The Reproduction of News Stories

For this assignment, I was asked to discuss various topics concerning modern-day journalism in response to a meeting we had with a radio host from the CBC here in New Brunswick, Terry Seguin.  I was absent from school on that day, and so I did not have the privilege of listening to the experienced journalist speak.  However, I will try my best to present my views on similar topics that were discussed in that meeting from that day, to the best of my ability.  

Topic #3: Churnalism

Churnalism is the art of creating news stories based on older articles from other sources and is done by the writers to meet the demands of producing (or churning out) news on a regular basis.  After I learned about churnalism, I came to the conclusion that originality in the world of Journalism is indeed something that is hard to find now-a-days.  

Although there are some purely original news stories out there, it is almost certain that they will soon generate some sort of churnalism offspring.  And even of these original stories, some of them are not entirely composed of information gathered from personal investigation by the writers and reporters, and are in a way half-breeds, containing a certain percentage of primary news sources and a certain percentage of secondary and tertiary news sources that have been taken from other news articles.  

Do I feel that these stories are fake?  No, they do contain, to some extent, factual information.  Yet, I would be more cautious if I were to know just how many times a news story has been reproduced and changed by the writers own personal input each time, before reaching my ears.  Hmm, when you think about it, it is kind of like a game of "telephone" where the more times a sentence or phrase is reproduced, the more unreliable or fake the statement becomes.  

Media Brainwashing! The Zombie Apocalypse Is Nigh!

For this assignment, I was asked to discuss various topics concerning modern-day journalism in response to a meeting we had with a radio host from the CBC here in New Brunswick, Terry Seguin.  I was absent from school on that day, and so I did not have the privilege of listening to the experienced journalist speak.  However, I will try my best to present my views on similar topics that were discussed in that meeting from that day, to the best of my ability.

Topic #2: Bias News: Separating Facts Form Fiction

Naturally, I always seem to want to question everything I am told.  That's just because I have a curious personality and I am always interested in how different things function in nature and in human society.  So this does not change for me when I am reading a newspaper, listening to the radio, watching the news, or reading a page of text on the Internet from a computer screen.  It can be a bit of a nuisance at times to be this way, and it often got me into trouble when I was younger (it still does today), however, it does allow me to be careful about the news I hear.  I don't really need to make much of an effort in doing so, but lately I seem to try to be even more cautious than usual.

One of my greatest pet peeves in life are those who believe absolutely everything shown to them on television.  In my head, I feel as those these innocent people have allowed themselves to be consumed by the media pros who have them believing in absolutely everything they flash before their eyes.

Everyone knows one: a friend or relative that believes that eating a certain kind of food will automatically give them cancer just because Dr. Oz, or some other source, has told them so.  You set them alone in front of the television for twenty minutes, and all of a sudden, they are telling you that they're going to have absolutely no Mr. Noodles or frozen pizza for the rest of their life.  It drives me up the wall!  (I should know; I live with people like this.  It is worse when this person is your own mother!) 

There is supposed to be a non-bias way of producing news that is replicated in almost every form of journalism, however I feel that it is hard to maintain.  I am no exception and would have hard time following through with this as well.  I don't tend to get all that angry about the injustices I see, even though I maybe should -especially when they are on topics that concern me directly, and believe me, there are many- but my advice for people like me is to keep your tone of voice neutral.  Bite your lip when you're not on camera (maybe not physically, but mentally) if you think that you are going saying something bias or something that you would regret. If you predict that you are going to have a hard time in doing this and feel you might slip up, then try avoid it by asking someone else to stand in your place in conducting the interview or covering a story. 

My advice for the journalism audience is a little different.  In your head, as you are reading, watching, or listening to the news, keep a running track of what is being said and separate facts from weighted opinions that come from the journalism personnel themselves.  It is more important for you to develop your own personal view of a story than it is to have yourself adopt the same opinion as the news makers.

Not only is it unhealthy for you to agree with everything you see, it can be dangerous too.  In a sense, it is kind of like a more subtle form of brainwashing...

