Comm455/History of Journalism

The Beltway sniper and the media

Posted by: jak9265 | November 20, 2012 | No Comment |

I was only 10 when the DC sniper attacks began in the Washington D.C. area. John Allen Mohammad and Lee Boyd Malvo over the span of 20 days killed 10 people and injured three. Constant coverage of the shootings frightened many people, but did the media actually feed the fear?

Courtesy of wikipedia.org

Courtesy of wikipedia.or

Initially the task force to find the sniper put out word that they were looking for a white box truck. There were eyewitness reports from people who had actually seen a dark Chevy Caprice after one of the shootings had occurred. The police quickly dismissed those reports and the media followed up by reporting the white box van information to the public.

The snipers’ ninth attack occurred at a school after an announcement by the media that schools were safe.

Did the media provoke the sniper to do it?

At the school, a tarot card was found with ”For you mr. Police.” “Code: ‘Call me God’.” “Do not release to the press.” written on the back. Someone leaked this evidence to the media who broadcasted it to the public, infuriating Montgomery County Police Chief Charles A. Moose and the task force.

At one point Chief Moose said, ”I have not received any messages that citizens of Montgomery County want Channel 9 orThe Washington Post or any other media outlet to solve the case. If they do, then let me know. We will go ahead and do other police work, and we will turn the case over to the media, and you can solve it.”

The media was covering the aftermath of these attacks for hours and they decided to bring on criminal profilers. Almost all the profilers suggested that the sniper was an white male who acted alone and was from the area. This hurt the media’s credibility after the suspects were arrested were not what had been portrayed on the news.

Courtesy of liveghana.tv

After police link Mohammed to a dark blue Chevy Caprice, similar to previous eyewitness statements, they do not tell reporters this information because they feared that if the information went public the sniper would go into hiding. However, the media is one step ahead. Journalists hear a description of the suspect’s car while listening to police bands and broadcast this information to the public.

Several hours later, an eye witness spots the vehicle at a rest stop in Maryland where police find Mohammad and Malvo sleeping in the car.

I will say that broadcasting the vehicle’s description could have been disastrous. At this point it was the clear that the killers were watching the news reports on the shootings. If the suspects had been watching the news instead of sleeping in the car, they could have possible ditched the car and evaded police.

This case tested the relationship between law enforcement and the news media. Each side wants to use the other for their benefit, but both sides made mistakes in this case. I don’t believe the media fed the fear to the public, the sniper did that. The news media was just the messenger, the watchdog of society.

under: Uncategorized

6 pennies vs. 1

Posted by: chelseamorris | November 20, 2012 | No Comment |

The American press underwent big changes during the 1830s that led to the establishment of the mother of sensationalism, the penny press. Unlike their six-cent predecessors, these papers sold for merely a penny.

The New York Sun became the first penny paper and soon had largest circulation of any paper in the city.

News was no longer strictly for the elite. Middle-class Americans now had the opportunity to educate themselves about what was going on around them. Well, except politics. That kind of information was still nestled in the six-cent papers, out of reach for most Americans.

Unlike previous papers, the penny papers could afford to operate without help from political parties. Instead, they relied on heavy circulation and advertisements.

Courtesy of TV History

The shift in focus from a subscription-based (emphasis on the customer) business model to an advertisement-based (emphasis on the advertisers) business model led to the rise of sensationalism in America.

under: Comm 455
Tags: chelseamorris, penny press, Sensationalism

Well known talk show host Dick Clark commemorated at AMA’s

Posted by: kerryburns | November 20, 2012 | No Comment |

This past Sunday, the annual American Music Awards celebrated its 40th anniversary, with Ryan Seacrest as the show’s host.

The event had the likes of media stars Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Usher, Nicki Minaj and Ke$ha all performing, with 9.47 million in viewership.

At this particular music awards, host Seacrest and musical icon and legend, Stevie Wonder, paid tribute to Dick Clark, who created the awards back in 1973.

Clark started the show wish a vision:

“Let the music speak for itself”

Wonder performed hit song, “My Cherie Amour” with images of Clark appearing behind his piano, after giving a heartfelt speech about Clark and his long-time friendship, and the kindness Clark bestowed upon him always.

