AshleeLupchinsky

Final Blog Portfolio

Fri, 02 Dec 2005 08:10:53 -0500

Well...I had good intentions this time to keep up with blogging for each of the readings, but as life usually goes for me...it just didn't happen. I hope you enjoy the entries that I was able to post.

Coverage:
* Reflection on Court Reporting Lab

*First impressions on We the Media by Dan Gillmor

* Informal Presentation- Ch. 3

* Final thoughts on We the Media

Depth:
* Reflections on Court Reporting Lab

* First impressions on We the Media by Dan Gillmor

* Informal Presentation - Ch. 3

* Print journalism vs. online journalism

* Final thoughts on We the Media

* Reflection on Feature Articles

Interaction and Discussion: Again, not very much of this went on.

* Print Journalism vs. Online journalism

* Informal Presentation - Ch. 3

Timeliness:
* Reflections on Court Reporting Lab

* First impressions on We the Media by Dan Gillmor

* Informal Presentation - Ch. 3

* Print journalism vs. online journalism

Xenoblogging:
* November 29th Edition Tribune Review: by Jay Pugh

* Class Discussion: by Denamarie

I am sure that there are probably a few more, but I don't remember where I commented.

Wildcard:
* Informal Presentation - Ch. 3

I really enjoyed doing this blog because I was able to gather the time to go onto the Internet, in order to include links into my entry.

Enjoy!

Reflection on Feature Articles

Fri, 02 Dec 2005 08:06:26 -0500

When I first found out that we had to do a feature article that consisted on 6 pages and 1500 words, I was a little bit freaked out. I had no idea how I was ever going to write an article that long. But now that I have started writing my drafts, I have discovered that it isn't so difficult after all. When I start typing, everything just seems to come together. Now I know that my article will never be perfect, but I think that so far it is coming along just fine.

Final Thoughts on We the Media

Thu, 01 Dec 2005 22:43:47 -0500

I thought that this book was GREAT compared to It Ain't Necessarily So. Gillmor does a great job explaining the different aspects of the media world. Before reading this book, I didn't know a whole lot about cookies and such. But now I have a greater knowledge of these items that deal with one of the most influential aspects of human life...the computer.
I really enjoyed all of the presentations on this book. They seemed to create better discussions than the other book. Through these presentations we, or at least I, was able to grasp some of the concepts better than just reading the novel.
This book has also helped me to understand ways in which one can analyze online journalism. I guess it isn't all bad after all.

Print Journalism vs. Online Journalism

Thu, 17 Nov 2005 11:58:51 -0500

I was surprised at the huge debate that came about during the discussion of mine and Jenna's presentations. I would have to say that online journalism isn't always bad. One must realize, BEFORE they begin reading a piece of online journalism, how credible the source really is. Not all people are bad and out to the nothing but lies.
The next point is...we can't say that all online journalism is bad because there are the print newspapers who also make their articles available online. These of course are just as credible as the print version.
What we must watch out for is the online forums and blogs where people go just to have their voice heard, usually without any prior education on the matter.
Finally, as Nancy pointed out in class, some professors refuse to accept papers that have online sources. Credibility of the sources is part of the reason for this. The point that I am trying to make with this is that I had a professor here at Seton Hill, who told the class that if we were using online sources, they must come from a .edu site. Now...the Seton Hill Blogs are located at a .edu site, so could I have used these for my paper. OF COURSE NOT! They would be just as credible as a .com site, maybe even less.
I like the point that Denamarie makes on her blog..."Online journalism is made by anyone who has a blog or knows how to work a computer."
As consumers of news, this is what we must watch out for...don't let the average person try to form your opinion on a given subject.

Informal Presentation- Ch. 3

Tue, 15 Nov 2005 11:52:47 -0500

Chapter 3 begins by talking about how the rules have changed for both journalists and newsmakers, due to everyone having the ability to create the news.
"Information is an ocean, and newsmaker can no longer control the tide as easily as they once did."
This quote is an introduction to the three new rules for public life:
1. outsiders of all kinds can probe more deeply into newsmakers' businesses and affairs.
2. insiders are part of the conversation.
3. what gushes forth can take on a life of its own, even if it's not true.

