1. Pullman had 4 hate crimes in 2006, they were all relating to sexual orientation. This was a higher number than many other cities. Excluding the sexial orientation hate crimes, Pullman appears to be relatively safe.
In 2007 there were 5 incidents of hate crimes in Pullman- 4 relating to race and 1 relating to sexual orientation. The number of Race crimes was unusually high and the number of sexual orientation related crimes was fairly normal compared to other cities.
In 2008 there was one hate crime in Pullman- relating to religion. This was particularly low compared to other cities.
2. Terry R. Nealy received the most donations in 2010. Avista Corp. and Wal-Mart were the biggest donors, they both donated $1,600. Republicans had the most donations in Washington from the forest and forestry industry in 2008. Republicans also had the most donations from the lobbyists and public relations industry in Washington in 2008.
3.
http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=y6ofAAAAEBAJ&dq=%22virtual+reality%22
http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=nC0oAAAAEBAJ&dq=portable+personal+computer
http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=UNMoAAAAEBAJ&dq=%22cordless+telephone+handset%22
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Frontline video
I thought Frontline did a really good job putting together the "News War" piece. They began by showing clips of the Daily Show, which is the only show on cable that parodies the style of evening news. It was nice to get a background on how news got to that point- it was the invention of 60 Minutes and subsequent copies that came about when it was realized that this format could make money. There was a very quick cut of an interviewee saying something about how there is now an expectation for show profits to grow every year in order for a program to be considered a success. This idea is what poisons the craft of journalism but it's unfortunately common.
When I think about the Frontline story in its totally though i can't help but think this: the news is businesses, they are not a branch of the government that receives public funds...so if we have concrete expectations for them that do not have anything to do with money-making then maybe we need to have some other way of keeping them running that is independent of their ratings or advertising revenue potential (like being publicly owned). But even then, there is still a bajillion other sources of news that people will go to.
The ABC news producer interviewed at the beginning essentially said that the definition of news is now wider than ever because of the fact that their is more space to fill. I actually agree with this- 'news' is subjective...because not everyone has the same interests. Ultimately though, The more variety to chose from, the better off we all are.
When I think about the Frontline story in its totally though i can't help but think this: the news is businesses, they are not a branch of the government that receives public funds...so if we have concrete expectations for them that do not have anything to do with money-making then maybe we need to have some other way of keeping them running that is independent of their ratings or advertising revenue potential (like being publicly owned). But even then, there is still a bajillion other sources of news that people will go to.
The ABC news producer interviewed at the beginning essentially said that the definition of news is now wider than ever because of the fact that their is more space to fill. I actually agree with this- 'news' is subjective...because not everyone has the same interests. Ultimately though, The more variety to chose from, the better off we all are.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Feature Profile Story
“Oh my gosh I just saw a big hawk!” exclaims a fascinated Robin Rilette as she looks out the window of the third floor of the Murrow building at Washington State University. “I don’t see them on campus very often. How interesting. What if it was an owl?” She then picks up right where she left off, explaining one of her favorite parts about being music director for Northwest Public Radio (NWPR).
Rilette loves hosting concerts and other events around the Northwest. Last month she judged a master-class in Kennewick with world-renowned Broadway singer, Franc D'Ambrosio. “All these places with symphonies and chamber groups and things like that, a lot of them want someone to come and I’m the only classical music person really…It’s energizing and it also lets me meet people. They all know who I am, they feel like they know me. A lot of people say, ‘I feel like you’re my friend,’ but I don’t know them.” She describes the sensation of being at a party and feeling recognized by her voice, which is heard all around the Northwest, “People will start looking at me weird. Now I’ve kind of picked up on it. They try not to look at me but they are looking at me and if I see that at a party I’ll go up to them and say, ‘I don’t think we’ve met, I’m Robin.’ I can tell that they’re listening to me and wondering…which is a good thing.”
NWPR consists of 13 radio towers and 13 translators across Washington, Idaho and Oregon. “We’ve gone from being a small station to a geographical entity that’s covering most of the state of Washington,” explains Rilette. “We’re soon putting in a station on June 21, this is super-duper big news. We’re taking over a station that broadcasts into Tacoma and Olympia. So, in one station we are going to actually double the potential size of our audience.”
And just who is this audience? Rilette discussed public radio’s reputation as having a liberal slant. She cited a National Public Radio (NPR) survey that asked listeners if they were more conservative or liberal. According to Rilette, it was shown that in fact there is a fairly even split among listeners who consider themselves politically left leaning and those who consider themselves right leaning. Rilette noted, “If we get complaints they’re usually about 50/50, ‘You’re too liberal,’ 50% say, ‘You’re too conservative.’ So to me, that is a real indication that NPR is doing a pretty good job of staying as neutral as they can.”
