tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43762715711407054612024-03-12T20:02:28.232-06:00Media EthicsJCOM 4010 figures it out<br>
(we welcome reader comments)Nancy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201440673240187754noreply@blogger.comBlogger216125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376271571140705461.post-44516140386036210822009-11-11T00:25:00.005-07:002009-11-11T00:43:53.744-07:00Feminism a religion? Against Title 9?A lawyer accused in 2008 a university of misusing federal aid because he claimed Women and Gender Studies discriminates against men. Clearly this man does not understand that females cannot be studied inclusively without studying males. As a student in the USU Women and Gender Studies program, I have spent many classes covering men, masculinity and related issues.<br /><br />From the article:<br />"The courses pretty much treat guys as if they're sources of evil in the world and the women are the victims," Den Hollaneder said. "I'm using the same argument here as we have with Title IX. When a university receives government funding, they have to provide equal opportunities for men and women. If there's no men's studies, women's studies is unconstitutional."<br /><br />He also calls feminism a religion that is "spread." Religion does not fit with the definition of feminism by pure logic and court case precedents. Also, patriarchy is a rule in most of modern and ancient times where women were/are the victims, thus the point of the study. Oye! His statement essentially denies this accepted truth in an overtly sexist manner.<br /><br />Read story here: <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-daum23-2008aug23,0,3450521.column">http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-daum23-2008aug23,0,3450521.column</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376271571140705461.post-44876857224955104872009-07-06T14:56:00.001-06:002009-07-06T14:56:47.674-06:00Discussion of Dowd plagiarism moves to the classroom<a href="http://www.poynter.org/q/?id=A166289">Discussion of Dowd plagiarism moves to the classroom</a><br /><br />Shared via <a href="http://addthis.com">AddThis</a><br />Nancy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201440673240187754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376271571140705461.post-28362705495534495242009-05-01T21:43:00.004-06:002009-05-01T22:03:46.086-06:00Into the futureThanks to Bonita Burton, deputy managing editor of the Orlando Sentinel, for bringing this. Don't forget, as some of you graduate tomorrow, that this crisis of journalism is also a major opportunity for you all. As Dan Gillmor says, "I'm almost jealous of them. I wish I were their age and starting off because the opportunities now to literally create something new or recreate something of great value to society, to our communities and our families, it's never been as open as it is now."<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A394257">Dan Gillmor says the future of journalism depends on active citizens<br />'Weirdly optimistic'</a><br /><blockquote><br />There are those who want to save newspapers and those who suspect the future of journalism lies elsewhere.<br /><br />Dan Gillmor is in the latter camp. A former newspaper reporter, Gillmor doesn't believe in propping up the journalistic institutions currently struggling to keep their footing. He's devoted much of his career to developing the potential of citizen journalism, the practice by which consumers of media become its producers, informing one another using the tools at their disposal—blogs, smart phones, smart questions and focused curiosity.<br /><br />At heart, Gillmor believes journalism is a practice, one that works best when done collaboratively, and one that citizens in a democracy can and should learn.</blockquote><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.indyweek.com/binary/dcd9/4.29-cover-story.danmug.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 219px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.indyweek.com/binary/dcd9/4.29-cover-story.danmug.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a>Gillmor is a professor of journalism at Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication where he runs the Knight Center for Digital Media Entrepreneurship. He is also director of the Center for Citizen Media, a joint project with ASU and Harvard University's Berkman Center for Internet & Society. From 1994 to 2005, he was a columnist at the San Jose Mercury News, where he wrote what is believed to be the first blog by a journalist for a traditional media company. His 2004 book We the Media: Grassroots Journalism by the People, for the People established him an authoritative voice on the subject. </span>Nancy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201440673240187754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376271571140705461.post-4726206444287314352009-04-28T09:12:00.000-06:002009-04-28T09:15:48.499-06:00GAY MARRIAGEIn the Herold today on the second page there is an article about an Iowa gay couple that tied the knot legally. The article is not unethical, but as I read it talked about how the couple said it was not very romantic because of the masses of media bombarding them throughout the marriage ceramony. Which is understandable, if you are going to make a move like gay marriage you better be expecting some kind of issues, you know damn well it's not going to go smoothly or be anything like an everday marriage of a male and female. But at the same time this is supposed to be these peoples happiest day in their lives and it gets ruined by masses of media all over the place.setzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00106011905308000025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376271571140705461.post-34226841588129679942009-04-28T08:39:00.002-06:002009-04-28T08:45:23.700-06:00SWINE FLUThis is getting worse and worse. 149 died in Mexico and 2,000 more are believed to be infected. It's making it's way into America as well with 48 cases. This sucks for tourists trying to go and visit Mexico soon as the US advised Americans against most travel to Mexico. This also hurts many places in Mexico that rely on tourism. Im just glad i dont live in San Diego anymore, we used to go up to Tiajuna all the time, its only a twenty minute drive. The tacos are amazing, who knows i could very easily be infected myself if i still lived in San Diego! how is this going to stop? I just hope it doesn't make it's way up the west coast, and hopefully stops somehow soon in Mexico.setzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00106011905308000025noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376271571140705461.post-86998979907854249752009-04-27T14:50:00.002-06:002009-04-27T15:31:39.559-06:00Make it stop.As I'm sure Nancy will notice, I've failed to post my own discussion topics as of late. I apologize for that and, also, that what I am about to write now is a little bit of old news. By continuing mention and discussion, I am contributing to my biggest complaint about people and news organizations, but it's been bothering me. <br /><br />This is a complaint I've brought up a few times but, really, there is something wrong with the news selection process in this country. My biggest beef right now? Levi Johnston. Johnston and his rocky relationship with the Palin family is none of our business and it is not news. Johnston has been circulating all the media stations sharing the details of his relationship with Bristol Palin and the visiting hours she will or not let him have with their baby. AP wires confirming the breakup, headlines forecasting the future of Johnston and the Palin family flashing across TV screens and the Internet ... Will they ever get back together? Does Levi want Bristol back? What did Sarah think? Gossip such as this has no place on major news networks. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was chosen as a vice presidential candidate and lost. End of story. In my opinion, any story about the Palin family begins and ends with the governor. Just because she was thrust into public spotlight doesn't mean her family and all of her business have to be, too. And now, media just can't seem to let it go. I'm sorry, but aren't there more important things going on in the world?Ariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587294484189126761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376271571140705461.post-83872974401136989752009-04-25T21:35:00.003-06:002009-04-25T22:00:48.113-06:00Oh, I'm sorry, you can't vote. You're a journalist.There is one thing we discussed briefly in class that I don't think has been mentioned on this blog. It's been bothering me for a while, so allow me to touch on it briefly: the argument that journalists shouldn't vote. I'm curious what you class members think of this. I, for one, think it is mostly ridiculous. Yet, I can understand the rationale. Some journalists choose not to vote as to maintain an open mind and not mar their objectivity. They don't want to be swayed, subconsciously, or consciously in the news they choose to print. They do want anything to influence their ability to give fair and balanced coverage. But as I've said with the empathy vs. objectivity discussion, are journalists expected to be robots, detached from feeling and conviction for the sake of objectivity? The reason they have jobs in the first place is because they get to vote for freedom to <span style="font-style: italic;">have </span>that job. Journalists are supposed to aid democracy, which is what the voting system is based on. I mostly agree with the policies that some publications have that require journalists not to campaign in any way as not to mar the publication's credibility. I think this is responsible, especially when a lot of big media entities are blatantly biased. But that is asking a lot of a human being-- to suppress their convictions for the sake of their career. However, asking them not to vote is wrong. They (we) are people too! Freedom of the press, though a wonderful privilege, does not make up for being denied the right to vote. Journalists are humans, and they are part of this democracy.<br /><br />For a much more educated, cohesive take on this issue, read <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ruth-hochberger/journalists-are-people-t_b_84497.html">this</a>.KGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769114624466948249noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376271571140705461.post-53435400203465008362009-04-25T21:32:00.004-06:002009-04-27T21:52:23.664-06:00Jessica Colletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13651109454628157981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376271571140705461.post-62246064025223003362009-04-25T10:13:00.002-06:002009-04-25T10:23:34.135-06:00U.S. military to release prisoner photosI heard this on the news and then found <a href="http://dailynightly.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/04/23/1905747.aspx">this article</a> that the U.S. military is going to release prisoner photos. I wonder if this will give the public more clarity about what is going on in the war, they say they are apparently better than everyone thought. Reading the descriptions of the photos does not make me feel better at all. I also wonder how they will be released? If they will simply be available or if they will be released through a specific media outlet? I assume they are simply released and the media will decide which ones they will use. A lot of the comments are pretty negative about the release but I think it will be a good thing and we will be less in the dark.Jessica Colletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13651109454628157981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376271571140705461.post-86551988275390162362009-04-24T10:39:00.002-06:002009-04-24T10:45:26.874-06:00Women arrested for selling her baby for $5,000A lady in West Virginia was arrested for selling her baby for $5,ooo for rent money and because she supposedly could not connect with the 5 month old baby. She originally tried $10,ooo but the women buying the baby talked her down. This is sad. This women is crazy and needs to find a better way to get some money, that is just rediculous to me. I also find it sad, because this baby will probably eventually want to know who thier real parents were and so forth, and might eventually come accross this story and find out that their mom sold them for $5,000 for rent money. Money can make people so crazy things in this world.setzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00106011905308000025noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376271571140705461.post-21436469574338540172009-04-24T10:31:00.002-06:002009-04-24T10:36:50.726-06:00To add to the craigslist postings....There is a story a came accross on Yahoo and it had to do with the craigslist events lately. The guy talked about shutting down just the "erotic services" section of the site. I agree, this section is damn near a prostitution website. In the article it said there was a study last year and found thta craiglist was the most popular site for a John seeking a prostitute. This is wrong what they are doing here, its like prostitution without the risk of getting caught. Other than that i think that craigslist is fine and people should be smarter than to trust random people they meet off the website and use craigslist for what its meant for.setzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00106011905308000025noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376271571140705461.post-79361040249859961982009-04-23T21:40:00.001-06:002009-04-23T21:42:21.787-06:00In Response to JessicaYou know Jessica, I too feel that a traditional newspaper is irreplaceable. And like Arie said, there is something about the sound of opening the paper in the morning, the smell of fresh print, and the nostalgia behind a cup of coffee and the daily news in the morning. Yet after Arie and Storee's presentation and seeing their Newfangled Newspaper and then going this morning to NYTimes.com, I realized that the two publications have a lot in common. Arie and Storee, I think you were onto something with your newfangled news, but I also think that your idea has been duplicated onto the web. Like on the NY Times site, they have blogs that let journalists give insight into the stories they write. They have first-person stories, and have abundant coverage of a variety of topics. So, I guess what I am saying is, don't be worried because I think this is a golden revolution in our industry, like Adam said. And I think that we will come out on top, maybe with something different, but come on, we will always have a job... That is a guarantee given to us by the ConstitutionKatie Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00215740540421718767noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376271571140705461.post-74560375560830572232009-04-23T21:22:00.002-06:002009-04-23T21:30:04.000-06:00Okay... I have made my decisionThis semester we have talked a lot about if newspapers are irreplaceable, and a lot of the class did their final projects on this or something similar. After listening to the presentations, I think I have developed my opinion. I think in the beginning I tried to appear like I cared more than I actually did on this subject, I know I know, it's horrible to admit for this class, but I realize how important newspapers really are. I agree that our society adapts to technology and we MIGHT find a way to overcome this online revolution, but I think the reality is that it would be really, really hard. Journalists might be able to go online and do their own research and share their information through blogging but they will make