My criteria for informative and reliable news has evolved and grown in a way technology has in our society. With vast changes in media outlets, from waiting in the morning for newspapers to hit the stands to turning on the computer and accessing news in mere seconds, the credibility of sources has now come to a fragile stand in our society. These changes caused my definition of news to accommodate reliable sources, facts, opinions, and on-demand availability.
Good and reliable news in national, local, and Hollywood topics means meeting the criteria of what I look for in news. There has to be some interest in the reporting of the story that can attract a variety of ages. News is really good if there is educational information. Laws affected by the story, new vocabulary terms, and any relation to what a students may be learning in class are a definite plus.
Sometimes there’s an issue and I have not yet formed an opinion. This usually happens because of the lack of facts and statistics available. I may start looking for biased reporting or discussions on news channels between two or more people. Comedy shows like Chelsea Lately and Saturday Night Live have the power to change a person’s opinion on important issues. They poke fun at even the most serious situations and help a viewer see the other side of the truth. These sources even help me form an opinion.
Trusting a news source is harder these days. With so many news programs and internet sites available, the distinction between what’s credible and what isn’t becomes harder. If the source is widely popular and has been around for many years, such as CNN, I am more likely to trust the news programs they have on their channels and website. CNN tends to provide both sides of a story, including facts and opinions. They have discussions through live conferences where reporters, scholars, and lawyers provide their opinions. There should also be a neutral point of view when news is being delivered but an open atmosphere should be present for receivers of the news to form their own opinions and ideas.
I am immediately suspicious of the story and source if the news being given doesn’t add up with the facts or background story. Also, if only one side of the story is given, I find myself doubtful and may wait for another news program to bring up the topic. Basically if there are more than two sources laying the facts and statistics on the table, then the story is more likely believable.
If there are TV programs such as MSNBC and CBS following the same story, most likely the issue will be brought up on internet sites. With news outlets watching other programs, it’s quite easy for them to get their stories mixed up. Following stories form the start to finish can lead to the clearing of any mistakes programs present with stories.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
A Better Wiki for All
The class wiki could be structured in a successful and appealing way. Students should be assigned to certain topics, based on their knowledge of certain sports, academics, and so on.
A list of guidelines definitely needs to exist. Just like the original wikipedia website, there should be rules for verifiability and crediting sources. Posts should not be created containing factual information unless there is a reliable third party source, such as University of Michigan Dearborn’s school website.
A flaw in the current wiki is unverifiable information and sources. For example, there are no sources credited for certain information about academics. There are also biased opinions on irrelevant information such as pigs and Grand Theft Auto. If students discussed and took on a specific post based on their strong points, the unnecessary posts will stay out of the class wiki.
The comments section could be used as a way of communicating to the editor of the post or just stating own opinions. However, all opinions should stay out of the original post itself. Wikis are a way to get information across, not personal opinions. All in all, the class wiki could definitely benefit from some changes.
A list of guidelines definitely needs to exist. Just like the original wikipedia website, there should be rules for verifiability and crediting sources. Posts should not be created containing factual information unless there is a reliable third party source, such as University of Michigan Dearborn’s school website.
A flaw in the current wiki is unverifiable information and sources. For example, there are no sources credited for certain information about academics. There are also biased opinions on irrelevant information such as pigs and Grand Theft Auto. If students discussed and took on a specific post based on their strong points, the unnecessary posts will stay out of the class wiki.
The comments section could be used as a way of communicating to the editor of the post or just stating own opinions. However, all opinions should stay out of the original post itself. Wikis are a way to get information across, not personal opinions. All in all, the class wiki could definitely benefit from some changes.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Page 253 Questions 1 & 2 : Ad
Question 1
On a Fantastic Four platform stand the four candidates running for office in the 2008 presidential election. They are dressed as superheroes but their faces are contradicting. Their attention seems to be elsewhere.I attempted to convey the rationale behind each candidate’s campaign. Each person stands with both feet on the ground standing tall and superior. Yet, their faces seem to depict another story.
