Journalism 305

Ethics and Storytelling

2009-06-15T09:35:00.000-07:00

1. There are some ethical dilemmas faced by both filmakers when shooting these documentaries. After watching these documentaries I was unable to tell whether the people in the film knew that they were being filmed, or if they even consented to be in this documentary. If they did not, there are many ethical problems associated with these documentaries, such as exploiting their personal lives. Another ethical dilemma focuses on the issue of concealment and decievement. If the people in this film knew they were being filmed, were they aware of the purpose of the film or were they told that they were being filmed for other reasons? My overall analysis after watching these documentaries is that the people in these films were not in the right mental state and therefore could not completely consent to the realease of the documentaries, therefore violating journalism ethics.

2. If the filmakers released the documentaries without having consent, then censoring the footage will not make it ethical. Therefore, the filmamkers might as well use all of the footage to try and relate the lives of the people shown in these documentaries. However, if the filmakers did have consent to show these documentaries then I believe they should also show all of the footage. Seeing raw and uncensored footage makes more of an impact on the audience then showing censored information. Portraying the lives of these people without editing will have a more emotional effect on the audience.

3. If I were the journalist in this situation, I would first get consent of these people to show the documentary. To avoid any unethical dilemmas, I would explain to them as clearly as possible why the documentary is important, and why I am filming it. The people in these documentaries, clearly are not in the right state of mind so I would try and be as repectful as possible when portraying them in my documentary. Even though the "Titicut Follies" video was very raw and at times difficult to watch because of it's harsh content, it made an impact on me and I was able to understand the inflictions of these people. It made me have a better understanding of the pain that they are in, and the challenges they have faced. It emotionally touched me and I felt more compassion for these people. I would like to get across the same emotional effect, while complying to all the ethical codes.

News Conference: Second Life

2009-06-14T14:47:00.000-07:00

At a press conference Monday June 8, an announcement was made stating that Washington State University has made its first entry into virtual world space expanding its presence to a global audience.

This virtual program, also known as Second Life, is a 3-dimensional replica of Pullman campus, according to Edward R. Murrow College of Communication website. This new campus can be used for long-distance degree programs or for students and instructors to communicate via the virtual world.

“I think next year will be very telling on what works and doesn’t work with this virtual world,” said Brett D. Atwood, an assistant professor at the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication.

Second Life will be used in WSU classrooms as early as August. Several other universities such as Harvard, Princeton and Stanford have already begun to use virtual programs, according to Edward R. Murrow College of Communication website.

It is a little ahead of the curve, and old computers might have some problems uploading this program, but as soon as facilities are updated and students get faster computers, this will be very vital to education, said Atwood.

Second Life can give students more opportunities to collaborate and communicate via the virtual world. It has the chance to expand communication and social engagement through a network never yet experienced.

Second Life is unique because people around the world can log on and attend lectures through voice enabled technology, said Atwood. It also allows for collaboration in architecture or science programs and it can be used for simulated environments such as a schizophrenia environment, so that people can understand mental inflictions. Second Life can even be used as a way to re-create physical art into visual art.

With so many educational purposes, Second Life has become a phenomenon at WSU. This virtual world also allows people to purchase virtual items to customize their appearance. People can create their own identities to express who they are, and represent themselves how they want to be seen.

One criticism of this program is that Second Life is a superficial and artificial representation of the real world. Another criticism is that it might further isolate human beings, and decrease face-to-face communication.

About fifteen years ago, people thought that e-mail would take away from verbal communication, but instead it has allowed people to communicate more frequently over long distances, said Diane L. Carter, a graduate student and teaching assistant at WSU.

“Second Life might be able to open up new opportunities to connect with people that we originally might not have been able to communicate with,” said Carter.

Even though there are criticisms to this new found virtual world, it has the potential to open doors into new dimensions of communication. It has the ability to further evolve communication and enhance education. Second Life could possibly be the most successful communicative technology since e-mail or the cell phone.

