Last Class Questions 11/24/2008

I have always been very interested in politics. Growing up my family has always been very conscience of politics and it has been passed on to me. I feel that it is my duty as an American to be informed about my country and who is running it and so I’ve always followed media coverage of government and politics.

My attitude towards politics after taking this course has grown even stronger. The discussions and activities in the class helped reaffirm my love of following and discussing politics. It was also refreshing to be given the opportunity to speak about politics with my peers and people my own age. Usually young people don’t have much interest in politics, but that wasn’t the case in this class.

In this course I learned that not only do I have to read news from sources I like and trust, but I should also look for outside news sources that I otherwise wouldn’t turn to.

I don’t know what you could do better with this course the next time it’s taught. Class would start every day with a clear cut objective, but we were also allowed to stray from the main subject and explore different paths as well. It wasn’t rigid and as long as we were having a good discussion and making progress we were allowed to continue…and I really liked that. This kind of environment was very relaxing but incredibly productive.

Thanks for everything Doc!

Pick up final exam from Doc on Monday. Final time 1:30 on Wednesday.
Advanced Journalism meets in Mueller Hall and Media and Government meets at regular time in D220.

The courses about media and government and we can't look at how media deals w/ government w/out looking at the economy or foreign affairs. We've kind of been doing more media and public affairs. By posing the question for this question, we're doing the same thing we're doing for the final exam. We can look back at the things we've read and use it. Go back and look over our stuff and come to some conclusion or evaluation.
Evaluate and Analyze. When analyzing you take things apart and break them down-town sally brown.

Monday's Assignment for Advanced Journalism

Freelance Writing - About.com has some tips on getting your freelance writing published.
http://freelancewrite.about.com/od/getpublished/Freelance_Writers_Guide_to_Getting_Published.htm

Another article about getting published as a freelance writer.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/125078/how_to_get_freelance_writing_jobs_when.html?cat=31

Helpful steps for the beginner freelance writer.
http://www.yudkin.com/flfaq.htm

Media and Government 11/14/2008

Analytical article paper due on NOVEMBER 24th.
Discussion of media coverage of elections.
Nikkie -said that during this election she felt that a lot of people based their opinions on the atack adds, rather than the facts. A lot of the actual issues got discussed during the debates and not a lot of people watched the debates.
Katie -said that when Obama did that 1/2 hour ad he got a little negative spin in regards to being elitist in thinking that he could take everyone's prime time tv shows over. But at the same time she thinks that given the demographic of people he was trying to reach...these people aren't going to be watching CNN or NBC and this was his one time to jump in on programs that they really would watch.
Doc-coverage this year was a lot more issue oriented than he remembered it from 2000 or 2004...especially after the stock market tanked and got everyone's attention.
Becky -said that after the debates the polls never really shifted so she didn't think that the debates made that big of a difference.
Katie -said that they are gatekeepers they don't tell you what to think...but they do tell you what to think about.
***Ellertsen's Law***
"Where there is smoke, there is smoke. Don't believe it until you see it."
Doc- How well can we keep up with state governement by reading the papers?

Paper Assignment for Media and Government

Due 21st of November. 10 pages.
-Evaluate the camgaign and election coverage in the light of this critique.
-Evaluate on a scale of 1-10 or a letter grade.
-Compare different media outlets (ex - politico vs. Washington Post)
-Discuss the entertainment aspect of the coverage.
-Discuss the media coverage of the campaign after the credit crisis began.
-Discuss the Sarah Palin coverage.
-Independent monitor of power?

***Possible Final Question***
-(25pts)How do the forums do? Do they provide a forum for critisism or compromise...especially when they start snarling at eachother calling people facists.
-Postmodernism
-Check out question 2A from old 317 final (May 2008).


Check Mackeral Wrapper for the Elements of Journalism on the CCJ website posted to wrapper.

Query Letter Lecture

Think of a query letter as a resume. You're trying to sell your work to a newspaper and magazine, you want to present yourself in the best possible way.

Study every publication before you submit any query letter.

Make sure there are no spelling errors.

Be sure to include the date on your letter.

It should be address to the appropriate editor. Use their full name and do not us Mr. Ms. Mrs...ext with the exception of Dr. Offer to meet with the editor.

Don't write a query letter over one page in lenght and don't write an email query letter over one screen lenghth.

Make sure you have a fresh idea.

Questions from 386

How much has news been packaged as entertainment?

Are we deprived of a coherent contextual understanding of out world?

Is that a bum wrap?

How much of the election news has been packaged as entertainment?