Moblogging: mobile weblog or information posted to the Internet via the use of a cellular phone or PDA.
* First post= 1995 by Steve Mann
* Mann wore a wearable computer
* term was coined by Adam Greenfield in 2002
Source: Wikipedia

Freedom of Information Act: (52)
"[Russ] Kirk put Big Media to shame in April 2004 by using the Freedom of Information Act to get the military's photos of America's Iraq war dead-"
* Kirk did this by requesting these pictures...something that no other journalist/newsmaker thought of.

Russ Kirk and Freedom of Information Act

* When I went to this site, by Steve Baldwin, I discovered that people needed to support Kirk (on his site, linked above) in this request because being that he was a "small site owner" the fines that he was going to have to pay would be enough to make him disappear.

"Hacking in an open-source manner": (53)
* Gillmor also explains in this chapter that "hacking" is occurring by the average person, in order to make their technological products better or all together new. This is being done by "word of mouth."
* This type of "hacking" is making it easier for the average person to research how something is made, thus making a similar product of their own.

* The newest piece of technology is the handheld computer with a wireless Internet connection and a bar-code scanner
* This device allows people to connect to the Internet in a store and find out everything about the product that they have just scanned.

Conclusion:
Throughout the chapter Gillmor discusses how journalists/newsmakers must be transparent because the public is demanding it and when they (the average person) cannot see this transparency, they are going out and reporting the news on their own, whether it is true or not.
* By giving the average citizen the ability to report the news, newsmakers/journalists are becoming vulnerable because now the people who they usually speak about are now speaking about them in the same way. (62)

Reflections on Court Reporting

Mon, 14 Nov 2005 21:37:42 -0500

Lab: Court Reporting -- News Writing (EL 227)

First impressions of We the Media

Mon, 14 Nov 2005 21:36:24 -0500

We the Media (Intro, Ch 1 & Ch 2) -- News Writing (EL 227)

First Impressions on We the Media by Dan Gillmor

Mon, 14 Nov 2005 08:21:39 -0500

At first sight, We the Media is turning out to be so much better than It Ain't Necessarily So. This book is actually giving the reader information that can be applied. Also, the author, Dan Gillmor seems to be much more qualified than the authors of It Ain't Necessarily So.
After reading the introduction and chapters 1 and 2, I have come to the conclusion that Dan Gillmor is very knowledgeable of what he calls "grassroots journalism." As I was reading I continued to come across this phrase of "grassroots journalism," but I had no idea what it meant. After searching the Internet for a while and only coming up with information on the blog of Gillmor himself, I found that "grassroots journalism" is also known as "citizen journalism." I find this concept very important to our culture because of the rise of citizens who want to have their input into the breaking news of the times.
We the Media discusses an important concept of the world today. More and more people are using the Internet to get their information on breaking stories or just local stories around them. With the advent of blogging, people are able to discuss their views on certain topics. With this book Gillmor is able to explain who was responsible for making these sources possible to the average person. So far, with the information that I have read, Gillmor seems to be an expert in his field and I only hope that as I continue through, I find out more information about media sources that have affected my life.

Reflections on Court Reporting Lab

Mon, 14 Nov 2005 07:59:52 -0500

I thought that Friday's in-class court reporting lab was very beneficial. When we first started, I was very overwhelmed by the information that I was receiving and I wasn't really sure how I would begin to put it all together. After I actually got to think about it (during the 15 minute recess), information started coming together in an article kind of way.
I think that the way this lab was set up was very realistic to an actual courtroom; aside from receiving information written down for you. I have definitely heard of courtrooms being locked down when a criminal (or alleged criminal) is on the loose and now that I actually think about it, the reporters in that room have to continue to write their story to meet their deadline despite the lockdown.
When it came to actually writing the article, I wanted to include something about the protesters in front of the courthouse, but I mainly wanted to focus my article on the defendant getting away...so I wrote two articles.
In conclusion, as a future teacher, I think that this would be a great lesson or unit for a high school classroom. The students would be able to get the feel of actual court reporting, without being in the courtroom.

Courtroom Lockdown on Third Day of Testimony
The third day of testimony for the Anthony Ide rape case has been delayed, due to the defendant fleeing police custody.
After making a disturbance in the courtroom, Judge Dickerson said, �Officers please escort both Mr. Ide and the gentleman with whom he is conversing out of my courtroom. Ide was then escorted out by officers Jose Lopez and Lewis Marks. According to the county prosecuting attorney James Taylor, Ide had a personal accident on the northwest stairwell as the two officers were escorting him to the men�s lavatory. As officer Lopez cleaned up the biohazardous material, officer Marks proceeded to take Ide to the lavatory. Taylor reported that while Ide was in the lavatory he distracted officer Marks and got away. Fleeing to the women�s lavatory, where he climbed into the ventilation system.
After reading his written statement, Taylor answered a few questions stating that the defendant was at large and all must remain in the courtroom for their safety until further notice.
All of this followed the decision to strike all DNA testimony from the records, due to a clerical error, which resulted in contamination of the blood sample taken from the victim�s right hand.
Final testimonies are presumed to begin at 9 a.m. tomorrow, following a 6 a.m. briefing from Taylor on the whereabouts of Ide.