Tim Meinig, a colleague of Rilette’s at NWPR describes her as an integral part of the station. She, along with Dan Maher provide the only shows produced locally and that gives NWPR a unique feel. “Her job as music director is something that nobody else can do,” he said.
Rilette remains humble however. She said she still has a hard time identifying classical composers even though she has been playing them for 20 years. “Someone like Vivaldi or Bach, they write hundreds and hundreds of pieces…I mean really. I think that’s why my listeners like me, because they’re kind of in the same boat as I am. I’m not some PhD in music, I don’t present myself as a know-it-all. I’m just somebody else who likes music, and here’s some interesting information that I came across.’”
As Rilette talks about her blog her eyes wander to the window overlooking the rolling Pullman hills and she interrupts herself, “Oh…you know what? There is that bird. It is a red tailed hawk! There he goes…that is just cool.”
Rilette loves hosting concerts and other events around the Northwest. Last month she judged a master-class in Kennewick with world-renowned Broadway singer, Franc D'Ambrosio. “All these places with symphonies and chamber groups and things like that, a lot of them want someone to come and I’m the only classical music person really…It’s energizing and it also lets me meet people. They all know who I am, they feel like they know me. A lot of people say, ‘I feel like you’re my friend,’ but I don’t know them.” She describes the sensation of being at a party and feeling recognized by her voice, which is heard all around the Northwest, “People will start looking at me weird. Now I’ve kind of picked up on it. They try not to look at me but they are looking at me and if I see that at a party I’ll go up to them and say, ‘I don’t think we’ve met, I’m Robin.’ I can tell that they’re listening to me and wondering…which is a good thing.”
NWPR consists of 13 radio towers and 13 translators across Washington, Idaho and Oregon. “We’ve gone from being a small station to a geographical entity that’s covering most of the state of Washington,” explains Rilette. “We’re soon putting in a station on June 21, this is super-duper big news. We’re taking over a station that broadcasts into Tacoma and Olympia. So, in one station we are going to actually double the potential size of our audience.”
And just who is this audience? Rilette discussed public radio’s reputation as having a liberal slant. She cited a National Public Radio (NPR) survey that asked listeners if they were more conservative or liberal. According to Rilette, it was shown that in fact there is a fairly even split among listeners who consider themselves politically left leaning and those who consider themselves right leaning. Rilette noted, “If we get complaints they’re usually about 50/50, ‘You’re too liberal,’ 50% say, ‘You’re too conservative.’ So to me, that is a real indication that NPR is doing a pretty good job of staying as neutral as they can.”
Tim Meinig, a colleague of Rilette’s at NWPR describes her as an integral part of the station. She, along with Dan Maher provide the only shows produced locally and that gives NWPR a unique feel. “Her job as music director is something that nobody else can do,” he said.
Rilette remains humble however. She said she still has a hard time identifying classical composers even though she has been playing them for 20 years. “Someone like Vivaldi or Bach, they write hundreds and hundreds of pieces…I mean really. I think that’s why my listeners like me, because they’re kind of in the same boat as I am. I’m not some PhD in music, I don’t present myself as a know-it-all. I’m just somebody else who likes music, and here’s some interesting information that I came across.’”
As Rilette talks about her blog her eyes wander to the window overlooking the rolling Pullman hills and she interrupts herself, “Oh…you know what? There is that bird. It is a red tailed hawk! There he goes…that is just cool.”
Monday, June 7, 2010
Media Hype Video
Altering images in news reporting is only ethical if it helps clarify the photo in some way. This could be highlighting a relevant part or making the image brighter or higher contrast-but only if it's done with the intention of improved visual legibility- never to change the fundamental character of something (like making OJ darker on the cover of TIME). Alterations should always be noted as well.
In an ideal world, people would naturally be interested in the things that most affected them. However, that's just not true. People do love hearing about shark attacks (and arguably this fact implies that it IS important to them at some level)...but when it causes irrational fear in the mass population, it has gone too far. The media should cover everything that needs to be covered in order for society to be properly informed about relevant issues that may affect their lives, but if this means that no one buys the paper or watches the news, and they consequentially fail as institutions- then perhaps a minimal amount of "shark attack" stories should be included. These stories are in fact part of the world and people do want to know about them and the media DOES need to pay the bills too. However, to put sensational, overblown, fear-based stories on the front cover and intentionally glamorize them for profit is just wrong. There needs to be a balance where the real news is the focus- but it shouldn't be so dry that no one wants to hear about it.
