This I believe about Digital Journalism
Prior to the digital news revolution, news was brought to consumers in one of two ways, You got the paper delivered in the early morning and read about what happened yesterday, or you watched TV news staple CNN for your national news, and your local news at night to see what happened during the day.
This I believe about Digital
l journalism, it is here to stay. The move to the digital brings many pros and cons to the newsroom, but make no mistake about this format it is this generations version of the news paper, and CNN.
The pros of Journalism’s Reconstruction are plentiful. For one Digital Journalism will continue to work in conjunction with the United States to help keep the government and other authorities honest. Digital Journalism has allowed for more and more news sources not bias toward a government party or watch group to surface. This means there will be less spin on stories that shine a light on either party.
Another benefit to Digital Journalism is the “read it, hear it, and see it” aspect the new journalism format. The example I can use for this is a story I personally experienced this past week, when A hockey player hit his own goalie with a stick, injured him, and he was carried off on a stretcher. Initially the story was presented in a text format, peaking my interest and causing me to say “ I want to see the video of that”. Next available for consumption was the Audio, from the Florida Panthers radio network, then finally someone at NHL.com was able to edit the video, and it was posted a little less than 20 minutes after the story has broke. Speed is another benefit of a digital format, facts, speculation, and personal accounts hit you hard and fast. There are many other benefits to Digital journalism, some I’m sure we have not yet scratched the surface/
Along with the good comes the bad. Citizen journalism is a great example of the bad. Citizen Journalism itself is not bad, it keeps professional journalism on top of it’s game. However It brings up several issues of credibility. For one, people often are unable to separate opinion and fact, or often in the case of citizen journalism opinion is presented as fact, and opposing facts are presented as opinion. Then a slew of readers read this mixed up message and present it as their own fact/opinion spew of information.
Going along with the fact and opinion matter is the issue of who is writing/recording the media. In this day and age pretty much anyone can get on a public forum and spout off how they feel and think, no matter how informed or misinformed they are.
The final downside (This I believe) is the comment section at the end of almost all of the news stories presented on websites. If the story calls for an opinion on something, like a story about a proposed bill, or something in the vein of public opinion, That’s great I say comment away. In the case of a presentation of facts, such as a crime, or something of the sort I say comments are un-needed and only hinder court cases because it brings cases to a public court.
This I believe about Digital Journalism, It is here to stay, and to help bring REAL Fair and Balanced coverage!
"You really can do first quality reporting in smaller news organizations with fewer reporters than you could have a decade ago. You can’t in any sustainable way do it without organizations that pay people to report. What impressed us is that there are so many interesting experiments going on that are trying to make such organizations work."-Schudson Talks back:CJR
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
EMU Men’s Basketball: Eagles Win, No One Watches.
Last year Eastern Michigan men’s Basketball only won 8 games, A total they are already half way to reaching, in only their 6th game. With what appears to be a much lighter schedule, the Eagles have been picked to place as high as 3rd in the MAC West, and as of now sit atop the standings at 4-2.
Their early success is met with the usual skepticism of Eastern Michigan University students, who haven’t seen a winning season from either of their two college sports teams in quite some time. Their last successful seasons were in the mid-90s when the Football team was led by Charlie Batch, and Men’s basketball made an appearance in the NCAA tournament. Which shows when you attend a Basketball or football game at the school.
Their most recent home game was a clear indication of the teams recent struggles, playing in front of an official crowd of 434 against local college Davenport University. The convocation center, in the basketball configuration is capable of holding 8,824 fans, so you can imagine the sound of the 400 in attendance echoing off the empty seats of the Convocation center.
Davenport put fear into the Eagles in the first half, springing out to an 8 point lead about halfway through the first half, and going into half time with a 5 point lead over the Eagles squad.
The Second Half was a completely different story, the Eagles jumped on all of their opportunities in the second half, putting up 47 pts in the second half. Still down by 6 in the second half with about 3:30 to go, Eastern went on a 16 point run, and didn’t allow Davenport to score another point, and won by 10. Carlos Medlock scored a game high 32 points in the game, which is a very high point total for college basketball.
If Eastern can keep a winning record, and stay in the race for the MAC title, perhaps they can begin filling up the Convocation Center, and bring some much needed excitement to Eastern Michigan Eagles Sports.
Last year Eastern Michigan men’s Basketball only won 8 games, A total they are already half way to reaching, in only their 6th game. With what appears to be a much lighter schedule, the Eagles have been picked to place as high as 3rd in the MAC West, and as of now sit atop the standings at 4-2.
Their early success is met with the usual skepticism of Eastern Michigan University students, who haven’t seen a winning season from either of their two college sports teams in quite some time. Their last successful seasons were in the mid-90s when the Football team was led by Charlie Batch, and Men’s basketball made an appearance in the NCAA tournament. Which shows when you attend a Basketball or football game at the school.
Their most recent home game was a clear indication of the teams recent struggles, playing in front of an official crowd of 434 against local college Davenport University. The convocation center, in the basketball configuration is capable of holding 8,824 fans, so you can imagine the sound of the 400 in attendance echoing off the empty seats of the Convocation center.
Davenport put fear into the Eagles in the first half, springing out to an 8 point lead about halfway through the first half, and going into half time with a 5 point lead over the Eagles squad.
The Second Half was a completely different story, the Eagles jumped on all of their opportunities in the second half, putting up 47 pts in the second half. Still down by 6 in the second half with about 3:30 to go, Eastern went on a 16 point run, and didn’t allow Davenport to score another point, and won by 10. Carlos Medlock scored a game high 32 points in the game, which is a very high point total for college basketball.
