Change: The Future of Journalism

My parents always told me the only thing constant in life is change. My time in J201, Into to Mass Media and Society only confirmed this belief. It was amazing to go to class and hear about projected journalism projects and see the guesswork behind figuring out the direction of journalism. The lectures on twitter, social networking, community-sponsored reporting, blogging and more opened my eyes to the amazing possibilities out there for people hoping to enter the journalism field--people like me.

I take away from this class an enthusiasm about the future of journalism. I know the possibilities are endless and that if I view my career in an entrepreneurial manor, all things are possible and success is eminent.

I wouldn't want to be headed into any other field, despite people saying that the days of newspapers/magazines/etc. are at an end. This is only the beginning!! Can you imagine what will come next when we have things like the internet as our medium? The next big thing may not even exist right now. It would almost be naive to think so.

In four years, I will be ready to head out into the field of journalism with an excitement like none other. I am ready to embrace the things that will be thrown my way, and embrace all the crazy new things I encounter as a journalist.

Disney bad? No way!

Ok, so why’d you have to go and pop my Disney bubble? I was perfectly happy watching Disney movies for the story, but now am going to have to analyze every second of the next Snow White or Little Mermaid film I watch? I never once thought to look at the undertones of each film, looking for racist or misogynist messages. I never thought to because I was young and saw the story for what it was, not an outlet for ideology and prejudices. Now that I think about it, one certainly can find abuse in Beauty in the Beast, an anti-feminist message in Snow White and a general Women-need-to-be-saved-by-a-strong-handsome-man message in about every other movie. Of course, you have to be looking for these messages to find them.

Despite all this, my allegiance still rests with the Disney Corporation. Lets just look at the first layer in each film. Lets see Mulan as a coming of age story, where a young girl, through courage and compassion saves her country and hey! brings home a man as a bonus. Lets not say that her progress of shucking female stereotypes is negated by the fact she finds a man. You know what? We all want someone to love and to love us, and yes, Mulan is included in this. The story would most definitely be missing something if she came home without handsome Shang. Granted, Mulan would have been a great film without him, but without a doubt, he completes the picture and makes the “And they lived happily ever after” possible.

So say what you will, but I remain a Disney supporter with dreams of princess dresses and handsome prince charmings.

Spot.us: The future of Journalism or just a really cool idea?

I believe David Cohn’s Spot.us to be quite innovative. The idea of people financially supporting the investigation of news that interests them interests me. I really believe David has stumbled upon something that could reinvent the news industry entirely. Who would have thought that journalism could be more than newspapers force-feeding subscribers what they considered to be news?

It was interesting to hear David’s opinions on the news institutions of today. NPR, National Public Radio is a non-profit, just like Spot.us, and relies on donations to function. Unlike NPR, a donor has a say in where his money is used at Spot.us. Like David said, NPR could use your money for a $100 stapler and you wouldn’t know it. With Spot.us the viewer can have a voice in what is reported. I like that idea, and I think others will too.

I asked David what his plans for the future were because I wanted to know his thoughts on the site’s current and future success. At the same time, I couldn’t help but picture a company, much like Spot.us, that covers national and international news. Wouldn’t that be the neatest thing? Our nation could actually play a part in the news industry. We could demand certain things of our news providers and instead of reading/watching what was deemed “news worthy”, we’d decide. I bet subjects currently ignored by the media, like the genocide in the Congo and the poor state of Haiti, would be exposed because citizens around the world would want to be informed.

David Cohn’s lecture last Thursday got me excited for the future of journalism. The future that, lucky enough, I’m going to be a part of.

Are We Puppets of the Recording Industry?

This week’s discussion centered on the recording and music industry—a topic I knew nothing about. I always figured that the music I listened to was made in a glamorous studio, and the company then distributed that music to the public on iTunes and the radio. I thought that in our supposedly “capitalistic” economy, listeners decided what become popular and what was aired on the radio. I figured (wrongly) that what was demanded, was provided. Little did I know that the recording industry has us fooled—we listen to what they decide we want to hear. I didn’t realize that music is screened and tested on a ‘test’ audience before it’s released. I also didn’t know that the majority of song compositions occur with in a limited range—only written in the several keys that have been proven “appealing” to the human ear. Was it naïve of me to think that the recording industry would want to give all artists, all genres, a chance to impress the public? There are so many listeners out there to buy music, so why doesn’t the industry support all talented artists?

