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November 29, 2005
To Lie or Not to Lie- Ode to Structurealism
Prior to entering News Writing or reading through the AP Guide to News Writing, vowels and their connotations intrigued me. When I read about the words "lie" and "lay," a few thoughts popped into my head and I decided to do some pronunciation experimenting.
When saying "lay," I noticed that I'm "placing" the back of my tongue onto the roof of my mouth to pronounce the word; as opposed to "lie," which forces me to "relax" my tongue and open my mouth wider to push the sound out.
How our bodies react to the produced punctuation is similar to the definitions given. By breaking down a word to its syllables, pronunciation can reveal the tone, action, or connotation of the word. Granted, this may fail on several attempts; however, I believe it's an important key to note for literary analysis (particularly in poetry).
This experiment reminded me of the complexities that exist within seemingly simple words. Language has a purpose so know how to craft it.
Posted by BethanyHutira at 04:10 PM | Comments (1)
Hanging Up Those Gender Hangups
Of all the texts purchased for News Writing, I've found the AP Guide to News Writing provided my with the most help in defining journalism "rules."
Genderly speaking, I felt torn within my writing while attributing sources/points for female and male readers. Should I use "he or she"? Or should I use "she or he" to account for social changes? I'm not entirely sure why, but I steered away from using plural forms. In actuality, it a sure and safe method for presenting one's ideas without feeling tied to gender labels. In its own way, our words could indicate biases based upon our decision to third person singular pronouns when (for example...hope I'm using my parenthesis right here) describing job positions.
Journalists must frequently "stay on their toes" because our presentation of information/news is equally important. Granted, we can't over analyze our work. However, it's assuring to know that these compositions are carefully crafted for its audiences. Because, the written word contains the power to help society move backward or forward.
Posted by BethanyHutira at 03:55 PM | Comments (0)
November 25, 2005
Where Do We Go From Here?- Informal Presentation
Although the reader believes he has reached the end of We the Media, Gillmor leaves us to our own beginnings.
No longer must the audience lay submissive to the world occurring around us. We control the media just as much as any professional journalist or broadcaster can- the Internet is our tool to transform this idea into a reality.
Just as the printing press enabled the people to control publishing separate from the church, the Internet empowers us to change the way news and ideas are presented. As Gillmor said, "it subsumes all that has come before and is, in the most fundamental way, transformative" (236).
Is it frightful at times? Yes, but our fear can't stop us from pushing towards better communication. Yet, what is our role as these new-age "transformers."
First and foremost, as Gillmor reminds his readers, we "must be active users of news, and not mere consumers" (238).
Secondly, "the Net should be the ally of thought and nuance, not a booster shot for knee-jerk reaction" (238).
Finally, "an informed citizenry cannot sit still for more of the same. It must demand more, and be part of the larger conversation" (238).
Yet, where do we go from here? Does it continue after this class? Or, rest within our choice to contribute our thoughts online through sites like Gillmor's? Wherever that destination leads, the responsibility to act weighs upon us from our predecessors. Without us, the "now," the aspirations which Gillmor exhausted to his audience meant nothing.
The conversation needs to start somewhere and this is our chance to make a difference, become apart of something which will transcend future generations. Worthy words matter, especially when they come from us. Because without it, who will dare to tread into this seemingly dark path?
Posted by BethanyHutira at 09:23 PM | Comments (4)
Under the Bridge
As a child, the word "trolls" meant three things: the nasty bridge resident of "The Billy-Goats Gruff," the villain of "Earnest Saves Halloween" (..why did I just share that?), and the belly-button piercing /wacky hair raising dolls.
I was surprised Gillmor would mention or pen this term in comparison to society and technology. Today, trolls deliberately provoke other web-goers by purposefully wasting another's time and energy with irrelevant or obscene postings. Personally, I find these individuals resemble gnats- they exist, although we continuously swat them away.
With all the legalities which attempt to suffocate our freedom of speech (worth insights and contributing opinions), I question why the tables aren't turned towards these trolls.
