J 201 - Section 306

2012-03-01T22:53:00.001-06:00

1)How well did the journalistic community live up to its responsibility to present the ‘facts’?

. The journalistic community did not live up to its responsibility of investigating and finding the truth at all.

2) Where they failed, why did they do so?

1 They did a surprising horrible job of presenting the public with the facts because they wanted to feel as if they were being “patriot” by abiding by the presidents every word. If a newspaper went against the President’s word, or criticized it at all, they were seen as un-patriot, in one of the most unifying times of our nation and no one wanted that title. In the movie, it was stated that journalists were specifically told “not to push to hard or be too critical of the government in the time leading us into war”.

3 3)What kinds of pressures did the news organizations face?

1 Journalistic organizations got a lot of pressure from advertising companies not to focus at all or cover any stories on casualties in Afghanistan. Showing people in Afghanistan being killed by United States soldiers was also seen as unpatriotic.

4 4) How did different kinds of news outlets cover the issue differently? What was the difference between these outlets?

1 News outlets covered the issue in one of 2 ways. A majority printed faithfully what the president said, claiming Saddam Husain the number 1 enemy with weapons of mass destruction. These were cooperation’s like the NY Times who were blind and ignorant, blaming it on patriotism. Other news outlets saw their duty to their readers who’s children were the ones “that would be fighting in the war, not deciding on the war”. These news outlets questioned the President’s accusations, and without a lot of investigating were able to find them ridiculous.

Online Assignment #2

2012-03-01T22:41:00.001-06:00

1: How well did the journalistic community liveup to its responsibilities to present the “facts”?

Forthe most part, the Press did not do a good job of presenting facts. After 9/11, most news outlets only presentedone side of the story. Such newsorganization like Fox News and The Washington Post only reported theinformation the White House put out. There was no investigative research to fact check any of theinformation. CNN did not even showcivilian casualties of war, and civilian causalities are facts. They ignorantlyprinted interviews with Iraqi defectors without checking if what they weresaying was factually correct. Both the governmentand Press were using the same source for their information on Iraq, seeminglywithout any critique.

2: Where they failed, why did they do so?

The main reason the Press failed was due to a lackof investigative journalism. Like I saidbefore, the White house and the Press was using the same sources. This led to a lack of fact-checking betweenthe two institutions. This appeared tobe the case when the “Aluminum Tube” news story broke; the White House and thePress had the same information, so no one researched it more. Secondly, news outlets rushed to reportstories because they were so sensational. This was the case with the Iraqi defectors; specifically Vanity Fair’shandling of the defectors. Vanity Fairprinted large spreads about the defectors without fact-checking because theirstories were so fascinating and fueled the hawkish attitude of America. With sensationalist stories, Vanity Fair wasable to gain popularity. Finding the actualtruth was not the motivation of the news outlets.

3: What kinds of pressures did newsorganizations face?

Newsoutlets primarily faced the pressure of being patriotic and unquestioning oftheir government. When 9/11 happened, asense of patriotism swept over America. Even respected journalists like Dan Rather admitted that serving hisgovernment was more important than being unbiased. Some organizations like the Washington Postand Fox News felt pressured by their own government and society. They felt as if they had to help theirgovernment and fuel the patriotism. Others like 60 Minutes and Knight Ridder felt pressured by other newsorganizations and the public. Theywanted to report criticisms of the Iraq war, but they feared being seen asunpatriotic or un-American. Organizations like Fox News actively scolded and news outlet who was being critical of the Bush Administration.

4: How did different kinds of news outlets coverthe issue differently? What was the difference between these outlets?

Mediaorganizations like Fox News and the Washington Point basically reported thepro-war policy of the White House. Onthe other hand, the Newspaper organization Knight Ridder, and the televisionprogram 60 Minutes were more critical of the war in Iraq. Fox news felt it was their duty to their governmentto cover the Iraq war in a way that promoted Hawkish interests, not matter howmisled information and sources were. 60Minutes, however, felt the need critically report on the Iraq war because theyhad firsthand accounts on the war, and they contradicted the Bushadministration’s rhetoric. The maindifference between news organizations was either their duty to present the factsor their duty to support their government.

"Buying the War" Questions

2012-03-01T20:44:00.000-06:00

1) How well did the journalistic community live up to its responsibility to present the ‘facts’?

The journalistic community did not live up to its responsibility to present the ‘facts’. There were many instances where they were well aware of the fact that the full truth was not being presented, and they continued to publish the stories regardless. For example, to people that had a bit of insight to the situation at hand, it was absurd that the government and press were drawing ties from Saddam Hussein to Al Qaeda. While there weren’t blatant lies, news stations definitely skewed the reality of war, showing less coverage of civilian casualties, and balanced those they did show with footage from 9/11.

2) Where they failed, why did they do so?

I believe they failed to present any information that portrayed American governments or decisions in a bad light, because the current national mood was so overwhelmingly patriotic, that they were made to feel that even to question actions was in a way wrong. Along with the innate sense that they should not criticize the government at a time like this, they were also receiving pressure from advertisers and administrators.

3) What kinds of pressures did news organizations face?

They faced pressures from their advertisers and administration. People would call in and tell them that they were being “Anti-American”. Pressure came from the administration, and there was the common belief that you just shouldn’t be too critical of a government who is leading in a time of war. There was pressure from the American public, because there was an immense amount of patriotism, and people were calling for something to be done. At the same time of all this pressure, it was becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate between opinions of neoconservatives and the policies of the administration.

4) How did different kinds of news outlets cover the issue differently? What was the difference between these outlets?

Newspapers were also pressured not to focus on the negative aspects of war, as far as civilian casualties went. A newspaper in Florida went as far as to require that no civilian casualties were shown on the front page. There was further differentiation between regions of newspapers, those in the Washington belt, who were more sheltered in their views of the war; and those elsewhere, like the Knight Ridders, who wrote for the people whose children would be sent to war. There were news stations viewed as liberal, if not Anti-American (like CNN), and there were also stations like Fox, who urged the harshest measures possible after 9/11. The reactions of stations varied, but there was an overwhelming sense of compliance and solidarity in a time of crisis.

Online Assignment #2

2012-03-01T18:03:00.003-06:00

1) How well did the journalistic community live up to its responsibility to present the ‘facts’?

The journalistic community fell very short in living up to its responsibility to present the facts. For example, in the video, we saw that many papers failed in correctly confirming sources, as in when an Iraqi exile told both DC and the press a fallacy and journalists only fact checked with DC. Journalists, instead of searching for the truth, accepted what the government had told them, and even allowed the Bush administration to choose which questions get asked and responded to. Essentially, reporters let false information from prominent sources come to them instead of fact-searching or refuting false information in order to sell papers and not create confirmation.

2) Where they failed, why did they do so?

The journalistic community failed because they did not want to risk a decline in sales by seeming unpatriotic. The post 9/11 era was one of incredibly high patriotism and little tolerance for anyone that makes claim that the government is wrong. Thus, if the paper had stated facts that refuted what the government had said, they would have lost sales and support of Americans. Journalists essentially joined the rest of America in a blind patriotism that reported only what the government accepted as their truth, instead of what really was the truth.

3) What kinds of pressures did news organizations face?

News organizations faced pressure primarily to keep selling news papers, leading to a compromise in quality of facts due to additional pressures. The largest of these was the pressure to maintain a patriotic facade, as the nation was in turmoil and would not tolerate any news that would go against the goodness of America.To go against the war or what the government would say would simply seem un-American and wouldn't sell papers. Along with this pressure comes the pressure to create news that is still viable and acceptable to readers.

4) How did different kinds of news outlets cover the issue differently? What was the difference between these outlets?

L The Washington Press Core essentially gave the government space to state their case in newspapers, thus allowing the government to essentially control their news. Fox news urged the government to do whatever it takes and gave the government full support in whatever it pursued, and CNN did not show civilian casualties to avoid being seen as un-American. Knight Ridder, however, maintained a dedication to tell the truth, stating that its readers were those being sent to war, so they deserve to know all the details of the truth. CBS also maintained relatively dedicated to the truth, for example, Bob Simon on 60 minutes saying the the administration was making tenuous connections and arguments to sell the war.

Online Assignment #2

2012-03-01T16:00:00.000-06:00

1) Howwell did the journalistic community live up to its responsibility to presentthe ‘facts’?

They failed miserably,they did not object when things the president said and did things were scriptedto fit his point of view. I was really shocked when the President admitted thathis administration had told him which journalists to choose for questions,mainly because they would be agreeable. No one in the room seemed to object. Thejournalists seemed to know the war was going to happen and they basically thought,lets just get out of the way. It was almost as if they all turned a blind-eyeso as not to stand out and cause controversy.

