Organization Change and Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Organization Change and Development - Essay Example There is not one organization in the world that can survive the current business environment by resisting change (Kaufman, 2007). These changes are not random; rather they are the result of various factors which will be the focus of this paper. Factors Affecting Change The major forces that make organizational change inevitable, which can either be external or internal, are: economic, technological, social, political, legal, labor market and international environments. Every organization has its own unique goals and objectives which are related in one way or another to the changing business environment which is highly dynamic. These factors of change normally force the organization to re-evaluate and change its mode of operation, management and service delivery (Botha and Kourie, 2008). Technology may be the main factor of change that is being experienced all over the business world. The 21st century has been characterized by innovations and introductions of new technologies which ha ve affected the way people love and work. Perhaps the most important of this technological innovation has happened in the communication sector. The development of the telephone, internet and other forms of communication has entirely changed the business environment (Appalbaum, Close and Klasa, 1999). ... The market conditions in the 21st century have also changed quite a lot. Competition has become much stiffer than it was years ago. This competition has been heightened by the ever increasing number of businesses that offer the same or similar products and/or services. The battle to remain relevant in this kind of market environment is one that all organizations must fight on a constant basis. If it means that the organizations have to change the way they conduct their business, then there is no way around it. Globalization is a major reason why market competition has risen to such great heights (Appelbaum, Everard and Hung, 1999). A good example of a business environment that has seen many changes due to changing market conditions is India. After liberalization in the last two centuries, the country has experienced an influx of foreign companies and formation of many others. This has created such high level of competition that those organizations which could not keep up with the cha nge had to close down or merge with those that had already adapted to the changing business environment. Those organizations that were able to re-align their operations with the sweeping changes in the market are some of the countries best today. The political and legal environment is also as turbulent as the business environment of today. This is because it is also vulnerable to frequent changes, which also affect other spheres of life for individuals and organizations alike. Any changes of governance or administration in a country or a region may have great implications for businesses. For instance, if a democratic government is replaced by a totalitarian one, or vise versa, there is likely to be a major shift of

Statistics Research Paper based on a Regression Study Term

Statistics Research based on a Regression Study - Term Paper Example This paper seeks to investigate how household income levels influence prices. In particular, we are interested in investigating whether increases in average household earnings lead to higher costs of living. We use state wise data to explore the question. Given the nature of the data, the specific query that we seek to answer is: Does more affluent states tend to have relatively higher costs of living? The secondary questions are regarding the nature of dependence, i.e., is there a linear dependence or is there in fact a non-linear relationship among our variables of interest? In this section we discuss the basic economic theory that we intend to validate and then develop the hypothesis to test using the data. Economic theory establishes that other things remaining the same, higher income leads to higher demand. That is, if there is an increase in the income of the consumer, ceteris paribus, at each price the consumer will demand more of the good, provided it is not an inferior good (Varian, 2006). Now, given the market supply curve is fixed, such a rise in demand always results in higher prices for the good (Sullivan and Sheffrin, 2003). This is elaborated in the diagram below: In the diagram above, E1 is the initial equilibrium price. Now if there is an increase in income of the consumer, the quantity demanded at each price increases. As a result, the demand curve shifts from D1 to D2. Given the supply, curve remains unchanged, this results in the new equilibrium point E2. Clearly, the new equilibrium price P2 is higher than the initial price P1. Therefore, we find that higher incomes tend to boost up equilibrium prices. Extending this logic implies that localities where more affluent individuals reside should witness higher relative prices. This is because people with higher incomes will bid up prices of general merchandise and, thus, the cost of living could potentially be higher for such places. It is