no money! How will they have time and RESOURCES to go do all the research themselves when they have a full time job to pay the bills? I also thought it was a good point brought up in class that it will be hard to learn what is going on locally. I have come to my opinion that newspapers are irreplaceable. Our society might find a way around this dilemma...but I am hoping they don't have to.Jessica Colletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13651109454628157981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376271571140705461.post-55143469570560825322009-04-23T20:40:00.002-06:002009-04-23T20:48:39.690-06:00medical marijuanaI read an article on NewYorkTimes.com today about a guy that ran a legal medical marijuana store in California, and is now facing possible jail time. The US government have been going over the state of Californias head and raiding these medical ditributors all over in Cali and have managed toe ven run a few of them out of business. Well they raided this guys place for the second time recently and are going to trial for possible jail sentancing. This is crazy because in the state he lives in,this is 100% legal. The city and the state are even testifying on his behalf in court. I think it's crazy they can allow a state to vote for this and be in charge of thier own state, untill the DEA finds out about it and has to go and cause problems for no reason. I mean really trying to go out of their way and go over the state of Californias head to get these people in trouble. It's pretty rediculous to me, if they dont want it to be legal, dont allow a state to vote it to be legal.setzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00106011905308000025noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376271571140705461.post-8264710253989545842009-04-22T22:38:00.003-06:002009-04-22T22:49:00.968-06:00The Fine LineI know that a common theme of this semester is how do journalists balance empathy and advocacy with impartiality? I just read this article on poynter.org about how The Las Vegas Sun managed to beat out The New York times for the Pulitzer this year. One of the highlights of the commentary was that The Sun won the Pulitzer over The Times because of the advocacy they did in printing a series on lax safety regulations in the city. If you don't know much about the situation in Las Vegas right now, and granted I didn't either until I went on vacation there and had a newspaper on my doorstep, there is a massive amount of building going on downtown and also an unprecedented amount of workplace injuries and deaths. The Sun went about investigating and reporting the cozy relationship that builders had with safety regulators and all of the deaths that have thus resulted. This quotes is from the article, you can find it here <a href="http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=162263">http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=162263</a>,<br />"Indeed, the work by the Sun and the Times, along with the third choice of the St. Petersburg Times, "really did represent three very different manifestations of public service," Boardman said. "And the Sun was more in the investigative mode -- taking on forces that were concealing the facts from the public."<br /><br />I believe that The Sun exemplified the proper balance of advocacy with neutrality. It is such a thin line that journalists walk between the two, frequently straying too far to one side or the other. But, The Sun reported the facts, served the greater societal interest, and impacted some change in their community. They are well deserving of this award and I hope that we all, as graduating journalists, can take this example of ethics in action and apply it to our communities that we are reporting on and be the catalyst of change....<br /><br />Alright, now I will get down from my soapbox.Katie Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00215740540421718767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376271571140705461.post-72292822743548734042009-04-21T12:40:00.004-06:002009-04-21T12:44:57.002-06:00President Beefcake?from the Huffington Post today:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2009-04-21-WashingtonianObamashirtless.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 302px; height: 399px;" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2009-04-21-WashingtonianObamashirtless.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/susan-moeller/media-literacy-101-the-et_b_189488.html">Media Literacy 101: The Ethics of Photoshopping a Shirtless Obama</a><br /><br />The web is buzzing about The Washingtonian magazine's choice to put a paparazzi photo of a buff and shirtless President Obama on the cover of its May issue. Read the story at the link.Nancy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201440673240187754noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376271571140705461.post-74085567893149245502009-04-20T22:09:00.002-06:002009-04-20T22:15:14.776-06:00CraigslistSo we had the class about Professor Peterson here on campus. His case may have been related to Craigslist. It is interesting that the story could have been connected to the website. In the last week or so I have heard two stories involving Craigslist. The most recent was the case of a 22-year-old pre-med student who solicited sex on Craigslist and killed the girl, a model, that he contacted. The ethics here is whether Craigslist is responsible? The site is designed to sell things or barter items. It has turned into a place to solicited sex, drugs and possibly illegal things. The site has begun to receive negative feed back. I don't think Craigslist is responsible, but I think they should revise their policy and website to avoid being associated with not so bright acts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376271571140705461.post-13647680324349247162009-04-20T21:16:00.004-06:002009-04-20T21:24:14.850-06:00Pulitzer for online news goes to PolitiFactFrom <a href="http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=101&aid=162197">Romanesko</a> today, news of an online Pulitzer:<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">PolitiFact Win Recognizes Power of Online Journalism</span></span><br /><br />Launched in 2007, PolitiFact's distinctive "Truth-O-Meter" ruled on the accuracy of hundreds of statements made by politicians (and even anonymous chain e-mails) during the 2008 presidential campaign.<br /><br />The site was relaunched in January with a broader focus on statements made by pundits and opinion makers and a new "Obameter" to track President Barack Obama's progress on 500 campaign promises.<br /><br />The Web site has been well-regarded and before being awarded the Pulitzer, it won a National Press Foundation award for Excellence in Online Journalism. It has also received a Knight Batten Award for Innovation, a NAA Digital Edge Award for Best Overall News Site and was one of PC World's "100 Incredibly Useful and Interesting Web Sites."<br /><br />PolitiFact, which has its own theme song, is one of the first Web sites to be honored by the Pulitzers, which began considering online work in 2006. PolitiFact Editor Bill Adair spoke briefly about what that recognition means:<br /><br /></blockquote><br /><object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4247717&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4247717&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/4247717">Bill Adair Answers, "What Does This Pulitzer Prize Mean to Journalism?"