As we were saying...

I know that class is over, but I thought you might want to see this article from Sunday's New York Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/opinion/02pubed.html?_r=2&ref=opinion&pagewanted=print

Goodbye!

Hey Everyone!

I had a great time for these past three weeks in class!

It was so nice to meet all of you and I hope that our class continues to keep in touch through the blog.

Best of everything!

Justin Fenton

Hi Everyone!

I thought it was really neat to hear Justin speak today. He has a very interesting job and is a great writer.

Somebody asked him if he ever got scared during his job and he said that he did not really. I know that I would definitely be scared covering crime stories.

What do you all think? If you were in a position like Justin, covering breaking crime stories, would you be nervous? Also, what were your general reactions to Justin's presentations?

Tell me what you think.

What would you cover?

I was reading through comments on my "Future" post and I am wondering what everyone would like to cover.

Rachel said she would cover music.

I want to cover things that aren't breaking news anymore but people should remember.
Raise awareness.

Its a small minded goal.

Also where would you like to work?

Justin Fenton, 9 a.m. Thursday

All,

Hope for a peaceful night in Baltimore. If all remains (fairly) calm on the police beat, Justin Fenton will join us at 9 a.m. Thursday.

He'll talk about life covering cops, his years at the Diamondback, how to begin working a beat, what to do when you hear 17 people have been shot...anything you want to talk about.

See you all at 9 a.m. -- for your last quiz and your last writing assignment.

Finals

Hello Everyone,

Evereything seems to be coming to an end. Today we took our final test and Friday our final paper will be due, and we will be forced to say goodbye to new friends and college life until the end of our senior year.

Young Scholars Program was a great experience and I enjoyed every second of it. From the optional activities on campus to the new found responsibilities in the classroom. Ysp has given me a new outlook on college and I look forward to a bigger and better experience when I actually go to college in the fall of 2011.

So here is to a goodbye to Journalism150, Professor Banisky, and new friends that I have met along the way!

When do Photos Cross the Line?

Hi Guys.

If you all recall at the end of class today we looked at a photo on The Baltimore Sun's website.

It was from the article "18 shootings stem largely from drug feud police say Two fatally shot, 16 wounded in shootings on day of mayhem on Baltimore's east side" by Justin Fenton and Scott Calvert.

The photo was of a door with blood spatter. The caption read, "Blood can be seen spattered on the back door at the scene of a backyard cookout in East Baltimore at which people were shot and wounded". Professor Banisky asked us if we thought it was fine to put the picture in the paper.
Most of the people in class said it was because it was not that graphic.

I want to follow up by asking when is a picture too graphic? Can a picture be too graphic if it is the only source of what happened?

For example, during the Iran election, the only way to get the story out was for citizens to post pictures and blog. I for one feel that some of the pictures were a little bit too much, but it was the only way to learn what these people continue to go through.

So are certain photos allowed to be more graphic due to special circumstances?

Tell me what you think.

Future

I'm interested. After this program who is still interested in Journalism?

I'm sure we all learned a lot and I found this isn't a glamour career (I never really thought it was). And also how much it means you need sacrifice (expression).

As for myself I think it is clear I am not as cut out for this as I thought. Cold, hard fact is too dry for my taste and AP style too cruel to my words. I still dream of being a collumnist [as I'm sure many of you do] but I question now if I truely have what it takes to make it that far.

I hoped as a collumnist I would have more freedoms, and thus be able to say more, and get into my stories, to write something with flavor, and not just biting news.

Last Days

Fenton must postpone...

All,

Here's the reality of a reporter's life: You never know when the job will disrupt your personal calendar.

We heard a little of this from Marisol Bello last week; she said she has to be ready to go at any time.

Now, Justin Fenton has advised that he cannot spend the morning with us tomorrow because of Sunday's shootings of 17 people, two of them fatally, in East Baltimore. (Go to www.baltimoresun.com to read Justin Fenton's reports.) He's working on follow-up stories now and likely will have even more folos tomorrow.

We're trying to reschedule for Thursday.

Meanwhile, we'll work on other issues tomorrow.

See you at 9 a.m.

Gates Story Update

When the picture of Gates being led out of his home by cops was put in the paper, I remembered that we all wondered how a reporter got to take that picture. Had he or she simply been there at the right time?

It turns out that a neighbor took the picture.

They also released the phone conversation between the woman who called 911 and the police. Apparently, she did not mention the race of the men she saw trying to break down Gates's door.
"Going through this whole experience, I have already identified a number of things that the department can do better," said Police Commissioner Robert C. Haas.

Here is the link to the article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/27/AR2009072700470.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=AR

Justin Fenton from The Baltimore Sun

I'm really looking forward to meeting Justin Fenton, a police reporter from The Baltimore Sun, tomorrow! All of our guest speakers have been great, and I can't believe we have reached our last one already.

I was reading Fenton's articles for The Baltimore Sun website, and I noticed something.

He seems to not use the same criterion as we do for ledes. For example, this was one article he wrote:

Teenager is charged as adult in attempted robery of officer

Baltimore police have charged a juvenile in the attempted robbery Thursday of an off-duty officer a block from the Southern District police station. Corey L. Johnson, 17, of the 3000 block of Southland Ave. was charged as an adult with first-degree assault, armed robbery and use of a handgun in a violent crime, according to court records.

We have been working on ledes a lot these past few weeks, and Professor Banisky has reminded us to focus on the most important events first. Yet, Fenton starts with "Baltimore police have charged..." In my opinion, it seems that the second sentence should be the lede.

Fenton must have arranged his article the way he did for a reason. So I wonder why it differs from our format.

In addition, the summary of his article is not the first sentence, nor is it the lede, but rather a compilation of the most important facts, as shown by this summary of another article:

Juvenile services head questions GPS monitors

...critically wounded a 5-year-old girl, was wearing one of the monitoring devices at the time of the incident and had not cut it off, as the state agency previously said. Davis was located and arrested two days after the shooting.

This synopsis was a little confusing at first and I had to read the article to fully understand it, so I wonder why he summarized it in this way.

What does everybody think?

Birthday Love

Hello Everyone,

Turning a whole year older can bring great excitment and laughter into ones world in a blink of an eye, and everyone has their own definition of a perfect birthday celebration.