Ethics and the Spokeman Review

2009-06-12T14:30:00.000-07:00

1.I believe that Steven Smith said, "If he's [Mayor Jim West] engaged in this activity … we need to know that. If he's not -- there's no story,” because he was interested in a credible story that involved political scandal. He most likely believes that the only way this issue could be turned into a legitimate news story was if, Mayor Jim West had sexually molested children or offered internships to men he had met online. Scandal sells newspapers, and if there is a scandal with the Mayor, people are going to be very interested in reading about it. I think Steven Smith believed if they had enough facts to run a newsworthy story then it would be legitimate but if they only had a small lead on the story then it wouldn’t be. They needed a story that would impact the public such as the Mayor offering internships to men online, not just a story about the Mayor’s undisclosed sexuality. However, I believe that the way the Spokesman Review went about “outing” the Mayor was slightly unethical. They disclosed many allegations that were not fully confirmed, and it was the beginning of the Mayor’s “career death.”

2. Morlin justified the sting operation as being ethical because he explained that as long as no one employed at the Spokesman Review was using a false identity to get information, than it did not go against their code of ethics. This meant that the company was able to hire an investigator to deceive Jim West, so that they could get a story from the uncovered information. Morlin didn’t create a false identity for himself, but hired someone else to. He felt that it was ethical for someone else to deceive Jim West in order to get a story. However, I believe that it was unethical because they were deceiving the Mayor to try and get a news story, and probing him with a 17 year old boy to try and discover if he was a sexual predator.

3. Living in Spokane, I personally believe that they published so many articles about Jim West for two different reasons. First, I believe that since this new information was such a scandal, Spokesman Review believed it would bring in a lot of income and sell many papers. Second, I believe that the Spokesman Review is more of a conservative newspaper. Spokane in general is a very republican and conservative city, and I believe that the Spokesman Review mirrors these same political views. Therefore, the story could have possibly had some bias due to these views.

4.I believe that the people that benefited from Mayor Jim West’s outing were also the same group of people who were hurt by the Mayor’s outing. The gay community was very pleased to see a homosexual man in office and they wanted to expand Spokane’s small gay community by using him as an example as a successful homosexual leader. However, they were also very hurt by Mayor Jim West’s outing because they believed that he held back the gay community from having rights. Since Jim West was so concerned with concealing his true identity, he voted against gay rights several times in his career. The gay community felt that he was ashamed of who he was, and were disappointed that he was unwilling to be honest about who he really was.

I have very mixed feelings about the outcome of Jim West’s “career death” and how his sexual preference was disclosed to the public. As a communication student I believe that people have the right to know about Jim West’s alleged sexual molestations and how his career has been affected by his sexuality. People are entitled to know the truth, without any censorship. However, as a person I felt very sorry for Jim West. Over the course of a couple months, not only had he lost his job, but allegations were made about him, and his personal life was completely exposed. I can see where journalists struggle to balance the raw uncensored truth, while also considering people’s feelings when writing a story.

5. I believe in one sense that the Spokesman Review is trying to uncover the truth of strange occurrences that have been linked to Lynch. On the other hand, I believe that the Spokesman Review has sometimes been known to disclose allegations that have not yet been confirmed. I believe that sometimes Spokesman Review has created a bigger story than what is actually going on. In the Lynch story, allegations were made that he was spending time at a park known for drug dealing, sexual conduct and other lewd behaviors. However, because these facts have not been confirmed, it is possible that they are not true. I feel like until there is a story with legitimate and accurate facts, it should not be written.

Frontline

2009-06-11T18:10:00.000-07:00

When watching the third part of Frontline's "News War," three specific segments really stood out to me. The first, segment 16: A New Definition for What's News, really made me think about the type of news issues that are being broadcasted and written about in the daily news. I have realized that today, sponsors and advertisers have so much control over networks, that news content is based on "what sells" rather than what is important. Like in the Frontline clip, news stations are beinning to broadcast issues on having good restaurant manners, and dating tips for singles. They are beinning to focus less on the crucial information that people need to hear, and more on petty information that will bring in more income. This type of journalism does not adhere to the "Murrow Standard" of traditional journalism. Murrow refused to censor his broadcasts on "See it Now," even when CBS threatened to fire him because he believed in reporting the truth. However, CBS believed that their ratings were dropping because Murrow's broadcasts were too rash. It's disapointing that people are being deprived of important news, and instead listening to frivolous news because news stations are more worried about increasing profit.

