Screencasting- showing ESPN's online website

Screencasting Example

In this video, an instructor teaches the viewer how to use Skype. The first step is to type in Skype's web address (http://skype.com/) into the Internet browser's address bar at the top. Next, the visitor should click on Download and follow the instructions for downloading the software. While following the steps, the user should check to make sure the downloading software is compatible with whichever platform the user has (PC or MAC). Once download is complete, open up the program. MAC users should drap Skype into their applications. PC and MAC users are encouraged to place the software on their desktop or dashboard.

When describing any kind of online activity or how to use some software program, screencasting is has far more advantages than written instructions. This is because screencasting is a far more visual method in which the viewers may see with their own eyes the instructor completing each of the necessary steps to accomplish the desired task. Viewers can become familiar with icons and jargon related to the specific program.

Food Lion and Facebook

Food Lion is one of the largest supermarket companies in the United States of America. Founded as Food Town in 1957, the supermarket giant is currently a subsidiary of the Delhaize Group, which is anchored in Brussels, Belgium. Like many companies, Food Lion has created a page on social network heavyweight, Facebook. On their page, the company briefly describes their founding in the "Basic Info" section and in addition lists several websites some of which are links to their accounts on other social media sites. Food Lion also has a company overview that details the current ownership of the company. Below their overview, they list their mission.

Food Lion follows Antony Mayfield's eighth tip. They go far beyond merely having a Facebook page. They allow customers to comment on any upcoming sales promotions. Visitors to the page can also write on Food Lion's wall. This allows effective communication between Food Lion and its market.

Social Media and ABC News

With the onset of social media several years ago, many traditional news outlets including television/ radio newscasts and newspapers have explored this potentially viable new frontier. ABC News, for one, has used popular social media networks MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter as new platforms to connect with their viewership more intimately. MySpace and Twitter users for instance can catch up on the latest headlines from ABC News. Those who follow the news outlet on Twitter actually receive these latest headlines in the form of tweets.

ABC News' relationship with Facebook goes even farther. In addition to hosting their own page on Facebook in which they post links back to their website under the "information" tab as well as posting news videos and stories with hyperlinks again back to their website, they have actually partnered with the social media giant in news coverage. The best and most groundbreaking example of this new relationship would be the 2008 United State of America presidential debates between Republican  candidate John McCain and eventual winner, Democratic candidate Barak Obama. Most recently, ABC News again partnered with Facebook to cover the mid-term United States of America senatorial election debate in Florida between Democratic candidate Kendrick Meek, Republican candidate Marco Rubio, and independent incumbent Charlie Crist. As one of the features of Facebook, viewers may "comment" on ABC News' postings and express their opinions.