Assignment for Advanced Journalism

No Class Monday!!!!

Wednesday have a draft of a query letter ready for your feature story.

Don't Vote

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=by2ECbOjcw0

Postmodernism as defined by Wikipedia

Postmodernism literally means 'after the modernist movement'. While "modern" itself refers to something "related to the present", the movement of modernism and the following reaction of postmodernism are defined by a set of perspectives. It is used in critical theory to refer to a point of departure for works of literature, drama, architecture, and design, as well as in marketing and business and the interpretation of history, law and culture in the late 20th century.
Postmodernism is an aesthetic, literary, political or social philosophy, which was the basis of the attempt to describe a condition, or a state of being, or something concerned with changes to institutions and conditions (as in Giddens, 1990) as postmodernity. In other words, postmodernism is the "cultural and intellectual phenomenon", especially since the 1920s' new movements in the arts, while postmodernity focuses on social and political outworkings and innovations globally, especially since the 1960s in the West.
The term postmodern is described by Merriam-Webster as meaning either of, relating to, or being an era after a modern one or of, relating to, or being any of various movements in reaction to modernism that are typically characterized by a return to traditional materials and forms (as in architecture) or by ironic self-reference and absurdity (as in literature), or finally of, relating to, or being a theory that involves a radical reappraisal of modern assumptions about culture, identity, history, or language.[1]
The American Heritage Dictionary describes the meaning of the same term as Of or relating to art, architecture, or literature that reacts against earlier modernist principles, as by reintroducing traditional or classical elements of style or by carrying modernist styles or practices to extremes: “It [a roadhouse]is so architecturally interesting . . . with its postmodern wooden booths and sculptural clock” (Ruth Reichl, Cook's November 1989).[2]

Obama Family Slide Show

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/02/the-obamas-greatest-famil_n_132339.html

Studs Terkel

“I object to the word ‘objective’”. This quote surprised me because in all my journalism classes my books say –be objective-. Studs Terkel said that you can’t be objective, but you should be balanced and I agree.
I think it’s great that throughout his long life he never stopped questioning and challenging the “status quo” for fear of being controversial.

Paper Assignment

Media and Governement- Paper Due Dates -
November 7th and November 21st or both on the 21st in whatever order we'd like.

Doc's Rant in Advanced Jornalism 10/31/2008

Surprise, surprise, surprise.....it makes good stories so always use SURPRISE!!!!

Reaction to Sarah Palin "unmasked" story.

The article talks about how Palin's "emergence on the national scene, her small town roots, her gender, her rustic charms and her complex family life all contributed to the 'Palin Mania'."

Thornburger could relate to Palin as a "Washington outsider" b/c he could be regarded as an "outsider" of journalism.

The article talked about Thornburgers other interests, like how he was an English teacher and played the sax in a salsa band.

I thought it was also very interesting that not only was this story about Sarah Palin, but it was also about the reporter who has been reporting on her.

Next Article Analyses

A. Analyze the article the same way we've done the other 3:
Murray, line, structure...etc.
B. Find an article and analyze it as a piece of creative non-fiction. Something that is factually accurate and written with attention to literary style and technique.
Personal essays, memoirs, travel writing, food writing, biography, literary journalism...etc.

Link to Mudflats story

http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/10/24/the-palin-talking-point-generator/

"No Laughing Matter" reaction

I think the main idea that I take away from reading this article is that liberals and conservatives need to stop and take some time do see what it's like from the other person's point of view. Everyone has preconceived ideas about they "liberal mind" or "conservative mind" and we need to try to connect with one another.

Reminder

Look up "Best interview Evah! Barbara West vs. Joe Biden

Waiting for Schadenfreude reaction

The author of this article is expressing her feelings about the currect economic crisis, but more specifically about the Wall Street brokers who got us in this mess in the first place. The author remembers that days that if you weren't in the financial industry in New York, you might as well have not existed. The author remembers a time when people who were fresh out of college wanted careers that would actually do good and serve a helpful purpose...until they got married, had families and realized that it wasn't financially possible. This article has a bit of hostility towards the brokers and members of the financial market, but I don't think hostility is unwarented.

Opie

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/cc65ed650d

Chicago Tribune Endorses Obama Article

I think this was a well thought out piece. The article made it clear why the Tribune was endorsing Obama over McCain and stated their reasons clearly. The Tribune also made reference to their more conservative views but related them back to why they decided to endorse Obama. I think it was wonderful how they talked about the struggles this counrty has gone through with race relations, the women's right to vote, and our struggeling economy - and how Obama is the right candidate to lead this country through it's next phase of having the first African American president. I think this was a very persuasive article and could possibly sway some undecided voters.