2) Wherethey failed, why did they do so?

I think they failedbecause they were pressured by Washington officials as well as the public, whosaw any opposition to the Presidents harsh reaction was “un-American and unpatriotic.”I don’t think any reporter wanted to stand up against the President becausethey knew it would be an uphill battle. Questioning the logic of invading Iraqwas anti-American and almost a sign of disrespect to the American people. Alsocorporations and lobbyists were pressuring media outlets to show approval ofthe Bush Administration’s plans. The funding of these media outlets sometimesdepended on these advertiser’s to continue operating. Following their point ofview was not always an option.

3) Whatkinds of pressures did news organizations face?

Corporations and lobbyistswho control the income indirectly of many media outlets. The patriotism surgein the American public as a result of 9/11. Not doing anything in response to9/11 seemed to be unpatriotic. Washington and the Bush Administration wereintent on overtaking Saddam Hussein and they would use military force to do so.The 9/11 attacks gave them their chance and media was their platform. With thehelp of the media exposure, the American public had a new enemy they knewlittle of before; Saddam Hussein. The message was also spread that the invasionin Iraq would be a liberation and relatively easy. These messages greatly affectedthe slightly uninformed American public. The public had never heard much ofSaddam Hussein and his reign in Iraq before the 9/11 attacks. After, manycitizens were

4) How did different kinds of newsoutlets cover the issue differently? What was the difference between theseoutlets?

Newspapers were urged not show pictures from thewar in Iraq on the front pages if at all. It was also mentioned that theWashington Press Core travels with the President and the Administration andtherefore is exposed to “a bubble of information”. Other reportersindependently reporting on the streets of Baghdad had a much different point ofview. However, the American Public did not often hear these reporters. Thereseemed to be a disconnect of reliable information between the site of the warand the U.S. citizens. If media outlets were openly criticizing or doubting theAdministration’s actions, they were publicly scrutinized for beinganti-American; CNN was accused of this, for being too liberal.

Online Assignment #2

2012-02-29T23:23:00.002-06:00

1) How well did the journalistic community live up to its responsibility to present the ‘facts’?

I believe that, by and large, the journalistic community
failed to live up to this responsibility.
Although it was true that the news reporters were presenting the facts
given to them by the Bush Administration, it is also apparent that they made
little effort to test the validity of these “facts” by contacting experts.

2) Where they failed, why did they do so?

I mentioned in my previous answer, the failure of the
press stemmed in large part because they took the Bush Administration at their
word instead of using investigative journalism to uncover what was really
happening. This was demonstrated in the film when no major news reporting
agency contacted Bob Bayer, the CIA agent who had conducted in investigation in
Prague to find evidence that Iraqi and Al Qaeda leaders had met there. Had they have contacted him, they would have
been told that he did not find any evidence linking the two groups, which would
have cast serious doubt around the claims coming out of the White House. This was a common theme amongst journalists
in the beltway, who seemed to value the facts being given by the white house
more than the facts given by experts on numerous occasions.

3) What kinds of pressures did
news organizations face?

The news organizations were pressured into doing this
because the Bush Administration was intent on painting any news organization
(and even individual journalists) as unpatriotic if they did not support the
administration’s policies. This could be
seen in the way the White House and Fox News attempted to portray CNN as
“liberal” and “un-American” because of some stories they ran providing
alternative views on Iraq. This pressure
was compounded by the fact that virtually journalist felt an emotional
connection to what had happened on 9/11. Therefore, they were acutely sensitive
to being criticized about being unpatriotic and being seen as hurting the
national cause.
4) How did different kinds of new outlets cover the issue
differently? What was the difference between
these outlets?
Almost all the major news organizations inside the beltway
covered stories pertaining to Iraq in a manner that gave credibility to the
claims that the Bush Administration was making.
This may have been because these journalists were living in a “bubble” where they were more prone to believing what
government officials said than journalist who were not further removed from
Washington. This was evidenced by the
Night Rider papers. This news
organization, who had newspapers throughout the country but not in Washington
or New York, openly criticized and questioned much of what the administration
was saying. This may have been because
they were farther removed from Washington than the major news stations.

Online Assignment #2

2012-02-29T22:02:00.002-06:00

1) How well did the journalistic community live up to its responsibility to present the ‘facts’?

I will admit before seeing this film during lectureI assumed that what I read in the newspapers and watched on the news was theabsolute truth. However, now I realizethat the journalistic community does not live up to its responsibility to presentthe “facts”, especially about the terrorist attacks on 9/11. Instead ofstanding up to the Bush Administration and other big corporations who werestretching the truth, the journalists continued supporting the governments’claims through the media.

2) Where they failed, why did they do so?

The reason why the journalistic community failed atpresenting the “facts” was because they were too concerned about maintaining theirprofits by portraying themselves as pro-war advocates and appearing aspatriotic. Journalists refrained from expressingtheir actual views on this national dilemma, such as avoiding war anddisagreeing that Suddam Hussein and Al Qaeda are linked together. Journalists also failed at presenting thefacts because they avoided posting actual pictures of the casualties and hardshipsoccurring in Afghanistan; they did not want to be considered unpatriotic by thepublic-eye.

3) What kinds of pressures did news organizations face?

News organizations faced hardships during theaftermath of 9/11 terrorist attacks. For instance, these news organizations hadto basically abide by the Bush Administration and other government views onprovoking war. The news organizationsfeared that if they opposed the government and the President himself, theywould be ridiculed by American society for not being patriotic. News organizations had to be cautious of thephotos, messages and other news they shared with the public to make sure theyweren’t upsetting the government views.

4) How did different kinds of news outlets cover the issue differently? What was the difference between these outlets?

Different news outlets covered this issuedifferently depending on how much information they sought out and what theydecided to report on. The New York Timesand Vanity Fair for example had articles considered as “red flags” for claimsthat had little to no evidence backed up by it. Other news outlets however, like the American journalists reporting fromthe Middle East, actually had valid evidence about this uproar but never hadthe opportunity to explain because it did not agree with the rest of the public’sview.

Online Assignment 2: Anderl

2012-02-29T17:03:00.000-06:00

Online assignment #2

1) How well did the journalistic community liveup to its responsibility to present the ‘facts’?

Thejournalistic community did a poor job in presenting the truth to the public.After 9/11, the media was in a state of patriotism and sought to unify thecountry. While their stories were effective in doing such, they misrepresentedfacts and would use sources that had not been verified. For example, the NewYork Times printed an article about Iraq that led the country to questionIraq’s involvement with the hijackings, but the source was not viable. Thejournalists had checked with the government to verify the story, but AhmadChalabi had reported to both the paper and the government, so this was poorjournalism in the sense that fact was hard to differentiate from fiction.Furthermore, the media attempted to make a link between Saddam Hussein and theterrorists, despite their lack of evidence.

2) Where they failed, why did they do so?

Thejournalistic community failed because they were seeking to profit and appear tobe patriotic. If they were to print a story based on hard facts and statingthat the United States should avoid war, they would lose readers. They chose toprint popular articles that were patriotic in order to appear as if theysupported the country in a time of need. Vanity Fair was known to print storiesfrom defectors about training terrorists, although they had no sources that hadbeen verified. The media was accepting interviews from anyone who said they hadfacts in order to make money. If a paper were able to print an absurd story togain readers, they would do exactly that, despite a lack of facts.

3) What kinds of pressures did newsorganizations face?

Newsorganizations, as I stated above, were under the pressure of the entirecountry. The President’s inner circle fed and controlled media to fuel the war,while the public expected patriotic articles to unify the country. The pressand the government seemed inseparable, because they needed each other. It wasa cycle in the sense that the news needed stories to make money and thegovernment needed the stories to provoke war.

4) How did different kinds of news outletscover the issue differently? What was the difference between these outlets?

Different newsoutlets covered the issue of 9/11 differently in how they would report storiesfrom defectors. Some outlets, such as The New York Times and Vanity Fair wouldreport anything that made the terrorists and Iraq seem violent. The KnightRidder, on the other hand, looked for actual facts to compete with the giantcon game that the country was facing. The editor of Knight Ridder stated thatthings that were said about Iraq didn’t add up. For example, he believed theregime in Iraq was about control, which would mean that they wouldn’t allowterrorist activities. Therefore, the difference was due to profit. Popularmedia outlets would lessen their preference for facts and would print absurdstories just for more money.

Online Assignment #2

2012-02-28T22:52:00.004-06:00

1) How well did the journalistic community live up to itsresponsibility to present the ‘facts’?