Avoid becoming a FOX News zombie!  You have a choice on whether you want to choose sides with Bill O'Reilly or not!  Use your own discretion!  Avoid the zombie apocalypse at all costs!  (hehe I had to buy into 12/21/2012 somehow.)

Journalism In Social Media

For this assignment, I was asked to discuss various topics concerning modern-day journalism in response to a meeting we had with a radio host from the CBC here in New Brunswick, Terry Seguin.  I was absent from school on that day, and so I did not have the privilege of listening to the experienced journalist speak.  However, I will try my best to present my views on similar topics that were discussed in that meeting from that day, to the best of my ability.

Topic #1: Social Media's Ties to Journalism
Modern journalism is greatly impacted by the influence of social media and the internet.  With sites like twitter and Facebook quickly becoming more popular sources for individuals with internet connection to access their news, we are seeing a lot more discussion in the form of two ways conversation between the journalists and their readers via comments posted on the web. 

There are many pros and cons to this, as some would argue.  For example, the solidarity of a news source is often lost when viewed on the web as some people are less likely to trust what they are reading than when they hear it on the radio or watch it on TV.  On the other hand, the internet and social media create an environment where validation of a news source can occur.

Personal response allows different accounts of the same story to emerge.  In this way, an entirely new article can be formed, based on the conversations between the readers and the journalists themselves.  Critiquing and correcting miss-information is also allowed, and if the journalists choose to listen to what is being said, then they can ultimately create better news articles than they did before.

Study of Composition in Photography

Title: Gypsy boats seen anchored near the ferry pier at night
Technique: Rule of thirds
This is a good example of a photo where the rule third of thirds is used.  The vertical lines and the points of intersection maybe aren't being used to the best of their ability, but they don't really need to be because the two rows of boats and buildings along the warf match almost perfectly with the horizontal guidelines in this image. 

Title: Foreign tourists seen on long beach at sunset on October 19

Technique: Framing
There are times where it is debateable whether or not the technique of framing is being used in a photo due to unplanned framing that happens unintentially or by chance. Sometimes images come in a form of partial framing, but in this photo, that is not the case.  This was obviously skillfully planned by the photographer and shows that he has good command of his/her camera. 

Title: Peruvian peasant plays a trumpet during the Yawar fiesta
Technique: Filling the frame
The man in this image is the dominate subject that fills this frame.  Although there are other men that can be seen standing in the background, not all of their bodies can be seen and some are obstructed by the man's large hat and trumpet.  Although the men in the background are a little distracting, they add to the image and make it more interesting to look at.

Title: Closeup of a donkey

Technique: Point of view
This is an example of a closeup -as the title implies- so although the object fills the frame, I feel that there are other principles of photography at work as well. 

I would say that the point of view is the more dominate principle in this image.  It is a top-down view of the subject and probably required some kind of assistance, either by ladder or some other object to give the camera its desired height. 

The rule of thirds is also being used as the donkey's head seems to be encased by the two imaginary vertical lines. 

How To Keep Things Cool, Frum-Style!

This week in my Journalism class, I spent some time analyzing the interview style of the Canadian-famous journalist, Barbara Frum (1937-1992), and in particular, an 1975 interview she had with a member of the "Manson Family", where her guest became unruly, calling her ignorant and demanding that she speak to someone else with more finesse:

Barbara Frum makes herself seem calm to the person she is interviewing and to the audience listening to the broadcast, when she is really feeling quite nervous inside.  The "tool" she uses in keeping her cool is called "anger management" or "emotional control" and it allows her to control her intense emotions during a tricky interview. 

Frum was also able to ask the questions she felt were important by rewording them in a different or softer tone when Sandra Good refused to answer them the first time through. 

If Barbara had of been more aggressive, the interview would have taken a whole different rout.  None of the questions that people wanted to hear would have been answered -not that they were during the interview anyhow- and listeners might have become upset over the great opportunity for obtaining new information that was missed.  It could have turned a lot of listeners away, especially ones that have younger children present, if name-calling and vulgar language arose from the argument.  

