2. Jersey Shore, Reality TV, and
Audience Engagement.

3. Introduction: Audience Engagement on Reality TV.
• I think, we all agree that Television is in a period of dramatic change. As
• the mass audience continues to fragment into ever‐smaller niche
• audiences and different communities of interest, and new technologies
• shift control over the television viewing experience from network
• programmers into the hands of media consumers, television's traditional business models prove
themselves increasingly untenable.
• The single most important concept in this new industrial discourse is that of “engagement", a term
that has generated a tremendous amount of
• debate and disagreement, with television and advertising executives, as well as brought several
interesting discussions in this media class.
• Thus I like to understand what engagement is, how it works, and what its practical consequences on
TV Shows will be, by focusing on Reality TV and
• using The Jersey Show as a case study.
• Audience Engagement has been key to the success of television for decades. However, there have
been issues
• in the past few years due to stories of broadcasters have found it difficult to maintain the
relationship with their audience. This I believe brings an old problem with new context.

4.  1.Modes of Engagement
• “Casting Shirley Partridge: The Reality TV Audience as Talent
Scout”
• Posted by Mary Beth Haralovich / University of Arizona on
November 5th, 2004 9 Comments
• Reality television is developing a new force on the creative side of
television production as the TV audience joins television executives
in the creation of entertainment programming. Bridges between
entertainment and audience have always been fundamental to
show business, and reality TV is taking audience participation to
new heights.
• Reality TV has already broken down the distance between audience
and performer. Reality TV players (”player” here taken to mean
both game player and stage performer) are different from movie
and TV stars. The reality TV player is familiar, more ordinary than
extraordinary.

5.  Modes of communications such as the phone and letters became outdated and even at
that time had their limitations in terms of how program makers could respond to
viewers and how quickly. In an attempt to update these models, television executives
are attempting to shed television's long-standing reputation as a passive
medium, which emphasized the viewer's role as a consumer of television content, but
the current Multi medium TV viewing as an active, convenient, and more quality
programming.
• Based on my literary review, the current discourse on engagement suggests that
television's future now relies on the industry's success recasting it as an active
medium, capable of capturing and holding the audience's attention, and effective at
generating emotional and financial investment. For example, The Jersey Shore Show:
Modes if Audience Engagement This paper seeks to recontextualise key findings from
recent studies of reality TV audiences in light of insights drawn from across the wider field.
It suggests that modes of engagement and response adopted by different reality TV
audiences appear broadly consistent with those identified in relation to a wide variety of
genres viewed in diverse national contexts, as charted
in the Composite Multi-dimensional Model of audience reception (Michelle 2007).

6. To sum up my idea: one of the main argument
and claim made by many media industry
insiders, scholars, journalists, and participants
is that the main reason for the success of
Reality TV is it’s participatory and engaging
future of the shows. My final research project
will review this main argument about Reality
TV as a participatory Medium and investigates
evidence in the following three key areas: 1.
Modes of Engagement; 2. Engagement
Platform; 3. Engagement Measurement.
The method: I will use Jersey Shore as a case
study and I will pose as one of the Jersey Shore
fans and remain engaged until the end of the
semester. Please, note that my findings will be
constantly updated and documented at our
class Blog
site, www.digitalbydesien.wordpress.com, as
Digital Journal Format.

7. The Jersey Shore Show: Jersey Shore is a reality television series that
premiered on MTV on December 3, 2009 in the United States. The series
follows the lives of eight housemates spending their summer at the Jersey
Shore. Season 2 followed the cast escaping the cold northeast winter to Miami
Beach, with Season 3 returning to the Jersey Shore. The fourth season, filmed in
Italy, premiered on August 4, 2011. MTV confirmed in June 2011 that Season 5
will return to Seaside Heights.
The show debuted amid large amounts of controversy regarding the use of the
words "Guido/Guidette," portrayals of Italian Americans stereotypes, and
scrutiny from locals because the cast members were not residents of the area.
Dubbed a cultural phenomenon, the series has garnered record ratings for
MTV, making it the network's most viewed series telecast ever. The series' cast
has also been credited with introducing unique lexicon and phrases into
American Popular Culture, much like Seinfeld was in the 1990's, it has even
been dubbed the Seinfeld of the 2010's, and the University of Chicago has
announced an academic conference that will examine the show. In 2010, the
cast of Jersey Shore was named on Barbara Walters’ 10 Most fascinating People
list. The series has since exported to dozens of countries worldwide.