After watching segment 22: The fight to save the paper, it made me realize the danger that newspapers are in to stay in business. Because technology has exlpoded over the last decade, people have more access to the internet, and they are accessing news online much more then through newspapers. It is more convenient to access news stories online rather than reading a paper, and therefore newspapers are losing profit. To compensate for this profit decrease, they have been cutting journalists. This vicious cycle is not just affecting newspapers but the economy. I believe that if more and more papers go out of business, then it will severly affect jobs and will not help our economic situation. Honestly, I would be very sad and disappointed if one day, there are no more newspapers and news is just being broadcasted over T.V. networks and on the Internet. Traditional journalism began in newspapers and it would be very strange if one day they no longer existed because people are finding their news in other sources.

The last segment that really captured my attention was segment 18: "Info Snacking." I was very interested to learn that as technology is rapidly growing, T.V. networks are feeling pressure to keep up. Therefore they are putting clips of news issues online that were originally broadcasted on T.V. What I like about this new form of accessing news, is that the viewer is in control of what they want to watch, when they want to watch it. Most people's schedules have become so busy that they do not have time to dedicate an hour every day to watching news. Now people can go online and get the same information condensed into a smaller story. Networks like Dateline have started using this new form of reporting news.

international news sites

2009-06-09T22:49:00.000-07:00

As I watched the different news channels I was surprised to see bias from these sites, aside from BBC World News. When I watched Russia Today I noticed that their articles and video footage kept indicating that Russia was an extremely great country, implying that Russia was superior to other countries. Also I got a feeling that this site was resentful of the U.S. by their choice of words and language. When watching Press TV I thought that this news site was relatively informal compared to other large news sites like BBC World News. They had a comments section at the bottom of the article for people to leave remarks, and some of the comments were distasteful. Other than that criticism I really was not able to tell much bias from Press T.V., and I would have to do further research to determine whether or not I thought it was biased. However, BBC News seemed to be the most accurate and fair news site of all on reporting worldly news. It was structured similarly to New York Times or USA Today. They showed no interest in one side or another and reported in “The Murrow Standard” of traditional journalism. This sites news coverage did not seem censored, but seemed like it was reporting fairly and accurately. Yet when analyzing the Al Jazeera News site, I got the feeling that they are very biased and there was an overall dislike for Americans. From previous research I came to learn that this site is extremely controversial because after September 11, they aired uncensored footage that was very disturbing to Americans. This site is not welcomed by Americans.

1. I do not believe that Al Jazeera will be very effective on the Internet because most Americans find this source offensive and believe it is a “terrorism” site. I do not think it will have very much success considering it is not welcomed by most Americans. Also, it has not been established as a very credible site, so most people will probably access more credible sites like MSNBC, for example.

2. Even though I believe that any news site should have the opportunity to be broadcasted, I do not think that Al Jazeera should. I personally think it should just stay available on the internet because I do not think it is the most credible news source and I do not support the way this news site covers the news. I think that it is offensive to many Americans and would not have very much success being broadcasted.

3. It was different than other sources because I noticed that they placed more emphasis on Middle Eastern events rather than events from other countries around the world. Also they have several reporters throughout the world covering events.

4. I did not notice any apparent mistakes from observing their site, but I do believe that from time to time they break rule #5 of presenting issues fairly without bias, because in the past I got the feeling that they represented US issues in a negative light and with some bias. However, I would have to study this site more, before determining if their code of ethics is truly valid.

Feature Story: Hoopfest

2009-06-07T20:46:00.000-07:00

Where is one place that thousands of people gather in 90-degree weather, along 40-square blocks to yell, scream, cry, cheer and play ball?

Hoopfest, a tournament as significant as Christmas for most basketball players, is quickly approaching once again.