Denamarie mentioned Slashdot in her blog and presentation last week where user registration could help limit the amount of troll "attack" which occur in online forums. Yet, don't companies have the ability to delete useless comments just as we, on our news writing blogs, can? Granted, this would lead to quite a bit of work; but, I feel that it's worth it.
In the mean time, I think we should use common-sense and responsibility when responding online. They're our opinions...make them count.
Posted by BethanyHutira at 09:23 PM | Comments (0)
Communicating Across the Board
After reading Gillmor's Chapter 6 and reading through Katie Aikens' blog, I discovered the similarities we both experienced.
Because web-based conversations allow its audience to breach geographical boundaries, individuals (like Katie and myself) remain in contact with friends abroad.
During my high school senior year, I became close with our foreign exchange student from Switzerland. Jeannine and I have had numerous contacts since she left the States, so frequently, others in spurts. But each time we email each other, it doesn't seem as though we're far away from each other. Instead, we converse about school, work, and free time.
Despite our different cultures and background, I've learned that we have more in common than imagined. Granted, I wish I could encounter and experience her relaxed atmosphere; whether worrying about passing finals, finding a job, or having time to relax, Jeannine and I share the same concerns (and hopes) as most 20-somethings.
Naturally, everyone won't have an intercontinental friendship. Yet, I can't help thinking about the benefits our friendship has had on my perspective of the world. Our first-hand encounters with the news enable me to easily picture what's happening in other parts of the globe. I'm not 2,000 or 3,000 miles from the events because I connect to people beyond the limited perspective painted by the media.
As stated in my earlier blog, "it's not the United State's story or Argentina's or Japan's." We possess the ability to transcend the limitations placed upon us by society, the media, and ourselves. If the Internet is right at our finger tips, why not begin to make a change- to dive into the thoughts and feelings of others separate from our own...when will you decide to step beyond?
Posted by BethanyHutira at 09:23 PM | Comments (1)
Tools to Change the Tide
As Gillmor explicitly notes, "information is an ocean, and newsmakers can no longer control the tide as easily as they once did" (45).
After hearing presentations and reading various news oriented pieces, I find this statement to represent only a portion of what we've dove into this semester. Instead, information equals our universe. Through the increases in technology, our world has become reachable. It's not the United State's story or Argentina's or Japan's because today's new media encompasses all angles.
Modern communication has given "anyone who cares the tools to learn more- far more -about people and organizations that in the past tried to ration the news" (65). Although Gillmor provides an excellent point, we must remember: as it is important to voice our opinions, it is equally important to listen. To rephrase the adage ("We are given one mouth and two ears for a reason), we are given two eyes and two hands for a reason.
I believe the distrust towards internet sources stems from our inabilities as a society to listen and think before we react. Yet, in the opposing context, our fast-paced world steals away the time to create well-thought responses. As mentioned in class, "with great power comes great responsibility." Without the means to critically react and contribute through online media, we place ourselves in the position to accept every typed word on our computer screens.
To combat this trap, we must allot time to devote to our researches and response for the online community. By accepting those responsibilities, I believe society can create a better media world devoid of paranoia and spies. If we are to ever reach acceptance with the internet, we need begin somewhere...with someone- us.
Posted by BethanyHutira at 09:22 PM | Comments (0)
November 13, 2005
Freedom to Speak
While leafing through the first few chapters of We the Media, I found Gillmor's perception of the U.S.'s First Amendment interesting: "...freedom of speech is the most fundamental part of a free society" (1).
Granted, one may wonder- Sure...Wouldn't everyone think this way? However, this concept isn't just a fundamental part of our world but others as well.
Prior to reading Gillmor's text, I completed Rushdie's Haroun and the Sea of Stories. Interestingly, within this fantastical piece, the author dives into the unlimitedness that freedom possesses:
...the old General seemed perfectly happy to listen to these tirades of insults and insubordination without battling an eyelid. In fact, it looked to Haroun as if the General was on many occasions actually provoking such disputes, and then joining in with enthusiastic glee, sometimes taking one side, and at other times (just for fun) expressing the opposite point of view,
'What an army!' Haroun mused. 'If any solider behaved like this on Earth, they'd be court-martialled quick as thinking.'
