The second article, "Ethanol IndyCars," had a more attention grabbing start but I didn't feel more strongly toward this article as opossed to the first article. The story had some more organized and well-contructed quotes and paragraph entries so that made it more interesting for me.
In the end, especially after reading "Speeches and Meeting Basics", I think there is a challenge for journalists. It is challenging to write stories that are not newsworthy. Journalists take the opportunity because sometimes that is the only option. Strong newsworthy stories are more then often not always available and if the journalist can't write that then what can they write? Well, they can write the short boring stories that people will just skim over. That is the challenge of a journalist. The challenge is making stories pop out to readers even if they don't seem interesting. Journalists have the ability to make them interesting. It is not just about covering a story and writing down some quotes. So much goes into what the audience is going to think about it. I raise my hat to journalists who can do this well. Especially because I am hoping to be one some day.
]]>1. Coverage. Coverage is important. Coverage means that I was well informed of the topic and I read and researched as much as I could about it in order to reveal an accurate explanation on my account. Here is a blog entry where I wrote an informed response.
2. Depth. It is ideal to have as much information as possible in a blog. Coverage and depth go hand-in-hand when I state my knowledge from texts and website's and write it down in my blogs. Here is a blog where I showed an appropriate amount of depth.
3. Interaction. When blogging, sometimes it is good to link or comment on a peer's blogs whether I agree or disagree with what they are saying. I find it useful to sustain a conversation that is well-informed on both parts. Here are some examples of interaction with me peers.
4. Discussions. This is an example of some of my peers commenting on my personal blogs. It is great to know that people are reading and taking into consideration what my thoughts are and what I have to write about. 2nd Example.
5. Timeliness. It is always important for me to post my blogs on time because it is a better opportunity for my peers to comment on my blog before they comment on others. These are some examples of my blog entries being posted on time if not earlier then the respected due date. First Example. Second Example. Third Example.
6. Xenoblogging. This means to be the guest on someone else's blog. For example, being the first to comment on another's blog, writing a thoughtful comment, or writing a well-informed comment on a peer's blog.
7. Wildcard. These would be entries that focus on my ability to work my weblog and create well-written work. Feel free to check out Seton Hill University's (SHU) National Holocaust Center's website to look at where most of my recent blogging has taken me and where I spend most of my blogging effort's. Here are some specific entries. And another one.
If you have any thoughts or suggestions that might be useful to my blogging then feel free to let me know! As long as it is good and informative. Thanks!
]]>The obituary was very well-written given the cercumstances that nobody wants to read about death (at least I hope not). The interviews were great and showed who the deceased person truly was to all of those around her. This is a great lesson in how to interview for profile pieces because it is important to understand that you shouldn't just interview the key person to get all the interesting facts.
]]>This is just like in the movies when a story is exagerated for viewing plessure: A news broadcaster will always spruce up the story to gain viewers attention. I understand the importance of giving the news to viewers as urgently is possible but in my opinion, let us decide what is most important for ourselves. If every breaking news was treated the same way, with the same urgency, then viewers could pick out for themselves what they think is more important or what they should worry about because it would suit them. Rather then doing things that way, news broadcasters want viewers to see what they see as most important; which usually means whatever story they can continue to run for a few hours, or even a few days.
Personally, I could use some more "good" news. I always fear turning on the news and seeing all of the headlines being "murder," "rape," shootings." I know these things happen more then they should and it is certainly important to have knowledge of it but I love when I see some friendly/happy news.
As for things really being as bad as we are lead to believe; well, I know broadcasters liven up stories to catch our attention but the fact is that we do need our attention to be caught because we really could be missing out on an important story if it weren't for the determined news crew.
]]>When I think of breaking news, I automatically know that I will not get all of the facts. Chances are that it will take weeks or months before all of the details come out. But that is breaking news. This is meant for broadcasters to relay the message that something big is happening right now. Of course they are not going to have the facts right then especially if the big event if still happening but viewers want to know that information so in general people are satisfied with knowing anything.
September 11th for example took months possibly even years before anyone knew all of the stories and inofrmation that could confirm the actual facts of the event. It would be impossible to gain all of that information so it is the job of the news to look at the context clues and by their best judgement, come up with some answers for the viewers. The answer may change as time goes on but the event may also change so that is to be expected. Breaking news is meant to get the news out right away, facts or no facts, it is the job of the news to inform their viewers with what is going on in the world.
]]>Normally, I would think (from mostly the word-of-mouth by other people) that the news is full of headlines but no stories and commercials every minute. However, when I am truly watching and paying close attention to the news, I end up getting everything I want out of yet. They have to headline the important things to keep people's attention for the entire program and I can understand that.
There are plenty of times when the stories on the news are "old" news or not newsworthy at all but just filler stories. But this evening's news happened to be important and worthy of many headlines and many stories following.
