Anyone who enters the library or computer center in the next few weeks will see a handful of seniors hard at work. Each year, a group of students graduate with college honors and/or departmental distinction after the completion of a senior thesis. Despite a consistently high number of eligible students each year, the number that decide to do a project has remained low. Insight into this issue is provided by Dr. Elizabeth Freund, head of the Honors Committee, and Dr. Julia Heberle, director of the Honors program. Additional commentary is provided by seniors Thea Graybill and Marci Nawrocki, as well as Sophomore Kristine Maravel.
For more information on the senior thesis or college honors you can visit http://www.albright.edu/academics/honorsguide2.html and http://www.albright.edu/academics/honorsguide7.html or send an e-mail to Dr. Freund and Dr. Heberle(efreund@alb.edu, jheberle@alb.edu).
Friday, March 13, 2009
EVERYONE "Huddle" Up!
Just this past semester a Fellowship of Christian Athletes “Huddle” was formed at Albright College, the March 5th meeting being only its 4th huddle. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is the largest Christian campus ministry in the world. Its core principle is to combine people’s passion for sports with their passion for Christ and make them aware that the two don’t have to be separate. After having a positive impact on his own life, Assistant Football Coach and Recruiting Coordinator, Steve Opgenorth decided to start a huddle of his own.
A big misconception of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes is that you have to be an athlete to join. However; this is not the case, anyone is eligible to become a member. At the March 5th huddle there were both athletes and non athletes present. I interviewed Alvin Thomas, a freshman football player and Maria Disla, a non student athlete, to get their views on the huddle. Both Alvin and Maria gave positive feedback.
To find out more information about the Fellowship for Christian Athletes you can attend a huddle. They are held every Thursday at 8 p.m. in the Red and White room in Albright College’s Schumo Center or you can e-mail Coach Opgenorth at sopgenorth@alb.edu.
A big misconception of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes is that you have to be an athlete to join. However; this is not the case, anyone is eligible to become a member. At the March 5th huddle there were both athletes and non athletes present. I interviewed Alvin Thomas, a freshman football player and Maria Disla, a non student athlete, to get their views on the huddle. Both Alvin and Maria gave positive feedback.
To find out more information about the Fellowship for Christian Athletes you can attend a huddle. They are held every Thursday at 8 p.m. in the Red and White room in Albright College’s Schumo Center or you can e-mail Coach Opgenorth at sopgenorth@alb.edu.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
So...Barack...How About This Crisis...We're Waiting...
The economic crisis is affecting everyone, not just hard working, mortgage paying adults. Its also affecting their children - students in college. More specifically, Albright College. Regardless of what others think, students ARE affected by this crisis, beyond just shopping, or buying gas for their cars. They are concerned about their families, and how paying for school, during this crisis is affecting them. Its a sad situation for some students: listen to them sound off.
Greek Row at Albright?
Between all three sororities the issue of having sorority housing on campus has been talked about frequently. In this interview I spoke with Greek advisor Ron Beitler on the "real" issues behind not having sorority housing. From my understanding this issue is underway and is in the progress of arriving on campus (not anytime soon though). From this I got the perspectives of senior and Alpha Delta Pi member Jen Martyn and independent and senior Michele Pomante. Together they touch on the positive and negative aspects of sorority housing here at Albright.
You are starting to get very sleepy....sleepy
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be hypnotised? 26 students, including myself found out this Tuesday March 10,2009. Sailesh a travelling hypnotist performed for a crowd of 175 students in Memorial Chapel. The event was hosted by AC2, an organization that brings different programs and events to Albright College. To get a full understanding of how Sailesh came to Albright and the outcome of the event I interviewed Brian Benusa a junior who is part of AC2, Katie Miller, also a junior who attended the event, and Sailesh the hypnotist who performed.
The Tall Brothers
For the past four years Phil Hall has been the big man on Albright's mens basketball team. This year he got a little competition from his not so much shorter younger brother when he came back to compete as a fifth year senior. In this candid interview the brothers talk about life both on and off the basketball court, what Derek has learned in his freshman season with his big brother, and what Phil thinks is in store for his younger brother's basketball future. Teammate Matt Bazsika offers his insight on how much Phil helped Derek and what it was like to play with them throughout the season. Together their story definitely lives up to its tall expectations.
Would You Study Abroad?
The Study Abroad program is one that not many take advantage of in their college career. I interviewed three students Kevin Harrington, Kevin Zinzel and Dana Wilcomes at the Study Abroad Fair to get their insight in what they thought about it. the event was held on March 6th 2009. the Study Abroad Fair is a fair to help student see if they would like to learn in another country and experience a different culture while learning.
Housing Selection Hassle Fall 2009
The Housing Selection for Albright campus is filled with confusing dates, and sign-ups that most Albrightians don't really understand. The scramble to get things done this year was more insane than usual with the transition of Smith from a community dorm to being only for freshmen. With quotes from Larryl Damon, Candice Mayo, Vanessa Mndolo, Vallerie Oppong, and Michelle Santos I have composed a list of complaints and possible solutions for the upcoming selection next year.
More than just a Flower Show
The Philadelphia Flower show is a wonderful experience that I highly recommend everyone try to partake in it at some point in their life. The show featured everything from displays of Roman Coliseums, to underwater scenes, to a tree with every branch painted different colors, to clothes, jewelry, and shoes made of organic materials. Aside from enjoying the multitude of displays, I was also able to see the wide variety of people that came to show for various reasons. While I was there I spoke with Julie Wang, a plant buyer from corporate, Pat Spinosi, an Italian folk dancer, and Chip Schwartz, an Albright College Senior. In speaking with them I was able to get a variety of opinions and views and how the Flower Show serves a different pupose for each person. Not only did the show benefit the participants, but also the city of Philadelphia in attracting news coverage that may have helped people not even directly involved in the show.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
News War
It was Brian Ross, in Chapter 17 of News War, that said "The thing that separates each network is original reporting". Chapter 17 of Frontline continues with examples of each network expressing its own voice with its wave of reporting that is all their own. With "To Catch a Predator", and "60 minutes" to "20/20" every news station distributes its own account of the news to a specific audience who enjoys that type of news. Going even beyond expectation, news programs began to turn profit starting with "60 Minutes" and has started a new trend of the news making money rather than working toward the public's best interest. From turning profits to extreme budget cuts the news took spins and dives to the current format that we see today.