One of the questions I felt was most successful in the interview, both in deliverance and in the ability to get a response from Ms. Good, was when Barbara asked if the attempted assassination of the president was justified.  The response was surprising to hear, as Good said that the death of anyone who is responsible for the killing of trees is justifiable, for the fact that one human life is worth sacrificing in the place of the lives of many trees in a forest the single person destroys.  I feel that this question was able to get such an impacting response because of how open and broad it was.  Barbara only really 'nudged' Sandra on the topic and allowed her to speak the words Barbara w=knew were already on the tip of her tongue. 

How to Interview Like Frum:

It is good to know how willing the person you are interviewing is to speak in answering your questions.  If you feel that a particular question might turn them away from getting the response you want to hear, then try to reword it in a way that seems less harsh: be indirect while still grasping the nature of the question, etc. 

Anger management is a key to a successful interview with a guest that is uncooperative.  It is all about keeping your internal emotions separate from your exterior image, be it your tone of voice, facial expressions, body language, etc.; you mustn't allow the person you are interviewing see that you are scared or taken back by what they have to say if you wish to continue speaking with them.  In 1988, in an interview with Michael Enright, the host of As It Happens, Frum was asked how she had managed to maintain her composure.  She confessed that she was in face upset and shaken by the interview, despite the calm people perceived in her voice. 

I was also asked in this assignment -and it is something that I am not too sure how much thought I have given to- to explain who I would interview if given the chance, and say whether or not I would find the interview to be tough.  This kind of question has been asked to me a dozen times before, but I am never quite sure how to answer it.  If there is no restrictions by time, then I would have to say a writer from the Romantic Era, like Charles Dickens, or a Renaissance artist, such as Leonardo Da Vinci.  The people I would be interviewing, if it was someone like Charles Dickens, would most likely be willing to speak openly with me about themselves, as most artists tend to be good at expressing things and stating their opinions and ideas quite clearly.  However, I would be restricted by great language barriers as Da Vinci would be answering me in an older form of Italian from the fifteen hundreds that only a select few would comprehend; the interview would require a translator.

*If you wish to listen to the interview from CBC that I talk about in this assignment, click here!

Fibbing Journalists: What should be done?

In this assignment, I have been asked to read two articles on individuals from larger news establishments who  have been caught in the act of fabricated lies about the people involved in their stories in order to make their articles seem more appealing to the public.  I then had to state my opinion on lies told in the world of journalism, based on a couple of thought-provoking questions issued to our class as a basis for our posts.  Here is what I had to say:

I am beginning to notice certain things about the news that I dislike, one of which is typos in written articles.  After a newspaper article starts to accumulate a certain number of typos, I question the credibility of the story, the person writing the story, and the newspaper as a whole.

Another thing is when televised news broadcast, or one from a radio, uses a misleading tone.

There have been some stories that I have gotten very upset over, one being a radio broadcast, I assume from CBC, that reported on a sighting of a "great ball of light pulling its way across the sky" made by a middle-aged or elderly couple and a friend as they were sitting around a campfire one fall night in Bathurst (I think.)  The man on the radio said something like "at around quarter to nine, the three noticed the dim light coming from the western sky.  It travelling to the east, and then as it approached the middle, it went all ablaze and became very bright.  The whole thing lasted for about three minutes, from the time it appeared to the time it faded out of sight."  The whole time I was listening to this I felt like slapping myself on the side of my head.  Being the nerd I am, the night before, I had stepped outside at that exact time to watch the International Space Station make its voyage across our New Brunswick skies in it's fixed orbit around the Earth.  The whole thing is predictable and there are any number of websites you can visit to find out when the next time will be that you can see the space station from where you live, so I can't even come to understand why these educated news personnel (or anyone else for that matter) either didn't know about the space station or refused to tell the couple and their friend that what they saw was not an UFO but one of mankind's most sophisticated research lab.  You would think that somewhere along the rout, from reporters and ground workers to editors and then to broadcasters, that the story would have been flagged as being at least a little bit 'questionable', but no.

Why would we do that? (sarcasm) Why ruin a good news scoop? Oh, simpletons!