Freebies and junkets are particularly troublesome when it comes to journalists doing product reviews. It's easy to imagine that if the publication supports buying a product, it will do better in the market-a better market will serve the publication because their will be more advertising dollars coming back to them. When there is such a direct correlation between content and revenue the journalist is put in a position of a lot of responsibility. Maintaining integrity despite the free trips and special treatment becomes more difficult- the unbalanced reporting that may arise is ultimately a real disservice to to the consumers.
I think the Fat Squad and the other stories created by Joey Skaggs are so widely believed because of how the media works- they are on autopilot. They get news releases and follow them up and print what they find. There is really no one else pulling these kinds of pranks so the media's guard is down. Also, they WANT to believe these stories, this is stuff that is totally entertaining, instant ratings. A diligent pursuit for the truth falls wayside to mere laziness and desire to entertain. I think internet reporters may be less susceptible to these kinds of things because of how much garbage is one the internet already. They are used to having to be a little more discerning in their coverage so i think they would see through it. Also, they seem to be more in touch with readers and i think this keeps them in check. With more direct feedback they are scrutinized more and made more aware of their own fragile credibility. I also don't think internet news outlets are as dependent upon high ratings as TV...a lot of times they are just individuals (who often act much more sensibly than group entities) and they are not even really trying to make money so they're not so eager for sensational stories to fuel ratings and readership.
In an ideal world, people would naturally be interested in the things that most affected them. However, that's just not true. People do love hearing about shark attacks (and arguably this fact implies that it IS important to them at some level)...but when it causes irrational fear in the mass population, it has gone too far. The media should cover everything that needs to be covered in order for society to be properly informed about relevant issues that may affect their lives, but if this means that no one buys the paper or watches the news, and they consequentially fail as institutions- then perhaps a minimal amount of "shark attack" stories should be included. These stories are in fact part of the world and people do want to know about them and the media DOES need to pay the bills too. However, to put sensational, overblown, fear-based stories on the front cover and intentionally glamorize them for profit is just wrong. There needs to be a balance where the real news is the focus- but it shouldn't be so dry that no one wants to hear about it.
Freebies and junkets are particularly troublesome when it comes to journalists doing product reviews. It's easy to imagine that if the publication supports buying a product, it will do better in the market-a better market will serve the publication because their will be more advertising dollars coming back to them. When there is such a direct correlation between content and revenue the journalist is put in a position of a lot of responsibility. Maintaining integrity despite the free trips and special treatment becomes more difficult- the unbalanced reporting that may arise is ultimately a real disservice to to the consumers.
I think the Fat Squad and the other stories created by Joey Skaggs are so widely believed because of how the media works- they are on autopilot. They get news releases and follow them up and print what they find. There is really no one else pulling these kinds of pranks so the media's guard is down. Also, they WANT to believe these stories, this is stuff that is totally entertaining, instant ratings. A diligent pursuit for the truth falls wayside to mere laziness and desire to entertain. I think internet reporters may be less susceptible to these kinds of things because of how much garbage is one the internet already. They are used to having to be a little more discerning in their coverage so i think they would see through it. Also, they seem to be more in touch with readers and i think this keeps them in check. With more direct feedback they are scrutinized more and made more aware of their own fragile credibility. I also don't think internet news outlets are as dependent upon high ratings as TV...a lot of times they are just individuals (who often act much more sensibly than group entities) and they are not even really trying to make money so they're not so eager for sensational stories to fuel ratings and readership.
Feature Profile Idea
Robin Rilette- Music Director for Northwest Public Radio, 91.7. I spend a lot of time listening to NPR and her classical music radio show on weekday mornings. I'd like to know more about what she does at work, whether she gets recognized a lot outside of work, if she listens to other radio stations, how she got into radio...She has her own blog on blogger too- maybe I could ask her about that.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Special Lead Story
Watery eyes. A sniffley nose. A scratchy throat. These are the common symptoms of seasonal allergies that will effect an estimated 35 million Americans this year, according to the Washington State University College of Nursing website.
As pollen fills the Pullman air, the allergy season is upon us. According to the website Pollen.com, Pullman is home to a variety of grasses, nettle and alder that can cause allergic reactions for many people.