I find this argument compelling, with so many news savvy journalist on almost every channel that one can surf on television it is essential that each has its own voice as to attract viewers away from other news programs that are just as talented or focused as you are. Original reporting must be the heart of a good news casting team because it is very likely that the same news-worthy stories are going to be on every single news program, so it is required that there be something else that catches the prospective viewers eye other than your ability to cover a story effectively.
The same could be said in the blogging world, the voice of the reporter is strongly needed to catch some of the ever-moving, ever-surfing publics.
Larry Kramer said that, "the biggest cause for tumult is that the economic situation [for journalism] is changing because the audience is changing." and Walter Issacson came behind him to say that the focus of the news is no longer to get a wide variety of an audience to to get a narrow, passionate audience. "And what better way to get that," he says, "than to be opinion based." Chapter 18 goes on about how news broadcasting has changed and is continually changing to access the deep revenue of a prospective audience. From making the transition from hardcore neutral reporting to becoming steadily opinionated the news world has accomplished snagging an audience that fits into its belief system. This type of audience will continue to come back for more, not only for their daily dose of news, but opinion. The transition from television to web has also become priority for a lot of news programs. It was quoted that to not get on this trend, to pass the Internet off as a generational trend, is a folly decision.
In my personal opinion, becoming opinion based is a very profitable way to achieve the original voice that was needed in Chapter 17. Opinions make the news more down-to-earth, a way to actually place the viewer in the news, to either agree with the newscaster or to disagree. It use to be that the viewer was to make their own decision about how they feel about what was going on in the world, but now the news can give them a side of the argument that they may not even consider.
What more is blogging than opinion? It is a way to voice your opinion about a particular subject (the topic of your story) and to draw in the attention of those who believe like you do or dissenters. Blogging just may be the transition needed for news programs from TV to Internet, because now since they're basically doing the same thing (blending in their original voice with current events), but blogging gives their viewers the option of commenting so that THEIR original voices are heard as well.
I think that blogging will not only be the place for amateur journalists, but also the professionals. In order to keep up with the current trend that is blogs the major news stations may have to jump on board with it. It is already evident that most of the major news stations have began posting their stories on their websites so that those surfing publics can pause and view the current events before they're on their way. All that is required is the ability to comment (which a lot of them are beginning to do) to make it exactly like a blog.
I find this argument compelling, with so many news savvy journalist on almost every channel that one can surf on television it is essential that each has its own voice as to attract viewers away from other news programs that are just as talented or focused as you are. Original reporting must be the heart of a good news casting team because it is very likely that the same news-worthy stories are going to be on every single news program, so it is required that there be something else that catches the prospective viewers eye other than your ability to cover a story effectively.
The same could be said in the blogging world, the voice of the reporter is strongly needed to catch some of the ever-moving, ever-surfing publics.
Larry Kramer said that, "the biggest cause for tumult is that the economic situation [for journalism] is changing because the audience is changing." and Walter Issacson came behind him to say that the focus of the news is no longer to get a wide variety of an audience to to get a narrow, passionate audience. "And what better way to get that," he says, "than to be opinion based." Chapter 18 goes on about how news broadcasting has changed and is continually changing to access the deep revenue of a prospective audience. From making the transition from hardcore neutral reporting to becoming steadily opinionated the news world has accomplished snagging an audience that fits into its belief system. This type of audience will continue to come back for more, not only for their daily dose of news, but opinion. The transition from television to web has also become priority for a lot of news programs. It was quoted that to not get on this trend, to pass the Internet off as a generational trend, is a folly decision.
In my personal opinion, becoming opinion based is a very profitable way to achieve the original voice that was needed in Chapter 17. Opinions make the news more down-to-earth, a way to actually place the viewer in the news, to either agree with the newscaster or to disagree. It use to be that the viewer was to make their own decision about how they feel about what was going on in the world, but now the news can give them a side of the argument that they may not even consider.
What more is blogging than opinion? It is a way to voice your opinion about a particular subject (the topic of your story) and to draw in the attention of those who believe like you do or dissenters. Blogging just may be the transition needed for news programs from TV to Internet, because now since they're basically doing the same thing (blending in their original voice with current events), but blogging gives their viewers the option of commenting so that THEIR original voices are heard as well.
I think that blogging will not only be the place for amateur journalists, but also the professionals. In order to keep up with the current trend that is blogs the major news stations may have to jump on board with it. It is already evident that most of the major news stations have began posting their stories on their websites so that those surfing publics can pause and view the current events before they're on their way. All that is required is the ability to comment (which a lot of them are beginning to do) to make it exactly like a blog.
For Chapter 17, the blog focused on the change of news reporting, and how the public and media interpreted and responded to it. Over time, informative news shows like 60 Minutes and 20/20 have become staples in the homes of viewers, seeking contreversial, informative, and overall, real news pieces. In the beginning, people were hesistant to watch these shows, but after they showed the realism of the stories, the ratings went higher and higher, and similar shows were continuously produced. I agree with why people weren’t willing to accept these shows in the beginning; sometimes shows that are supposed to show ‘the reality of life’ don’t always seem so real, like “To Catch A Predator”. Admittedly, when I first heard of that show, I refused to believe that it was real, and I still think there are some parts of it that may be staged. However, shows like Dateline and CBS’s Evening News are more believable to me, with the close footage, and threatening situations that some of the reporters get into, like when Robert Warren “Bob” Woodruff was almost killed in a roadside bombing in Iraq. Those are the stories that get people to watch, thus making the cooperations more money. I also think that blogging and giving up to date notices help this type of news; the media always first the “first dibs” or scoop on anything. Videos and blogs are becoming a big part of the media, so I think taking control of that, especially with the type of news that these shows are reporting, is a good way to keep the public interested, have a monopoly on all forms of media, which of course, makes more money.