Hoopfest is the largest three-on-three annual basketball tournament in the world, and was first started in 1990 in Spokane Washington by Rick Betts, Jerry Schmidt, Dave Jackson, Terry M. Kelly, Dennis Magner and Rick Steltenpohl, according to Spokane Hoopfest Association.

Every year in June, teams come together from all over the country to compete for the championship title. People of all ages and abilities are able to participate. The teams consist of four players, three of which play at a time with one substitute. Each game lasts about 30 minutes, or until the first team reaches 20 points. The players are ranked in each bracket based on age, skill level and height, according to Spokane Hoopfest Association.

Hoopfest has become one of Spokane’s most celebrated events, and over the weekend of the 27th and 28th, nearly 400 courts will be filled with as many as 25,000 players, according to Spokane Hoopfest Association. Hoopfest not only serves as just the largest three-on-three basketball tournament in the world, but also as an outdoor festival that provides entertainment such as live concerts, food, shopping and much more.

Ryan A. Kadmiri, a sophomore at Spokane Falls Community College, will be playing for his 14th year in Hoopfest this summer.

“Hoopfest has always been one of my favorite times of the year in Spokane because not only do I love basketball, but it brings the entire community together for two days out of the entire year,” said Kadmiri.

People participate in Hoopfest for many different reasons. Some play to just have fun, others play to win the championship title, others play to improve their skills, and some play to support local charities.

“I play because I am a very competitive person and I love the game,” said Kadmiri. “The adrenaline rush that I feel when I step onto the pavement is indescribable. I hope to be playing until I am 60 years old.”

For many players like Kadmiri, Hoopfest is one of the most important times during the year. Hoopfest is especially appealing because the rules are much more lax compared to league basketball. Players are allowed to call their own fowls, and infractions such as traveling are not penalized quite as often.

Kadmiri, who in the past has won three championship titles said, “Winning the Hoopfest championship title was one of my greatest achievements. My teammates and my hard work finally paid off.”

For competitive players like Kadmiri, another appeal to Hoopfest is that every year a retired celebrity basketball player comes to Spokane and competes in the elite bracket. This year Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be coming to Spokane.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has achieved Rookie of the Year, is a six-time NBA MVP, 19-time All Star, two time scoring champion, member of six NBA championship teams and has accomplished many other titles, according to NBA.com.

Hoopfest is such an exciting and unique event because there are so many different forms of entertainment that everyone can enjoy, said Slade A. Maul, a senior at Eastern Washington University.

However, Hoopfest serves more purposes than just being the largest three-on-three basketball tournament in the world. Hoopfest has donated over $1 million to charity organizations over the last 19 years. A special emphasis has been placed on donating to the Special Olympics and to an outdoor construction system throughout the Spokane area. Yet, other Hoopfest donations also include: YMCA, YWCA, Spokane Parks and Recreation Department, St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute, Libby Teen Center, Spokane Regional Sports Commission as well as several others, according to Spokane Hoopfest Association.

Hoopfest is also extremely vital for Spokane’s economy. A survey was conducted in 2006 by an outside party that predicted that Hoopfest brings in $30 million every June. Dining, hotel spending, shopping, and other forms of entertainment contribute to this predicted figure, according to Spokane Hoopfest Association.

Hoopfest has become a celebrated event in the Spokane area. Parents mark their calendars, players practice for months in advance, friends request work off, and on the weekend of the tournament everyone crams into the downtown area to cheer on their loved ones. Hoopfest truly is an event where the entire community comes together.

“There’s no greater feeling then being surrounded by the people who care about you, while participating in Spokane’s greatest athletic event,” said Kadmiri.

Feeding the Beast

2009-05-28T09:03:00.000-07:00

1. The beast is the network news media.
2. It needs to be fed because network news media has an obligation to the public to report breaking news stories within specific deadlines.
3. The concern that people have about "feeding the beast" is that inaccurate and dishonest stories might arise as a result of time, money and resource limitations. Because of these limitations the public is concerned that the media might push an agenda or bias on the public, or even fabricate stories. The question now is, how does the public really know that the news they are receiving is accurate? Does the "Murrow Standard" of traditional journalism still exist within news media? The public relies on the network news media in order to receive information that they can trust and rely on.