OPED Article Discussion

Doc's advice - Get the main idea of that story and quote it. Then ask yourself how well does she/he prove their point. How does the way she/he write it help improve your opinion. How well does the author back up their opinon? Try and set up your own criteria for analyzing the story.

Call Center Story 10/17/2008

I found it interesting the way the author described the settings of the Call Center's office, their posters with possitive messages that remind them to "connect and collect" with the customers. I found it interesting that the debt collection agencies are trying to take a compasionate approach to collecting money from people who are facing the financial crisis here in America. It is also sad that the call centers from half way around the world have such a huge surge of American calls made everyday now that our economy took a turn. I also found it interesting that our economic crisis can have a possitive effect on the Call Center workers; teaching them to pay off credit cards and live within their means.

Sweet Potato Pie in Philly (Reaction)

I think this article was more descriptive of the crowd, rally settings and emotions than what Obama was actually saying. The authors descriptive tone allows the reader to feel like they were at the rally without physically being there. It was interesting to read all the little details of what was going on and the authors description of Obama's movements and body language. I think this article would be bettered suited for a magazine than a newspaper. Newspaper articles are short, sweet and to the point.

ADVANCED JOURNALISM 10/15/2008

***Attention Doc***
I was in your Advanced Journalism
and Media and Governement classes
on October 15, 2008.

Obama knew it all along

A You Tube video of how Barack Obama knew it all along...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH2iufUU1f4

Advanced Journalism 10/8/2008 Class Discussion

Read the Fukuyama article. Can us this article for the Op/Ed (editorial) piece.
Analysis- how is it put together and presented? Read the story and then look at what Murray says about effective journalism and then find something in the article that fits his description. Murray's points in his book have some checklists for evaluating a well written story. There are several of them, some will work and others will not....just try to find what applies. Doc would analyze this piece as a pursuasive piece, it's not reporting. Think about how pursuasive it is. Go back to the Mackerel Wrapper and see what Aristotle had to say about Logos, Ethos, and Pathos and see how they apply to the story...but basically it's a reaction piece.

Upcoming Assignments

OCTOBER 13th Policitcal, Cultural, Social or Government (1000 words)
OCTOBER 20th OPED (1000 words)
OCTOBER 27th Newspaper analyses (1000 words)
NOVEMBER 3rd Magazine analyses (1000 words)
Feature Story and query letter due NOVEMBER 17-21 (1500 words)

Great Article

This article is unlike any udder I've read!!!

http://www.local12.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=777596c7-d339-4feb-81a7-60887c4d95e2&rss=30

Freelance Writing

Illinois Times

SO (Springfield Magazine)

Advocasy or Analysis

The author, Andrew Romano, wrote the article "How the Media's Real 'Bias' Works in McCain's favor.

I think that Romano is adovating for McCain in this article rather than analyzing the facts. The article seems to be very opinionated and one-sided and I can't see where he is being objective.

"I don't fault individual readers for seizing on isolated reports as evidence of the MSM's overarching ideological bias. It happens to me all the time. One week I'll write an item critical of McCain and a commenter will call me a "degenerate marxist." The next week someone else will say I'm a "FOX News butt boy" for criticizing Obama. Neither reader has weighed both items in their analysis--let alone the 1,400 others I've posted since last September. That's more than understandable--and it's exactly what happens on a larger scale with the media as a whole. Still, it's worth noting that groups that keep track of this stuff for us have found that the claims of pro-Obama, anti-McCain bias are wildly exaggerated" - Andrew Romano

***ATTENTION DOC***
I WAS ONE OF 3 PEOPLE IN
COMM 386 ON WEDNESDAY
SEPTEMBER 24, 2008
******************************

Class 9/22/2008

Reading the “Wisdom of Crowds” didn’t leave me with a definitive answer. One of our countries founding principals is that the decision making powers should rest in the hands of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of the government. This system works for us (most of the time). This article talked about how crowds make good and accurate decisions, but I believe this can only be true in certain situations like “guess how many jelly beans are in this jar” as opposed to letting a group of people figure out how to fly a plane.

It’s a toss up and there is no clear cut way to say this is when a crowd should decide vs. a single person.

Class 9/17/2008

Read "the wisdom of crowds" for Friday's class. Read the homepage

Feature Story Topic

I would like to write a feature story on the Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon and it's impact on Springfield. I will focus on the Carillon's events and the way it brings money into Springfield. I will focus mainly on the next upcomming event the Jack-O-Lantern Spectaular. I will interview the people who come out to carve the pumpkins for the festival and I will interview the people who attend the event the following weekend.

