Class Response Numero Cuatro
The other day in class we talked about magazines and their innovations. Three important innovations of the magazines were investigative reporting, personality profiles and photojournalism. I personally think that investigative reporting is the most important.
I feel investigative reporting is most important because it made not only newspaper journalist but also magazine journalist watch dogs. Journalistic watchdogs always keep power figures in society in check. They do this by keeping the power figures on their toes because they know that at any moment one of their scandals could be discovered and printed in the next issue. Besides telling the truth I think the most important part of journalism is being a watch dog so investigative journalism really gets that one.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
I mean, I guess I didn't want the whole story anyway.
Media Critique
It’s safe to say the writer of this article, Peter Baker completely blew the yardstick Fairness and the principle Independence out the water.
The article was about President Obama's response to the Republicans threatening to cut off the budget for Obamacare. But if you were reading this article you probably wouldn't really know that. Baker failed to give the whole story of this situation. He gave barely any background knowledge of it and he left you just to his interpretation of Obama's speech.
Baker’s rare use of full quotations of the President and only using bits and pieces of quotes added in with his very misleading diction led you to believe the whole time Obama was speaking he was insulting Republicans and that he was disgruntled.
For example Baker said “Mr. Obama, his voice laced with scorn, ridiculed Republicans for threatening to shut down the government or refusing to increase the debt ceiling to undercut the health care program, saying they had “put up every conceivable roadblock” and were “poisoning Obamacare” so they could then “claim it’s sick.” He cited some of their more flamboyant quotes in an attempt to portray them as extremists, including one racially charged comment. “.
Describing Obama’s voice as “laced with scorn” is a personal opinion. What could have been laced as scorn to one person, could be serious and concern to another. It wasn’t Baker’s place to describe Obama’s voice, it was his job to give you the story and possibly Obama’s full quote and to tell facts and facts only. Also saying that Obama "attempted to portray them as extremists" is another opinion. Obama never once said the Republicans were extremists, he told his opinion about them and if that led you to believe that he was hinting towards them being extremists you yourself must think they're extremist.
Baker also said: “Mr. Obama also singled out sponsors of a “cynical ad campaign” discouraging Americans from signing up for the new health care program by arguing that it would effectively put the government into the room when women undergo gynecological exams and men undergo colonoscopies.”.
Saying Obama “singled out” the sponsors gives you a very negative connotation. In modern terms it would make you think Obama “snitched” or “called out” the sponsors. But once again some people could describe it as “singled out” and to others it could be “pointed out” which would have a less negative connotation to it.
Also throughout the piece Baker took it into his power to interpret President Obama’s speech.
Baker said: ““These are billionaires several times over,” Mr. Obama said, evidently referring to the conservative political activists Charles and David Koch, without naming them.”
Now unless Baker tapped into Obama’s head is he really in the power to tell you who Obama was talking about? It is possible Obama was referring to the conservative activists Baker was talking about but if it wasn’t clearly said then it’s not a fact, it’s an inference.
But one thing Baker did make sure to do was cover Representative William O’Brien’s side of the story when he made a controversial statement comparing Obamacare to the Fugitive Slave Act. When Baker was confronted over his very racist statement, Baker added in O’Brien’s statement trying to justify his use for that comparison.
Even though Baker didn’t give false facts, he also didn’t give the whole truth either. He gave you the truth and worded it in a way to make you lean to one side. If Baker would’ve just given more background information to what the Republicans did or since he gave the opinions of other Republicans, gave some opinions of democrats this could have been a very informing article.
It’s very clear that Baker did a very one-sided job on this article and this is not a reliable source when trying to understand the whole story, but this would definitely attract Republicans.