Senator Joe Biden seems taken by Presidential Candidate, John McCain, who is portrayed with an angry face. In recent debates, he has been trashing Presidential Candidate, Barack Obama. Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, who is running for Republican Party Vice President, is shown with a lessened demeanor. She is posed rather provocatively and has an expression on her face that screams, “Look at me!” Meanwhile, Obama stands behind her with a look of calmness as he watches McCain. There’s an American Flag behind the platform that gives off a sense of patriotism.
The combination of the movie Fantastic Four with the presidential campaign seemed to me like an effective parody. I found it quite easy to assign the candidates to the movie characters. The only problems that arose were questions of what should be placed behind the platform. As I moved from the concept of the ad to the design, I eventually realized instead of placing a White House behind the platform, an American flag would look better with the colors of the poster.
Question 2
While working on my parody ad, I realized that the possibility of acceptance amongst my ideal audience is inestimable. My age group is obviously the young voters for the upcoming election. It is unclear if the underlying rationale would be understood. The ethics in advertising are often forgotten. When you break the rules, especially in parody, the ad is more likely to receive a bigger response.
Advertising as a form of public communication is a useful tool. The guidelines provided in John Alberti’s “Text Messaging” are the basic necessities of any parody print ad. The ad must be well developed with a basic concept. The objective must be precise and the audience well defined. The most important thing is not to have too much going on in the ad. Like the book says, “Less is always better than more.”
Friday, October 10, 2008
Social Networking Effects on '08' Campaign
Social networking has become a powerful communication tool in this fall’s presidential campaign. Sites like MySpace and Facebook have made it easier for the candidates to promote themselves. These networking sites are significant because there are millions of users daily and the advertising and endorsements are more likely to affect them.
In 2003, MySpace started and Facebook hadn’t even launched for the public. As a result, the 2004 election candidates weren’t able to use the power of social networking sites to their advantage. This year, an “Election 08” link exists on MySpace. This allows MySpace users to stay updated on the presidential debates and view the profiles of the candidates. The campaigns are also using the site to encourage voter registration.
Users on Facebook update their status as to who they support. They also join candidate fan groups and post their own views in blogs to share with their friends. People are more likely interested in staying updated on the election when they have a personal reason as to who they are voting for president. When the candidates begin to use the networking sites to their advantage, they have an increased chance of reaching registered voters than they do through television.
Professor Troy Murphy discussed on Monday of a site called MiVote. This interactive website allows students to express their concerns and opinions on the election by uploading videos. They can share personal stories of their experiences and how they have influenced their pick for president. The best videos will be seen and heard on several media outlets before the election.
Social networking has made a huge impact on this year’s election. Never before have we seen such activity on the internet over an election. Videos and interviews are within user’s reach on these websites. They help influence citizens and encourage them to register to vote. This new effect has not been seen in history and is making an impact on this year’s election.
In 2003, MySpace started and Facebook hadn’t even launched for the public. As a result, the 2004 election candidates weren’t able to use the power of social networking sites to their advantage. This year, an “Election 08” link exists on MySpace. This allows MySpace users to stay updated on the presidential debates and view the profiles of the candidates. The campaigns are also using the site to encourage voter registration.
Users on Facebook update their status as to who they support. They also join candidate fan groups and post their own views in blogs to share with their friends. People are more likely interested in staying updated on the election when they have a personal reason as to who they are voting for president. When the candidates begin to use the networking sites to their advantage, they have an increased chance of reaching registered voters than they do through television.
Professor Troy Murphy discussed on Monday of a site called MiVote. This interactive website allows students to express their concerns and opinions on the election by uploading videos. They can share personal stories of their experiences and how they have influenced their pick for president. The best videos will be seen and heard on several media outlets before the election.
Social networking has made a huge impact on this year’s election. Never before have we seen such activity on the internet over an election. Videos and interviews are within user’s reach on these websites. They help influence citizens and encourage them to register to vote. This new effect has not been seen in history and is making an impact on this year’s election.
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