Emma O'Connor 2025 Spring Term Blog

 INTRODUCTION HBO's The Last of Us, streaming on Max, is one of the most emotionally resonant television shows I've seen in recent years. Based on the critically acclaimed video game, the series pairs post-apocalyptic survival with deeply human storytelling. I chose this show because it moves beyond zombie tropes to examine grief, trauma, love, and how to survive when the world is ending. Whether you’re a fan of the game or new to the story, The Last of Us offers a raw and gripping look at how people respond to extreme circumstances, and what gets lost or found along the way. DESCRIBE I watched Season 1, Episode 3 of The Last of Us on Max. The show falls into the drama/sci-fi/post-apocalyptic genre. This episode revolves around two characters, Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett), and features a stand-alone romance amid society crumbling. Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) are the show's main characters, but this episode breaks away from their narrativ...

 In the digital era, being well-informed is about cutting through a noisy media landscape with true reporting and false information. My sources of information are a mix of The New York Times, NPR, and various forms of small videos. The New York Times provides me with in-depth coverage and investigative journalism, NPR provides me with thorough and balanced coverage, and TikTok is a platform with short videos that tend to be a small bit of information. However, no source is completely objective, so I have the habit of cross-verifying reports, finding primary sources, and paying attention to emotionally charged language to gauge the credibility of information. Misinformation, like deep fakes and disinformation, is becoming a growing menace. Deep fakes, through AI video and audio editing, can create convincing but entirely false accounts, particularly in politics and foreign affairs. The rapid spread of misinformation, often fueled by social media algorithms prioritizing engagement ov...

Welcome to Emma's Media Blog Hello and welcome! My name is Emma O'Connor, and I’m excited to dive into mass media, technology, and how it shapes our culture. I am a DPP student at LBCC and OSU, it is my second year here and I am majoring in Bio-Health Sciences. As someone who has always been fascinated by the ways media influence society, from journalism and social media to advertising and entertainment, I look forward to exploring these topics and engaging in discussions about the evolving media landscape. I'll be posting here on this blog and examining various aspects of media, ranging from the traditional mediums of television and newspapers to the ever-evolving realm of digital media. Look for posts that dissect major media concepts, examine ongoing events, and consider how media impacts our daily lives. My aspiration is to build a site in which I can share observations, inspire debate, and explore the role the media plays in influencing our perceptions and interactions...