The News About The News

I'm a journalist: I can do whatever I want!

Monday, December 1, 2008

By: Sarah Harl

Over the course of this class, I have become increasingly frustrated with reporters who think they have the right to stick their nose in everything, simply because they work for a newspaper.

One such paper is the Providence Journal, of Rhode Island, who will argue before the Supreme Court that thousands of pages of jury questionnaires should be made public in the case of the 2003 nightclub blaze that killed 100 people.

Because Providence is such a small town, and virtually everyone knew someone affected by the 100 deaths that occurred when pyrotechnics used inside the building started a blaze, the court used a 32 page questionnaire to help select their jury.

Even though the case never went to trial, as the nightclub owners pleaded no-contest, the Providence Journal is still demanding that these questionnaires be released.

Despite the fact that the questionnaire asks very personal questions about potential jurors marriage, and medical and criminal history, the Journal still feels these questionnaires are somehow newsworthy.

The Journal claims that they want to use the completed questionnaires as a teaching tool for the court, as a sort of guide for how long or extensive jury questionnaires should be.

But, the Journal was provided with a blank copy of the questionnaire. This blank questionnaire would suffice just fine in teaching the court--although I'm not sure the Providence Journal is really the best teacher for the court systems of Rhode Island.

Essentially the Journal is trying to make news out of nothing. A questionnaire that is not newsworthy or necessary to be seen by anyone besides the court, that wasn't even used because a jury was never called in this case.

But because they are journalists, they feel they have the right to whatever information they want.

Journalists should all take a step back and consider the things they demand they should have a right to see. And as the people we should seriously consider how much access we give them into our personal lives. Pretty soon they will be telling the Supreme Court they should be able to read my diary as a teaching tool for Simpson College.

Get over yourselves journalists, and stop using self-righteous reasons to demand access to material you have no need to see.

Citizen journalism is essential

By: Sara Crouse

Everyday citizens are accidental journalists by time, place, and manner, whether they chose to live by the journalists’ code of ethics or not.

In the 21st century news stations and newspapers have become dependent on those citizens who witness breaking news. They have come to rely on the details through firsthand experience often captured by cell phones. Digital cell phone footage has proven to be quite a resource, but not without the careful editorial overlook of the material.

Everyday journalists are providing news consumers with something essential, and that essential item is immediacy. The people of today’s world want to know what is going on around them at all times. The world is far too fast paced to wait for the next morning’s paper. Perhaps the old TV show Early Edition needs to become a reality.

In all honesty though, it doesn’t matter whether we trust the everyday person to record the news for us. We simply enjoy the immediacy and even the feeling of authority by being news gatherers.

Not to mention, who doesn’t like knowing that his/her version of capturing the event could potentially show up on the nightly news? You must admit, it would make you feel special.

Breaking news through cell phone footage is around to stay.

Burried information

By: Shauna Agan

An article on MSNBC.com caught my eye today. The headline read, “1 in 5 young Americans has personality disorder”.

Reading through this article, several things seemed wrong to me.

First off, never in the article is young adult defined. Is young adult anyone under the age of 30, or is it anyone under the age of 25? What constitutes of a young adult?

Second, the source of all the information isn’t even told until halfway through the article. Furthermore, there is no link to the source making it harder to find all the information and not just the information shared in the article.

Although the headline is very catchy, it is not necessarily accurate for the article either. Reading into the article, it is explained what these disorders are, and the label personality disorder does not exactly sum it up. Disorder maybe, but not necessarily personality disorder.

When I traced the source of the article back to its root, I found out the source that this article is written about is a much broader scheme than just personality disorders. It is about mental health conditions in college studetns compared to non-college individuals.

Finally, although I understand the article is meant to just tell the facts and get the information to the public, newsworthiness comes into question. The source of the information was just published recently, but the information is based from 2001 and 2002. This also should have been noted higher up in the article to let the reader understand where the information was coming from.

Sometimes a journalist buries information such as this into the article to make his or her own article look more newsworthy and credible. However, I don’t believe any good journalist should have to do this. If the true story is good enough, they wouldn’t bury information throughout their story.

Suicidal blog not taken seriously

By: Erin Floro

I read an article in People magazine today that made me sick to my stomach. A 19-year-old college freshman suffering from bipolar disorder was upset over a girl.

Abraham Biggs posted a suicide note online and had a live Webcam running as he overdosed on pills. He was posting his feelings of depression on a blog. People who were reading his blog and watching his Webcam were encouraging him to do it and not doing anything to stop him.

This continued on for 12 hours before someone called the site's monitor who told police. By then, it was too late, Abraham was dead.

I understand that many people probably thought this was a joke but it wasn't necessary for bloggers to type comments such as "Stop giving the attention whore what he wanted", and "Go ahead and do it."

I don't see how people can be so cruel when someone was in a time of need.

Media Matters too small

By: Adrian Aitken

Through out the semester I have used Media Matters as a source for my blogs. The web site provides good and interesting information regarding on how the media reports the news. For the most part I have agreed with their standings until now.

Recently a blog was published on the page informing readers about how MS NBC brings on Christopher Hitchens as an analyst when he disagrees with everything Hilary Clinton does. MS NBC has the right to bring on anyone they wish when asking for expert opinions because the station does so fair and balanced. For every democrat they have a republican, and a dove for every hawk.

Also Hitchens has the right to disagree with any person he wants to. His points are valid and not superficial like her ineffectiveness is due to hair color or sex , but personality.

The problem eating away at the back of my mind is that this Media Matters has posted many blogs about how democrats are being treated unfairly in the media and should be equally represented. This entire semester has had nothing about republicans being abused by the media. This site needs to take some of their own medicine and become neutral.

Tiger and Barack

By: Quinn Albrecht

Note, this is not a political blog. I found an interesting article that was debating the idea that Tiger Woods and Barack Obama are the same person. Going as far as asking the question, "have you ever seen them together"? Like Kent Clark as Superman.

He also said that one of the reasons that America is accepting of an African American president is because of Tiger. Tiger has been in the right for a long time now and people are used to seeing his face on all media outlets.

This takes me to my point. The media has so much more control than they think. People talk about all the bad things they see on TV.

This could be something good for us and our country, stemming from our obsessive tube watching. Seeing Tiger on the news has taught people tolerance for other cultures.

Journalism outsourcing?

By: Taylor Browning

I never thought I would see the words 'journalism' and 'outsourcing' used together in a sentence. How is it possible to 'outsource' reporting and printing the news for a newspaper?

James Macpherson, creator of the Pasadena Now newspaper, fired his staff of reporters and hired people in India, over the Craigslist Website, to provide him with the news. Instead of paying a weekly salary, Macpherson pays for his news by the story which pays $7.50 for a thousand words.

Macpherson admits that news gets caught up in mistranslation as well as his sources, G. Sreejayanthi, claiming “I try to do my best, which need not necessarily be correct always.”

I cannot help but think about the terrible direction this would head in if larger newspapers attempted to 'outsource' for their news. Who knows, newspapers such as The New York Times could eventually become the 'Wikipedia' of newspaper journalism, with everyone reporting what they know without checking the facts.

Maybe there are too many blogs

By: Lexie Hagerty

I read an article on Time U.S. titled How Many Blogs Does the World Need? It instantly caught my attention and I am glad I read it.

The author, Michael Kinsley, argued that blogs are overflowing the Internet. The value of a single blog is decreasing because of this overflow.

I would agree with this. As much as I like reading an ordinary person's perspective on a specific subject, what exactly makes that person's perspective credible or important.

