As I began reading True Enough, I immediately thought of this as the follow up to Neil Postman’s Amusing Ourselves to Death. Postman’s main idea was that the dominant medium determines all aspects of the society. My analysis of Postman, much like my take on Manjoo, is that as we move into the digital age the Internet is becoming the way to communicate and get most information. With the Internet, much like Postman said of television and Manjoo alluded to, people will be able to select the news they want to read, or watch, thus creating a less informed public, which can only amount to a biased, uneducated society.
In regards to the question Manjoo asked at the end of the introduction, “How can so many people who live in the same place see the world so differently?” my answer is a compilation of various things. I believe people think that the Internet is published work; researched, fact checked, and written by experts. I think people are suspicious of government and big business corruption, allowing them to second guess government and the press, and assume conspiracy in the case of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. My final theory is that background and education determine which side of each of these one believes. Most people follow their parents’ political association. Therefore, if one’s parents are suspicious of conspiracy, he is likely to also be suspicious.
Addressing the Swift Boat Veterans choosing which road to take, something that is not in question, or something that has no solid facts, they chose a middle ground which could neither be dispelled nor confirmed. What baffles me is that the American people have an overly abundant amount of resources available at their fingertips, but believe something that is not verifiable, and is only built on the words and stories of this group of men.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Election cost
I think there may be a correlation between the historical impact of the election and the amount of money put into it. Or maybe the correlation is between the importance of the election and the amount spent.
I think the increase in the amount of fund raising on part of the democrats shows the belief supporters have in Obama.
Each election, the amount of money raised and spent increases. This gives a glimpse of what is to come for future presidential elections. This may be the world's priciest election yet. But given the increases each election, four years from now, will be the most expensive election the world has seen, and the trend will continue.
The only reason the trend of increasing cost of elections will break is if the the election and change of president is not historical and the state of the country is better, in terms of economy, war, and the environment
I think the increase in the amount of fund raising on part of the democrats shows the belief supporters have in Obama.
Each election, the amount of money raised and spent increases. This gives a glimpse of what is to come for future presidential elections. This may be the world's priciest election yet. But given the increases each election, four years from now, will be the most expensive election the world has seen, and the trend will continue.
The only reason the trend of increasing cost of elections will break is if the the election and change of president is not historical and the state of the country is better, in terms of economy, war, and the environment
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Tampa tribune - John Allman
John Allman, staff writer for the Tampa Tribune, greeted the class of 12 journalism students in the lobby. He escorted them up the elevator, through the newsroom, and into a conference room, which had a glass wall dividing it and the newsroom.
“We have allowed journalism to be muddied by opinions,” Allman said as he began discussing the hurdles journalism is facing. He continued to tell how the public tends to place blame on the media, and they think media has a distinct bias.
Allman did not use this opportunity to lecture and give a list of to-dos and not-to-dos. Instead, he gave life lessons to the aspiring journalists by telling personal accounts of how he learned these lessons the hard way, including humor and animation in his stories.
Telling the class something, they presumably already knew, Allman explained how in anything in life, especially journalism, one’s integrity is his backbone. All a journalist has is her name. It is attached to everything she does.
Allman, an investigative journalist, talked about why this type of journalist has to set their bar even higher.
“You hold someone’s livelihood in your hands,” Allman said.
Allman told a story about how the media attacked his family when he was younger, but understood both sides. He hated that reporters were standing in front his parents’ house, but also said if it was his story he would be doing the same thing as those reporters.
He told of how one of his stories put the public housing authority in check because they would not treat one of their own, a board member, as they did everyone else. His story shed light on something no one would have done anything about, otherwise.
Allman encouraged the students to put themselves in uncomfortable situations and allow themselves to be vulnerable. But stressed safety first, he said to always take someone with you when you’re going into a bad or unfamiliar area, and to never turn your back on your subject.
He told the young reporters to put their heart and soul, and long hours into their first job. Ask hard questions, make people uncomfortable, and never say I wish I had asked that question or pushed to do that a different way.
“No one cared, but it made me a better reporter,” Allman said about throwing himself into his career early on.
Allman has two fall backs as a journalist: public records, and being good at talking to people, and easy to talk to.
His last words to the class were to look at the world with very open eyes, everything is an opportunity.
“We have allowed journalism to be muddied by opinions,” Allman said as he began discussing the hurdles journalism is facing. He continued to tell how the public tends to place blame on the media, and they think media has a distinct bias.
Allman did not use this opportunity to lecture and give a list of to-dos and not-to-dos. Instead, he gave life lessons to the aspiring journalists by telling personal accounts of how he learned these lessons the hard way, including humor and animation in his stories.
Telling the class something, they presumably already knew, Allman explained how in anything in life, especially journalism, one’s integrity is his backbone. All a journalist has is her name. It is attached to everything she does.
Allman, an investigative journalist, talked about why this type of journalist has to set their bar even higher.
“You hold someone’s livelihood in your hands,” Allman said.
Allman told a story about how the media attacked his family when he was younger, but understood both sides. He hated that reporters were standing in front his parents’ house, but also said if it was his story he would be doing the same thing as those reporters.
He told of how one of his stories put the public housing authority in check because they would not treat one of their own, a board member, as they did everyone else. His story shed light on something no one would have done anything about, otherwise.
Allman encouraged the students to put themselves in uncomfortable situations and allow themselves to be vulnerable. But stressed safety first, he said to always take someone with you when you’re going into a bad or unfamiliar area, and to never turn your back on your subject.
He told the young reporters to put their heart and soul, and long hours into their first job. Ask hard questions, make people uncomfortable, and never say I wish I had asked that question or pushed to do that a different way.
“No one cared, but it made me a better reporter,” Allman said about throwing himself into his career early on.
Allman has two fall backs as a journalist: public records, and being good at talking to people, and easy to talk to.
His last words to the class were to look at the world with very open eyes, everything is an opportunity.
Monday, September 29, 2008
PIO- Debbie Carter
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer, Debbie Carter made a presentation at our Public Affairs Reporting class Thursday evening. Carter handed out samples of crime reports, affidavits and a copy of the Florida public records statue.
Carter's presentation was informative and entertaining. Although her PowerPoint was broken, she threw out some jokes throughout to hold the class's attention.
Carter began by discussing her role at the sheriff’s office, which is to cooperate and assist media with events in Hillsborough County. She publishes about 500 press releases, conducts about 600 interviews, and has about 18,000 contacts with the media each year.
She continued discussing some history of public records and Florida Statute 119. Before 1974, law enforcement officials did not have to give public records to the media. Statute 119 is the public records statute; it states what a public record is. Anything that is public record can be accessed by anyone.
Police have the right and responsibility to protect evidence while following public record law. For example, when a case is still open and under investigation, they will release the time, place, and event that occurred. The name, address and sex of an adult arrested, or a juvenile booked with a felony will also be released to the media.
Some pieces of information not released by the sheriff’s office are: identity of a victim of a sex crime, child abuse or neglect; identity of a deceased person until next of kin has been notified; cause of death until determined by the medical examiner; evidential information; contents of a suicide note; and the monetary value of property/money taken in a robbery,
Carter is very knowledgeable about the media, because of her many years working so closely with members of the media.
Carter's presentation was informative and entertaining. Although her PowerPoint was broken, she threw out some jokes throughout to hold the class's attention.
Carter began by discussing her role at the sheriff’s office, which is to cooperate and assist media with events in Hillsborough County. She publishes about 500 press releases, conducts about 600 interviews, and has about 18,000 contacts with the media each year.
She continued discussing some history of public records and Florida Statute 119. Before 1974, law enforcement officials did not have to give public records to the media. Statute 119 is the public records statute; it states what a public record is. Anything that is public record can be accessed by anyone.
Police have the right and responsibility to protect evidence while following public record law. For example, when a case is still open and under investigation, they will release the time, place, and event that occurred. The name, address and sex of an adult arrested, or a juvenile booked with a felony will also be released to the media.
Some pieces of information not released by the sheriff’s office are: identity of a victim of a sex crime, child abuse or neglect; identity of a deceased person until next of kin has been notified; cause of death until determined by the medical examiner; evidential information; contents of a suicide note; and the monetary value of property/money taken in a robbery,
Carter is very knowledgeable about the media, because of her many years working so closely with members of the media.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Research Research
My Public Affairs Reporting class went to the library to learn how to research public records. I discovered a lot of resources I was unaware of, and how to access them. The USF Tampa library has a plethora of research tools and tangibles.
The government records librarian, Cheryl McCoy, created this great resource page specifically for JOU 4181, Public Affairs Reporting. All the links she put up, are very direct to where one may need to go, or will redirect the researcher/journalist if need be. I will be using Cheryl's "Course Guide" frequently until I can no longer access it.
Unfortunately, when it comes to searching the Pinellas County website, I was already familiar with it, and its public records search. However, I did learn that a helpful tool can be the Pinellas County Sherriff's Office website, in addition to the criminal courts records search available through the Pinellas County website.
I also love the Clendinen Virtual Library. I love that I can directly access the current edition of the local newspapers. The Times website is too hard to navigate through sometimes. I found reading/searching the newspaper through Clendinen is much less of a headache.
I learned that the "Sunshine Laws" translates to a government under the sun--almost everything government related is open to the public--it can't hide from the sun. I also learned to access public records through the Attorney General's office. I never would have thought to go there. I also learned that there are Vital Records accessible through the state website that will give birth, death, marriage licenses, etc.
It was an eye opening class. There are tons of resources available that I didn't know about or think about, and I'm sure there are even more that I will discover on my path as a journalist.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
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