I will always strive to be honest and maintain integrity in every aspect of my journalistic career.
I will always verify facts.
I will always strive to present information as objectively as I can.
I will have an opinion, but always keep an open mind to other views and ideas that contrast with mine.
I will not force my opinion on other people. If I do include opinion in an article, I will be transparent about it and let people know.
I will use wisdom in digitally altering pictures as to not take away or change the original intent of the photograph.
I will accept criticism positively and learn from my mistakes so I can become a better person and journalist.
I will never push my own agenda or anyone else’s agendas on the public.
I will always serve the public and be the mouthpiece for others.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Final Answer Part Cuatro
Our market place today primarily focuses on making a profit. What happens when this becomes applicable to newspapers and television stations? They begin downsizing. People are forced to do more with less. The quality of the news goes down because they start covering news stories that have no significance in anyone’s life, but are entertaining and help with the ratings. The public is not as informed as they should be. People aren’t making well thought out decisions. If this continues and begins to escalate, no one will but a very few people will know what is going on in the United States or the world. Our democracy becomes jeopardized.
So with the people already established in the news industry being let go, what are the future journalists supposed to do? How are we supposed to find a job? How are we supposed to compete with the new technology. Craig’s list wiped out the main source of funding for newspapers. The internet has caused the number of newspapers being bought to drop. Why would people want to pay for a newspaper when you can access it and more articles, pictures, and videos online for free? How are we supposed to survive what seems to be a dying industry?
We adapt. There will always be a need for news. The only difference will be in the model of getting it. I can not simple be a reporter. I must learn everything. I must be a photographer, camerawoman, editor, and news writer. I must learn all the different computer programs and produce a product that is informative, pertinent, and entertaining. I don’t believe newspapers will die out completely. Some people like to have something tangible they can carry around with them. However, I believe it will eventually shift to mostly being on online or a digital product.
A company called E-Ink is working on electronic paper display products. “Products made with E Ink’s revolutionary electronic ink possess a paper-like high contrast appearance, ultra-low power consumption, and a thin light form.” I think this is one possibility for the future of newspapers. Change of this nature may sound a bit frightening, but it is also very exciting. It opens doors for new opportunities and possibilities. I would love to have one thin hand held screen that is multi-functional. I can click on different pages without getting ink on my hands. Billions of trees would be saved. Flashing pictures and video streams could be played. I could highlight and bookmark pages I want to come back to. When I am finished reading the paper, I could go back to reading a fun novel or listen to music. The new technology is fascinating. I can see the future of the industry heading this way.
So with the people already established in the news industry being let go, what are the future journalists supposed to do? How are we supposed to find a job? How are we supposed to compete with the new technology. Craig’s list wiped out the main source of funding for newspapers. The internet has caused the number of newspapers being bought to drop. Why would people want to pay for a newspaper when you can access it and more articles, pictures, and videos online for free? How are we supposed to survive what seems to be a dying industry?
We adapt. There will always be a need for news. The only difference will be in the model of getting it. I can not simple be a reporter. I must learn everything. I must be a photographer, camerawoman, editor, and news writer. I must learn all the different computer programs and produce a product that is informative, pertinent, and entertaining. I don’t believe newspapers will die out completely. Some people like to have something tangible they can carry around with them. However, I believe it will eventually shift to mostly being on online or a digital product.
A company called E-Ink is working on electronic paper display products. “Products made with E Ink’s revolutionary electronic ink possess a paper-like high contrast appearance, ultra-low power consumption, and a thin light form.” I think this is one possibility for the future of newspapers. Change of this nature may sound a bit frightening, but it is also very exciting. It opens doors for new opportunities and possibilities. I would love to have one thin hand held screen that is multi-functional. I can click on different pages without getting ink on my hands. Billions of trees would be saved. Flashing pictures and video streams could be played. I could highlight and bookmark pages I want to come back to. When I am finished reading the paper, I could go back to reading a fun novel or listen to music. The new technology is fascinating. I can see the future of the industry heading this way.
Final Answer Part Tres
What is journalistic truth and how does it differ from reality or absolute truth? For starters, each person has a unique reality. “Truth is pragmatic. We all perceive truth differently. [… ]Truth, then, is not a fantasy or an illusion. It is a pragmatic construction and a reflection of our common experience in the world” (Scheuer 63-64). Along that same thought process, an absolute truth for one individual may differ for another. Two people can look at a glass of lemonade. One will see it as half full; the other, half empty. The only fact that can be drawn from that is there is a glass of lemonade. Journalistic truth is tying every angle into a story, presenting it to the readers objectively, and allowing them to walk away with their own conclusions of what is true. In our textbook, truth was described as a “journey towards understanding” (Scheuer 64). I love that definition because facts, stories, and understanding change over time. New details can enhance our understanding or completely alter our view. Nothing is really set in stone; it’s developing, changing, and growing.