</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/poynter">Poynter Institute</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.Nancy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201440673240187754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376271571140705461.post-42600842046470407002009-04-20T17:31:00.002-06:002009-04-20T17:38:13.566-06:00It's That Time of Year...Monday, the Pulitzers were awarded to a number of news outlets across the nation. The New York Times won five awards and The Las Vegas Sun won the most prestigious award, the Public Service Award. I read this story on the awards, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30312547/">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30312547/</a>, and what I found most interesting about it was that although new media and online journalism have grown substantially in the past year, there was no awards given for their online contributions. The closest that an online news source came was Politico.com winning an award for a cartoon editorial. Even though the awards given, I'm sure, were well deserved, I have to say shame on the Pulitzers for not recognizing the power of online journalism. What will the Pulitzers do next year when there are less and less traditional news organizations vying for these prestigious awards?Katie Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00215740540421718767noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376271571140705461.post-58351522602302165882009-04-20T13:01:00.002-06:002009-04-20T13:22:38.235-06:00Free Speech, Remember?I usually turn a blind eye to infotainment, but last night's Miss USA controversy has me seriously fired up. Miss California was asked if gay marriage should be legalized in all states, and why or why not.<br /><br />This was her response: "I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage and, you know what, in my country and my family I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anyone out there but that's how I was raised and that's how I think it should be between a man and a woman."<br /><br />Ever since the words have left her lips she has been <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">vilified</span>, called names and some are even saying that is why she lost. I don't care about Miss <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">USA's</span> opinion on gay marriage, I care about the response she receives from fellow Americans for expressing her First Amendment right to free speech. She said nothing <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">derogatory</span>, and gave a truthful answer. Whether anyone agrees with her, whatever. But as Ed Murrow said, "We should not confuse dissent with disloyalty." Free speech is for everyone to express their opinions.<br /><br />I believe in the marketplace of ideas. When we start picking and choosing who can say what, we have just made the First Amendment moot. I think everyone can have their own opinions.<br /><br />To see the video and read the story, go to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/20/carrie-prejean-miss-calif_n_188897.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/20/carrie-prejean-miss-calif_n_188897.html</a>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376271571140705461.post-77978261400199037442009-04-20T10:35:00.003-06:002009-04-20T10:45:24.719-06:00Are newspapers irreplaceable?<p>By Storee Powell</p><p> Columnist Dave Berry wrote, “Newspaper readership is declining like crazy. I could write a pornographic sex scene here and nobody would notice.”</p><p><br /> “Oh, Dirk,” moaned Camille as she writhed nakedly on the bed. “Yes, yes, yes, YES…”</p><p><br /> “It was not always this way. There was a time when everybody read newspapers, whereas today, most people do not.”<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn1" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn1" name="_ednref1">[1]</a> </p><p><br /> The Pew Research Center found 63 percent of Americans said they won’t miss their local paper if it goes down.<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn2" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn2" name="_ednref2">[2]</a> Despite readers’ feelings, research points to devastating affects for democracy if newspapers die. Newspapers are irreplaceable in a democratic system. However, to save the vital life-force, new and controversial ideas must be combined and instated to attract all audiences and make newspapers once again economically viable. </p><p><br /><strong>Implications for Democracy</strong></p><strong></strong><p><br /> A 2009 case study by Princeton University found that after The Cincinnati Post died in 2007, its absence made local elections less competitive along several dimensions. Municipalities that the Post covered in the past experienced a greater increase in incumbent advantage, a decrease in voter turnout, and fewer people ran for office after the paper’s closure.<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn3" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn3" name="_ednref3">[3]</a></p><p><br /> Also, it has been found that places with higher newspaper circulation per capita have less political corruption.<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn4" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn4" name="_ednref4">[4]</a></p><p><br /><strong>What is the value of competitive elections?</strong></p><strong></strong><p><br /> Adsera, et al. said, “The degree of information of citizens curbs the opportunities politicians may have to engage in political corruption and mismanagement. Governmental performance improves as citizens have more precise knowledge on the policies adopted by politicians…the presence of a well-informed electorate in a democratic setting explains between one half and two thirds of the variance in the levels of governmental performance and corruption.”<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn5" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn5" name="_ednref5">[5]</a></p><p><br /> The Princeton study said, “News coverage potentially influences election outcomes in many ways. By revealing incumbents’ misdeeds or making it easier for challengers to get their message out, a newspaper may reduce incumbent advantage. Newspaper stories could also raise interest in politics, inspiring more people to vote or run for office.”<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn6" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn6" name="_ednref6">[6]</a><br />What are newspaper’s roles in democracy?</p><p><br /> According to researchers Adsera, et al., if a “control mechanism” such as a newspaper is set up, then “inefficiencies and corruption” of the politician are likely to be exposed to the public who can hold the violator accountable.<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn7" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn7" name="_ednref7">[7]</a></p><p><br /><strong>Why can’t blogs, online news and television fill the newspaper’s void?</strong></p><p><br /> TV, blogs and online journalism are basically parasitic, taking most of their stories from newspapers. A well-read blog can multiply a story’s impact many times.<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn8" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn8" name="_ednref8">[8]</a> According to Salon journalist, Gary Kamiya, if newspapers die, so does reporting because the majority of original reporting is done by newspapers. Kamiya said former Los Angeles Times editor John Carroll estimated 80 percent of all online news originates in print.<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn9" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn9" name="_ednref9">[9]</a> </p><p><br /> Maryland Senator Benjamin Cardin said the Pew Research Center reported a typical metro paper runs 70 stories a day compared to a half-hour of television news that includes only 10 to 12 stories. Furthermore, broadcast news follows the agenda set by newspapers. Usually, the broadcast news repeats the stories with less detail. Also, newspaper reporters build networks of people to create opportunities for new information.