Mine would be just to be surround by all my closest friends and family memebers and enjoy a great day in the sun. My dram actually came true, even though i was forced to be on the University of Marylands campus.

I receieved extra joy from numerous phone calls, emails, text messages, facebook and myspace messages. My dorm mates even sung me a happy birthday song at curfew.

So Journalism150 tell me your best birthday and how you would like to spend it?

A Special Note

I know most of us are busy with writing our papers, but i just wanted to say:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIYAH AND SHANNON!

see you guys tomorrow. =)

AP Style

Do we need to memorize certain aspects of AP style for our final test? Does anyone know?

Final Paper

I think we all need a forum in which to discuss our concerns, questions and advice about the final paper. What is your topic? What is your angle? How are you formatting your paper? Tell all here.

I'm writing about how Twitter has become a useful tool for journalists. However, I'm afraid that my angle is too dry.

Obama in Action

It is encouraging to see that Obama is in fact executing plans that he discussed when he was running for president. But I fear that, in an attempt to push as much legislation as possible before his first year as president (sometimes referred to as the "honeymoon period") ends.

I like the idea of universal healthcare...but not so much the idea of excessive taxes. I would rather wait a few more days, weeks, months or years for universal healthcare when kinks in the plan are worked out than have it implemented in August when the plan is still flawed.

Any thoughts?

Poem From The Rooftops

Has anyone found the video we watched that had the Poem on the Rooftop in Iran? I can't find it, but I want to watch it agian.

And have the pictures bee uploaded yet?

Officer vs Professor

I read the artical today in the Washington Post that tells the the story of the officer who possibly caused the mess with Henry Louis Gates. I'm wondering which one is in the wrong? Is either of them. If the officer is telling the truth then odds are it is no one's fault.

My dad was a police officer for the DNR for 25 years, and I know from expirience that police officers are perfectly capable of stealling, but usually only from the Department. (Handcuffs, and other neccasary supplies the department doesn't like to distribute properly).

I want to believe that its no one's fault and we can forget the entire thing. However I doubt it will end that way. The best this officer can hope for, guilty or innocent, is to keep a job as he said: "The professor at any time could have resolved the issue by quieting down and/or going back inside his house."


WhoWhat do you think?

Usa Today!

Hello Everyone,

I really enjoyed myself today at USA Today, learning about the different news rooms and how they work. What I enjoyed most was the way the employees explained their jobs and what great pleasure they have in doing them.

I was amazed the most at Marisol Bellos' job. To recap, she was the national reporter for the enitre news paper. In my opinion, she has a really big responsibility when it comes to delievering stories and being their when it happens.

Typically, a day for her is travel to the most urban or rural areas pof the world and pulling out a brillant story to reveil to the public. If I was to continue a career in journalism I would defianetly want to be a national report. They get to deliver exciting and on- spot news stories from all around the globe. In my own words, I would say Bello has a spontaneous profession.

So everyone tell me what you thought about today's trip and what inspired you, if any?

Teens and Twitter

On today’s field trip to USA Today, Mr. Horwich said that he does not prefer to use Twitter because of its lack of context. But, on the flipside, Mr. Horwich also said that Twitter is an appropriate way to receive news alerts. For our generation, I feel that Twitter can potentially be a stepping stone to force our friends to be aware of the news—even if it just pops up in their newsfeed. I know that many of my friends could care less about world news, but making a Twitter account could give our peers an easy way to stay in-tune with the world around them. It’s as easy as subscribing to ABC News or my personal Twitter friend, Ann Curry.

I will never forget the first major piece of news that I learned via Twitter.
Ironically, hours before Michael Jackson’s death, I made a Twitter account to keep up with the news and follow my favorite celebrities. Hours later, while I was getting the hang of the website, I saw on my newsfeed that Jackson had died. Just like everyone remembers exactly where they were at 8:45 a.m. on September 11, 2001, it seems like everyone clearly remembers how they learned of Michael Jackson’s death.

I believe that Twitter is a highly accessible source for quick news updates. At least in my hometown, not many teens have Twitter accounts. As budding journalists, we can help make our generation more aware of the news by creating Twitters and talking about it to our friends. Do you use Twitter? Do your friends?
If you have not signed up for a Twitter account, go to twitter.com and start tweeting!

Women in News

Hey Guys.
I really enjoyed listening to Professor Carol Rogers today. I thought that it was interesting to learn how even today there are still issues of racism and sexism in the job world. I also thought it interesting to learn that women, who hold the same job as men, make lesser money than men.
What can one do to change this? Is there anything? Or are we just stuck in this situation? What do you think the future holds for women?
Tell me what you think

Equality for Women?

Our guest speaker said something that really caught my attention today.

She said, "The more things change, the more things remain the same."

In regards to women in the media, I agree with what she was saying because the reality of the situation is that no matter how much we want to change the way woman are portrayed in the media, there's always going to be stereotyping in the world. Even after Seneca Falls and the 19th amendment, woman are still oppressed by our society.

Salaries are a perfect example. Men are still paid more than women; and it's not that women want that extra 60 cents or however much it is, it's the principal of the matter that irritates me. Equality shouldn't have exceptions.

Like our speaker said, as the world adapts and the knowledge we have increases, somehow the way women are treated (in the media) still lacks the fairness and equality of what they deserve.

I'm curious as to how the rest of you interpret and feel about this quote.

Go Gates!

Hey guys. I dont know if anyone else is excited to go to USA Today tomorrow, but I definitely am. I have been looking foward to it and I am excited that its finally here!

I wanted to talk more about the Henry Louis Gates issue that happened yesterday. That really caught my attention that this guy had to go through all that even after he showed that it really was his house. In the USA Today it says "This incident should not be viewed as one that demeans the character and reputation of Professor Gates or the character of the Cambridge Police Department," it said. I think thats nonsense becuase it is demeaning the reputation of Professor Gates. It was racial profiling. You would think that after he showed them his address they would let him go, but they did not and i think that was because of his race. Obviously I think they would have known to let him go even before that because of who he is, but I guess not. I agree with Gates when he said he was glad that the neighbors called the police, because I would want to know if someone was robbing my house, but it went too far. No one should be treated like that no matter what race, ethnicity, gender, etc. you are. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks =)

Attempts to Stop Media Coverage of Tiananmen Square Anniversary

For my final paper, I am discussing the effect that the media has had on global communication, especially in countries where their government tries to censor the internet. While searching for information on the anniversary of Tiananmen Square, during which China blocked certain internet sites and prevented media from entering the area in which the protests had occurred, I stumbled across this video. Watch this video if you can, it is pretty funny.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8082604.stm

It is basically the Chinese police's attempt to stop the US media from filming, using umbrellas to block the cameras. At first I thought this was a joke, but this is really the tactic that the police used!