Noticing these things, no, it does not surprise me that news establishments tend to take much enjoyment out of fibbing every now and again.

Jack Shafer, a journalist, once said that...

“Most liars make things up for the simple reason that they don't have the talent or the ability to get the story any other way.” 

In my personal opinion, yes, some do it because they lack talent, but that is not always the case.  The best liars actually are among the most talented and successful people in society because of their ability to manipulate people into doing what they want, so not all lies are made by untalented people, just by people who choose, either consciously or subconsciously, to lie.  In fact, the average human being will tell around three lies in a ten minute conversation with stranger!

There are those who I think are really talented in what they do, but just find themselves trapped or stumped.  Humans are humans, it is natural for us to lie.  I think that what people in journalism need to realize though is that they are in a public eye, addressing a public audience, and people really care and are effected by what you are writing.  Although it is tempting to fib, especially when you have something against the political person, company, group, etc. that the story concerns, when writing for the news, there is a neutrality that is required, and you must make an effort to maintain this.

*(For more on information on why humans lie, watch this video!)

Also for this assignment, I was asked to give my input on whether or not I felt that the universities are doing enough to insure that they are graduating journalism students who can handle the responsibilities of someone in the news world and I think it comes down to the personality of the person writing the story.  I am not very educated in what kind of environment that the average university or college provides their journalism students or what kind of attitudes they give towards aggressive forms of journalism, but I can only assume that the professors try their best to insure that they are teaching fair ways of portraying news.

I think that a newspaper ombudsman, a professional journalist whose sole responsibility is to respond to reader complaints and provide an independent critique of the paper's performance, does help to settle the complaints and concerns that the public has after an unfair news article gets published, but since it is said that he/she is giving their own personal critique of the news establishment, it can also be a threat to the establishment if the ombudsman's response is a negative one.  

When something like this happens, some feel that it is a sink or swim period for the newspaper/radio broadcaster or whatever it may be, and that could be true, but it also presents an opportunity for significant change.  In a book I have been reading recently, The Power of Habit, there is an entire section devoted to 'the power of a crisis.'  In it, the author of the book states that some of the strongest companies of today's world were, at one point or another, challenge by a crisis that both endangered the company and the jobs of its workers.  It is at moments like this when the most stubborn CEO's and people in 'top dog' positions become scared and are willing to, finally, listen to what educated people in lower positions and the public  have to say.  

So, that being said, if the people who have a say in the company are willing to listen to what the ombudsman thinks about the establishment -which areas are the most corrupt, etc.- then they can expect to see significant change over an insignificant period of time.  That is how they come to make their company stronger as a whole; they must learn to adapt, rearrange and rethink the structure of the company if they wish to advance and better themselves or the functionality of their business.  

A Matter of Opinion: Hard News Vs. Soft News

For this assignment, I was asked to accumulate 5 news articles form various websites and state whether or not they were better suited as soft news or hard news.  If you are not sure what the the difference is between the two, you should have a good indication of what kinds of stories fit into each category by the time you are done reading each post.

Can an online posting cost you your job?

This story definitely fits into the category of hard news.  The article discuses a topic that isn't very typical of soft news: job loss and Canadian laws.  Besides the subject matter, the piece is presented in a way that is not meant to entertain but to inform.  It is mainly focused on bringing all the facts to the table, displaying quotes from various people who are educated on the subject, and in doing so, revealing their opinions.  The genre of the story falls under business, where the article is found on the CBC website. 

Strange Lights over Fort Saskatchewan
In my opinion, this is a soft news story.  It is meant to draw in readers through the wonder that the picture creates in the minds of people who glance at it on the webpage.  The article is very plain and is only a couple of sentences in length.  It is written in first person by the person who saw the lights, so their is really only one opinion presented in this piece.  It is entertaining, and leaves you wondering what natural (or supernatural) phenomenon causes this. 

Brazil-owned firm takes control of XL Foods plant
The Globe and Mail's article on the latest updates of the events surrounding the XL Foods plant is very fast-paced, presenting a large amount of information in a short amount of time.  It is a hard news article, and one that is worthy of being on the front page of a news paper.  It also has a genre that is typical of hard news: business.