Inter-Professional Education, Working and Learning

Inter-Professional Education, Working and Learning What do you understand by the terms inter professional education (IPE), inter professional working (IPW) and enquiry based learning (EBL)? Discuss the potential benefits and difficulties associated with them The modern NHS is constantly evolving and arguably has done so since its inception. This evolution has been on many different levels. In this essay we shall consider some of the changes in the professional working and learning practices of the nurse with consideration of the topics of inter professional education (IPE), inter professional working (IPW) and enquiry based learning (EBL). We shall consider each in turn and then examine its relevance to modern day practice. Interprofessional education (IPE), IPE has been defined in a number of ways. One of the most complete is: The application of principles of adult learning to interactive, group-based learning, which relates collaborative learning to collaborative practice within a coherent rationale which is informed by understanding of interpersonal, group, inter-group, organisational and inter-organisational relations and processes of professionalisation. (Gough D.A et al. 2003) When reading the literature on the subject, one quickly becomes aware that there are a number of commonly used terms that are virtually synonymous with IPE, and contribute to the â€Å"semantic quagmire† referred to in the McPhearson paper (discussed later) that surrounds terms such as multi-disciplinary learning and multi-professional education. (Scottish Office 1998). In broad terms they describe the process whereby two (or more) professions or disciplines come together for the purposes of learning (Jackson, N et al. 2004). The important functional features of such a system are not that the individuals concerned learn the same material together but that there is a learning both about and from each other to improve collaboration and the overall quality of care provided and it is this latter feature which distinguishes the term IPE from the rest of the group mentioned earlier. (NCIHE 1997) The emergence of multidisciplinary teamwork and the seamless interface concepts (Yura H et al. 1998) have highlighted the need for smoother integration of both processes and knowledge (as well as other less tangible concepts such as mutual respect and understanding) between the caring professions. (CAIPE 1997) Quite apart from the ideological requirement for such processes to be adopted, we note that there is an increased pressure of guidances coming from central sources, primarily the Dept. of Health, that specify IPE as essential to the task of healthcare professionals and also a number of enquiry reports (such as the Kennedy report and other in the field of child abuse and mental health such as the Laming inquiry (2003)) that have highlighted the need for strengthening both IPE and interprofessional working Interprofessional Working (IPW) IPW is, to a large extent, a direct and natural consequence from the adoption of the concepts of IPE. (Molyneux J 2001). In essence, it describes the process of healthcare professionals collaborating in working together more effectively to improve the quality of patient care thereby allowing for both flexible and coordinated services and a skilled and responsive workforce. (McNair R et al. 2001). We should note that the adoption of IPW is seen as a key element in the optimum working of multidisciplinary team working which allows healthcare professionals to work competently and confidently across previously defined professional boundaries and it enables effective role substitution (Finch J et al. 2000) Enquiry based learning (EBL) This is essentially a description of a process of learning that is driven by a process of enquiry. It is complementary to the process of project based learning (PBL) which is determined by the end point of the solution of a problem and usually requires the creation of a finished product such as a project report or a dissertation. EBL is characterised by deep involvement and engagement with a complex problem and incorporates structures and forms of support which can help the student carry out their enquiries and can cover a broad spectrum of different approaches. The characteristic feature of this type of structured learning is that the tutor establishes the topic and the student then pursues their own lines of enquiry, both seeking evidence to support their views and also taking responsibility to present this evidence appropriately. In the words of Barrett: It promotes personal research†¦ the student becomes familiar with the multifarious resources at their disposal such as e-journals and databases. There is the opportunity to support one another in research and explore different avenues of information. The whole experience becomes one of interchange where students can share opinions, research