Journalists criticizing movie critic journalists

By: Hannah Pickett

In a recent entertainment article I read criticizing movie critics was journalistically interesting. The MSN writer was criticizing movie critics in general. Aren't movie critics just journalists who form opinions about blockbuster movies?

The MSN writer discusses three main criticisms of the movie critic profession.

1. They have the dream job--getting to see movies before everyone else. 2. The "geezer syndrome" saying that the current critics have been around since the beginning of time. She goes on to suggest that they shouldn't allow critics over the age of 30. 3. They have no respect for the superhero movies. 4. Lighten up. The writer thinks that movie critics need to realize they aren't criticizing Shakespeare, but rather modern writing and acting.

The MSN writer believes that we are the true movie critics-bloggers. Movie critics for print and broadcast are a thing of the past.

If a journalist specializing in criticizing movies' job is becoming obsolete, when will other journalism professions follow?

In a nutshell, the MSN writer thinks that because of her view of the average movie critic's age, movies don't get the reviews they deserve. Would this be considered age discrimination?

You think of age discrimination in the professions that are in the spotlight. A journalist to end his/her career at the age of 30 because they are considered "ancient" in the industry is insane. Movie critics are just journalists publishing their opinions on a film.

In the journalism world, how old is 'too old'?

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It's their right

By: Jessica Hartgers

Protesters heckle Sarah Palin, vice presidential candidate, in Cedar Rapids, IA while delivering a speech on Thursday.

Palin stood her ground during the verbal attack and waited for the protesters to be removed. McCain supporter and interpreter for the hearing impaired, Donna Carroll, said that the protests did not bother her either and agrees with their rights to speak their minds saying, "All I can say is, praise the Lord they can do that in this country, it's their right."

The protesters of this rally have the right to speak their mind, however the government has restrictions on political speech regarding time, place, and manner. These protesters violated this restriction and were removed for the event without punishment. After several minutes of protests, the rest of the crowd rallied behind Palin with shouts of "USA."

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Happy National Punctuation Day

By Liz Tjaden

National Punctuation Day is just around the corner, so polish off your quotation marks and exclamation points and get ready to party!

Jeff Rubin, also known as the Punctuation Man (seriously, he has a cape and everything….) is the founder of National Punctuation Day that is celebrated on Sept. 24. His idea for this day started in 2004 as a clever way to remind professionals and business people about the importance of punctuation. He has turned this day into a way of helping children learn the importance of proper grammar and punctuation at an early age.

It also is a reminder that by not using the correct form of punctuation can cost your company millions of dollars. A Canadian company, Rogers Communications, misplaced a comma in one of its contracts, costing the company almost $2.13 million.

Whoops.

I am a “comma happy” writer who never really learned the correct way to use a comma. My rationale is, “When I feel there should be a comma, so be it!”

Thankfully, as an intelligent and resourceful journalism student, I can now rely on my “Working with Words” book and my “AP Stylebook” to bail me out of these sticky situations.

However, thanks to Rubin, we now have a reason to celebrate the nerds in all of us.

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