ethics

1. What (if any) are the ethical dilemmas faced by both filmmakers when shooting these documentaries?

*Do these people know how they are being portrayed? In Grey Gardens the women did not see that they way they lived was different from anyone else.

* In the titicut follies is there anyway for these men to really give their consent? The men shown had many kinds of mental illnesses. There is no way they would know what was going on. In both films the filmmaker probably struggled with weather or not their subjects knew what was fully going on.

2. Should they have used all of the footage or only some of it? How should that be determined?

*When doing a documentary everything is fair game. If the subject is doing something in front of the camera then it can be used.

3. What would you do as a journalist or documentary storyteller?

* In both of these films there was a very interesting yet sometimes disturbing story. As a journalist or documentary story teller, I think that a story should be told, but because documentaries are seen as art they can sometimes go further than a journalist can. As a journalist I would do feature stories, but because of a money and time factor the whole story may be hard to discover. A documentary storyteller has more time to learn about their subject.

Frontline

I was surprised to see that the creator of rocketboom did not think of himself as a journalist. Viewers and critics of the show put him into that catagory. This kind of situation can be dangerous. If viewers think a blogger or vlogger is fair and balanced, but the creator does not see themselves as a news source, people could be getting slanted information that they think is unbiased.

The producer of the daily show said somthing like he does not think the media is doing there job. I agree with where he is coming from. It seems like the media is tenative to report the government sometimes for fear of backlash. It is sad that any media outlit has to be cautious about what they print or report on.

CBS and ABC both have areas on their websites for viewers to add the content. I like the idea of people being able to report on things they have seen, heard, or experienced. Being a participant instead of just a consumer. Having these large media corporations facilitate these spaces allows information to be checked. I think that Americans can contribute a lot to our media today, reporting now does not have to be somthing that only a select few are allowed to do.

Mayor West

1. When referring to the allegation that Mayor Jim West was pursuing underage boys online, why do you think editor Steven Smith differentiated between a legitimate news story and one that is not legitimate when he said, "If he's [Mayor Jim West] engaged in this activity … we need to know that. If he's not -- there's no story" ?

*Steven Smith made this statement, because news is what actually happens not rumors about what happens.

2. How did reporter Bill Morlin justify the use of a concealed identity on Gay.com as part of The Spokesman-Reviews and the FBI's "sting operation"? Why didn't Morlin himself create the assumed identity to engage Mayor West online?

* Bill Morlin justified using the sting operation by saying that the Spokesman-Review has rules which do not allow him to lie about who he is to conduct the sting. He then said that there are no rules about hiring someone to operate the sting. Morlin could not conduct the sting because it was against guidelines that Spokesman reporters must follow,

3. Why do you think The Spokesman-Review ultimately published so many articles on Mayor West's alleged improprieties?

* After thinking about the decisions the spokesman review made concerning Mayor West, I can only deduce that they wanted to sell papers. This story was a big scandal, but I still do not think West was charged with any of the things the spokesman-review accused him of. If West has no charges against him, then why was this such a big story?

4. In the final analysis, who benefited from The Spokesman-Reviews decision to expose Mayor West and his alleged improprieties? Who was hurt? Do you think the outcome was worth it? Explain your reasoning.

* The Spokesman-Review benefited, because they made some money. The mayor benefited, because he does not have to hide that he is gay any longer.
*The Spokesman-Review was hurt because they did not really break anything except that the mayor was gay. He was not charged with rape which is what they accused him of, and he was not charged with molesting children, the FBI even stopped their investigation. I think that this story hurt their credibility, because everything they accused the mayor of was found to be false.

5. The Spokesman-Review has been criticized as conducting a "witch hunt" in its reporting on the private lives of some city officials. Below is a link to another recent article on Spokane Deputy Mayor Jack Lynch. Do you think that there are any ethical problems in the reporting in this story? Why or why not?

*Yes,a community should be able to trust their elected officials. If West did molest boys in the 70's then he should have been tried in court. The community should know about sexual predators. After the accusation West was never convicted, the paper should have reported on that just as intensely as the did the accusation. Sometimes when people vilify someone it is hard to be fair and balanced, but that was the journalists job. Ultimately I feel the journalist and editor failed at looking at all angels of the story.

International News: Exploring News Beyond the U.S.

1. How effective do you think the Internet will be for Al Jazeera as it attempts to reach a U.S. audience?

I think the Internet will be very effective for Al Jazeera. I am just speculating, but I think that most people are turned off of the broadcast because of the name. The Internet will give people a chance to see what Al Jazeera is about. I don't think I would know about the station if I were not in this class. I wonder where people will learn about Al Jazeera online.