Inmy opinion, not well. It seemed that the majority of the journalistic community(though not all) paid more respect to an imaged responsibility to thegovernment and patriotism. As I saw it, the so-called facts were opinions and WHIGmarketing schemes presented as facts.

2) Where they failed, why did they do so?

Membersof the journalistic community failed in factual reporting because of whom theychose as sources. As readers, we have a responsibility to take every word with agrain of salt. What journalists present versus what they do not present isdependent upon the type of newspaper and it’s philosophy. However, in myopinion, newspaper reporters who work for large and influential news sourceshave a responsibility to present true facts from at least some sources that donot have a particular agenda. Sources used by writers such as Judith Millerincluded Fake defectors of the Iraqi regime and biased opinions from governmentofficials who had their own public relations interests. These people were citedas viable sources, but I think the understanding of the qualifications for goodand true journalism (what it is to be a “viable” source) was sorely skewed in apost 9/11 atmosphere. In addition, perspective was underrepresented. Overseasjournalists saw the “absurdity” in linking Sadaam Hussein and Al Quada, butthose in the US continued to report material that supported this idea. Bothpoints of view should have been accessible to news consumers.

3) What kinds of pressures did news organizations face?

Newsorganizations faced a political pressure similar to that in the McCarthy era. Justas those who spoke out against the government at that time could be accused ofcommunist beliefs, those who attempted to clarify who was responsible in the9/11 attacks and criticize reasons for blaming others could be accused of being“un-American” or “unpatriotic.” News programs were encouraged and oftenmandated to counteract images of innocent Afghani casualties with reminders ofcarnage and sorrow on 9/11. The journalistic community was in an atmosphere inwhich people needed and even craved security, which they sought from thegovernment. To threaten that security in the newsroom was to threaten theUnited States.

4) How did different kinds of news outlets cover the issuedifferently? What was the difference between these outlets?

Newsoutlets differentiated in coverage based on how much and what kind of reportingwas done. For example, CNN presented “facts”: what happened, where, who couldbe implicated. But outlets with a more specified following produced storieswith more drama. Vanity Fair offered fantastic defector stories with interviewsand details. Another particular difference I saw was that between Knight Ridderand almost everyone else. As the video explained, they were rare among the press.They were one of the few news outlets that truly sought to scrutinize thesituation with the government and the implication of Sadaam Hussein with 9/11.

Online Assignment #2

2012-02-28T22:10:00.000-06:00

1.) How well did the journalistic community live up to its responsibility to present the ‘facts’?

The journalistic community did not live up to their responsibly well at all. It is their job to gather, sift though, be critical of, analyze, and present the facts. The media following the September 11th attacks got swept up in a patriotic frenzy that ignored the red flags of insufficient and unchecked evidence and towed the popular line that the Bush administration was feeding them. There was a huge system failure. No one questioned the information that they were given and the overwhelming perspective available to regular citizens was one-sided in favor of the war. No one printed or talked about dissenting opinions, and so the American people got a skewed view of what was going on. Their reaction has to be expected when the press refused to give them the tools and information to examine the matter critically.

2.) Where they failed, why did they do so?

They failed because the whole nation was in turmoil after the attacks. Everyone, including the press, lost perspective. Everyone wanted to show solidarity, but in doing so and perpetuating the accepted view of the mainstream they did the American people a disservice and created an ever more hostile environment for dissent.

3.) What kinds of pressures did news organizations face?

The news organizations first faced the pressure from the climate historically, it was viewed as "unamerican" to be anything less than emphatically supportive of going to war in response to the attacks. Secondly there was a very strong mainstream popular opinion that was pressuring the reporters to stay within. Editors would block or delegate the opinions of the opposition to the back pages of the paper, and news shows had to have two conservative voices for every one liberal one. There was also internal pressure among the news organizations to get the "scoop", to get it before everyone else did. And finally advertisers played a critical role in pressuring the press that they supported when the press printed or said something they disagreed with and in this case they all wanted to appear very "American".

4.) How did different kinds of news outlets cover the issue differently? What was the difference between these outlets?

Different news outlets did cover the issue differently. Those who handled it best and most thoroughly were "outside the bubble" of the Washington press core. These journalists were not in the circus atmosphere where frenzied journalists got near sighted and could not see that they were swallowing a circular self-affirming circle of sources from the administration. These outsiders could get perspective and be critical and discerning in their truly investigative journalism.

Online Assignment

2012-02-27T14:59:00.000-06:00

1 How well did the journalistic community live up to its responsibility to present the ‘facts’?

TThe journalistic community did a poor job living up to its responsibility to present the 'facts.' Many of the countries' prominent news outlets chose to highlight reasons for America to go to war with Iraq rather than looking deeper into the issue to see that there was little evidence showing Iraq as threat to American peace. They primarily relied on sources from within the president's circle to provide them information on Iraq, which led them to believe that Saddam Hussein was an imminent threat to the United States. Had they questioned sources who were not in contact with President Bush they might have found out a different view and been able to see the facts more clearly.

2Where they failed, why did they do so?

ItIt's hard to suspect one's motives especially in such a serious matter as a country going to war, but a lot of the journalists who failed to see that Iraq was not an imminent threat might have done so for a number of reasons. First off they were trying to keep their jobs. In a post-9/11 world it was increasingly difficult to question the federal government and doing so would usually result in backlash. Bill O'reilly called those that were critical of the war "Bad Americans" on his Fox News show and MSNBC fired one of its' more popular talk show hosts because he believed the Iraq War was completely unnecessary. Another reason journalists failed is because they trusted their top-level sources. All the information they had coming to them from the federal government pointed to Iraq having weapons of mass-destruction, however, had they looked deeper into the facts and questioned mid-level sources - with no ties to the government - they would have found otherwise.

3What kinds of pressures did news organizations face?

News organizations faced a lot of pressure during this time, because of how sensitive the subject matter was. All over the news world there were constantly stories pushing for the Iraq War. To go against it could have been seen as un-American by some folks. Featuring opinions critical of the government could result in a loss of readership. Publishers (e.g. Washington Post, New York Times) would often times leave the front page for articles proving the righteousness of the Iraq War and throw the opposite to the back pages.

HHow did different kinds of news outlets cover the issue differently? What was the difference between these outlets?

News outlets covered the issue differently by bringing in/sourcing political experts, pundits, and officials or they would look into reports and uncover information from that. Oftentimes, the outlets that consistently used top-level political sources to show the war as necessary relied heavily on readership and governmental sources, such as the Washington Post who failed to cover one of the biggest anti-war protests in their own backyard. The outlets that analyzed the findings from UN inspections and the reasoning given by political officials found that the war was not warranted. These outlets relied less on readership and sources, but rather on content (e.g. Associated Press)

Research Report on Sparks article: "Media That Stir Emotions"

2012-02-13T22:00:00.001-06:00

Thearticle, “Media that Stir Emotions,” is taken from chapter sevenof the third edition of the book Media Effects Research: A Basic Overview.In this chapter Glenn G. Sparks, focuses on the emotional effects of mediaintended to provoke fear in the viewer. He takes a specific interest in children’scognitive processes and interpretations of frightening media and seeks tounderstand and explain their psychological development in relation todisturbing mediums.

In the openingparagraph of the article, Sparks describes a traumatic event he experienced atjust six years old: watching an episode of TheTwilight Zone. His vivid childhood memory serves as his initial motivationfor researching this particular subject matter and this interest in the mediahas stuck with him throughout his academic career. Sparks is now a professor ofCommunications at Purdue University and graduated with the following degrees inthe department of Communications: a Bachelor of Arts degree from WheatonCollege, a master’s degree from Northern Illinois University, and a Ph.D. fromthe University of Wisconsin, Madison. He recently wrote the book RefrigeratorRights: Our Crucial Need for Close Connection, in collaboration with popculture analyst and speaker, Dr. Will Miller. Sparks has dedicated severalyears of his life to studying and observing how different mediums, especiallythose with paranormal themes, affect our thoughts and emotions. His researchand involvement with a WebMD debate can be found in chapters seven and eight ofthe Science and Engineering Indicators, a digest published by the NationalScience Foundation. His academic efforts and reputation in his field make him acredible source that readers can trust.

The objectivesof Sparks’ book fit well with his publishing choice. Wadsworth PublishingCompany, now a part of Cengage Learning, published the third edition of MediaEffects Research: A Basic Overview on January 19^th, 2009.Cengage Learning supplies outlets for academic research such as universitiesand research firms with reliable academic resources for improving student’seducation and striving to advance the teaching and learning process. Sparks’article is written for educational purposes, but in a manner that iscomprehensible for the majority.

