This post is due by Monday, March 10 @ midnight for full credit.
Email late posts to rob.williamsATmadriver.com for partial credit.
Read our COVERING THE ENVIRONMENT book, assigned chapter(s) above.
In a SINGLE blog post below for ALL chapters in the section, provide for EACH chapter:
1. A single sentence, IYOW, that captures the THESIS (main argument) for each chapter.
2. THREE specific pieces of supporting documentation - ideas, concepts, stats, data - to bolster your thesis for each chapter. (Use 2 - 3 sentences for each.)
3. A SINGLE specific question you have after reading and blogging on ALL chapters of assignment.
The heat is on,
Dr. W
The heat is on,
Dr. W
Chapter 13
ReplyDelete1. When there are good visuals or good sound bites, it may be best to tell the story via broadcast journalism.
2. When a reporter has a background in the scientific field, it helps the story unfold quickly. During interviews having a background in science helps the reporter ask the right questions and to stay on task.
Tell a story instead of preach to the audience. In order to make a change and to get your point across it is important to connect with them with warm fuzzies and plain folk types of persuasive techniques. Just stating facts doesn't grab the general public.
Showing striking visuals is a great way to capture the attention of the audience. These compelling visuals are a way to get people focused and involved in the issue.
3. A SINGLE specific question you have after reading and blogging on ALL chapters of assignment.
What is the normal time span a broadcast piece goes on for?
Chapter 14
1.
Online journalism is a great alternative to print and broadcast journalism. It reaches a younger crowd and it can be catered to specific audiences.
2.
Websites are geared towards specific audiences. Different sites can have different perspectives and goals. Websites are also technical, and younger audiences are more apt to access their media this way.
Online journalism can be quickly updated and revised. This is a large advantage that online journalism has on print. Since it can be altered so easily it makes it much more convenient and current.
Online journalism easily mixes all different types of media. The combination of still images, sound, and video make online journalism different than other forms.
3. Is there a certain type of piece that doesn't work well with online journalism?
Chapter 13:
ReplyDelete1. In broadcast journalism, there’s an added challenge in making environmental stories visually appealing as well as informative.
2.a. Broadcast can work when the stories about the environment are more about the people and not the policy. CNN’s Earth Matters was successful because “the program stayed away from preaching about the benefits of recycling and the complaints of environmental activists and instead it stuck to storytelling narratives.” (pg. 200)
b. For some local stations, meteorologists also take on the duty of reporting more local environmental stories. Many meteorologists already have a specialty so they are qualified to write about a topic they know about. This technique came in handy when meteorologists covering Hurricane Katrina could also provide information on climate change and how it may have contributed to the disaster. (pg. 204)
c. Networks have also aired longer form documentaries that go into greater detail in regards to a certain issue, some as long as an hour special. Networks like the Discovery Channel have even done multi episode miniseries
3. Since most of our news networks are funded by corporate sponsors, are there any major conflicts of interest when reporting stories that could conflict with the goals and wishes of a corporation that pays for advertising on that network?
Chapter 14:
1. As the most recent tool for media, the Internet has become an important resource for reporting news, not just on environmental topics, but other issues as well.
2.a. The Internet has been used as a place for community resources. Websites have become places to post all sorts of materials such as images and videos. In Albany, New York, the Times Union Newspaper served as an important resource for those concerned about GE’s relationship with the Hudson River. The Times Union website archived all of the important parts of the story so that readers could discover it and thus become more informed.
b. With the Internet comes a greater degree of reader participation. Besides the obvious comments section on a website, there are also community bulletin boards and forums that readers used to vote on the most important stories. All of these things are also forms of crowdsourcing.
c. Blogs and Podcasts are another means that people can participate and create their own media. Bloggers can post content from other news sources and information on various topics, while creating their own content to share with others.
3. With all of these people creating their own media based on the content of other news sources on top of their own reporting, how are they able to establish themselves as credible sources when being viewed by readers?
Chapter 13
ReplyDelete1. Visuals and sound help make a compelling and interesting news story and when all the pieces come together broadcasting is one of the best ways to get the story out there.