2. Based on your own observations, do you think that Al Jazeera English should be allowed to broadcast in the U.S.?

There is so much going on outside of the U.S I don't think they have to. When I watched the station there was information about War and Genocide that I had never seen in the U.S papers. I like how they don't focus on things that are going on here, because we have so many papers and broadcast stations that focus much of their news on the U.S.

3. What, if anything, do you notice about Al Jazeera's approach to telling the news? How is it different than the U.S.-based TV news outlets that you have experienced?

One thing I noticed is that the journalists were in the area's that they were reporting on. One reporter was shown talking to a man in an African prison, and also in an African Court Room. I feel like in the U.S news this same story would be shown with images and a voice over, but most likely not shown at all. I also experienced more violence than on U.S news stations. Right now so much of our news is about the U.S economy, I haven't heard much about other struggles people around the world are facing.


4. While on the Al Jazeera site, be sure to check out the network's published Code of Ethics. Based on your own observations, do you think they are adhering to them?

Yes, the stories I watched were diverse and seemed to be reporting on what was going on.

Russia Today
This station reminded me a lot of U.S news While I watched they discussed the upcoming Olympics, and also the NCAA tournament. They did have A U.S DJ talking about how Obama is a liar. I was surprised, I haven't heard anyone in the U.S openly talk about their distaste for Obama.

After watching these for 1.5 hours livestream would not re-open on my computer.

Feeding the Beast

What is the beast? The beast is the end result. The broadcast the paper, whatever the final product is. This beast wants to be fed stories. I liked how the program said that reporters are creating a menu for the beast. This statement is true, the news room has to take all of the stories it gets and sift through them to find what id edible.

The business of the media is so fast paced, I am surprised there is not more mistakes. The biggest struggle would be sifting through the stories and deciding what gets reported and what does not.

Second phase lead

Police are still searching for Angela Melissa Norton, a four-year old girl that went missing 24hours ago.

Angela went missing yesterday, Samuel R. and Maria L. Norton went out to dinner and a movie and hired Nancy Bonner to watch their daughter. Bonner said she put the child to bed at 9p.m. and then fell asleep on the couch. When the Norton's arrived home their daughter was missing.

In the last 24 hours law enforcement have knocked on every door in a six block radius, asking neighbors if they have seen the young girl.

"We are begging anyone who might have seen our daughter to please call the police or us. She has never been away from home without us, and we are certain that she must be terrified not to be in her own home. Please, anyone who has information, please let us know" said Maria Norton outside of the family home.

Story 1

Chelsea Hoffman
February 9, 2008
2009 Graduates job search




With13 weeks left until graduation, students around campus are searching for their first career.
The media coverage on mass layoffs by companies like Boeing, Target and Starbucks creates a stressful situation for 2009 Grads. Kyle Vetter, Senior PR major, says that a company has already told him they will not be hiring due to the bad economy. Vetter is worried that the economy is affecting his opportunities for employment.
Stefany Unda, Senior Career Counselor at the WSU Career Development Center says that it is a normal for people to feel anxiety when searching for a job. In our current economy though some industries are shrinking, some are also growing. For example federal job opportunities are currently rising says Unda.
One advantage of being a new grad is that for the most part they will be applying for entry-level positions. Unda says that these positions have more favorable openings. Unlike mid level-blue collar positions which are more difficult to find, and also have a higher un-employment rate.
For students currently looking for work in a specific industry the career center will be a useful resource. Unda can show you current employment rates in your desired field. This can help compare your feelings about the job market to what is actually out there.
To increase chances of employment, Unda shared several helpful tips: First, make sure your resume is up to date.
Second, Select stories about your self that can be used for several types of interview questions. Find common interview questions, and then figure out 5-10 accomplishments that can be presented from any angle.
Third, Own at least 2 suits so that you have something different to wear for a second interview.
Fourth, plan ahead. “Someone in one month can find any job that requires their degree, but maybe they aren’t happy” Unda states. In this economy it will take about 6-9 months to find a job that meets a persons specific career goals”.
Fifth, networking is the job search method that has the highest return rate for offers. At the Student Advising Center counselors can help create a networking plan. This process allows students to map out who they know, how well they know each person, and how the individuals would react to an email or conversation about professional advice.
Washington State University is holding a Career Fair on Wednesday, Feb. 18 from 9a.m. to 3p.m. This year, there are fewer vendors than usual says Unda. There will be about one hundred. During times when the economy is better the fair will house around 200 vendors.
According to Unda the drop in vendors is not unusual. She has worked with the fair for the last 6 years and there have been 3 dips in the economy in that time, creating dips in career fair vendors. For instance before 9/11 the economy boomed, after 9/11 the economy went down. The fair has a lower attendance this year compared to last year, but the Career Development Center expected the change.