and experience to achieve an end result. (Barrett et al. 2005) Collaborative working In essence, the forgoing paragraphs all come under the over-reaching concept of collaborative working. This is not an isolated academic concept, it is a very practical one. The literature on the subject is very informative. If we consider a number of specific examples from recent journals, we can cite the paper by Rogowski (J A et al. 2001) which produced an ingenious design of study to assess the degree to which a number of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) could make improvements in both the quality of care and also the economic functioning of their departments by embracing the concept of collaborative multidisciplinary working. Ten NICUs adopted the collaborative multidisciplinary working model and their outcomes were compared with nine â€Å"controls† who did not. The paper is both long and complex and the analysis is exhaustive but, in essence, the authors concluded that such collaborative working practices could certainly achieve cost savings (which were comparativel y easy to quantify). They noted that these were certainly obtainable in the short term and most were sustainable in the long term. They also commented on the improvements in the quality of care parameters (which were much harder to quantify). There was an improvement in a number of indices of quality of care including patient (parent) satisfaction levels, staff satisfaction levels and this was not accompanied by any reduction in clinical outcome. On a wider consideration, one can turn to the paper by Anderson (P et al. 2003) Which describes the WHO’s collaborative survey on the management of alcohol problems in a primary health care setting. The paper starts with the premise that the handling of alcohol-related problems in primary healthcare is poor (and cites many reasons for this). (Aalto, M et al. 2001) . The relevance to our discussions here is that the paper considers the outcomes in this area when such problems are treated by the GP alone and when they are treated by a multidisciplinary primary healthcare team (IPW) and it is clear that the later group has a generally better outcome. These two papers are presented to support the hypotheses that IPW and collaborative working are not simply new mechanisms without foundation or substance, they are a demonstration of their ability to work in a practical field. If we now consider the benefits and shortcomings of IPE and IPW within the context of the modern NHS, we note that there is not only a consideration of the benefits of IPW between the various healthcare professional’s specialties but some authors also call for IPW between those healthcare professionals who work in primary healthcare teams and those who work in a hospital setting. The current structure of the NHS is such that hospital based practitioners tend to train, work, and have their horizons limited by the confines of the hospital environment. When the patient leaves this environment they become â€Å"someone else’s problem† and the care is then taken over by another team of healthcare professionals. Parsell ( G, et al. 1998) calls for both IPE and IPW to accommodate this rather artificial divide and to educate healthcare professionals into the consideration that it is the patient who is the constant factor and that considerable levels of collaborative work ing are required to provide optimum levels of patient care. A more recent paper by McPherson (K et al. 2001) takes this argument a stage further. It is both analytical and well written and the authors have an impressive pedigree (two professors of medicine and a lecturer in health administration). The paper puts education at the centre of the modernisation debate They make the very pertinent observation: Most health needs require the collaboration of a group of health professionals. The professionals involved may work together in the same space or be scattered throughout several hospital departments or sectors of care. Whether or not the caregivers see themselves as part of a team, each patient depends on the performance of the whole. The paper then makes a number of analyses form both practical experience of the authors and the current literature. They suggest that, in order to work well a work group or team should have the following characteristics: Clear aim: shared understanding of goals. Clear processes: knowledge of (and respect for) others contributions, good communication, conflict management, matching of roles and training to the task. (Headrick L A et al. 1998) Flexible structures that support such processes: skilled staff, appropriate staffing mix, responsive and proactive leadership that emphasises excellence, effective team meetings, documentation that facilitates sharing of knowledge, access to needed resources, and appropriate rewards. (Firth-Cozens J 2000) The authors cite an impressive and persuasive evidence base that IPW and collaborative working have been demonstrated to produce patient benefit in a number of specific areas including reduced