Time to get it together

I think I've finally decided on the tack my independent research is likely to go. It's taken me a while, only because I had other things going on and, well, I really didn't know where to start. But I've been doing a bit of reading, research, and thinking, and I believe I might be able to start pinning down the intended reach of my education.

I've talked to Dr. Bernt a bit and it seems that whatever I end up doing should mirror what I intend to do for my thesis. And it seems that I'm setting myself up to do a content analysis – something I'm somewhat reluctant to do. This is why: I'm awful with numbers, and I don't think I really know how to do a content analysis. I mean, I know how to do a CA, but I don't know if I'm well-versed in the technique to depend on one for the backbone of my thesis.

Sometimes I wish I could just do a long-form article on methamphetamine users in rural Ohio and be done with it.

But that's too easy, right?

Oh, lest I forget – here's my idea for a thesis/research:

In the magazine industry, there are two different "universes" of magazines, the consumer press and the specialized business press. Your consumer magazines are the Time, Gourmet, Playboy, Cosmopolitan, etc. Everyone knows these brands and the nature of the advertising contained therein. But what then of magazines such as Concrete Monthly*, Nation's Restaurant News, Bathtub Quarterly*, and so forth. These magazines are sometimes geared towards the same audience, or rather, they occupy the same theme of content, albeit geared for different audiences. Take for example, Gourmet magazine and Nation's Restaurant News - both are written for those with an interest in food, but one is geared for the consumer, the other foodservice professionals.

Thinking of that, then, how does the advertising content compare between the two? Do these magazines contain the same advertising/content ratios? What of the nature of the advertising?

Obviously, I can't be too specific in the kinds of magazines I plan on looking at. I'm going to have to go towards broad categories such as "Food/Foodservice/Hospitality," "Business/Entrepreneurialship," etc.

But I think this may be a start. And I'm a bit scared.

*I made these up. Duh.

Moving along now...

I don't have much to add, other than that I've been busy with teaching Journalism 221, a beginner graphic design course, and getting stuff together for Southeast Ohio, which I will be doing writing and design work for. Other than that, I've been riding my bike lots, and trying not to lose my mind.

I am going to Chicago on 4/20. Consider me pumped.