Pollen levels in Pullman as measured by Pollen.com are predicted to be 5.8 on Saturday. On a twelve-point rating system, this is in the scale’s “medium” range. Fortunately for allergy sufferers, the month of May was the peak of pollen season with a high point of 9.1 on May 9.
Alders are the primary reason people suffer from seasonal allergies. They’re described by Pollen.com as deciduous trees or large shrubs with a flower that blooms around April. The wind then blows the flowers into the air and this is what creates a majority of the pollen that causes allergic reactions.
There are a variety of actions one can take to reduce allergic reactions. WSU Environmental allergies expert, Debra Franck recommends over-the-counter non-drowsy allergy medication for people who may be afflicted. Another website, Healthvideo.com recommends the use of pollen masks when doing work around the yard, changing air filters in the home and keeping allergens out of the house by keeping doors and windows shut. The WSU College of Nursing website suggests washing bedding frequently, vacuuming the house often and washing runny noses out with a distilled water, salt and baking soda mixture.
One source, from the WSU College of Nursing website claims that chocolate, corn, dairy, sugar and wheat can overload the immune system and make one more sensitive to other allergens. They recommend reducing these foods in the diet. However, Franck negated this assertion and maintains that those foods do not in fact have a direct effect on allergies.
In a study from Texas Tech published last May, allergies were depicted as a good thing. According to Newser.com, allergy sufferers have a significantly lower risk of developing many types of cancer. The study, originally taken from the New York Post, proposes that allergies are the result of an advanced immune system that prevents cancer-causing toxins to enter the body in the first place. Dr. Zuber Mulla, who led the study said, "More work is still needed, but the numbers show allergy is a statistically significant protective factor."
Here in Pullman, long-time resident Jessica Cofler recalled particularly difficult experiences with allergies, “When I was a teenager I was sometimes unable to start the day because it was just so crazy. I was always sneezing…it was very miserably affecting my life. I would sneeze and sneeze and sneeze and I just could not help it, sneezing 20 times in a row.” Since then, she said, she has gone to an allergy specialist who reduced her allergic reactions with a series of shots. The WSU College of Nursing recommends such visits to receive the appropriate medicinal help.
As pollen fills the Pullman air, the allergy season is upon us. According to the website Pollen.com, Pullman is home to a variety of grasses, nettle and alder that can cause allergic reactions for many people.
Pollen levels in Pullman as measured by Pollen.com are predicted to be 5.8 on Saturday. On a twelve-point rating system, this is in the scale’s “medium” range. Fortunately for allergy sufferers, the month of May was the peak of pollen season with a high point of 9.1 on May 9.
Alders are the primary reason people suffer from seasonal allergies. They’re described by Pollen.com as deciduous trees or large shrubs with a flower that blooms around April. The wind then blows the flowers into the air and this is what creates a majority of the pollen that causes allergic reactions.
There are a variety of actions one can take to reduce allergic reactions. WSU Environmental allergies expert, Debra Franck recommends over-the-counter non-drowsy allergy medication for people who may be afflicted. Another website, Healthvideo.com recommends the use of pollen masks when doing work around the yard, changing air filters in the home and keeping allergens out of the house by keeping doors and windows shut. The WSU College of Nursing website suggests washing bedding frequently, vacuuming the house often and washing runny noses out with a distilled water, salt and baking soda mixture.
One source, from the WSU College of Nursing website claims that chocolate, corn, dairy, sugar and wheat can overload the immune system and make one more sensitive to other allergens. They recommend reducing these foods in the diet. However, Franck negated this assertion and maintains that those foods do not in fact have a direct effect on allergies.
In a study from Texas Tech published last May, allergies were depicted as a good thing. According to Newser.com, allergy sufferers have a significantly lower risk of developing many types of cancer. The study, originally taken from the New York Post, proposes that allergies are the result of an advanced immune system that prevents cancer-causing toxins to enter the body in the first place. Dr. Zuber Mulla, who led the study said, "More work is still needed, but the numbers show allergy is a statistically significant protective factor."
Here in Pullman, long-time resident Jessica Cofler recalled particularly difficult experiences with allergies, “When I was a teenager I was sometimes unable to start the day because it was just so crazy. I was always sneezing…it was very miserably affecting my life. I would sneeze and sneeze and sneeze and I just could not help it, sneezing 20 times in a row.” Since then, she said, she has gone to an allergy specialist who reduced her allergic reactions with a series of shots. The WSU College of Nursing recommends such visits to receive the appropriate medicinal help.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
News Story Ideas
Pollen- Have you noticed how much pollen is in the air these days? For some of us, its been hard not to notice with the allergies. There may be a story in Pullman's particular pollen- or maybe a look at the National Allergy forecast would be of use to readers. Perhaps some gernal info on what it is and what afflicted people may want to do to help the annoying symptoms...?