2. Some scientists have issues when it comes to television broadcasting and environmental stories. Since news stories on T.V. are quite often short in length, reporters need to get to the point quickly and in plain English. Scientists have problems with this because they do not want to be taken out of context.
When writing for broadcast stories it is important to remember that you are writing as a type of conversation. It is aimed for the ear and that material from the camera or the microphone is the primary material that will be shown and used.
When producing broadcast stories it is important to focus on narratives instead of policy. Pawelski said to have "stories concentrated on people, not policy" (200).
3. How do you know when your piece is getting too technical? But, still includes the necessary background information?
Chapter 14
1. Online journalism allows for a different system of reporting reaching to a wide range of audiences and changes how news is generated, reported, and disseminated.
2. Online journalism allows for two-way communication where readers can publicly respond to stories and sometimes help report it.
Online journalism provides other things aside from the story itself. It can provide extra pictures, audio, videos, and other documents helpful in understanding the story.
Other journalism websites allow for the audience to choose what is most important. iBrattleboro.com was set up where the audience could write their own stories. It valued the audience to which it was directed and contained things the people of Brattleboro was interested in.
3. How do you know if and when a blog is a credible source?
1) Broadcast journalism is another method of reporting on the environment. However, journalists need to understand this form of journalism, and how it differs from print journalism, in order to effectively present their ideas to the public.
ReplyDelete2) Television news stories about the environment need to be more visual in order to be compelling. If there aren’t strong images to go along with a topic, an audience is likely to lose interest watching a report. In the past, reporting on global warming on the television news was very difficult because there weren’t many images to go along with the topic. Now it’s a bit easier because they can show images of melting glaciers, destruction from storms and other forms of damage caused from the warming of the earth. TV stories are also only about three minutes long, which makes it very difficult to explore any of the issues in depth. Scientists have also been worried that things that they say on such a short segment could be taken out of context- they have traditionally had trouble speaking to the public. These issues would not be a concern when writing an article however, journalists need to be aware of them when working on a television news story.
3) Are scientists frequently interviewed on the news?
1) Online journalism has become increasingly popular in the past decade, and it has revolutionized the way that consumers get their news. Environmental journalists have been able to take advantage of this form of journalism in order to reach out to readers.
2) Web, and online journalism, can easily be designed for specialized audiences. As they said in the book, online journalism is still in the early stages but it we see that it is bringing changes to the way that news is generated. The old style of media is losing readers to this new style of media. Online journalism is much more interactive. The Internet allows consumers to get much more information than they were able to before. We learn that online journalism is a convergence, because it combines the best of what is being offered in a community. They mention a few other forms of online news sources available besides the traditional news sites; blogs, wikis and podcasts have become popular sources of online journalism. Environmental news sources like, Grist, are published online and are a great source of information.
Chapter 13
ReplyDelete1. While the chapters thus far have mainly focused on environmental journalism through the media of print, chapter 13 introduces television and radio broadcasting to the mix, highlighting strengths and challenges.
2. This is a chapter chock full of lengthy examples of environmental broadcasting success stories. Among these is the interesting opening story of the debate surrounding snow mobiles in Yellowstone during the winter. I found the quotes from the author, Pawelski, to be very interesting and make me think about the environmental beat in a new dimension. Adding the “stunning visuals” and contrasts of silence and the whirring of engines make clear what descriptive writing can only hint at. Also near the beginning of the chapters there are some dilemmas that can be faced in environmental broadcast journalism. I especially liked how ‘Every TV story needs a good guy and a bad guy’. This of course reminded me of our class discussion on how environmental issues are less cut and dried and almost never have only two sides. Finally, I am always a fan of the boxed out sections that provide helpful tips for aspiring journalists or interesting data. This chapter was no different, as it included see key guidelines for using a media other than print in one’s reporting.
3. As we are currently experiencing a shift from analog to digital media, what will become of the blander, but still important environmental issues, that may not be conducive to a broadcast format?
Chapter 14
1. This chapter provides a history of news online, and gives an overview and evaluation of the different outlets that have been used for web news.