His casual tonesets the mood for the piece, creating an ease and enjoyable reading experiencefor the audience. Sparks targets a variety of audiences including parents,undergraduate students, or other researchers interested in this field ofcommunication or similar fields. Towards the end of the article, Sparks givesadvice to parents to help their child cope with the same fear he experiencedafter they view a scary film or television show. He also incorporates personalanecdotes from his own students who has viewed popular paranormal films andwere deeply affected by the frightening images and content, to support hisclaims and ideas about media’s powerful effects and explicate differentpsychological terms and concepts. Reader’s reviews from amazon.com andbooks.google.com express positive opinions of the book. One said “[Sparks] putsthe entire media scene in perspective from the research point of view,” andother says it was an “appropriate book for an undergraduate, for it was fairlyeasy to read.” Another expressed a likening for Sparks’ unique writing styleand would recommend the book for anyone who enjoys learning.

This excerptfrom Media Effects Research: A Basic Overview introduces fundamentalconcepts relating to the media’s effects on society, specifically the way mediumswith paranormal themes influence how people think, react, and feel. Sparks purposeis to lay a foundation of these ideas and ignite a curiosity for analyzing themedia in his readers.

Work Cited

Amazon.com.(1996-2012). Retrieved February 11, 2012, from Amazon.com, Inc. website: http:/http://www.amazon.com/Media-Effects-Research-Basic-Overview/dp/049556785X

MediaEffects Research: A Basic Overview . (2011). Googlebooks. RetrievedFebruary 11, 2012, from Google website: http:/http://books.google.com/books/about/Media_Effects_Research.html?id=s_Gh_E3uOEQC

Sparks, G.G. (2009). Chapter 7: Media that stir emotions. In Media Effects Research: ABasic Overview (pp.(127-146)). Wadsworth. (Reprinted from Media That Stir Emotions, 3rded., pp. (127-146), by G. G. Sparks, 2009, Wadsworth)

Sparks, G.G. (n.d.). Purdue University: Department of Communications [Home Page ].Retrieved February 11, 2012, from http:/http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~sparks/

Research Report on James L Baughman’s, “Wounded but not slain: The Orderly Retreat of the American Newspaper”

2012-02-13T14:34:00.001-06:00

Baughman’s excerpt, “Wounded butNot Slain” is a chapter from the book, “The Enduring Book: Print Culture inPostwar American”, which is volume 5 of the series “A History of the Book inAmerica”. “A History of the Book in America” is historical timeline of print inAmerica after World War II, written by collection of communications and historicalcommunications professors. In fact there are 33 different contributors to thisone book. The primary authors areDavid Nord, professor of journalism at Indiana University, Joan Rubin,professor of history at the University of Berkley and Michael Shudson,professor of communications at the university of California, San Diego (David Hall,2011).

“AHistory of the Book in America” explores the evolution of the publishingindustry and the bookselling industry in America. It seeks to explain the, “economic,social, and cultural shifts affecting print culture from World War II to thepresent” (David Hall, 2011). During this time period, there were manyimportant elements that were affecting the role that books and print played inAmerica. For example, government was expanding, higher education was becoming acultural norm, the cold war was largely affecting public attitude, and thedevelopment of multimedia and technology was opening new doors. All of theseelements are scrutinized heavily throughout Volume 5, in an informative manner, as the cause and affect ofdifferent media failures and successes.

Thebook got extremely positive reviews; the Journal of American History made thecomment, “Scholars interested in American print culture will find this bookinvaluable”.

Theassigned article, by James L Baughman, “Wounded but Not Slain: The OrderlyRetreat of the American Newspaper” was Chapter 7 of the fifth volume. Baughman happensto be more than qualified to be writing on the subjects of historical print andthe evolution of the newspaper in contrast to the development of new technology.James Baughman is a professor at the University of Wisconsin, and teachescourses such as, History of Mass Communication and Literacy aspects of Journalism. He has hisbachelor’s degree from Harvard University and his Ph.D from Columbia (Baughman,2011). Baughman has published four books, all on the history and evolution ofmedia in America, he was the director of the school of Journalism and MassCommunications from 2003-2009 and he specializes on research about thebeginnings of TV in America (Baughman, 2011).

Baughman’schapter focuses on the different roles the newspaper has played in the lives ofAmericans over the past 50 years. He explains how the newspaper almost went outof business at the turn of the century. He states this happened because of advances intechnology, along with the shorter attention span of new generations and theirdesire for TV and Internet. Baughman then explains how some newspaperbusinesses stayed alive and continued to prosper by adapting to the newgenerations. Baughman uses a lot of credible statistical data on newspaperpurchases and TV viewings over past years to back his arguments. It’s also important to take intoaccount that Baughman lived through a majority the period he speaks about. So,when he explains the evolution of the newspaper its even more credible becausehe was actually present to witness these social changes.

Overall,Baughman’s “Wounded but not Slain” speaks from an informative standpoint,looking to educate the public on the history of the newspaper and mediaindustry. Media is such a large part of our everyday lives, it's importantpeople understand how it came to be what it is today, so they can betterprepare for where its going tomorrow.

Baughman. In (2011). University of Wisconsin School of Journalismand Mass CommunicationsMadison:

David Hall. (2011). A history of the book in America. In UNCPress North Carolina http://uncpress.unc.edu/books/T-8338.html

David Nord. (2009). A history of the book in America: Theenduring book: print culturein postwar America. (Vol. 5).

James Baughman. (2009). Wounded but not slain: the orderly retreatof the americannewspaper. In I. Paul Nord (Ed.), A History of the book in America, vol 5 (pp. 119-134). North CarolinaPress.

Discussion Questions for Sparks' "Media that Stir Emotions"

2012-02-13T12:15:00.001-06:00

1. "Media that Stir Emotions" listed many situations where people were, in the "magic bullet" sense, directly affected by the images and ideas they saw in movies. In particular, young children are very impressionable when viewing these films. Can you think of a scene or image in a film or TV show that scared you or stayed with you for a long time? What is it about this scene or image that truly affects you? Did it affect your peers in the same way? Are there instances like this in comedic or dramatic movies as well, or is this type of permanent association only a concern in horror films? Or, do you grow out of, or into, these different associations, as with the film critic Roger Ebert and "La Dolce Vita"that we discussed today?

2. In lecture today (2/13), we discussed how media is both a product of culture and a tool to enhance and influence it. Sparks' article discussed the effect of gender role socialization when viewing a film. Do you feel that the gender roles that Sparks described are a permanent part of our culture, or can this be changed? Is this something the media has created? Is the media even really involved with implementing these ideas of "male initiation rites"? Explain some instances where the "roles" are taken on by the viewer in reaction to a certain medium. How are these roles encouraged by other media besides scary movies?

3. Sparks describes empathy as "the tendency for viewers to feel the same feelings as the person they are watching on TV." Sparks' example was that of the Olympics, and how we as viewers are more inclined to cheer for a certain athlete when we know something about his or her personal life. When he or she wins, we feel simultaneously as though we have won, and when they lose, we share in their loss. Obviously, empathy comes into play in many different forms of media, however, I feel it is more prevalent in films and TV as oppose to print media or even social media. Do you feel empathy when you read an article in newspaper or a particularly riveting Facebook wall post? How is this feeling different, if at all, than the one you get from TV and film? How do different forms of communication create or tailor these feelings?

Mary Salutz Discussion Leadership: Wounded but not Slain

2012-02-12T11:29:00.003-06:00

Discussion Questions:
1.) Baughman's article discussed the evolution of the American newspaper over the last century. In addressing these changes he identified the Internet as a bigger threat to newspaper than television. Were you surprised by this assessment? Did you agree or disagree with his logic, and if you agreed what reasons might contribute to this phenomenon?

2.) Baughman pointed out that it is not just newspapers that have made a transformation over the years, but their journalists as well. What are the pro's and con's of the transition from the everyday stenographic white male reporter to the more diverse, professional and highly educated reporter?

3.) The reading discussed many of the changing trends in newspapers over the years and to make sense of it all I tried to relate the time periods discussed to my own life (e.g. that was around the time my grandpa went to college, or when my dad was born) I was particularly interested when they started talking about our generation and what was going on when we were young. According to Baughman, in the years after the Cold War the trend of increased international reporting reversed. The news became less serious and there was less coverage of foreign affairs. I was astonished to learn that this had continued right up until 9/11 with the Chicago Tribune actually cutting their correspondent from the Pentagon right before that fateful day. With the way the media is so globalized and linked in now, was it hard for you (as it was for me) to imagine that just ten years ago the media landscape had been so different? Also do you remember any instances in your childhood that might illustrate this pre-9/11 more isolationist media?