The World of Mateo Opening- On June 1st the WSU Fine Art Gallery will start it's display from artist Mathew Leiker. Perhaps a look at his past work and information about what this exhibit is...from the description it looks like it relates to 1950s California "cruising culture".
The World of Mateo Opening- On June 1st the WSU Fine Art Gallery will start it's display from artist Mathew Leiker. Perhaps a look at his past work and information about what this exhibit is...from the description it looks like it relates to 1950s California "cruising culture".
Monday, May 24, 2010
Second Day Lead
After more than 24 hours, police are still searching for 4-year-old Mellisa Angela Norton who disappeared from her house last night while under the care of a high school babysitter.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Green Bikes Article
The Green Bike program at WSU concluded its first school-year successfully with over 1,000 check-outs and 435 different users.
The program’s objective is to let students and faculty check out bikes for free in a effort to, “Create a bike friendly culture here on campus, as well as decrease noise and air pollution,” said Jamie Bentley, manager for the WSU Wellbeing program. The program’s website, wellbeing.wsu.edu, also adds “reduction of fuel consumption and promotion of physical activity” to the list.
Bentley said the recent budget cuts have not had an effect on the Green Bike program. The funds to originally purchase the bikes came from a one-time Student Fees allocation. The cost of operation, about $8,000 per year, comes from the University Recreation budget. This pays for repairs, bike maintenance and staff wages. Additionally, the Green Bike program was recently awarded more money from Student Fees and University Recreation to grow its operations.
Currently, the Green Bike program is 40-bikes strong, all Trek Hardtail mountain bikes set up with baskets, night-lights and helmets. Bentley said the bikes have traveled approximately 5,000 miles since they first began back in September.
According to a press release from Bixi, a Montreal-based bike sharing organization partnering with WSU, 30 more bikes will be added to the program. Bentley said Bixi was “top of the line” when it comes to bike sharing.
“I haven’t used the Green Bike program yet,” said Andreanna Wilson, a sophomore communication major at WSU, “I guess I never really needed to. None of my classes have been too far. If I had one in a further building and had known about it sooner, like during first semester I might have, but I just never really needed to. I do think it’s a good idea. Biking seems a lot easier than walking, especially if you’re in a hurry…it’s a great idea.”
The program isn’t just for those in a hurry though. Starting June 24, the Green Bike program will be organizing hour-long bike-rides for those interested in just getting outside and biking with other people who enjoy doing the same thing. Two more will take place, one on July 15, the other on August 19. All rides will start at 12:10 p.m. and meet on the Glenn Terrell mall.
Bentley said students have been treating the bikes well for the most part but that there have been a few incidents of abuse.
“A few bikes have been damaged but it hasn’t been over the top,” she said, “Most of the students using the program are very respectful of the bikes. They want the program to continue as much as we do so they take really good care of the equipment.”
Dylan Bale, a junior communication major who has utilized the program said, “It was blast. I got two with my girlfriend in March. They were nice bikes but the chain came off on mine…I would definitely do it again though, they give you locks and everything you need.”
Bikes can be checked out from either the CUB front desk or the Student Recreation Center for 24 hours at a time. The service is free to WSU students, faculty and staff with a valid Cougar Card.
The program’s objective is to let students and faculty check out bikes for free in a effort to, “Create a bike friendly culture here on campus, as well as decrease noise and air pollution,” said Jamie Bentley, manager for the WSU Wellbeing program. The program’s website, wellbeing.wsu.edu, also adds “reduction of fuel consumption and promotion of physical activity” to the list.
Bentley said the recent budget cuts have not had an effect on the Green Bike program. The funds to originally purchase the bikes came from a one-time Student Fees allocation. The cost of operation, about $8,000 per year, comes from the University Recreation budget. This pays for repairs, bike maintenance and staff wages. Additionally, the Green Bike program was recently awarded more money from Student Fees and University Recreation to grow its operations.
Currently, the Green Bike program is 40-bikes strong, all Trek Hardtail mountain bikes set up with baskets, night-lights and helmets. Bentley said the bikes have traveled approximately 5,000 miles since they first began back in September.
According to a press release from Bixi, a Montreal-based bike sharing organization partnering with WSU, 30 more bikes will be added to the program. Bentley said Bixi was “top of the line” when it comes to bike sharing.