Getting passive-aggressive with WiFi names
I consider this news article to be a form of soft news.  The content is designed to amuse the viewer and to create an emotional response.  Its appeal is very broad and most people who read it will enjoy listening to what it has to say.  It is entertaining and is found on the Globe and Mail's website within the category of "lifestyle."

Uma Thurman, American actress and model

Really, Uma? Thurman gives daughter epic seven-part name
Whether or not this article fits into soft news or hard news is something that is debatable.  For those of us who follow celebrity news, this article is sure to fit into the category of hard news.  It is an announcement that has been three months in the making, and deserves a space somewhere on the front page.  Then again, for those of us who are less interested in the lives of celebrities (such as myself), this article is more than likely soft news to us.  It is interesting, yes, but it is more gossip than hard facts and lacks the importance equivalent to something like the closer of a local school.  If I had to choose, I would lump it together with the story on "the world's longest cat, Stewie."  It is soft news.

News Worthy #4: Super-Close, Extra-Solar, Goldilocks Zone, Earth-like Planet Discovered!

Heading: Earth-like planet found circling nearby star

Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/offbeat/story/2012/10/16/planet-.html

Timing - 4/4
As far as major scientific discoveries go, this one is pretty up-to-date.  Discoveries like this take many years to get to, making little leaps of success every now and then, so despite the fact hat the planet was possibly discovered a little while back, it is still a new story in my book.

Significance - 1/4
Alas, if you are not "into science" (and it is really such a shame if you're not) then this story is of very little concern to you.  Most people will probably just skip over the article after seeing the headlines on a website or in a news paper, but as for me, I couldn't resist the temptation to click the link and read the full document. It appeals to a considerably small group of society.

Proximity - 1/4
This is an extra-solar body, so as far a proximity goes, only the aliens orbiting the star, Alpha Centauri B, really give a "hoot" about the fact that we found them.  Also, it was a team of European astronomers who found the planet, making it international news, too far to matter as much as something that happened in our own back yard.

Prominence - 1/4
This value is low due to the fact that it is not really a human affair, it is only something that a few people have come to discover, quietly, and on their own.  We know nothing about the people, who they are, etc.  The only thing that would possibly raise the prominence was if a celebrity was somehow involved in discovering the earth-like planet and wants it to be named after themselves.

Human Interest - 4/4
Possibly the best trait that makes this story just newsworthy enough to get published is its basis for human interest.  Humans like to learn fun facts about the world around them to amuse both themselves and their friends.  It is typical to see this kind of article displayed at the very end of a newsreel or news broadcast to lighten the mood and to leave off at a positive note.  CBC even categorized the story as being "offbeat" and you can see those very words being used in text of the web address shown above.

Final Newsworthy Mark - 11/20

News Worthy #3: Playgrounds, Constructive or Destructive?

Heading: Risky play is good for kids, even if they break an arm, researchers say
Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/the-hot-button/risky-play-is-good-for-kids-even-if-they-break-an-arm-researchers-say/article4615207/

Timing - 1/4
This story isn't very time-specific.  I feel that it would do better after a major playground incident, if it wasn't for it's light-hardheartedness and joking nature.  It still sparks a debate, nonetheless.

Significance - 3/4
I feel that this article has a particular target group: families with young children.  Topics that involve the safety of our kids are also real attention grabbers because what the parents want more than ever is for their kids to be safe and to have a good upbringing.

Proximity - 2/4
There is no location that is specified with this article.  It is making references to Canadian playgrounds in general.

Prominence - 1/4
This story has a very low prominence.  The descriptions of the people mentioned in the article are very vague and they are obvious of no interest to us as readers.

Human Interest - 4/4
The news story is all about human interests.  It is similar to the kinds of things that you would see in the "something interesting for last" section of CTV's evening news broadcast.  It is written in an almost humerus tone as to evoke laughter.  I would view this news story as a "good addition" to a news paper or website, but in traditional journalism media, it is very obscure and should be ranked behind the other stories by overall importance and interest to the public.