Introduction Assignment

2012-02-08T19:55:00.000-06:00

Name and hometown: ZacharyLevine, Teaneck, NJ

Possible futurejob? Anybody in that job you really admire now?

I am really interested inInternational Affairs and Politics but I really have no idea what job I wouldideally like to have. Perhaps a Foreign Service officer or an Ambassador.

Do you consume “news”?If you do, what are your main sources?

I do consume news. I have asubscription to the economist and I also read the Wall Street Journal and theNew York Times as often as I can.

What kind of musicdo you like? (It could appear in lecture.)

I genuinely like all types ofmusic. Most recently I have been listening to a lot Tribe Called Quest, JazzLiberatorz, and Biggie. I am also a big fan of Dave Matthews, Trevor Hall, andDispatch.

Favorite onlinevideo (link to it):

I am a huge fan of Will Ferrell, especiallyhis skits on Saturday Night Live. Here is one of my favorites: SNL: Harry Carrey Skit

What recent popculture expression do you love (or find yourself using)?

I would have to admit that I do enjoythe occasional use of the hashtag. My friends use a lot, so it’s hard for itnot to rub off on me.

Discussion on The Advent of Media

2012-02-06T17:09:00.000-06:00

The US government was not controlling the development of the media in the early 20^th century, while European government attempted to control the media but eventually failed to do so. Do you think this allowed the media to progress too rapidly at the time? Also, what are your thoughts on the role of media today? Is it too prevalent in our lives, and could that be viewed as a problem for the government to control?

What is the “manufacture of consent”? Do you think Lippmann (or if anyone has seen the work of Noam Chomsky) takes these views too far? Do we hold our news sources to the levels of accountability that we should? Whose responsibility is it?

Do you think we are at a higher risk today for conforming to the advertisements and social movements? (Things to keep in mind: Martin Luther’s theses vs. our attachment to social media today)

Do you think it would be possible for manipulation to occur in our news today as it did during WWI? Where do you believe the line is between freedom of speech and purely falsified information?

Describe today our sense of “public life” as defined by Starr. Do you think his definition is relevant today? If not, what would you say is the new definition of public life?

Discussion: The Unbeautiful Game

2012-02-06T14:11:00.000-06:00

Discussion Questions:

Gopnik argues that recently football has lost itspersonality and taken a gloomier mood. Gopnik attributes this in part totelevision coverage of the game and the media’s tendency to sensationalize. Doyou think this argument is accurate or has the game’s darker side just becomemore obvious with the increased media attention? In other words, was the mediathe cause or did it just expose something that was always there?

Gopnik attributes the recent sorrow in football to severaldifferent factors such as television coverage that makes the game appear morerandom and quarterback focused, the sensationalism of the media, the wage gapbetween players and their fear of injury, failure to relate to the players, andthe inability to find reason in statistics. Do you agree with all of hisarguments? Which of his points do you think contributes most to the worseningmood? Can you think of any other arguments either in favor of or challengingthe authors point?

Key Term:

Point of View—Aparticular attitude or way of considering a matter.

Research Report on Adam Gopnik's "The Unbeautiful Game"

2012-02-05T19:51:00.000-06:00

In Adam Gopnik’s “The UnbeautifulGame” is a provocative article that aims to portray how the game of Americanfootball has been changed by media over the years. Gopnik describes how an evolving media hasstripped away the personality of the game and turned players into boringpeople. Ultimately, research shows that Gopnik is a well established writer andthis article has factual creditability, yet it should be taken as anopinionated, thought-provoking article, not as the total truth.

First, in order to understand why Gopnikis suited to write articles, it is necessary to look into his history andcredibility. Adam Gopnik received abachelor’s degree in fine arts from McGill University and from there went on tobecome a writer and columnist. He haswritten works such as Paris to the Moon (TheNew Yorker, 2012). Gopnik also receives praisefor writing works of fiction and non-fiction. Gopnik has been a regular contributor in the area of arts to The New Yorker since 1987. Finally, he has received several awards forhis writing and reporting. Gopnik is avery credible writer, it is apparent he sees a strong connection between mediaand society.

Secondly, it is important to learnabout the magazine, The New Yorker,in which this article was published, to see if it contributes to Gopnik’smessage. According to the publication’s About Us webpage, The New Yorker was a magazine that debuted in 1925, primarilypublishing fictional short stories and reporting on local news. The magazine evolved to include more non-fictionand more national and global news. Today, the magazine covers a vast array of topics from politics tosports. The New Yorker’s goal is to appeal to everyone and to not onlyentertain, but educate its readers (The New Yorker, 2007).

Finally, the content and message ofthe article is important but there exist arguments against Gopnik’s message. Gopnik utilizes many examples from football’spast and present to illustrate his points. His juxtaposition of Joe Namath of the past and today’s Eli Manningportrays this change from personality to dullness. In Namath’s days, reporters wanted to portrayfootball as a comedy so Namath would speak out quite often, compared to EliManning who hardly wants to talk to the media (Gopnik, 2007). This is due to media becoming moreintrusive. Players do not want to talk and“…the reporter is on nobody’s side but his own” (Gopnik, 2007, p. 41). Gary Andrew Poole, a contributor for TIME magazine, countered Gopnik’s argument that players are not charismaticanymore, giving such examples as Brett Favre and LT, saying that these playersare anything but, “…unbeautiful…” (Poole, 2007). Gopnik does a good job of providing evidencefor his example, yet there are contradictory arguments to his.

Overall, Adam Gopnik wrote “TheUnbeautiful Game” with intention tostate his opinion on media and its effect on football, while trying to provokethe reader into thinking about how the increasing presence of media is affectingour world.

Gopnik, Adam. 2007. The Unbeautiful Game. The New Yorker. 39-44.

TheNew Yorker. Adam Gopnik’s ContributorPage. Retrieved on Feb. 5, 2012 from http://www.newyorker.com /magazine /bios/adam_ gopnik/searc h?contributorName=adam%20gopnik

TheNew Yorker. (2007). About Us. Retrieved on Feb. 5, 2012 from http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/timeline

Poole,Gary Andrew. (2007, January 4). Review: Adam Gopnik’s “The Unbeautiful Game.” Retrieved on Feb. 5, 2012 from http://garyandrewpoole.blogspot.com/2007/01/review-adam-gopniks-unbeautiful-game.html

Research Report: "Coda: The Advent of the Media"

2012-02-04T21:34:00.000-06:00

In “Coda: TheAdvent of the Media,” Paul Starr provides a brief history on the growth of Americanmedia from the late 19^th century to the start of World War II. Thereading is the twelfth chapter of Starr’s award-winning book entitled TheCreation of the Media: Political Origins of Modern Communications. Throughoutthe chapter, Starr makes claims backed by historical evidence that the media ofthe United States exists in form today because of a liberal constitutionalismthat limited government regulation of the media, an increase in a literatesociety, and the American desire to hold the nation together through media. Starr’sbackground and scholarly reputation gives the readers reason to believe his claimsand the details he provides.

Paul Starr’scredibility comes from a history of research and scholarly excellence incommunications and sociology. He is professor of sociology and public affairsat Princeton University and was professor of sociology at Harvard before that.He also holds the Stuart Chair in Communications and Public Affairs at theWoodrow Wilson School at Princeton (Starr 2011). As evident in his writings,Starr has an interest in American society and public policy. His position atPrinceton provides insight into his interest in researching and writing aboutthe rise of American media and its roots in democracy and capitalism. His works,including many articles and published non-fiction books, indicate that he writesfor a wide, educated general audience, with a dedication to research andextending ideas and knowledge to the public. Starr received the C. Wright MillsAward of the Society for the Study of Social Problems in 1983 and the BancroftPrize for American history in addition to a Pulitzer Prize in non-fiction in1984.

Starr is alsoco-founder and co-editor of The American Prospect, a monthly magazinededicated to the principles of liberalism. This gives reason to his interest inthe history of media and, specifically, the press. Also, in “Coda,” Starr givescredit to “the emergence of liberal constitutionalism” for institutionalizing “…theautonomy of the press from the state” (Starr 2004, page 392). His liberalbackground may explain his interest of that aspect.

The context ofthe article is also important to consider. The Creation of The Media waspublished by Basic Books in 2004 and won the 2005 Goldsmith Book Prize, whichis awarded to books with the “…objective ofimproving democratic governance through an examination of the intersectionbetween the media, politics and public policy” (Sims, 2012). The publishingcompany, Basic Books, dedicates itself to publish only works that are seriousand non-fiction (Perseus Books 2012). In addition, reviewers such as KirkusReviews and Reed Business Information collectively describe it as an accurate andinteresting history to the media industry, which is important to society today(Google 2011).