mortality for the elderly. (Rubenstein L Z et al. 1991), morbidity after CVA (Langhorne P et al. 2001) and mortality after CABG (OConnor G T et al. 1996) to mention just three. Despite these clear and demonstrable benefits, the authors make the point that IPW is not just something that happens when professional training is completed, it should ideally be considered as part of a continuum of learning starting with the pre-qualification experience, continuing into postgraduate education, and extending into continuing professional development. They make a call (which has been echoed by many others viz. CGME 2000) for learning in the field of healthcare to be about healthcare as a whole, rather than a series of disjointed â€Å"chapters† in order to help the developing healthcare professionals to acquire a deeper understanding of the processes of care and also to prepare the professionals to be in a better position to contribute to the development of a better system in the fullness of time One of the impediments to a wholehearted embracing of these concepts is perhaps a clinging onto the older concepts of trying to blur boundaries between what a nurse and a doctor might do or perhaps how an occupational therapist or a psychologist might approach management issues. It seems to be a fundamental issue that need to collectively understand the different ways of thinking and problem solving that the different specialties require so that the different skills and knowledge bases can be combined in a way that benefits patients. (Koppel I et al. 2001) Part of the requirement of the writing of this essay is to reflect on the experiences gained in the EBL group work and the learning derived from the research for this essay. Gibbs reflective model is ideal for this purpose. The descriptive elements are largely contained within this essay and, in addition, my experiences within the various groups. It has to be said that the groups that I was involved with were largely harmonious and entered into the various learning exercises in a spirit of self-help. I am aware however, that a number of the other groups did not share this experience and I have been told about a number of heated discussions that apparently tool place within these other groups. My feelings are that instinctively I find the former more conducive to a positive learning experience. Although it can be useful to enter into a heated debate on a subject, it rarely helps to persuade you to a different point of view. (Taylor, E. 2000). The evaluation of the episode was that it gave me a personal insight into how other healthcare professionals consider and manage problems in their own sphere and, as such, I feel that I have learned a great deal and formed a deeper understanding of their perceptions and knowledge of certain issues. In terms of what I might have done differently, I believe that I was able to assimilate a great deal of useful information from these groups which will almost certainly help me in my professional career. On reflection, I think that I was not as vociferous as I might have been in putting my own viewpoint forward, and it occurred to me that the other healthcare professionals in the group may therefore not have had the same opportunity to assimilate my particular viewpoints and opinions and may therefore have been disadvantaged by this. (Palmer 2005). It is certainly clear to me that there is considerable benefit to be obtained in both IPE and IPW and the mechanism of EBL is a valuable tool to obtaining that benefit. In terms of a discrete action plan, I have every intention of engaging as fully as I can in any further measures in this regard and will try to make my own viewpoint available for others to assess and assimilate as actively as I have tried to assess and assimilate theirs. (Van Manen, M. 1997). I feel that this is a positive step in making all of us more fully professional and able to contribute more fully to the healthcare systems that we will eventually work in. References Aalto, M., Pekuri, P. and Seppa K. (2001)  Primary health care nurses and physicians attitudes, knowledge and beliefs regarding brief intervention for heavy drinkers.  Addiction 96 : 305–311 Anderson P, Eileen Kaner, Sonia Wutzke, Michel Wensing, Richard Grol, Nick Heather, and John Saunders 2003 ATTITUDES AND MANAGEMENT OF ALCOHOL PROBLEMS IN GENERAL PRACTICE: DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS BASED ON FINDINGS OF A WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIVE SURVEY Alcohol Alcohol., November/December 2003 ; 38 : 597 601. Barrett T, MacIbrahim I, Fallon H (eds) 2005  Handbook of enquiry and problem based learning  Galaway : CELT 2005 CAIPE (1997)  Interprofessional Education A Definition.  CAIPE Bulletin. No. 13, 19. CGME 2000  Council on Graduate Medical Education National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice. Collaborative education to ensure patient safety: report to US Department of Health and Human Services and Congress. A Report on a Joint COGME-NACNEP meeting and implications of the IOM Report. Washington, DC: Health Resources and Services Administration, 2000 : 9–18. Finch J, May C Mair F et al 2000  Interprofessional education and teamworking: a view from the education providers.  