Soon, everyone is going to be blogging. To make things easier, why don't we just get on a national T.V. station and ask the world a question, give them a number to call, and wait for each individual response? It's too much, correct?

I think so. Soon, Internet users are going to notice this overflow just like Kinsley. The users will become bored of the blogs resulting in the the brilliant idea of the blog becoming a media source of the past just lik,e the newspaper.

Get both feet on the wheel

By: Kayla Miller

It was hard not to blog about this one. I was surfing the web, looking for random information when I came across this article from CNET news: Man with no arms caught driving car with his feet. WHAT! Now, that's an article that's hard to avoid.

According to a British newspaper, The Sun, the driver, Zing Shen, was pulled over but was stunned the cops issued him with a public safety summons. He must think cops believe it's completely normal for people to drive with their feet!

Although this man is from Beijing, the media knows that this story would catch the viewers attention to know that a man is actually able to drive with his own feet.

Also, I'm glad to know the journalist of the CNET article, Chris Matyszczyk, had a sense of humor throughout the article. When he states, "... I cannot help but wonder just how often he uses his blinkers." and "I heartily recommend that Mr. Shen come to California to open driving school." And to know that he ended off his article with this, "... if you could learn to answer a cell phone and hold it with your feet while driving, that would enhance road safety, wouldn't it?" only makes the article that much better.

The article is worth the read.

That's the way journalism should grab our attention at all times: find stories and add humor.

The frontlines of journalism

By: Sarah Harl

Many journalists, in their drive to bring information to their fellow citizens put themselves in danger on a regular basis.

Thankfully, in the United States, we enjoy the privileges of a free press. So, if an American journalist writes a piece not well received by the rest of the nation, the worst he may have to endure is an inbox of hate mail for a week, until all is forgotten.

But when a controversial piece is written in many other countries, the journalist can end up in jail, for weeks at a time.

These journalists deserve recognition and thanks for bringing attention to controversial topics, despite great danger to themselves.

Perhaps whiny, pampered American journalists can take some lessons from their foreign counterparts about the real trials and tribulations of being a journalist.

An outsourcing nightmare

By: Katie Anthony

As we all know by now (especially those of us who have taking Communications 101 with Brian Steffen or Julie Summers) outsourcing has become quite the issue in the United States.

I suppose it was only a matter of time before outsourcing hit the world of journalism and, well, media in general.

James Macpherson puts it very bluntly when he says, "In brutal terms, it’s going to get to the point where saving the industry may require some people losing their jobs. The newspaper industry is coming to a General Motors moment — except there’s no one to bail them out." He goes on to say that it would be "irresponsible" for newspapers not to seek offshore options for help.

The jobs seem to be going strongly to India where they are being paid less than 8 dollars for every 1,000 word story.

So, perhaps outsourcing saves the US some money, but the question at issue is this: Are the stories about the American lifestyle (being written in India) as believable and effective as stories written by people who actually live the American lifestyle and in this culture?

Many would say that sending these stories to India is a cop-out in order to save money. Sure, they save money, but if they're losing part of their audience in the process, they're really not gaining much in the long-run.

Parents get into the gaming loop

By: Allison McNeal

Parents are now embracing a new technique to see what games are out on the market for their children.

Aol is releasing a new Web site called PlaySavvy.com, which allows parents to look at new video games that are being released.

The new site offers parents a guide to games, from ratings and reviews to connecting with other parents about making informed buying decisions.

According to MediaPost.com, the main attraction is Gaming 101, which "explains the rating system for games promulgated by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board as well as how to use parental controls on different game systems such as PlayStation and the Xbox."

Gaming 101 also provides tips on which online games and sites are safe for children.

"Parents are often not aware that games have ratings on them," Libe Goad, the editor in chief of PlaySavvy, said. "There really still is a huge lack of knowledge about game ratings and what they mean. People just don't pay attention sometimes."

PlaySavvy's main target group are toward mothers, who they believe primarily run the household and pay more attention to what entertainment their kids are being exposed to.

Game systems, age and content are all displayed on this site, along with reviews and recommendations supplied by Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization that allows parents information and advice about media and entertainment choices.

Another feature allows parents to conduct a question and answer session with a panel of AOL women who work in the gaming industry.

Even though PlaySavvy is about selling, a huge concern of this site is safety.

The site will carry advertising geared to its target audience "by creating appealing campaigns around the content," said Goad.

Advertising on the site will resemble AOL Games, which can include spots from major consumer brands.

In addition to advertising, PlaySavvy's buying advice also encourages parents to get games or game systems their kids really want.

Parents and children can both profit from PlaySavvy by giving parents the needed information about a game and allowing kids to receive the game of their dreams.

Scam advice

By: Sarah Keller

In today’s society it is common to be worried about being scammed out of money. Especially in recent months when the economy has been so bad, and people are feeling the crunch to make a little extra cash for the holidays. So how do you make sure that you are not being scammed? With helpful hints from the Dolans at Wallet Pop they make it easier to look for signs of a scam being in operation.

The Dolans talked about how there is a new scam over the internet going on and how people should make sure they do no give any of their personal information out via e-mail. If someone receives something from a mortgage company or their bank they should be cautious because it could very likely be a scam. People should contact their bank or mortgage companies before e-mailing any personal information.

The article also talked about how you should not cash a blank, unexpected check you receive in the mail because it is probably a scam to get money out of you. The article said that you should never have to pay a fee in advance for a credit card either because more than likely it is just another way to receive money out of someone.

I found this article to be very helpful; it gave out many usual hints on how to avoid scams being played on you. If I had not read this article I would not have known about any of these scams. I believe this article to be very useful information for anyone, especially in today’s society, it is well worth the time to read it.

The black culture of Black Friday

By: Sarah Harl

A recent New York Times article closely scrutinizes the tragic story of this year's Black Friday, in which a Long Island Wal-Mart temporary worker was trampled by crowds after unlocking the doors to the store.

The article pointed out that 10 years ago, the day after Thanksgiving didn't even crack the top 10 as far as big revenue shopping days.

But thanks to newspapers that on Thanksgiving Day come stuffed to the brim with advertisements, media outlets that send camera crews to cover the events, and articles and blogs written about the best way to utilize Black Friday sales, the day has become something of a cultural phenomenon.

And one that speaks to the darker side of America, no less.

The story reports that 81% of Black Friday shoppers were shopping for themselves, not for others.

And in their rush to save $100, people trampled a human being to death, and even continued to run in the store as the paramedics were trying to help the man.

This cultural phenomenon, which the media has done a large part to help create, has now turned deadly in the most senseless of ways. People are being trampled to death at Wal-Mart and shot at Toys 'R Us.

It is time the media rethink its endorsement of Black Friday until the American people can learn to show more respect and restraint.

The media will not be able to control what at what time a store will open, or what sort of deals they will offer.

But they can choose not to show up with a camera crew. They can choose not to write or run articles promoting the most effective use of strategy at the mall.

And they can choose to take some responsibility for the monster that they helped to create.

The Huffington Post skips out on the recession

By: Kathryn Lisk

In a time when everyone from Wall Street to Detroit seems to be suffering from an economic downfall, most companies are looking at cutting budget. This is far from a problem for The Huffington Post, who recently received a $25 million fund from Oak Investment Partners.

This is especially surprising in the journalism market considering the lack of support newspapers have been facing lately as the Internet continues to boom.

Huffington Post hopes to use the extra cash to continue growing nationwide and expand their coverage. Many currently view the HuffPo as a left wing team who reports mainly on politics with a left wing bias. The proceeds will help build up other sections including style, living, media and green.

