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Archive for Comm 455

Harry Luce, Time inc. and the power of the press

Posted by: | October 23, 2012 | No Comment |

On March 3, 1923, Time Inc. launched its first issue of Time Magazine. This innovative publication was the first weekly news magazine in existence, and would go on to be a resounding success.

Quickly breaking from its original print format, Time started to advertise on the infant radio networks. From there, a short, 15 minute news segment, “The March of Time,” was created, providing Time with more publicity, and furthering the popularity, and influence, of the organization.

Time Inc, which after 1929 was dominated by principle share holder and co-founder Henry Luce, would branch out with publications such as Life, Fortune, and Sports Illustrated.

As his publishing empire grew, so did Luce’s determination to share his political views with his employees and readers alike. Luce was “a stanch Republican, a defender of big business and free enterprise, a foe of big labor, a steadfast supporter of Chiang Kai-shek, an advocate of aggressive opposition to world Communism. He was also an Anglophile, but he believed that “the 20th century must be to a significant degree the American century.””

As his voice grew louder, his enemies grew in number. During the course of the Second World War, President Roosevelt forbade Luce to travel outside of the country to the different fronts, a ban that would stay in place until FDR’s death.

A right leaning bias ran through Time and it’s numerous partner publications until Luce’s death in 1967. Through an organ that spoke to millions every week, Luce inserted his views to the general public: a prime example of the power of the press.

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The tobacco industry and media literacy: an unlikely, yet frequent pairing

Posted by: | October 23, 2012 | No Comment |

By: Jessica Farley

We are unable to escape them. They pop up on television, in magazines, and on billboards during the morning commute. They are everywhere. No, I am not talking about the Kardashians. I’m talking about anti-smoking PSA’s.

Educators of media literacy have found a way introduce campaigns against the tobacco industry into the classroom as well, now. In an effort to both teach media literacy and provide a solid health compass for youth, media literacy educators are using tobacco advertisements as means to demonstrate the art of deconstruction.

First spearheaded by the Clinton Administration in the late nineties, the use of tobacco advertising in media literacy education has become a staple. “The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) held a series of conferences in 1996 and 1997 which brought greater awareness of media literacy education as a promising practice in health and substance abuse prevention education.”  (Wikipedia.com/wiki/media_literacy)

Today, educators continue to use both tobacco and alcohol advertisements in the instruction of media literacy. Some of the advertisements and PSA’s used include the “Live Above the Influence” campaign, “Think. Don’t Smoke,” and “Quit Now.” In addition, educators use actual advertisements promoting these products, in an effort to provide an understanding of both ends of the media spectrum.

It is important as educators to make the most of your resources. By utilizing the tobacco industry, media literacy educators are doing just that.

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One for the books

Posted by: | October 23, 2012 | No Comment |
With the upcoming presidential election, I thought it would be great to talk about the rarely told story of the Chicago Daily Tribune’s most famous headline, DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN.

Courtesy of http://www.trbimg.com

On election night of the 1948 presidential race, radio reports confidently predicted a victory for Republican challenger, Thomas E. Dewey, over incumbent President Harry S. Truman , including the paper’s Washington Correspondent Arthur Sears.  Managing editor, J. Loy Maloney, proceeded with making the headline call.

The headline was a publisher’s worst nightmare, but it wasn’t the only mistake. Many factors contributed to the production of this erroneous edition.  At the time, election results were returning slowly and they were running out of time before the printing deadline.

A strike by the  Chicago Daily Tribune’s staff forced the paper to go to press hours before it normally would and coupled with the lack of typesetting experience of the replacement staff, it was a recipe for disaster.

Typos were not corrected, instead they were “x”ed out with the “x” key on the typewriter.  On the right hand column on the front page, five lines of the election coverage were typed upside down.  Oops!

After learning that Truman had in fact defeated Dewey, the Tribune’s staff rushed to collect all the newspapers that had been distributed with the embarrassing headline.The next edition’s headline was changed to say ” DEMOCRATS MAKE SWEEP OF STATE OFFICES.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNpVbfmF6vg&feature=related

President Truman went to bed losing the election, but woke up the next morning to find he had pulled the greatest upset in American politics.  He was handed a copy of  the “DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN” paper and when asked to comment he said, “This is one for the books.”  I could not agree more.