2. I found this chapter to be one of the most genuinely informative and interesting simply because I do not know much about the origins and flux of the internet, a tool I use every day for news, communication and entertainment. One of the facts I found intriguing was how September 11th was the largest single event that made news providers realize the power that the internet could wield. I was in third grade at the time and not very literate with computers, but today I could not imagine not being able to get vital news of that sort with a few key strokes. A second interesting section was on the online phenomena of reader participation, yet another thing we have discussed repeatedly in class. I liked the following quote: “…traditional news organizations have been having difficulty understanding this concept, and of breaking from the mindset of publisher to one of serving as a community leader”. This is understandable, as no transition is easy, and many may not want to take on this new role. Finally, the information on blogs, podcasts, and wikis as they relate to newer news outlets was pertinent. My first experience running a blog has been in this class, and my first experience with a podcast was the last semester at St. Andrews. Oddly enough, both had an environmental bend to them. Imagine that!
3. Can one make a living as an internet journalist with so many non-profit blogs and free sources of information?
Chapter 13:
ReplyDelete1. Broadcast journalism as a medium for news stories is restricted by what can be found as visually stimulating and easily conveyed through a sound bite.
2. The first example is the proposed story of salmon runs on the Columbia River by Scott Miller. The first reaction to the story was to ask if this meant the salmon were saved. And the answer is not that easy- its a complicated issue, which requires a complicated answer, which is sometimes difficult to convey when you have limited air time. The second example is that of Miller’s tip to use big breaking news as a way to write about the environment. If people are already interested in a related issue, it may be easier to expand upon that idea and use it to your advantage to get viewer ratings up, while still expressing an important issue. The third example is that o Mark Hammill’s series on urban sprawl and development. His introduction with Bill Christman, a man who makes a living removing unwanted animal life from homes, gave it a spin that made it relatable and interesting for those watching. Normally not a story that lends itself to broadcast, Hammill’s story serves as an example for those who can create a great news story even with the restrictions of broadcast.
3. If stories have to be “dumbed down,” as it were, to be used through the medium of broadcast journalism, is that the best way to convey the issue?
Chapter 14:
1. Online journalism can become another medium by which environmental (and other) news can be shared, reaching wider audiences.
2. The first example is the website we’ve all been asked to subscribe to, which is Grist. It, among with many other online environmental news periodicals, is published on the web and features many different environmental issues. It allows for email updates through a free subscription, which is one way to get others involved with environmental news which old news sources cannot. The second example is the Albany-Times Union which covered the issue of toxic waste from GE in the Hudson River. It provided a respectable source, ability for readers to ask questions and be answered, as well as an archive of previous stories that was easily accessible. This could not be done before with newspapers or printed stories. The third examples is that of blogs. Everyone can set up there own blog, so its incredibly accessible, and blogs can be used to convey knowledge quickly and efficiently. For example, in 2004 when people were looking for information on the tsunami in South Asia. Rohit Gupta and two colleagues put together a forum where all incoming information could be shared. This kind of immediacy would not have been possible with other mediums.
3. Are online news sources any better then broadcast journalism? Studies have shown a lack of focus in readers when receiving information from a screen- will this effect how online stories are written?
Chapter 13
ReplyDelete1. Broadcast journalists on the green beat are limited both by budget cuts and their medium’s (TV or radio) ability to convey the environmental story.
2. With declining popularity in environmental issues, reporters assigned to the green beat, both at the network and local level, declined during the 1990s. Few environment reporters at local stations found themselves increasingly doing more general assignment work.
Broadcast reporters spend a great deal of time pitching stories. It is most beneficial to pitch stories during the sweeps period when TV-ratings services evaluate the viewership levels.
Longer documentaries have been a table of the networks since the dawn of television, although lengths and formats have varied. Public television over the years has been a leader in environmental documentaries however Cable stations such as CNN or Discovery Channel have done their share as well.
3. How would a reporter take a TV environmental news story and make it as impactful and valuable on the radio, and vice versa?
Chapter 14
1. The Internet has allowed for stories to be tailored to certain audiences in various mediums such as blogs, wikis, podcasts, visuals, and online stories and news outlets.