Final Newsworthy Mark - 11/20

News Worthy #2: South-East Asian Land Dispute

Heading: Japan monitoring Chinese warships near southern island
Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/japan-monitoring-chinese-warships-near-southern-island/article4615053/

Timing - 3/4
The story comes from the tensions that have erupted between the two countries, China and Japan, over the ownership of the islands that lay in and around the Okinawan island chain, in the past month.  The story was published today, however, the ships were spotted and reported on during last Tuesday, so it is a little off. 

Significance - 3/4
The significance for us Canadians is very little unless you have family or friends that are living in or travelling to that area of the world.  The southern islands of Japan are a popular tourist destination for their tropical-like and mild weather. 

Proximity - 1/4
This story isn't very close to home, so the impact it has on Canadians is perhaps dulled in some way.

Prominence - 3/4
This story does, however, have a large prominence.  When a story concerns entire countries and their relations between each other, it is given an immediate prominence in the news.  Sometimes events like these can change very rapidly, so a continual feed of updates is usually made by the larger news corporations to appeal to those who are at the edge of the seats.

Human Interest - 1/4
This story doesn't really fit into the category of human interest very well.  There is nothing special, cute, different or funny about the topic of nations butting heads over land.

Final Newsworthy Mark - 11/20

News Worthy #1: Cyber Bullying

Heading: What parents can do to stop cyberbullying
Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/10/12/cyberbullying-strategies-parents-q-a.html

Timing - 4/4
This article is one of the thousands being created on the subject of cyber bullying in Canada that came flooding in in the wake of the teen suicide of the 15-year-old girl from British Columbia.  People feel that it is a perfect time to discuss these kinds of things and to address the issues associated with bullying when a tragedy like this strikes.  People are still sore from learning about it and are willing to read this article even if they feel that they have never been a target of bullying. 

Significance - 4/4
The amount of student-age children, teens, and young adults being infected by, not only cyber bullying, but bullying in general is always at a constant high. 

Proximity - 3/4
It is a national news story; a teen suicide has happened on Canadian soil.  However, the story is more than likely doing better in the western part of Canada (BC, Alberta) because of it's closer proximity. 

Prominence - 1/4
As well known as this girl might have been in her own school or community, she is more or less a complete stranger to the rest of the country. 

Human Interest - 2/4
The topic of teen suicide is always an emotional thing, but it isn't very "off the beaten path" when you compare it to something like a "cute cat video" or an "interesting scientific discoveries" that we are used to seeing in the news fall into this category. 

Final Newsworthy Mark - 14/20

Senior Citizen Disappears, House & All!

Moncton's most talked about resident of last week finally met her tragic end when the entire structure of her 200 year-old home came crashing down on her last midnight.

The scene of this morning in North-Eastern Moncton;
what's left of 84 year-old, Gertrude broomstick's home.

In the early morning, at approximately 12 AM neighbours along the Shediac Road reported hearing load creaking noises coming from the direction of the building that had been assessed and deemed unsafe last Thursday.  The home had belonged to Gertrude Broomsticks, a widow, 84 years of age.  Residents of Shediac Road have been trying for months to convince the elderly woman that she needed to  relocate somewhere else, but she was resistant.  No traces of human remains were found, as of yet.  It is believed that heavy gusts of 90 km/hr wind had a part to play in the destruction of her home.

"Normally in this kind of situation, where the individual is resistant to authority, encouraging is far from enough." say Francisco Lord of the New Brunswick structural assessment comity.  He believes that proper procedures where not executed in trying to get the non-compliant women to move, calling it a disgrace to his line of work.  "There should have been more done in the situation where the home owner's life was in danger.  She shouldn't have had a choice.  This women is (most likely) dead and we could have prevented it." 

Police are now sifting through the massive pile of rubble, a mess of wood and crumbling cement, what is left of the home, in hopes of finding Mrs. Broomsticks.  Upon asking one of the officers if he would like to comment, he said "Well, there isn't much to say.  Things aren't looking too good.  (We've) been searching since one, and so far -nothing." 