“I haven’t used the Green Bike program yet,” said Andreanna Wilson, a sophomore communication major at WSU, “I guess I never really needed to. None of my classes have been too far. If I had one in a further building and had known about it sooner, like during first semester I might have, but I just never really needed to. I do think it’s a good idea. Biking seems a lot easier than walking, especially if you’re in a hurry…it’s a great idea.”
The program isn’t just for those in a hurry though. Starting June 24, the Green Bike program will be organizing hour-long bike-rides for those interested in just getting outside and biking with other people who enjoy doing the same thing. Two more will take place, one on July 15, the other on August 19. All rides will start at 12:10 p.m. and meet on the Glenn Terrell mall.
Bentley said students have been treating the bikes well for the most part but that there have been a few incidents of abuse.
“A few bikes have been damaged but it hasn’t been over the top,” she said, “Most of the students using the program are very respectful of the bikes. They want the program to continue as much as we do so they take really good care of the equipment.”
Dylan Bale, a junior communication major who has utilized the program said, “It was blast. I got two with my girlfriend in March. They were nice bikes but the chain came off on mine…I would definitely do it again though, they give you locks and everything you need.”
Bikes can be checked out from either the CUB front desk or the Student Recreation Center for 24 hours at a time. The service is free to WSU students, faculty and staff with a valid Cougar Card.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
International News Networks
Before watching Al Jazeera, I had heard of the name...it sounded to me like a Taliban offshoot or something. I was under the impression that it was some sinister organization plotting attacks on the world in a cave somewhere in the middle-east. Upon actually tuning in to the network for the first time this morning though I was quite surprised by what I saw.
After watching for about an hour, my opinion is that Al Jazeera is a respectable, credible news organization that is indeed working within the "Murrow paradigm"...if they are not, then I think they do a pretty great job looking like it.
As for reaching U.S. audiences, I was able to watch the channel using Livestation. I had not heard of this service before but I downloaded the desktop application and I'm really intrigued. I can definitely see my self using this outside of the scope of the class assignment. I think many more people will catch on and as a result be exposed to networks like Al Jazeera. The internet T.V. trend to me looks like it's taking off fast. I wouldn't be surprised if in 5,10 or 20 years it was standard to compute and watch T.V. on the same device for average, working class Americans. Everyone will have access to every televised thing in the world, and there will be no need for cable or satellite distribution.
I definitely think this channel should be allowed to broadcast in the U.S. and in fact I think it would help a lot in aiding intercultural communication. It's a different point of view, but it's an equally valid one supported by sound, reasonable arguments. No one is being forced to watch it so it's hard for me to grasp why their is such a hoopla about having a more enriched, informed palette of media to choose from and piece together your worldview with.
Compared to some of the U.S. news that I'm used to (FOX), Al Jazeera seems sophisticated. It isn't sensationalist and they stick to relevant issues and explore them rather thoroughly. Stylistically, it actually looks more more produced than the other major American networks. I noticed, particularly in the studio shots, the vast sense of space created by the wide and dynamic camera movement. It begins really far out and glides in really quickly. The graphics are constant, but actually pretty helpful in story comprehension. The stories chosen seem varied and not catered to one particular interest. While I watched, they went from the oil spill to a case in Malawi about gay rights, to the recent developments in cell biology to Pakistan internet censorship...really all over the place in that regard.
After watching for about an hour, my opinion is that Al Jazeera is a respectable, credible news organization that is indeed working within the "Murrow paradigm"...if they are not, then I think they do a pretty great job looking like it.
As for reaching U.S. audiences, I was able to watch the channel using Livestation. I had not heard of this service before but I downloaded the desktop application and I'm really intrigued. I can definitely see my self using this outside of the scope of the class assignment. I think many more people will catch on and as a result be exposed to networks like Al Jazeera. The internet T.V. trend to me looks like it's taking off fast. I wouldn't be surprised if in 5,10 or 20 years it was standard to compute and watch T.V. on the same device for average, working class Americans. Everyone will have access to every televised thing in the world, and there will be no need for cable or satellite distribution.
I definitely think this channel should be allowed to broadcast in the U.S. and in fact I think it would help a lot in aiding intercultural communication. It's a different point of view, but it's an equally valid one supported by sound, reasonable arguments. No one is being forced to watch it so it's hard for me to grasp why their is such a hoopla about having a more enriched, informed palette of media to choose from and piece together your worldview with.
