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60 Days at AH
Posted on May 11, 2010 by Nina Casella
With a degree in Communication Studies, I have been exposed to different genres of communication in college: organizational, interracial, global, and even gender-specific. My classes typically focused on previously constructed theories on communication; theories that served as the basis for my academic hypotheses and conclusions. During my time in the classroom, two prominent forms of communication were absent from my studies: electronic and social communication. Although such genres are relatively new to the communication field, my time at AH has made me aware of distinct advances and shifts in their maturation.
My first introduction to the Internet was my own AOL account by the name of “Buttercup.” (Please pass no judgment. I was 13.) Through Buttercup, I became involved in email and instant messaging. This immediate, paperless form of communication was convenient and fun. Since that time, electronic communication has accelerated quickly. Newspapers, magazines, and newsletters are all available online. You can pay bills, buy groceries, buy clothes, schedule appointments and events online. Many of AH’s client partners prefer e-newsletters and e-bulletins, in place of their paper counterparts because they are cheaper and more accessible to their members. Teleconferencing and conference calls also have become more economical alternatives to in-person meetings. Since AH recently installed teleconferencing and virtual meeting equipment, I am curious to see how this service affects the typical flying and driving to meeting locations.
The Facebook craze started in 2004, one year before my freshman year of college. At that time, Facebook was aimed at college students, and users were required to set up accounts with their college emails. My college friends and I did not approach Facebook very seriously – changing our account names to silly names and marrying each other. My roommate and I were married via Facebook for a couple of years. We decided to divorce after our relatives created their own accounts.
The social media tides have surely turned; my grandparents, parents, aunts, and employers are on Facebook. Companies, such as Association Headquarters, Inc., also have Facebook profiles to place them in the public eye and to update their employees and followers. I have learned, and am still learning, to adapt to this shift from silliness to seriousness. I am more mindful of my status updates, the posting of pictures, and the amount of information that I relay to the masses.
As evident, communication is a field that evolves rapidly. It is almost impossible to predict accurately the future of electronic or social communication. Perhaps, in-person meetings will become obsolete, as the engagement in teleconferencing and e-newsletters spikes. On the flip side, individuals could buck this trend and return to the more personal roots of written communication. Maybe Facebook will become a defunct social forum, and I will not concern myself with making my profile family-friendly. However, as I mull over the possibilities, I’ll be sure to wish my friend a Happy Birthday via text message and check out my new Facebook friend’s account.
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