Overall, “Coda: The advent of the Media” in PaulStarr’s The Creation of the Media is an informative and trustworthypublication. Starr does an adequate job of giving an accurate and generallyunbiased portrait of the media. Starr claims that “our public life is a hybridof capitalism and democracy, and we are better off for it“(page 402). Whetherwe actually are better off or not, we can take solace in the fact that Starrhas credibility in making such a claim.

Starr, Paul (December 18^th,2011).Paul Starr’s, Princeton Homepage.Retrieved from http://www.princeton.edu/~starr/index.html.

Starr, Paul (2004). The Creation of the Media: Political Originsof Modern Communications. New York, NewYork: Basic Books.

Perseus Books Group(2012). Welcome to Basic Books. Retrieved from http://www.perseusbooksgroup.com/basic/index.jsp.

Sims, Janell (2012). Goldsmith Book Prize. Retrieved from http://www.hks.harvard.edu/presspol/prizes_lectures/goldsmith_awards/book_prize.html#PageTop

Google Books (2011). Review: The Creationof the Media. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=KO30kMoLKKkC&sitesec=reviews&rf=ns:0

Samuel Hutchins: Discussion Leadership - Michael Schudson Reading

2012-01-31T23:13:00.002-06:00

Discussion Questions/Topics:

1.) What parallels can be drawn between the impact of the penny press and the current social online media revolution taking place? Did these revolutions have the same impact on journalism? How are both movements similar/different?

- Personally, I feel as though both movements offered the public a more amplified unfettered news source. The penny press was able to give the public an unbiased news view of daily current events, whereas now we have avenues like Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, ect. that allow people to record and publish their every thought instantly. I think the public during both revolutions reviled in the fact that news was becoming attained easier.

2.) Early in the Schudson reading, it discusses how the news was first created to cater to a certain economic segment of society. Are there still economic barriers that prevent certain groups from gaining access to news information?

3.) "The success of a journal had come to depend "wholly" and absolutely upon its success in getting, and its skill in exhibiting, the news." This was a quote from the reading that explained how unimportant the editorial aspect of journalism had become in penny press newspapers. Does this measure of success still hold true? Were there any instances where you may have found Schudson's observations outdated?

Online Assignment #1

2012-01-31T21:35:00.000-06:00

Intro: Hello, my name is ElisabethGrisa, I am a sophomore from Brookfield, WI.

Possible future job? Anybody in thatjob you really admire now?I really do not know what my future job interests are; however, I’ve alwaysthought it would be exciting to have a job in the entertainment industrybecause it’s constantly changing and fast paced, which I find enduring! Workingas a reporter, writing for a magazine or working as an account representativefor an advertising company would all my dream jobs. People like Nina Garcia (fashion director of Marie Clairemagazine) and Roberta Myers (editorin chief of Elle) inspire me.

Do you consume“news”? If you do, what are your main sources?

I have to behonest when I say I don’t keep up as much as I should and would like to when itcomes to news. Most news I do consume comes from sources such as Twitter,Facebook, word of mouth, and the Internet. I occasionally check the New York Timesand turn on CNN when I work out. As if I don’t consume enough celebrity gossipfrom magazines and shows like E news, I also love checking people.com when Isurf the web.

What kind of musicdo you like? (It could appear in lecture.) Ilove all genres of music, from country to hip-hop to musical theatre, but I am currentlycompletely obsessed with house/electro and dubstep music. Some of my favoritedj’s are Big Gigantic, Avicii (of course), Porter Robinson, Deadmau5, Nero,Dillon Francis and Bassnectar. I also enjoy songs by Florence and the Machine.

Favorite onlinevideo (link to it): This is actually an ad for asos.com (a clothingbrand). It definitely got my attention and I’m so jealous of those dance moves!

What recent popculture expression do you love (or find yourself using)? I say “LOL”, “seriously”, “sick” way too much.

Matthew Kurschinski, discussion leadership

2012-01-31T18:45:00.002-06:00

Key term: Viral
For something to "go viral" it is spread from person to person, whether through digital means (like re-tweeting something) or physically handing someone a copy of Luther's 95 theses.

What are the similarities between how information was spread in the 16th century and today? What are some differences?

Is the "viral" nature of sharing information a result of the the media that is being used (printed material, twitter, facebook, etc.) or is it simply societal interaction facillitated through said media?

Other than the Arab Spring covered in the text, what are some other examples of social media shaping the modern world.

Online Assignment 1

2012-01-31T18:13:00.001-06:00

Name and Hometown: Cara Walls from Wauwatosa, WI

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now?: I would love a job and public relations, or something in international relations that involves a lot of traveling mixed with communication. I don't know too many specifics or too many people in that area. Does Kim Kardashian's best friend Jonathan count? (He's in public relations)

Do you consume "news"? If you do, what are your main sources?: Yes I do consume news. Mostly from online sources, for example my home page is the online New York Times. Also when flipping through channels I will stop at the daily news but rarely sit down to watch it.

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture). I enjoy all types of music from latin dance, rap, to some country. My favorite artists include Adele, Drake, A$AP Rocky and Lauryn Hill.

Favorite online video: Drizzy

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)?: I don't LOVE using them, but I find myself using a lot of abbreviations one would use while online. Things like lol, obvi and other little dumb things.

Online Assignment 1

2012-01-31T15:16:00.000-06:00

Name and hometown: Jeremy Martinez. Monona, WI

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now?
I am considering going into graphic design or possibly advertising. I really admire the work of Milton Glaser, Saul Bass, Paul Rand, and Olly Moss.

Do you consume "news"? If you do, what are your main sources?
I watch local news and read nes from various sources online semi-regularly. I also read sports and men's fashion news and watch the Daily Show regularly.

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture.)

My favorites are Elliott Smith, Ben Folds, Kanye, Frank Sinatra, and Miles Davis.

Favorite online video: Sexy Sax Man

What pop culture reference do you find yourself using?:

I find myself referencing the show Arrested Development a lot.

Research Report on How Luther Went Viral

2012-01-31T15:14:00.002-06:00

After reading and analyzing How Luther Went Viral,published online by The Economist, I was able to dig beneath its surfaceto understand the deeper meaning of “social media in the 16^thCentury” (2011, n.p.) This article discusses how the novelty and quick adoptionof new and evolving modes of communication -regardless of the era - can give voiceto an opposing viewpoint, rally like-minded individuals to action, and/orcreate a new majority to affect change.

Throughout most of the 16^th Century in Western Europe, a major movement in religion began takingplace led by Martin Luther. The Roman Catholic Church ruled with iron-cladpower over much of the region. Reformers, like Luther, objected to (protested)this rigid way of life and, through “new media of their day—pamphlets, balladsand woodcuts” ( 2011, n.p.), brought about the establishment of Protestantchurches, and ultimately set the stage for religious freedoms. The Reformationis a clear example of how vital printed media, oral transmission and images areshaping and changing public opinion.

There is definitely more meaning, however, hidden in thefine print. The author(s) (who remain anonymous in order to speak “with acollective voice” [n.p.]), describe how various forms of social media have beenaround for hundreds of years and impact public thought. The Reformation is agreat example of how words, images and music traveling along the social networkare able to transform public opinion in regard to Luther’s ideas. It alsoreminds readers that Luther’s media “had much in common with today’s onlineecosystem of blogs, social networks and discussion threads” (2011, n.p.).

The author(s) of How Luther Went Viral were fullycompetent in providing evidence to prove the effectiveness of mass media in thepast and present day. However, because The Economist chooses not to attributeany author names to its articles, it is uncertain which kinds of organizationsor companies the author(s) work for, what occupation they hold and what kind ofexpertise they have. The Economist claims that their editorial staffworks collectively to create and edit each published piece. The motivations ofany author are most likely: to earn money, explain to the audience his/herthoughts on a certain topic, get a story out to the public, allow the audience toform their own viewpoints and to converse back and forth with others.

The Economist is a noteworthy archive of“authoritative insight and opinion on international news, politics, business,finance and science and technology” (n.p.). Every article published is accuratebecause they “believe in free trade, internationalism and minimum interferenceby government” (2011, n.p.). The audience for this publication is anyone aroundthe world interested in international news, politics, business, finance and scienceand technology, but especially to influence “men of business” (2011, n.p.). Thosewith strong opinions may also be a part of the audience because they are ableto post comments to any online article expressing their own viewpoint. TheEconomist presents its articles in clear, concise language to allow peoplefrom all different socioeconomic classes to understand the information.

The majority of the audience agreed with the author(s’)viewpoints on how mass media can effectively spread ideas and affect change. Ibelieve the author(s) did a great job at targeting the intended audiencebecause most seemed to agree with the evidence and examples provided in thisarticle.