Protesters March Outside Courthouse
The third day of testimony for the Anthony Ide rape case began with protesters against Ide marching outside of the courthouse.
As crowds entered the courthouse, they passed through a woman, who is simply known as Tammy, and 15 other people protesting against Anthony Ide. Tammy and the other protesters stated that they were rape survivors seeking justice. �Because one in four college-aged women have survived rape or an attempted rape, we�re here today because we want to see justice done,� Tammy said in her speech to the crowd.
A passerby confronted Tammy and said, �Tammy, didn�t you used to date Tony?�
With this Tammy said, �We�re not here to talk about me! We�re here because we are sick to death of being afraid when we walk home! We�re here because one in four is too many!�
The protest was put on hold when the police van carrying Ide pulled up and blocked protesters. Ide was escorted into the courthouse, wearing his orange jumpsuit and handcuffs, by two officers, one of which was recognized as Jose Lopez.

Blog Portfolio 3

Thu, 10 Nov 2005 10:44:03 -0500

Coverage:
I think that all of my blogs had to do with coverage because they all dealt with the material that we read for class.
* The Crime Beat
* Feature Articles
* Reflection on crime writing
* Pseudo-Color: Cliches
* The "Template" Theory
* Reflections on It Ain't Necessarily So
* Tomato Statistics
* Penn Trafford Seniors Return
* Statistics: CH. 5
* Statistics and Surveys: Ch. 6 & 7
* AP Stylebook - Libel

Depth:
* The Crime Beat
* Feature Articles
* Reflections on Crime writing
* Penn Trafford Seniors Return
* Statistics and Surveys: Ch 6 & 7
* AP Stylebook- Libel

Interaction and Discussion: I am really disappointed with this blog portfolio because I didn't receive many comments. This may be due to everyone being so busy.

Timeliness: I had a really hard time with getting things in on time for this portfolio because school has been really crazy lately.
* The Crime Beat
* Reflection on Crime writing
* Pseudo-Color: Cliches
* Penn Trafford Seniors Return

Xenoblogging: Again, it was really hard for me to find time to comment to others, but here are a few:
* Reflections on The Crime Beat : by Jenna O'Brocto
* Statistics Don't tell the Entire Story: by Nancy Gregg

Wildcard:
* Penn Trafford Seniors Return

Comments:
* My Uncle Dropped Me Off: by Mike Diezmos

As I mentioned above, I really am disappointed with this portfolio because I didn't have a lot of time to do my entries or to comment on those of my peers. Hopefully the next one will be better.

AP Stylebook - Libel

Thu, 10 Nov 2005 10:38:56 -0500

As I was reading this section on libel, I became very intrigued. To feed my curiosity, I called my cousin, who is an Assistant District Attorney. I wanted to ask her all about libel issues in Pennsylvania. When I finally got her on the phone, she told me that in Pennsylvania one can only be sued for libel...they cannot be prosectued. When we hung up she continued to do a bit of research. She finally got back to me and told me that at one point, maybe in the 1800's, one could have been prosecuted for libel. I'm not really sure what site she looked into, but she told me that the only cases she could find that dealt with prosecution for libel dated back to the 1890's. I found this to be quite amazing.
I think that the reason why I was so intrigued by this reading was because it talked about the laws in other states, but never mentioned anything about Pennsylvania.

Statistics and Surveys : Ch. 6 & 7

Wed, 09 Nov 2005 12:40:37 -0500

Although I find this book to be quite boring, some of the information that is given can be very informational. For example when we see a statistic in a newspaper or magazine, we only see the number such as 3 out of 10, but what we aren't told is, where was this survey done and what was the representation of those who were taking the survey. As a personal example, last year I was pulled out of one of my education classes, along with 4 of my peers (also from that class) to complete a survey. We were told that the survey was going to show how college/university life was represented across the United States. Now, my problem with this, is that if this survey was to be a representation of college life ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, then why were FIVE students surveyed from ONE class? It doesn't seem like a very fair representation.
One statement that I found interesting was on page 101:

"The lesson seems clear enough: don't trust a poll's answers unless you can examine the poll's questions. In particular, unless you see the poll's questions, don't trust a poll commissioned by an organization that uses the poll to support its own predetermined position, since the questions may well have been rigged to reach the organization's desired conclusion."