“I remember his love for music and his love for people. I challenge you, you as communicators, leaders, politicians, spiritual leaders: Put your love first like we musicians put our music first… Then we can be jamming until the break of dawn.”

– Stevie Wonder

Clark died earlier this year in April suffering a heart attack during a surgery to fix an enlarged prostate. He was 82-years-old.

This man will not be forgotten as his legacy lives on through the music and memories he created.

I challenge you, you as communicators, leaders, politicians, spiritual leaders: Put your love first like we musicians put our music first… Then we can be jamming until the break of dawn.”

Here is the video of Stevie Wonder commemorating Dick Clark.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgQm8v2EeGw

under: Comm 455
Tags: AMA, American Music Award, Comm 455, Dick Clark, Kerry Burns, Ryan Seacrest, Stevie Wonder

Minorities and women make their voices heard this election

Posted by: Emily Mann | November 13, 2012 | No Comment |

During the Dark Ages, many groups of people were excluded from education, power, acquiring property and wealth, and basic rights. Only wealthy, European men were afforded these privileges.

Even to this day, it seems like a constant struggle for minorities such as Blacks, Hispanics, women, the disabled, the poor, and countless other groups to get their voices heard. But this year’s presidential election changed it all.

Not only did women support President Obama over Mitt Romney 55 to 41 percent, but a record 20 women will hold seats in the U.S. Senate at the start of 2013.

Obama’s victories in key swing states such as Ohio and Virginia were attributed to Blacks, while Hispanics in Colorado and Nevada helped him win those states. Only 38% of White men in Virginia voted for Obama, but he still carried the state.

Even though women won the right to vote in 1919, and Blacks were allowed in 1869, the playing field has been uneven for centuries. But the tide has finally shifted. We still have a long road ahead, but great progress has been made.

under: Comm 455
Tags: Dark Ages, Emily Mann, minorities, obama, presidential election, romney, Women

“Feel like Larry Hoover:” Rappers rob local recording studio

Posted by: kerryburns | November 13, 2012 | No Comment |

Yesterday, 2 men robbed a local Laurel City recording studio, Copy Catz Studioz, at around 2 a.m.

The men, who have still not been identified to the media, went on the studio a little after midnight, with the intent of cutting their rap song. The 2 men had no appointment set up before hand.

The men were allowed into the studio and only after being completely through recording, went outside to “get money,” and came back in with a small, black handgun. They robbed 6 people in the studio, taking jewelry, credit cards, cash, and cell phones.

“They were not hiding their identities or their faces.”

– Pete Piringer, Laurel City spokesman

It does not seem like a very proper thank you for the last minute rap session, does it?

The content of their song was interesting to note, as it was somewhat of an ode to famous Chicago gang leader, Larry Hoover.

“I feel like Larry Hoover, I gotta get my money now.”

– lyrics on the released track of the robber-rappers

Hoover led a gang, the Gangster Disciples, formed in the 70s. They controlled all the drug trade of Chicago’s South Side for years, killing many innocent people.

The studio has released their song in an attempt to see if anyone recognizes the 2 mens’ voices and can identify who they are.

Here is the link to the Larry Hoover song they recorded.

under: Comm 455
Tags: Comm 455, Copy Cats Studioz, Gangster Disciples, Kerry Burns, Larry Hoover, Laurel, Rappers, recording studio, Rob

The press and the Sago mine disaster

Posted by: jak9265 | November 13, 2012 | No Comment |

41 hours after an explosion in a coal mine in Sago, West Virginia that trapped 13 miners, the nation woke up relieved to see headlines reporting 12 of the 13 miners alive. Headlines in newspapers like USA Today screamed that twelve miners had beaten the odds. However, joy and happiness turned into grief and anger as the truth was later revealed; all but one miner had been rescued and the rest were dead.

Courtesy of nationmaster.com

Courtesy of http://www.chrominance.net

It did not take long for news sites to correct the information online, but it was difficult for newspapers that had printed their early editions. Staff at the Newseum reviewed the coverage of the tragedy and found that more than 250 US newspapers published headlines that the miners were alive.