For me personally, truth or the quest for truth is liberating. Having truth and freedom can affect a person’s heart, even the world. Fighting for what one knows to be true has caused more than just revolutions of the soul, it has changed the course of history. Truth can bring comfort and happiness. I’m not talking about the traditional comfort and happiness, because truth can be painful as well. But truth can provide the strength for change as well as the strength for acceptance.
Truth is blind in the sense that the universal truths of things like human emotions apply to every color, nationality, and people. It is important every person have access to the truth. Journalism plays an important role in democracy. At the same time, the people of the democracy have a duty to be as informed as possible so when it comes time to make monumental decisions, they can make the best decision possible for their own good and the good of the public.
For me personally, truth or the quest for truth is liberating. Having truth and freedom can affect a person’s heart, even the world. Fighting for what one knows to be true has caused more than just revolutions of the soul, it has changed the course of history. Truth can bring comfort and happiness. I’m not talking about the traditional comfort and happiness, because truth can be painful as well. But truth can provide the strength for change as well as the strength for acceptance.
Truth is blind in the sense that the universal truths of things like human emotions apply to every color, nationality, and people. It is important every person have access to the truth. Journalism plays an important role in democracy. At the same time, the people of the democracy have a duty to be as informed as possible so when it comes time to make monumental decisions, they can make the best decision possible for their own good and the good of the public.
Final Answer Part Dos
2. “No one hears the phrase journalistic excellence and immediately thinks: What the hell does that mean?” (Scheuer 41). However, over the past four months our Communications 239 class has laboriously and meticulously picked apart and challenged the views of every journalistic question presented to us including the question, what is journalistic excellence? I once thought journalistic excellence was simply presenting a well written, meaningful story with integrity. Now I know it is much more complicated than it seems. Journalistic excellence raises all kinds of questions like, “What is news? What is truth? What is objectivity? Etc. Etc.” Rather than delving into the philosophical aspects of those questions at this time, I will try my best to stick to the question at hand. Even after becoming completely overwhelmed with all the complexities and intricacies of what we discussed in class, and wanting to quit before I even began, I realized at the end of the day, it all boils down to the same thing. Journalistic excellence is a process of constant learning, the open-mindedness to new ideas and criticisms, and recognizing there is always room for improvement. “Excellence in journalism can be neither wholly relative nor absolute. It is an envelope that we must continually push” (Scheuer 37).
Some important elements in journalistic excellence include searching for truth, verifying the who, what, when, where, why for an accurate portrayal, selecting what information is relative and pertinent, connecting all the facts and details in the context to provide the readers substance and meaning, and examining methods used to make sure it is as objective as possible (Scheuer 65-67).
Part of journalistic excellence is maintaining independence. Newspaper organizations must maintain independence. Once organizations start accepting bribes and pushing others’ agendas rather than serving the good of the public then they go against everything they are supposed to stand for.
The Montgomery Advertiser did a really good job on providing local and state news to the readers. The reporters covered important debates and court cases to high school football teams. I saw (and personally know from my interview with Sebastian Kitchen) that the reporters try their best to present information as objectively as possible. I personally think they could have done a better job including news happening outside the state of Alabama. They did have one section labeled Nation which lists ten articles under the different headings like Business, Middle East, Politics etc. New York Times has a specific page for each of those topics with more than ten articles that link to other related articles. The Montgomery Advertiser website is almost overly simplistic in its style. I personally think they could clean it up a little to make it more aesthetically pleasing as well as user friendly. De-cluttering, reorganizing, and modernizing the site will help the site achieve more journalistic excellence.
Some important elements in journalistic excellence include searching for truth, verifying the who, what, when, where, why for an accurate portrayal, selecting what information is relative and pertinent, connecting all the facts and details in the context to provide the readers substance and meaning, and examining methods used to make sure it is as objective as possible (Scheuer 65-67).
Part of journalistic excellence is maintaining independence. Newspaper organizations must maintain independence. Once organizations start accepting bribes and pushing others’ agendas rather than serving the good of the public then they go against everything they are supposed to stand for.
The Montgomery Advertiser did a really good job on providing local and state news to the readers. The reporters covered important debates and court cases to high school football teams. I saw (and personally know from my interview with Sebastian Kitchen) that the reporters try their best to present information as objectively as possible. I personally think they could have done a better job including news happening outside the state of Alabama. They did have one section labeled Nation which lists ten articles under the different headings like Business, Middle East, Politics etc. New York Times has a specific page for each of those topics with more than ten articles that link to other related articles. The Montgomery Advertiser website is almost overly simplistic in its style. I personally think they could clean it up a little to make it more aesthetically pleasing as well as user friendly. De-cluttering, reorganizing, and modernizing the site will help the site achieve more journalistic excellence.