Since the internet has become such a phenomenon, anyone can post their opinions and thoughts. Unfortunately, most sites on the internet are not 100% accurate or credible. Because these sites are not the most reliable sources, the public looks to the network news media for credible news information. It is critical that the public can trust these sources. The New York Times, known to be one of the most reliable sources, at one time even had a reporter who fabricated information. This put The New York Times credibility in jeopardy. Even though now they are one of the most trusted news sites, this just goes to show that every news coropration can be faced with untrustworthy reporters.

I have come to rely on news corporations that remain unbaised and do not have an agenda. Honest news allows an individual to make their own decision about an issue.

special leads

2009-05-26T21:28:00.000-07:00

1. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/25/AR2009052502153.html?hpid=smartliving
-This is an example of a direct-address lead and a question lead.

2. http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/may/26/pharmacy-robber-pleads-guilty/
-This is an example of a narrative lead.

Students Abuse Adderall

2009-05-21T15:42:00.000-07:00

Controversial to what some people might believe to be a harmless drug, Adderall has become one of the most abused drugs by students in college environments.

Adderall, an amphetamine that helps patients suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, increases alertness, improves task performance and decreases fatigue,according to WebMD.

Adderall has been occasionally referred to as “kiddy cocaine” because it can produce effects similar to those of cocaine, such as increased heart rate and stimulation.

College students constantly find themselves faced with tedious exams, papers, reports and other assignments, all of which can make time management difficult. The overwhelming pressure students feel to succeed and maintain good grades has caused some to try Adderall as a way overcome this stress.

By taking Adderall, students bodies and minds become manipulated because this drug allows them to have an increased attention span, alertness and energy, according to WebMD. Adderall also makes the body less dependent on sleep, allowing students to cram all night for an exam or write a paper.

Courtney M. Moorhead, a communication major at Washington State University, was prescribed to Adderall after being diagnosed with AD/HD at age 15.

“When my grades began to decline in ninth grade and I was having difficulty concentrating, I was tested for AD/HD,” said Moorhead. “Now that people know I am prescribed to it, I constantly have friends and acquaintances asking me to sell them my Adderall.”

Adderall is a fairly easy drug for students to obtain because so many people are prescribed to this drug, and some people are willing to make a profit by selling it to others.

“Being a college student myself, I can understand the stress of taking 15 credits and not finding enough time to get everything done, yet I refuse to sell Adderall to anyone,” said Moorhead.

The effects that Adderall can have on students who are not prescribed to it can be dangerous. According to WebMD, amphetamines can increase brain blood levels, blood pressure and heart rate. It can also induce insomnia, irritability and psychotic behavior. Chronic abuse of this drug can cause dependence, and withdrawal of amphetamines can lead to weight gain, depression, sedation and thoughts of suicide.

College students are not only using Adderall to study but also as a dietary supplement. Because Adderall increases heart rate and decreases appetite, students believe that it is a quick solution to weight loss. Students tend to gain weight after coming to college because with so much homework and studying, it is hard to find time to eat healthy and exercise.

College students, especially females, believe that if they don’t have to concentrate on their weight, then they are more likely to succeed in their classes, said Moorhead. “A friend of mine once asked me what the symptoms of AD/HD were, so that she could convince her doctor she needed Adderall as a way to lose weight.”

Adderall has become a phenomenon around college campuses, and many students are beginning to try it. Because it is usually used for studying instead of partying, Adderall tends to fly under the radar. When most people think of college parties, drugs such as alcohol, marijuana and cocaine come to mind. People don’t realize that prescription drugs are some of the most abused drugs. However, the easy accessibility of these drugs has caused an increase in abuse.

This generation of people has become accustomed to a life of never-ending demands, and “25” hour days. We exist in a society where people “live to work” instead of “work to live.” There is no escape from deadlines, and work never ceases. Our society has become so busy, most people rarely have the time to take a second and breathe.

