Response to Sydney's Post

I really liked how Sydney sydneyblocker.blogspot.com went in depth about how much she learned through the lecture of newspapers. Connecting it to social studies was a good comparison, because they really do have alot to do with each other. She also made a good point about how you have to write your articles I.P. style, putting all the important information in the beginning, and details later because you never know where your article might get cut off! Her post was  very well written and hit all the points that we discussed in class.

Response to Gabi's Blog

I liked Gabi's post gabib99.blogspot.com about the invention of the printing press. She was honest about her opinion about what she thought would've been the most important invention. Her thoughts and ideas about how the world would be without the moveable type printing press were on point. There would be ALOT more illiterate people, information wouldn't get around as fast, and the Protestant Reformation probably wouldn't have happened, leaving everyone forced to believe what the Higher Powers told them. Things would be totally different if it wasn't for Gutenberg's invention.

Recordings

The invention of recording was a big thing. Music was used to spread entertainment and news around. Before the invention of recording, music had to be spread from village to village. To me, this seems like a long time to get a message to someone! Thinking of all the different languages everyone spoke, different cultures everyone had, how could they possibly understand eachother? Message distortion was a  big problem with this. Messages would often get changed around and turned into something totally different than what it originally meant.I think many of the old songs and hymnals we have today went through these phases and probably meant something different back than when the song was first made. But ever since recording was made possible, things in the music industry started to get better. Information through music could spread faster and better, and it also taught different cultures other languages, unifying us. from the late 1800's to the early 1900's things were starting to look up for music and recording. From that point on set the path for all the things we have today.

Media Critique Obama and the 'Red Line'

'Red line' just one of roughly 500 Obama promises that have come and gone. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/09/22/red-line-just-one-roughly-500-obama-promises-that-have-come-and-gone/

Fox News has claimed that President Obama has not been keeping his campaign promises he has made since becoming president in 2008. He keeps "re-drawing" the red line for Republicans threatening to shut down the government over ObamaCare. The article says "The president has had mixed success in keeping that vow over the past few years...However, in 2011 he failed to reach a “grand bargain” with House Republicans over the debt ceiling, forcing both sides to eventually accept a series of drastic spending cuts known as sequester." President Obama responded that by saying that the sequester wasn't his idea, it was Congress'. This is a violation of one of the Nine Core Principles of Journalism: Verification. Fox News has no recordings of other sources or witnesses besides what they are saying. This article only has one point of view; from a republican.
 Another violation of the Core Principal: Truth. The article says "President Obama vowing that Syria would “cross a red line” by using chemical weapons is far from the only marker he’s laid down or promise he’s tried to keep since running for president in 2008." Which is simply bashing Obama in how he is dealing with the chemical weapon situation. The whole truth is in fact not being told. From a different new source, the article "Obama: U.S. concludes Syria carried out chemical weapons attacks" from http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/28/world/meast/syria-civil-war/index.html says that "

"We do not believe that, given the delivery systems, using rockets, that the opposition could have carried out these attacks. We have concluded that the Syrian government in fact carried these out," Obama told "NewsHour."

"And if that's so, then there need to be international consequences," the president added.

Obama said that he has "not made a decision" about whether to conduct a military strike in Syria." CNN states more acurate facts, and also has more sources whereas Fox News is reporting false information about President Obama.

Violation of the Core Principle: Inclusive. Fox News is stating some of the truth, but not the whole truth. it says here, "The president appeared to try to blur the red line when he said earlier this month: "I didn’t set a red line. The world set a red line. … My credibility isn't on the line. The international community’s credibility is on the line." President Obama did NOT set a red line. He says “I didn’t set a red line. The world set a red line.” from the article "President Obama and the ‘red line’ on Syria’s chemical weapons" from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/wp/2013/09/06/president-obama-and-the-red-line-on-syrias-chemical-weapons/ 

Fox News is a more conservative point of view. Instead of just showing one side of the story, informing the people with both sides of the story would be more helpful and insightful for those reading the news. When writing an article, telling the whole truth and not leaving any important or key facts out, even if it doesn't agree with what you believe in. This is the Core Principle: Room For Dissent. Not letting morales and beliefs getting in the way of doing a job is an important part of being a journalist.

 

 

Conglomeration

Conglomeration. It can be good in some ways..or bad. Before we learned the concept of conglomeration in class, I was thinking "This is probably the most selfish thing someone could possibly do." But, after listening to the lecture, conglomeration actually is helpful in some ways. Think about it, why not eliminate some competition, and just buy all the companies? More money can be made, and less problems to deal with competitiors. This is also a risky move to make. What happens if your business fails and invested all your money in buying all these companies? This is also a hassle for employees. Many people lose or have to compete for their jobs becuase there are less openings. There is also less diversity for consumers. All the designs look the same? Sorry! Can't get these anywhere else. Conglomeration can also be a dangerous thing. Businesses can be in trouble because this certain company doesn't want to produce your stuff. Where else can you go? Oh right, there's nowhere to go because all the other companies have been bought. There are shortcuts around this though, so the process isn't completely torn apart. Anyway, conglomeration has its pros and cons, but most of the time can be used for the better.

Newspapers

Newspapers...over 100 years old. Why are they still around? In class we discussed the invention of the earliest printed newspapers, and why we still use them today. Newspapers could easily be replaced by technology. We can see the news on t.v. and online, why do we need to see it on paper? The reasons given in class were really good points that i didn't even think about. Newspapers are non-linear and saveable, so we can just go back and read the news from a month ago! It is also a tangible object, so I can carry it around with me all the time. I don't think I would want to carry around my laptop all day just to read the news. The sunday paper only costs like $1.50, so why not buy it? Newspapers are so cheap, bascially anyone can afford them. This next fact I actually found kind of interesting. Newspapers have diverse content in them, something for everyone to do. Crosswords, sports section, comics, you name it. All these other inventions like magazines and other things that came AFTER the newspaper are demassified, but newspapers aren't? and also, newspapers have been around since the days that the U.S. was just becoming a country. why would we want to just throw away and replace such a traditional thing? Im sure newspapers have a long way to go in the future.

Magazines

In class we had a lecture on the history of magazines and its innovations. I didn't really think or know much about magazines or the history about them until this. It was actually kind of interesting to find out all those things I didn't know about, like how magazines were the first to start doing Photojournalism. This is basically the start of how photojournalism started to spread...through magazines! I also didnt know that investigative reporters started out in magazines. I actually thought these innovations started in newspapers, but newspapers back then were only used for, well, the news. Comparing the newspapers from today to the first ones that were printed, newspapers today have more characteristics of magazines. Photojournalism, investigative reporters, it's all in there. I was also surpised at the fact that magazines were the 1st mass medium and advertising with a national audience. This set our  nations identit. this identified the U.S. What we like to read, do, wear, etc. I learned alot of new and interesting things about the invention of magazines.