2. One of the positive features of the Web is that sites can be designed for specialized audiences. Online journalism allows changes to be brought in how news is generated, compiled and disseminated.
News organizations have found that online sites compliment what they produce in type or on the air. Internet sites are capable of housing thousands of images, stories or documents providing many more resources than can be offered in print or on the air waves.
Blogs are a type of website, featuring material produced by a group, organization or individual. Blogs have become a powerful force on the Internet and although they are quite popular, they have often been misunderstood and dismissed as online personal diaries.
3. How/when do you know if a wiki is a credible source of information?
Chapter 13:
ReplyDelete1. Good broadcast journalism can tell a story that is compelling and comprehensive to the listener/viewer through the use of visuals and audio.
2. . Vicki Monk’s radio story on Continental Carbon’s release of black carbon throughout the Oklahoma landscape illustrated the power of clear audio mixes. “Natural sound is critically important in engaging the listener and making the listener feel like they are with you”…”It puts the story into context”. This is especially true when doing a radio segment.
. Having video along with audio can significantly bolster coverage on breaking news stories, such was the case with KGW-TV Portland’s coverage of the Mount Saint Helen Eruption from their news helicopter. The helicopter was able to give viewers at home a visual of the inside the volcano and the billowing smoke as it erupted.
. Images of wildlife can excite viewers and often influence their thoughts on our environment. This is apparent in Mark Hammil’s TV series on urban growth, which features images and video of various woodland animals, as well as a scene showing four rare red shoulder hawk chicks nesting in a tree. The shows imagery proved that “there is no such thing as a worthless acre”.
3. Where is the balance when creating a video series between supplying the viewer with compelling and vibrant imagery and conveying the shows message?
Chapter 14.
1. The Internet and online journalism has continued to grow as a vital news source since the Internets creation and has allowed for enhanced story telling through online news websites (CNN.com), blogs and other areas of the web.
2. . The World Wide Web was somewhat taboo at first as a news source, mainly because the news that was being posted was old, yesterday’s news that the papers had already covered. However, during times of global breaking news (9/11, South Asia quake) the number of online viewers has increase dramatically. As news organizations realized how online sites complimented their content, they started focusing on their sites.
. As Peter Lord was working on a story about a mans effort to protect his native land, his editors told him they wanted the story to be presented online so they could display more photos than they would be able to in the paper. The story was a success with its photos, music in the background, and a narration from Lord.
. Blogs are also a vital area of online journalism. The SEA-EAT blog that covered the South East Asia quake and tsunami was able to gather information from survivors of the disaster who posted their accounts on the blog. Through these volunteer-survivor postings, the blog was greatly successful.
3. What does it take to keep an online news source or blog up and running?
Ch 13
ReplyDeleteWhile news articles and investigative pieces are proven to be highly effective forms of reporting environmental news, media forms such as television provide the visual evidence to stimulate the viewers attention in much stronger fashion.
Finding environmental news that will be appealing to the viewer can prove to be difficult, especially after two decades of hearing how terrible industry and other events such as oil spills have been unattended to for so long. For example, broadcast journalist N. Pawelski said that CNN’s Earth Matters worked because it stayed away from topics such as preaching about the benefits of recycling and complaints of environmental activists and instead stuck to storytelling narratives. “We mixed solid reporting with techniques of fiction- character, setting, plot, and theme,” she said. “These stories concentrated on people not policy”(Pawelski,04, p.87). Wildlife have also proven to be topics of desire. This is simply a sign that people were sick if the negative aspects of environmental reporting and wanted to hear more of the positives and what can be done to remediate the damaged environment. The live above Mt. St. Helens section is a great source to understand how live broadcasting can prove to be extremely effective. After the volcano had erupted a helicopter team made their way above the crater to take live footage of spewing lava. This reporting was a first of its kind and extremely dangerous, however the reporter Vince Patton was more than willing to risk his life for monumental environmental reporting, and the ratings showed it was worth it.
Ch 14
In the age of the internet, online journalism has become increasingly popular as journalists can now provide in depth articles to any person who can access the internet while including both photos and videos of the story.