“I would assume that students feel pressure to perform at such high levels in the college environment, and therefore amphetamines are appealing because they allow students a way to accomplish all of their demands,” said Dr. Deborah D. Scott, a Clinical Psychologist of Feminist Psychology Associates.

College acts as a rite of passage for most students. They learn independence, responsibility, time management and hard work. Students are just beginning to understand what it takes to become an adult, and are realizing that growing up is harder than it seems. Students view Adderall as a way to manage stress, but the real question is, is it really worth it?

summary news lead

2009-05-19T20:12:00.000-07:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/20/us/politics/20detain.html?_r=1&hp

3 Pitches to Editor

2009-05-17T19:15:00.000-07:00

Dear Editor,
It is common knowledge that college is not just a place where students can further their education and earn a degree, but it also is a place where most people complete a rite of passage. Students not only are able to acquire independence and learn responsibility, but they also take part in heavy partying.

At college parties, students are known to binge drink and also experiment with other drugs. However, what most people don’t know is that prescription drugs are some of the most abused drugs in the college environment.

More specifically, adderall, a prescription drug used to help people with ADD and ADHD concentrate, is being heavily abused by college students. There are many reasons that students who are not prescribed to adderall are taking it on a continuous basis.

Adderall, known to increase performance in school, is taken to cram for exams and study for long periods of time. One nickname for adderall is “kiddy cocaine”. It is named this because similar to cocaine, adderall speeds up the heart, causes intensified alertness and decreases the appetite.

Another reason students are known to abuse adderall is for dietary purposes. Because adderall decreases appetite and speeds up the heart, many students try and use it as a quick fix for weight loss.

However, what students who abuse adderall do not know, is that over time like any other abused drug it can create health problems. It is important that students are aware of harmful effects that this drug can cause, and understand why it is dangerous to take it without being prescribed.

The possible sources for this piece would be a student prescribed to adderall, and a health physician.

Dear Editor,
Pullman, a very small town and home to cougar students and residents, is known as a relatively safe environment because of its small size. However, over last two years it is evident that violence has increased, which make people question the safety of their hometown.

Last year, two men broke into Pi Beta Phi, Delta Gamma and Kappa Alpha Theta. They sexually assaulted a young women in Kappa Alpha Theta, and frightened the women at the other two sorority chapters. Similarly, other reports of sexual assault have occurred, endangering the students on campus.

Over the last 8 months, hate crimes have taken place throughout Pullman targeting homosexual males. The reports covering theses crimes explained that the males were usually ambushed and violently assaulted. As a result people are afraid to express themselves, and to walk the streets of Pullman alone.

Many years ago, people could leave their houses and cars unlocked without any worry of criminal acts. Now, trust of other people has begun to decline and violence has become a norm in society.

As a result of this, there is increased fear within society and a lack of trust of other people. Feeling safe in a community is extremely important and people want to be assured that they can live their lives without fear and anxiety.

Possible sources for this piece would be a sorority women who lived in one of the chapters that was broken into, and another resident of the community.

Dear Editor,
The state of our economy has created many hardships for American citizens, and as a result some people are just barely surviving. The harsh reality is that the stock market has significantly plummeted, jobs have been cut, and businesses have shut down all contributing to economic fear.

However, one of the most terrifying realities of our current economic state is the growing gap between the rich and poor. Furthermore, more people than ever are going hungry every day. More people are showing up at shelters and food banks who haven’t eaten a meal in days.

Financing that could potentially help provide more food to food banks is being cut and there is less money to help provide adequate food. Sponsoring has also decreased significantly which allows food banks to feed the hungry. On average, Second Harvest a local food bank in Spokane, feeds over 10,000 children a month and numbers are growing because of the economy.

More and more people are being laid off and as a consequence are falling below the poverty line. Our society is in a current state of panic, and every day more people are becoming victims of poverty.