Compared to some of the U.S. news that I'm used to (FOX), Al Jazeera seems sophisticated. It isn't sensationalist and they stick to relevant issues and explore them rather thoroughly. Stylistically, it actually looks more more produced than the other major American networks. I noticed, particularly in the studio shots, the vast sense of space created by the wide and dynamic camera movement. It begins really far out and glides in really quickly. The graphics are constant, but actually pretty helpful in story comprehension. The stories chosen seem varied and not catered to one particular interest. While I watched, they went from the oil spill to a case in Malawi about gay rights, to the recent developments in cell biology to Pakistan internet censorship...really all over the place in that regard.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Summary lead
From Newser.com;
"A Florida woman threatened Wendy's employees with a stun gun after they left the mustard and mayonnaise packets she requested out of her order."
Full story here.
"A Florida woman threatened Wendy's employees with a stun gun after they left the mustard and mayonnaise packets she requested out of her order."
Full story here.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
News Story ideas
Story 1: The Pullman Farmers Market. Did you know Pullman had a farmers market? It will be starting back up on May 19th in downtown next to the Old Post Office Winery. Each Wednesday from 4 to 6 until October 27th Pullman residents will be able to support local food producers. It would be interesting to interview some vendors and and the organizers to find out about what the benefits of shopping there are and some maybe some background on similar operations in the area.
This might be considered news worthy because it's a way that local people can be part of the larger national movement of eating local. The fact that one of the biggest proponents of this, Michael Pollen, was in town just a couple months ago might add relevancy as well. This would be intended for the Daily News or the Daily Evergreen.
Story 2: Summer Concert Series. WSU is putting together a summer concert and BBQ series every Wednesday on the Todd Hall steps. It might be interesting to interview the organizers about it and ask about what inspired this, who will be playing, and who is funding it. Also, it may be interesting to interview one of the artists performing.
This might be relevant because it's something that many students here on campus may want to experience. It is a timely story that would probably be aimed more at students doing summer session because they are the ones likely to be on campus during the event.
Story 3: Green Bikes. Have you ever noticed all the green bikes outside the CUB and other campus buildings? What is the deal? The university put in place a program back January that lets students and faculty use their bikes for free in an effort to cut down on driving. It'd be interesting to see how that is going, whether it has been a successful project thus far, what inspired it, and what the deal is with the weekly "bike rides" that happen every Thursday. I would interview the "Wellbeing" program director that puts this on and perhaps someone who has taken advantage of the service.
This story is relevant because it might effect how certain people think about their transportation and what effects it has on the community. Also, because it is funded with student tuition money, it is important to be aware of ways you can take advantage of free services.
This might be considered news worthy because it's a way that local people can be part of the larger national movement of eating local. The fact that one of the biggest proponents of this, Michael Pollen, was in town just a couple months ago might add relevancy as well. This would be intended for the Daily News or the Daily Evergreen.
Story 2: Summer Concert Series. WSU is putting together a summer concert and BBQ series every Wednesday on the Todd Hall steps. It might be interesting to interview the organizers about it and ask about what inspired this, who will be playing, and who is funding it. Also, it may be interesting to interview one of the artists performing.
This might be relevant because it's something that many students here on campus may want to experience. It is a timely story that would probably be aimed more at students doing summer session because they are the ones likely to be on campus during the event.
Story 3: Green Bikes. Have you ever noticed all the green bikes outside the CUB and other campus buildings? What is the deal? The university put in place a program back January that lets students and faculty use their bikes for free in an effort to cut down on driving. It'd be interesting to see how that is going, whether it has been a successful project thus far, what inspired it, and what the deal is with the weekly "bike rides" that happen every Thursday. I would interview the "Wellbeing" program director that puts this on and perhaps someone who has taken advantage of the service.
This story is relevant because it might effect how certain people think about their transportation and what effects it has on the community. Also, because it is funded with student tuition money, it is important to be aware of ways you can take advantage of free services.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Drudge Report vs. Huffington Post
The first similarity I noticed about the Drudge Report and the Huffington Post is that both display their lead story in huge letters at the very top of the page. Their is absolutely no confusion as to what the hot topic of the day is in either one. The Drudge points us to the "Budget Blowout: Deficit 4x higher in a Year". The story it links to is of a more serious tone than the exaggerated, all capitalized headline. The Huffington Post gives you the big topic of Facebook which is clustered around other similar Facebook story, mostly focused on the issue of their revised privacy policy.