Did reporters get carried away by this bit of good news?

CNN reported that the sign of church bells ringing was the first sign of good news to come and news organizations claimed they based their sources on interviews with Gov. Joe Manchin, who later denied confirming the news, and second-hand accounts of family members. Everyone was ecstatic with this bit of “happy” news and most suspended disbelief.

So why wasn’t the media more skeptical? I mean, could you blame them?

Gov. Manchin and family members seemed like credible sources. The ringing church bells and ambulances reinforced confirmation of the story. In facing a tragedy of 13 dead men, everyone was moved by “a miracle” even though it defied logic.

As the news turned dramatically early in the morning, it caused a lot of confusion, especially for the family members of the miners whom they believed to be alive. A majority of newspapers and wire agencies said that “miscommunication” was the reason for the mix-up. The most likely reason for the misinformation was due to faulty sourcing by reporters who ignored the flaws in the story.

This certainly hurt the credibility of the news media.

The ability to have news 24/7 has brought news coverage to whole new level of immediacy. However, it can also lead to recklessness and irresponsibility by those responsible in reporting accurate information to the public.

under: Comm 455
Tags: corrections, credibility, jesusalvarez, reporting, Sago mine disaster

the BBC: a fascinating organization

Posted by: daviddorsey | November 13, 2012 | No Comment |

The British Broadcasting Company, or BBC, is the largest media source in the world, employing about 23,000 staff members. The BBC not only reports the news, but produces television, music, and other genres of entertainment and information. It’s quite diverse, the say the very least.

What’s so interesting about the BBC as well is the fact that it’s a Royal Charter. The current charter which the company possesses was established in 2007 and will last until 2014, at which point it will probably be renewed.

BBC Logo
the Daily Telegraph

I have been reeled in by the history of the BBC, because what history isn’t interesting? The BBC was created in 1922 through a combination of the General Post Office and a number of telecommunication companies. As an arm of the GPO, the BBC that we know today wasn’t created until 1927.

The BBC continues to deliver the news until this day, with a huge presence on television. Their television broadcast was suspended from 1939 to 1945 due to the Second World War, and enjoyed little competition until the deregulation period of the 1980’s.

Today, the BBC is one of the most respected news companies in the world, delivering an outside view on internal affairs in the United States in addition to countries and events all over the world. This Royal Charter continues to be an organ for news, the arts, and so much more, and shows no signs of stopping.

under: Comm 455
Tags: BBC, British contributions, daviddorsey, History, Journalism, Television

Facebook Couples Page

Posted by: jennykrashin | November 12, 2012 | No Comment |

Seat for sale

Posted by: chelseamorris | November 12, 2012 | No Comment |

Last Tuesday, Americans voted to keep President Obama in office. Voters turned out in historic numbers to re-elect the incumbent and add democratic seats to the Senate. Though Republicans maintain the majority in the House, this election was clearly a democratic victory.

20 female Democrats, one openly gay, will serve in the 113^th Congress. Our extremely diverse voter demographic elected officials who say they will work to protect the liberal agenda of acceptance and equal opportunity for all, surprise!

750 million conservative dollars were spent on political campaigning and all but one of the seats they were campaigning for went to the Democrats. 850 million liberal dollars were spent on campaigning and, yet another surprise, the election worked out in their favor. Democrats strategically campaigned to a broader demographic than Republicans, thus solidifying their victory.

Photo courtesy of The New Yorker

Politicians have been saying it for months, “the choice is clear.” Well, the choice has been made and clearly Americans are saying: you can’t buy our vote. Unless you appeal to the right demographic, then you can.

under: Comm 455
Tags: chelseamorris, election 2012, government control

The Golden Age (Extra Credit)

Posted by: sbarney26 | November 12, 2012 | No Comment |

After the Great War America was depressed and looking for something to wash away their memories.

They found sport.

Throughout the 1920s Americans slowly fell in love with sport through the exploits of Jack Dempsey, Man O’ War, The Four Horseman of Notre Dame, and the biggest name of all, Babe Ruth.