British Medical Journal 321 : 1138-40. Firth-Cozens J. 2001  Multidisciplinary teamwork: the good, bad, and everything in between.  Quality in Health Care 2001 ; 10 : 65–6. Gibbs, G 1988  Learning by doing: A guide to Teaching and Learning methods EMU Oxford Brookes University, Oxford. 1988 Gough D.A., Kiwan D., Sutcliffe K., Simpson D. Houghton N. (2003).  A systematic map and synthesis review of the effectiveness of personal development planning for improvement student learning  London : EPPICentre, Social Science Research Unit. 2003 Headrick L A, Wilcock O M, Batalden P B. 1998  Interprofessional working and continuing medical education.  British Medical Journal 1998 ; 316 : 771–4 Jackson, N. Ward, R. 2004  A fresh perspective on progress files. A way of representing complex learning and achievement in higher education  Assessment Evaluation in Higher Education Vol. 29 : No. 4, August 2004. Koppel I, Barr H, Reeves S, et al. 2001  Establishing a systematic approach to evaluating the effectiveness of interprofessional education.  Issues in Interdisciplinary Care 2001 ; 3 : 41–9. Laming, Lord. 2003  The Victoria Climbie inquiry: report of an inquiry by Lord Laming.  London: The Stationery Office. 2003 Langhorne P, Duncan P. 2001  Does the organization of postacute stroke care really matter?  Stroke 2001 ; 32 : 268–74. McNair R, Brown R Stone N et al (2001)  Rural interprofessional education: promoting teamwork in primary health care education and practice.  Australian Journal of Rural Health 9 : s19-s26. McPherson K, L Headrick, and F Moss 2001 Working and learning together: good quality care depends on it, but how can we achieve it? Qual. Health Care, Dec 2001 ; 10 : 46 53. Molyneux, J. (2001)  Interprofessional teamworking:what makes teams work well?  Journal of interprofessional care. vol. 15. (1) p29-35. NCIHE 1997  The National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education (1997) Higher education in the learning society : Report of the National Committee of Inquiry into higher Education  London : HMSO. 1997 OConnor G T, Plume S K, Olmstead E M, et al. 1996  A regional intervention to improve the hospital mortality associated with coronary artery bypass graft surgery. JAMA 1996 ; 275 : 841–6  Palmer 2005  In Learning about reflection from the student Bulpitt and Martin Active Learning in Higher Education. 2005 ; 6 : 207-217.  Parsell G and J Bligh 1998 Interprofessional learning Postgrad. Med. J., Feb 1998 ; 74 : 89 95. Rogowski J A, Jeffrey D. Horbar, Paul E. Plsek, Linda Schuurmann Baker, Julie Deterding, William H. Edwards, James Hocker, Anand D. Kantak, Patrick Lewallen, William Lewis, Eugene Lewit, Connie J. McCarroll, Dennis Mujsce, Nathaniel R. Payne, Patricia Shiono, Roger F. Soll, and Kathy Leahy 2001 Economic Implications of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Collaborative Quality Improvement Pediatrics, Jan 2001 ; 107 : 23 29. Rubenstein L Z, Stuck A E, Siu A L, et al. 1991  Impacts of geriatric evaluation and management programs on defined outcomes: overview of the evidence.  J Am Geriatr Soc 1991 ; 39 : 8–16S ; discussion 17–18S. Scottish Office (1998)  Higher Education for the 21st Century: Response to the Garrick Report.  London: HMSO. 1998 Taylor, E. (2000).  Building upon the theoretical debate: A critical review of the empirical studies of Mezirow’s transformative learning theory.  Adult Education Quarterly, 48 (1) , 34-59. Van Manen, M. (1997)  Linking Ways of Knowing with Ways of being Practical.  Curriculum Inquiry 6 (3) , 205-228. Yura H, Walsh M. 1998  The nursing process. Assessing, planning, implementing, evaluating. 5th edition. Norwalk, CT: Appleton Lange, 1998. ################################################################ 19.11.06 Word count 3,069 PDG.

Essay --

Kaylee Miller ENG 2413, 3 period C. Windham 10 December 2013 Helping Hand Mary Shelley was not an ordinary nineteen-year-old. She was the daughter of major novelist William Godwin and woman activist Mary Wollstonecraft, and the wife of one of the primary second-generation poet. In life, Mary had to face many situations without her mother, because she was only eleven days old when she passed away. Throughout Mary’s life, she lost three of her four children prematurely. Her only surviving child was named Percy Florence, and she was born in 1819. Frankenstein was released when Mary was twenty-one years old. The central idea came to Shelley in a dream where she saw a student placing parts together of a male’s body and working through an engine to animate it. In Mary’s Shelley’s novel, the Creature goes from being innocent, to a harmful individual, and results in being a kind hearted helping hand. The Creature had a tough life to begin with, and he was an innocent creature. He was forced to provide for himself with knowing nothing and without a leading hand. He describes his first expe...