News
Comment #2
I really agree with Sabrina when she said that populist/entertainment media has really taken over the "news" industry. I don't want to flat out say that journalist have given up promoting the truth because I believe the "journalists" she is referring to aren't really journalist, they're just someone with decent writing skills trying to make a buck off of exploiting other people's lives. I do agree though on her saying that the media tries to make the unimportant important. To me, good journalism is mostly going to be in the elitist, information news category. The news about celebrities lives, or interesting stories I don't really think fit the criteria for the yardstick "local relevance". Even though I would probably be more likely to watch the entertainment news, after I'm finished watching it I wouldn't feel like I gained anything from it, unlike watching elitist/information news.
http://sabrina-carlisle.blogspot.com/2013/09/review-models-of-mass-communication.html
I really agree with Sabrina when she said that populist/entertainment media has really taken over the "news" industry. I don't want to flat out say that journalist have given up promoting the truth because I believe the "journalists" she is referring to aren't really journalist, they're just someone with decent writing skills trying to make a buck off of exploiting other people's lives. I do agree though on her saying that the media tries to make the unimportant important. To me, good journalism is mostly going to be in the elitist, information news category. The news about celebrities lives, or interesting stories I don't really think fit the criteria for the yardstick "local relevance". Even though I would probably be more likely to watch the entertainment news, after I'm finished watching it I wouldn't feel like I gained anything from it, unlike watching elitist/information news.
http://sabrina-carlisle.blogspot.com/2013/09/review-models-of-mass-communication.html
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
That Darn Internet
Class Response Numero Tres
Newspapers, magazines, television, and radio all have one thing in common; they've been personally victimized by the Internet. When it comes to the demassification of these previous medias, they have all been brought down by the Internet, but hey what can you say... the Internet is pretty good. I think the one thing that kills these previous medias is that if you have the internet, you have all of them at once. Instead of buying the newspaper, a magazine, a television and a radio, you can buy one computer/smart phone/ tablet and you have it all in one hand. I personally believe none of these medias will ever become completely extinct because of their tradition in American society but I wouldn't be surprised if they were used less and less as time went on. Now with smartphones you can have all 4 in your pocket and I get why that would be hard to compete with.
Truthfully though I see benefit--for the audience-- when medias get demassified. When something gets demassified I feel like it has to chose a specialty. It can't just try to please any and everybody, it has to get a niche audience. I would much rather read a magazine or watch a television show or listen to a radio station that's targeted towards my liking. I honestly don't feel like having just a general media besides newspapers is necessary. I think the only mass communication that should be targeted for everyone is newspapers because the purpose of those is to inform everyone not to entertain you. But on the other hand magazines, t.v. shows and radios are now known more for entertainment and if everything was just a broad variety of everything I wouldn't want to keep listening or buying it.
Newspapers, magazines, television, and radio all have one thing in common; they've been personally victimized by the Internet. When it comes to the demassification of these previous medias, they have all been brought down by the Internet, but hey what can you say... the Internet is pretty good. I think the one thing that kills these previous medias is that if you have the internet, you have all of them at once. Instead of buying the newspaper, a magazine, a television and a radio, you can buy one computer/smart phone/ tablet and you have it all in one hand. I personally believe none of these medias will ever become completely extinct because of their tradition in American society but I wouldn't be surprised if they were used less and less as time went on. Now with smartphones you can have all 4 in your pocket and I get why that would be hard to compete with.
Truthfully though I see benefit--for the audience-- when medias get demassified. When something gets demassified I feel like it has to chose a specialty. It can't just try to please any and everybody, it has to get a niche audience. I would much rather read a magazine or watch a television show or listen to a radio station that's targeted towards my liking. I honestly don't feel like having just a general media besides newspapers is necessary. I think the only mass communication that should be targeted for everyone is newspapers because the purpose of those is to inform everyone not to entertain you. But on the other hand magazines, t.v. shows and radios are now known more for entertainment and if everything was just a broad variety of everything I wouldn't want to keep listening or buying it.
Music Recordings
Class Response Numero Dos
As teenagers it's safe to say that we listen to music everyday. Whether it's on the radio or on our iPod, we are always listening. And our lesson on recordings made me realize that once again our generation really take a lot for granted. If I was magically sent back to the pre-music recording days I'm one hundred percent positive I would die.
I think the best thing that's come from music recordings is the way you can listen to things that we're before your time. I'm a fan of old school hip hop and r&b and I never ever thought about how my palette for music would change if it weren't for me never being able to hear those certain genres. The way recordings have been able to make music travel through time is amazing, and I can't wait 'til the day when my kids are able to hear the music of my generation and that be considered "old school".