Chapter 18 discusses how older types of news, namely 60 Minutes struggles to keep up with their audience’s new expectations of how news is supposed to be covered. As the years go on, and technology becomes more advanced, there is a need for a new type of reporting. People don’t always want to sit in fron the TV, just to receive news, especially with the popularity of the Internet. To keep viewers interested, 60 Minutes made a deal with Yahoo, so that their news footage is partly on TV, and partly on the Internet. This way, viewers can get a little of both, and get get extra footage that wasn’t shown on TV, on the Internet portion of the story. This type of media is called, “Info Snacking”. Its too early to tell if this method has worked, but personally, I would think that it would. I rarely watch television for the news; I’d rather watch it online, with the use of the newsite’s videos, and/or Youtube. Taking advantage of that media is the way to attract younger viewers like myself to be up to date with news, from that cooperation. The story also talks about the power of Google, Youtube, Myspace and Facebook and how those sites influence people; people don’t have to rely on news for their news, anymore. People can rely on each other, on Facebook, Myspace and other sites to get things they want to know. I know that the majority of the time, when I haven’t sought a specific site for news, I might learn something from a status message on Facebook, or someone posting a link. The news can’t keep up with that type of coverage that the younger generation is using, but they are steadily trying, due to the rise and control of the Internet.
In my opinion, the future of blogging will expand. It will grow amongst the people, like it has, with the random and sometimes funny blogs that the average citizen can post. But one difference is that is will be the news – altogether. I think eventually, major news corperations will turn to the Internet to get people to watch their broadcasts. Sure, for the older people, who may resist to that sort of media, they may keep somethings on the television, but it will definitely be less than now. Some people don’t bother to watch their favorite shows on television, at the actual time they come on, anymore because they know they can watch them online. Is it realistic to think that people will sit on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the eleven o’ clock news? I think not. Not when they can read it the next day at work on the Internet. I think news corperations need to wise up, and partner with more popular sites, like Facebook and Msn, and even gossip sites like Perez Hilton, to make sure that this media is controlled by them. I have seen that a couple of news corperations have Facebook pages, but I don’t think its enough. They need to take the 60 Minute-Yahoo partrnership and learn from, and expand on it.
Chapter 18 discusses how older types of news, namely 60 Minutes struggles to keep up with their audience’s new expectations of how news is supposed to be covered. As the years go on, and technology becomes more advanced, there is a need for a new type of reporting. People don’t always want to sit in fron the TV, just to receive news, especially with the popularity of the Internet. To keep viewers interested, 60 Minutes made a deal with Yahoo, so that their news footage is partly on TV, and partly on the Internet. This way, viewers can get a little of both, and get get extra footage that wasn’t shown on TV, on the Internet portion of the story. This type of media is called, “Info Snacking”. Its too early to tell if this method has worked, but personally, I would think that it would. I rarely watch television for the news; I’d rather watch it online, with the use of the newsite’s videos, and/or Youtube. Taking advantage of that media is the way to attract younger viewers like myself to be up to date with news, from that cooperation. The story also talks about the power of Google, Youtube, Myspace and Facebook and how those sites influence people; people don’t have to rely on news for their news, anymore. People can rely on each other, on Facebook, Myspace and other sites to get things they want to know. I know that the majority of the time, when I haven’t sought a specific site for news, I might learn something from a status message on Facebook, or someone posting a link. The news can’t keep up with that type of coverage that the younger generation is using, but they are steadily trying, due to the rise and control of the Internet.
In my opinion, the future of blogging will expand. It will grow amongst the people, like it has, with the random and sometimes funny blogs that the average citizen can post. But one difference is that is will be the news – altogether. I think eventually, major news corperations will turn to the Internet to get people to watch their broadcasts. Sure, for the older people, who may resist to that sort of media, they may keep somethings on the television, but it will definitely be less than now. Some people don’t bother to watch their favorite shows on television, at the actual time they come on, anymore because they know they can watch them online. Is it realistic to think that people will sit on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the eleven o’ clock news? I think not. Not when they can read it the next day at work on the Internet. I think news corperations need to wise up, and partner with more popular sites, like Facebook and Msn, and even gossip sites like Perez Hilton, to make sure that this media is controlled by them. I have seen that a couple of news corperations have Facebook pages, but I don’t think its enough. They need to take the 60 Minute-Yahoo partrnership and learn from, and expand on it.
News War Blogs Discussion
Chapter 17: “Network News: Then and Now”
The main argument of this chapter was to show the way that news shows have changed over the years—before the 80s, the focus was more on what the public needed to hear and learn about and what specifically impacted their lives. After the 80s, when “60 Minutes” appeared, networks realized that these shows can be profitable and became the new focus of news shows. Shows like “60 Minutes” and those that came after are grittier and more controversial—this draws viewers in and ultimately pushes economic gain for the networks. Before the 80s, news programs reported straight news; they discussed what was going on in the world and were more journalistic. After the 80s, shows were constructed more like magazine shows which featured anything that will draw viewers in. The “news” element was almost less important because it wasn’t about the news anymore. It was about what would get people to tune in which makes money.
I agree with the argument, though I didn’t think about it until watching the video. The only time that there are reports on news is on local shows like Action News or whatever your preferred local news station’s show is. But, the news shows that is emphasized and advertised are the shows like “60 Minutes” and “20/20”—the shows that come out of the new focus that began in the 80s with news shows. And, because I was born in the 80s, I have not known anything but shows like this because by the time I was born, things had clearly changed. Watching the clips from the old news shows looked boring to me because there wasn’t that “scandalous” story or a story that caused controversy. While, there are local shows that do focus strictly on delivering news, it is clear that the networks want to draw attention to the “Dateline” type of shows.
The way that this topic connects to blogging is that blogging has become such a phenomenon because the people have more control and input to what we read and hear. This is similar to the new type of news shows because after the 80s, the news shows began to include controversy and scandal which will ALWAYS draw people in. So, in some ways, the public’s opinion and voice is significant because the networks are catering to what they want to see and hear due to the fact that they are dependent on ratings. And, how do you have big ratings without the people? And, in order to get these ratings, you have to satisfy them. With blogging, there is something for everyone—if you want to know about what celebrities are doing, there are blogs for that; if you’re into sports, there are blogs for that; and, if there isn’t a blog that caters to your interest, you can create your own. In the case of the new types of news shows and blogs, the two are connected because they both are dependent on the public.