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The new face of the NFL

Posted by: | October 23, 2012 | No Comment |

For any football fans or people affiliated to the DC metro area, the discussion of the Washington Redskins “getting it next year” has become all too familiar. With an amazing history of success throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, the Skins started to fall short in the 21 century.

Since 2000, the Redskins have had more than 10 different starting quarterbacks, a number far too high in such a short period of time. Offenses need time to adjust to the play calling and the way a quarterback works, as each person is different the way they handle pressure, 4th quarters, 3rd down and long, etc.

However, this year the Skins really “got it.”

Robert Griffin III, a 22-year-old fresh out of Baylor University, is quickly becoming a prominent football and media star. You cannot watch football anymore without hearing news about this rookie, and Skins fans are loving it.

Robert Griffin III, a new hope

RG3, as many refer to him as, has already outdone himself, not appearing to be “rookie-like” in the slightest.

On his first game September 9th, Skins were put up against the New Orleans Saints, with hugely successful QB Drew Brees leading them, and the Skins were seen as losing that game by at least 6 points. Griffin completed 19 of his 26 passes for 320 yards and went on to beat the Saints 40-32, a huge statement to make for a rookie in his first appearance in this league.

In game 6 against the Minnesota Vikings, Griffin secured the win with a 76-yard run, something that has not be done by a QB since 1996.

He has gotten 6 rushing TD’s in his first 6 games, something never done before by a QB. In fact, Griffin, along with fellow Skins runningback, Alfred Morris, is leading in rookie rushing yards this season with 479.

This is not going unnoticed, as RG3 now has endorsements with such power-house companies: Adidas, EA Sports, Subway, Nissan and Gatorade just to name a few. According to ESPN’s Dollar blog,

“He’s earned more than any other rookie in NFL history before throwing his first regular-season pass.”

Although currently at a record of 3-4, the Skins have very little of this to blame on RG3. Even one of the Skins division rivals, the New York Giants, who they played this last Sunday have to agree that RG3 is the real deal.

“That’s the best QB we’ve played this year. He’s faster in person than he is on tape. He’s very, very fast. He’s a very talented young man. He’s going to have a lot of success in this league.” – Giants DT Chris Canty

This video showcases Griffin’s highlights from games 1-6 and after viewing this, it should appear very clear that this man is going to do wonders in the league.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNAJODw_XUg

 

 

 

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A saga for every interest

Posted by: | October 23, 2012 | No Comment |

Norse and Scandinavian sagas can be placed into one of several different categories.  There were the king’s sagas, contemporary sagas, chivalric sagas, Icelander’s sagas, sagas of the Greenlanders, short tales of the Icelanders, and legendary sagas.

Some of these classifications resemble modern categorizations of periodical literature.

The king’s sagas are accounts of the lives of Norwegian kings. They are the primary sources of written history for Norway before the 13th century.

Contemporary sagas were written in Iceland during the 12th and 13th centuries. They were written very soon after the events they describe to try and preserve an accurate account of the event, much like a modern news report.

Chivalric sagas are, rather surprisingly, stories of romance composed during the 13th century.  They are considered inferior to other forms of saga.  Perhaps they were a medieval incarnation of Twilight or Fifty Shades of Gray.

Icelander’s sagas were written in the 13th and 14th centuries and are considered some of the most important written records of the lives of Vikings.  They mainly describe the lives of common people and their struggles around the year 1000 A.D.  Many of these sagas can be read here.

Short tales of the Icelanders are basically shortened versions of Icelander’s sagas.

Finally, there are legendary sagas.  These are perhaps what come to mind when most people think of the word saga.  They are very loosely rooted in history and filled with myth and legend, written primarily for the purpose of entertainment rather than historical accuracy. A selection of these Norse tales are available in English here.

Clearly, not all sagas are created equal.  They are written in different ways to suit the interests of different readers.  Even in an age before the printing press, there was still at least some demand for diversity in literature.