If Eastern can keep a winning record, and stay in the race for the MAC title, perhaps they can begin filling up the Convocation Center, and bring some much needed excitement to Eastern Michigan Eagles Sports.
Prom-MISS
Angry students gathered with Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm (D) at a rally held on the campus of Eastern Michigan University. Monday November 23rd the Densely populated rally was attended by students eager to bring back the scholarships, which aided more than 96,000 students state wide.
The rally included several student speeches, giving their reason for being upset about the budget cut that ultimately eliminated up to $4000 dollars of student aid money per student. This cut has led many students to reconsider the school they are at, or if they should go to school at all.
Many like student Nathan Root have been forced to cut back on the amount of classes they will take per semester, and have had to double the amount of hours they work per week. This means students are falling behind academically to catch up financially, which could mean that graduation rates at 4 year universities could plummet.
Granholm gave a short speech, outlining the reasons that she herself has been fighting to bring back these funds, ever since she signed the budget cuts. Without her signature on the budget cuts, the state could have shut down, and could have unconvinced many.
The rally included several student speeches, giving their reason for being upset about the budget cut that ultimately eliminated up to $4000 dollars of student aid money per student. This cut has led many students to reconsider the school they are at, or if they should go to school at all.
Many like student Nathan Root have been forced to cut back on the amount of classes they will take per semester, and have had to double the amount of hours they work per week. This means students are falling behind academically to catch up financially, which could mean that graduation rates at 4 year universities could plummet.
Granholm gave a short speech, outlining the reasons that she herself has been fighting to bring back these funds, ever since she signed the budget cuts. Without her signature on the budget cuts, the state could have shut down, and could have unconvinced many.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
THe Reconstruction of Journalism
The Reconstruction of American journalism has been much discussed in this class, and I mostly agree that despite the changes, and the more easily accessable ways to get ideas out into public
Journalism will live on as a vital component to freedom, and a friend of democracy if the trend continues, and more and more news sites not favoring any government party, or agenda continues.
The issue of accountability has become a problem in todays citizen journalism, stories can go up and be posted without the people reading them ever knowing who posted the story, and what qualifies them to be writing it.
Journalism will live on as a vital component to freedom, and a friend of democracy if the trend continues, and more and more news sites not favoring any government party, or agenda continues.
The issue of accountability has become a problem in todays citizen journalism, stories can go up and be posted without the people reading them ever knowing who posted the story, and what qualifies them to be writing it.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
citizen journalism.
I don't like words like "buzzword",when describing citizen journalism. Buzzword makes the whole thing sounds like a fad, that will go away in a year or so. Aside from the semantics I feel this article is actually proof that citizen journalism is not just a fad. Companies are finding more ways to incorporate it with their websites, and also suggestions to how to keep the citizen journalism honest.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Take a stand!
The story I just read was very eye opening. I have always seen the media as more of a "you tell me what I want to know" sort of business. After reading "Taking a Stand" I get the feeling alot of what I always thought was ligitimate news is actually a well placed PR stunt. Many news agencies are simply broadcasting a pre-determined message, perhaps not presenting all the sides needed to make a fully informed case. Never have I thought about the power the media holds in this light. The News media could have shed more light on the racial issues of hurricane Katrina, and they didn't, for the most part the Media has been all about attacking the already wounded.
A press that is not informing the people for the public's sake, and instead informing the people for a corporate agenda is not a press I want to be apart of. Perhaps that is why the current infrastructure of the news media as we know it is changing.
Newspapers cover ordinary bland stories for most everyday of the week,Television news covers the same 6 stories for three days at a time, but after reading "Take A Stand" I have come to realize that our media is failing us. The everyday stories should be reduced, and filled with more stories like this one, A story about a homeless man that died at the bottom of an Elevator shaft. The story goes on to highlight the run down streets of Detroit, and how one man who owns many of these buildings should be held accountable. Journalism like that is what people need, journalism that gets things accomplished.
The truth is we will always need journalism, and in today's world of information, we will always need a credible source to lean on. Citizen journalism is not the answer to get the kind of journalism we need, but it is the best thing we have to fighting the one way street news that we get now.
A press that is not informing the people for the public's sake, and instead informing the people for a corporate agenda is not a press I want to be apart of. Perhaps that is why the current infrastructure of the news media as we know it is changing.
Newspapers cover ordinary bland stories for most everyday of the week,Television news covers the same 6 stories for three days at a time, but after reading "Take A Stand" I have come to realize that our media is failing us. The everyday stories should be reduced, and filled with more stories like this one, A story about a homeless man that died at the bottom of an Elevator shaft. The story goes on to highlight the run down streets of Detroit, and how one man who owns many of these buildings should be held accountable. Journalism like that is what people need, journalism that gets things accomplished.
The truth is we will always need journalism, and in today's world of information, we will always need a credible source to lean on. Citizen journalism is not the answer to get the kind of journalism we need, but it is the best thing we have to fighting the one way street news that we get now.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Some Stories shouldn't all be commented.
I recently Read what Trisha Hackman wrote in her blog about the transition to electronic media. In particular I thought about what she said about the "Interaction" with digital media, and I realized I agree with her in reguards to people keeping comments to themselves Recently somone in my city was murdered and it made the local news and it's website. Shortly after the story was posted a link was posted that showed a link to the alleged murder's facebook. Suddenly his facebook, which was there for his kids to see, was filled with all kinds of hate mail, telling him to "Go to hell" and all sorts of nasty things. In today's version of the media, we are allowing people to not only interact with the writer of the story, but we are allowing them to interact with those involved in the news. This could impact everything, including the trial and lives of the rest of the victims family.
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