Possible sources for this piece are a consultant at Second Harvest and another adult who has been affected by the economy.

newsworthiness of three sources

2009-05-13T21:35:00.000-07:00

After discussing this assignment in class, I was very interested in researching different news media to analyze and evaluate how different sources cover breaking news. Therefore, I challenged myself to find three completely different sites and consider why each source finds specific stories important, and what values they uphold when covering their information. I first looked at Perez Hilton who is infamous for covering the latest celebrity news. Even though this site does not cover hard news stories that involve economics or politics, it has become one of the most accessed news websites. Being interested in fashion and celebrity gossip, I am undeniably attracted to this site. However, when evaluating if this site holds true to the “Murrow Standard” of traditional journalism I can clearly see it does not. Murrow believed that news should not be focused on what people wanted to hear but what they needed to hear. This site is an example of how traditional journalism has been exchanged for entertainment journalism. The featured stories on this website pertain to issues regarding actors, actresses, singers and other celebrities. The audience is directed toward young or middle-aged people interested in the tributes and trials of the rich and famous. Perez Hilton uses an informal writing style and is known to have very strong biases about the stories he covers.

After evaluating the Perez Hilton news site, I compared it to The New York Times which is known for credibility, reliability and honest information. After taking Communications 295, I have become very dependent on this source and can always expect fair news coverage. The articles featured on the front page include a credit proposal by Obama, the growing concern of our economy, and other issues dealing with foreign policy and government concerns. The New York Times directs its news coverage toward an older, educated audience. At times I have a hard time understanding the language because it is very advanced. This news source adheres to the “Murrow Standard” of traditional journalism because they deliver information that affects the general public with as little bias or agenda setting as possible. The New York Times selects its news stories based upon what issues are the greatest concern to society.

The last news source I analyzed was a very controversial source that I was first introduced to in my Edward R. Murrow class. The source, Al Jazeera, is a controversial source because it is an Arabic news source. I was interested in learning more about this source and why it has become so highly controversial. Al Jazeera is known for placing little to no censor on its images, especially concerning terrorist groups after 9/11. I cannot decide what I believe about censorship because in one aspect I believe that harmful and destructive issues should not be covered, yet in another aspect I believe that the general public should have access to all news. Whether or not this source is politically correct or incorrect, it does address crucial issues internationally and nationally. Its target audience is very broad and is directed toward citizens in a number of different countries. At this point I am not sure if it follows the “Murrow Standard” of traditional journalism and would have to read more in order to make a decision.
All in all I was challenged by this assignment because it required me to make decisions about the newsworthiness of a source. All three sources have very different values, audiences, and news stories. For reliant information I would read The New York Times because I believe it to be the most credible source overall. I now have a better idea why different news sources cover different information.

Sources:

http://www.nytimes.com/

http://english.aljazeera.net/

http://perezhilton.com/

Chevron VS CBS

2009-05-12T18:51:00.000-07:00

After watching both the CBS and Chevron videos which covered the Equator oil controversy, I was shocked to see how different the two videos were regarding objectivity and credibility. If I had not already seen the CBS documentary, I might not have been able to see how biased and one-sided the Chevron documentary actually is. The CBS video presented the story with accuracy, objectivity, and credibility. CBS delivered both sides of the story by interviewing a representative of Chevron and the attorney defending Equator. By providing both perspectives of this issue, I was given the honest facts without any biases. The CBS video adheres to the “Murrow Standard” of traditional journalism because they delivered the documentary with integrity and honesty, which allowed me to make a decision for myself on who I believed to be at fault regarding the lawsuit.

However, the Chevron documentary did not adhere to the “Murrow Standard” of traditional journalism and portrayed a very strong agenda. It was clear after watching the CBS documentary that the Chevron video was extremely biased and gave only their side of the story. Chevron’s agenda was to get the audience to believe that they are innocent and just victims of a conspiracy, without providing all the facts. It was disappointing for me to watch this video because it made me realize that many sources are not credible and do not portray the honest facts. I then began to ask myself, which sources can I trust and what facts have not been manipulated? Sometimes it can be hard to distinguish what news is honest and trustworthy, and a good example of honest news was the CBS video. After comparing both the CBS and Chevron videos, I now have a better idea of how to separate credible news from unworthy news.