<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn10" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn10" name="_ednref10">[10]</a></p><p><br /> Kamiya explained professionally trained and experienced newspaper reporters produce the stories that blogs, online and television news synthesize their news from. A world without professional journalists to do face-to-face reporting will result in document-based reporting and academic-style research. Blogs and online news will erode the human process of journalism. Stories will no longer convey the truthful reality of a situation if reporters cannot experience the story firsthand, which enables them to pass this relation on to the readers, according to Kamiya.<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn11" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn11" name="_ednref11">[11]</a></p><p><br /> “The ideal of journalistic objectivity and fairness will increasingly crumble, to be replaced by more tendentious and opinionated reports,” said Kamiya. “The brave new media world will be one of tunnel vision and self-selected expertise, in which reported pieces are increasingly devoid of human interaction or human stories, often written by individuals who do not pretend to have a neutral stance.”</p><p><br /> Another shortcoming of online news, Kamiya said, is that there’s currently no business model that makes online reporting financially viable. Original reporting requires lots of time, money and specialized skills—resources online news does not have. The Huffington Post, while a successful content-driven Web business, does very little original reporting for these very reasons.<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn12" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn12" name="_ednref12">[12]</a></p><p><br /><strong>Saving the newspaper: A Multifaceted Approach</strong></p><p><br /> Since other mediums can’t do the newspaper’s job that democracy requires, and online news is financially improbable, it can be concluded that newspapers need to stay alive. Combining ideas is necessary to combat rising printing costs, declining advertising and circulation, and the growing number of internet users.<br /></p><p> Frederick Jones, undergraduate winner of the Moeller Student Paper Competition of the Association for Education in Journalism, explained that before 1970, antitrust laws did not allow for anticompetitive business practices, monopolies, and price fixing. When newspapers began to struggle in the seventies, some attempted to go against the antitrust laws by combining their business functions. It was clear that newspapers needed an exemption so the marketplace of ideas could continue to flourish, Jones said. Thus, in 1970, the Newspaper Preservation Act was passed, which allows papers to combine business activities. Under these Joint Operating Agreements, there can be no merger of editorial staffs or editorial policies.<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn13" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn13" name="_ednref13">[13]</a></p><p><br /> In 2009, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged the Justice Department to give newspapers even more leeway. Pelosi said that newspapers could share reporting and reporters, something currently not allowed. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder responded that he was open to adjusting antitrust laws if it would help newspapers stay afloat.<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn14" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn14" name="_ednref14">[14]</a></p><p><br /> Senator Cardin took Pelosi’s idea a step further in recent proposed legislation. Cardin introduced the Newspaper Revitalization Act which would allow local newspapers to choose to operate under nonprofit status for educational purposes, similar to public broadcasters. This arrangement would not allow newspapers to make political endorsements, but would permit editorializing and free reporting on all issues, including campaigns. Better yet, advertising and subscription revenue would be tax-exempt. Contributions to support coverage could be tax-deductible, and no federal taxpayer money would be used.<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn15" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn15" name="_ednref15">[15]</a></p><p><br /> While JOAs, shared reporting and nonprofit newspapers may sound unfamiliar, experimental and intimidating, it’s because they are. However, less than 15 cities in the U.S. still have competing daily newspapers, and many monopoly newspapers are struggling as well.<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn16" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn16" name="_ednref16">[16]</a> The year 2008 was the worst year in history for newspaper publishers, with shares dropping a stunning 83 percent on average.<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn17" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn17" name="_ednref17">[17]</a> Unless action is taken, newspapers will fold completely, and quickly. The unchartered territory will likely be awkward at first, but the rewards could outweigh the risk of a democracy without newspapers.</p><p><br /> Dave Barry notes another problem with current newspaper trends. “Go to any newspaper today and you’ll see herds of editors…the vast majority of who are middle-aged Dockers-wearing white guys.”<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn18" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn18" name="_ednref18">[18]</a></p><p><br /> Professor of journalism at Utah State U., Ted Pease said diversity at newspapers in coverage and staff-makeup is seriously lacking in the departments of race, ethnicity, age and female gender. </p><p><br /> “Although most large U.S. newspapers circulate in urban areas where the nonwhite population ranges into the 50 percent range and higher,” said Pease. “A variety of scholarly studies of news media performance show that coverage of minorities by those large metropolitan newspapers tends to account for only about 3 percent of their total news coverage. Further, more than half of white journalists and more than 70 percent of minority journalists surveyed in a national 1991 study said their own newspapers covered minority communities marginally or poorly.” <a style="mso-endnote-id: edn19" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn19" name="_ednref19">[19]</a></p><p><br /> Pease explained the lack of diversity is a problem because some 87 percent of all U.S. population growth through the turn of the century will be among "minorities" –African Americans, Asian Americans and Latinos. Essentially, newspapers that ignore the fast growing minority populations ignore these two business facts: 51 percent of blacks, 52 percent of Hispanics and 42 percent of Asian Americans read the newspaper every day, and between 1990 and 2000, more than 63 percent of the U.S. workforce, wage-earners and consumer, were women.</p><p><br /> Pease said, “News organizations that fail to hold those wage-earners by delivering content and coverage that satisfy their needs will lose them.”<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn20" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn20" name="_ednref20">[20]</a></p><p><br /> Newspapers must diversify to be viable and appealing to modern U.S. audiences, including in the area of age. Because many of the “old white dudes” are out of touch with today’s youth, they are losing audiences quickly as the majority of their baby-boomer readership dies off. A 2007 Pew survey found more people, 35%, rely on internet for news rather than newspapers. Nearly six-in-ten Americans younger than 30 say they get most of their national and international news online.