Summary Lead

Italy woman sent to clinic to die

A woman at the centre of the right-to-die debate in Italy has been moved to a clinic where she will be allowed to die after 17 years in a vegetative state.

Eluana Englaro was transferred by ambulance overnight to the private facility in the northern city of Udine.

The Vatican and anti-euthanasia groups have strongly opposed the move.

In November, Italy's highest court ruled Ms Englaro's feeding tubes could be withdrawn, but the health ministry then warned state clinics not to do it.

On Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI added his voice to the debate about euthanasia, calling it a "false solution" to the tragedy of suffering.

"The true response cannot be to give death, even if it is seemingly more soothing, but to show the love that can help people face pain and agony in a human way," he said in his weekly address.

But the pope did not mention Ms Englaro, 37, who has been in a permanent vegetative state since a car crash in 1992.

Her father, Beppino, has been battling with the courts in Italy to let her die since 1999, insisting it was her wish.

Court battle

The ambulance carrying Ms Englaro left the Catholic clinic in the northern town of Lecco, near Milan, at around 0130 (0030 GMT).

A small crowd of anti-euthanasia activists gathered outside the building and tried to prevent the vehicle from leaving. Some of the protesters shouted "Eluana, wake up", and "Don't kill her".

In July, a court in Milan ruled that doctors had proved Ms Englaro's coma was irreversible. It also accepted that, before the accident, she had expressed a preference for dying over being kept alive artificially.

State prosecutors appealed against the ruling, but the Court of Cassation in Rome ruled the challenge inadmissible in November.

The Italian health ministry subsequently issued an order barring all hospitals in the region from withdrawing Ms Englaro's life support, but this was overruled by a court in Milan on 21 January.

A private geriatric clinic in Udine then said it would receive her and allow her to die.

Italian Welfare Minister Maurizio Sacconi said the government was investigating her transfer.

The Vatican's Health Minister, Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, described the decision to move her as "abominable".

"Stop this murder!" he told the newspaper, La Repubblica.

Italy does not allow euthanasia. Patients have a right to refuse treatment, but they are not allowed to give advance directions on what treatment they wish to receive if they become unconscious.

the winner!

4.)success getting a job after graduation: Are graduates finding jobs? Canadian paper says that grad school applications are up because of economy. How are May 2008 graduates doing? 3 tips from career center on how to survive in this economy.

Pitch ideas

1.)GLBTA: A story about what has changed for them since the attacks on campus. How do they feel now. Did the university "community" make them feel safe.

2.)athletic dept economy: WSU has so many cut backs in store, is the athletic dept required to make cuts also?

3.)local business owners and economy: How are local business owners dealing with the economy? What changes are they making to make it through this recession?

4.)success getting a job after graduation: Are graduates finding jobs? Canadian paper says that grad school applications are up because of economy. How are May 2008 graduates doing? 3 tips from career center on how to survive in this economy.

5.)20th century artists: How do you deal with environmental issues? being green has become a hot word, how are you dealing with pressure to go green? With economy has it been hard to sell work, getting commissioned?

6.) Indian students thoughts on Indian Pakistan conflict: What do 5 Indian WSU students think about the conflict? How has it affected them. and their families. What will it take to end conflict?

web critique

here are my web sites:

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/

http://www.sltrib.com/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/

The Miami Times site is geared towards a younger audience. When I first looked at the site the two headlines that grabbed my attention were:
Girl Scout Cookies Hit Streets, Scared of Salmonella?
and
Haha, Obama! Huizenga Rids Himself of Dolphins

The first story that appeared on the page was about Obama's inauguration. Other stories at the top of the scroll talked about the best thing to do in Miami on that particular day, and the success of a local hip hop group.
The site does have a national news section, but I could not find a world section. It seems to be more focused on art, entertainment, and food in Miami.

The Salt Lake Tribune reminded me of a standard news site, 90% of the stories were about Obama. The only frustrating thing is that a huge cars sales ad. popped up and was hard to close. The top of the scroll consisted of Obama and health issues that Utah is facing. This papers target reader seems to be individuals that are more conservative, and possibly have families. This site is more fair and balanced than the miami times, because there seems to be more information about things going on around the state beyond entertainment.

The BBC seems to be the most fair and balanced out of the three I picked. All of the stories at the top of the scroll were all about different places and events. The biggest difference is that at the top of the site was a small sports section. The Miami Times and Salt Lake Tribune all had sports sections just not at the top. The target reader for this paper seemed to be buisness men and women.

If I had to pick between these three to read I would split up my reading between The Miami Times and BBC. The Miami times stories are fun and off beat, and the BBC covers a broad scope of stories from around the world.

My first Day in J305

I have a new blog! yippee!