What do you think of this video and do you think that the Chinese government will be able to continue censoring the media with the rise of the internet?

Today's Women's Issues Discussion

So, what did everyone think of our guest speaker today?

I think Professor Rogers was very delighted to have the opportunity to talk with us and she seems very enthusiastic about her views on anything associated with women.

I really paid attention to her statistical facts on women's issues and I was really shocked how women make up 2/3 slots in journalism schools and only 1/3 of them are full-time journalists. I noted how Rogers said, "The more things change, the more things stay the same," but I really hope that will change in years to come. Especially in our generation.

I think we all know of the main problems women and minorities go through, and Professor Rogers elabortated on so.

What are your views on Professor Rogers' discussion?

"Quiero Taco Bell"

Hey everyone,

I have some sad, breaking news. Have everyone seen the Taco Bell camercial with the cute little Chihuahua? She was famous for the catch phrase "quiero Taco Bell" which means "I want Taco Bell". As told by People.com, on Tuesday night Gidget died. She had a stroke at the age of 15. Her trainer, Sue Chipperton says "Gidget always knew where the camera was" and "she made so many people happy."Does anyone have any memories of watching the Taco Bell camercial with Gidget the Chihuahua?

Mike Vick Reinstatement

For a while now, all that has been heard on ESPN is information dealing with Michael Vick and whether or not he will be reinstated into the NFL after serving his 23-month sentence in federal prison for dogfighting charges.

I believe that Vick should be given the right to re-enter the NFL and continue his professional career. It doesn't seem fair to me that our own justice system can make a decision to send him to prison and for some people that's still not enough. Many people want NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to keep Vick out of the league and have him continue the suspension he received following his court case. If you ask me, he served his time and now he should be allowed to get back to his own life and not be stripped of something he worked so hard to obtain.

Also, more recently, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte' Stallworth was charged with DUI manslaughter after killing a pedestrian. He was given a sentence of only 30 days. My question is when did it become much worse for someone to kill dogs than to kill people? Vick is always in the news for his legal troubles but Stallworth has gotten very little. Why is Vick being attacked so much?

Michael Vick is hand down one of the most entertaining players in recent NFL history. And arguably, the best rushing quarterback ever to play the game. Vick filled the seats in countless NFL stadiums due to his unique and athletic flavor he brought to the quarterback position.

Now my quesiton to you is should Vick be allowed reinstatement into the NFL?

Breaking News and Changing Titles

I knew that news websites are constantly updating their home pages to show the most recent news, but usually there are still a few stories that are the same from the morning paper.

However, when I went on www.washingtonpost.com just now, none of the stories are the same! It is just shocking to realize that what you read just this morning is now outdated.

I've been thinking about the extent to which new media controls our lives. What would happen if it suddenly shut down? What would we do if we no longer could chat instantly with people around the world or if journalists could no longer post breaking news stories on their paper's web site just as they happened?
It is scary that we are so dependent on this single source.

Also, I noticed that a lot of the articles in today's Post were titled differently online than in print. For example, "New Path to Restore Identities of Missing" is on the front page, but online the article is titled "Database Combines Details of Remains, Disappearances in Hopes of Making Matches." Also, "Utopia at a Discount" is on the front page, but "Buying a Bit of Celebration, Fla., Is Getting Easier" is online.

We've discussed how the internet is supposed to be "faster," but then why do the online article titles seen so awkward to me.

Let me know which titles you like better and why you think they were changed.

The News Media's Woman Problem

While doing our readings for July 22, "The News Media's Woman Problem", I found this amazing quote by Carl Sessions Stepp, AJR's senior contributing editor, who teaches at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland.

"Journalist are followers not leaders, observers rather than agents of change, willing to edge toward upsetting the status quo but soon settling safe near the middle."

What do you all think of this quote? Agree or disagree?

Broadband

On NBC Nightly News tonight, there was a report about how, in some rural areas in the US, there is no broadband Internet connection. Residents of these areas must rely on slow dial-up connections to use the Internet.

I personally cannot imagine life without lightening-fast Internet. Without the quick Internet connection I have become accustomed to, I would not be able to multi-task or even do singular actions with such ease.

The lack of fast Internet connections in some places in the US and the world raises the question of what would happen if journalism were to make a more permanent transition to the Web. Those without adequate Internet connections would suffer. What do you think?

Glamor for Media

Hi guys.

I was just looking over the readings for Tuesday and I came across something very interesting.  Greta Van Susteren, a news host, got plastic surgery when she moved to Fox 5. 

I think this is horrible because one should not have to change one self to be liked. I think that if she is good at reporting the news, than is does not matter what she looks like. I feel that there are other reporters who do this too as well as celebrities.

 The idea behind plastic surgery is to look young, so does this mean that older people should not be reporting the news? In this day in age, does one have to look a certain way in order to do the news? Do you think that one should completely change their appearance in order to land a job? 

Tell me what you think. 

Crime drops?

This morning after reading that crime has dropped in many major cities, I was shocked. I figured due to the recession that people would be committing more crimes.  Apparently I was not the only one confused,  "Experts did not see this coming at all," said Andrew Karmen ( From Washingtonpost.com) 

In the article it specifically talks about violent crimes such as murders, specifically in the DC metro area and Prince George's County. Even though the article talks about how police are taking credit for the drop, it does not really mention what they have done other than track and prevent gang fights.  The ironic thing about this article is that over the weekend, also published in the Washington Post was an article about Prince George's county police who are being investigated for gambling and protecting "powerful drug dealers." So it brings to question what is really being done that the crime rates are dropping, or who is causing it to drop, when police officers themselves are being investigated.  