9. Instant celebrity: Reality television has the potential to turn its participants into
national Celebrities, at least for a short period. Many shows such as Survivor, Big
Brother, and Jersey Shore have made at least temporary celebrities out of their
participants; some participants have then been able to parlay this fame into media or
other careers. Here, it is important to note that there has been some critics against
Reality TV has been made, such as, "Reality" as misnomer. Some also suggested that
the realty shows take place in unreal environments.
Reality casting can generate critique of social categories and assumptions and players
ask the audience to recognize the types that they embody and to disengage
preconceptions about stereotypes.

10. The Cast
• Angelina Pivarnick: Season1 and 2 from Staten Island,
New York, Polish-Italian American Pivarnick is a New
York City bartender. She starts out the season with a
serious relationship at home, but the two break up in
episode 3, which indirectly leads to her eviction from
the shore house after refusing to work her shift in the
T-shirt shop.
• Pivarnik again departed the house during Season 2,
after violent confrontations with Mike and Nicole. She
did not return for Season 3. She calls herself the "Kim
Kardasian of Staten Island," but is mocked by other cast
members as the "Staten Island dump" or the "Rob
Kardashian of Staten Island.

11. Deena Nicole Catese,
Season 3-present New Egypt, New Jersey, Italian American Cortese, a longtime friend
of Polizzi, had originally auditioned for season 1 and been rejected. She eventually
joins the cast starting in season 3. She describes herself as a "blast
Jennifer Farley
"JWoww" Franklin Square, New York Irish-Spanish American Farley is a graphic
designer and club promoter from Franklin Square, New York. During the casting
process, she states, "I thought the guys would be enormous and really mean, and I
thought the girls would be catty and overdone." She enters the shore house with a
steady relationship at home but cheats on her boyfriend with castmate DelVecchio and
ends her relationship in season 3 episode 4 for different reasons. Farley has had breast
augmentation surgery, which she got as a birthday present to herself just before
turning 21.
Michael Sorrentino
"The Situation" Staten Island, New York Italian American Sorrentino, an assistant
manager of a fitness center in Staten Island, develops an attraction towards
Giancola, which does not come into fruition when she becomes interested in fellow
castmate Ortiz-Magro. Sorrentino worked as an exotic dancer in 2004. In the 2010
season of Dancing with the Stars, he partnered with Karina Smirnoff, but was
eliminated in a week.

12. Nicole Polizzi
"Snooki" Marlboro, New York Chilean (adopted by Italian family) and is an aspiring
veterinarian technician. She applied to an ad on Facebook that said "Calling all guidos
and guidettes," which Polizzi said, "was definitely about my lifestyle." Polizzi earned the
nickname "Snooki" in middle school after being the first of her friends to "make out"
with a boy. She became the center of controversy when a man punched her in her face
during a bar confrontation. Polizzi was arrested by Seaside police on July 30, 2010 on
public intoxication charges, which were later dropped. She previously suffered from an
eating disorder in high school.
Paul DelVecchio
"Pauly D" Johnston, Rhode Island Italian American DelVecchio is a disc jockey from
outside of Providence. He strikes up a brief romance with fellow castmate Farley but the
relationship does not progress. DelVecchio was nominated for the 2010 "America's Best
DJ" competition.
Ronnie Ortiz-Magro
From Bronx, New York Puerto Rican-Italian American Ortiz-Magro is from. He strikes up a
relationship with castmate Giancola.
Sammi Giancola
"Sweetheart" Hazlet, New Jersey Italian American Giancola is from and is recently single
at the start of the series. She attended William Paterson Univercity and was a midfielder
on the women's soccer team. Giancola ultimately strikes up a relationship with fellow
castmate Ortiz-Magro in season 1 episode 3.

13. Vinny Guadagnino
Staten Island, New York Sicilian American 21-year-old. Guadagnino comes from a
traditional Italian American family in Staten Island A graduate of the Paltz who had
plans to attendlow school if acting did not work out. Guadagnino applied after a
friend sent him an application asking for "the orangest, most muscley, spiky-haired
people", which Guadagnino filled out "as a joke." Describing first meeting his
castmates, he says, "I see Pauly and his spiky hair and his whole guido look. Great,
they found the most stereotypical kid. Then Snooki seems like a train wreck. But you
realize we're all starting this crazy new adventure." Guadagnino is an advocate for
disenfranchised communities including LGBT teens and homeless animals. He has
appeared in a PSA for the It gets Better Project and has rescued and found homes for
many animals in his local community. Guadagnino guest stars in The Hard Times of RJ
Berger in episode, "Cousin Vinny" on March 28, 2011.