Doc's Class 9/15/2008

Read Sarah Palin and the Critter story on the Mackererl Wrapper.

Feature Story Discussion

Editorial guidelines are 1 or 2 page sheet of what they are looking for and is addressed to writers and it’s going to vary by the publication.

A lot of them are online…or you can write to the magazine and ask for them.

It’s very unique to the market. The market can be a town or in this case a magazine or newspaper.

How do you go looking for a feature?
-You have to know what's going on.
-Access (who do you know that's a good story? What do you know that's a good story?)

Write Doc a querie once we've discussed a potenial topic for the feature story and it has been approved by Doc.

A querie does the same thing as an outline for a research paper...but it's also a sales pitch for your feature story.

For Friday read or re-read chapter 1 in "handbook of magazine article writing".
Chapter 3 in Don Murray's book.

Craft and Art

Craft is the know how and the skills to create - but once it's created, transforms itself into art.

~Claire Keldermans

2nd Group of Class Discussion Questions

When Murray talks about "craft" he's referring to the skills it takes to be a good journalistic writer. He calls it a "craft" because you can teach someone how to be a journalist. When you refer to journalism as an "art" it means that you are naturally good at it.

Anyone can write a story about their 90 year old grandma's birthday party at the old folks home....but it takes a skilled writer to "craft" a story out of a situation like this and make it appealing for someone to read.

Class Discussion 9/3/2008

When Murray is talking about surprise he list the "Writer's Ten Senses"
1-Sight
2-Hearing
3-Touch
4-Smell
5-Taste
6-Change
7-Effect
8-Conflict
9-Context
10-Self

Knowing how to effectivly use these "senses" in writing can make your story more appealing and make more people want read your work.

When you are reporting you're trying to tell the facts of the story or event in an objective way. You're just telling people the basics, who-what-when-where-why-how. When you are writing a story you can add your own personal touch and extra details to help the story stand out or get your point across.

Murray lists on page 123 "Attitudes That Encourage Surprise"
-Know and respent yourself
-Welcome difference
-Connect
-Play
-Confront your fears

Walking and Breathing at the Same Time

***I wrote these instructions by reflecting on my own personal experiences with walking and breathing at the same time***

How to walk and breath at the same time – by Claire Keldermans

When learning to walk and breath at the same time you have to be careful not to overwhelm yourself, don’t worry, you’ll get it eventually.

First start out by placing your right foot in front of your left. Next inhale air until your lungs are full. Bend both knees slightly while you pick up your left foot and swing it in front of your right foot. While placing your left foot in front of you right, exhale the air inside your lungs. Bend both knees slightly once again and swing your right foot in front of your left foot both while inhaling and exhaling; repeat these steps until you’ve reached your destination.

It is also important to keep your head up to watch where you are going, and to minimize your risk of injury.

If you have any questions concerning walking and breathing please contact our 24/7 hotline:
1-888-555-WALK (3855)

Pyramids and Aristotle

Maslow's Hierarchy


Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory in psychology that Abraham Maslow proposed in his 1943 paper A Theory of Human Motivation,[1] which he subsequently extended to include his observations of humans' innate curiosity.
Maslow studied exemplary people such as Albert Einstein, Jane Addams, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Frederick Douglass rather than mentally ill or neurotic people, writing that "the study of crippled, stunted, immature, and unhealthy specimens can yield only a cripple psychology and a cripple philosophy."[2] Maslow also studied the healthiest one percent of the college student population. This subjectivity troubled even Maslow himself. In his book, "The Farther Reaches of Human Nature", Maslow writes, "By ordinary standards of laboratory research...this simply was not research at all. My generalizations grew out of my selection of certain kinds of people. Obviously, other judges are needed."
While Maslow's theory was regarded as an improvement over previous theories of personality and motivation, it had its detractors. For example, in their extensive review of research that is dependent on Maslow's theory, Wahba and Bridgewell [3] found little evidence for the ranking of needs that Maslow described, or even for the existence of a definite hierarchy at all. Chilean economist and philosopher Manfred Max Neef has also argued that fundamental human needs are non-hierarchical, and are ontologically universal and invariant in nature - part of the condition of being human; poverty, he argues, is the result of any one of these needs being frustrated, denied or unfulfilled

Aristotle was thinking and writing about the concepts of Maslow's hierarchy centuries before Maslow lifetime.