“Chapter 20: The Revolution’s New Synergies”
This chapter focused on the ways that the internet and TV news shows have crossed each other and over time, taken elements from each other and introduced it into their respective fields. It first talks about how certain networks began to connect their shows with the internet. It discussed how CBS created a blog that allowed people to ask questions and respond to news stories. But, networks saw the impact of the connection to internet when the Mark Foley scandal broke out. The story was popularized after a submission to a ABC news blog. This showed ABC as well as other networks that the internet can be beneficial to their popularity and reputation for reporting. The video also discusses the ways that internet websites like Yahoo! and Google have included more news elements into their websites. They both feature news stories on their homepages and with this addition, the number of visitors has increased.
I also agree with what this video discussed because now, every major network has some internet or blogging component. I think it’s a smart move on the networks’ part because the internet has become such a popular source for people, whether it’s for news or entertainment. I also think that Yahoo! Made smart moves with all of their news inclusions because it only increases their popularity and credibility. Now, they are more than just websites; they are now reliable news sources. You can check your email and be informed about the day’s scandal or world event all at the same time.
The way this video connects to blogging is obvious because it was what the video focused on. I think the video just showed how important it is to include and be mindful of the internet aspect of everything because everything is on the internet. And, with blogging, its even more important because people can use blogs to both read and express themselves. And, that attracts people as well because they can do it all with the network’s news blogs.
The Future of Blogs
I think that blogs will continue their dominance and popularity because it really is appealing to everyone. There is a blog for everyone. I think the fact that major networks are recognizing the significance shows how huge blogs are right now. Blogs can only get bigger and more popular because right now, there is nothing else like it. Blogs are the only places you can be informed about any aspect of the world and still speak your mind and express yourself. I am not sure if it can advance anymore than it already has or if it will take the place of TV news shows—but, it surely has given it competition and changed the ways that these networks function.
The main argument of this chapter was to show the way that news shows have changed over the years—before the 80s, the focus was more on what the public needed to hear and learn about and what specifically impacted their lives. After the 80s, when “60 Minutes” appeared, networks realized that these shows can be profitable and became the new focus of news shows. Shows like “60 Minutes” and those that came after are grittier and more controversial—this draws viewers in and ultimately pushes economic gain for the networks. Before the 80s, news programs reported straight news; they discussed what was going on in the world and were more journalistic. After the 80s, shows were constructed more like magazine shows which featured anything that will draw viewers in. The “news” element was almost less important because it wasn’t about the news anymore. It was about what would get people to tune in which makes money.
I agree with the argument, though I didn’t think about it until watching the video. The only time that there are reports on news is on local shows like Action News or whatever your preferred local news station’s show is. But, the news shows that is emphasized and advertised are the shows like “60 Minutes” and “20/20”—the shows that come out of the new focus that began in the 80s with news shows. And, because I was born in the 80s, I have not known anything but shows like this because by the time I was born, things had clearly changed. Watching the clips from the old news shows looked boring to me because there wasn’t that “scandalous” story or a story that caused controversy. While, there are local shows that do focus strictly on delivering news, it is clear that the networks want to draw attention to the “Dateline” type of shows.
The way that this topic connects to blogging is that blogging has become such a phenomenon because the people have more control and input to what we read and hear. This is similar to the new type of news shows because after the 80s, the news shows began to include controversy and scandal which will ALWAYS draw people in. So, in some ways, the public’s opinion and voice is significant because the networks are catering to what they want to see and hear due to the fact that they are dependent on ratings. And, how do you have big ratings without the people? And, in order to get these ratings, you have to satisfy them. With blogging, there is something for everyone—if you want to know about what celebrities are doing, there are blogs for that; if you’re into sports, there are blogs for that; and, if there isn’t a blog that caters to your interest, you can create your own. In the case of the new types of news shows and blogs, the two are connected because they both are dependent on the public.
“Chapter 20: The Revolution’s New Synergies”
This chapter focused on the ways that the internet and TV news shows have crossed each other and over time, taken elements from each other and introduced it into their respective fields. It first talks about how certain networks began to connect their shows with the internet. It discussed how CBS created a blog that allowed people to ask questions and respond to news stories. But, networks saw the impact of the connection to internet when the Mark Foley scandal broke out. The story was popularized after a submission to a ABC news blog. This showed ABC as well as other networks that the internet can be beneficial to their popularity and reputation for reporting. The video also discusses the ways that internet websites like Yahoo! and Google have included more news elements into their websites. They both feature news stories on their homepages and with this addition, the number of visitors has increased.
I also agree with what this video discussed because now, every major network has some internet or blogging component. I think it’s a smart move on the networks’ part because the internet has become such a popular source for people, whether it’s for news or entertainment. I also think that Yahoo! Made smart moves with all of their news inclusions because it only increases their popularity and credibility. Now, they are more than just websites; they are now reliable news sources. You can check your email and be informed about the day’s scandal or world event all at the same time.
The way this video connects to blogging is obvious because it was what the video focused on. I think the video just showed how important it is to include and be mindful of the internet aspect of everything because everything is on the internet. And, with blogging, its even more important because people can use blogs to both read and express themselves. And, that attracts people as well because they can do it all with the network’s news blogs.
The Future of Blogs
I think that blogs will continue their dominance and popularity because it really is appealing to everyone. There is a blog for everyone. I think the fact that major networks are recognizing the significance shows how huge blogs are right now. Blogs can only get bigger and more popular because right now, there is nothing else like it. Blogs are the only places you can be informed about any aspect of the world and still speak your mind and express yourself. I am not sure if it can advance anymore than it already has or if it will take the place of TV news shows—but, it surely has given it competition and changed the ways that these networks function.
News Wars: 4th Hour Blog
Chapter 17 “Network News: Then and Now”
This chapter focused mainly on the differences of the news both before and after the 1980's. It talked about how before the 1980's news was more focused on what the people needed to hear and not about making money. Whereas during and after the 80's the news not only focused more on making money but also on public appeal instead of public need. The fact that networks are now have focus not only on the news programs but are also putting more emphasis on magazine shows, illustrates the change of direction in news production. Magazine shows are shows which combine interviews, commentary, and entertainment, instead of just the straight forward news that used to be presented. It seems as if news has no longer become news but instead has become just another form of entertainment and another way to mask the truth of what is actually happening in the world. This could be because the motive behind news has changed and is now a for profit business when before the 80’s many if not all believed that news could not make a profit. Although this not be the case for all news programs produced it seems as if most have fallen into the category of entertainment instead of just straight forward facts. I know that sometimes I will just watch a news segment because they make it look interesting and entertaining in the previews for the show. Also, with shows like Entertainment Tonight, which were made to both inform and entertain, it seems as though the line between news and entertainment has blurred.