To see that the internet was first created as a way to convey information to the masses of society as a response to nuclear war, paves the way for a broader understanding of how online news has become so successful. While 1969 was obviously a time when very few people outside of the US government could access the “internet”, by the mid 1990’s this situation was much different. A situation which is very close to home with me is that of General Electrics pollution in the Hudson River. Having grown up 5 miles north of the facility that was dumping PCB’s into the river the information was readily available from many sources. However, Stephen Farnsworth online advocacy in joint effort with the Times Union Newspaper garnered a great deal of awareness and since then, the only news articles I see regarding the same topic revolve around the near end to the dredging project which Farnsworth so successfully advocated for. Blogs are new to me as of this semester and the section on blogs presents a clear picture as to how they are contributing to online journalism. While people are seeing them as online diaries, they are proving to be much more. The material which blogs contain is produced by a group, individual or organization. This group through multiple media platforms can relay information that is current and up to date. They provide areas for video, pictures, and commenting. This has led to make them extremely influential in area such as politics and the environment.
How does one go about deciding which of these multi level platforms to use as they report on the environment, and what is the most effective way to relay information and digital production regarding a news story.
Chapter 13:
ReplyDelete1. Despite the difficulties in conveying all environmental issues via television and broadcasting, there are many environmental topics coming to light due to new media outlets and their ability to captivate the audience and keep them interested.
2. There are several limitations in broadcasting environmental stories, mostly because they are process stories. "A process story plays out over a long time, typical of most environmental stories" (Wyss, 199). This limitation made environmental issues fall in popularity, which some scientists see as acceptable because the brevity of such issues may often be mis-contextualized if only portrayed in a two or three minute segment.
Not only is it important for environmental issues to be able to see broadcasting light, but it is important for "television environmental reporters to work hard to maintain the beat" (Wyss, 200). Scott Miller from KING-TV in Seattle said that one key is to use "big breaking news" as a way to talk about the environment (Wyss, 200).
Television undoubtedly moves at a faster clip than newspaper stories do. However, public radio and television meteorologists are just an example of environmentalists working in conjunction with the broadcasting world. Furthermore, documentary stories have been around for years, and they have increasingly become a stable and credible way of information dissemination. "Wildlife stories have been popular on such programs as Nature and science-related pieces have aired on Nova" (Wyss, 212). These examples are reminders that can help environmental journalists know that their beat can be talked about in an accessible and interesting way.
3. Are animal rights issues (i.e. Blackfish!!!) within the realm of environmental journalism?
Chapter 14:
1. Since the invention of the Internet in the 1970s, environmental journalists have been able to experience crowdsourcing and other types of reader participation to expand their media outlets.
2. Many traditional news organizations are still stuck in their outdated ways. The online world of journalism has since been able to create a number of outlets that environmental journalists in particular have taken advantage of. "...traditional news organizations have been having difficulty understanding this concept, and of breaking from the mindset of publisher to one of serving as a community leader" (Wyss, 222).
Through blogs, podcasts, wikis, and more, environmental journalists are able to display the environment online. The most significant aspect of online journalism is, as aforementioned, is the ability for readers to participate. Mostly through blogs, environmental journalists will ask questions from their audience. Sometimes they provide the reader with more links and outside sources if they wish to continue the research. One example of reader participation is when the St. Petersburg Times attempted to include "an interactive map so readers could see satellite imagery of their area and how it changed" (Wyss, 219).
There are certainly advantages and disadvantages to online journalism. Critics disapprove of the readers carrying out investigation, while those in favor of it believe that the personal aspect of blogging, for example, is invaluable. The real benefit is the immediacy of information flow; "that is the adventure of the online world. Something new seems to be happening every day" (Wyss, 227).
3. Have any "professional bloggers" made their way into the realm of print or broadcast journalism? For example, has anyone ever been blogging about the environment and gained enough recognition to become a reporter?
Chapter 13
ReplyDelete1. Chapter 13 discusses broadcast journalisms as a medium for stories and the strengths it has when used right.
