Internet Neutrality: Department Neutrality May 2, 2008

Internet Neutrality is a huge global issue that is being fought by media companies and users around the world. Whether it is a grassroots effort or an advertiser effort, such as eBay, it can effect everyone if we are not careful and watchful.

“Network or “Net” Neutrality by SavetheInternet.com

“Net Neutrality is the guiding principle that preserves the free and open Internet.

Put simply, Net Neutrality means no discrimination. Net Neutrality prevents Internet providers from speeding up or slowing down Web content based on its source, ownership or destination.

Net Neutrality is the reason why the Internet has driven economic innovation, democratic participation, and free speech online. It protects the consumer’s right to use any equipment, content, application or service on a non-discriminatory basis without interference from the network provider. With Net Neutrality, the network’s only job is to move data — not choose which data to privilege with higher quality service.”

1) Keeping the communications lines neutral and open

2) No discrimination, where the providers of the channels of communication do not speed up or slow down the web content based on the destination, ownership or source.

3) Neutrality drives economic innovation, democratic participation, and free speech online.

You might be wondering why I am repeating the definition above, and no it is not because I am up late studying for my last exam. It is because I thought of a connection earlier between applying the concept and ideals of net neutrality to working within departments in an agency

What if departments…

1) Keeping the communications lines neutral and open

2) No discrimination of ideas about anything from any part, where the providers of the channels (the upper level management and executives) of communication do not speed up or slow down the content generation based on the destination, ownership or source. This one seems kind of impossible considering deadlines, I believe the number one issue impeding the perfect collaboration between departments to make truly genuine integrated ideas is Time.

3) Neutrality drives strategy innovation, democratic participation, and free speech between client teams in every specialty.

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By Jennifer Hallabough

Image Source:

Doug Ross: http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2007/10/comcasts-world-without-network.html

Reflection on an advertising education May 1, 2008

This Friday will officially be my last day of class as an undergraduate student (well hopefully, unless something goes terribly wrong). I have spent a lot of time thinking about the time I have invested the last four years in school. I want to take a few minutes to examine my education, and the fruits of my degree.

Being an advertising major has opened many doors for me. I have had the opportunity to do marketing and advertising campaigns for both large and small clients. Between Adidas, Kelloggs, Pioneer Bank and Zinger Hardware I have been able to take academic advertising/marketing theories, and turn them into practical application and campaigns. I have seen what it means to work with a client, to work within both defined guidelines and vague recommendations. Professors have given me to freedom to explore the industry and express my thoughts and understanding on ideas like connections planning.

The most important thing that my education has done is taught me how to think as both a marketer and as a professional. The University of Texas Advertising department challenges students to think outside of the box. If a student has a good idea, a professor pushes them to find the great idea. Detailed tests, tight deadlines and a balance of extremely vague yet extremely defined restrictions create an environment that requires students to be at their best at all times. My freshman year I was angry at the TA who took 10 points off my project for not initialing my memo correctly. It was then I realized that I would have to fight not only to do well, but to be the best I could.

So I believe that a good advertising education is more than the clients you work with and the campaigns you execute. It is the caliber of work expected, and the environment that the professors create by pushing and challenging their students. What do you think?