The future of blogging seems as though it may go the same way as news did, in terms of profit. When blogs were first done they were created not for a profit but to inform people, just as the journalism news industry was created. If blogging goes the same way as news and becomes a for profit business then it would seem as if it’s original motives would be compromised and it would then focus on things that it would not have originally focused on.
Chapter 19 “The New Universe of Online Media”
With the world changing everyday it’s no surprise that there are different forms of media and journalism emerging as well. Instead of just one set group of people being able to report the news, now anybody can be come a journalist. Although, we still do have professional journalists there are now citizen journalists, who are becoming a bigger and bigger part of the journalistic world each and every day. Jeff Jarvis nailed it when he said, “anyone can perform an act of journalism”. He feels as if anybody with a laptop, computer, or cell phone that has access to the internet can now become some form of a journalist. This makes you wonder though, if anybody can become a journalist then what will happen to the actual field of journalism? Being a communications major, my first instinct would be to disagree and say that not everybody “can perform an act of journalism” as Jarvis says, but the fact is that they can. Anybody and everybody is in some shape and form a journalist, some just have more experience and professional training which makes their information stand out more. Professionalism does not mean that their information is more correct then anybody else’s is just means that they know how to get it across to the audience better then others may.
The fact that just about anybody can become a journalist has a huge effect of blogs and blogging because that is basically what blogs consist of. They are everyday people who are putting information out onto the internet for anybody else in the entire world to read. If journalism was restricted to only those who had the training and “knowledge” to produce it then perhaps blogs would have never even come into existence and nobody would be reading what I’m writing at all.
This chapter focused mainly on the differences of the news both before and after the 1980's. It talked about how before the 1980's news was more focused on what the people needed to hear and not about making money. Whereas during and after the 80's the news not only focused more on making money but also on public appeal instead of public need. The fact that networks are now have focus not only on the news programs but are also putting more emphasis on magazine shows, illustrates the change of direction in news production. Magazine shows are shows which combine interviews, commentary, and entertainment, instead of just the straight forward news that used to be presented. It seems as if news has no longer become news but instead has become just another form of entertainment and another way to mask the truth of what is actually happening in the world. This could be because the motive behind news has changed and is now a for profit business when before the 80’s many if not all believed that news could not make a profit. Although this not be the case for all news programs produced it seems as if most have fallen into the category of entertainment instead of just straight forward facts. I know that sometimes I will just watch a news segment because they make it look interesting and entertaining in the previews for the show. Also, with shows like Entertainment Tonight, which were made to both inform and entertain, it seems as though the line between news and entertainment has blurred.
The future of blogging seems as though it may go the same way as news did, in terms of profit. When blogs were first done they were created not for a profit but to inform people, just as the journalism news industry was created. If blogging goes the same way as news and becomes a for profit business then it would seem as if it’s original motives would be compromised and it would then focus on things that it would not have originally focused on.
Chapter 19 “The New Universe of Online Media”
With the world changing everyday it’s no surprise that there are different forms of media and journalism emerging as well. Instead of just one set group of people being able to report the news, now anybody can be come a journalist. Although, we still do have professional journalists there are now citizen journalists, who are becoming a bigger and bigger part of the journalistic world each and every day. Jeff Jarvis nailed it when he said, “anyone can perform an act of journalism”. He feels as if anybody with a laptop, computer, or cell phone that has access to the internet can now become some form of a journalist. This makes you wonder though, if anybody can become a journalist then what will happen to the actual field of journalism? Being a communications major, my first instinct would be to disagree and say that not everybody “can perform an act of journalism” as Jarvis says, but the fact is that they can. Anybody and everybody is in some shape and form a journalist, some just have more experience and professional training which makes their information stand out more. Professionalism does not mean that their information is more correct then anybody else’s is just means that they know how to get it across to the audience better then others may.
The fact that just about anybody can become a journalist has a huge effect of blogs and blogging because that is basically what blogs consist of. They are everyday people who are putting information out onto the internet for anybody else in the entire world to read. If journalism was restricted to only those who had the training and “knowledge” to produce it then perhaps blogs would have never even come into existence and nobody would be reading what I’m writing at all.
News Wars: 4th Hour Blogb
Chapter 17 “Network News: Then and Now”
This chapter focused mainly on the differences of the news both before and after the 1980's. It talked about how before the 1980's news was more focused on what the people needed to hear and not about making money. Whereas during and after the 80's the news not only focused more on making money but also on public appeal instead of public need. The fact that networks are now have focus not only on the news programs but are also putting more emphasis on magazine shows, illustrates the change of direction in news production. Magazine shows are shows which combine interviews, commentary, and entertainment, instead of just the straight forward news that used to be presented. It seems as if news has no longer become news but instead has become just another form of entertainment and another way to mask the truth of what is actually happening in the world. This could be because the motive behind news has changed and is now a for profit business when before the 80’s many if not all believed that news could not make a profit. Although this not be the case for all news programs produced it seems as if most have fallen into the category of entertainment instead of just straight forward facts. I know that sometimes I will just watch a news segment because they make it look interesting and entertaining in the previews for the show. Also, with shows like Entertainment Tonight, which were made to both inform and entertain, it seems as though the line between news and entertainment has blurred.
The future of blogging seems as though it may go the same way as news did, in terms of profit. When blogs were first done they were created not for a profit but to inform people, just as the journalism news industry was created. If blogging goes the same way as news and becomes a for profit business then it would seem as if it’s original motives would be compromised and it would then focus on things that it would not have originally focused on.
Chapter 19 “The New Universe of Online Media”
With the world changing everyday it’s no surprise that there are different forms of media and journalism emerging as well. Instead of just one set group of people being able to report the news, now anybody can be come a journalist. Although, we still do have professional journalists there are now citizen journalists, who are becoming a bigger and bigger part of the journalistic world each and every day. Jeff Jarvis nailed it when he said, “anyone can perform an act of journalism”. He feels as if anybody with a laptop, computer, or cell phone that has access to the internet can now become some form of a journalist. This makes you wonder though, if anybody can become a journalist then what will happen to the actual field of journalism? Being a communications major, my first instinct would be to disagree and say that not everybody “can perform an act of journalism” as Jarvis says, but the fact is that they can. Anybody and everybody is in some shape and form a journalist, some just have more experience and professional training which makes their information stand out more. Professionalism does not mean that their information is more correct then anybody else’s is just means that they know how to get it across to the audience better then others may.