The story of Kenna made me realize just how limited music production is. Why wouldn’t this new, progressive, funky artist make it in the music world? Sure his music is new, an indefinable rap/pop/reggae/folk fusion, but just because Kenna doesn’t fall under current music genres doesn’t mean that audiences won’t love him. The only thing constant in life is change. Consider rap, for instance. In the 1960’s rap was probably something very foreign and confusing, as it did not fit in with the music of the day. But now, 40 years later, rap is one of the biggest genres of music with a HUGE following. It doesn’t take a business major to realize that limiting the type of music produced isn’t an intelligent fiscal move. Imagine if Hip-hop and rap producers had dismissed the genre. We’d be missing a great addition to our music libraries, and (for you music companies desiring nothing but profit) there certainly would be a lot less millionaires in the world. So give artists like Kenna a chance. We want to hear them!

My Frenemy Facebook

There should be a warning when one signs up for a facebook account.

CAUTION: may cause severe addiction, loss of sleep, and obsession.

Facebook, I have learned, is difficult to resist or take in small doses, because once you start, it’s difficult to stop. If there were Facebook Rehab, I would most definitely be a candidate for admittance.

It all started in10th grade, after the Myspace had lost its allure. After much persuasion, I was allowed to create a Facebook page—little did I know that Facebook would become something I relied heavily on to be social, and would consume my time like nothing else. Facebook is myspace squared, as it remains somewhat classy while allowing you to stalk people.

I will neither take a positive or negative position towards Facebook, for I see both arguments to the social networking debate. Certainly online communication is changing the way we interact, redefining our relationships with others. Facebook is simplifying social interactions. Sure people use facebook to depersonalize and avoid the stickieness of a break up, yet at the same time facebook allows old childhood friends to reunite. It’s difficult to determine whether social networks are harmful or helpful. I’m pretty sure they’re both.

Communication is a crucial element to human relationships. Our relationships define us as individuals and as a species. Are we losing something in our lives, then, when we converse in texts, AIM, profile posts, video chats, and emails? I believe so. True communication involves facial expression, and body language on top of the verbal component. Facebook and other 21^st century communication methods make socializing simple. Socializing, true socializing, definitely isn’t. Having a conversation with someone is requires effort—both people have to contribute and help their partner by asking questions, commenting, and avoiding the social awkwardness that can arise. Social interactions online eliminate those things, and when it comes to actual face-to-face conversations, some avid facebook users might struggle. Social networking is only 80% communication, not the real thing.

Despite this, I enjoy my lacking form of communication. Facebook is heroin in the form of a social networking site, and the masses are hooked—myself included.

The Power of the Blog

Before J201, I never gave much credit to blogs. Blogging was something for the computer-savvy, technoholics that could figure out the World Wide Web. Now that I’m a blogger and have further explored the medium, I can see why some people claim it to be the future of mass media, as the web now plays such a prevalent part in all our lives.

This week I read an article on Blogging as a channel for commercial advertising titled Ad Shift Throws Blogs a Business Lifeline. I have no doubt companies will continue finding new and different ways to promote their products online. Marketing on Blogs, an up-and-coming, go-to resource makes total sense. Perhaps blog advertisement will become what television commercials are today.

Advertising I can understand, but to think Blogging could be the future of journalism makes me cringe a little. I won’t venture to say that current journalistic work is without bias, but the Blog format invites people to spew personal opinions. The simplicity of blogging permits more people to contribute to conversation, yet at the same time, share their prejudices.

So can we be convinced that blogging is the answer to our journalistic problems? I don’t think so because being a blogger does not automatically make you as a journalist. Maybe a wannabe journalist, but not a legitimate, truth-seeking, neutral journalist (Do those even exist? Idk.). An uninformed reader might trust an article written on the North Pole by Joe Schmoe, a firm Santa believer, and become convinced St. Nick resides in the cold snows of the Arctic.

With that said, I think blogging will have a future in the media—whether we like it or not. The Internet is now vital to media and our daily lives. It would be extremely naïve to say that blogging, an open forum for the entire world to participate in, isn’t going to catch on. It already has.

