Friday, April 26, 2013

    Journalism is a very important part of today's world.  It tells people the news and latest stories of the United States and around the world.  People go look to a newspaper, magazine, or news website because they want to know what's going on.  Then you have down right stupid people who think they're journalists when they're not and spill a bunch of junk that is not even true on the internet.  Some people are drawn to the graphic images and videos that always leak to the internet when a tragedy happens, others not so much. The question of what should exactly be shown on the news, written about in the newspapers etc. Should we really let people see the gory photos and videos of people? Is a little fuzzy and I myself am 50/50 on this.

    I think the media's job in a tragedy is to focus on pin points of the tragedy and write stories on those pin points.  With the Boston bombing I think for a lot of people it would have been better for them to see the stories of the heroes who helped others that tragic day because let's be honest now, we know they're are going to be different news websites who are going to focus on the gory things of that day.  For the local news I think putting those hero stories out there and maybe some graphic pictures for the local people to hear would be better because they're getting some kind of effect of that day and seeing a little bit of what those people went through. Focusing more so on the overcoming of the injuries and such would be good here to because people still want to know what's happening.

    For parents who want to let their child see this and let them see what happens in a tragedy or for another reason I think instead of the gory pictures, show them the picture of the guy helping the injured women and teach them what they can do in a time when everyone around them is in total panic and let them see the good out of that day. At the same time you want them to know that what these men did was not ok and they hurt, killed a lot of people. I would show the faces of the guys and have them see who people are looking for in Boston and that they have no caught them and people are safe, but let them know they're some thousand miles away they are safe here in Minnesota, and no harm will come. 

    For the people in that tragic situation living in that town, or city at that point and time I don't think they should be getting gory and graphic stories.  Only the stories on heroes and the good that somehow came of that day because that can maybe let them see the upside of that horrific day.  I think the main headlines of that day and the manhunt only on their telly's would have been better because they're living in that city and they are the ones who are in that situation and going through that, not the people of Minnesota or Colorado. Another thing that would have been good is letting them know people are praying for their safety and well being in this time. People want to know others are their for them, all people want that when we are going through something shocking and tragic.

    People can take the Boston's bombings in different ways and people did that with their stories and photos.  I would have focused more on the heroes of the event, the people who helped others and saved people's lives, and the people who are now over coming their injuries.  There is a women who was a dancer and because of the bombs she had to have her foot amputated, now she is determined to get back to dancing even after losing her foot.  Stories like that I think people can feel a little less worried and scared and see the light at the end of the tunnel, the overcoming of this terrible event.  If you're more interesting in the injuries and what kind of injuries people got and just seeing the pictures of what people went through, I think you can go on a website and look for those things, but people don't need to publish them for the world to see on the telly becasue you're focusing on the bad of the situation, but what about the good and overcoming? As crazy as it sounds I think good still did happen that day.

   Consumers on the media of today have a divine right and choice weather they want to see the bad stuff of any tragic event that has happened.  You have many journalists independent or working for some big news station or newspaper that will choose to do the good stories, or the stories that focus on the killings, kidnappings, or abductions.  In some cases it is good for people to see the graphic and gory stuff when it comes to learning something important from that, or it's a situation where you could help find him/ or her, or them, but I think in times when the situation has nothing to do with us here in Minnesota we don't need know the bad details.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

    January 9, 2003 students from a Ohio school distract sued their school distract; Wooster City School Distract on the grounds of violating their first amendment rights to freedom of speech and freedom of press. The plaintiffs attended high school at Wooster High School and were editors at their school newspaper the Blade and the school distract stopped the distribution of the newspaper because it was believed the newspaper contained a defamatory article.

     The students filed for a First Amendment case and while in court these students pushed for a temporary restraining order and seeking for the release of the newspaper for distribution. They were denied the temporary restraining order because they lacked factual information. Instead the judge filed a stipulated judgment and the two parties agreed to distribute the newspaper December 20, 2002. On January 15, 2003, the Distract distributed the modified Blade issue.