The fact that just about anybody can become a journalist has a huge effect of blogs and blogging because that is basically what blogs consist of. They are everyday people who are putting information out onto the internet for anybody else in the entire world to read. If journalism was restricted to only those who had the training and “knowledge” to produce it then perhaps blogs would have never even come into existence and nobody would be reading what I’m writing at all.
Maria 4th Hour Rigor: News Wars
Chapter 17- “Network news: then and now”
The main argument of this chapter was the shift that television news has made in recent years. Ted Koppel I think said it best when he explained that now journalism is being judged by the same standards as entertainment and giving the public what it wants not what it needs has been a major shift in news. Prior to the 1980’s Reagan era there were standards for news. The FCC mandated that networks “operate in the public interest, convenience and necessity.” Meaning that what they presented on the news was in the interest of the public and would benefit the public in the end. The argument here is that news was not really expected to make money. Making a profit was not really the main point of the news. Then came 60 minutes, and 20/20 and that type of show and news suddenly became a way to make money. During the 1980’s and the time of de-regulation there was a corporate take over which solidified the shift from public interest being the number one point of news to profit being the number one priority of the networks. Now that the corporations own the networks the news is simply another business venue to make money from.
I do agree with the main argument of the chapter. I think that the news really has shifted from having the public interest at heart to being all about making money. The types of news programs and segments that are shown on the news are in my opinion chosen for entertainment purposes and not for the sake of the public. I think that certain news segments gets chosen a lot of the times simply because it’s going to draw a bigger audience not necessarily because it is going to provide the public with any sort of valuable information. There was an argument brought up by Ted Koppel in this chapter about how news now is about getting the people what they want, which in a way mirrors blogging. When it comes to blogging the reader can seek out exactly what they want and don’t have to really be bothered with other information. News is leading towards the same way, with giving their audience what they want to watch not what they might need. Blogging gives the reader the opportunity to only look at what they want specifically, although blogging is not really about making a profit as much as news is blogs are still giving people what they want to draw more traffic to their site which in turn creates more revenue for the blog. Television news does the same thing. They provide the audience with the types of segments that they think the audience wants so that they can have a higher rating and in turn have more advertising revenue.
Chapter 18- “Info snacking”
This chapter dealt with the shift of broadcast news to the internet. Now news is not only shifting the type of stories that are covered but also the medium in which these stories are covered. News is shifting to commentary and opinion based coverage. Because of the impact of the internet broadcast news has been forced to adapt and move towards the internet. Programs like 60 minutes understand that younger audiences get their news online more than they do from typical broadcast programs. The audience is ever changing; they have more control over what they want and where they go to get it. The manner in which they are consuming their news has changed platforms. The internet has become a way for the power of the end user to be reorganized. The chapter makes the argument that the audience is demanding news and entertainment when and where they want it and even sometimes creating it themselves. The chapter also suggested that the old media is struggling to keep up and needs to make a change to accommodate with the wants and needs of the newly evolved audience.
I do agree with the argument that this chapter is making to some extent. I do think that the internet is the wave of the future and that now audiences can consume media in different ways than before. But I don’t think that the internet should be the only method for audiences to consume news. The problem that I have with the internet and getting news from the internet is that there is not simply of checks and balances. How does one know that something that was reported on the internet was a fabrication? I think that traditional news has a better system in some ways of fact checking. Also the internet causes problems because audiences will not get a good variety of news. If you can choose which news stories to read then you habitually read some stories and not others. This chapter’s main argument of shifting news to the internet and placing more power and command onto the audience makes a direct connection to blogging. Blogs are all about how the reader and the citizens are in control of the content. They choose what type of content goes on the blogs and the same is occurring with broadcast television as it begins to shift from television to internet.
Question # 2
The chapters and the readings all make the point that audiences are making a shift onto the internet. Audiences now are growing with the internet and are using it more and more because it has become more readily accessible to them. Blogs are the perfect medium for audiences to get what they want. The chapters clearly state that audiences want their news and that they will search specifically for what they want which they can do on a blog. Also there has been a shift from reporter based news to commentary and opinion based news, which is supported by the internet and blogs. Network programs are using blogs as well to keep their audiences interested and provide them with the opinion based news that they are searching for. CNN for example has created a site called iCNN where audiences can essentially become reporters and read about stories that they find interesting and also post stories themselves. By involving their audiences in blogs networks are adapting to the shift of news from broadcast to the internet and using blogs to their advantage. Blogs will only become more and more popular as time goes on.
News War A Fitting Title
Frontline's documentary News War talks about the transition reporting news has made in the past several years. In the chapter “Info Snacking” they argue that the reporting of hard news has fallen to the wayside as reporting has become opinionated or more entertainment based. They argue that when cable television first came along it was to report hard news twenty-four hours a day, but with the amount of competition today it has turned from traditional reporting to opinion based commentary. Walter Isaacson former CEO of CNN argued that cable news stations wanted both opinion based reporting but also news reporting and that strict news reporting should come from media outlets like Time Magazine and CNN. Frontline argues that CNN has become opinionated commentary and simply pass on rumors by showing footage of a CNN news anchor introducing a story with an opinion and showing a clip of CNN’s coverage of Anna Nicole Smith’s death. Former CBS anchor Dan Rather argues that news reports today have taken out the sense of public service associated with television news coverage.
The chapter transitions from its argument of hard news versus opinionated reporting to the argument that television news broadcasts will have to one day be put online as is the case with the most popular cable news show 60 Minutes. 60 Minutes offers a variety of hard news stories and lighter pieces highlighting celebrities or sports personalities. As with many news shows, 60 Minutes’ audience is aging, so the show’s Executive Producer Jeff Fager teamed with Yahoo.com to create a space where segments from the show and never before see footage were just a click away and provide more links to more content of the same nature. Fager argues that this attempt to gain revenue is in its early stages and that it’s too early to tell if this attempt has brought more viewers to the actual 60 Minutes broadcast. Google CEO Eric Schmidt argues that being online is the future, but now is the time for companies to bring their organizations to the Internet. Larry Kramer, creator of marketwatch.com argues that an audience will find a way to get the news they want when they want it and if CBS fails to deliver consumers will find somewhere else to get their news. Schmidt channeled Kramer, stating that consumers want their news when and where they want it, which oftentimes leads them to create it themselves on websites such as YouTube of MySpace.