What Is Video Conferencing

Video conferencing is a newer tool available to individuals and businesses, which allows people to communicate between two separate locations, via software that combines video and voice. This can be done as simply as a web camera and having conversations with friends and family. Businesses use this tool to improve many areas of the company. Travel expenditures, time, rentals, hotels, entertainment, etc, are all costs of traveling somewhere to conduct business. By using video and voice solutions, companies enable their geographically dispersed workforces to communicate and collaborate more effectively and productively over distances. Employees can collaborate from offices, meeting rooms, and even mobile devices. A variety of organizations are using these standards-based solutions to: ⠝â€" Gain a fast return on their investment as their teams easily collaborate â€Å"face to face† wherever they are ⠝â€" Cut the time, cost, and carbon emissions associated with gathering the right people in one place to solve problems ⠝â€" Apply saved resources, time, and energy to primary business and organizational challenges Businesses will sometimes use , simultaneous videoconferencing, which is having conversations among three or more remote points. This is becoming more popular now that DSL and broadband internet is widely available to the public. How this technology is used where I work This form of communication is not used widely in the housing industry as of yet; however, our company started using video conferencing when gas prices climbed past three and four dollars. This company has 37 properties, which it manages within a 200-mile radius. When gasoline prices climbed above $3.00/gal, with no end in sight, this company took steps to eliminate costs, and one-step is video conferencing. Since the implication of video conference, our regional manager shows up once a month (versus weekly) and there is a video conference every Tuesday. The company did not opt to change the methodology after gasoline prices subsided because the savings are very high. Because of this, the company has taken the monies that it has saved and invested them into improving areas of the company. Since the regional manager has the time available to him that he once spent driving, he has more time to address and review further issue that arise and project that need to want to be completed. This is the only work place that I have worked where such technology has been available. In one previous place (fast food), there was a thief, so the company installed video cameras that could be viewed remotely. In the maintenance field, it is necessary for the manager(s) to have visual reference of the items discussed. The electronic age has that made the communication end of my job easier. I am able to take a picture with a camera phone or digital camera and send that to a manager for visual representation. For example, my manager can print out a picture of what I sent him, turn his back to the camera in a video conference, and have a conversation about the issue at hand almost as if we are in the same room. Another benefit is I can get a faster response time than before, because I can send the information, and then discuss the situation shortly thereafter rather than whenever the next scheduled conference is. Message Types The message type that is in play here is face-to-face communication, in a digital form. All the characteristics that one has in a traditional face-to-face conversation are all present within video conferencing. One can see the body language and facial expressions the other person has and have the ability to compare that with the individual’s tone just like a typical conversation. Just as in a typical conversation, one is able to judge the appearance and level of professionalism of the other person. Because of the video conferencing, even when sending an email the level of professionalism is still there because of communication with these individuals in a digital and internet manner. I feel that video conferencing has improved my daily, weekly, and monthly life where I work. This innovative manner of communication has sped up response time on issues, saved the company thousands of dollars, and improved the work environment within the company. Employees, managers, regional manager, and owners now are able to know who is on the other end of the line when they are having a conversation; this adds a level of respect towards the other individual. Improving the quality of communication within an organization has been a benchmark for this company.

History of Talk Radio Essay

What do we know about the history of talk radio? Has talk radio been successful in helping Americans deal with cultural changes?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Throughout history, radio has been a major source of communication where we were able to hear the latest news and current events of the time period. Through wars, depression, Presidential debates and changing times we were able to turn on the radio and listen to a radio talk show that panned in on these events.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   We were able to hear discussions that offered opinions in which we could either agree or disagree and radio talk shows provided a means by which we could be informed on the latest news and events, even before television existed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     [1]â€Å"Can We Talk: The Power and Influence of Talk Showsâ€Å" by Gini Graham Scott†, offers that â€Å"both radio and TV have grown up at a time when America and the whole world have been going through an unprecedented period of turmoil and technologic upheaval.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Radio, came of age after World War I during the 1920’s and 1930’s, when America was transformed from an isolationist power focused on material growth to a member of a world community which experienced major growth to a member of a world community which experienced major cultural changes and a worldwide depression.