The problem I have with the original article is that it does not specifically talk about what type of crime or other crime rates which left me wondering.  Do you think that crimes such as drug dealing or robbery has dropped as well? 

The Environment: Part 2

I seperated the posts so two ideas would not conflict in the minds of the rest of you reading my perhaps insane views. (Sorry, I care about the Earth)

Anyway: Here is the short and sweet story.

We broke the atmosphere. That isn't good, because skin cancer NEVER compliments your tan. We wanted to fix it proving that deep down, humanity isn't *entirly* heartless and evil.

[Fail]

We made it worse, the fix-it chemical that we dumped made it worse.

"In the atmosphere, these replacement chemicals act like "super" greenhouse gases, with a heat-trapping power that can be 4,470 times that of carbon dioxide. " - curtosy of the Washington Post. (Interestingly [in this case frustratingly] enough this article is not a major story.)

The article can be found here, because it was taken down already. I am biased, I know, but I would show this everyday, for at least a week, IN ALL CAPS.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/19/AR2009071901817.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=AR

Did anyone notice this: We tried to fix a problem caused by humans dumping chemicals, BY DUMPING MORE CHEMICALS.

I am not a scientist, I am little but a very angry civillian... AND EVEN I KNOW THAT SOUNDS LIKE A BAD IDEA.

Yes, I know... In the situation the faced I might have made the same mistake. Still why didn't we see this coming?

AND WHY ISN'T THIS STORY IN CAPS ON EVERY FRONT PAGE OF EVERY NEWSPAPER IN THE ENTIRE WORLD?

The Environment

I was reading about how the Environment and how our earlier attempt to fix it is making things worse.

THIS IS IMPORTANT!!!

As I see it, Sotomayer is no where near as important as this. Yet this gets one article. At the beginning of the program Sotomayer got two or three at a time in the post.

Isn't the life of one person, of one Government kindda second seat to something that will harm this entire planet?


Isn't the environment infinatly more important than this insignificant action (compared to this event)?

Death of a Legend

The legendary Walter Cronkite passed away at the age of 92 on Friday. According to CBS, he passed with his family at his bedside after struggling with a long illness.

Cronkite was considered the man who "personified journalism for more than a generation as anchor and managing editor for CBS News." His legacy spanned almost the entire 20th century. He covered topics from World War II to the launch of Apollo XI. He broke the news about John F. Kennedy's assassination. He had the people's attention, but more importantly, he had the people's trust.

"Cronkite was the steadying force for a time of national sorrow." A 1972 poll regarded him as the "most trusted man in America." He gave journalists a good name.

I figured out about his death from one of the big screen televisions in the Terp Zone. CNN was doing coverage about his legacy and his work. They also had other journalists talking about his legacy and their own personal feelings of his work.

Could this not have come at a more coincidental time? We are all here for a three week journalims program and one of the most influential journalists dies in our first week. It feel like this means something. Nevertheless, his legacy will not be forgotten. And we as the aspiring journalists of the future, need to carry it out and perform with the passion and consistency as Cronkite did.

American Idol without Paula Abdul

Millions of people love the hit singing reality competition American Idol not only for the new talent and entertainment, but most of all for the three famous judges; Randy Jackson, Simon Cowell, and Paula Abdul. We've known each of them because of their memorable personalities. Simon's the obnoxious one with the english accent, Randy loves to express himself through the word "dawg", and Paula is perceived as beautiful, loving, diva.

Now approaching the shows ninth seasons, rumors has it that Paula may not be returning as a judge to the show. According to "Access Hollywood" and Paula's manager David Sonnenberg she is not happy and also is hurt. Some reasons stem from her not approving of her new contract. Even after negotiations in June, it still isn't looking like Paula will be returning after being a judge for the previous eight seasons. Paula expressed her feeling about the situation on Twitter where she expresses that she appreciates the feedback and support she is recieving from her fellow tweeters and she couldn't get through the situation without them.

I can never imagine watching American Idol and not seeing Paula Abdul. What would the views think of that? Will Americxan Idols lose viewers who are fans of Paula? What would American Idol be like without the diva judge Paula Abdul? Give me your feedback and thoughts about Paula's choice on whether not to return to American Idol

Stop and Listen

Hi Guys.

I was just reading one of the articles for Monday about interviewing. I thought that it was very interesting  how simple it is to get information during interviews. According to this article, "To be a good interviewer you must learn to listen--both to others and to yourself." If one is interviewing an athlete, politician or peer, one basically needs to be attentive and prepared with questions. I also learned that it is important to try to have a conversation with the person you are interviewing instead of just asking them questions.  

Have any of you guys ever been in the position of interviewing a peer for a school newspaper or magazine? If so, how did you conduct your interview? What skills did you use?

Tell me what you think. 

Musical Influence!

Hello Everyone,

My roommate and I were just talking about how music effects people's lives, outlook on the world and feelings. My roommate felt as though people should not allow a song or a certain music artist to effect their feelings and how they go about certain things in their day, however I feel that music influences people's mind that listen to it constantly throughout the day.

Typically for teens, if they are going through hard times with a girlfriend or boyfriend, they tend to listen to more love generated songs that are a guide to helping them figure out what to do about their certain situations. I felt as if this was a great my to work out a problem like that because that song may convey the same feelings you have, however my roommate thought it was a good idea to listen to a more uplifting song that causes happiness or just get out with friends and family so that you firget out the entire situation.

Futhermore, I think music causes some people to do outrageous things, such as roadrage and pointless fights. For example, a Hip-Hop artist named Ludacris has a song entitiled, "Move Get Out My Way." A person inside a car on a highway will hear this and they would want to go faster and act as if the road was theirs. I feel as though this is true because music and generate all types of feelings, depending on the certain circumstance. In contrast, my roommate feels that people do what they want and music has no affect on them, and if it does have an effect, then theres a problem.

Journalism 150 Tell me how music effects you, and if it does, why do you allow it to?

Op-Ed

As Professor Banisky suggested,  I have been skimming the Op-Ed page of the Washington Post for the past few days. However, I'm still a little fuzzy on what an Op-Ed piece is. How does it differ from an editorial? Just in the fact that it's written based on one's opinion rather than on the opinion of the publication as a whole? I would greatly appreciate it if someone could clarify Op-Ed for me. 