Is that your final answer?
Here are my answers and thoughts from questions posed by the Final.
1. Objectivity is one of the defining qualities of news stories. Without objectivity, how would news stories be any different than other written genre? Objectivity is presenting every side of the story in an unbiased way to the public. It is presenting the facts in a non-deceptive way. Journalists have abused the method of objectivity. According to the Elements of Journalism, “Journalists who select sources to express what is really their own point of view, and then use a neutral voice to make it seem objective, are in engaged in a form of deception” (Kovach and Rosenstiel e15).
With that being said, is journalism then the lack of opinion? No. I agree with the girl in class that said, “opinion is journalism as long as it is not presented as fact.” It is impossible not to have an opinion. However, a person does have control on how the information is presented even if it conflicts with their point of view.
In a sense, a person can not be born with out personal bias. Our background, hometown, school, religious life, etc all shape our reality and perceptions on life. It contributes to our uniqueness as a person. Deciding what questions to ask, selecting what quotations to use, what information to include, what pictures to take, what pictures to use can be considered bias. The only way to determine if it the story is really biased or as objective as it can be is the intent of the person writing it which will manifest itself in the content of the article.
As long as journalists are constantly striving to include all views, obtain all facts, verify all sources, and present information to the best of their ability, I would consider them objective.
1. Objectivity is one of the defining qualities of news stories. Without objectivity, how would news stories be any different than other written genre? Objectivity is presenting every side of the story in an unbiased way to the public. It is presenting the facts in a non-deceptive way. Journalists have abused the method of objectivity. According to the Elements of Journalism, “Journalists who select sources to express what is really their own point of view, and then use a neutral voice to make it seem objective, are in engaged in a form of deception” (Kovach and Rosenstiel e15).
With that being said, is journalism then the lack of opinion? No. I agree with the girl in class that said, “opinion is journalism as long as it is not presented as fact.” It is impossible not to have an opinion. However, a person does have control on how the information is presented even if it conflicts with their point of view.
In a sense, a person can not be born with out personal bias. Our background, hometown, school, religious life, etc all shape our reality and perceptions on life. It contributes to our uniqueness as a person. Deciding what questions to ask, selecting what quotations to use, what information to include, what pictures to take, what pictures to use can be considered bias. The only way to determine if it the story is really biased or as objective as it can be is the intent of the person writing it which will manifest itself in the content of the article.
As long as journalists are constantly striving to include all views, obtain all facts, verify all sources, and present information to the best of their ability, I would consider them objective.
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Why I am not an anchorwoman.
This is why I shall never be an anchorwoman. (And for those of you that didn't catch it- we were imitating Anchorman and trying to be as ridiculous as possible)
Newseum
Over the Thanksgiving break I had the opportunity to to visit Newseum. Can I just say it is heaven for all types of journalists, news anchors, etc.
I have to admit though, my favorite part of the exhibit was the wall of AP Pulitzer Prize winning photographs.
Some pictures portrayed historical events that make your stomach turn and your heart hurt.
Others couldn't help but bring a smile to your face. Whatever there story was, it moved you.
I watched a short documentary on the photographers and it reinforced to me the power of a photograph. I also saw the trauma some of them had to overcome from covering these events.
Many times a photographer couldn't handle all the horrible things going on in the world and their helplessness in not being able to do much about it. Many committed suicide.
Here are a few pictures from the AP gallery.
AMONA, West Bank/Feb. 2006
A Jewish settler struggles with an Israeli security officer as authorities evacuate a West Bank settlement near the Palestinian town of Ramallah after Israel’s Supreme Court cleared the way for the demolition of nine homes at the site. This photo won first prize in The World Press Photo awards. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
His commentary on the photo
Edward Adams commentary on his photograph of the Saigon execution.
The picture (taken in 1994) depicts a famine stricken child crawling towards an United Nations food camp, located a kilometer away.
The vulture is waiting for the child to die so that it can eat it. This picture shocked the whole world. No one knows what happened to the child, including the photographer Kevin Carter who left the place as soon as the photograph was taken.
Three months later he committed suicide due to depression.
Omayra Sánchez was a 13-year old victim of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano which erupted on November 13, 1985 in Armero , Colombia
How important of a role does photography play in a news story?
I have to admit though, my favorite part of the exhibit was the wall of AP Pulitzer Prize winning photographs.
Some pictures portrayed historical events that make your stomach turn and your heart hurt.
Others couldn't help but bring a smile to your face. Whatever there story was, it moved you.