]]>I agree that in some instances news reporters are just looking for a story and a reason to point the camera somewhere. I do not agree that this happens all the time because generally the reporters are pointing the camera's to a place of significance to the story.
I did not expect to feel that way when reading the comic but for some reason it bothered me that it was assuming all news reporters act in that manner. After all, reporters do not get to a scene until the situation is over; so, for the viewers sake they will show what they can to give us the satisfaction. I don't see anything wrong with that. I want to be informed and enjoy when the reporters actually CAN get to one of those places; even if the occurance is already over.
As for when the reporter supposedly looked at Wikipedia to tell the viewers if the famous person was good and what they did, I have never seen that happen. The reporters quote other famous people and other people who knew them to get the information. I just don't see the issue with this situation. News reporters are "reporting." That is what they do and they do it to the best of their abbility.
]]>News can always be counted on for giving the world crimes, arrests, murders; almost anything that makes for something dangerous or bloody. I do like to read about that stuff but mostly because if I read it in my hometown newspaper, than it might be someone I know. If something like that is on the news however, I do not like to listen to it.
Especially if I watch the news at 11:00, and I am about to go to bed, I don't appreciate learning of the murders and rapes that have recently happened 30 min away from me. It is not something that I am interested in. I know that I should be more interested in listening to the news but I enjoy reading so much more...I don't feel as scared or worried.
I always think about what I am writing for the Setonian and if it is news worthy enough. Usually i am assigned articles that I think, "this is not very interesting to me, but maybe other people will care." Hopefully that will change for me soon when I will be able to write about subjects that I care a lot more about. Anyway, I think the Setonian does a good job picking out the stories that will make a difference to some people, and our stories aren't even bloody! (or not usually).
Let's see some other thoughts.
]]>I was definitely not aware of what was happening with this newspaper die out? Not until we discussed it in class atleast. And now after reading that little clip I can tell that this is a major issue. It actually scares me a lot and I don't like it.
I think sometimes we (the world) are traveling too fast into a lazy future. There are too many ways to name for how this is happening but now I can add this to the list. People used to be out at church on Sunday's or out at the stores for food shopping and clothes shopping and they would grab the "daily" paper. Now, most of what I just named is done online and more sad than that, not as many people travel to church anymore. Everyone sits at home and watches TV or browses the web.
So I can understand why the newspaper companies (or whatever you call them) are making this change. They are in a downward spiral from such a large decrease in paper sales due to this laziness. I can understand that they need to cut off paper because it is just the choice of the people to stay at home and get there news online.
I guess I'm actually just mad at the "people" in general and not at the newspaper people who are deciding this. All I know is that my grandparents are going to be completely lost without their papers because they have no idea how to find news on the computer let alone how to turn it on.
So it will be a sad day when there is no more daily news in print but I guess times are changing and since we are getting more electronic in this world, it only makes sense. I am just not a big fan of change...too bad thats what life is about!
]]>It helped me to have people test my game because they could suggest to me some changes I needed to make. It even helped me when I would test my game over and over because I would notice problems and simple things such as spell check.
The main changes I made were adding more content and making the navigation easier. The main thing I completely forgot to do was tell the player which direction exits and entrances were. I knew that I told the computer but I didn't think about it after that. This was an easy fix but when I tested the game myself I didn't realize because I already knew where to go so is was helpful to have a test player.
Adding more content was just something I did continuously throughout the process. Especially at the very end, I just spent a day adding details to the descriptions I already had. When it came to the codes that I didn't know, I just had to work on figuring those out myself...Also, I added details to the commands that I noticed users typing such as, "go north" even when you can't go north, I added fun descriptions as to why.
User testing has definitely helped me in the process of making my game. And I thank everyone who helped me with it and gave me ideas! I learned a lot from IF gameing and I hope to learn more because it was a great experience!
Back to class...one last time.
]]>Here are some of the blogs about the game that I have been creating the last few weeks:
Since I have started my Journalism classes this semester, I felt a little overwhelmed in the beginning with all of the blogging I had to do and learned to do. I think after a while I got the hang of it and now I hope to be the person who helps others with it. It has been a reality check this semester with what classes I have to come. But I do feel better prepared in the long run having taken this class. In Writing For the Internet, I have learned to make websites and to make Interactive Fiction games, along with just learning the basics of the Internet through the books Don't Make Me Think, Writing for the Web, and Creating A Webpage.
Even though I have had some troubles along the way, I still feel like I have learned a lot about the Internet. Creating a website from scratch was the hardest project for me. I can do it if I need to but I will definitely have to practice to feel a lot better about it. Interactive Fiction was my favorite because I could create a game using my own imagination while applying what I learned along the way. Overall, this class has been extremely helpful to me, as I figured it would be, and hopefully along with my Religious Studies minor I will be looking at a full future ahead. Because afterall, the end is only the beginning...
Take a look at my past portfolios:
Portfolio 1: Let's Take A Good Look At These Blogs.
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