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Freedom of speech vs. censorship

Posted by: | October 23, 2012 | No Comment |

We have seen many cases, both in past history and recent news, when democratic nations have stepped in to control freedom of speech. In the United States, this is usually carried out as a protective measure when the safety of its people is in jeopardy.

Social media has played a key role in the freedom of speech vs. censorship debate. Everybody remembers SOPA, the Stop Online Piracy Act that was shot down by the House of Representatives earlier this year.

Twitter has been in the spotlight for instating its first form of local censorship. The website has decided to block pro-Neo Nazi tweets at the request of the German government. The Anti-Defamation League supports this decision, and adds that Twitter has a long way to go in the suppression of hate speech. However, many critics say it infringes on the right of free speech.

After World War II, Germany made it illegal to incite against people or advocate the overthrow of democracy. Twitter’s new policy only applies within Germany, not the rest of the world, and is in compliance with government standards.

Although I do not support the opinions of Neo-Nazis, I do believe in freedom of expression. However, Twitter is merely respecting the sovereignty of the German government. I would have to side with Twitter on this debate.

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Muckrakers: then and now

Posted by: | October 22, 2012 | 1 Comment |

Muckraking is considered an early form of investigative journalism. In the early 1900’s before World War I, muckrakers reported on topics concerning crime, politics and corruption in society and were often considered watchdogs. They revealed scandal among the government and important issues that led to reform.

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

Upton Sinclair is a notable muckraker from the early 1900s. In 1906 Sinclair published The Jungle, a novel intended to describe the harsh living conditions of immigrants, which instead caused an uproar over the working conditions in the meatpacking industry. Sinclair established himself as a muckraker by exposing the horrors the American Factory workers experienced which led to

Another famous case of muckraking occurred in the 1960s. The scandal of Nixon and Watergate was uncovered by journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, ordinary reporters who believed they were just doing their jobs, nothing other than reporting the news. However, their investigation into Watergate would lead to the resignation of the president and forever ark them as muckrakers.

Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein

The film All the President’s Men, starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman as Woodward and Bernstein, gives a pretty accurate depiction of their investigative reporting of the scandal.

The news today is constantly filled with stories of scandal in the government in politics. Journalists and reporters indulge in different types of reporting, especially investigative journalism and have turned into modern day muckrakers.

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First Sportscenter Broadcast

Posted by: | October 22, 2012 | No Comment |

Sport is something that kept people active and in shape since the beginning of time.

Rules, books, and magazines helped get people interested and start leagues.  When television started it only helped sports rise to the top.  The start of SportsCenter in 1979 skyrocketed the popularity of sport.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAJnlEpM1oQ

On September 7, 1979 30,000 viewers tuned in to see Lee Leonard and George Grande trying to create a comprehensive stop for sports fans trying to find the latest updates and news.  They succeed and now, in 2012, SportsCenter is where most Americans get their sports news.

“If you love sports…if you really love sports, you’ll think you’ve died and gone to sports heaven,” said Leonard as he spoke the first words on camera.

The broadcast that night only lasted 30 minutes long.  After the show the station aired a number of sports including a slow-pitch softball game, soccer, and wrestling.  During the broadcast they mainly showed highlight reels of sports games. They wanted to get their audience as much information about the sports going on as possible.  They wanted to create a news outlet for sports fan everywhere.

They succeed.

 

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E-news for Newsweek

Posted by: | October 22, 2012 | No Comment |

Just a few short years ago, e-journalism seemed like more of a novelty than of a permanent fixture in reporting. While the idea of being able to access The Washington Post online seemed like a convenient and novel idea, it was still hard to deny the pleasure of holding a crisp, inky newspaper in one’s hands. Now, paper newspapers are quickly on the decline while electronic news is becoming the preferred medium.

With the decline of newspapers is also coming the decline of periodical magazines, including the fan favorite weekly read, Newsweek. On October 18, the magazine announced that they will be transitioning to an exclusively wed read, starting January 2013. Newsweek spokesman Rcihard Kirk says:

We have reached a tipping point in the industry at which we can most efficiently and effectively reach…readers in an all-digital format.