'But but but what is the point of giving persons Freedom of Speech,' declaimed Butt the Hoopoe, 'if you then say they must not utilize same? And is not the Power of Speech the greatest Power of all? Then surely it must be exercised to the full?' (119)
Without our ability to express emotions or share events, we limit ourselves not only as an individual but as a society also- Fear must not prevail over truth. As the author notes later on in Chapter 2, the Internet provided the world with a second outlet against the ever-growing broadcasting media. Blogs allow this process to continue in an interactive forum, which helps exercise our right to speak.
Just as the freedoms of our forefathers lead to the country's emancipation of ideas different from England, so too can our freedoms potentially lead us towards a greater way of thinking.
Posted by BethanyHutira at 07:40 PM | Comments (0)
November 10, 2005
3rd Blogging Portfolio
For the third portfolio, I decided to abstain from using my normal structured layout. In its place, I've composed a short poem which I hope will express the thoughts and discussions challenged during the term. Enjoy!
Beneath the surface, lies entangle truths.
I watch though, anxiously awaiting the struggle's end.
It's snaking round and constricts truth's call.
Before rushing past, you're stopped by screams.
We argue over whose the villian,
believing each others to blame.
We never knew we two had power
till truth's corpse drifted far away.
Posted by BethanyHutira at 07:47 PM | Comments (0)
November 09, 2005
Little Red: the Truth Comes Out
While looking around for upcoming movies, I stumbled upon this movie coming out on Christmas. It reminded me of our Fairy Tale Crime Reports, so I thought to share.
Posted by BethanyHutira at 03:33 PM | Comments (0)
November 08, 2005
MLA Bibliography and Peer-Reviews
Many of us at one time or another skimmed through the seemingly endless articles found on EBSCOHost. Surely the majority of us click "Peer Review" whenever to limit our searches.
However, It Ain't Necessarily So reminded me that "peer review means just that and nothing more- peer review the work but do not necessarily approve of it" (151). Although I myself often rely on these "reviewed" articles, I may second guess them a bit.
When leafing through research, I attempt to find the best argument to argue or disagree with. It revolves around the same principles with literary criticism and analysis: use evidence to support your claims, which should clearly define your intended argument.
Granted, not all researchers or peer reviewers make these mistakes; however, I think we should start trusting in our own abilities as critical observers. We aren't incapable of validating the authority of our sources. Instead, as scholars, our evaluation skills seek out all the angles:
"What questions did the researcher choose to ask (or not ask)? How did he attempt to answer them? What might account for the answers that are generated?" (161)Remember- Focus on the article's argument and how it presents its material to the audience.
Posted by BethanyHutira at 04:19 PM | Comments (0)
Avon and Statistics
Normally, my mom brings home a few Avon booklets from a co-worker and while scheming through it I found something interesting.
Salma Hayek currently acts as a spokeswoman, not only for the Avon Foundation, but for Speak Out Against Domestic Violence. Within the products description, it claims "X Number of Women" out of "Y Number of Women" suffer from domestic abuse. Although It Ain't Necessarily So attempted to claim "newspapers are interested in telling us the answers" (98), can we solely blame the media?
Just as our class discussions and Chris's presentation noted, how do we define abuse? What is it unlimited and limited to?
Sometimes, the answers are made based upon the way the question(s) was asked. As our book noted, "if you ask a stupid question (or rather, if you ask a question stupidly), you can get a misleading answer" (99). These types of surveys and statistics push the responsibility of gathering information onto the public. Whatever response we desire, it can be attained through ambiguous or threatening questions which forces the individual to reexamine their own beliefs.
