who ya gonna call?
For this assignment, the mission is clear: you’ll interview someone who can speak to how the Internet has affected their work. Some occupations have been drastically impacted and permanently altered by the Internet — journalism, musicians, stock trading, travel agents (ask your parents), bookstores — while others have been nearly or wholly eliminated (ever been to a video-rental store?). But before writing off someone you might know of just because you think their job might not have been impacted drastically, think about it. What hasn’t been affected by the Internet? The subtleties of the impact might make a more compelling exploration for the assignment.
Here’s where your first found of research comes in. Run some searches, talk to others, or have a preliminary conversation with the potential subject. Important: Ask the professor and/or TAs about it. We can quickly evaluate your potential source and offer some ideas about the Internet’s impact on most occupations. When selecting who you want to interview — based on what information you are seeking to find — you need to consider: Is this the right person? Does the person, based on your preliminary research, have the information you’re after? If so, how much do they have? Are they a starting point, someone who could lead you further? Is this person available? Are they reachable? Can you even contact them? Do they have the time for two or more sessions? Is this person willing? How willing are they to discuss their work with you? If they are unwilling, can they be persuaded? |