14. Controversy of Jersey Shore:
MTV received criticism from Italian American organizations for the way in which they
marketed the show, as it liberally used the word Guido to describe the cast members. The
term 'guido' is generally regarded as an ethnic slur when referring to Italians and Italian
Americans. One promotion stated that the show was to follow, "eight of the
hottest, tannest, craziest Guidos," while yet another advertisement stated, "[the show]
exposes one of the tri-state area's most misunderstood species... the GUIDO. Yes, they really
do exist! Our Guidos and Guidettes will move into the ultimate beach house rental and
indulge in everything the Seaside Heights, New Jersey scene has to offer." Cast members
Snooki and Jwow are not ethnically Italian. Snooki is Chilean, but was adopted as an infant
by Italian American parents. Jwow is Irish and Spanish.
Prior to the series debut, UNICO NATIONAL formally requested that MTV cancel the show. In
a letter to the network, UNICO called the show a "...direct, deliberate and disgraceful attack
on Italian Americans..." UNICO National President Andre DiMino said in a statement "MTV
has festooned the 'bordello-like' house set with Italian flags and green, white and red maps
of New Jersey while every other cutaway shot is of Italian signs and symbols. They are
blatantly as well as subliminally bashing Italian-Americans with every technique possible..."
Around this time, other Italian-American organizations joined the fight, including the NIAF
the Order Sons of Italy and the internet watch-dog Italian Aware.
MTV responded to the controversy by issuing a press release which stated in part, "the
Italian-American cast takes pride in their ethnicity. We understand that this show is not
intended for every audience and depicts just one aspect of youth culture." Since the calls for
the show's removal, several sponsors have requested that their ads not be aired during the
show. These sponsors include Dell, Domino's and American Family Insurance.

15. Episodes:
Jersey_Shore_episodes
First Last
Season EEp #
airdate airdate
Decemb
January
Seson1 9 er 3,
21, 2010
2009
S
July 29, October
Season 13
2010 21, 2010
1
S Season January March
13
3 6, 2011 24, 2011
Season August 4, October
12
4 2011 20, 2011
S Season
TBA
5

16. http://www.mtv.com/shows/jersey_shore/seas
on_4/series.jhtml
Season August October
12
4 4, 2011 20, 2011

17. Blogore , “Sanjay “Social Media & TV – A Match Made in Heaven” ( July 22, 2011 )
“The social networks have been a god-send to the TV networks and producers. Despite
what you might think, about old media being over-shadowed by ‘new media’, the new
is actually helping the old out. Twitter and Facebook have been instrumental in
providing television programs with new ways of building relationships with viewers.
Providing real time feedback not only when a program is on-air but all day
everyday, tapping in the communication addictions within us all.”
“ This thesis argues that television's future as an engagement medium relies not on
inventing new methodologies that define engagement in terms of quantifiable
audience behaviors and attitudes, but instead in a new conceptual model of
television, better suited to a multi platform media environment and the emerging
attention and experience economies, which focuses on the development of television
programs that extend beyond the television set.
Such a model must understand television not as a method for aggregating audiences
that can be sold to advertisers, but as a medium that draws upon media
platforms, content, products, activities and social spaces to provide audiences with a
range of opportunities to engage with television content. Accordingly, this thesis offers
a framework for thinking about viewer engagement as the range of opportunities and
activities that become possible when drawing upon an expanded, multi-platform
conception of the modern television text. Applying this framework to the innovative
and experimental textual extensions developed around ABC's Lost, the thesis indicates
both the challenges and opportunities that emerge as television becomes an
engagement medium.” (Gloto Co-Founder and CEO Eric Con)

18.  2. Engagement Platform:
Maximizing Audience Engagement
on The Jersey Show:
• How to engage customers with content through social
media, websites, smartphones, and tablets, whenever
or wherever it is aired Stations can boost their
audience engagement and even sponsorship revenues
with the Twitter.
• Mobile, Social Integral to TV Audience Engagement –
Adrants :Audiences are watching TV, streaming video
on the web and doing mobile “check-ins” on the go.
How can you be sure your message is impacting the
right audience on the right platform in the right place
at the right time?