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Political forums continue to be a part of talk radio programming in the past and present. In the past, before telephones were invented there was no easy way to communicated with radio personalities, but when telephones emerged, call-in talk radio shows evolved and offered a means to communicated with the radio personalities which made talk radio so much more interesting than before, especially where politics was concerned.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   We were able to listen to the opinions of the public on political issues, not just the ones from radio personalities on the talk radio programs. [2] David Barker, Author of the book, â€Å"Rushed to Judgment: Talk Radio Persuasion, and American Political Behavior,†Ã‚   talks about call-in talk radio shows and delves into the question, â€Å"is political talk radio a thing of the past.† Barker says â€Å"some have asked whether this new medium can serve as an agent of deliberative democracy, spurring Americans to form pseudo-communities, where policy choices are debated in an open forum, thus bringing American politics closer to a democratic ideal.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     We often wondered if talk radio programs would fade in popularity and just become a thing of the past times.   More than ever talk radio has boomed since Howard Stern came on the scene with his outrageous behavior, with comments that were so bold that his personality grabbed the attention of America.   He talks about everything from women to politics and doesn’t stifle his views on either.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Now is a good time to evaluate the effects of political talk radio because the medium is no longer a fad and shows no signs of fading. Talk radio offers a setting for new media to be discussed, while people can listen from the convenience of their homes or automobiles.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Given the prominent place of talk radio stations in most markets we have now had the time to critically evaluate the effects of a medium that is not disappearing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Are news trends changing on talk radio? [3]The website, that answers this question is   www.pbs.org/now/politics/talkradio.html. It shows that â€Å"News trends are changing.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     A recent poll showed than an increasing percentage of younger Americans get their news from late night television, and a December 2002 Gallup Poll showed the percentage of Americans who got their news from talk radio has nearly doubled since 1995, from 12 percent to 22 percent.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Was AM talk radio popular by the 1980’s? [4] â€Å"By the 1980’s, AM radio was close to death.†Ã‚   Most listeners had tossed it on the trash heap of technology in favor of FM’s clarity for music. It was Rush Limbaugh who reinvigorated AM radio and gave it a new purpose, paving the way for many talk show hosts who collectively resurrected a bandwidth most were all too happy to ignore.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Religious stations have always been around, in talk radio history?   [5]Soul Talk is a weekly one-hour radio show that has been broadcasting continuously since February of 1996 on Koop 91.7 FM, in Austin Texas. This is just one of many of the religious programs that have broadcasted since radio first arrived on the scene and strong religious beliefs have maintained its stance with Americans.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Soul Talk articulated spiritually from a pluralistic, universal perspective with relevance to current and social and moral issues. The show offers a venue for listeners to share their sacred and ethical beliefs at the radio table, to be encouraged and spurred to action through positive expressions of faith, in a playful setting.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"What’s Cookin’ with Soul Talk Radio? A Spiritual Feast to leaven the world Soul† can be located at www.soultalkradio.com/.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   How much do we know about early talk radio? [6] Early radio news was usually nothing more dramatized documentary of events. Live recordings were unheard of and technology difficult if not impossible. Rather than simply report events, radio producers felt dramatizing the events would bring the news home more effectively.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   By 1928, Roy Edward Larsen was the General Manager of Time Magazine. It was Larsen, who, as Circulation Manager, increased sales of the magazine from 25,000 to 200,00 in a few short years. Media theorist, Marshall McLuhan, referred to Larsen as an electric man, sensitive to the latest modes of communication and its impact on society. Larsen involved Time in radio as early as 1924 with a sustaining quiz program called Pop Question. Then in 1928, in cooperation with Time’s Radio Executive, Fred Smith, he began issuing throughout the country over 33 stations daily release of ten minute news briefs drawn from the pages of Time, Larsen called News Casts. The following year they supplemented these News Casts with electrical transcription dramas, ten minutes in length, called News Acting which featured professional actors and sound effects of current news.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What was one of the first talk radio programs? In the year, 1931, â€Å"The University of Chicago Roundtable† broadcast by NBC, where University scholars engaged in intellectual discussion and the show slightly resembled the late phenomenon of talk radio.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Archives, provide talk radio shows from the past.