Likewise, when the public receives the survey or polls results, our beliefs are lifted to the surface again. Based on our emotional reactions or feelings, an unknowing public may find themselves in a conflicting predicament. Should I purchase the product to help "Organization X" or refuse, based on disbelief of their statistics? It's a real double-edged sword and one whose controversies rattle the thoughts of not just the public but the surveyors who administer questioning.
As always, "you need to know what the question is before you can interpret its answer" (108).
Posted by BethanyHutira at 04:19 PM | Comments (0)
Eye Spy
It Ain't Necessarily So authors once discussed that "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth" does not constitute "the excitement, the whole excitement, and nothing but the excitement"(53). Although I agreed that hard-news shouldn't look to entertainment, our feature article assignment seems to suggest otherwise.
While talking with Johanna the other day, we discussed the complex roles journalist must follow.
In one retrospect, journalist are to find and deliver the truth to its audience- give the facts, the whole facts, and nothing but the facts. Interestingly, this straight-forward method bores most readers. So, not only will journalists be accused of providing inaccurate information, we're depicted as dull writers. No happy medium...
Fortunately, the AP Guide restored "color" to news writing in Chapter 9:
"Color is a matter of the right details- observed directly, elicited from witnesses, always with the breath of actuality...For color, reporters cannot rely on phrases and fancy- or ready-made- figures of speech. They rely on hard particulars. They must train themselves to spot those small, specific details that give intimate glimpses into the nature of their subject." (79-80)I was awed by the Jules Loh's insightful observations of Herbert Hoover. What a "WOW" moment! I learned that despite the mentality that miniscule details don't matter, they do. In fact, I myself was forced to test these observations in my Classroom Management course (and, I thought news writing was only to help English Education cert. run a newspaper- NOT!!!).
While writing a mock Behavioral Intervention Plan, I had to meticulously observe a student and decipher whether the student had a dire behavioral issue or not. After reviewing about six classroom scenarios, I was beat- I had evidence which supported and disproved a problem. Then, I noticed during "Seatwork" that the student continuously picked up his glue after it fell. Without studying this chapter, I'm not sure if I would have noted the student's need for order and structure.
Playing "Eye Spy" with details develops intrigue within the story. It's our chance to show the reader how careful and noteworthy we are, when looking at a particular event or person. It's the truthful and entertaining as well.
Posted by BethanyHutira at 04:19 PM | Comments (3)
Ain't Ain't a Word
I've been quite reluctant to discuss David Murray, Joel Schwartz, and S. Roberts Lichter's It Ain't Necessarily So (IANS) because it utterly defied the notion of unbias. Prior to reading this book and taking the news writing course, I understood that the news offered segments of facts. Our responsibility, as an audience, was to research and seek out answers for the gaps which occur due to time restrictions.
The authors in their introduction mention: "The news isn't the truth, and the truth isn't news." Clever passage, but what does it truly mean?
Is the news in fact a lie? Do we live in a world which solely produces fictional stories? And, what is news or truth for that matter? As "consumers of knowledge, [we should] demand clarity and certainty" (Murray, Schwartz, and Lichter 9). Clearly, this quote was written when communism was falling in Russian. And certainly, it was stated either because the country wanted to hide its instability from the world or to expose the lies told under the Soviet Union's government rule. Which answer is correct? Like the Washington Post (on pg. 5), "there is no answer."
Maybe news isn't about truth; rather, news exposes truth. Granted, we live in a world where we've accepted any given "mediated portrayal"; but, I would hope that journalist strive to reveal the realities and truths to the people. Must their job center on spoon-feeding audience? Some may agree and some may disagree. Yet, the fact remains that IANS created a loose portrayal that audience aren't capable of individually searching for the truth in a news story. We are "unable to gain immediate knowledge" (8). That may be the case for some instances, but it ain't necessarily so.