I agree with Frontline’s argument that television news is no longer reporting the amount of hard news they once did. A lot of cable television shows have entire segments devoted to sports and entertainment. I also agree that television reporting on cable news has become opinionated commentary. Almost all of the cable news channels have shows that feature commentary from popular anchors such as Fox News’ Bill O’Reily or CNN’s Anderson Cooper. Even hard news reporting is being mixed with the opinions of the anchors reporting on them, such was the case in “Info Snacking” with CNN anchor Nancy Grace giving her opinion on the death of Anna Nicole Smith instead of simply reporting the facts surrounding the death. As for the second part of Frontline’s argument that television news will one day have to be on the Internet I disagree. As it stated at the beginning of the chapter, many Americans are still getting their news from television news shows. I feel that television is a mainstay in American society and no matter how popular the Internet may become, it will never replace what Americans get from television. I also think that different forms of media need competition from other forms of media so that the best story is reported. If a story were to be reported the wrong way on the Internet, then television news is there to correct it and vice versa. I just can’t see there ever being a situation where it will become necessary for television news shows to bring themselves to the Internet.
I think that blogging is a lot like what Frontline was arguing with opinionated commentary and lack of hard news. While it’s true I have not looked at a majority of the blogs available to me, I feel that the ones I have looked at focus more on the writer’s opinion and on softer news stories. I think blogs are a way for regular people to express their opinions and report on stories, but I feel that most of what they are reporting is not hard news stories. I think that blogs are like cable news shows because the writers are expressing their opinions like the news anchors who are reporting but also giving their opinion in the report.
In News War’s next chapter “The Universe of Online Media” Frontline’s main argument was the role of the citizen journalist. It begins the chapter talking about the online mock news show Rocketboom, which has both hard and soft news delivered by citizen journalists. However, Rocketboom creator Andrew Baron doesn’t consider his online show to be a form of journalism, but says that other people consider Rocketboom to be an act of journalism. Jeff Jarvis, a blogger for Buzz Machine, argued that not all bloggers want to be journalists, but there are some that find a story and tell it accurately, fairly and completely the way traditional journalists do. Jarvis also argued that the role of citizen journalists it to set the agenda, keep stories alive and tell mainstream media what they ought to be reporting on. Nicholas Lemann, Dean of Columbia University School of Journalism, argued that citizen journalism is important, but it produces a lot of commentary with very little new information. Lemann compared blogs to church bulletins because both are community bulletin boards of sorts, but there isn’t a lot of reliable or original reporting coming from bloggers.
Frontline argued against Lemann’s points with two instances that were defining moments for blogging and citizen journalism. In 2002, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott was giving a speech at Strom Thurman’s 100th birthday celebration. In his speech he praised the segregated ticket for which Thurman ran. The national media never picked up the story, but Josh Marshall reported it on his blog Talking Points Memo. The national media then picked up the story and two weeks later Lott resigned as Senate Majority Leader. Then in September 2004, conservative blogger Scott Johnson of the Power Line blog went after CBS News and anchor Dan Rather about the authenticity of documents stating former President George W. Bush’s military record. Power Line drew many people’s expertise in a small amount of time to eventually show that the documents weren’t authentic. Dan Rather and CBS News apologized for the story and soon after Dan Rather was pushed out of CBS News. Johnson thought that at first he was putting the credibility of the blog in jeopardy, but as time progressed thought more about how many times CBS News had run a story like the President Bush story and gotten away with it. Both instances were proof against Lemann’s argument and praise the role of citizen journalists.
I agree with Frontline and Jeff Jarvis that citizen journalism is important and that many citizen journalists think of themselves as traditional journalists. However, I also agree with Nicholas Lemann’s point that a lot of bloggers are focused on commentary rather than original reporting. Frontline proved that citizen journalism is important by showing the instances that caught the mistakes of both Trent Lott and Dan Rather. Without citizen journalists checking into different events or checking the mistakes of traditional journalists, we as citizens would not be given the full and true story. The Trent Lott story showed that the national media still picks and chooses the parts of the stories they feel are the most important, but as Josh Marshall pointed out it may not be the complete story. The Dan Rather story proved that even the greatest of traditional media make mistakes, but now citizen journalists like Johnson are there to make sure those at fault take responsibility and correct those mistakes. I also think that Lemann had a point in saying that many blogs today are more about commentary and getting one’s opinion out to the masses then it is about being a journalist.
Blogging is a popular form of citizen journalism and defining the role of the blogger is an ongoing debate. Frontline tries to show that the debate over the role of citizen journalism is currently being waged and that so far nothing has been clearly defined. The opinions of experts in the field such as Jeff Jarvis and Nicholas Lemann are important because they are currently in the field or researching the field and this is how the role is going to become defined. I think that Frontline’s examples of the defining moments of blogging thus far show how important citizen journalism and blogging have become to our society. I think it also shows how vulnerable traditional media has become to citizen journalism because they are going to continue to be there keeping them in check. While the role of a blogger or a citizen journalist has yet to be defined, Frontline did show how important they both are becoming to today’s society.
I think that blogging is going to continue to evolve. As the capabilities of the Internet continue to evolve I think the types of blogging are going to become even more vast then they are now. While I think that written blogs are going to continue to be a mainstay, I think video blogs are going to become more popular and are the type most likely to evolve further. I think with sites like Current available, video blogging is becoming more popular, but with the vast amount of written blogs, as witnessed by almost any search on technorati.com, I think video blogging has more room for expansion. I also think that the role of citizen journalism will continue to be debated and will not come to a clear definition for many years because there will always be two passionate sides like Jeff Jarvis and Nicholas Lemann demonstrated.