[7] The archives are back! Thanks to the technical wizards of World Talk Radio, all previous shows are once again available for your listening.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   World Talk Radio brings you the most renowned Civil War experts and entertaining enthusiasts ever assembled. Check the archives each week for a new and captivating exploration of politics, personalities, and military campaigns.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Civil War Talk Radio is provided to listeners by World Talk Radio and the show host and guests. There is no charge to listen or download, but all contributions and donations are said to be welcomed. You can make contributions at, Contribute to Civil War Talk Radio, Civil War Talk Radio, World Talk Radio, www.worldtalkradio.com/show.asp?sid=150   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Talk radio has come a long way in history to finally being capable of displaying and discussing photography.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   [8] Photo Talk Radio â€Å"Where you can really see photos on the radio†, the dynamic internet talk show for everyone interested in photography hosted by Howard Lipin and Michael A. Garcia Cr. Photographer, providing you the best information and ideas anywhere to help you make your photography more enjoyable and better than ever.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   With nearly 60 years of day-to-day photography experience between them, Howard and Michael bring Photo Talk Radio alive with practical hands-on, simple to understand, â€Å"How Do I Do That? tips and in depth interviews with photo industry leaders and photographers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Their mission is to keep you informed, inspired and coming back for more. In the ever-changing world of photography, Photo Talk Radio, †The Worldwide Voice of Photography†, and the place â€Å"Where You Really Can See Photos On Radio† is the go-to resource for everyone interested in photography from the enthusiast to the pro.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Photo Talk Radio, World Talk Radio, www.worldtalkradio   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Talk Radio shows have been a part of a stage for political opinions, not excluding the war with Iraq.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   [9] This week should be remembered for beginning the fifth year of the war in Iraq and for the halting efforts of one chamber of Congress to make Year 5 the last. But, right now, Washington is delighted to be distracted by a new crisis in full boil.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It’s not the controversy over health care for veterans. That one blew up in late February and grew rapidly to national proportions before receding. It will be back, but for the moment it has to become a subject of multiple investigations and editorial hand-wringing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   [10] Many books feature information on talk radio such as a book written by Eric Bogosian, â€Å"The Essential Bogosian : Talk Radio, Drinking, in America, Funhouse and Men Inside.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Author writes, â€Å"Reading Talk Radio today is confusing. First of all, there are two Talk Radios: The play and the film.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Eric Bogosian also says, â€Å"Talk Radio was not based originally on any radio personality.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Despite its title, Talk Radio is not an in-depth, researched, generic documentary. There is no radio station set up like the one in the play. Instead, he wanted to use the format, one few people had any sense of in 1987, as a launching pad to talk about egos and the mass media in general. He loved the notion of this vast landscape of people, the callers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   He goes on to say, â€Å"I had listened to numerous talk-jocks, particularly Bob Grant and Gary Dee and drew from my pre-teen experience of the legendary Alan Burke and Joe Pyne, two TV talk guys from the sixties with razor blades for tongues. But, when the movie came out, the strangest thing happened, a new guy had showed up and was making big waves soon after the movie came out; his name, of course; Howard Stern.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Radio talk shows have provided entertainment for ourselves and our ancestors and I couldn’t imagine not being able to turn on my radio to listen to a group of people discussing the latest issues or simply just an off-the-wall subject, for the sheer thrill of entertainment purposes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Talk radio will always be around and with satellites on the scene, radio is becoming even more popular than ever with more and more money being spent on new and updated radio systems and monthly and yearly subscriptions. Scott, Gini Graham, 1996, â€Å"Can We Talk?, The Power and Influence of Talk Shows† Insight Books, Inc. Barker, David, 2002,â€Å"Rushed To Judgment: Talk Radio Persuasion and American Political Behavior† Columbia University Press 2007, Now, Talk Radio, Politics and Economy, www.pbs.org/now/politics/talkradio.html Deitz, Corey, 2004, Right Wing Conservative Talk Show Hosts, Bashing AM And FM What’s Cookin’ With Soul Talk Radio? A Spiritual Feast To Leaven the World Soul, www.soultalkradio.com/ March of Time, www.otr.com/march.html Contribute to Civil War Talk Radio, Civil War Talk Radio, World Talk Radio, www.worldtalkradio.com/show.asp?sid=150 Photo Talk Radio, World Talk Radio, www.worldtalkradio Elving, Ron, 2007, Gonzales: A Timely Distraction For aAll Sides? NPR, Watching Washington, www.npr.org/templates/story/story/php?storyId=9030022 Bogosian, Eric, 1994, â€Å"The Essential Bogosian: Talk Radio, Drinking in America, Funhouse and Men Inside†, Theatre Communications Group, From Author’s Notes, p.3 [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]