A economic boost like this shows how our world is changing. Investors are no longer willing to take a chance in the American automobile market like General Motors because the risk outweighs the reward. Instead, an online journalism business gets the check.

Maybe journalism isn't such a risky career after all.

Go (Red), save a life

By: Sarah Harl

Today is World AIDS Day, and a blog by James Boyce left me reeling this morning.

Today, on World AIDS Day, 4,400 people will die of AIDS in Africa.

Tomorrow 4,400 people will die of AIDS in Africa.

On Christmas, on Easter, on your birthday, 4,400 people will die of AIDS in Africa.

But now, some companies are making it easier than ever to support The Global Fund, which helps provide treatment to those suffering in Africa.

(Red) products are showing up everywhere: From Gap t-shirts, to ipods, and cell phones, to Starbucks coffee, who today is giving 5 cents of every coffee sold to the Global Fund.

And the great part is that (Red) products don't cost consumers a penny more. It didn't cost me one extra cent to choose the (Red) Razor over the pink one.

But in doing so, someone in Africa suffering from AIDS received the pill that drastically changed their quality of life.

So kudos to the companies and marketing firms that are making the purchase of these products possible.

And kudos to anyone who has purchased a (Red) product to help people who so desperately need it.

So today, on World AIDS day, take that Starbucks study break (maybe two!). And that ipod you were going to get dad for Christmas? He'll love it in (Red)! And while you're at it, get your self a nice t-shirt, in (Red) of course!

Because today 4,400 people will die of AIDS in Africa. But if we all commit to buying (Red), maybe next World AIDS day that number will be lower.

Investing in the future

By: Sarah Harl

The recent economic woes aren't just hitting individual pockets hard this year.

What about advertising and marketing companies, who are put in quite the spot during an economic downturn.

On the one hand, they are just as strapped for cash as anyone else, and cutbacks in spending must be made to ensure they emerge on the other side of the recession as unscathed as possible.

On the other hand, it is difficult to promote people spending money if they are not seeing ads and marketing campaigns to encourage them to spend money.

The current market is one that calls for innovation and change, not relying on the same marketing plan that has been used for the last 20 years.

Marketing and advertising companies must be creative when tightening their belts during this time of hardship. People still have to be inspired to spend money if we are ever going to pull out of this recession.

The cost of the war

Sunday, November 30, 2008

By: Sarah Harl

There are many ways to determine the cost of the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Dollars spent, lives lost, or lives changed.

But what about the media and what they do or do not report?

In a recent blog, Blake Lambert's opinion is discussed. Many times when a war correspondent is taking captive, the media network the reporter works with requests that no outgoing information leave the country in order to ensure that their reporter is returned safely. Lambert believes this to be the wrong solution.

According to Lambert, information should never be withheld from the public, nor should news be used in political negotiations.

The people should know exactly what is happening in the wars that their government is spending money on.

And, apparently it is only necessary to keep journalistic news secret when the kidnapped is a reporter. When a politician, aid worker, or anyone else is abducted, the media is quick to report that abduction, regardless of whether it will jeopardize their safe return.

So maybe what the media withholds from the public to protect their own is another cost of this war.

A public service announcement

By Austin Bates

I was listening to the radio a few days back when a simple, lengthy narrative began playing during the commercial break between songs. Though I cannot find its exact transcript, the narrative ran for about a minute or so, and discussed the current financial crisis affecting the nation, and how Iowa is doing quite well despite it all.

Some of the points it made was that our financial market, including insurance services, is more isolated and better handled than the other companies that failed, and thus, ours are doing just fine. It also pointed out that our unemployement rate is one of the lowest in the nation. In all, it declared Iowa as doing well and remaining strong, despite the collapsing economy.

The message concluded with statements encouraing listeners to relax, go out and buy local services and products, and not worry about the national crisis affecting many others. By this point I was wondering who was paying for this message when the disclaimer came at the end: the Des Moines Radio Group was responsible for the message.

I immediately found myself seriously wondering who was benefitting from the broadcast of the message. How did the Des Moines Radio Group stand to gain from such a message? Who was making a profit off of it? Minutes later, I was still wondering about what alterior motives must be driving the message, mostly because I was shocked that the message wasn't adverising anything specific.

I eventually came to realize that the message was just a public service announcement of sorts; no one stood to profit from it, it was just for the public's benefit. All the same, it's kind of sad that my first thoughts about a radio broadcast assumed it was advertising of some kind. I guess we tend to forget that, even as awash in promotions for private companies all forms of media are, there is still such a thing as interest in the greater good.

The Des Moines Radio Group didn't have to broadcast that message; they could have just filled the slot with another advertisement, in which they could have made money, instead of lost it. But instead they chose to put out a message of hope and encouragement, something to benefit the public. It's nice to see that private companies, even those in broadcast, can still have interests in public well-being, and not just be entirely concerned with profit.

College priorities need rearranged

By: Erin Floro

A letter to the editor in the Des Moines Register expresses my exact opinion regarding priorities of colleges.

A. Frank Thompson, a University of Northern Iowa professor, claims that more emphasis is placed on sports than academics.

At UNI, faculty received zero percentage increase in salaries this year due to lack of funds. Yet, the football coach was awarded a raise.

The Des Moines Register featured an article on the arrest of two of the school's top athletes. Just a week before, 23 students and faculty had been recognized by Omicron Delta Kappa for outstanding achievements in the community, both as scholars and leaders. Where was the media coverage?

Professor Thompson also points out that UNI gives more full time scholarships to athletes than it does to students for academics. I believe this happens at all colleges, both public and private (even though the privates claim they don't give athletic scholarships). I don't think this will ever change.

Blogs and the first amendment

By: Christina Woldt

Today in The Associated Press an article entertained the idea that blogging might be lobbying. As we all know, political lobbyists try to sway public opinion and are supportive of a certain policy or position. Lobbyists try to sway the public to join their "team". The topic of Blogging came into play when discussing the 1972 and 1992 laws on lobbyists. The article described that under the law,

"Lobbyists must register with the state, and submit regular reports about who pays them, how they spend money, and which issues they’re working on. Groups that don’t fit the traditional definition of “lobbyist” also have to file reports, provided they meet certain spending thresholds while leading public campaigns intended to influence public policy."

For popular bloggers such as David Goldstein and his political blog on Horseass.org is all about swaying the public and speaking out about political issues. Isn't this what the first amendment is all about? Goldstein is merely speaking his opinions, it's just to a larger audience. Isn't it safe to say that we all could be considered lobbyists? As much as we try not to enforce our beliefs on others, we all slip up at one time or another. We all can blog, we all are human beings with a voice, so we all are lobbyists, right?

Obama's way is the right way

By: Erin Floro

A local newspaper reporter, Steven Thomma, got an insight into how President-elect Barack Obama will try to solve the world's problems.

At a news conference held at the Hilton-Chicago, reporters were seated on opposite sides of the room. Press sections were labeled Cubs and White Sox, named for the city's major league baseball teams.

Thomma, a diehard White Sox fan, was seated in the Cubs section. He jokingly complained to Obama's staff who in turn told the president-elect.

Obama, also a White Sox fan, called on Thomma for a question at the next day's meeting. He issued a humorous apology and told Thomma that is how his administration plans to do business; by admitting a mistake, then correcting it.

Free online

By: Lexie Hagerty

I love the TV show One Tree Hill but tend to miss the show every Monday night due to sorority activities.

I was talking to my roommate about taping the show, but she said I could just watch the episode on the internet. This seemed very interesting to me, considering it is free and I can watch any episode I have ever missed.