    This Blade issued an article on the Boards' underage drinking policy and accused the Board of violated the policy by giving preferential treatments to athletes that have been caught drinking. The Blades' advisor approved of the articles' publication and they made their standard 4,500 copied the issue featuring the story. An involving on the people quoted in the article who was drunk and interviewed for the article made the superintendent have the principal stop the press run of the newspaper.

    I think this case is interesting because the students were writing something about their school and it was truth, but the school board didn't want to caught. In my opinion I think this shows how much control a whole school distract has over the school newspaper. It controls the stories we print and put out for all the see.

Friday, April 12, 2013

Hazelwood vs. Kuhlmeier


    From this case I learned a lot about freedom of speech and how limited we are as students in school to say what we want and feel, even in a school newspaper. Finding out that public schools can limit our freedom of speech in school, but not the government, doesn't make sense to me. Hearing the other cases I learned that the 1st Amendment is everywhere and somehow really our rights to the 1st Amendment has gone down because of our socitey and the world we live today. It was interesting to hear someone say, "I love my country, but hate the goverment." Learning this all means... I know my limited rights in school and out in the world. I know as a journalist what my limits are when I write a story and put out in the world for all to see.

    Limitations that have been paced on the media are I think for the most part right. As a journalist you wnat people to look at your story and read. You want to be published in a newspaper, or tabloid and ultimately people want money. So you'll see any one do what they need to do get the job done so they get their cash prize at the end of the month. In other cases I think the media as in papparizzi need more restrictions, as a person I put myself in that celeb's shoes and I know I wouldn't want a camara man in my face every five seconds walking down the sidewalk. As for articles and writing I think there it's fine because writers can wrtie and update people on the controversal issues of today's times and people can read and see all sides of the a story.

    For school media and limiting us with speech and having the right to take out a story, or whatever, I think we need just a little more freedom. I think if we weren't so restricited then we could talk about bigger and more controversial topics and students oculd read them and hopefully get a reality check, or just open their minds. We do have the right ot freedom of speech and to take part of that away is wrong. In the Hazelwood case the principle decide he didn't like the topics of teen pregency and divorce that were written and instead of telling the students he just took out the stories. At least tell them; is what I think and through going to court and the Supreme Court it was ruled that though government may not have a say in speechin pubblic schools, the school does.


Thursday, March 7, 2013


 I think this story is really important for all students to think about for college and getting a job while your in college. It gives you some free tips on what they expect to see at an college interview; behavior, clothing, and what to go in the interview expecting. You also get a few tips on the transition from college to career and that you should focus on professionalim and to go in the interview with realistic expections on how much responsebility you will get in the first week of your time working at a place.

  In the interview they gave people espically people who are seniors in high school and in college free tips on how to get a job more so correctly. You got to see a few slides with the info so you could write them down and not forget. The producers brought in Paul Timmins from the Career Services director for the U of M's College Libral of Arts and they did a interview with him and he answered questions and going into great details.

  In the beginning they had a survey by CareerBuilder.com and gave statics of the umemployment rate in the majority of U.S cities. They tell you that college studnets are jobless or under employed meaning that if you graduate in May or June you go find a job when the job market is flooded or "off" season. With that they tell you that students should check with their studnet services and take advantage of those services.

 

Monday, February 25, 2013


http://life.time.com/culture/mothers-day-special-life-with-famous-moms/#1
Alfred Eisenstaedt took this photo of Jackie Kennedy and her daughter Caroline in 1960.

    Everyone knows the Kennedy's and the legacy they have left behind in American History. John Kennedy was our President which brought his family higher into fame and his wife Jackie. Jackie Kennedy was a stunning women and a devote to her family and work as First Lady, she dazzled the world with her style and elegance and her confidence. Underneath the surface of the so called "glamorous life" that people thought John and Jackie had there was heart ache and frustration with John's affairs with multiple women. Jackie at one point mentioned divorce, but instead stood by her man. 