The chapter transitions from its argument of hard news versus opinionated reporting to the argument that television news broadcasts will have to one day be put online as is the case with the most popular cable news show 60 Minutes. 60 Minutes offers a variety of hard news stories and lighter pieces highlighting celebrities or sports personalities. As with many news shows, 60 Minutes’ audience is aging, so the show’s Executive Producer Jeff Fager teamed with Yahoo.com to create a space where segments from the show and never before see footage were just a click away and provide more links to more content of the same nature. Fager argues that this attempt to gain revenue is in its early stages and that it’s too early to tell if this attempt has brought more viewers to the actual 60 Minutes broadcast. Google CEO Eric Schmidt argues that being online is the future, but now is the time for companies to bring their organizations to the Internet. Larry Kramer, creator of marketwatch.com argues that an audience will find a way to get the news they want when they want it and if CBS fails to deliver consumers will find somewhere else to get their news. Schmidt channeled Kramer, stating that consumers want their news when and where they want it, which oftentimes leads them to create it themselves on websites such as YouTube of MySpace.
I agree with Frontline’s argument that television news is no longer reporting the amount of hard news they once did. A lot of cable television shows have entire segments devoted to sports and entertainment. I also agree that television reporting on cable news has become opinionated commentary. Almost all of the cable news channels have shows that feature commentary from popular anchors such as Fox News’ Bill O’Reily or CNN’s Anderson Cooper. Even hard news reporting is being mixed with the opinions of the anchors reporting on them, such was the case in “Info Snacking” with CNN anchor Nancy Grace giving her opinion on the death of Anna Nicole Smith instead of simply reporting the facts surrounding the death. As for the second part of Frontline’s argument that television news will one day have to be on the Internet I disagree. As it stated at the beginning of the chapter, many Americans are still getting their news from television news shows. I feel that television is a mainstay in American society and no matter how popular the Internet may become, it will never replace what Americans get from television. I also think that different forms of media need competition from other forms of media so that the best story is reported. If a story were to be reported the wrong way on the Internet, then television news is there to correct it and vice versa. I just can’t see there ever being a situation where it will become necessary for television news shows to bring themselves to the Internet.
I think that blogging is a lot like what Frontline was arguing with opinionated commentary and lack of hard news. While it’s true I have not looked at a majority of the blogs available to me, I feel that the ones I have looked at focus more on the writer’s opinion and on softer news stories. I think blogs are a way for regular people to express their opinions and report on stories, but I feel that most of what they are reporting is not hard news stories. I think that blogs are like cable news shows because the writers are expressing their opinions like the news anchors who are reporting but also giving their opinion in the report.
In News War’s next chapter “The Universe of Online Media” Frontline’s main argument was the role of the citizen journalist. It begins the chapter talking about the online mock news show Rocketboom, which has both hard and soft news delivered by citizen journalists. However, Rocketboom creator Andrew Baron doesn’t consider his online show to be a form of journalism, but says that other people consider Rocketboom to be an act of journalism. Jeff Jarvis, a blogger for Buzz Machine, argued that not all bloggers want to be journalists, but there are some that find a story and tell it accurately, fairly and completely the way traditional journalists do. Jarvis also argued that the role of citizen journalists it to set the agenda, keep stories alive and tell mainstream media what they ought to be reporting on. Nicholas Lemann, Dean of Columbia University School of Journalism, argued that citizen journalism is important, but it produces a lot of commentary with very little new information. Lemann compared blogs to church bulletins because both are community bulletin boards of sorts, but there isn’t a lot of reliable or original reporting coming from bloggers.
Frontline argued against Lemann’s points with two instances that were defining moments for blogging and citizen journalism. In 2002, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott was giving a speech at Strom Thurman’s 100th birthday celebration. In his speech he praised the segregated ticket for which Thurman ran. The national media never picked up the story, but Josh Marshall reported it on his blog Talking Points Memo. The national media then picked up the story and two weeks later Lott resigned as Senate Majority Leader. Then in September 2004, conservative blogger Scott Johnson of the Power Line blog went after CBS News and anchor Dan Rather about the authenticity of documents stating former President George W. Bush’s military record. Power Line drew many people’s expertise in a small amount of time to eventually show that the documents weren’t authentic. Dan Rather and CBS News apologized for the story and soon after Dan Rather was pushed out of CBS News. Johnson thought that at first he was putting the credibility of the blog in jeopardy, but as time progressed thought more about how many times CBS News had run a story like the President Bush story and gotten away with it. Both instances were proof against Lemann’s argument and praise the role of citizen journalists.
I agree with Frontline and Jeff Jarvis that citizen journalism is important and that many citizen journalists think of themselves as traditional journalists. However, I also agree with Nicholas Lemann’s point that a lot of bloggers are focused on commentary rather than original reporting. Frontline proved that citizen journalism is important by showing the instances that caught the mistakes of both Trent Lott and Dan Rather. Without citizen journalists checking into different events or checking the mistakes of traditional journalists, we as citizens would not be given the full and true story. The Trent Lott story showed that the national media still picks and chooses the parts of the stories they feel are the most important, but as Josh Marshall pointed out it may not be the complete story. The Dan Rather story proved that even the greatest of traditional media make mistakes, but now citizen journalists like Johnson are there to make sure those at fault take responsibility and correct those mistakes. I also think that Lemann had a point in saying that many blogs today are more about commentary and getting one’s opinion out to the masses then it is about being a journalist.
Blogging is a popular form of citizen journalism and defining the role of the blogger is an ongoing debate. Frontline tries to show that the debate over the role of citizen journalism is currently being waged and that so far nothing has been clearly defined. The opinions of experts in the field such as Jeff Jarvis and Nicholas Lemann are important because they are currently in the field or researching the field and this is how the role is going to become defined. I think that Frontline’s examples of the defining moments of blogging thus far show how important citizen journalism and blogging have become to our society. I think it also shows how vulnerable traditional media has become to citizen journalism because they are going to continue to be there keeping them in check. While the role of a blogger or a citizen journalist has yet to be defined, Frontline did show how important they both are becoming to today’s society.
I think that blogging is going to continue to evolve. As the capabilities of the Internet continue to evolve I think the types of blogging are going to become even more vast then they are now. While I think that written blogs are going to continue to be a mainstay, I think video blogs are going to become more popular and are the type most likely to evolve further. I think with sites like Current available, video blogging is becoming more popular, but with the vast amount of written blogs, as witnessed by almost any search on technorati.com, I think video blogging has more room for expansion. I also think that the role of citizen journalism will continue to be debated and will not come to a clear definition for many years because there will always be two passionate sides like Jeff Jarvis and Nicholas Lemann demonstrated.
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