Based on the research analysis I have conducted, Ibelieve this well-written article is an appropriate piece constructed to giveinsight into how mass media - throughout theages - has the ability to transpire simpleideas into major philosophical movements.

(2011). How Luther Went Viral. The Economist.Retrieved from http://www.economist.com/node/21541719

About Us. The Economist. Retrieved from http://www.economist.com/help/about-us#About_Economistcom

Online Assignment #1

2012-01-31T11:05:00.004-06:00

Name and hometown:

- Samuel Hutchins. Milwaukee, WI

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now? :

- I would ideally like to work in something social media related. I really enjoy public relations and marketing, however, I could also see myself working in eCommerce. I admire creative marketing mavens that are great brand ambassadors, people like Pharrell Williams.

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources?:

- I consume lots of news on a daily basis. I tend to read online fashion/culture blogs such as Hypebeast.com and Complex.com. I also check news updates from BBC and Huffington Post.

What kind of music do you like?:

- Everything, ranging from KanYe West and Drake, to the Smiths and Modest Mouse.

Favorite online video:

- Things you may hear me say.

What pop culture reference do you find yourself using?:

- Any quote from the movie Superbad.

Research Report on Schudson Reading

2012-01-30T23:02:00.000-06:00

The first thing that jumped out at me was its placement in the novel. It is the first chapter of a 240-page bookwritten on the social history of American newspapers. Most writers who are aboutto write a book, whether it be fiction or non-fiction, are most likely going tomake the opening chapter as eye opening as possible. This is certainly true forSchudson. In this piece of reading he makes a lot of bold statements such asgiving credit to the “Jacksonian Democracy” for the plentiful opportunitiesmade available in the middle of the 19^th-Century saying “Equality inthe 1830s and 1840s meant the opening of careers to talent, the opening ofopportunity to personas regardless of birth or breeding (Pg. 44).” That is nottotally true. During the 1830’s and 1840’s slavery was as prevalent as it everwas. In the south, during the 1830s and 1840s, slaves ranged from making up onethird of the population to more then half (Economic History Association, 2010).So clearly the breeding and place of birth did matter for a big portion of theAmerican population. Although, I don’t think this should discount anything thatSchudson says, but the statement is positioned to make the reader want to readmore because it is a very adventurous claim.

Schudson’s background information offers assurance that all of hisclaims, relations, and opinions are well formulated over years of study. He hasprimarily made a living off being an academic sociologist specializing inAmerican journalism, history, and public culture. He is now a full-timeemployee for Columbia University in their journalism school. While, his first chapter is largely asociological based piece it accounts for many significant moments in Americanhistory that help to prove his claim that the rise of journalism was because ofa “democratic market society.”

Schudson’s most well received work might have been his studies andanalysis on advertising in America. Upon searching his name on Google there aremany links to quotes of his that for the most part deal with his opinion on theage of advertising. This is important because this is what random people postas the most important things Schudson has said. Also, the fact that they choseto post leads me to believe that he is a known voice in his respectivecommunity.

There is not much online reception to “Discovering The News: A SocialHistory of American Newspapers.” I was able to find a total of four reviewsonline on amazon.com and googlebooks.com. All four of the reviews averaged out tofour stars out of five. Each of them said many positive things such as thisreviewer who said “Schudson is a phenomenal sociologist and makes suchcompelling points about the nature of objectivity and the role newspapersplayed in the development of our cities (“Google Books,” 2007).” There wasn’treally any negative commentary other then someone who wanted the book to havean updated edition ("Amazon," 2008).

After researching Schudson’s background and analyzing the placement ofthis piece I do believe this is a piece that does not lack credibility. Itshould be confidently interpreted as look into a time when America wasundergoing significant change. Even with this change Schudson does a skillfuljob of connecting many dots to his formulation of the “democratic marketsociety” that he believes, quite convincingly, led to the rise of journalism.

Assignment # 1

2012-01-30T19:35:00.001-06:00

Name and hometown: Ryan P. Hughes, Lake Zurich, IL

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now?

I am interested in getting a job in government and politics in the future. I am currently working for Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker on a somewhat rotating basis. I admire Rutherford's hard work ethic.

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources?

Yes, as far as online sources I generally go to CNN. On TV, I watch FOX and CNN. On the radio, I tend to listen to NPR. I read the Chicago Tribune in print as well.

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture.)

I enjoy classic rock such as Clapton, the Stones, and Credence.

Favorite online video (link to it):

Although he's not in the race anymore, I really enjoy Gov. Tim Pawlenty's TV ad campaign because of the emotion they are able to evoke:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfkNEq1XioE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NwfK4PHsCk

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)?

I can't say there is any one expression I really use more often than another.

Online Assignment

2012-01-30T16:12:00.001-06:00

Name and hometown: Sarah Deaner, Plover, Wisconsin

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now?

I'm not exactly sure what I'd like my future job to be, but my dream job would be as an editor of movies. Although I've never used a movie maker program on a computer, I've always loved what an editor does and what is required of them.

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources?

I don't consume news as much as I should, but I always make time to watch The Colbert Report or The Daily Show.

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture.)

I listen to a wide variety of music, especially the oldies. However, I love anything by Coldplay, Adele, Mumford and Sons, Maroon 5, and Eminem.

Favorite online video (link to it):

I love watching Conan O'Brien's show and this is one of my favorite sketches, but it's pretty long, so this guy singing The National Anthem always makes me laugh!

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)?

Even though my roommate is only from Minnesota, she tends to use a lot of slang that I've never heard of. Because of this, I find myself using her slang words in my conversations, like the word 'cray-cray' to describe something as crazy.

Online Assignment 1

2012-01-29T18:06:00.000-06:00

Name and hometown: Mary Salutz, Manitowoc, WI

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now?

I still haven't decided what I want to do with my life although I've always been interested in both history and politics. Also, law has always been in the back of my mind because both of my parents are lawyers.

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources?

I do. I watch the CBS evening news everyday and for entertainment I enjoy Jon Stewart and Real Time with Bill Maher.

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture.)

I'm not really opposed to any type of music but I'm definitely influenced by my parents and appreciate the oldies. Currently, I'm addicted to Adele. I can listen to her songs over and over and over...

Favorite online video (link to it):

CATalunia Boy's Choir I'm Catholic so good-natured poking fun at some of our dry traditions is extra funny for me. (I love how the one kid is trying to hold it together but the other one is completely serious the whole time!)

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)?

I wouldn't say it's recent but I grew up on Seinfeld so I'm always making references to "shrinkage", "Vandelay Industries", or "NO SOUP FOR YOU!!!". It makes me sad that less and less people get it.

online assignment 1

2012-01-28T13:35:00.001-06:00

Name and hometown: Cogan Schneier, Boston, MA

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now?
I'm not really sure, but I could really see myself in magazine publishing, book publishing, or speechwriting. I really admire Anna Wintour, the editor in chief of American Vogue. I think she revamped the magazine at a time when it was losing popularity, and has kept Vogue perhaps the strongest voice in the fashion world.

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources?
CNN.com, The New York Times, Vogue, and The Boston Herald.

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture.)
I pretty much like everything, but right now I'm in a country music phase.

Favorite online video (link to it):
A friend showed me this just last night, and I literally can't get over it. I've never seen a baby make that face!

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)?

I say wait...what? way too much. I also say "literally" when I don't mean it, literally all the time.

Online Assignment 1

2012-01-26T15:49:00.000-06:00

Online Assignment One

Name and hometown: Pat Anderl. Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now? I have high hopes of being the next star in the National Football League but if that falls through, I figure I'll look into Journalism due to my previous involvement with my high school newspaper. Furthermore, I do enjoy Bill Simmons' articles, so I aspire to someday write as he does if I were to enter the field of Journalism.

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources? I watch SportsCenter daily and read sports-related news on grantland.com. Furthermore, I occasionally check out the New York Times to learn of more important topics. I tend to stay away from news channels since I find most of them to be biased, but sometimes I'll watch The Colbert Report simply because it's entertaining.

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture.) I'm a big fan of everything, but lately I've been listening to Bon Iver, The Roots, Chiddy Bang, Kanye, Pretty Lights, and Kendrick Lamar.

Favorite online video (link to it): Double Rainbow

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)? After watching Hot Rod, I often find myself responding in conversations with the expression "cool beans."

Online Assignment 1

2012-01-26T10:12:00.002-06:00

Name and hometown: Aleah Durham, Madison, WI

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now? I am interested in working in an international agency of some kind that deals with post-conflict reconstruction. I would like to combine my international background with aspects of sociology and political science. Ideally, I would like to be a policy maker on an international scale. I do admire what Andrea Mitchell has done with her career through journalism. She has travelled the world and met with some of the world's leaders in her search for information. That type of job is very appealing to me.