    The picture reminds that Jackie was more than the First Lady and an icon to people, but a mother. All she wanted to do was be a hands-on mother and be there for them. With her working schedule and duties how could she? It must of been hard to sneak a hour or two with them. You can see happiness, concentration, and delight on her face. She savors each moment she can get with her little girl and she loves reading, drawing and spending time with her. How she must want to stop that moment and be there forever reading her a bedtime story.

    It makes me wonder though... is this photo lying? I mean were, they modeling for Alfred the photographer? Was there no real moment between Jackie and Caroline because if it ins't they're good models. This photo caught my eye because i have always loved Jackie Kennedy and have found her to be an interesting person, so to her with her daughter is... interesting and it makes me think. Think of their life and how it must have been and if there were any other moments like that one?




Drew Peterson
http://nation.time.com/2013/02/21/drew-peterson-sentenced-to-38-years-for-murder/?iid=us-main-lead

    Drew Peterson on February 21, 2013 was sentenced to 38 years in prison for the murder of his third ex-wife. This case did not hit until October 2007 when his 4 wife, Stacey, disappeared. It was during the search for her when investigators looked into the death of Peterson's ex-wife more and in February 2008 ruled it to be a homicide. Peterson had since then been on trail for first-degree murder. Drew Peterson is a former police officer from Bolingbrook, Illinois he has publicly yelled in court he did not murder his ex-wife and has been said to be called by the prosecutor, "cold-blooded killer."

    You can't even see in the photo Peterson's eyes and he seems so cold and mean seems like he's mentally ill. You feel for his kids he has had with his past 4 wives and it makes you think of what they must think of their dad now being in prison for this heinous crime. Think of the boys he has with the ex-wife who is dead, what do they believe? Do they agree with the prosecution or not? His fellow police officers he worked with while he was on the force, how do they think of Drew now? Are some of them still loyal friends and standing behind him all the way?

    I have to step back and just look, look at everything in the past 4 years that has happened. This man has been on trail and in custody for 4 years and now he is convicted to 38 years in prison, which is good, but I ask, "Why now?" Why not convict 4 years ago when it seemed pretty clear that he was involved with his 4 wife's disappearance and pieces of evidence from the murder seemed clear and easy to solve. Noted he has been called by the Pastor of the church Peterson went to, "scary." People in the community and neighborhood he lived in have spoke out about Peterson and they're not good things to say.

    I have known about this case since it all came out and I haven't followed it continually and I didn't know he was due in court. When I saw this photo I knew who he was and thought, "Thank God it's over." It has been an interesting case to look at and to follow. I hope in the end the people that Drew Peterson was in and touched have been affected by this badly in anyway.




Picture of priests performing a Hindu ceremony, Ganges River, India
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/02/pictures/130211-kumbh-mela-stampede-hindu-holy-festival-world-india/#/kumbh-mela-hindu-holy-festival-2013-aarti_64174_600x450.jpg

    This picture represents this year's Hindu Holy Festival in India. The festival lastes for 55 days and for each day the people do something to signifie Hinduisum. In this picture Hindu priests are performing a ceremony besides the Ganges River during the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad. Other events people have done are Holy Bath, bridge crossings to go and dip in the Ganges River, and lots of praying. Praying at the train station, in the streets, and at holy Hindu temples.

    In these photos you can see the faith the people have in this religion and there obeidence to it. Doing rituals and holding parties and festivals and the roads in local Indian cities have gotten so bad, stampedes have started. A women was trampled over and left for dead on the street when a local merchant in the city helped her to a hospital. The stampedes have killed 36 people in Allahabad.

    You can see the difference between the American culture and the Indian culture. It is so commen for people to celebrate Hinduism and to have a festival because everyone there or 95% of people living in India are Hindu. So this picture gives you a little look into the culture and how they celebrate their religion and it shows their dedication too.