As teenagers it's safe to say that we listen to music everyday. Whether it's on the radio or on our iPod, we are always listening. And our lesson on recordings made me realize that once again our generation really take a lot for granted. If I was magically sent back to the pre-music recording days I'm one hundred percent positive I would die.
I think the best thing that's come from music recordings is the way you can listen to things that we're before your time. I'm a fan of old school hip hop and r&b and I never ever thought about how my palette for music would change if it weren't for me never being able to hear those certain genres. The way recordings have been able to make music travel through time is amazing, and I can't wait 'til the day when my kids are able to hear the music of my generation and that be considered "old school".
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Books
Comment #1
I completely agree with Meghan when she says how she took books for granted and I also am guilty of taking them for granted too. Studying European History for school, I have learned what life was like being illiterate. You would have to rely on the corrupt church to tell you what to do, you would be taken advantage of and you wouldn't even know it. I never saw literacy as a technology until Mr. Miller talked about how it was a huge advantage in society. When asked before what I thought the best invention ever made was I stupidly said cell phones, but now looking at the impact Guttenberg's printing press had on society I think that is by far the best invention ever.
http://meghanelizabethjewell.blogspot.com/2013/09/response-on-books.html
I completely agree with Meghan when she says how she took books for granted and I also am guilty of taking them for granted too. Studying European History for school, I have learned what life was like being illiterate. You would have to rely on the corrupt church to tell you what to do, you would be taken advantage of and you wouldn't even know it. I never saw literacy as a technology until Mr. Miller talked about how it was a huge advantage in society. When asked before what I thought the best invention ever made was I stupidly said cell phones, but now looking at the impact Guttenberg's printing press had on society I think that is by far the best invention ever.
http://meghanelizabethjewell.blogspot.com/2013/09/response-on-books.html
Watchdog Saves the Day
Class Response Numero Uno
Last class in Journalism during our current events quiz I found out about the racist sororities that had been brought to light in Alabama. I was shocked to hear first that girls were being denied the chance to pledge just because they were black but I was also more surprised to hear who first reported about it. The school's campus news organization, the Crimson White, was the first to report on the story. I feel this really proves that student journalism is just as effective and useful as professional journalism. And I also thought this was a great example of one of the Nine Core Principles of Journalism, Watchdog; and one of the Seven Basic Yardsticks of Journalism, Civic Contribution. If it weren't for the Crimson White doing their duties as journalists and keeping an eye on those in power, more girls would've been victims of the sororities' racism and denied the chance to pledge.
I was happy to read in a USA Today article that the President of the University, Judy Bonner, has sought to increase diversity in the sororities. She announced that 72 bids have been offered by mostly white sororities, and 11 of those went to black females and 3 went to women of other minorities. Bonner has said "This campus will be a place of inclusion and opportunity to all. We will do the right thing, for the right reason, the right way." And with that statement I would like to say, the journalism watchdog saves the day.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/09/20/university-of-alabama-bids-racism-sororities/2845425/
Last class in Journalism during our current events quiz I found out about the racist sororities that had been brought to light in Alabama. I was shocked to hear first that girls were being denied the chance to pledge just because they were black but I was also more surprised to hear who first reported about it. The school's campus news organization, the Crimson White, was the first to report on the story. I feel this really proves that student journalism is just as effective and useful as professional journalism. And I also thought this was a great example of one of the Nine Core Principles of Journalism, Watchdog; and one of the Seven Basic Yardsticks of Journalism, Civic Contribution. If it weren't for the Crimson White doing their duties as journalists and keeping an eye on those in power, more girls would've been victims of the sororities' racism and denied the chance to pledge.
I was happy to read in a USA Today article that the President of the University, Judy Bonner, has sought to increase diversity in the sororities. She announced that 72 bids have been offered by mostly white sororities, and 11 of those went to black females and 3 went to women of other minorities. Bonner has said "This campus will be a place of inclusion and opportunity to all. We will do the right thing, for the right reason, the right way." And with that statement I would like to say, the journalism watchdog saves the day.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/09/20/university-of-alabama-bids-racism-sororities/2845425/
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