With the invention of the automobile and it becoming a more common means of transportation the economy was booming and ready for something new. Sport filled that void.

This is also a time that radio became the favorite medium of news and how it travelled the fastest. This was the first time that Americans could keep up with their favorite teams; therefore, increasing newspaper coverage. This lef to Americans going out and paying large sums of money to watch their favorite teams.

The 1920’s is when baseball became Americas’s national “pastime”. They fell in love with the home run hitting, right fielder for the New York Yankees, George Herman “Babe” Ruth.

During the 1920’s Golden Age was also the birth of sports reporting and writing. Reporters had the freedom to report any news and some reporters names, like Ring Lardner, Grantland Rice, Damon Runyon, were being noticed.

Lardner, Rice, and Runyon wrote well and led Americans into loving sports even more

(Left to right: Lardner, Rice, Runyon)

under: Comm 455
Tags: comm455, goldenage, samanthabarney, sport

Newspapers Technically Not In Trouble

Posted by: pszabe | November 12, 2012 | No Comment |

Just about 15 years into the ‘online era,’ newspapers are suffering — but not as bad as was once thought.

Besides the fact that daily newspaper circulation has been dropping every year for the past two decades, newspaper companies still experience decent business for a world overwhelmed by the Internet and electronic news.

The case may be that the issue with newspapers has not as much to do with a decline in readers, but a decline in advertisement revenue. By the end of 2011 newspaper circulation revenue was remaining about the same while ad revenue was dropping considerably. There was a 7.3 percent decrease in 2011, making the profit margin between circulation revenue and ad revenue the least it’s been since 1984 — when newspapers were on the rise.

In a digital age, print media is heavily on the decline. In fact, last year Google revenues were $4 billion greater than that of the entire newspaper industry.

There is some hope, however. Newspapers benefit from an array of advantages:

Monopolies – cities usually have one newspaper

Newsgathering – large reporting staffs

Locality – readers want locally knowledgeable news

Readers – quantity and quality of readers

Attention – many people still pick up newspapers

Brand Name – USA Today and The Washington Post both are huge names

Although the world heavily leans toward an Internet-based market, newspapers still retain relevancy and power.

under: Comm 455, newspapers
Tags: comm455, Internet, newspapers, patrickszabo

Does fashion play too much of a role for women journalists?

Posted by: jgermano | November 11, 2012 | No Comment |

The presidential election may be over, but it is still not too late to honor the women journalists who made a difference in the coverage of the 2012 campaign.

In September, C-SPAN introduced this video, in which women journalists analyze the 2012 election. The internet is full of posts such as this, ranking the best women journalists of the year.

Those on lists across the internet include:

Soledad O’Brien
Martha Raddatz
Candy Crowley
Carol Costello
Rachel Maddow

I am so happy that women journalists are getting the recognition they deserve for their coverage of the 2012 election, especially when women journalists are still outnumbered by men. However, reports like those published by More Magazine in October 2012 need to stop. The article featured seven prominent women journalists, and instead of focusing on their reporting, focused on their fashion choices. The article, entitled “Hail to the Sheath: Reporters Wear This Season’s Best Silhouette,” is continuing the trend of women in the media being known for their fashion choices instead of their reporting.

The seven newswomen on these pages are casting an eye on the candidates this election season. But scrutiny is a two-way street: even brilliant writers and reporters have to look good. Here, they wear fall’s best sheath dresses, pairing some style with their substance.

The problem is that these articles, focusing on fashion and looks of the reporters, are far more common than those featuring the actual work of women journalists. Women in the journalism field are too often plagued by talk of looks and fashion. How many reports are there about men journalists and fashion? Not many. Until the media shifts the focus from fashion to content, women will still be left behind in the journalism industry.

In the documentary Miss Representation, Katie Couric often felt self-conscious of what she was wearing. Ann Curry of NBC also felt that she was let go because producers didn’t like her fashion choices.

Photo Courtesy of Guilford Free Library

under: Comm 455
Tags: election2012, JanelleGermanos, Womeninthemedia