With that, I began to search the internet and sure enough, there were several Web sites that allowed me to watch any TV episode for free. These websites include WorldTVPC and Project Free TV.

As much as I like the ability to watch the episodes I have missed, isn't this free TV cheating? Once again, I see the media changing so much that everything is available online and normally for free.

Soon, there isn't going to be anything other media sources than the internet, because why pay for a media source if you can get it for free online?

Webcams gone to the dogs.

By: Sarah Harl

The most recent Internet craze is Puppy Cam, which allows viewers to watch in on 6 growing Shiba Inu puppies.

The operation is really quite simple: The owners positioned their web cam to look on the puppy pen, allowing bored web surfers to check up on the pups anytime they have a free second.

What started as a simple way to let family and friends see the new litter of pups, quickly turned to something of a cultural phenomenon.

Why would everyone from little girls to company executives be taking a break from their day to see what the pups are up to?

They tune in because unlike other reality shows, this cast doesn't deal with the shallow drama so often seen on television.

Perhaps the lack of drama is what surprised the news outlets who reported on this as a story.

And maybe it is a lesson that the media needs to learn. It doesn't always have to be back-stabbing, glitz, glamour, high-speed chases, and gossip.

Sometimes the simplest things are the most entertaining.

WARNING: Graphic Images

Saturday, November 29, 2008

by Pat Tierney

Recently the terrorist attacks in India have been dominating the headlines of newspapers and web pages across the country and the world.

The homepage of Fox News is no different.

On the front of their page are links to related stories about the terrorist attacks. One of the most striking was a photo essay about the attacks that specifically said, WARNING: Graphic Images.

In our class we have talked a lot about censorship and whether it is a good or bad thing.

Yes, these images are graphic, but the event itself wasn't exactly a pretty sight.

Is it responsible for the media to show photos that may be graphic in nature, to the world.

Personally and professionally I believe yes.

The world can be a harsh place, and often times people don't always see the reality of everyday life around the world. Living in the mid-west it is so easy to be sheltered from the harsh realities that are sometimes taking place around the world, but I think journalists can do a good job of sharing these experiences with the world.

Fox News is just one example of a news organization that is doing this, taking a story (no matter how hard to handle) and share it with the world.

Twitter saves the day...maybe

By: Katie Anthony

While many would argue that the journalists strive to show, rather than tell, I believe there to be a fine line between showing what's necessary and showing it all.

By now, everyone knows that I'm not a huge fan of negative news-though I've become used to it because that type of news is the majority of the news.

Yet, when I was looking for a blog topic this week, I stumbled across "Citizen Journalists Provide Glimpes Into Attacks."

This article falls back on the information that was put on Twitter the day that the Taj Mahal Palace and Taj Hotel were attacked.

Many reporters tapes, cell phones, and any other means of information were confiscated after the attacks for evidence, yet some citizens-now seen as "citizen journalists"-were able to keep their cell phones that held short recordings of the burning of these buildings.

In situations like these, the line is truly fine, and I think the line was crossed in this case. While the public had a desire to be informed, I don't think that a minute-by-minute picture of burning buildings is the most effective way to get their message and information across.

In fact, I'd argue that just replaying the pictures/video the news have, would be more than sufficient as long as they're relaying new information as its given to them. That's how they informed the public about the 9/11 attacks, so I think that in the case of the Mumbai attacks, the same rules need to be applied.

Obama merchandise hawked by papers

By: Erin Floro

After the recent election of Barack Obama newspapers are trying to make money off this historic event. Since revenues are down at most newspapers, it sounds like a good idea to me.

The Washington Post, The New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times are selling memorabilia such as t-shirts, coffee mugs, and key chains with Obama’s image. Big items now are reproductions of the Nov. 5 front page headlining Obama’s victory. A framed edition front page with brass plating can be yours for only $299 plus shipping and handling from the NY Times.

After searching the LA Times Web site, I came across other items available for purchase such as buttons, dolls, clocks, and even bobble heads. This paper reports $686,000 in sales of Obama merchandise.

I think this is smart of the newspapers to make additional revenue. As a consumer I would personally buy an item from a newspaper before I would a t-shirt or souvenir shop. These items would be of quality material and appropriate.

College newspapers suffer from poor economy

By: Erin Floro

The increasing decline of print advertising revenue has hit newspapers hard all over the United States. College newspapers are no exception.

The economy has nosedived so badly that papers have had to make cutbacks in such areas as frequency of issues, size of paper, and number of pages. Other papers have had to reevaluate their budget by trimming expenses such as travel and dining.

Many financial and consulting firms that normally recruit through advertising have cut back or stop doing so altogether.

National companies that target college students as consumers are cutting their own costs by reducing advertising. They probably figure a college student doesn’t have much extra money to spend on their product. So why advertise in a college newspaper?

I’m sure our very own paper, The Simpsonian, has also felt the crunch. Lets hope that it can continue to be the nations longest running college newspaper.

NPR's vlog

By: Callie McBroom

NPR announced the launch of a new type of blog today. It is called a Vlog, which is a video blog. Wikipedia says that vlogging consists of regular entries embedded with video or video links that also employ text and still images. Vlogs can also be distributed by RSS feeds, allowing "automatic aggregation and playback on mobile devices and personal computers."

NPR's vlog named "Open Mike" is set up on a YouTube channel called Weekend Edition.

Scott Simon, the host for Weekend Edition Saturday held his first interview with NPR News Analyst Juan Williams. Liane Hansen will soon be holding her first interview on the vlog as the host for Weekend Edition Sunday.

NPR is also asking its readers for suggestions about future guests for the vlog.

Abusive blogs

By: Callie McBroom

Blogs have become very popular with many different people who use them for very different reasons. But now, this popularity and the tendency for blogs to be posted anonymously is causing problems.

Both John McIntire and Words at Work have recently been discussing the need to have some sort of control over what is said in blogs. This issue has surfaced because some bloggers are abusing others over the internet.

This is not only a problem for the abused bloggers, however. Annoying and abusive posts can also deter other people from posting a comment, for fear that they will receive the same treatment. This defeats the purpose of blogging.

Now the question remains, who will decide what should and shouldn't be said? And, who will make sure that First Amendment rights are upheld while protecting bloggers from unnecessary attacks?

No job? Blog!

Friday, November 28, 2008

By Liz Tjaden

In celebration of my upcoming graduation from Simpson in a few weeks without a job, I would like to shed light on a blog that can help journalists who have been laid-off.

According to Lost Remote, a blog has been launched by Six Apart called the "TypePad Journalist Bailout Program". It allows journalists to post stories and new events. They don’t promise the blog to be a full-time replacement for a lost job, but it does provide a place for journalists to post their opinions and news in a public forum.

Plus, this service is free so people don't feel the burden of shelling out money they don't have in order to get their work out.

With layoffs and bailouts consuming the media news, it is nice to hear about people, especially journalists, being “saved” by the help from others.

Newspapers endangered

By: Hannah Pickett

Scientifically speaking, in the animal kingdom when a species starts to trail off they go on the endangered species list, a precursor to extinction. If journalism careers were categorized the way the animal kingdom is, newspapers would be dubbed endangered.

Many small town newspapers throughout the state of Iowa, and around the nation are having to close shop. There are many different reasons for the newspaper's endangerment. Some say it's the economic crisis, others say it's the internet phenomenon. This doesn't just pertain to small town papers, however. In the past year, the Des Moines Register laid off much of its staff.