Throughout the neighbourhood, there are mixed feelings for the loss of the elderly women.  Stories are shared between residents of Mrs. Broomsticks, the mysterious lady who had no next of kin since the passing of her husband, Reginald, some 30 years ago.  All of the North-East Moncton community seems to be effected in some way. 

"We tried to tell her, really, we did." Says Amelia Petters a 35 year-old mother of two.  She is clearing her lawn of debris this morning with her son.  Both are home today, shaken by the events of last night.  "She made it obvious that she didn't want our help.  When we offered to take her to that new retirement home just on down the street, she threatened to turn us into frogs!  She wasn't all that there."

We spoke with Ms. Broomstick last Saturday, three days after she was told that her house was unstable. "Why's anyone got's to move 'round here.  Ain't none of their business where I live." she said in an interview with the Blackville Talon that evening while sitting around her kitchen table.  "I'll leave on my own time, I will!" 

Police are ruling out any kind of foul play in this case, however, officers say that there is a possibility that she was not in her house at all during the time of the collapse.  They are urging anybody with information that could aid in the search for Gertrude Broomsticks or her body to please come forward. 

We asked Billy, the son of Amelia Petters, what he felt about the disappearance of Ms. Broomsticks, and as his theory stands, "she probably melted."

An Artist, His Legacy

For this assignment, I was asked to find and analyse three online news story.  I chose this particular one from The Globe And Mail that uses the opening of a new art gallery in Vancouver to talk about the life, death and legacy of one of New York's most influential artist of today:

The first sentence is not that important to you unless you know who Tobias Wong was.  However, the paragraph that fallows is more exciting to look at.  It "talks him up" and makes him seem to have a god-like superiority in the realm of modern-day artists.  

As you read on, you are given the most important pieces of information you need to remember after shutting down and walking away from your computer:

1. He died prematurely and at such a young age. 
2. He was an inspirational and highly effective conceptual artist. 

These are some of the facts that we will most likely talk about in a casual conversation with our friends or co-workers when we begin to talk about different artists and their roles in society.

Next, the article gives us the Five W's of their news story.

When: This is a current news story.  He died at the age of 35, two years ago. 
Why: the article helps make the case that Wong is among the most influential designers of his time. 
Where: his art is on display in Vancouver, he worked in New York city.  
What: answers what he was know for: created works that scrutinized and poked fun at North American consumer culture, what he had done to the art scene.  
Who: Tobias Wong, the people who knew him personally, Andy Warhol (where he got his inspiration.)

There are many quotes in this news story.  One example comes from Viviane Grosselin, who talks about just how unique and vast his art style was:

“I think that’s a sign when people can’t put you in a box because your work can’t be easily defined, because you’re defining new terms, new boundaries. And I think that’s [part] of the evidence that his work and his career are exceptional and remarkable.” -Viviane Gosselin, co-curator of the exhibition and the MOV’s curator of contemporary issues

The ending is very moving.  It suggests that you should not be saddened by the loss of this great artist, or by the loss of the works of art that could have been produced in the years he had left, but that you should be made happy by the art and legacy that he has left behind before his dying breath.  His work will continue to inspire a generation.
__________
*Here is a link to the article, just in case you were interested in reading it yourself: [link]

Abused Infant From Edmonton: Still holding on...

For this assignment, I was asked to find and analyse three online news story.  I chose this particular one from The Canadian Press that discusses the court ruling involving the parents of a two year old girl who was brought to cardiac arrest and then into a comma after having been abused and neglected by the people who were supposed to care for her most:

The lead is effective because the idea of removing a girl off life support is such a tragic thing that it directs our attention to the page.  It is emotionally driven and makes you want to read more:

Alberta's top court has upheld a judge's ruling that a two-year-old child allegedly abused by her parents should be taken off life support.

Right from the get-go we are given the most important pieces of information we need to know after walking away from the paper:

1. What the parents are being charged for: aggravated assault, criminal negligence causing bodily harm and failing to provide the necessities of life.  
2. They will only get to spend 20mins with their daughter to say thier final goodbyes.  