Living for the "Memoiries"

From Walt Harrington, in one of the readings for Monday:

"I could go on with example after of example of such reporting -- the astronomer I went out with at 5:30 a.m. on a clear morning to know for sure what I was seeing in the sky on our hunting mornings; the compass watch I wore to always know which direction was which at any particular moment; the thermometer I used to record the water temperature at the mouth of the Old Collins spring in winter and summer (a steady 51 degrees); the old White House records reporting that I had sipped La Crema Reserve Chardonnay and ate smoked salmon mousse at a particular state dinner; the academic journal articles establishing that 75 percent of rabbits born in any given year are already dead from disease, weather, and predation by the time hunting season rolls around in the fall; the National Weather Service records that give the local temperature and weather conditions by the hour for the days and years I hunted; and the soil conservation map that gives the 700-, 800-, and 900-foot elevations of the mountains in Lawson Bottom."

This is an interesting quote, and it brought a thought to my mind: at what point does a memoir writer stop actually living and cross over into sheer documentation of the events around him/her? This passage gave me the impression that Harrington's attention to detail and penchant for fact-gathering caused him to be constantly scribbling on a pad about everything around him.

An example of living life for the sake of recording it can be literally seen on YouTube, where a user named "iJustine" records her life every day. This process is called "lifelogging," and usually involves wearing a physical camera on one's head. iJustine essentially lets millions of Internet users see her entire life nearly every day.

To further digress, a movie came out a few years ago called "The Truman Show," with Jim Carrey as the lead. This man lived his life unaware of the fact that hidden cameras recorded his every move in the small town in which he lived. The film is an interesting look into the rapidly expanding viral world of sharing one's life over media outlets.

Harrington is similar to iJustine and Truman in the sense that he is sharing parts of his life with the world. Through his memoir, the reader can view the events as Harrington saw them. This is quite a valuable insight.

However, I fear he may not have truly taken in all of his surroundings during these trips, for he was too busy with his nose in his notebook.

On the other hand, maybe he enjoyed these trips more because he was able to so fully understand every intricacy of the occasions. This is likely the case.

What do you think? Did he ruin his hunting or did he enhance it by taking notes for his memoir?

Also, what are your opinions about lifelogging? Have you found yourself at an event or hanging out with friends and thinking to yourself, "I can't wait to get home and blog about this" (or post on Facebook or Twitter)?

Saving Lives Just Part of the Job

Please follow the link and read the article. It's pretty amazing.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fchronicle%2Farchive%2F2001%2F01%2F10%2FMN160983.DTL

I just thought I would share this with you guys because of the way I stumbled across it...my friend posted it on Facebook.

It is just interesting how one person finds these fascinating articles and can post them on Facebook and then they can get passed on to blogs and other networking sites over and over again so that thousands of people read it.

About the article itself, I think this is a great example of a good lede.

"If you're an ironworker on the Golden Gate Bridge and your home phone rings at 3 a.m., you know it's trouble."

It's only one sentence, but it so perfectly captures the tone, the urgency, and the location so compactly. It really makes you want to continue reading.

What do you guys think about this article? What are your thoughts about the extent to which a simple article like this can spread like wildfire via the internet?

WMUC!!!!

Brooke asked a great question that we all seemed to come to an agreement on at the radio station. As Scottie said, radio is indeed losing its popularity. I, however, had to admire the fact that he is so dedicated and enthusiastic about radio that he doesn't see an end near. Though the internet and television may have the most control over grabbing audiences, I love to see that the two underdogs (print and radio) are fighting strong.

Today's trip was extremely great and I thank Professor Banisky for arranging this for us. Scottie and Jamal were excellent and I think we pounded them with every question in the book. I wouldn't be suprised if many of your views on radio have changed after that visit. I know I feel more appreciative of radio, especially at this school. Considering workers at WMUC do not get paid and they have to withstand that unbearably hot building, I have full respect for what they do. I think the most important aspects are that they simply love what they are doing and they want to keep learning. Overall, this trip gave me true insight into broadcasting and what it really takes. I look forward to digging deeper into it and some day fulfilling this type of career.

I honestly thought campus radio stations were open to only campus students who never really listen to it. Now I see just how far a small FCC credited station can get.

Hey, you may just be thinking about tuning into some 88.1 soon...

College

I feel as though every teen in the young scholars program enjoys the college life and the living arrangements without any parently guidance, however there is extreme responsibilty when it comes to living on your own.

Starting with academics, I think everyone feels very appreiciative becasue they dont have their parents breathing down there necks about homework and study time, however sometimes that parental guidance is needed. Through adequate amount of downtime, new friends, and campus activities its hard to focus on academics. There's were the real independence comes in and you have to choose friends over education, and most of the time peer pressure wins.

Secondly, the eating habits get worse by the day. Usually parents make sure that you have a well- balanced meal, however, when on your own, a well- balanced meal has a whole new meaning. Typically a well- balanced meal is pizza, chips, soda and ice cream which is usaually food that tires you out, and again looses your focus on your academics.

Journalism 150, tell me about you new semi- college experiences and how great you are with time management.

How a Typo Ruins an Article

From The Washington Post's latest Sotomayor article:

"Cornyn said he did not what to tell his constituents what to think about what he said were competing portraits of her: an activist judge whose speeches praise ethnic pride and describe how life experiences influence decision-making, or a restrained jurist who values precedent and rule of law."

Obviously, the error is that the word "know" is missing in between "not" and "what" near the beginning of the sentence. But without that word -- even if you fill in the blank yourself -- the rest of the sentence dissolves into an unintelligible mess. And it was a long sentence anyway, which is always risky if you're trying to keep the reader interested. I ended up confused by this sentence, and had to read it again. Just letting you all know that typographical errors do cause serious confusion, and must be taken seriously for this reason.

Radio Station

Hi everyone.
I am really excited to go to the radio station tomorrow. I think it will be really neat to see the process ones go through in order to report news on the air. Personally, this will be my first time going to radio station. Has anyone else been before? Also, what do you all think is the most effective way of getting out the news? Maybe by print or web? Radio or T.V?
Tell me what you think.

