Friday, May 18, 2012

The Broadband and Social Justice Blog was created by the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (MMTC) to promote diversity and inclusion in the media, telecom, and broadband industries, and to facilitate universal broadband access, adoption, and informed use in multicultural communities.

Geek of the Week

Maryam Banikarim Maryam Banikarim is the senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Gannet, a media and marketing solutions company with a diverse portfolio of broadcast, digital, mobile and publishing companies. In this role, Banikarim is responsible for all companywide marketing, communications, and research efforts. In addition to her current role, Banikarim serves on the Gannett Management Committee. Prior to her work with Gannett, Banikarim worked for NBC Universal as the senior vice president for integrated sales marketing, where she oversaw the company’s in-house creative agency and developed custom marketing solutions on behalf of clients. Banikarim has also worked as the chief marketing officer for Univision, where she oversaw marketing and communications activities across the company’s areas of operation, representing a combined $2.1 billion portfolio. Banikarim was named on CableFAX’s 2010 list of the Most Influential Minorities in Cable, New York Post’s 2008 list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in New York, and on Advertising Age’s 2006 list of 40 under 40 up-and-comers.

People's Hero of the Week

Transmission Project The Transmission Project is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to amplifying the power of public media and technology. The organization supports other national organizations, initiatives, and issues such as low-power radio, community media and arts centers, rural broadband initiatives, and the social change organizations that rely upon them. The Transmission Project is working to build a robust and diverse media ecology enabling a world built upon the full participation of society. One step the organization has taken in achieving these goals is through its creation of the Digital Arts Service Corps, another nonprofit organization that is dedicated to building the online capacity of public media and technology organizations to strengthen communities through the use of media and technology. The Transmission Project supports over 180 projects, initiatives, and organizations across the nation.

Digital Entrepreneur of the Week

Thinh Tran Thinh Tran is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Sigma Design, a sophisticated system software provider for home control and entertainment, including media processing, home A/V networking, and video processing. Since its founding in 1982, Tran has grown Sigma Designs to a multi-million dollar public company, transitioning its focus from solutions for personal computer displays to solutions for consumer appliances. Prior to founding Sigma Designs, Tran worked for Amdahl Corporation and Trilogy Systems Corporation, companies that were heavily involved in the IBM-compatible mainframe computer market.

Digital Divider of the Week

Hackers BBSJ writer Tiffany Bain recently reported that security concerns are a major reason senior citizens and others choose to remain offline. Unfortunately, although we have made significant strides in improving cyber-security for consumers, hackers remain a step ahead. Last week, a cyber-security expert reported that since awareness has risen, hackers have moved on from their pervasive phishing emails that pretend to come from users’ banks asking them to enter their personal information in order to access their accounts. Cyber criminals are now using bogus messages supposedly sent from users’ trusted social networking sites. These messages, which come in many forms including fake friend requests, include links to malicious sites. In addition, hackers have moved on to malicious software hidden in advertisements seen on popular search engines and news sites. As soon as users click on these ads, malware is downloaded onto their computers. There is good news, however: companies and public interest organizations are fighting back. The Financial Services Information Sharing & Analysis Center, the Electronic Payments Association, and Microsoft filed a lawsuit against cybercriminals earlier this year.

Career of the Week

Graphic Designer Job Title:

Graphic Designer

Job Description:

Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of media to achieve artistic or decorative effects. Some graphic designers also do web design and animation. This additional knowledge will lead to more lucrative jobs and higher pay.

Average Salary:

$30,000 - $50,000, depending on location and level of experience

Where these jobs are:

Literally everywhere in the nation – everyone from mom and pop supermarkets to giant corporations need someone to design their logos, flyers, and ads. You can even work from home!

Education:

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design or Associate of Graphic Design. However, experience and skill can replace formal training in this field.

Source:

Payscale

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