My foray into academia, blog(s) announcement
Quite a few folks have e-mailed about why I’m focusing more on TNMD than RT.com or Rashonista.com.
Here goes.
As of today (6 October), I’ll be working on an MA in Creative Media Practice through Bournemouth University. It’s a part-time, distance learning program.
The MA Creative Media Practice has been designed for professionals in the creative industries who have been working for at least 2 years. Using the latest online technologies, it allows you to negotiate study with your tutor ensuring that the outcomes are relevant to your needs, and to fashion the course to suit your personal requirements within your own work environment.
Basically, the program is what I make of it and will require some hellified discipline on my part. If all goes well, I’ll be done January 2010 (lawd that seems far off).
That’s one month before my 40th birthday. I guess I’ll have two reasons to celebrate.
I signed up for the program for quite a few reasons. First, even though I’ve been in media for a while, I felt as if I needed an actual program that would help mould my industry knowledge into a neat little package. Most of what I’ve learned has been a self-taught pick-a-mix. Second, the power of the internet has sped up innovation. Doing this program will help me keep up.
Also, I have an interest in how user-generated content affects foreign policy and/or how conflicts are viewed by the international community (Think South Ossetia: See Citizen war-reporter over at openDemocracy.net). At least this is my interest right now. It may change as the time to nail down my project draws near.
I can actually feel it changing a tad as I type.
Since I’m shifting my focus, I won’t have time to have blogs all over the place. Therefore, within the coming weeks (or months), I’ll archive RT.com. The site will still exist, but I won’t update it. As for Rashonista, I’m mothballing it. It was a great idea, but again, I’ve got to get serious and focus. So, TNMD will be my main site. Don’t worry, I’ll still rant. I’ll just do it here.
Also, since keeping a blog is part of the MA program, TNMD will serve that function as well.
The only “fun” site I’ll have will be my perfume site. Hey, I still like to smell good.
So wish me luck…and I’d love for you to join me on my journey.
[...] at TNMD. Please comment [...]
Pingback by Crosspost: My foray into academia, blog(s) announcement < rashundatramble.com — October 6, 2008 @ 9:42 am
Congrats on the foray into school. I really like your reasoning behind it (centralizing/focusing your knowledge.) As someone who got her MA (full time) while working 28 hours/week (luckily, my commute was a 20 minute walk), with a toddler and and my adult child, I mean husband, I know how hard it can be. That was the most disciplined time of my life.
You’ll do amazing, and if you ever need to reach out (time management, study help, etc.), please feel free. Distance programs can get a bit lonely sometimes.
Comment by supehussy — October 6, 2008 @ 12:43 pm
@superhussy: Thanks. I may need help on the time management front. I’ll let you know.
Comment by RT — October 6, 2008 @ 1:06 pm
sounds awesome. good luck… i’m even further away than you on finishing. you will make it !!
Comment by mamasattva — October 6, 2008 @ 2:10 pm
also… do you read ethan zuckerman’s blog? there may find a lot of interesting topics related to your studies there…
Comment by mamasattva — October 6, 2008 @ 2:13 pm
What an intriguing program – and i know you’ll rock it as only you can.
Comment by Cecily — October 6, 2008 @ 5:51 pm
@all-> Thank you so much for the encouragement.
@sattva -> Yeah, I peep Ethan’s stuff from time-to-time. I need to put him in my blogroll.
Comment by RT — October 6, 2008 @ 9:32 pm