and cranny of websites and can hack effortlessly. The website is not a secured repository of their work, which students argued could easily be hacked.(Hendry, 2009)

This issue is shared by many people who rely on digital transactions in order to avail services in the net. The protection of consumer and the confidentiality of information (Boss) are main banner arguments which are being used time and against by people who lobby against file uploading. But in the case of Turnitin, aside from the safety issue the students are also concerned about how the information hey uploaded in the website can be used in the future by people who might be able to hack the site and download the information it contains. This will further be elaborated in the next discussion.

It is an interesting case considering that copyright laws are somehow vague in defining the grounds for copyright infringement. And the very fact that the digital age was way out of context during the creation of the copyright act made it even harder for the lawmakers to provide specific grounds to protect peoples copyright acts.

Where the Choice
The supporters of plagiarism checkers argue that the students have given their consent in clicking the I Agree button when they check their papers against Turnitin. However, click-wrap contracts only apply when the people who made the papers themselves are the ones who will upload the papers. This does not apply to professors who submit their students works to these websites for plagiarism-checking. A comment reached The Chronicles website regarding this issue

Now the search goes out for any student who has a paper thats being held by TurnItIn that they did not upload themselves, the post said. Isnt this the case when faculty submits student papers to such programs I have long been concerned about this type of practice as there are sometimes personal items in student papers that are not appropriate to share

The faculty only represents the students when they go submit the students papers to Turnitin. And the teachers also assume that the students are giving their consent for this plagiarism-check. However, it is simplistically voiced out by students that they will suffer tremendously if they do not allow computerized plagiarism-checking to be conducted with their paper. This statement is grounded on two reasons 1) it is part of the course requirements (professors saving time and effort when using computerized plagiarism-checkers instead of manually checking each passage and simply relying on ones own understanding) 2) the payment for the service (considering the fact that Turnitin is an expensive service) is already integrated within the Miscellaneous fees of every academic year and enrolling will automatically mean agreeing with the policies of the school.

 As much as the students would like to go against the ruling of using Turnitin, there has been no viable alternative for checking term papers. It compels the teachers to look for a more acceptable solution that will be in line with the students demands but it seems as if that alternative is not yet existent to date. So they are left with minimal choice which boils down to conforming with the course requirements and passing the subject or not letting your professor check it against Turnitin or not passing it at all. And if we are going to reconsider all the valid arguments of the students, these two choices seem unfair and that the students are always at the losing end of everything.

Issue of Effectiveness versus Moral High Ground
 In a study undertaken by three Jacksonville University students, their study resulted to advocating for the use of Turnitin as a plagiarism checker to curb plagiarism occurrence in academic papers. The conclusion mentioned that it appears that students having access to the Turnitin program is effective in reducing plagiarism (Russel K. Baker, 2008). The issue of it being effective is considerable, keeping in mind that not all people intend to plagiarize but are unwittingly plagiarizing due to lack of knowledge in citation or other technical malfunctions. But what is being forwarded here in this paper is the superiority of the moral high ground of students. Being labeled as a plagiarizer, being graded an F for a paper, being subjected to total humiliation because of a simplistic search engine for plagiarized passages does not promote the morality of people. Instead, it instills fear and criminalized the act but does not raise the bar of academic writing. Instead of upholding autonomous obedience, plagiarism checkers creates an unseen militia ready to castigate students for the deed they have done.

Morality is seen less in heteronymous obedience particularly because the students are afraid not of committing a mistake in writing their paper but in receiving the commensurate punishment for it. Relating it to Jean Baudrillards idea of simulation(Stephen W. Littlejohn, 2008), instead of inculcating the value of honesty and moral standards, the rules are simplified to a point that the values are being undermined by the punishments the students are subjected to. The values of the academe are given a human face, and aptly described, the only reason it exists is to remind the students that there is someone who is watching over the things they do. Just like in a panopticon.

Conclusion
 In an attempt to curb the number of students committing plagiarism, it is expected from professors and other academic personnel to enforce strict rules regarding plagiarism. And since relying on personal knowledge will not suffice in checking for plagiarized passages, help from mechanized databases might indeed be needed in order to totally battle this free information stream which is completely downloadable in the internet. Amidst the many issues surrounding the use of Turnitin as a plagiarism checker, there must be a compelling need to address these issues and look for solutions in order arrive at a common ground in using the service. Plagiarism is a serious issue but there are more ways to lobby for it than to use an Artificial Intelligence to combat it.