Newspapers can survive on a skeleton staff. For example, in Winterset, the newspaper staff is four people to put out a 22 page paper weekly. It can be done; it just requires hard working employees. The point is, however, if major newspapers are cutting staff, some who have worked their for many years, what does that mean to the college journalism student?

If the current jobs are being cut right now, imagine what it will be like in a couple of years when college graduates are looking for jobs. Regardless of the reasoning behind small town papers folding, right now it is a really scary time to be a journalism major with no job security foreseeable in the future.

Eventually, newspapers will probably be taken over by the internet. Until then, where are the jobs?

Activists use Internet to get word out

Thursday, November 27, 2008

By: Allison McNeal

Social activists are distributing their message to a new audience: the Web.

Nonprofit groups have recently started to construct demonstrations on YouTube and use social networking sites like Facebook to get the word out.

The different strategies the groups have implemented are the use of animated 3-D characters to protest the global shortage of drinking water and having Web companies that allow individuals to create their own charity.

WaterPartners International is one of the companies to incorporate a global safe drinking water campaign.

This company could have promoted their campaign by visually showing the effects of safe drinking water, but instead used the Internet as their means of communication.

According to Nicole Wickenhauser, a company spokesperson, said that it saved time and money by putting their campaign online and through animated, virtual characters built from actual people.

As a result, daily Web traffic doubled at WebPartners site during the campaign and also attracted support from around the globe.

With Web based activism, it encourages ordinary people to start up their own campaigns.

Another campaign that has started up is Yourcause.com.

Yourcause.com has allowed citizens to create their own charity and is similar to sites like MySpace.

According to cnn.com, "the new site allows a person to do everything a charity traditionally does [like] raise money and awareness and recruit support."

Matthew Combs, the site's co-founder, said his site designs Web pages and vets charities for people who don't have the time or expertise to do it themselves.

Other social network sites like MySpace are starting to support activists and have an "impact" page that connects users with political and charitable causes.

YouTube has also recently launched a "Nonprofits and Activism" channel for consumers.

With these new technologies, the Web has become a crucial source for nonprofit fundraising and has shown how involved Americans are.

$550 million has been donated online in 2001, and the number grew to $10.4 billion in 2007.

Online companies have shown that social activists can help reach a larger audience and that change can be imminent in the near future.

"Real change is most often accomplished by committed individuals working together for a cause they feel passionately about," Wickenhauser said. "Whether they work together virtually or in person is less important."

Catholic priest honored by Jewish paper

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

By: Erin Floro

The Forward, a national Jewish newspaper, included a catholic priest, Rev. Paul Ouderkirk of Postville, in its annual list of 50 most influential people in Judaism. The list usually includes only Jews.

Ouderkirk was honored for his work with former workers of Agriprocessors Inc. In May, federal agents raided the company and 400 workers were arrested on illegal immigration charges. The company is the largest producer of kosher meat.

The 75-year-old retired priest, who speaks fluent Spanish, served the Guatemalan and Mexican immigrants who sought help after the raid. He aided workers and their families in obtaining food and shelter.

The editors of the paper considered the Agriprocessors controversy a top story in Judaism in 2008.

Health web sites

By: Lexie Hagerty

An article in the International Herald Tribune reported that the Kaiser Family Foundation is hoping to start their own Web site to cover the health issues that are being pushed aside by other media who's budgets are going down the drain.

The family thinks that even with the economic downturn, their website will succeed, because of the need to stay aware of all health related issues.

I think this is a good idea. The Kaiser Web site will be a good source for any person who wants to know the latest in any health issues. The Web site also hopes to be connected to other news organizations as well.

I think that with the frightening and sketchy health issues of today, it is important for anyone to stay connected to health news. It allows people to stay aware and what to look out for, especially in this winter season.

Plus, there are lots of things that people can do to prevent the spread of diseases. Hopefully, these new health Web sites will keep people updated and not push the issues aside.

Update your Web site!

By: Shauna Agan

Recently, an article on CNN.com was posted about the 25 best cities to find a job. Four of these cities were in Iowa. They were Ames, Iowa City, Des Moines, and Sioux City.

These figures were based on this year’s unemployment rate compared to last years and job growth.

Checking out DesMoinesRegister.com, there are many interesting articles, but none about this particular find.

It is surprising to me to find that a local newspaper that most of Iowa reads has not yet reported something this important. Four of the cities in Iowa are listed as top cities to find a job during tough economic times.

This is significant for Iowa. It shows that Iowa is doing something ‘right’ economically, but why hasn’t the Des Moines Register reported it yet?

As a local newspaper, one duty is to be aware of significant things such as these. Reporters should constantly be checking larger media outlets to make sure they have not missed anything significant.

If just one of the reporters had checked CNN.com, this story would be posted on the Web site of the Des Moines Register. Regardless of the fact that this story will more than likely appear in the Des Moines Register tomorrow, I believe it should have been reported on the Web site tonight.

This is big news for Iowa, but if Iowans follow local news via the Internet, this story is nowhere to be found. An update of the DesMoinesRegister.com Web site would be favorable.

Who cares?

Monday, November 24, 2008

By: Adrian Aitken

The Politico published a story about the extracurricular activities that Barack Obama partakes in. They focused on what Barack does during his Sunday mornings. According to the article the president elect has missed church the past few weeks to workout at the gym instead.

I don't understand this what so ever. Shouldn't the media be more focused on what our future has in store rather than Barack's religious habits. The article then compares Obama to President Bush.

Apparently George W. Bush has also missed a few services. I cant say for the publisher of the paper but I can forgive the president for being too busy to attend church. The Politico is being too shallow in reporting during such important times in America.

Hurricane Ike

By: Quinn Albrecht

In early September Hurricane Ike was approaching the Texas Coast in a hurry. News outlets were trying to figure out what they were going to do to keep people in the know about the breaking news.

They set up blog sites where people could post things and read up about new information about the up coming hurricane. Readership skyrocketed to new highs, sometimes even getting a million views per hour.

They also set up networks through cell phone blogging, so people could stay connected even if they did not have power. This picked up after the hurricane made landfall.

I think in the future more sites will be doing this 24/7 so that people can read the news where ever when ever. It wont take a natural disaster for them to gain the motivation to keep that up.

Newspaper standards

By: Taylor Browning

As I was searching through the Internet for my topic I fell off track with my short attention span onto some pretty outrageous headlines. One headline in particular was Pirates' luxury lifestyles on lawless coast.

With so much information a click away and the spectrum of news being reported, it is easy to see why newspapers are still holding on. The more I thought about it, well known newspapers have become a standard guideline for news reporting, even within their own online version.

There is no need to sort through the newspaper for 'meaningful' news because there aren't links, videos and other added things to draw the reader away from what is at the heart of the newspaper.

We talked in class how there are knock-off magazines of People Magazine, because they are a standard. Maybe newspapers don't have that much to worry about in the technological world if they keep setting the bar high and maintain their standard.

Code of Ethics

By: Kayla Miller

It's one thing to commit suicide. But it's different story when you post a video of your suicide on the internet. And of course this makes national news. Is this right?

CNNs Prime News reports that 19-year-old Abraham Briggs commits suicide live on Justin.tv last Wednesday. This suicide is now known to all viewers, and now I'm sure people aren't trying to look for the suicide video.

Is this ethical for journalists to make this national news? Think of Briggs's family. It is only making matters worse to have them know that their child's suicide is on television. I thought jouranlists were supposed to "show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage" according to the Harrower text.