Obama

Obama's opponents are accusing him of plagerising his friends speech. Obama did in fact use his friends speech, but he had his friends permission....therefore it's not concidered plagerism. Obama's opponents fear his success and the large numbers of people that he is drawing that they are now trying to sling whatever they can his way to try and make him look bad. It was a good speech that deserved to be heard and related to Obama's message. The Washington Post said-
"The clearest comparison, the experts say, is to John F. Kennedy, who like Obama was able to mix high seriousness and humor. The shared cadences with Kennedy are not entirely a surprise -- Obama's young speechwriters are steeped in the addresses of Kennedy and his brother Robert, and the campaign has been getting informal advice from Kennedy speechwriter Ted Sorensen. " Obama poses a threat to the Republican party and to Hillary Rodom Clinton...so they are trying to get anything negative to stick to him.

Doc's Lecture 2/19/08

Sullivan vs. New York Times

Facts:
Newspaper Ad was published
Ad never mentions Sullivan

Legal Issues:
Racism
Freedom of Speech
Libel
Defamation

3 Questions and Answers

Claire Keldermans

What is the clearest point that you have learned so far in COMM 317?
Don’t open yourself up to a libel law suit.

What is the most confusing point you have learned in COMM 317?
Due Process

What would you like to learn next as we go on?
I would like to learn how to play the guitar.

18th Century Politicians

The Alien and Sedition Acts were four bills passed in 1798 by the Federalists in the United States Congress—which was waging an undeclared naval war with France, later known as the Quasi-War—and signed into law by President John Adams. Proponents claimed the acts were designed to protect the United States from alien citizens of enemy powers and to stop seditious attacks from weakening the government. The Democratic-Republicans, like later historians, attacked them as being both unconstitutional and designed to stifle criticism of the administration, and as infringing on the right of the states to act in these areas. They became a major political issue in the elections of 1798 and 1800. One act (the Alien Enemies Act) is still in force in 2008, and has frequently been enforced in wartime. The others expired or were repealed by 1802. Thomas Jefferson held them all to be unconstitutional and void, then pardoned and ordered the release of all who had been convicted of violating them.
(Information found on Wikepedia)

Britney Spears - Due Process and Media Ethics

After reading the latest story about Britney Spears' recent hospitalization, I think admitting her was the right thing to do. Due process was involved because the state of California recognized that she was a threat to herself and others, therefore hospitalization was the right choice. Spears' behavior could have endagered herself, her children/family, and others in the community. I think using 5150 was the right thing to do, remove Britney from her home and evaluate her. Hopefully she will realize that she needs treatment. If after 72 hours she wishes to leave the state of California or Spears' family have the right (and should invoke the right) to make sure she says there for as long as the law allows without Spears' consent. I think the State of California stepped in and used due process to help Britney get the medical attention she needs.

I feel the media/ paparazzi has been very unethical in their pursuit of Britney. Yes it makes for a good story, yes there at thousands of nosey people who can't get enough gossip about Spears', but it wrong...plain and simple. She obviously needs mental help and being chased like an animal all over the world isn't helping her mental state. The media should respect the fact that Spears is indeed sick, and wait until her treatment is complete or she is ruled physically and mentally fit before the start to pursue her once again. Of course the media/paparazzi has never left Spears alone and I doubt they are going to now. Spears is in the public eye, which does subject her to photographs and stories. The 1st amendment does give the media the right to free speech and press, but the way they chase people down and plauge their life is very unethical is some cases when it is obvious that the person needs mental help.

Due Process

DUE PROCESS - The idea that laws and legal proceedings must be fair. The Constitution guarantees that the government cannot take away a person's basic rights to 'life, liberty or property, without due process of law.' Courts have issued numerous rulings about what this means in particular cases. (Lectlaw.com)

Walter Burgwyn Jones served in the Alabama state legislature from 1919 to 1920. He was then a circuit court judge until 1935. Jones was a presiding judge from 1935 to 1963.
In the 1956 Presidential election, faithless elector W. F. Turner cast his vote for Jones, who was a circuit court judge in Turner's home town, for President of the United States and Herman E. Talmadge for Vice President, instead of voting for Adlai Stevenson and Estes Kefauver. (Wikepedia)

T. Eric Embry was a Superme Court Justice in Alabama. Justice Embry, who as a trial lawyer represented The New York Times in what became the landmark libel case New York Times Company v. Sullivan. (New York Times).

Walter Burgwyn Jones wrote an article called "Alabama Pleading and Practice of Law". Jones later over ruled his own article.

It seems these two men were both involved in a civil rights case in Alabama. These men were also determined to not let black people have any rights.