Newsworthy Approach

After reading Seyda Muratova’s blog response on a news story covering a bullying case something was brought to my attention. Currently, bullying is a largely discussed and debated topic. I thought to myself,” What are news organizations doing to help widespread issues?” Then I realized something… It’s not the news organizations job to create awareness for an issue. One thing that is there job is to report on issues that have a large and long lasting impact. So where is the line drawn? At what point and who decides what social issues should be published in news outlets? I would like to learn more about these perspective news stories in class. My best guest at how these stories become newsworthy is through the way they are covered. I would like to learn the different types of coverage styles and the approaches we can take as journalist.

Link to Seyda Muratova’s blog:

http://seydamuratova.blogspot.com/2013_11_01_archive.html

Mass Mediums Reflection

As we finish out our unit on mass communications I can’t help but reflect on the past twelve week son journalism. The journalism class as a whole is extremely insightful not only for J&C, but in other parts of life as well. Already, I feel that I am better equipped to work in today’s world.  For example, I now look at technological innovations as doors to new walks of society. One of the most insightful things I learned in this unit was how the introduction of each medium impacted American culture. Demassification and conglomeration were major topics that I can apply to business endeavors, analytical pieces, and the expansion of my ability to understand how the economic state of U.S. can be influenced by contributing factors.

                One thing that I hope that we have the opportunity to incorporate the skills we learn in digital design to our work in journalism. It is to my understanding that our next unit is advertising. I am optimistic that our design skills will come into play during this unit. 

Please comment below your thoughts about the mass mediums unit! 

Our Connection to Movies

What’s your favorite movie? We all have one. Movies have the ability to reach into our souls and speak to us. I remember being glued to my television at the age of three. My days were filled with ruby slippers, light sabers, and a nun trying to bring a family back together with music. The personal connection that we make with movies is what forms classics. But why do we have these connections? I think that the emotional recognition that we have with the characters and the plot bonds us with certain movies. We all dream of an alternate reality for ourselves to live in, even though we know that we can never live in them. Movies give us opportunity to escape from our realities for two hours and live in somebody else’s. 

Response to Sydney B.'s and Desha H.'s Blog

On Tuesday, November 12^th, 2013, the students of the white day J1 class had their graded media critiques returned to them.  Personally, I felt I did well on my critique except for a few grammar mistakes. While writing my critique I had a little trouble formulating descriptive support for my thesis because I was not one-hundred percent on the meaning of each principle and yardstick of journalism that we studied the first six weeks.

                On their blog, Sydney Blocker and Desha Horton (who responded to Sydney’s post) had similar claims. Of course, I have a general idea of each principle and yardstick but not a truly in-depth understand. I believe that such an understanding of these concepts is essential for excelling in this class, magnet, and business. I wish that we could study these concepts as a side unit more vigorously.

                One thing I did to learn to nine principles and seven yardsticks of journalism better was check out a book from the school library called “Journalism Ethics”. This book did not have all the same topics and still did not go in-depth as much as I feel I need. It did classify some issues that I had, so to you fellow J1 students who are having trouble it may be worth checking out. 

Sydney Blocker's Blog:

http://sydneyblocker.blogspot.com/

Desha Horton's Blog: 

http://deshahorton.blogspot.com/

Money in Movies

Ever since I was a child, movies have had my heart. Not only the movies themselves, but the movie business has interested me. Movies are a great part of American culture. But what impact do movies have economically? After researching, I found a lot of useful information.

                In the year of 2012, U.S./Canada box offices made about $10.8 billion. The money made in 2012 was 12% more than 5 years previous. $10.8 billion is the most money made in a year for movies in the 2000s. This information made my assumption about the rise of the Internet and television making going to the movies less popular incorrect. In fact the information I received from http://www.mpaa.org/resources/3037b7a4-58a2-4109-8012-58fca3abdf1b.pdf supports the statement that attending movies are more popular every year. 

Choosing What We Know

I find it interesting how certain organizations stay in business or products stay on the market when we all seem to hate them! Well maybe not hate them, but dislike them enough. The only logically explanation has got to be the repetition of advertisements. Mr. Miller made a good point during the white day J1 class. Mr. Miller said that people are more likely to buy a product just because they know it more than those they don’t, even if they don’t initially like it. At first glance this concept may not make sense, but if you think further, it does. Think of it like this; you’re playing basketball in gym class on the first day of school. Say you don’t know anybody but one other person and you are not their biggest fan. Even if that one person you know is not your idea of a best friend, wouldn’t you rather be on their basketball team than a complete stranger’s? I think I would. 

No Cultural Underground: The Harlem Shake

One thing that I never had thought about that was mentioned in our Internet lecture for J1 was how the Internet made it nearly impossible for there to be any cultural underground. Not only the assess ability of information but the speed of which it travels. We can see this in examples such as fabs like the Harlem Shake. Within a week nearly everybody knew what the Harlem Shake was and people were doing it themselves. The next week the Harlem Shake was something of the past. I searched on YouTube for The Harlem Shake. Over nine million results came up. Those nine million posts wore out what was considered for a short time a fun thing to do with friends. Now, The Harlem Shake is considered outdated.

Link to The Harlem Shake YouTube Results:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=the+harlem+shake+&sm=3