To me, it is wrong to make it national news. I know if I had a child, I wouldn't want his suicide being known to everyone, even people they don't know. Next time maybe they should think twice before putting it on the air.

Best man for the job

By: Gabe Gilson

Kansas State University has made news again in College football for a recent decision that the University has made. Three years into the Ron Prince era of Wildcat football, they decided to let their coach go and hire back the man that brought the school the greatest amount of success, Bill Snyder.

Snyder was the coach that brought the program 136 wins over his 16 year hiatus. He is also a 69 year-old white man. Prince is a 39 year-old African-American and his firing made it so there are no African-American coaches out of the 119 Division-I football teams.

On Monday’s episode of Around the Horn on ESPN, Woody Paige who writes for the Denver Post said it was an awful idea for Kansas State to bring back Snyder without even interviewing any other candidates. He also said it would be smart for all football programs to have to interview at least one minority candidate for a position as the head coach.

The media has voiced its displeasure recently about the lack of diversity in college football coaching. While it does seem like an unfair problem, it seems as if it has been blown out of proportion lately. Most colleges try and hire the best man for the job, at least I would think. Until the African-American candidates become the best person for the job, this sad trend will continue.

Oh my God

By: Alex Jones

Where is God's place in the journalism world? For talk radio reporter it sure isn't on talk radio.

Carolyn Lewis a talk radio voice for "an especially churchy" audience was fired after a discussion about abortion. The conversation brought her to the conclusion that she was weary of anyone that claimed to know what God wanted people to do.

For something so minor, it is surprising that she was fired. Especially in a country that promotes free speech. So where does the news draw the line? Why is religion many times, the exception? Reporters are sometimes reluctant to cover religious controversial topics.

I believe in free speech and I also believe that no topic should be taboo, religion is no exception!

"Slow blogging" is a flop

By: Kathryn Lisk

Sharon Otterman from The New York Times wrote a story on Sunday about how today's blogging world is too fast-paced for its own good.

Slow blogging, which was inspired from the slow food movement, argues that quality writing can take time. Just like fast food, which can be consumed occasionally yet isn't healthy on a regular basis, immediate blogs shouldn't be the only form of news for readers.

Slow bloggers said they take their time with what they write and can spend a month or more in between blogs. They said writers from Web sites like Huffington Post, who publish up to 50 entries a day, aren't thorough enough with their work.

I understand the phenomenon of slow blogging and respect writers who examine their work and add artistic style. But little is achieved from a few bloggers fighting against others who post their thoughts on the internet faster.

Writing about breaking news a month later makes the story entirely irrelevant.

Furthermore, how is this issue any different than the way stories are written in newspapers? Regardless of how fast a blogger posts, news will continue to unfold. Faster blogs just mean faster news for the public. Where's the problem?

Spiders and grapes.

By: Sarah Keller

Spiders, I absolutely hate them. I do not know what it is about them that scare me so much, if it is the way they look and all of those legs that come crawling toward me. Or if it is the fact that there are some poisonous spiders out there that could possibly bite me and kill me, though very unlikely. Whatever the reason is, I know that I hate them.

When I was looking on the internet the other day I came across an article about one of my favorite things; grapes, and one of my least favorite things; spiders. I decided to look further and read the article to see what it was about.

The article was an opinion piece by Geoff Williams from Wallet Pop. Williams talked about a woman who bought grapes from Costco, and was washing them and found a spider in them. The woman did research on the spider to find out what kind of spider it was. It turned out that the spider was a black widow, one of the most deadly spiders there are.

After reading the article it made me realize that I really should wash my fruit out before eating it like I was always told to do, but never chose to actually do. You never know what you will find in your fruit so you should be careful. The article talked about how it is more common than people may realize to find a spider in your fruit.

I think the article did a nice job of supporting both the woman’s anger at Costco for finding a deadly spider in her grapes, and a nice job of supporting Costco’s side by talking about how the grapes are organic and natural, not dripping with pesticides, because if they were the spider would have been dead. Also you cannot expect the store to thoroughly check every grape. Luckily for the lady and everyone else who may come across a black widow, the journalist said that no one had been killed by a black widow since the 1960’s. The article definitely made me think twice about cleaning fruit before eating it; I don’t want to be the one to eat my biggest fear in my favorite fruit.

The headlines that shouldn't be

Sunday, November 23, 2008

By Austin Bates

As I scanned the headlines concerning news behind the news, I came across one very short, very simple post that pointed out something very simple about a fairly simple headline: was anyone thinking about this before it was printed? The headline in question read "Ruler can't measure Johnson's impact."

Now, I'm sure that more than a few people will read that headline and think nothing of it, and when they see the snickers around them, might honestly shrug their shoulders in confusion. But chances are that the majority of those who read the headline will instantly think of something quite different and involuntarily burst into laughter at a very poorly worded headline.

In all reality, badly worded headlines of that kind of magnitude are fairly rare. Yet enough crop up from time to time for comedians to make a living off of them. Case in point, Jay Leno's "headlines" skit that he performs every Monday night on "The Tonight Show".

My point in all of this is this: how do headlines like these make it to final print without somebody stopping it and saying, "Wait a minute, you think this is appropriate?" All they would really need to do is show the headline to a young adult, and if the headline elicits a snicker or a laugh out of them when it wasn't supposed to, you know you wrote something the wrong way. In the end, the publisher of said headline could avoid quite a bit of embarrassment.

A change for the season

By: Lexie Hagerty

I am sitting at my computer and listening to Christmas music. I love Christmas music and find that in any setting, it helps me get in to the Christmas mood.

Next, I look at my TV, where I am learning how to make the perfect Christmas meal for that anticipated holiday morning.

During the commercials, "The Twenty-five Days of Christmas" along with Christmas sales and specials are being advertised.

I get out my daily newspaper and check out the funnies, all associated with the holidays.

What is my point? My point is that in my last few blogs, I have done nothing but critique the media for its views and its way of doing things.

This time, however, I am not in the mood to do so. After all, it is the holidays and nothing is on my mind but the Christmas spirit and delightful snow days.

At this point, I want to commend the media for instilling this delight and this Christmas spirit into my everyday life. Even though, the media is everywhere and can influence anyone at any time, it is times like these, where I don't think that is such a bad thing. Thank you!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Religion, politics, and the media

Saturday, November 22, 2008

By: Katie Anthony

Everyone knows that in the election, religious affiliation was a strong deciding factor with many voters.

However I for one, did not realize how much of the media focus was on Barack Obama.

Overall, 53 percent of the total religion covered was spent on Barack Obama's affiliation-and pathetically enough, most of that number was spent covering the affiliation that isn't true.

John McCain and Sarah Palin combined only got a total of less than thirty percent.

President-elect Barack Obama is NOT a Muslim, and it saddens me to think about how much air time was wasted on false information and petty rumors.

And yet, perhaps that's what the media will focus on now-false information and petty rumors over certain candidates religious affiliations.

I think they could find something of a stronger benefit to fill that airspace with.

Who is writing what now?

By Liz Tjaden

To celebrate our Public Relations week before break, who better to recognize for her efforts than Angelina Jolie.

As she often appears in the spot light of celebrity gossip for a new movie role, philanthropy work, or news of another pregnancy, Jolie is shown in a typically positive light. (Disregard the years she was making out with her brother.)

In PR, the most important rule is to never lie. Turning bad situations into positive ones is a goal, but lying will only make things worse.

From adoption and giving birth, Jolie and husband Brad Pitt currently have six children. As the NY Times reports, Jolie and Pitt negotiated almost $14 million with People magazine this summer with pictures of their newborn twins.