Wikipedia In the Newsroom

Many people believe Wikipedia is an absolutely unreliable source to use for reseach. Surprisingly, newsrooms are begining to accept Wikipedia as a informational source. Although it may be unreliable, there are still trusted facts that can be used. Donna Shaw stated, "Wikipedia can be used as a starting point for reporters to immerse themselves in a topic." I agree with Donna, while on the other hand, why use Wikipedia if you are forced to check their facts, as Shaw said, "use other cites to check Wikipedia's accuracy." Emerging from experiences I've had, Wikipedia entries are sometimes factual and reliable, but can still be carelessly updated and untrue. Journalism150 give me your feedback on your experiences with Wikipedia and what you think.

Al Franken Questions Sonia Sotomayor

As Professor Banisky speculated, Al Franken did in fact inject humor into his questioning of Sonia Sotomayor. NBC Nightly News featured a clip of Franken badgering Sotomayor about an episode of Perry Mason, which she cited as being her childhood inspiration for entering law. His comments sparked a few laughs. Do you think that Franken's sense of humor undermines his credibility as a senator?

Real Writers Don't Burn Out

Wow. Murray's piece was awe-inspiring. Like Murray, I have always been a writer, pursuing both creative and journalistic writing. However, I have not had the gumption to defy the norm that Murray seems to have. His article suggested to me that perhaps I have been too easily succumbing to teachers' and editors' expectations. I write a news article that is clean, well-written and much-appreciated by my newspaper advisor; thereafter, I craft every piece like it. Upon reflection, I think that I may have grown too comfortable following the guidelines for writing articles and essays. I may have forgotten that an article can meet every standard (starts with a strong lead, follows the inverted pyramid form, has quotes appropriately placed and is spelling error free) but still lack substance. In the future, I plan to compose my articles not for the editor, but for the reader. In essence, I hope to write pieces more innovatively, and in turn create a more creative product. The only question is: where to start?

Can Journalism bring change?

This morning in the Washington Post, there was an article that caught my eye.  Yesterday in the House of Representatives, the Democrats proposed a bill that would increase taxes for the richest 2 million people.  The purpose of this bill is to support Medicaid's growing coverage of lower class citizens.  Medicaid is used to pay for lower income families medical care and similar programs help provide insurance to those who could not normally afford it.  This bill plans to take care of this issue in the United States.  Future plans for Medicaid involve having 97 percent of citizens covered by insurance by 2015.  Having the American people insured could possibly help lower the expanding costs of medical procedures, and therefore benefitting the entire country. There is one bad thing about this bill, besides the 1.2 trillion dollar cost.  To cover half of the cost, the government plans on reducing federal the budget that is allotted for Medicare ( this is medical coverage for the elderly and disabled).  By doing so, those who they are trying to help are getting hurt, if the elderly struggle now what will happen when their budget is cut further?  

When I first read this article I thought it would be a great idea. Yes, taxes increases are not necessarily the best but if you can afford to give it than it worth having others receive basic care.  But upon reading further I realized that it isn't as great a bill as expected; it takes away coverage from others meanwhile providing more care for those who need it.  It becomes the question of who needs the care more.  I think that this is a question that is impossible to answer when both rely heavily on it. After considering this, I realized how important journalism is.  If it had not been for a journalist sitting on the floor in the House, no one would have known about the possibility of this, or been able to voice their concerns. This somewhat relates to our conversation with Mary Hartney, in that old media and new media have come together to get out important information.  But my question is, how can we use new media to voice concerns or ideas about government policies? Not only voice them, but actually have people listen, and follow through with a solution? 

Wikipedia-BEWARE!

Wikipedia, a website that we have all used at some point.  I would use lyrics to look up information for papers, to check out new movies, and I would also use it to learn song lyrics. However, since anyone can edit this website, it is a source that needs to be "backed up". I think that it is a great way to start research or just look up some quick facts. But when one is writing a paper, one should use additional sources. 

One time when I was researching Queen Elizabeth, I checked out Wikipedia and it said that she was a French Queen. So again, be careful when reading this site. For me, Wikipedia does not count as a source, I think its purpose is to give you background. From reading this website one can figure out what one needs to look up. 

Tell me what you think. 

Did you receive an email from me?

I've just sent an email to the class from Blackboard (elms.umd.edu). If you did not receive it, please let me know.

Here's a possibility: Blackboard uses whatever email you used when you registered for the class. If you're checking a different email account, you might not be seeing my message.

Again, if you have any IT problems (and several of you do), call 301-405-1400 and they'll walk you through the problem.

See you tomorrow.

Your postings are terrific.

All,

I'm finding your blog discussions fascinating. Keep talking.

(In case anyone hasn't chimed in yet: Remember, a part of your final grade depends on your participation. You can pick up on someone else's observations, or you can post on an entire new topic, weighty or light-hearted, short or long. Just share your thoughts.)

Please remember to go into the temp (T) drive on the computers in the journalism building, find your photos and rename the one you'd like to run with the blog. Then Professor Harvey will add them to the blog site.

Thanks.

Will New Media Inevitably Inhibit Journalists?

Unfortunately, I am going to place a black cloud over the “new media” frenzy.

Without a doubt, the internet is making news more accessible to our generation. Now, being the tech-savvy teens that we are, we can find news stories as soon as we click open our homepage. We can check-up on the latest world news and celebrity scandals while on our way to class or on the metro. However, every rose has its thorn.

As an aspiring journalist, this change from old media to new media stirred a doomful question in my mind: Will these new media methods inevitably take away some creativity for journalists? In this day and age, the world is moving at lightning speed. People who want something want fast results. Our level of patience is lowering. Fast food, get-rich-quick gimmicks and typing an e-mail rather than mailing a hand-written letter are just a few examples of the fast-paced lifestyle. In addition, many receive daily fixes of news updates via text message that just provide the bare minimum of top headline information. So, as time progresses, will people move so quickly that they will not want to take the time to read a wordy article when they can just get the naked facts? Will journalism become just a series of bullets? Does this mark the end of the inverted pyramid and will quirky word choice take a turn for the worse?

As much as I wish this was false, I couldn’t help but wonder if this had any sense to it.

Bus Driver Reading

Hi everyone!