These are some of the facts that we will most likely talk about in a casual conversation with our friends or co-workers when the topic of the incident and its hearing is brought up.

Next, the article gives us the Five W's of their news story.

When: This is a current news story.  The hearing and decision on charges were conducted this week.  
Why: Talks briefly about why they are being charged (doesn't give exact detail.)
Where: Edmonton, Alberta
What: The "what" in this story mainly answers the questions "what is going on?" and "what has happened?":  The girl is going into palliative care, the couple had been neglecting their children, etc.
Who: Involves the family (the girl, her twin sister, their parents), the court and the judge.  

There are no quotes in this news story.  It is very short, so perhaps it is not needed.

The ending of this news story is also nothing special.  Being a short article, it only says what it needs to, telling you all you need to know from the resent updates on the case.  It then ends abruptly after their is nothing left to say.
__________
*Here is a link to the article, just in case you were interested in reading it yourself: [link]

waking up to... WHAT?!

 

For this assignment, I was asked to find and analyse one online news story.  I chose this particular one from (abc) News that discussed multiple incidents of surgical mishaps that took place at Rhode Island Hospital in the United States:


The lead for this story provided us with a staggering statistical statement:

"...wrong-site operations have taken place five times since 2007."  

I feel that this was an effective way to really grasp the reader's wondering eyes.  It felt as though the page was screaming at us to simply "read more!"

Right from the get-go we were given the most important pieces of information we needed to know after walking away from the paper:

1. The amount of surgical errors in the relatively short amount of time: 5 in 2 years
2. The amount of money that the hospital has been fined: $150,000

These are the facts that we will most likely bring up in a casual conversation with our friends or co-workers when the topic is brought up.

Next, the article gave us the Five W's of their news story.

When: Between the years of 2007-2009
Why: Talks about the importance and the urgency of finding a possible solution to the situation 
Where: at Rhode Island Hospital  
What: Wrong-site surgeries
Who: gives us views from staff at the hospital and others from positions within the US medical field 

In the news story, the news paper quoted the chair of surgery for Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, Arizona.  He commented on the use of cameras in in operating rooms, saying that it was like expecting that the use of cameras in the cockpit of planes will reduce errors the pilots make.  (You can see this in the image to the below.)

It is interesting to see how the writer of this story can make you want to choose to side with those who were being critical of the hospital, while still maintaining the article's neutrality until the end.  It gave us a quote. It does not come out and say it itself, but it is clear that it wants you to feel that they should have fixed the problem by now.

"It'll get fixed, but I would have said that when I saw the story two years ago." 
-Dr. Sidney Wolfe

__________
*Here is a link to the article, just in case you were interested in reading it yourself: [link]

Journalism History: America's First Newspapers

Taking these early North-American newspapers –Publick Occurrences & The Halifax Gazette- at face value, the one of the first things you notice is the absence of photographs.  At this point in history, the camera had not yet been invented, so the make-up of the newspaper was mainly textual.  Rather than pictures, copies of inked images made by artists line the tops or bottoms to decorated the page.

Artistic rendition of the first issue
of the Halifax Gazette being
published. Canada's first newspaper.

One of the two newspapers, Publick Occurrences in Boston, in which I was asked to look at, had once been shut down for being too critical about the United States.

Personal freedom is an import aspect of a democratic society, however, there are some instances where defensive protocols must be made.  Now, as seen in the recent events of the Arab Spring, revolutions are now brought about through personal publishing through the Internet.  Blogs, a distinct form of Journalism and social media, are very popular in the Middle East for the purpose that the government has no control over who says what if you post under a different name than your own.  In some countries, as in Egypt, certain websites had to be temporarily shut down because of the aid it gave to the protesters.

Yet, even more recently, we are provided with a very good example of a situation where the government must and does intervene: what happened with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge while in France.  

Malicious journalism existed back then, and it clearly exists in the world today.  Gossip and the need to retaliate to make change are deeply ingrained in human nature.  The absence of those two things can only ever subsist in the mind of an idealist.