    I ad heard and study in a class about Hinduism and how they celebrate it in India and when I saw this photo it was complete different from what I had thought in class studying it. The ceremony the preists are doing was something I had never seen or heard so I thought it was intersting and very wild almost. You would never see that here in Minnesota and so it is cool to flip through the pictures and look at the pictures of this festival.


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Monday, February 18, 2013

Febuary 18, 2013

    On Monday Febuary 11, 2013 Pope Benedict XVI annoced that he was stepping down from his position as pope after seven years. When this story broke the world was shocked and people started to bring up the question of why? Pope Benedict said it was because of his age, 85, and that he relized from some travels that he couldn't fully do his taskes as pope.

    Of course after this broke many rumors were flying all over the place and assumptions. Stories of the pope may go on trial becuase of a phone call. Then there are some more relistic stories about the pope; Pope Benedict shoes true leadership by resigning and Vatican: Cardinals could meet sooner to choose new pope. Another interesting angle to this story is the world's reaction. Even some Catholics commented on the retirement and how they feel about it.
Historian: Pope's resgnation is noble

    With all the reactions and assumptions out there, there seems to be some good solid information is out there. Supposedly he is going to be a background pope, but not going to be able to say any advice to the new pope or sign off on anything. As for living situation he will still be living in Vatican City a city that is in heart of Rome, Italy. Many details with his living situation is still very unknown.

  
   

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Febuary 2, 2013

    A recent story has broken out this past week. A five year old boy from Midland City, Alabama has been held hostage for 5 days now. It is said that the boy is to have Asperger's syndrome and an attention deficit disorder, the boys name is not known at this time. No one knows why the motive of this kidnapping. The suspect is Jimmy Lee Dykes, 65 a Vietnam War veteran and retired truck driver who moved to Midland City 5 years ago. A important thing is that police officals have been in 'constant communication' with Mr. Dykes. Now the suspect had agreed and let police send down into the bunker, that the he is keeping himself and the child in, coloring books, crayons and prescription medication that the boy needs.

    Now how this all began is on Tuesday January 29, 2013 at 3:40 pm. The little 5 year old was taking the bus home with his other classmates his bus driver shuttling the little ones and dropping them off when Jimmy Lee Dykes boarded the bus. He demanded that the bus driver, Charles Porland Jr., hand over two children. Poland, 66, refused blocking the way into the ailse of the bus. 21 children were reported to escape out of the bus from the back emergency door. The gunman shot Poland 4 times then grabbed the little boy and barricaded them into a near by bunker. Now it is not known if the gunman, Jimmy Lee Dykes was after a specific child on the bus.




    This is a very shocking story and so sudden too. It makes you think of your young children and look at them and really feel blessed and lucky. I find this story not only shocking, but raw. Peoples emotion's in these type of situations seem to get fried or come to the surface and sizzle. I think parents across the country are thinking of this story and this story will be on the hearts and minds of people everywhere. Anytime a story that invovles a child I think it's nerve-racking to people because the situation is involving with a innocent child. A child who hasn't fully expirenced life expirenced the wonders, joy, happiness, and possiabilities this world can have to offer you and give you these days.

    This story I think goes with the theme: when do we know these type of situations are going to happen? How can we really know that our child will safe when coming home from the bus? I mean this little boys parents obviously didn't know this man was going to grab their son and hold him captive. It's been 5 days now and how do they know something bad isn't going to happen? And then, how do we handle our emotins? I can't imagine the pain they must feel after all this time. They don't know what will happen to their son. How is this all going to play out?

   Many, many emotins can play out here: desperation, worry, out of controlness (if that is an emotion-you can definently feel it) and the feeling of disgusit of the man who took the little boy.

    I can only wonder what will happen to this little boy. How will this all play out? Will the child come out of this safe and sound? Will he end up being killed? Who knows what will happen, but I hope that the media will not try to make anything up out of this and really be a calm, soft voice for the people who are watching and reading about his story.