2. CNN’s Earth Matters was an effective use of broadcast journalism because the program focused more on storytelling rather than focusing on the benefits of recycling and complaints from environmentalists. “We mixed solid reporting with techniques of fiction – Character, setting, plot and theme.” “The stories concentrated on people, not policy” (p. 200). Miller explains that it is important for television environmental reporters to work hard to maintain the beat. He explains how at some points he would have a list of up to 200 stories that he didn’t even necessarily pitch. You must paint a picture with your story in order for it to be effective broadcast journalism.
3.
Chapter 14
1. Chapter 14 discusses online journalism and its revolutionary increase in popularity through out the digital age.
2. Wikis are taken from the Hawaiian term wiki wiki, which means quick. Wikis are online sites where people can make contributions to post an entry for example Wikipedia. This is an example of online journalism. Blogs are also another way in which online journalism exists. Blogs are a powerful force on the internet. Blogs have been described as a type of website. The CNN website that had usually been getting 14 million hits a day, got 19 million hits an hour after the 9/11 attack. This shows how important online journalism is and how many people turn to it for their news.
3. Is a blog a form of journalism?
CHAPTER 13
ReplyDelete1. Broadcast journalism can be very effective in the green beat as it combines some aspects of print journalism with visuals and sounds to really bring the story together.
2. a. Climate change in the past was difficult to cover because it lacked the visual evidence. Broadcast journalism made it easier to present visuals to the audience.
b. In broadcast journalism it is sometimes necessary to pitch your story and think of it more like a promotion writer. It needs to be appealing to the audience.
c. Public radio can be seen as another outlet of broadcast journalism. National Public Radio (NPR) is often used to highlight environmental stories in segments like All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and Marketplace.
3. How can broadcast journalism cover environmental news without closing out conservative viewers?
CHAPTER 14
1. Online journalism has become increasingly popular over the years as it is quick and simple, but it also can be seen as an example of the shift to participatory news in that viewers can comment and share links.
2. a. The first example of an environmental news website is Grist. It is well known for reporting environmental stories with a touch of attitude and humor.
b. One of the first participatory online news sites was started in Vermont. iBrattleboro was set up as an “original, locally owned citizen journalism site”.
c. Blogs are another example of online journalism. In the last few years they have become increasingly popular. Blogs have also recently played a strong role in politics.
3. Does online journalism limit the type of news people look for? Or does it allow for information to be shared more readily?
Good insights here, colleagues.
ReplyDeleteLet's apply these to our own writing, shall we?
Dr. W
Chapter 13
ReplyDelete1) Stories about the environment often have a hard time making their way onto broadcast TV, but when done properly, TV stories can be the most engaging form of environmental journalism.
2) 1. A story about snowmobiling in Yellowstone National Park was an ideal broadcast TV piece because of its combination of stunning visuals with a heated conflict, making it both newsworthy and visually appealing. The story was best told through this medium, leading to its successful broadcast.
2. Pitching interesting stories is a large part of being an environmental journalist, meaning sometimes 70% of their pitches would be rejected and they “may need to think more like a promotions writer than a journalist,” (Vince Patton, 201). An example of a successful pitch was a three-part series used to educate the public about the expected big fire season.
3. Combining images, natural sound, and interviews allows for an absorbing story about the environment. This is seen in the example of a story about knotweed invasion. By beginning with natural sound and images, the scene is set without the journalist needing to describe it in words for the viewer. 3) How can broadcast journalists pitch and write more engaging pieces about the environment that wouldn’t fit the typical “newsworthy” characteristics?
Chapter 14
1) The Web is a powerful tool for journalism because it allows users to choose what they want to view and the stories can be created in more innovative and engaging ways.
2) 1. Aggregate search engines like Yahoo and Google allow the user to specialize their searches and find exactly what they’re interested in.
2. Online news sources can often compliment the broadcasted or printed version of the story. More information is available on these pages than on the pages of a printed newspaper or broadcasted TV story. This information could include photos, videos, links to archived stories related to that topic, links to further resources, etc.
3. The Internet also allows for more user created content, like blogs. This allows information from first-hand sources who have experienced an environmental disaster, like the earthquake and tsunami that struck South Asia in 2004, to get their story out to the public quickly, often faster than news organizations are able to.