What I thought was pretty lame about the Drudge Report is that the links take you completely out of the original website, whereas the Huffington Post will usually keep you within the Huffington Post, it just uses the content of other sources. I feel like the latter approach keeps the voice feeling a bit more consistent and "branded".
One can tell immediatley that their is a liberal slant in the Huffington Post by looking at the names of the three "featured blog posts"...two of them are John Kerry and Bill Maher. On the Drudge report I actually thought the conservative slant giveaway was little less obvious. By reading through the featured articles, democrats are sometimes portrayed in a condescending light and republicans are generally painted as more dignified. One of the most prominent stories is on the left about Bill Clinton offering to auction himself to bidders in order to help pay off Hillary's campaign debts...it's tone is definitely accusatory.
These sights both have very different stories from each other. Looking at both it becomes apparent that reality can be quite subjective...it's a choose your own adventure kind of thing and it reminds me that to really have a balanced worldview you need to make sure you don't rely on just one source for your information.
What I thought was pretty lame about the Drudge Report is that the links take you completely out of the original website, whereas the Huffington Post will usually keep you within the Huffington Post, it just uses the content of other sources. I feel like the latter approach keeps the voice feeling a bit more consistent and "branded".
One can tell immediatley that their is a liberal slant in the Huffington Post by looking at the names of the three "featured blog posts"...two of them are John Kerry and Bill Maher. On the Drudge report I actually thought the conservative slant giveaway was little less obvious. By reading through the featured articles, democrats are sometimes portrayed in a condescending light and republicans are generally painted as more dignified. One of the most prominent stories is on the left about Bill Clinton offering to auction himself to bidders in order to help pay off Hillary's campaign debts...it's tone is definitely accusatory.
These sights both have very different stories from each other. Looking at both it becomes apparent that reality can be quite subjective...it's a choose your own adventure kind of thing and it reminds me that to really have a balanced worldview you need to make sure you don't rely on just one source for your information.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
My Chevron/CBS news response...
After seeing the CBS news package I really didn't get any overt sense that what I was seeing was bad journalism. In fact, it made me think about the issue in a multifaceted way...I feel like I do more or less understand where both sides are coming from after having watched it. Many Ecuadorian people feel like Texaco left a huge mess that is damaging the ecology of the local rain forest and they would like the corporation to clean it up. Chevron, which now owns Texaco believes it was relieved of this responsibility when they signed an agreement with the government in 1998 and that their is no real scientific evidence of damage being done. They see the suit as the work of an ambitious New York lawyer trying to capitalize on the situation which would be unfairly handled through the supposedly corrupt Ecuadorian court system. I think both sides were given a fair voice and that the issue was covered in sufficient depth.
However, after rethinking this, the CBS piece was not without its subtle moments that seemed slightly slanted against Chevron. For example, in the introduction segment, the anchor concludes by saying that the oil drilling has left a "toxic legacy". This seems to be going against Chevron's claims that their is no scientific evidence that their has been any serious lasting environmental damage. Their are other things in the script such as when they describe the river and the "production water" that seeps in. They say that it often times contains "chemicals". But the tone in which it's said makes this sound like damning evidence, but realistically, tap water often times contains chemicals (like fluoride) that are not necessarily a bad thing in little amounts.
I would have liked to have heard something from PetroEcuador and the Ecuadorian government as well... it doesn't sound like they've been doing much to help the situation and perhaps they got off a bit easy in this investigation.
I thought the second video made by Chevron was just sad propaganda. They shouldn't have been so ambiguous about the fact that they were behind it. Obscuring that makes them appear spineless as if they do not believe enough in their own arguments to publicly stand behind them.
However, after rethinking this, the CBS piece was not without its subtle moments that seemed slightly slanted against Chevron. For example, in the introduction segment, the anchor concludes by saying that the oil drilling has left a "toxic legacy". This seems to be going against Chevron's claims that their is no scientific evidence that their has been any serious lasting environmental damage. Their are other things in the script such as when they describe the river and the "production water" that seeps in. They say that it often times contains "chemicals". But the tone in which it's said makes this sound like damning evidence, but realistically, tap water often times contains chemicals (like fluoride) that are not necessarily a bad thing in little amounts.
I would have liked to have heard something from PetroEcuador and the Ecuadorian government as well... it doesn't sound like they've been doing much to help the situation and perhaps they got off a bit easy in this investigation.
I thought the second video made by Chevron was just sad propaganda. They shouldn't have been so ambiguous about the fact that they were behind it. Obscuring that makes them appear spineless as if they do not believe enough in their own arguments to publicly stand behind them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)