I watched a short documentary on the photographers and it reinforced to me the power of a photograph. I also saw the trauma some of them had to overcome from covering these events.
Many times a photographer couldn't handle all the horrible things going on in the world and their helplessness in not being able to do much about it. Many committed suicide.
Here are a few pictures from the AP gallery.
AMONA, West Bank/Feb. 2006
A Jewish settler struggles with an Israeli security officer as authorities evacuate a West Bank settlement near the Palestinian town of Ramallah after Israel’s Supreme Court cleared the way for the demolition of nine homes at the site. This photo won first prize in The World Press Photo awards. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
His commentary on the photo
Edward Adams commentary on his photograph of the Saigon execution.
The picture (taken in 1994) depicts a famine stricken child crawling towards an United Nations food camp, located a kilometer away.
The vulture is waiting for the child to die so that it can eat it. This picture shocked the whole world. No one knows what happened to the child, including the photographer Kevin Carter who left the place as soon as the photograph was taken.
Three months later he committed suicide due to depression.
Omayra Sánchez was a 13-year old victim of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano which erupted on November 13, 1985 in How important of a role does photography play in a news story?
More Thoughts on Objectivity
(found it on youtube)
Even though this is poking fun, it really got me thinking. How many times do journalists "follow" the rules of objectivity but still find ways to get their bias in as well?
Journalism or Not? That is the question.
Do you consider this an act of journalism?
Bloggingheads- Identity Politics
Bloggingheads- Identity Politics
Bonuses and Bias?
In one of our class discussions on objectivity, we were given a handout on the summery of objectivity from the Elements of Journalism.
It said, “Journalists who select sources to express what is really their own point of view, and then use a neutral voice to make it seem objective, are in engaged in a form of deception.”
I am really disturbed by the million dollar bonuses these already wealthy, $350,000 salary earning people are giving themselves.
The question is, does that show through in the article? Is the journalist really presenting the subject matter objectively? Or is the journalist presenting it under the pretense of objectivity?
It said, “Journalists who select sources to express what is really their own point of view, and then use a neutral voice to make it seem objective, are in engaged in a form of deception.”
I am really disturbed by the million dollar bonuses these already wealthy, $350,000 salary earning people are giving themselves.
The question is, does that show through in the article? Is the journalist really presenting the subject matter objectively? Or is the journalist presenting it under the pretense of objectivity?
Future of Newspapers
In all of my communications classes we have been discussing the future of newspapers as it directly affects our careers.
I don't think the newspaper industry is going to die out completely. I think it will adapt.
We will have to be more than just a reporter. We must know how to take photographs, shoot film, edit, and write.
I know some people will still like to have a newspaper to hold and read, but I believe it will transition to being mostly online.
I believe it will move more online as we become a more technologically dependent society.
Once interesting product being created is E-Ink.
It is thin and lightweight like paper, but can have moving, colorful graphics as well. It's actually quite fascinating. I think this has real possibility.
I don't think the newspaper industry is going to die out completely. I think it will adapt.
We will have to be more than just a reporter. We must know how to take photographs, shoot film, edit, and write.
I know some people will still like to have a newspaper to hold and read, but I believe it will transition to being mostly online.
I believe it will move more online as we become a more technologically dependent society.
Once interesting product being created is E-Ink.
It is thin and lightweight like paper, but can have moving, colorful graphics as well. It's actually quite fascinating. I think this has real possibility.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Digital Manipulation
Photographs of deceased soldiers. The head of the one on the left was put on the body of the right.
Times magazine altered the photo of OJ Simpson to make him appear darker and more menacing. 1994
National Geographic altered the picture to make both pyramids appear in the picture. They wanted to create a more compelling picture. 1982
Mussolini had the horse handler removed from the picture to make it look better. 1942
Lincoln head's on John Calhoun's body. Cerca 1860
To see more, visit the original site
The other view point
"It's ridiculous to assume that the public's view of a reporter or newspaper is somehow less credible because computer-aided tools were used to write stories. Spelling and grammatical errors in writing are analogous to the technical errors in photography, where dust, brightness contrast or focus may not be exactly correct. Accordingly, the public knows and expects that reporters will use word processors, and they also expect that the industry has other mechanisms in place (either internally or externally) to catch liars. Similarly, the public should know that photographers use tools (whether chemistry found in the darkroom, or software on a computer) to render images correctly in their newspapers, and that other metrics are used to determine whether an image is appropriate or not. "
What is your stance?
Is photo-alteration acceptable or not? Can the alteration deceive you to believe something that is not true? Would you consider digital alteration a tool just like a word processor?
If you are stuck in the middle explain the circumstances or instances it is ok.
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