3) Often people who blog or contribute on the Web don’t have all the facts or have an overly biased view. How can we trust the news from citizen journalists to be factual when they do not have the same credentials as a trusted official news source?
Chapter 13:
ReplyDelete1) Not only do environmental journalists have to portray environmental problems on paper to try and show the scene to readers, but even on television journalists working the environmental beat have to work hard to still show the public the truth.
2) In the 1990s reporters working the environmental beat in the networks and local stations declined, CNN had 15 staffers at one point.
"We mixed solid reporting with techniques of fiction-character, setting, plot, and theme. The stories concentrated on people, not policy." Said Natalie Pawelski, CNN reporter who worked on the program Earth Matters.
Natalie Pawelski also has said, "Even oozing stories have their dramatic moments and good environmental reporting is beautifully suited to the television."
3) Should all environmental journalists have some experience in shooting video for television?
Chapter 14:
1) With new technology and the shift towards the Internet, environmental journalists need to adapt to portraying environmental issues online.
2)Many environmental journalists have started their own online publications such as Chip Giller and Grist.
on September 11, 2001, the Internets potential was seen when the CNN website started to get 14 million hits a day, MSNBC received 12.5 million hits, and Yahoo reported its traffic increased by 40 times that day.
"The newspaper Web page can be, and should be, the best place to go for the most comprehensive and most objective information on controversial topics like the Hudson River dredging." Said Stephen Farnsworth a political scientist from Georgetown University.
3) Which media works best in getting the publics attention to an issue?
Ch13
ReplyDelete1. Radio and television have drastically changed how news and other media are produced, as well as consumed.
2. This chapter touches upon different ways that broadcast journalism has worked in the past, and different ways that people are approaching it in the modern age. Where both radio and television have had to alienate themselves from print journalism is engaging new sensory organs. Radio relies on what the microphone can capture, and how a listener’s ear can be directed. Television relies on not only quality images, but quality audio as well, and then using those both to engage and direct viewers’ eyes and ears. Where I felt like the chapter took on a more modern approach to broadcasting was the section titled “Carbon black.” The use of natural sound is something that I feel broadcasting has recently understood the value of. As the reading puts it, “natural sound is critically important in engaging the listener and making the listener feel that they are there with you.” It just provides that hidden layer that print can’t always quite harness. Where we see broadcast journalism take its truest form is in the documentary, similar in form to print’s “longer news stories” but with varied forms of media to tell compelling stories.
3. How has the internet shifted the impact of broadcast journalism and the abilities of people to create broadcasted content themselves?
Ch. 14
1. The use of the internet has shaped the industry of journalism, as well as many others, to create content for more specialized audiences.
2. When talking about ways in which environmental journalism benefits from online access I find the story of Grist’s start up amusing, and also following the central thesis of finding that specialized audience: environmental news with a touch of attitude and humor. The section on reader participation is an important part that we see in the comment sections of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Sometimes you can find out everything about that “specialized audience” just by reading reader participation. The mention of iBrattleboro.com I thought brought Vermont into the interesting perspective of being part of the pioneer environmental news movement by way of inviting the audience to create content. The subject of blogs is a tricky one, because it has altered the public perception of what it means to be a journalist. The story of the lawsuit between Obsidian Finance Group and blogger Crystal Cox is one example of this, among many. Just because someone runs a blog does not make them a journalist, but journalists can use blogs as powerful tools. Podcasts are sort of a way to take blog posts, and condense them into mp3 format so they can travel in your pocket with you or ride along in the car with you. Wikis without some academic surveillance process can be counter-productive ie: Wikipedia vs. Uncyclopedia. The thing about Wikipedia that is also interesting is conveyed in the closing remark of the chapter, “something new seems to be happening every day” and Wikipedia is always among the first to keep its pages updated with the freshest information. I remember David Mindich telling us of a story about how he found out that his best friend’s father died via Wikipedia before his friend actually told him himself. That is the adventure of the online world they say.
3. Since the internet was invented as a back up communication to conventional phones, and we use more energy staying connected all day long now than we ever have, how can we sustain the information system today before blackouts in cities cause social anarchy on a regular basis?