Training Needed

Now that communicators are having such a hard time maintaining their positions. There is more training needed for them. Older communicators need to come up to speed on technology in order to hold their positions and not be replaced by a younger, more technology savvy contender.

Communicators need to hold more skills than they used to in order to maintain their jobs in the communications field. The catch about this is that the communicators need both old skills and new skills. Someone who is completely technology savvy might be great to communicate online, but what if they need to communicate with someone face-to-face. Communicators are needed who have both the skills of an old communicator and a new one. Carolyn Bazzini (2010) says the communicators who incorporate the "best mix of communication-related disciplines and media" and put that together with their interpersonal skills will succeed (p. 1). This author states that new and old skills are required for the communicator to succeed. Nancy Painter (2014), spoke with a few different people regarding what communicators need, they stated, "Everyone is a communicator" (p. 1). People need to add the value to the job because the technology is going to be there for everyone. Technology is not the only thing needed to add value to the communications field.

References

1)               Bazzini, C. (2010, June 15). What Skills Will the Communicators of the Future Need to Have? Retrieved June 05, 2016, from https://www.questia.com/magazine/1G1-226362546/what-skills-will-the-communicators-of-the-future-need
2)                 Painter, N. (2014, July 30). Effective Communications and HR: Making the Connection. Retrieved June 19, 2016, from http://www.hrvoice.org/effective-communications-and-hr-making-the-connection/

Can This Change Be Bad?

Yes, the use of technology has improved the lives of communicators everywhere. Can this use of technology also be a bad thing for communicators? Well of course in every situation there are positives and negatives.

Communicators have been helped by technology so much, but there can also be a downfall to this use of technology, Young communicators are more adapted to technology because they were brought up with it from an early age. Communicators that have been in the field for decades are not so lucky. Older communicators need to come up to date on the technology in order to hold their position in the field. Any young communicator can come in and steal their job if they are more qualified and familiar with technology.

There are also other ways in which technology can have a negative effect. Ray Hiebert (2005) stated, "We’ve already seen examples of a new kind of warfare that uses new technologies as its weapons for the public mind and sphere. In the March 2004 train bombing in Madrid, the terrorists used mobile phones to detonate the bombs" (p. 4). Communications through technology can be way behind our reach in this example.

Also technology can give a false sense of communication. Communicators may be communicating with people, but are they actually getting through to the person they are targeting. Many people today have an account on a social media site and have many friends. These so called friends do not necessarily know anything about you or your intentions. This is why the work of communicators can be hindered by the use of technology. As you have watched in the attached link, you can see how technology might not be as great as we all think.







References

1)              Hiebert, R. E. (2005). Commentary: New technologies, public relations, and democracy. Public Relations Review, 31(1), 1-9. doi:10.1016/j.pubrev.2004.11.001
2)              I. (2014, May 06). Technology is Destroying the Quality of Human Interaction. Retrieved June 19, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2V9-3ZwnIU

How Technology Has Changed the Work of Communicators

Through the use of technology, it has changed the way communicators communicate. There is no longer a severe need for people to talk or communicate face-to-face. Especially because the business world is at such a fast pace and done all over the world. Communicators need to be fully literate through technology in order to gain a position in the communications field. Even in the education system, technology is used to keep all parties in the loop and update them on information. Tom Halligan (2010) writes, "Camden County College (CCC), one of the largest community colleges in New Jersey, uses Web sites, e-mail, e-newsletters, and social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to engage alumni and keep them involved in the college community" (p. 1). All the communications are done with technology which has changed the work of original communicators.




Technology has actually changed the work of communicators for the better. It has made the life of communicators significantly easier. Technology is so fast and less time-consuming that communicators can spread more information in a faster amount of time. Hemangi Harankhedkar (2015) states, "The development of technology has considerably improved our lifestyle. It has made its impact felt on each and every aspect of life, including communication techniques. The development of communication has seen huge progress" (p. 1). The life of a communicator has improved through the use of technology.





References
1)                  Halligan, T. (2010, February). The Social Media Evolution. Community College Journal, 80(4), 30-33. Retrieved June 05, 2016, from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.snhu.edu/docview/207590402?pq-origsite=summon&accountid=3783
2)                   Harankhedkar, H. (2016, March 25). Impact of Technology on Communication. Retrieved June 05, 2016, from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/impact-of-technology-on-communication.html