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources? Yes, I am very interested in politics and international affairs. When I want to get updated on what's going on in the world I either listen to NPR on the radio or watch MSNBC, CNN, or BBC. I especially enjoy Rachel Maddow's show and Jon Stewart. I occasionally read the Wisconsin State Journal and read articles online.

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture.) I like all different kinds of music depending on my mood. In particular I enjoy Kid Cudi, Common, Beyonce, Adele, and Kings of Leon. I also like electronica like Avicci.

Favorite online video (link to it): Model falls on runway :)

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)? I especially like Facebook because it makes it so much more possible for me to stay in touch with my friends around the world. Without Facebook it would be very difficult, nearly impossible, for me to stay in touch and updated with these international friends. I'm very grateful for that.

Online Assignment

2012-01-25T23:16:00.002-06:00

Name and hometown: Matthew Kurschinski. Wheaton, Il.

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now? Right now I'm deciding between a career in law or journalism. For law, I'm going to get crazy with it and talk about a court I don't admire, and that would be the current United States Supreme Court. I feel that Citizens United completely subverts our political system by allowing corporations to donate unlimited money to campaigns. I find the ruling completely abhorrent, utterly irresponsible, and dangerous. For journalism, I admire the Vice News crew. It's a group of journalist that go into some pretty ridiculous places (Liberia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, North Korea) and report on what is going on. They aren't well known, and therefore can go places and do things mainstream journalists couldn't (like get into North Korea). Watch the Vice Guide to North Korea sometime and step into the "hermit kingdom".

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources? I don't consume news, I devour news. When I want to get informed I read the BBC online. I find it to be unbiased and informative on issues that wouldn't get brought up in American media. When I want to laugh but at the same time weep for humanity I watch Fox news or the liberal response MSNBC. The overt bias on both stations is truly depressing and oddly fascinating.

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture.)
I listen to pretty much anything, but my go to genres are rap and electronica. My favorite artists are Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Tyga, Aphex Twin, Avicii, Skrillex, A Tribe Called Quest, and Empire of the Sun.

Favorite online video (link to it): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXgnIP4rMoI

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)?
THANK YOU BASED GOD

My Online Assignment

2012-01-25T18:44:00.000-06:00

Name and hometown: Kelsey Lake. Wayzata, Minnesota.

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now? I'd love to work in marketing. Ideally, I'd like to work for a large firm in Chicago or Boston. If that didn't work out, my mom works in real estate marketing, and it's always intrigued me. I've been helping out in her department for a while now, and that also seems like something I could see myself doing in the future.

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources? Truthfully, I don't consume news as much as I should. If I do consume news during the week, it usually is in the form of things trending on twitter, or having news play on the TV while I get ready in the morning.

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture.) I have always had a weakness for country music. Ranging from Luke Bryan and Eric Church to Taylor Swift, you'll find it all on my iPod. Although these days, I've also found myself really liking Adele and Christina Perri.

Favorite online video (link to it): Beyonce Clown

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)? Unfortunately, I've found myself giving in to the craze of hashtagging and saying things along the lines of "_________girlprobz". Whether it be lazygirlprobz, or blondegirlprobz, there always seems to be something that fits my current struggles in day to day life.

Online Assignment 1

2012-01-25T17:31:00.000-06:00

Name and hometown:

Hello, my name is Brienne Schaefer, and I'm from a small town in Wisconsin called Sussex.

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now?

I am currently planning on majoring in Journalism and hope to one day be a weekday morning news anchor for any of the Wisconsin news stations. I really admire Portia Young who reports daily for the Channel 12 Milwaukee news station. I'm only a freshman and haven't even applied to the Journalism School so fingers crossed I can pursue this career!

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources?

Yes, I do consume news. I usually watch the local news on television, read online The New York Times and for more entertainment purposes, watch E! news in my room while on Facebook or Twitter.

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture.)

I really like all types of music especially alternative rock. As long as it has a good beat, I'll probably love listening to it!

Favorite online video (link to it):

My favorite YouTube videos are from JennaMarbles. Here's one that my friends and I always laugh about!

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)?
A recent pop culture expression I've found myself frequently saying to my friends before I start telling them an embarrassingsituation I experienced is "That awkward moment when...."

My Introduction

2012-01-25T16:07:00.000-06:00

Name and hometown: Brandon Stottler; Janesville, WI

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now? My ideal job would be a physicist working in and researching quantum physics and/or string theory. I really admire the theoretical physicist Michio Kaku--he's an absolutely brilliant man whose work is insightful and meaningful. I also admire Trinh Xuan Thuan for his contributions in attempting to relate the world of physics to other branches of philosophy.

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources? I most definitely do; I read newsweek for world and national news and watch CNN for what they have to offer. Honestly, however, I trust Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert to keep me up to date occasionally. I also use the Facebook to keep up on the news and opinions of my friends.

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture.) My taste in music is incredibly broad. I generally listen to "indie" music, with my favorite bands as of late being The Barr Brothers, Deer Tick, and, most persistently, Neutral Milk Hotel.

Favorite online video (link to it): How neat is that? <-- Neature Walk, with Lenny Pepperbottom

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)? I'm a huge fan of the show It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, so I often find myself quoting the show, telling people, "I'm in the denim-boiling industry!" or yelling at my friends, "HOW COME WE NEVER PLAY NIGHTCRAWLERS ANYMORE?!" It's just a great show...a perfect satire of how goofy and self-involved part of our culture can be.

2012-01-25T15:30:00.004-06:00

Name and hometown: Bill Grau. Wausau WI

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now? : I would like to have a job as a political strategist. I admire David Axelrod and David Plouffe for what they were able to do with the Obama campaign during the 2008 presidential elections.

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources?: Yes, I read The New York Times and Politico every morning. Also, if I have time on weekends I will read from The Economist as well.

What kind of music do you like?: Anything but country music.

Favorite online video: Hitler reacts to Packers loss

What pop culture reference do you find yourself using?: "That's what she said" from The Office.

My Introduction

2012-01-25T14:35:00.000-06:00

Hello section, I'm Curt Strek from Wausau, WI. It's right in the middle of the state. I am currently looking to double major in History and political science, but the job I want in the future is a high school history teacher. I'm really passionate about teaching and history, so the job is cut out for me. I really admire my junior-year high school history teacher Mr. Maher, because he has been teaching for several decades and still enjoys going to work every day. As for consuming news, I typically frequent USA Today and Reddit for my political, global, and social news. I also like ESPN. I do not really enjoy TV news channels, as they can be too one-sided. I like to think that I enjoy music of all genres, even country occasionally. However, my favorite bands and artists are Muse, Weezer and Kanye West. My favorite internet video currently is this dramatic reading of "Sexy and I know it." Finally, pop culture has influenced me to say the word "bro" and different variations of that word way too often. I hope to have an enjoyable experience this semester.

My Online Assignment

2012-01-25T13:52:00.001-06:00

Name and hometown: Sydney Hershman from Towaco, NJ.

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now? My dream job is to be the editor of a magazine. Ariel Foxman (Editor of Instyle) and Sydney Wasserman (online editor at Elle Magazine) are two people that I admire and think have an amazing job. My dad also works in the entertainment field and I definitely look up to him and would love to emulate his career.

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources? I definitely think it is important to keep up with the news on a day to day basis. I have the NY Times on my phone that I read daily, and I also use Facebook and Twitter to "keep up".

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture.) I like pop/hip hop/rap/country music.

Favorite online video (link to it): This video is a few months old, but I thought it was really funny!

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)? I love the iPhone app "Hipstamatic". It takes awesome pictures with cool effects that I can send to my family and friends!

My Intro

2012-01-25T11:26:00.005-06:00

Whats up class,

My name is Dylan Silberfein and I hail from the great state of New York right by New York City in small town named Dobbs Ferry.
A future dream-job for me would be to be a screen-writer of some kind. A couple people in the profession who I look to are Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld), Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, Bridesmaids), and Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous, Jerry McGuire).
I consumer all types of news. I get a lot of my current event updates through cnn.com, my sports from espn.com, and opinionated pieces through nyt.com.
I enjoy a motley of music. From what's new right now I really like M83 and Bon Iver.
My favorite online video was tough to choose from, but this one has got to be up there Leprachaun in Alabama!!
The pop culture expression I find myself using a lot lately both internally and externally is the twitter hash-tag. I think it's a neat way of summing up a good thought.

I look forward to getting know everyone else!