<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn21" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn21" name="_ednref21">[21]</a></p><p><br /> The internet’s power and influence cannot be overlooked by newspapers. The under-30 audience is the future readers of news. While tangible, printed papers are a necessity, so are online components which will attract the younger readers. Kamiya said internet is appealing to young people because it gives voice to people who would otherwise have no platform. It empowers readers by allowing bloggers to fact-check for themselves and criticize the “established press.” Letting readers actively take part in the news process gives them a sense of credibility that they feel has been lost by the “old media.” The old media has, Kamiya said, “too often been sclerotic, incompetent and driven by hidden corporatist, nationalist or reactionary agendas. The press’s catastrophic failure to question the Bush administration’s case for war in Iraq is the most glaring recent example.”<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn22" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn22" name="_ednref22">[22]</a></p><p><br /> In Paul Gillin’s How I Can Help Your Newspaper, he explains including online components will attract followers on Twitter, blogs and other social media, sparking youth’s interest in newspapers. Link-and-comment is the “foundation of blogging.” Readers don’t want to just be told the supposed facts anymore, they want to comment and criticize the stories and reporters. Creating Podcasts and Webcasts fulfills the desire for audio and visual. Also, syndicating material on the various mediums multiplies the impact of every story. Most importantly, writing for interactive readership must be different from traditional journalism.<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn23" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn23" name="_ednref23">[23]</a></p><p><br /> Can the “old white dudes” handle all of this? They most likely can’t. Young people of diverse backgrounds need to be hired by newspapers to infuse the bland with some color. Young people will write about topics appealing to their modern audiences and know how to use new online mediums. This doesn’t mean fire all the older reporters, however. Let young employees train the older ones how to use the online mediums and write stories in new ways. The value of older reporters keeps older audiences attracted and adds experience to a complex business. </p><p><br /> Don Fry, published author said, “Newspaper stories don’t necessarily tell stories. Sometimes they package facts in space.”<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn24" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn24" name="_ednref24">[24]</a></p><p><br /> How can this be avoided? To argue the point of new writing style further, newspapers should not only engage in this online, but print as well. No doubt traditional style has its purpose, but to attract readers and increase credibility, stories can’t just package facts anymore. Professor of Journalism, Alice Klement, said breaking the rules does not mean losing commitment to craft. Rather, it means newspapers are willing to try unusual sources such as non-experts, or use a different style, like writing a story in first person. Reporters who write about themselves will reveal the reporting process, the questions they ask themselves and engage readers by simply explaining how and why they got the story.<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn25" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn25" name="_ednref25">[25]</a> Letting readers know of the real difficulties of reporting such as source betrayal or ethical questions will make readers more understanding and less distrustful of newspapers. </p><p><br /> Professor of English, Carolyn Matalene, said these kinds of journalists will ask themselves self-conscious questions, calling attention to their own acts of writing. Include the questions with the printed story. Allow the reporter to write a foreword outlining the questions and explaining their process. Matalene said, “Questions such as: How should this story be told? What if the sources do the telling? What is my role? How has covering this story changed who I am? What about my own story?”<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn26" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn26" name="_ednref26">[26]</a></p><p><br /><strong>Conclusion</strong></p><p><br /> Miami Herald writer, Leonard Pitts Jr. said, “Sixty-three percent of all Americans think they won’t miss the daily paper? I think 64 percent of all Americans are wrong.”<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn27" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn27" name="_ednref27">[27]</a></p><p><br /> Newspapers are mandatory for a good democracy. Citizens need this information to create the kind of society they want, whether they think so or not. However, newspapers, reporters, readers and government cannot be afraid to sail in unchartered waters. Revamping newspapers will require new techniques and combining innovative ideas like new writing styles, JOAs, nonprofit newspapers, and using new mediums.</p><p><br /> Senator Cardin concluded, “Thomas Jefferson, a man who was frequently vilified by newspapers, summed it up best when he said: ‘If I had to choose between government without newspapers, and newspapers without government, I wouldn't hesitate to choose the latter.’”<a style="mso-endnote-id: edn28" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_edn28" name="_ednref28">[28]</a></p><p align="center"><br /><strong>Endnotes</strong></p><p align="left"><br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn1" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref1" name="_edn1">[1]</a> Barry, Dave. “Read All About It, Dude.” Telling Stories Taking Risks: Journalism at the Century’s Edge. Ed. Klement, Alice, Carolyn Matalene. Belmont: Thompson Learning Inc. 2003: 230.<br /><br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn2" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref2" name="_edn2">[2]</a> Pitts Jr., Leonard. “Don't Expect Sympathy Cards from Crooks, Corrupt Politicians.” The Miami Herald 18 Mar. 2009. 16 Apr. 2009 <http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/leonard-pitts/v-print/story/955386.html>.<br /><br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn3" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref3" name="_edn3">[3]</a> Schulhofer-Wohl, Sam, Miguel Garrido. Do Newspapers Matter? Evidence from the Closure of The Cincinnati Post Discussion Papers in Economics #236, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, 13 March 2009: 19.<br /><br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn4" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref4" name="_edn4">[4]</a> Adsera, Alicia, Carles Boix, Mark Payne. Are you being served?: Political Accountability and Quality of Government. Working Paper #438, Inter-American Development Bank, Research Dept., U. of Chicago and U. of Illinois, Nov. 2000: 4 <http://www.iadb.org/res/publications/pubfiles/pubwp-438.pdf>.<br /><br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn5" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref5" name="_edn5">[5]</a> Adsera, et al. 41.<br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn6" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref6" name="_edn6">[6]</a> Schulhofer-Wohl and Boix, 8.<br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn7" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref7" name="_edn7">[7]</a> Adsera, et al. 7.<br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn8" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref8" name="_edn8">[8]</a> Schulhofer-Wohl and Boix, 7.<br /><br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn9" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref9" name="_edn9">[9]</a> Kamiya, Gary. “The Death of the News.” Salon 17 Feb. 2009. 16 Apr. 2009 <http://www.salon.com/opinion/kamiya/2009/02/17/newspapers/>.