Oh and...they also wanted to oversee the journalistic aspect of what was printed about them and their family.

The ethics of this deal is something for an entire different blog. Looking at only the journalistic aspect, who is now writing our news?

Obviously, nothing incredibly dire pertaining to our everyday lives comes from celebrities or can be found in People but it still puts a damper on the whole “hard working journalist” thing.
Who needs us around if we throw people a pad and pencil and tell them to write their own damn news?

It’s just sad that this is what it is coming to: needing to sell magazines rather than report the news.

Write it right

By: Erin Floro

Editing, proofreading, spellchecking are each important tasks when journaling.

A spokeswoman for the city of Des Moines, Amelia Hamilton-Morris, was reminded of this last week. She sent a press release to several dozen media types using a misspelled word. When referring to a dam on the Des Moines River, she called it a damn.

She quickly sent an apology for the oversight. This just reminds us again the importance of looking over your work. Even in a professional setting, mistakes happen.

Exanding growth in hard times

By: Lexie Hagerty

BusinessWeek reported that Facebook is continuing to push growth even with the economic downturn.

This strategy seems ligitimate, but differs from other social networks like Myspace. The article said that Myspace has "dialed back on growth to focus on profits."

Facebook, on the other hand, is making small changes to fuel growth in order to gain ground on their competition.

I am not sure how I feel about this. I think it is great that they are taking risks, but it isn't probably all that smart.

However, Facebook said that they have quite a bit of income that they can risk losing in order to grow. In that case, it is their money and any risks they want to take is their choice.

Who knows, it might turn out to be a really good decision.

Journalistic ethics: Do they exist?

Friday, November 21, 2008

By: Hannah Pickett

Two weeks ago, the newspaper I write for published a leading front page story titled "It's an Obama Nation!" regarding President elect Obama's nomination. The article centered around my editor's political Republican-based views.

One week after the article was published, a former Winterset resident wrote a letter to the editor expressing her disgust with the article's content saying that such a biased piece of work combined with the lack of taste in the headline belonged on the opinion page, rather than being passed off as fact on the front page. In her letter, she also mentioned that she was in attendance at Grant Park in Chicago when Obama gave his speech election night.

My editor chose to use her eyewitness experience only when publishing the letter to the editor, leaving out her sentiments of disgust with the paper.

After seeing this, the woman decided to purchase an ad space to express her frustration with the paper and to print her letter to the editor-unedited. The publisher heard about it and edited her ad space. Since it was an ad, a proof was sent to her and needless to say she was very upset.

After much arguing between the publisher, the woman-who turned out to be a corporate attorney, and the paper's lawyers, the decision was made to just not run the ad at all. The publisher would only run it if he could cut all the bad stuff about the paper from it, and the woman didn't want that.

I realize that the publisher and editor have the final say on what is printed and what is not, but my question is about ethics. Newspapers are supposed to have integrity and some type of work ethic. Regardless of your political standing, where was the sense of ethics when my editor decided to cut this woman's letter to the editor to serve his own needs? Is there any type of law or punishment for editing a letter to the editor or editing the content of a paid ad space?

Free Expression Tunnel

By: Katie Schaefer

Graffiti is never something that I have got into, but for some it's a way of life. Some have grown up in parts of towns where all a person does is write on walls with spray paint.

At N.C. State University an incident occurred dealing with just that: spray painting. Four students painted racist messages on the Free Expression Tunnel on campus. Racism is already not a good thing, but the messages were specifically about Barack Obama.

The First Amendment states that we have the right to free speech, but how far is too far to stretch this Amendment?

The Supreme Court ruled that when yelling fire in a crowded theater a person is not at fault when there actually is a fire. If there is no fire, then that is where the problem and Oliver Wendell Holmes comes in.

Going back to the racist comments, though, why would people say and paint these things on the wall? Obviously they are probably thinking these thoughts, but what good is it going to do when they are spray painted on a wall?

It's not going to make the remarks more hurtful. I don't know what the students were thinking when they proceeded to write the comments, but maybe they thought by writing them it was going to cause more pain to Obama.

Let the bashing begin

Thursday, November 20, 2008

By; Sarah Keller

It is inevitable, comedians are going to be on the lookout for Obama to screw up, to say something or do something dumb or embarrassing. Then the comedians will start cracking jokes about him and never let him live it down. It may take a little more time to find something to make fun of with Obama than with previous presidents, but comedians are pretty sure that it will happen sooner or later, and once it does they will be relentless.

According to an article from MSNBC, it talked about how comedians are going to start looking for jokes to crack about the president. I think that it is sad that comedians are anticipating making fun of the president of the United States. Why must comedians bash our president?
According to the article they believe that it is going to be more difficult to find good material about Obama because he is well educated, and speaks very properly and wisely. It was easier to make fun of past presidents because of things such as Clinton and Monica, or just the fact that Bush said and did really dumb things.

“ When Barack Obama officially takes over on Jan. 20, he will not only assume duties involving the economy, health care, national security and many others, he will also be given the solemn task of providing this nation’s wisenheimers with stuff at which to make cracks,” the article said. I think its unfortunate that this type of thing happens, but the article is correct it will happen sooner of later, no matter how unimportant or immature I believe it to be.

Blogging was a significant aide for Obama

By: Kathryn Lisk

Even though the election has passed, the media is still examining how each party ran their campaign. Many look at the tactics of both candidates and debate what did and didn't work.

One of the biggest topics in campaigning this year has been the use of the Internet. Claire Cain Miller from the New York Times wrote a story about how President-elect Barack Obama used the Internet to his full advantage when campaigning.

One of Miller's sources went as far as saying that the Internet was the sole reason Obama won. From using YouTube, blogs and other Web outlets as a free form of advertising, he was able to reach his audience.

In fact, as of Nov. 6, 6.7 million people had watched his acceptance speech on YouTube.

As we've discussed multiple times in class, the media world is changing immensely. People no longer get their information from newspapers or the nightly news. Instead, people browse the Web.

By utilizing the Internet, Obama was able to capture the young vote he needed to win.

The way future candidates run their campaigns has been forever changed. Thanks to Obama,we can all say hello to the World Wide Web.

General Electric conforms to blogging society

By: Allison McNeal

Blogging is a cultural phenomenon, and many companies want to get on board with this new technology.

General Electric Company recently started changing the way it communicates with the Wall Street Journal by using a company blog called GEReports.com.

This blog allows the company to share information with investors, send out press releases, and investor briefings.

According to reuters.com, GE intends for the blog to be a way of providing investors with additional information, not to replace other modes of disclosure.

"This is a tough environment, a lot of misinformation in the marketplace," GE spokesman Gary Sheffer said. "This is just a fast and simple way to punch through it and to make sure that you tell your story in a simple and engaging way."

The Securities and Exchange Commission ruled this summer that other U.S. companies may use their Web sites to distribute market-sensitive information.

Companies like Wal-Mart and Boeing Company have started to implement blogs as a way of communicating with customers, investors, and employees.

GE tested out this new communication tactic by using the blog to tell investors of its planned $2 billion in cost-cutting measures next year at GE Capital.

The company did not decide to issue a press release because it wanted to release the information directly to the Web site, where it would be faster access for consumers.

Even though blogs are an efficient way to convey information, there are some technical handicaps.

Some investors are concerned with disclosing information on market-sensitive news because some investors may be at stake.

GE's shift allows investors and journalists to seek out news rather than having it delivered to them.

Disclosing developments on the Web makes the information available to all readers at the same time, while professional channels serve their paying customers called professional traders.