Su'per·star'dom (sōō'pər-stär'dəm) n.

Did Michael Jackson’s death bring an end to the era of superstardom? I sure hope not. In my opinion, the time of the superstar has just begun. Now, everyone can be a superstar (for a time). Whip out the garage band, click on an instrument, make a beat, sing a little and voila! A song. There are a lot of talented people out there, and now, with the technology available, people can produce more music, faster. (Granted, there are those who lack talent, but with the help of computers and a tweek here and there, everyone sounds good!) Superstardom is not a thing of the past, as a matter of fact, I believe more people with experience it now than ever before, but for a shorter period of time. People’s short attention spans and the quantity of artists out there make it so no one person will have the spotlight for long. Is this fragmentation a bad thing? I don’t think so. In the past, a rare few were able to get their songs out to the masses, now anyone who is creative and innovative can make it in the music world. Audience diversification also provides initiative for popular and in-coming artists to continually write new and different songs, because rarely does a song stay at the top of the charts for more than 3 weeks. (In 1982, MJ’s Thriller spent 31 weeks at the top of Billboard music charts.)

There will never be another artist like Michael Jackson. He was a gifted musician, singer, songwriter, and dancer who impacted the music industry like no one else. He had a talent and passion that cannot be replicated by any artist. In my book, MJ is surpasses the title of “superstar”, falling into the category of überstar—a very technical term applied to only a handful of the most talented people. The day of the überstar has come to an end, for Michael Jackson was raw talent. Nowadays, artists are large in number and rely on bashing beats or computer tweeks to top the billboards. Michael Jackson did that and more with his love of music and passion for song. There will only be one king of pop, but the days of Superstardom have only begun.

Time Warner Conglomerate

Mainstream vs. Alternative Media Sources

I once used to think that news was just news, plain and simple. Something significant happened, someone investigated it, and then reported back to me all things crucial and important. Then I heard of a little thing called bias. Okay, call me naïve, but isn’t news supposed to be unprejudiced, accurate, and without hidden agendas?

Last Tuesday I headed off to Intro to Mass Media and Society aware that there was bias in the news. With the completion of class, I had come to accept that bias was an inaccurate term. I was asked to question the origins of media, because many factors effect the accuracy of the news delivered to us by newspaper, website, and TV show. Who owns the company? What are their political and religious views? Where does the organization get their funding? What sources do they use? If the big man upstairs wants something, surely he gets it. How does that effect the accuracy of the news we consume each day?

This week, I observed an alternative media source and compared its reporting to that of a major, mainstream media source. Here are a few interesting facts about my chosen sources, Alternet.org and CNN.com:

*Alternet is an online magazine that “creates original journalism and amplifies the best of hundreds of other independent media sources...” and whose goal is to “…inspire action and advocacy…”

*Alternet “self-generates” 30% of its funding through online donations.

*CNN is one of thirteen major holdings of the Time-Warner Network, which holds the title of the world's largest entertainment conglomerate.

*Time-Warner, along with its major television holdings, owns major media companies like New Line Cinema, as well as operations in Internet (i.e. AOL), and in telecommunications. Basically, it’s massive.

In comparing these two media outlets, I decided to focus on the topic of environmentalism, as it is a subject I am passionate about. Alternet’s articles on global warming seemed to carry a much more pessimistic view of the actions of politicians than CNN’s reports. Reporters were more informal, using words that implemented a slight bias, for instance implying a lack of CO2 reductions will cause an “Oh Shit” moment in the near future. CNN seemed to be more upbeat about the upcoming UN summit on Climate Change in Copenhagen, Denmark. Reports seemed to say that although drastic changes must be made, our representatives are up for the challenge. Alternet claims that any action on the part of politicians will be insufficient. Alternet’s reporters seemed to cover more meticulously, drawing on external sources, like a study by Climatologist Hans Schellnhuber. When I searched the study on CNN.com, no results were found. Funny, because Schellnhuber’s report is to be a huge part of the proceedings at the UN summit in December, and his findings claim immense and immediate changes need to be made in order to stop global warming. The report includes staggering statistics—claiming the U.S. must drop CO2 emissions by 100% by 2025 to avoid catastrophic climate change. To me, such a revelation seems news worthy. Why aren’t major news corporations reporting these facts? Perhaps they are solely relying on the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a group whose reports, Alternet claims, are “constrained because the world's governments must approve their contents”.