<br /><br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn10" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref10" name="_edn10">[10]</a> Cardin, Benjamin L. Special Commentary. “Cardin: Why Newspapers Need Saving.” The Washington Post 5 Apr. 2009. 16 Apr. 2009 <http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/stories/04/05/0405newspapers_edit.html>.<br /><br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn11" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref11" name="_edn11">[11]</a> Kamiya, Gary. “The Death of the News.”<br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn12" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref12" name="_edn12">[12]</a> Kamiya, Gary. “The Death of the News.”<br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn13" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref13" name="_edn13">[13]</a> Jones, Fredrick. The Newspaper Preservation Act: Is It a Necessary Loophole in Antitrust Laws? Moeller Student Paper Contest, Indiana University, 1980. Bloomington, ERIC. Microfiche, 1981: 3-4.<br /><br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn14" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref14" name="_edn14">[14]</a> Mikkelsen, Randall. “U.S. Law Chief Open to Antitrust Aid for Newspapers.” Reuters 18 Mar. 2009. 16 Apr. 2009 <http://www.reuters.com/articleprint?articleid=usn1835208520090318>.<br /><br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn15" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref15" name="_edn15">[15]</a> Cardin, Benjamin L. Special Commentary. “Cardin: Why Newspapers Need Saving.”<br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn16" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref16" name="_edn16">[16]</a> Schulhofer-Wohl and Boix, 1. <br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn17" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref17" name="_edn17">[17]</a> Kamiya, Gary. “The Death of the News.”<br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn18" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref18" name="_edn18">[18]</a> Barry, Dave, 231.<br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn19" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref19" name="_edn19">[19]</a> Pease, Edward C. “Why Should We Care?”<br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn20" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref20" name="_edn20">[20]</a> Pease, Edward C. “Why Should We Care?”<br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn21" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref21" name="_edn21">[21]</a> Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. “Internet Overtakes Newspapers as News Outlet.” Pew Research Center for the People and the Press News Interest Index. 23 Dec. 2008. 16 Apr. 2009 <http://people-press.org/report/479/internet-overtakes-newspapers-as-news-source>.<br /><br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn22" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref22" name="_edn22">[22]</a> Kamiya, Gary. “The Death of the News.”<br /><br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn23" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref23" name="_edn23">[23]</a> Gillin, Paul. “How I Can Help Your Newspaper.” Newspaper Death Watch. 16 Apr. 2009 <http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/services-for-newspaper-publishers>.<br /><br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn24" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref24" name="_edn24">[24]</a> Fry, Don. Foreword. Telling Stories, Taking Risks: Journalism at the Century’s Edge. By Ed. Klement, Alice, Carolyn Matalene. Belmont: Thompson Learning Inc. 2003: XV-XVI.<br /><br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn25" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref25" name="_edn25">[25]</a> Klement, Alice M. Preview. “At the Century’s Edge.” Telling Stories, Taking Risks: Journalism at the Century’s Edge. By Ed. Klement, Alice, Carolyn Matalene. Belmont: Thompson Learning Inc. 2003: XI.<br /><br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn26" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref26" name="_edn26">[26]</a> Matalene, Carolyn B., 1-3.<br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn27" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref27" name="_edn27">[27]</a> Pitts Jr., Leonard. “Don't Expect Sympathy Cards from Crooks, Corrupt Politicians.”<br /><br /><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn28" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4376271571140705461#_ednref28" name="_edn28">[28]</a> Cardin, Benjamin L. Special Commentary. “Cardin: Why Newspapers Need Saving.”<br /><br /><br /><strong>Bibliography</strong></p><strong></strong><p align="left"><br />Adsera, Alicia, Carles Boix, Mark Payne. Are you being served?: Political Accountability and Quality of Government. Working Paper #438, Inter-American Development Bank, Research Dept., U. of Chicago and U. of Illinois, Nov. 2000 <a href="http://www.iadb.org/res/publications/pubfiles/pubwp-438.pdf">http://www.iadb.org/res/publications/pubfiles/pubwp-438.pdf</a>.</p><p align="left"><br />Barry, Dave. “Read All About It, Dude.” Telling Stories Taking Risks: Journalism at the Century’s Edge. Ed. Klement, Alice, Carolyn Matalene. Belmont: Thompson Learning Inc. 2003: 230-32.</p><p align="left"><br />Cardin, Benjamin L. Special Commentary. “Cardin: Why Newspapers Need Saving.” The Washington Post 5 Apr. 2009. 16 Apr. 2009 <a href="http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/stories/04/05/0405newspapers_edit.html">http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/stories/04/05/0405newspapers_edit.html</a>.</p><p align="left"><br />Fry, Don. Foreword. Telling Stories, Taking Risks: Journalism at the Century’s Edge. By Ed. Klement, Alice, Carolyn Matalene. Belmont: Thompson Learning Inc. 2003: XV-XVI.</p><p align="left"><br />Gillin, Paul. “How I Can Help Your Newspaper.” Newspaper Death Watch. 16 Apr. 2009 <a href="http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/services-for-newspaper-publishers">http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/services-for-newspaper-publishers</a>.</p><p align="left"><br />Jones, Fredrick. The Newspaper Preservation Act: Is It a Necessary Loophole in Antitrust Laws? Moeller Student Paper Contest, Indiana University, 1980. Bloomington, ERIC. Microfiche, 1981. </p><p align="left"><br />Kamiya, Gary. “The Death of the News.” Salon 17 Feb. 2009. 16 Apr. 2009 <a href="http://www.salon.com/opinion/kamiya/2009/02/17/newspapers/">http://www.salon.com/opinion/kamiya/2009/02/17/newspapers/</a>.</p><p align="left"><br />Klement, Alice M. Preview. “At the Century’s Edge.” Telling Stories, Taking Risks: Journalism at the Century’s Edge. By Ed. Klement, Alice, Carolyn Matalene. 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Athens, OH: Ohio University, 1991 <a href="http://www.usu.edu/journalism/faculty/pease/whydiversity.html">http://www.usu.edu/journalism/faculty/pease/whydiversity.html</a>.</p><p align="left"><br />Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. “Internet Overtakes Newspapers as News Outlet.” Pew Research Center for the People and the Press News Interest Index. 23 Dec. 2008. 16 Apr. 2009 <a href="http://people-press.org/report/479/internet-overtakes-newspapers-as-news-source">http://people-press.org/report/479/internet-overtakes-newspapers-as-news-source</a>.</p><p align="left"><br />Pitts Jr., Leonard. “Don't Expect Sympathy Cards from Crooks, Corrupt Politicians.” The Miami Herald 18 Mar. 2009. 16 Apr. 2009 <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/leonard-pitts/v-print/story/955386.html">http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/leonard-pitts/v-print/story/955386.html</a>.