Similarly, billboards are inconsequential and fail at their mission without correct placement. Although a large number of people don't need to see a billboard, if less people see the advertisement, it must be seen by the right people. This is usually not the case and it is more successful to target a large quantity because the chances of the intended audience being among the large number is better. However strategic location has the same potential for success as large audience exposure.
Location gives messages relevance. Our book mentions location of news stations, but makes a more interesting point about where national news does not have locations. It also determines the messages that can be relayed to news readers or viewers. My original thesis and inaugural blog post was that anything that can send a message can be media. Location sends select messages about what is important.
The Chapter even uses location as a metaphor for ranking importance of manuscripts for publishers. The chapter uses metaphors of piles and lines. Some piles go straight to the top while other authors stand in line with little hope of being acknowledged. This metaphor shows how location determines deliverance of a message about importance. Location can send the message or render it undeliverable.
I actually never thought of location as a medium. It's weird to think of an intangible subject as a medium. I now realize that a medium can effect another medium's message. I know we've talked about this before in class but it's specifically interesting in terms of location. For example, an American teenager's location is going to effect his college applications (another medium) in terms that he will have specific experience to use as selling points. His experience will greatly differ from that of a teenager living in Europe or Asia. Location seems to be a great connector between almost all media.
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