19. Jersey Shore Platforms:
• Jersey Shore fan club
• Jersey Shore Fan- site
• Jersey Shore fan- fiction Drama/Romance
• Jersey Shore Quiz
• Jersey Shore Game…

20. Audiences are watching TV, streaming video on the web and doing mobile “check-ins” on the go.
How can you be sure your message is impacting the right audience on the right platform in the right place at the right time?
Twitter is over capacity .
Please wait a moment and try again. For more
information, check out Twitter Status »

23. The Jersey Shore Facebook
.

24. Jersey Shore fan club:
jerseryshoresource.net: “The Number One Fan-site et for MTV’s Jersey Shore Show.
Jersey Shore Fan-site: Welcome tojerseyshorecentral.com, your “number one
source for everything jersey shore. We post all the latest news on our favorite cast
members.”
fanfiction Shore fan-fiction: Drama/Romance
jersey-shore-quiz Shore Quiz
Jersey Shore Games Shore Game…

25. Findings:
 Evaluate the role of advertising.
 Limited promotion displayed on mobile and
web.
 Audience Measurement Relevancy:

26.  3.Measuring Audience
Engagement:
Audiences are watching TV, streaming video on the web and doing mobile “check-ins” on the go. How
can you be sure your message is impacting the right audience on the right platform in the right place at
the right time?
• Additional Engagement Metrics:
• Depending on how your company or brand is
engaging in social media, there may be other
metrics that should be factored into audience
engagement. The additional metrics will likely
come from the various social media channels that
are outside of the ones listed above. These could
include Diggs, Stumble Upon likes, LinkedIn group
activity or followers, social bookmarks,…

27. Measuring Audience Engagement in Social Media
Nathan Linnell, June 28, 2010 0 Comments
Engaging with an audience is at the core of any company or brand's objectives for taking
part in social media, even if it's not one of the ultimate goals of their social media
program. The ultimate goal may be sales, sign-ups, increased customer satisfaction, or
any number of other goals, but audience engagement will always play a crucial role in
attaining those goals.
Audience engagement is likely at the core of every good social media program, so
understanding how to measure it is essential. Because there aren't any standards or
widely accepted calculations for audience engagement, or for that matter most social
media metrics, there ends up being differing definitions, depending on who you ask.
The metrics listed below are by no means an exhaustive list, because the type of social
media program that's being run will likely factor into what metrics are used for the
audience engagement calculation. For example, if YouTube isn't part of the social media
campaign, then YouTube engagement metrics isn't going to be applicable.
Each of the metrics below can also be used in other calculations to get even greater
insights, but for the purpose of this column, I'll stick to using them as part of a total
audience engagement metric.

28. Twitter Retweets
Simply looking at the volume of tweets your
company or brand puts out is fairly
meaningless because you generally want to
engage your audience and not broadcast to
them. Because of that, looking at the number
of retweets will begin to shed light on the
relevancy of your tweets in the eyes of your
audience and allow you to understand what
gets your audience engaging with your
company or brand.
Twitter @Tweets
Beyond just showing that they enjoy and get
value out of your company or brand's tweets,
an @tweet is a prime example of an audience
member who has the desire to directly engage
with your company or brand. This is truly
where an engagement can lead to developing
or enhancing a relationship.

29. YouTube Video Interactions
This is a metric that is a rollup of video
comments, favorites, and ratings. Similar to
Facebook interactions, YouTube video
interactions measure how well your company
or brand's videos move viewers beyond
watching a video to then engage with it.
YouTube Channel Interactions
As the name indicates, a YouTube channel
interaction is a similar metric to video
interactions, except it relates to your company
or brand channel as a whole instead of videos.
This is again a rollup metric that includes
channel comments and channel favorites. This
metric gives excellent insights into
understanding if viewers are moving beyond
engaging with just an individual video to
instead making a more personal connection by
engaging more at the company or

30. Social Media Brand Mentions
There are a lot of engagement opportunities
that can take place outside the leading social
media channels. Measuring these is also
important to understanding the overall level of
audience engagement that's taking place
around your company or brand.
An example would be tracking the number of
engagements that take place in Reality TV
Shoes, such as The Jersey Show.

31. Interview: