My Homework

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Homework #10-April 21, 2009-United States v. Matthews Case Analysis

United States v. Matthews (1998-99)

Background:

In 1996 reporter Larry Matthews said he was researching a freelance article about child pornography on the Internet. While doing research for the article Matthews sent and received child pornography. He said he had talked with editors about the story, but had no contract (not unusual for freelancers) and had no notes, story drafts, or interviews. Although he was a respected veteran journalist and had no history of sexual issues, he was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.

My Opinion:

I do think this case was fair. I believe that reporters must often operate “outside” of the general public, because “we are not like the people we serve.”  However, this does not give reporters the right to break the law. Further, if a story is important enough to break the law for, one should expect face the consequences of their actions. Even though Matthews had not had a history of sexual issues, does not mean that he can look at child porn, for research or otherwise. Every time he sent or received a picture, a child was being violated. That is what deserves punishment. I think the circumstances would be different if he had a contract, or anything in writing, because it would ensure that the content was being handled responsibly. That is the responsibility of journalists. We must protect ourselves, and more importantly, our reputation. Credibility is the backbone of our work. If the material had been pornography it would have been completely different. It is not illegal to look at pornography, produce pornography, or purchase pornography. Because the content violated the rights of children, and the reporter did not take the necessary legal steps to protect himself, I believe he was fairly punished. The Internet has made it even harder to protect journalists’ rights and credibility. Anyone with a computer can publish his or her thoughts, but it does not make it news. As an experienced journalist, Matthews should have known working with such a delicate subject matter means taking additional precautions to protect yourself and your integrity. 

 

Homeowrk #9- April 7- How Twitter is Used…

I had never been to
Twitter.com until this assignment. I signed-up and signed-on Twitter with no
problem. First thing, I see a message reading “Too Many Tweets.” I signed-off
and signed back in, and I see another message reading “Something is Technically
Wrong,” accompanied by random cartoon graphics of a whale, a robot, and a bird.
Needless to say, my first tweeting experience was not off to a good start.  When I finally got signed in, I began a search for news organizations, but the search tool was not working; however,the problem was fixed rather quickly. 
There were many news organizations to follow, so I chose FOX News, BBC,
USA Today, E! News, NBC News, NPR, Dallas News, Obama News, Breaking News, andCNN. I decided following 10 news organizations with a broad range of content
would be sufficient.  CNN mostly had live video about the Chris Brown court case linked to Twitter. The CNN homepage on Twitter was essentially 1-liners of news. For example “Emergency meeting of U.N. Security Council ends without official reaction to North Korean rocket launch” or “Satellite launched by North Korea did not make it to orbit, North American Aerospace Defense Command has said.” This is helpful in getting out breaking news, and keeping followers updated all day. While there is not much information provided, it does give the audience a feeling of connectivity with the media. It is one more way to keep the public informed as quickly as possible. I really liked Obama News, and the video that was a “note to the
public.” This defiantly shows how and why online media are taking their places as the next big medium. Yet, I do not understand how Twitter could be
used as a networking tool. CNN has over 800-thousand followers. Simply
commenting on stories does not seem like it would help in connecting with these
news organizations for career opportunities. I also think that, other than
immediacy, Twitter is not the answer to online journalism. I, personally, will
go straight to news organizations’ websites to get my news rather than going to
Twitter, to be linked back to the news organizations’ home page. 

 

Homework #8- March 31- Multimedia Story Analysis

I watched the multimedia story titled Marlboro Marine, by Luis Sinco. The piece was 16 minutes of raw emotion portrayed through audio and still shots of Marine Blake Miller and his experiences in the Iraq war. The piece starts with many still shots of the marines in Fallujah shown back to back, which gave the feeling of moving in slow motion.  The photos were of action like explosions and shooting weapons, but all the viewer heard were chimes. It was reminiscent of a wind chime on a front porch, and relayed the feeling of being at home. Sinco would use a black screen and white text to move the viewer from one scene to the next, and transition from the war to when Blake Miller was back at home. All of the still photos had audio of Miller’s voice explaining his emotions, and not what was happening in the picture. The audio and photos were complementary, not redundant. The story chronicled Miller in Fallujah fighting the war, his return to the U.S, his marriage and divorce, his emotional battle inside, and his contemplation of suicide. Sinco used the image of Miller smoking a cigarette throughout, and would come back to similar photos when transitioning from one major life change to the next (like marriage, divorce, and suicide.) Sinco used piano music under the audio of Miller’s voice, but at the end of the piece Sinco came back to the audio of the chimes he used at the beginning. This technique really brings the viewer back to the beginning of the video and was very effective. Sinco gave an epilogue at the end of the multimedia package. He spoke about how he captured all of the shots, and his emotional connection to Marine Blake Miller. This was a very effective multimedia piece, because it was the Marine who told the story, and the pictures allowed the viewer to understand where he was coming from. 

Homework #7- March 10- Digital Storytelling Cookbook: Seven Elements

7 Elements of Constructing a Story

1. A Point of View- Defining the specific realization you are trying to communicate within your story; the reason for the story.

2. A Dramatic Question- Set up a tension from the beginning that holds you until the story is over; once the question is answered, the story is over.

3. Emotional Content- A story that deals directly with the fundamental emotional paradigms will stake claims in our hearts.

4. The Gift of Your Voice- Reading vs. Reciting the script; the voice adds a lot to the story.

5. The Power of the Soundtrack- Make appropriate decisions about music that either play into or against the stereotype; the greater design of ambient sound or appropriate noises can add complexity to the narrative.

6. Economy- Usually the biggest problem in storytelling; the story can be effectively illustrated with a small number of images and video, and a relatively short text.

7. Pacing- Considered to be the true secret of storytelling; Changing pace is very effective; a good story breathes, and has time for a pause.

MediaStorm: The Ninth Floor by Jessica Dimmock

1. Point of View- The story is told from the ‘junkies’ point of view. The residents of the ninth floor are heroine addicts, and Dimmock tells the story from their perspective.
2. A Dramatic Question- The dramatic question is the package is what will happen to these addicts? Will these people survive? This is a very dramatic question, especially regarding people who are on the verge of death because of their own actions.
3. Emotional Content- Dimmock does a very good job showing the pain these people are feeling. They are introduced as individuals with unique stories, and as a viewer I became emotionally invested in their wellbeing in the 14-minute piece.
4. The Gift of Your Voice- Dimmock does not speak in the piece. The subjects do not speak often. Instead, Dimmock used text to introduce the scene/action and allowed still pictures to speak for themselves. This was effective and would not have been as emotionally involving if an outsider narrated it.
5. The Power of the Soundtrack- The music was the most powerful part of the package. The beginning was fast paced showing a montage of people shooting-up portraying a sense of chaos, and a feeling of desired seclusion. When individuals were introduced slow, piano music was all that played in the black background with white text. The feeling of seclusion and isolation was not longer desirable. The slow music would stop in between pictures to allow the viewer to take in the raw emotion, without disruption. The music changed often using different rhythms, beats, and tempos to keep the video moving. 
6. Economy- Although Dimmock used many pictures, she did not use much text or voice to relay the point of the package. The pictures stayed on the screen from three to five seconds a piece, and when the subjects were talking the pictures would have black screens between the stills shots, which would also slow down the pace.
7. Pacing- The pace of the package changed throughout. The music, the pictures, the voice (when it was used), and the content all dictated the pace of the package. Dimmock would pause, speed up, slow down, and stop. These changes kept me interested and involved. 

Homework #6- March 3- Crowdsourcing

KPRC Channel 2 Houston

Report Sheds Light on Racial Profiling

Bellaire, Texas-An annual report aimed at cutting down on racial profiling by police was presented to City Council members Monday.

The report is raising questions about the December shooting of Robert Tolan, an unarmed black resident, who was shot outside of his home.

The report shows 56 percent of the people stopped by police in 2008 were black or Hispanic, even though Bellaire’s population is more than 80 percent white.

Assistant Bellaire Police Chief Byron Holloway defended his department and says when broken down the report actually shows white drivers are pulled over most often.

-       White Drivers, 36%

-       Hispanics Drivers, 33%

-       Black Drivers, 23%

The report also showed the Bellaire Police Department did not receive a single complaint alleging racial profiling.

Please post any personal experiences you or anyone you know has had with racial profiling by the police or any official; Tell if the incident was reported (if no, why not).  

Original Story: Report Fuels Racial Profiling Controversy

Texas Legislators Talk Sex

 

 

 

Austin– A group of Democratic state lawmakers is working to change the Texas sex education law that leans towards abstinence-only instruction.

 Senator Rodney Ellis (of Houston) and Representative Joaquin Castro (of San Antonio) have introduced legislation they say would give teenagers complete, medically accurate and age-appropriate information.

The new legislation would effectively change Texas’ current sex-ed law.

Lawmakers said Monday that sex education is inconsistent throughout the state.

Democrats said families could opt out of the program if they did not want their student to receive instruction.

Please let us know what programs around your community are doing to help educate young adults on the realities of sexual intercourse.

 Check out the poll.

Original Story: Legislators: Current Sex Ed Law Inadequate

Abused Before Beheaded

A New York woman who was beheaded at her husband’s television station had reported spousal abuse several times in North Texas.

The body of Assiya Hassan, 36, was found at the Buffalo television station on Feb. 12, less than a week after she filed for divorce. Her husband, Muzzammil Hassan, 44, is accused in her death. Muzzammil Hassan is the founder of Bridges TV, a station that works to change Muslim stereotypes.

According to the Buffalo News, Assiya Hassan went to the local police in July 2007 to report spousal abuse. 

The paper reported Muzzammil Hassan “coerced” his wife into the bedroom where he pushed her on the bed, sat on her chest and pinned her arms and legs.

Flower Mound Police tried to charge Muzzammil Hassan with  felony assault and violating an order of protection, but his wife could not be contacted.

Please post any experiences with your local police department NOT acting on reported spousal abuse. 

Original Story: Woman had Reported Abuse in North Texas before Beheading 

Homework #5-Feb. 24, 2009

CANstruction Project Helps Build Community

This week teachers, students, and faculty at the University of North Texas will be putting their building abilities to the test in the CANstruction Project.

On February 25, at 2 p.m., 22 teams will start constructing sculptures from donated canned goods on the concourse of the UNT Coliseum.

Assistant Vice President of Student Development Maurine McGuinness says the project is a good way to get the entire campus involved, and the project corresponds with UNT’s year of community service, which the school started in January.

All of the canned food used in the contest will be donated to the Denton Community Food Center.

Only canned goods will be used to make the structure, no additional materials will be permitted during construction, and all can labels must remain intact. 

McGuinness says the DCFC is in need of food contributions, as donations have decreased in the last few months. She says it is important for UNT to support and serve the local community.

The project was set up by the Center for Students Rights and Responsibilities, and the UNT Volunteer Center. 

There is no limit to the number of members on each team, and all students are encouraged to participate. Among participating organizations from UNT are the Student Government Association, the Athletic Department, and the Housing Department, and the Greeks.

UNT Student Body President Jeff Kline says the SGA has well over 100 cans that have already been donated, and they plan to purchase more before the contest begins, if necessary. The SGA has not finalized a design for their structure, but Kline says they have a few different options.

The judges will stop all building at midnight, February 26th, and being critiquing the sculptures at 11 a.m.

The winning team will have the option of using the Gold, Silver, or Diamond Eagle Suite, in the Union, for an upcoming event. The second place team will get to pick a campus organization office for an event.

Friday, the 27th, all of the sculptures will be taken apart and the canned goods will be delivered to the DCFC. 

 

Homework #4- Feb. 16, 2009- A & B

A. (Exercise #2 Page 79)

The Next Big Thing

          The Web has changed the world in too many ways to mention. It has affected the way everyone does business, but that is especially true for journalists. The transition from broadcast and print news to news on the Web has changed the way people read, listen, view, and interact with the news. The Web has changed viewers’ expectations of immediacy. People no longer wait to hear the breaking news on the 5 o’clock newscast nor do they wait for the newspaper the next day. When news breaks, people head to the Web. The Web allows people to enjoy the news in whatever form they choose. Viewers can read the print version, watch the broadcast, look at pictures, respond to blogs or polls, and be linked to similar material all in the click of a button.  Print and broadcast news will not be phased out by the Web, as many people have projected; however, they will have to adjust to compete with a medium that provides every aspect of any story in one place, immediately. Broadcast and print journalists will have to learn to work with advancing technology in order to stay relevant.

      Journalists do not have to simply make deadline anymore; they must create and update stories online throughout the day. They must blog and update Web pages. Journalists have to be a “one-man-band.” They have to gather pictures, video, a story, and links to similar material. It is unrealistic for journalists not to work with more than one form of media.

         Just as the Web has changed the viewers’ expectations of how news is displayed, it has also changed their ideas’ of accessibility. Viewers do not want to have to search for content. It should all be in one place, or linked together. The availability of multiple media in one place is what makes the Web an ideal source of news. Giving the viewers/readers the ability to choose the way they view content makes the Web a paramount source of information.

         I am frightened by the prospect of multiple media from a journalistic standpoint. I have always gotten my news from the Web, but having to prepare all of that material is overwhelming. The days of only being a reporter, a photographer, or a camera-person have passed. Journalists have to be all-in-one if they are to be successful.   

B. The 5 I’s of my Hometown Website

Digital Storytelling: Its Own Genre

          KPRC, Channel 2 News, in Houston has a user-friendly website.  The broadcast channel seems to have stories written for the Web, and not “shoveled” onto the site. Their top stories, presented in a Flash Presentation on the home page, were linked to the full text version of the story, videos that were available, still pictures, links in the story to other information, and the option for viewers to comment on the content.  These options allow for involvement and interaction on the viewers part. It could be more interactive, with interactive games, a question of the day, or listing reporter’s e-mail in each story as a source for viewers/readers to turn to for further information, but the station is moving in the right direction. They do, however, have a quiz section offered in the “Fun Page.” The station takes advantage of the Web’s immediacy. For example, one main story about a local missing persons case has links to every previous story about the case. The site would often post two times a day to provide viewers with up-to-date information. The site practices “among-media integration.” The home page has links to CNN’s content for national stories. The site also takes advantage of “within-media integration.” The site integrates audio, still pictures, and missing persons fliers to tell the story. These three do not usually make it into the newscast alone as a cornerstone of the news. This site also does a very good job of being in-depth. The text provides a lot of information to the reader. The audio enhances the content. Pictures and video provide good visuals and the content is well organized. My only complaint as a user is the loading time. I would often loose interest and try to find another story when the picture, video, or story would take too long to load. 

Homework #3- Feb. 12, 2009- Story/Blog Comparison

I visited the New York Times website and looked at the world news. One of the stories was Iranian Official Visits Baghdad as Bombings Kill at Least 18. The story is written by Steven Lee Meyers on Feb 11, 2009. The story is factual. It is about Iran’s foreign minister visiting Iraq and improving foreign relations. However, the story is more focused on the bombings that occurred after the news conference (Since the Iranian foreign minister cited Iraq’s increased security and stability as the reason for not speaking with the US.) The blog linked to the page is Baghdad Bureau: Iranians Everywhere. The Baghdad Bureau is a daily blog produced by the Times staff in the Iraqi capital. The blog article is by Suadad Al-Salhy. This piece is written in first person. It is more personal and descriptive. It provides the reader a visual story, opposed to the NY Times article that is more factual and unbiased. The blog allows the author the express personal feelings and experiences he knows to be true.  The blog article focuses on the easing tensions between Iranians and Iraqi citizens. It acknowledges the small accomplishments in the region; like the ability for an Iranian person to drive down a back street in Baghdad. This is a detail that would not usually make it into a newscast because it is an unknown area, and it lacks salience. However, it is a way to mark progress, and by blogging his personal experience readers can measure progress outside of statistical data.  I think that these types of blogs are helpful to readers. They are not simply someone’s opinion, but rather someone’s experiences. It does not have to be 100% unbiased, as long as the content remains factual. People relate to feelings. It presents a greater sense of humanity when the reader knows that an Iranian can now travel trough a region safely to participate in a religous ceremony,  as opposed to reading that Iraqi and Iranian officials are speaking. 