The conflict between old and new media seems to be a major theme in this class. Printed newspapers are slowly becoming obsolete as more interactive internet sources are used for news. As exemplified by the sharing of information about the situation in Iran via Twitter and Flickr, the new "citizen journalists" of this internet age have a considerable amount of influence in news.

While not as serious as the events in Iran, I found an instance similar to that situation in which newspapers depended on a "citizen journalist" for information about a story they would otherwise not have been aware of.

An article in today's Washington Post titled "Bus Driver Who Had Book Is Off Md. Route for Now" said that a bus driver was reading as she drove and was photographed by a citizen riding the bus. According to the article, "The Montgomery investigation was prompted by a 34-year-old Silver Spring woman, who provided Channel 7 with photographs she said she took Friday night on Bus 38." Apparently, the driver was reading the entire time that this woman was on the bus, which was for at least 20 minutes.

Not only is this story scary, but it also further presses upon us the importance of "citizen journalism" in our society. While I understand that we cannot rely on citizens for our news all of the time, I believe they make up a central part of how our news is passed along in this new world shaped by the internet, and cell phones.

What do you think about the increasing reliance on "citizen journalists"?
Also, what do you think the penalty should be for this irresponsible and reckless bus driver if it is confirmed (they are currently investigating it more) that she was in fact reading while driving?

And I just want to say that this blog is awesome- you all have such interesting stories and comments to share!

Another View on Facebook and Journalism

After reading Michael's post on how freedom of the press should be issued and how the government could take over, I began reading an article from the Center for Journalism Ethics of the University of Wisconsin Madison. This article mainly talked about the issues concerning offensive journalism and it had a relation to the discussion we had in class today. The article writer Sunny Dhillon included his views on Facebook, and I really wanted to find out if Facebook is indeed some sort of journalism. Sunny Dhillon says that "if we look at Facebook groups as advocacy journalism, as “journalism that advocates a cause or expresses a viewpoint,” often through non-objective means, then the idea isn’t quite so far-fetched." So in this case, the Facebook groups can be an act of journalism. For instance, a group fighting for Gay rights would be basically reporting on different issues that then turn into current events. Everyone on Facebook who chooses to join this group would then be getting a taste of news.

Do you find this sort of connection between Facebook and journalism? If not this connection, we surely did learn more information today from our guest speaker Mary in proportion to her job and how she basically promotes the Baltimore Sun's articles on Facebook and Twitter. What she does pretty much allows these such sites to sort of become a journalist website, along with the obvious fact that people's status's are citizen media.

What is your view on whether Facebook can be seen as a window to journalism with its millions of groups? The link to this article is available once you click on the title of this post.

Government and Media: An Unethical Partnership?

"Big Brother is watching you."

So claim the many billboards in George Orwell's fantastic novel 1984. In this epic story, the English Socialist government has obtained control of nearly every aspect of urban life. The government writes books, records music, creates films, and most importantly, spies on each and every citizen through their upgraded televisions.

Writing is one of the most horrible sins in this government's eyes. Of course, no free press exists.

While America is nowhere near the state of control under which the citizens of Orwell's city suffer, there is a degree of control exercised by our government. America is certainly bounds ahead of China, Burma, North Korea, Iran, and other press-limiting countries. But as Mary Hartney claimed today in her lecture, NPR and other organizations exist through government grants, which can be revoked at any time.

The question I pose is such: What is the government's role in the press? Should the government have any role at all? Should journalists be able to publish whatever they see fit, regardless of political controversies?

Let me know your opinions.

(Also, think of how journalism has permanently altered the American government. Think Watergate.)

"Mobile is the Future"

Hi Everyone! 

I really enjoyed listening to Mary Hartney speak today. When I found out that she was coming to talk to us about the Internet, I was skeptical. I felt this way because I believed that people have become to reliant on new forms of media/technology. However, I was unaware of how effective Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are at getting information across to the public. Using websites such as these enable people to be able to communicate and share information globally. 

Even though I still believe that one should continue to read print, I now think that in addition, one should blog, and communicate through Facebook and Twitter. 

What were your reactions to Mary's presentation? Do you agree with her that "mobile is the new future?" Or do you think that there will be something else? 

elms.umd.edu problems

Hello,

For those of you having trouble signing into Blackboard, the university tech desk says it will talk you through problems.

So, please call 301-405-1400 and wait to speak to a human being. Then check Blackboard daily to look for new assignments, readings, etc.

Thanks for your attention and great questions for Mary Hartney today.

See you tomorrow at 9 a.m. to discuss Wikipedia before we walk over to the library.

The Sotomayor Publicity Stunt

I saw that one more group has started using Sotomayor as a political torpedo. The anti-abortion activists. This information comes from the Washington Post this morning.

From the Washington Post: "Outside the Hart Building, Terry and his band brandished posters of aborted fetuses and children's coffins holding dolls covered in stage blood. A demonstrator dressed in a judge's robes carried the sickle of the Grim Reaper. "

Not only that but with a post of my from yesterday I indicated another Post article about Conservatives and Liberals using this process to fight each other...

Sotomayor seems to be less of an appointed official and more of a weopon for every group who needs to get some exposure. "Conservatives, Liberals, abortion activists OH MY!" -is the phrase in my mind.

I know Obama probably didn't intend for that but look how quickly it has happened.

Piano Men Come Together

What do you do when 28,000 fans are waiting to hear you play, but your instrument has a mind of its own? Ask Elton John, who had that expericence on Saturday July 11, 2009 at Nationals Stadium. He and Billy Joel were set to give the sold-out crowd an evening of rock 'n' roll excitement, when Elton's pedal on his grand piano got stuck on their second number. While looking at the Jumbotron, audience members noticed something was amiss when Elton shouted across stage to Billy during the opening bars of "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me."

Elton stopped the song, and said that the damper pedal on his piano was stuck. He could not go on with the show until it was fixed. After an unsucessful attempt by a technician to free the sticky pedal, fellow musician Billy Joel took off his coat and got under the piano himself to try and fix it. When there was no easy fix in sight, Billy, in trouper fashion, quickly called his musicians to the stage, and went on with the show.