At this point, I don’t know what to think. Alternative sources seem to delve further into a topic and be less restrained. At the same time, I think such freedom can lead to opinionated reporting, and thought it’s a strong word, fanaticism. CNN maybe limited by its reliance on government and other screened sources, but it seems to try and take a neutral tone to news. I like not knowing what an author thinks about a subject. So that’s why, despite this experiment, CNN.com will remain my homepage. But next time I read an article, I’ll do so with a bit more skepticism.

Newspapers: Forevermore or Nevermore?

Newspapers have provided thorough investigative research unlike any other media outlet throughout history. Such a level of introspection and investigation is necessary for society—we’ve all heard of that little thing called Watergate. I do not believe that the fall of newspapers will simultaneously bring about the end of proper investigative journalism. If newspapers become obsolete, as I believe they will, other media sources will pick up the slack and continue reporting serious and well-scrutinized news. The people demand it, and where there is demand, there are companies/firms/people vying to deliver and reap the financial rewards. Perhaps the replacement is unknown to us, or maybe Blogs will become the ‘newspaper’ of the future. Only time will tell.

What could possibly replace the newspaper? Well, no one had heard of skyping fifteen years ago, and at my age, my grandparents probably couldn’t have begun to imagine a thing like the web, laptop computers, and facebook. It’s easy to say, “This is it, it’s the best it can be,” and limit ourselves to what is available here and now. But that’s just silly. Didn’t we once think man had done it all with the invention of the radio? Look how far we’ve come. When the only thing constant in life is change, change will come. It’s up to us to embrace it and move forward.

So, goodbye newspapers, hello _______!

To Blog or Not to Blog.

Today is a happy day for me as with this, my first blog, I now enter into a foreign, yet easily reached, online universe—a Blogiverse if you will. I write now as a citizen of this Blogdom, a contributing blogger poised and ready to type and contribute both the excessive and interesting. My goal? To pass J201 and maybe become a competent, and somewhat compelling, blog-writer in the process.

The process of writing a blog is more difficult than I thought it would be. “What should I write about?” is currently going through my head. There are a ton of people out there surfing the web, what would they want to read? Should I appeal to a certain audience? To people like me? Even with a prompt, it’s a challenge to write something others will want to read. Do bloggers really care about what I have to say? Why should they? What are the characteristics of a good blog? Does a good blog discuss topics others have not touched? There are millions of blogs out there on topics ranging from sleeping habits to foreign policies, so how can mine stand out? Should it? Blogging is an excellent way to share opinions, and I guess that’s just what I’ll do.

So, how do I feel about blogging two paragraphs in? I like it.

But that won’t suffice in the way of an answer. I enjoy Blogging, (and I think others do too) because it gives the individual (me) a method in which they (I) can contribute to chat and express opinions on certain issues. I think there is more comfort in using the internet than other sources because it gives one the ability to distance oneself from a discussion. People feel more at ease contributing in such a setting, and more participate. As a result, a debate becomes multifaceted with many viewpoints and ideas, and a reader might be able to discover something that was previously unseen. I’m a big supporter of opening minds to new things.

Another reason I like blogging? Well, an entire site devoted to my thoughts is pretty dang awesome—it’s like being in a conversation and talking the whole time. Everyone likes to hear themself talk, and we all like to think our opinions are relevant and important. A site devoted to just that brings out the blogger in all of us. In a sense, Blogging allows us all to be opinion writers, reporters, and contributors. The question now is, is that a good or a bad thing?

True, there are those out there in Blogistan that write about trimming nose hairs and drooling in their sleep. True, there are those out there that blog in such a biased and prejudiced manor that reading their opinions make you want to either cry, scream, or puke, but most of the time, people do have something interesting to say and listening to them just might bring insight into a topic previously unknown to you. As mentioned before, there’s an informality to blogging that lends itself to freedom of thought and encourages uninhibited communication. Overall, I think it a great catalyst of deeper thought and conducive to establishing an environment of free and uninhibited speech. For stay-at-home moms, hippies, college students like me, and all other bloggers out there, blogging is an outlet of expression, creativity, and purpose, and I’m all for that!