</p><p align="left"><br />Schulhofer-Wohl, Sam, Miguel Garrido. Do Newspapers Matter? Evidence from the Closure of The Cincinnati Post Discussion Papers in Economics #236, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, 13 March 2009.<br /><br /> </p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376271571140705461.post-27141666684577782182009-04-19T19:51:00.003-06:002009-04-19T20:07:51.536-06:00Coverage of WarI have been writing my term paper on the ethical nature of newspapers now being able to print and take pictures of flag-draped coffins returning from wars to Dover Air Force Base. The research and thought that has been devoted to this subject is extensive. But I find that some of the major undertones of this issue is, "How does the media respectfully cover war and its victims?" The key word here being, respectfully. While writing I find myself coming back to the basics of journalism, proximity, and during war time it is key. <br /><br />I remember, maybe a year back, there was a terrible roadside bombing in Iraq. In the days following the attack, The New York Times printed a picture that was short of something you would see in a horror film. I think, the details may be a little blurry, it was a photo of a woman who had been severely mauled by this bomb, and by mauled I mean legs blown off. She was on the side walk with horror just written across her face. And I think that the picture was buried in the paper, probably third or fourth page, above the fold. Later that week, I heard the photo editor of the Times on the radio being interviewed about that particular picture and his justification for running it like he did. And the most striking thing to me about the interview, and what I still remember, was his justification was that most of the people reading the Times would have no relation or proximal ties to that woman or situation. He said had it been a bombing in downtown New York City, the photo probably wouldn't have been run. <br /><br />Graphics and photos have such an incredible ability to invoke all sorts of human emotions. These range from humor, seeing the rollerskating monkey, to horror, the roadside bombing photo, to empathy, take the photo of the girl with napalm burns running down the road in Vietnam. As journalists, and especially photojournalists, I think we take the power of photos for granted. And during war time, I think that many of our ethical aims are in constant conflict with one another. Anyway, on the SPJ website, there is a whole section devoted to helping journalists resolve ethical conflicts during war. Here is the section devoted to help you determine whether your motivations to run a particular picture are for the right reasons. It gives journalists an excellent framework to help decide whether to run a photo or not run it. <br /><br /><strong>Assessing Our Motivation in Publishing or Suppressing Information or Graphics</strong><br />---Why do we believe the public needs this information, aside from the fact that a journalist has gotten wind of it?<br />— Are we trying to draw attention to our own news organization, to create a “buzz,” to gain an “exclusive”? If so, how much has that factor influenced our decision-making?<br />— Is our primary motivation informing the public? Or is it entertaining the public, exciting emotional responses, responding to government pressure or “branding” an image or idea?<br />— If we believe we are trying to perform a public service by publication, what precisely is the nature of that service, and how credible, useful and important is it to the public?<br />— Is patriotism a primary factor in our decision? Would we consider it important to publish or suppress the information if we had no national allegiance?<br />— Is the contemplated “play” of our coverage commensurate with the news value of the story? If not, what other factors have entered into our decision?<br /><br />Here is the link to the full site with all of the other frameworks for other war time ethical dilemmas. <a href="http://www.spj.org/ethicswartime.asp">http://www.spj.org/ethicswartime.asp</a>Katie Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00215740540421718767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376271571140705461.post-53614925505924307782009-04-19T16:26:00.002-06:002009-04-19T16:41:42.362-06:00ethics of public relationsNancy's blog reminded me of something I have been thinking about for a while. I have thought a lot about the issue of ethics in advertising and public relations since we talked about them in class. (ps... I am in public relations) I have been sort of torn up inside because I don't think I could lie to the press about something that needed to get out to the public, despite what company I work for. The more and more I think about it I feel like public relations representatives have to be deceiving and only look out for their own companies. I don't think I could do that for a living. I am currently working with a public relations agency and I feel like everything we do has an angle to it, everything is done just to give traffic for the companies they work for. As far as working with the press I feel like they have to wiggle their way into getting something for free in say a feature story, but shove as much advertising in there as possible. It doesn’t seem right! It may just be this particular firm and public relations representatives definitely have their place in society, but it may not be in me. Anyone else feeling this way? Any advice?Jessica Colletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13651109454628157981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376271571140705461.post-29087880308945222902009-04-19T12:47:00.006-06:002009-04-19T13:03:48.883-06:00The American NewspaperHas anyone seen this KUED <span style="font-style: italic;">Utah Now</span> segment? <embed src="http://media.kued.org/javascripts/mediaplayer/player.swf" bgcolor="000000" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="file=http://media.kued.org/media/utahnow/videos/UN_2009-04-17.m4v&autostart=false&abouttext=KUED Channel 7&aboutlink=http://www.kued.org/" height="376" width="640"></embed><br /><br />It's a great discussion, although I didn't appreciate the funeral music at the beginning. But maybe it was appropriate...<br /><br />And hooray for Ted Pease!!KGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769114624466948249noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376271571140705461.post-61539787192574092452009-04-18T13:02:00.003-06:002009-04-18T13:10:52.938-06:00California paper says NO to control by PRCheck this out:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Why we're not covering the Round-Up rodeo: A note to readers</span><br /></span><br /><blockquote>For the first time anyone here can remember, the Record Searchlight today won't have any journalists inside the rodeo arena at the Red Bluff Round-Up.<br /><br />We have raised serious practical and ethical concerns about the new "ground rules" the Round-Up Association has established to "manage" our coverage, and have received no sign from its leadership or media representatives that they're willing to discuss the matter.<br /><br />This means we can't bring you pictures and accounts of the action, and the publication of results may be delayed. <br /></blockquote><br /><br /><a href="http://www.redding.com/news/2009/apr/17/why-were-not-covering-the-round-up-rodeo-a-note/">Click here</a> for the rest of this story, plus dozens of reader comments. The newspaper says it declined press credentials because <br /><br /><blockquote>...one of the four basic ethical principles for journalists is to act independently. It's our job to bring you the news based on our best judgment, not to willingly submit to being "managed."<br /><br />Cowboys understand simple right and wrong. To us, this is wrong.</blockquote><br /><br />What are your thoughts on this?Nancy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201440673240187754noreply@blogger.com0