Howard Anderson, professor of entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan School of Management, said that blogging will help out GE's company image.

Anderson expects more companies to follow GE's lead in reaching out directly to markets.

"People follow GE whatever they do," Anderson said. "Even if they're dead wrong, they follow GE."

Looking back to look foward

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

by Peter Merchlewitz

As many of you know, the media world is in a transition age, changing from newspapers and newscasts, to the Internet and streaming video to get our news nowadays. But that doesn't necessarily mean that we should forget all that we learn as news reporters from using an older medium.
In John McIntyre's You Don't Say, McIntyre interviews 2 of his colleagues from the American Copy Editors Society, Doug Fisher and David Sullivan, and their thoughts about mixing old and new reporting to get a desired outcome.

"Professor Fisher’s frustration:

[A]s I have gone around making a presentation on how to use new digital tools to stay connected, the response in some newsrooms and at conferences has been tepid at best in many cases and downright hostile in others (along the lines of how am I supposed to do my job with all this, to which I often have wanted to respond, this is going to be your job, dammit)."

"Mr. Sullivan’s frustration:

Too many journalists think the reader's pleasure is irrelevant, that the reader picks up the newspaper either to be instructed or to sit in awe of the literary talent being presented in it. In short, too many journalists are too full of themselves to succeed in the 21st century, when a newspaper needs to focus on what its readers want, since the readers' choices of what to do with their time seem limitless. That is the challenge for young journalists of the 21st century, who I hope will save us all."

So the challenge is twofold. We have to master the new technologies, both to acquire useful information and to convey it in the form in which readers prefer to receive it, and we have to do some hard thinking about who those readers are and what they are interested in reading.

College newspapers online

By: Callie McBroom

MediaShift reports that some college campuses have come a long way in going online. Still many others have a long way yet to go.

Bob Bergland, a professor at Missouri Western State University, found that 36 percent of a random sample of college newspapers had no web presence at all.

Online journalism can be problematic for college newspapers because of lack of funding. Additionally, campus readership of the printed product remains high compared to industry standards.

Another problem for college papers is an ever-changing staff. Student journalists graduate quite frequently, and new ones take their place. These replacements might not have the same skills as a graduating journalist.

MediaShift references San Francisco State University, University of Washington, and Eastern Illinois University as examples of good online formats.

This story leads to the question, "How far away is the Simpsonian from going online?"

MVP? No, Give Them An Oscar

By: Kelsey Knutson

It's nothing new to see all-star athletes give all-star performances - acting performances.

According to a New York Times article NBA stars put on high quality acting performances on the court. Driving to the basket and letting out yelps and screams, trying to get the attention of officials.

The game's biggest stars are among some of the names being thrown around by officials for Oscar performances - Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, and LeBron James.

According to Bernie Fryer, former NBA player and official that now oversees officiating in the league said, "Anytime anybody goes to the hoop they yell or scream."

Players say that trying to get the call to go their way is just a part of the game. However, many officials are getting tired of it and the players are just setting a bad example for younger kids.

These NBA stars are just finding another reason for publicity and the media is feeding into it. The sports industry has always been in line with the entertainment industry, and the whole business feeds around the media coverage.

The show is getting old and nobody even cares anymore - so they need to stop doing it.

The game needs to be about the game, about the competition, and about winning. Not about the press coverage and you're image.

Keyon Dooling, a point guard in the NBA had this to say, "It used to show that you were being aggressive. Now, its more so that you can get a foul. If you're a good player and you yell, that'll get you a whistle. But if you're an average player - you need to pick your body up and get back on defense."

Broadcaster trampled getting the story

By: Erin Floro

The frenzy and excitement at the conclusion of a recent college football game nearly cost Bob Brooks his life. Fans trampled the Cedar Rapids radio announcer after Iowa upset third-ranked Penn State in Iowa City after a last second field goal.

The 81-year-old Brooks has been in broadcasting for 67 years and says this is the first time something like this has happened to him.

After being helped back on his feet, he made his way to the locker room. After all, he had some interviewing to do.

Listening in

By Kellie Green

People are always interested in the news no matter how they get it. In class we have been working on radio reporting our news instead of the newspaper format. Is live recordings of news going to take over print version?

When ever you are online reading an article you usually see the symbol that looks like a little microphone next to the text. Usually that is the recording of the text so that people can hear it.
While browsing through the The New York Times online I came across more than a hand full of these just on the first page.

Live recording is very important to have for people who have troubles reading but it seems that no one wants to read anymore. People are watching TV or listening to the radio instead of reading about the news.

It may seem that internet is taking away from newspapers, which in a post I did previously I said I believed, but now I think that TV, radio and internet are going to push newspapers out of the way. People would rather hear they news now instead of read it.

Jumping the gun

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

By: Jessica Hartgers

Gun sales are going through the roof, according to WHO TV News at 10. Dealers, suppliers, and customers can't get their hands on enough machinery.

Citizens are in a panic after the recent presidential election, announcing Barack Obama to be our president-elect. Obama is known for being unpredictable on his voting in office regarding gun laws, and citizens are worried the future president will take away our rights to own fire arms. The panic has caused gun sales to go through the roof.

The coverage of this story that aired on WHO put panic into many people, and it should. It is uneasy to think that individuals are rushing to gun stores to buy whatever fire arms they please and are stalking up on bullets and ammunition. Do people really plan on using these fire arms or are they just making these purchases to despise our future president?

Individuals have the right to bear arms, but they should be educated about their piece of equipment and understand the consequences that could come out of it.

Top stories

By: Jessica Hamell

One of KCCI’s leading stories tonight was about how a flamingo escap

ed from the Blank Park Zoo. They reported that the flamingo had flown away and was later caught on the Blank Park Golf course.

I don’t get why this makes big news. It is not threatening to anyone around Des Moines. Although it is something that doesn’t happen very often birds do fly away.

I have barely heard any news about how Iraq is in the process of potentially signing an agreement that the U.S. troops all be out by 2011. Why would the News not take this story and run. I find it a very compelling story that Iraq thinks that they are ready to lead their own country.

The Iraq story is more effective on people around Des Moines that a flamingo escaping. Maybe I am biased because my brother will be going to Iraq but a War should make bigger headlines.

Ex-priest requests trial be moved

By: Erin Floro

An 85-year-old former priest, James Janssen of Davenport, has asked his perjury trial to be moved from Scott County. He is accused of lying to a court in April 2006, testifying under oath that he did not transfer assets to a nephew.

His lawyer cites publicity in recent years of Janssen’s accusations of sexually abusing minors as being an issue. Prospective jurors would probably know of these charges and have an opinion formed of the former priest.

With the extensive news coverage today by different forms of media, I bet it would be hard to escape public knowledge of any high profile case unless you live under a rock.

Men denied press passes sue NYPD

By: Erin Floro

Three men are suing the New York Police Department, claiming they were denied press credentials without much explanation in 2007. Each had possessed one in the past.

Now all are working for nontraditional or online news outlets and claim they have been unfairly denied credentials for this reason. They feel their 1^st Amendment right of freedom of speech and of the press is being violated.

Two kinds of credentials are issued. One is a working press card for full time journalists covering breaking news on a regular basis. The other is a press identification card for those employed by “a legitimate news organization” that don’t normally cover breaking news. The first one allows the journalist to cross police lines at emergencies and the second one doesn’t.

We can’t really have everyone who claims to be a reporter crossing police lines; it would be too chaotic. Who should be considered legitimate? Criteria used for issuing badges seem a little vague. Maybe this lawsuit is what it will take to change it.

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