Homework #2 – Feb 10, 2009 - Newspaper and TV Website Analysis

 Newspapers: New York Post and Ashland Daily Tidings

TV: wptv.com (Florida) and nbc4.tv (California)

The New York Post is a daily newspaper in New York, New York. The website has functionality. It is easy for viewers to use. The search bar is at the top of each page, the home page is available from anywhere on the site, and pages offering different types of news are marked clearly along the top of the page. There is scrolling text, which is distracting, and video advertisements on either side of the page that captures the reader’s attention more quickly than anything else on the page. The colors are not pleasant, and the text is white, which makes it harder to scan. The headlines are large and the text below the headline is too small to read quickly. However, I did like the links to other “headlines around the web” and the links available to each individual story, from multiple news sources. The Ashland Daily Tidings is a very different newspaper website from Oregon. The Ashland Daily Tidings, on the other hand, is more spaced out and easier to scan for content. The top 4 stories of the site are at the top of the page with pictures and blurbs, and it is easy to navigate through each story quickly. All of the advertisements are on the right side of the page, making it easier for viewers to distinguish between the websites’ content and ads. The text is in black, so viewers can easily see the blurbs. The contact information is in bullet form making it easy for readers to find and access in order to provide suggestions, stories, or complaints. This site also provides multiple blogs, where readers can interact. NBC Los Angeles‘ website is also user friendly. The top stories are at the top of the page, but the pictures are difficult to scroll thorough. Video and blurbs accompany the pictures, and the blurbs are linked to the full story. The traffic map on the home page is unappealing, and should be moved to a separate page. The news is divided into sections at the bottom of the page, which makes it easy for the reader to find stories in which they are interested. This site is not as interactive as others, but is easy to navigate. WPTV in Florida has the best website. Top stories are available at the top of the home page; other stories are bulleted and easy to access. Stories with video are clearly indicated. The news is divided by category and there are polls for viewers to become involved. Local pictures are streaming live from a Webcam showing the weather conditions in Florida. There is a home link on each page, and the majority of the website is white, making it less distracting for readers.   

 In Class Assignment- Thursday- Feb. 5, 2009 

US Unemployment Claims Hits 26-Year High, and Climbing

     The number of Americans filing first-time claims for jobless benefits jumped last week to a 26-year high.

     Jobless claims jumped from 35,000 to 626,000 the last week of January. The total number of people collecting benefits jumped to a record 4.788 million a week prior.  The Labor Department says this is the highest level since October 1982. 

     The median projection in an upcoming Bloomberg survey  says unemployment rose to 7.5 percent in January, the most in 16 years. The U.S. lost 2.6 million jobs last year, the biggest loss since 1945.

    President Barack Obama is urging Congress to quickly pass economic stimulus legislation. But the president has said that the U.S. economy will get worse before it gets better. 

Palestinians Left Homeless Take Shelter in Tents

    Palestinians are hoping for an end to Israel’s blockade put in place during Israel’s three-week assault on the Gaza strip. Building materials are banned because Israel says they could be used for making rockets for firing into its south, so thousands of Palestinians are living in tents along the border.

   With no formal ceasefire in place between Israel and Hamas, Palestinians do not feel safe. 

     Aid agencies have handed out blankets for the cold nights and camp residents gather around camp fires.

Homework #1- Feb 3, 2009 

Starbucks Observation- Chapter 3- Assignment #2 – Pg 52

I drive to Starbucks to get a cup of coffee and relax. I park and walk up the cement ramp to the entrance of the building. Tables with hunter green umbrellas sit outside cold and empty. As the door opens the aroma of coffee beans and the sound of espresso machines come over my senses. The older lady working at the counter takes my order with a phony smile, as if this were the 700th caramel frappacino she had made today. Temptation tests my self-control as I look through the dessert display while waiting for my coffee. While my willpower holds up I turn my attention to the clearance rack stocked full of old coffee mugs and overpriced to-go cups. My drink is placed on the counter and a male employee shouts “Caramel frap, with no whip” louder than necessary. Grabbing my cup of Joe off the counter I scan the room for a place to sit and sip. The stained cloth covering the oversized chairs just seems to fit in the dimly lit café. A group of art students sitting at the next table discuss homework unenthusiastically and an overly affectionate couple cuddles in a nearby booth. A nervous mother in line grabs her young child’s hands away from a ceramic mug sitting on display fearing she may have to pay for the overpriced merchandise. People come in, order, and leave just as quickly. My frozen coffee becomes a liquid, and a layer of caramel sits frozen at the bottom of the cup. As I finished with my drink my clothes have absorbed as much coffee aroma as they can hold. The smell lingers in the car on the way home as my break comes to an end.