While Newsweek will certainly be keeping up with the times with their new format, the change will include massive layoffs in the company. In an address to the company, editor-in-chief Tina Brown said:

We realize news of a big change like this will be unsettling. We wish to reassure you the transition is well planned, extremely mindful of the unavoidable impact on our staff and respectful of our readers, advertisers and business partners

After the layoffs, remaining staff will transition to begin writing for Newsweek Global, the e-platform. Hey, at least they have until December 31st to find jobs.

Photo Courtesy of techcentral.com

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“Racism still alive they just be concealin it”

Posted by: | October 22, 2012 | No Comment |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgtZHXEmvFQ&feature=related

Kanye’s egotism is something that is never really questioned because let’s face it..he loves himself. But he does sometimes share those gems of truth that can wake people up and help them realize what kind of world we’re living in.
As a black female aspiring broadcast journalist, it is great to see more faces like my own on television, but there’s always that voice in the back of my head that sees the brown faces are as common as not seeing Kim Kardashian everywhere.

However after interning at a television station this summer my hope was restored. I was greeted by faces that looked like mine, one of which attended George Mason as an undergrad and is now very successful. My admiration for Nicole Livas  is great and it has helped me to shape what kind of reporter I want to be in the future.

Hopefully a cross between her (for her strength in news reporting) and Oprah, because I would love to sit on a couch and just talk to people.

The Oprah Winfrey Show debuted in 1986 in Chicago. I wasn’t even born, but the path she paved for minority broadcast journalists is huge. She worked her way up just like Nicole Livas did and I plan to do as well.

Oprah showed television viewers that it was possible to be black and on television and not for things like this.
She  will forever be embedded into television history and I hope I will be too in the future.

Pictures are courtesy of Oprah and Wavy websites.

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Press Freedom Index: How free is the world’s press?

Posted by: | October 22, 2012 | No Comment |

Each year, the organization Reporters Without Borders compiles a list that ranks countries by their press freedom records from the previous year. The group fights international censorship and promotes freedom of speech and press throughout the world. The French based organization notes that the rankings do note measure the quality of journalism, just the amount of press freedom.

 

Finland and Norway tied for first in 2012. Finland has been first for the past three years, partially due to their wealth and emphasis on transparency and equal rights. The country boasts 200 newspapers, 320 popular magazines, 67 commercial radio stations and several public service radio channels and digital radio channels.

America was ranked 47th in the world, dropping from spot 20 in 2010. The dramatic fall is attributed to the arrest of journalists during the 2010 Occupy Wall Street protests.

 

 

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Binders full of women

Posted by: | October 22, 2012 | No Comment |

Women are often portrayed as sex objects in the media. Now, women are items that can fit into binders!

When asked about what he would do to face pay inequity in the workplace, Mitt Romney responded that while working as governor of Massachusetts, he wanted more women on his cabinet.

“And — and so we — we took a concerted effort to go out and find women who had backgrounds that could be qualified to become members of our cabinet. I went to a number of women’s groups and said, can you help us find folks? And I brought us whole binders full of — of women.”

 

Photo courtesy of bindersfullofwomen.tumblr.com

Romney’s comments may seem harmless, but the fact that he didn’t seem to know of any qualified women is important to note.

But what I would like to focus on is the way Romney, and many others, seem to think about women.

What would have happened if he had said “binders full of Asian people?” What if he had asked for “binders full of Latinos?” Romney never would have said “binders full of men.” So why is it that he feels it’s perfectly okay to say on national television that he had “binders full of women?”

A more acceptable answer could have gone like this:

And — and so we — we took a concerted effort to go out and find women who had backgrounds that could be qualified to become members of our cabinet. I went to a number of women’s groups and said, can you help us find folks? And these women’s groups gave me the resumes of numerous qualified women applicants.

It turns out that Romney was lying about this whole situation in the first place. MassGAP, a non-partisan organization aiming to increasing the number of women in government jobs, approached Romney and asked him to promise to appoint more women. He did not go on a search for any “binders.”

This is relevant to the portrayal of women in the media. Romney’s “binders” comment is just another one of many examples of the objectification of women in the media.

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