This is so true! I'm sure that all of us have been a member of a survey group at one time or another. For example, the little cards that you get when you go to a restaurant. Are these questions really an unbiased way of asking about your experiences at that restaurant? Of course not, they are asking you specific questions that they have written in the best way possible for them to get the desired answer that they want.
After reading this chapter, I am definitely going to start to take a better look at the surveys that are placed in front of me.

Statistics: Ch.5

Wed, 09 Nov 2005 12:29:04 -0500

"Statistics are not as "straight-forward" as they appear, they can get very ambiguous. Is the glass half empty or half full?- it really depends on your perspective/interpretation":
I found Mike Diezmos' presentation about statistics to be very interesting. As we can all see, statistics at times get to be very out of hand. In this case of Mike's presentation, people would have liked to vote for more than one color, but as Mike directed, only one color can be chosen. Was the color that you chose, in fact your favorite color?
Going back to the quote that I have at the beginning of the entry, I think that the main problem with statistics, is in fact how they are interpreted. As the quote says, you can have one person who is optimistic, thinking that the glass is 'half full' or you can have the pessimist on the other side.
In reality, I found this chapter to be the most boring of all because of the statistics, but the most informational because of the reasons that they gave for why statistics can be biased.

Trib- Penn Trafford Seniors Return

Wed, 09 Nov 2005 12:06:54 -0500

As a future teacher, I tend to become outraged when I find that teachers have gone on strike. Although they may want more money or better benefits in their contract, this is no reason to hurt the students. In reality, teachers should be choosing this career because they want to make a difference in the lives of their students, but do they realize what they are doing to the students when they go on strike.
Now that I have gotten that out...after reading the article, I have to give the administrators credit for going into the classroom and teaching the seniors, so that they are able to graduate on time. Although it was great for the seniors to be able to return to school, what is going to happen to the students in grades K-11? In the article one parent, who has a child who is a senior, but also has younger children. This mother, Karen Mannella, also states that her son was among the 100 students who convened for class in the cafeteria. We hear all the time about college classrooms with 100 students or more, but really what can a student in high school learn when there are 99 other students also trying to comprehend and retain the information that is being presented? In my opinion, they won't be learning...they will just be going through the motions in order to graduate on time.
I like how this article showed the point of view of the students who were able to return to class. This is a very important point of view that hasn't been shown that much through the whole strike ordeal. One senior, Nathan Bober said, "In any event, I find it disappointing. We are pawns in this whole ordeal." Again, I have to say that as a future teacher, the fact that a student has come out and said that he feels like a pawn in the school districts hands, is a very bad situation. A student should be able to feel that they are receiving the best education that can be given to them. That is not to say that the administrators aren't doing their absolute best, but the students have gone from a regular classroom teacher, who had all of their lessons planned out, to an administrator who is just thrown in by the Department of Education, to teach a group of 100 students, in order for them to make up the time that they have missed.
In conclusion, I hope that the teachers return to their classrooms soon, so that these students can get the education that they deserve.

Tomato Statistics

Mon, 07 Nov 2005 08:31:30 -0500

Murray, Schwartz, and Licter discuss tomato statistics as being
"cases in which news reports call attention to alarmingly high numbers of criminal incidents by obscuring the crucial differences that make a few of the incidents far worse than the vast majority of others." (59)
I found this point to be very interesting because I have recently been able to see how different people have different definitions of issues such as rape, sexual harassment, illnesses, etc... (I wish that the authors could do more of their writing in this book like this.)
The authors make a very good point, that readers need to watch for biases among news stories containing statistics. Mainly because how many of these statistics are in fact true and accurate. Who is deciding that a particular event should be described as a rape, when maybe it was just sexual harassment or not a rape at all.
with these overwhelmingly high statistics that we oftentimes see in newspapers, one begins to wonder, just where are these reporters getting their information and who is providing the information to their source.
With these high statistics, I look at how many people are being victims of misjudgment, where someone is said to be a rapist, when in fact they are not because it was consensual or it didn't happen at all.