Posted by BethanyHutira at 04:18 PM | Comments (0)
Lost and Found: Fast Approaching Features
Friday- the "big" day to flex our facts and angles
On What- Feature Article Progress Report
Sadly, my human-interest angle is hiding somewhere on campus and can not be found. The nasty, little sucker! I recall from Ch. 11, in The AP Guide to News Writing, the elements with decipher hard-news from soft-news:
"The hard news story marches briskly through the whats, whens and wheres, looking neither right nor left, packing in enough details to give readers a clear picture."Needless to say, my information stampedes over emotion leaving no survivors. I've emailed Carol Zola (in the hopes to get an interview with Dr. Boyle), the Admissions department, and a few alumnae- all whom will receive phone calls shortly. And, I've requested statistics from the Registrar's office- the only source to have contacted or provided me with info.
Although features are "less shackled to the moment than hard news stories" (according to Ch. 11), I don't feel this way. Instead, it's as if I'm covering an investigation.
The information exists and I believe I've grasped enough technique in my creative writing courses to compose a humorous, witty, or heart-felt piece. However, this frustration is really preventing me from enjoying the assignment.
Before the AP Guide provides the audience with Feature examples, it notes: "Read and Enjoy." In order to develop a feature story and transform hard-news to soft, we need to enjoy the topic we're researching and writing for audiences. Becuase of this essential quality, we have the possibility of convincing the reader that "Subject/Angle A" matters. If we the reporter can't believe in it, why should anyone else?
John Steinbeck once acknowledged that:
"The writer must believe that what he is doing is the most important thing in the world. And he must hold to this illusion even when he knows it is not true."
Although I'm leery about my statistics, it's all I have (for now). I'm going to trust it will lead me to something greater.
Posted by BethanyHutira at 04:18 PM | Comments (0)
Speed-Writing
I never realized before, but our "Crime Reporting" lab exercise provided me with a breakthrough in crime writing. Prior to "speed-reporting-writing," structuring crime stories were perplexing. Should I write chronologically? What are the most important details- the crime or describing the perpetrator? Which quotes matter and does the emotional content outweigh the event's within story?
Limited writing time forced me to made immediate decisions. Time wasn't granted therefore I couldn't over-analyze the evidence. Instead, I choose an angle and went with it. Whatever pieces connected to that idea, I used.
Because these time restraints constricted my writing process (which surprisingly helped me more), I wrote a better story. Likewise, when I had the time to work on another assignment, I had the tools to locate the necessary facts needed to produce a balanced crime story.
Posted by BethanyHutira at 04:17 PM | Comments (3)
Fairy-Tale Crime
I really enjoyed researching, selecting, analyzing, and writing this fable crime report. It just proves that fairy tales are made for everyone, despite how you react to the story and its characters.
I must admit though, I had difficulties selecting amongst numerous tales. Peter Pan and the Lost Boy could clearly represent gang violence, since they constantly battle with Captain Hook and his pirates. And, those spindles in Sleeping Beauty obviously weren't recalled despite their dangerous nature.
Eventually, I settled upon this...
After searching through several Hans Christian Anderson and Grimm’s Brothers websites, I decided to stick with Disney version of Cinderella. The particular segment I wished to focus on actually occurs when Cinderella escapes from the ball in her pumpkin carriage. During the scene, the King’s officials and guards chase the “mysterious princess” in attempts to capture her. The Fairy Godmother’s magic however ends and Cinderella, her horseman, attendant, and horses return to their normal state; the king’s men run-over the remains.
This scene suggests reckless endangerment caused by the Fairy Godmother, Cinderella, and magically transformed creatures. Based on previous scenes, the audience knows that while providing Cinderella with the material the Fairy Godmother failed to attire her godchild with proof of insurance and the dog with an authorized license to lead the pumpkin. Likewise, Cinderella’s inability to understand her midnight contract instigated a high speed chase through the kingdom into the countryside—a hunt which could have resulted in a tragic accident.
Cinderella could have be trapped inside the pumpkin as it returned to its normal size and killed when the King’s horsemen trampled over it. Yet, by jumping from the moving vehicle, Cinderella and her company could have sustained serious injuries. Without proper insurance, the responsibility rests upon those individual’s rather than the King’s horsemen who are able to pay the damages.
Posted by BethanyHutira at 04:17 PM | Comments (0)