The audience readily responded as they sang along to Billy's songs, knowing that Elton's team would fix the problem. After a delightful set of Billy's songs, Elton's piano rose from below stage to the audience's cheers. The piano men were back in business. Elton played a wonderful set of his own songs. They finished the night off joyously playing together Billy Joel's "Piano Man," as the crowd sang along. Only fireworks could have made the evening better!

According to the Washington Post, the performance was "predictable and unimaginative." I would like to know how the Post found this predictable. Watching two professionals recover from a near disaster was entertainment in itself.

The Situation Room

Surely if Mitchell Stephens had written "An Extended History of News" as opposed to "A Short History of News", his article would have included, among other events, journalism's recent introduction to the Internet.

In Chapter 5 of his book "Journalism 2.0", Mark Briggs discusses the media's transition from print to the Web. He stresses the importance of print journalists experimenting with blogging in order to more easily communicate with the public.

But what of television journalism? In response to the public's interest in the instantaneous, interactive news coverage increasingly prevalent on the Internet, many TV newscasts have made media available on their respective Web sites. For instance, NBC Nightly News posts the "latest program" on the front page of its Web site (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/) in addition to links to past programs.

However, CNN's "The Situation Room" with Wolf Blitzer has an entirely different approach to media's transition from the TV screen to the computer screen. Instead of presenting a traditional newscast, "The Situation Room" uses resources found on the 'net (ie: video clips) to supplement its news stories.

"The Situation Room" has a very innovative approach towards journalism's newfound pervasiveness on the Web, and I suggest that all of you check it out!

Seeing Double!

Hello Everyone!

I hope you all are as excited as I am for the new Harry Potter movie! 

While reading the "Baltimore Sun", I came across a really interesting article about an actual man named Harry Potter. I think that it is neat to share a common name with a character from a world famous novel. In this article,  the "real" Harry Potter talked about how he receives numerous phone calls from young kids who think that he is the  Harry Potter from the movies. He seemed to have a good sense of humor for he did not get upset after receiving these frequent calls. 

Reading this article reminded me of Heath Ledger since he was named after Heathcliff from the novel "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Brontë. 

For me, I feel content with "Brooke", but I would not mind being named "Juliet". One of my favorite Shakespeare plays is "Romeo and Juliet." Both Juliet and Romeo go through so much pain in order to be together. I would want to be named after Juliet because I feel that she displayed a lot of courage and followed he heart. I wish that I was more courageous, therefore, I would proudly take her name. 

I was wondering if anybody else wished that they were named after a character from their favorite movie or book. Does anybody have a friend or family member named after a fictional character? 

Let me know :) 

King of Pop Death Coverage: Gone Too Far?

Hello class!! Our first day together was suprisingly more interesting than I thought. I really can not wait for these next weeks with each other, enhancing our skills in journalism and meeting wonderful people connected to this career. Professor Banisky has indeed given me the impression that she knows her stuff, so we should learn a lot.

I'm sure all of you have heard the shocking (and in some cases, unshocking) news of Michael Jackson's death. Media from all around the world has extensive coverage of the King of Pop's sudden passing and in a way, it is bringing the world together. From Russia to Africa and right here in the states, the secrets of Jackson and untold mysteries are trying to unveil with journalists digging deep. This may be one benefit: the world coming together, but there is one problem I can't seem to shake.

Most people are now more than ever starting to realize that Michael Jackson was not just the King of Pop, a Humanitarian, a strange character at times, and seemingly always in trouble with the law. He was also a father; blood or not. After watching the memorial service on live television for Jackson at the Staple's center in Los Angeles, I couldn't help but notice exactly how human Michael was to his family. I was brought to tears when his daughter Paris spoke about how her Daddy was the best father to her. The Washington Post.com felt that moment was "pure and private" and, "the truest thing of the whole show." I felt a strong sense of sympathy for her, just as I think most news shows like CNN Headline news felt. Most news anchors for that station are expressing their views on Michael's children with heartfelt feelings, and I find that very respectful. Nancy Grace is known for her "tough love" attitude when it comes to finding the facts, but after watching her show these last couple of days, I believe her sympathetic side is coming out.

My main question here is, "Does the world of journalism ever go too far when society wants closure?" I completely understand this is a higly controverstial and extremely talented celebrity we're talking about, but the man died and has a family going through a tough time. When will the closure of his death come to an end? My guess is two years from now, when most people have forgotten.

I guess if I try to answer my own question, I would say that the only reason reporters across the globe are covering Michael Jackson's death so in depth would be because he was just that important. Neither Farrah Fawcett nor Ed Mcmahan recieved as much coverage on their deaths, which occured in the same week (In Farrah Fawcett's case, she was pretty much washed out by MJ's death). Not to say these two television icons aren't important, because I strongly believe anyone on this earth has some sense of importancy. It's just that Michael Jackson had an important appeal to many more, which is why his magnetism to the media gives them the need to close his life for him.

Tell me what you think..

Iran's Imaginary Embassy: Resurgence of Cold War Paranoia?

According to The Washington Post, the U.S. government has vacillated in their opinions about the Iranian Embassy in Nicaragua. There is, The Washington Post claims, no "mega-embassy" in Nicaragua, as Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton had earlier claimed.

This type of fiery anti-Iran rhetoric seems to be the same intense wordplay that the U.S. used in their 1970s and 1980s surveillance and weapons-upgrading programs. My question is: How many other illogical or inane topics will be raised by our elected officials about such Iranian schemes, and will the American public be misled by the blanket scapegoat of "The enemy has to do with this"? As a citizen interested in both the news and foreign affairs, I believe that the American people deserve to know the truth about the U.S. government's interests in foreign countries, and especially the truth about their dealings with Iran.

Although the government of Iran loudly boasts of the success of their theocratic democracy (a contradiction in itself), we have seen immense Iranian public dissent in the previous weeks. Twitter, along with other online resources, has opened a world of communications surrounding the election protests. Ahmadinejad is undoubtedly a corrupt and dangerous leader, but that does not justify the U.S. government's indiscriminate use of Iran as a scapegoat for any mysterious international matters.

I am also reminded of the Bush Administration's policy of getting information from terrorists in any way possible, torture included. Will the Obama Administration continue to use fear mongering and paranoia to their advantage?

Please let me know your opinions.

Welcome!

Welcome to our class blog. I look forward to reading your postings about media.