Journalism Response: Radio Lecture

This radio lecture taught me a lot about the history of radios and how they developed to become such an important part of our world. I learned about how radios boomed all around the world, until of course TV’s were invented. I had no idea before this lecture that television caused radio to demassify because all the radio talent moved to TV. It was interesting to learn about how radio changed after television. 

It was interesting for me to also learn about how when radio first came out it was not a mass medium. I was surprised that radio used to just be messages between individuals instead of widespread broadcasts for masses of people.

I had no idea that radio was the first live medium ever so I found that cool and useful to know. I just thought that it must’ve been cool for the people who were used to getting news later than everyone else to actually get to listen to LIVE broadcasts and news at the same time as the rest of the country. Being able to listen to live, spontaneous, breaking news at that time was such a huge breakthrough in technology and change in our lifestyle and I find that very fascinating.

Overall, I think that this may have been one of my favorite lectures because I learned so much new information and I found it incredibly interesting.

Journalism Response: News/TV Terminology Response

I really enjoyed learning all of the terminology that is used for news broadcasts and I think that it will be very helpful for me to know in the future. I previously knew the meaning of a couple of the words like break and voice-over, but I had no idea what the majority of the words meant.

I’ve been thinking that when I grow up I may possibly want to have a career in broadcast journalism or something along those lines. So, when we were learning about the broadcast terminology and about how newscasts work, I found it all very entertaining and fun to learn about.

            I think that this lecture helped me not only learn what the meaning of these words are, but it also helped me more understand how a newscast runs. We did not just flip through words and definitions to write down, but we had an actual discussion about using these words in context and explaining a lot of the specific newscast steps. I found this overall lecture super interesting and I for sure think that the content we learned in this lecture will be helpful to me in the future.

Journalism Response: Movie Lecture

The lecture over movies was very interesting. I had no idea how complicated the movie industry was until this lecture. I also learned quite a bit of information about the importance of movie theaters and how actually going to a theater is much different than watching movies on Netflix or On-Demand at home.

This lecture made me want to go out to see a movie and have the immersive experience of physically going to a theater. This lecture also reminded me about how there are huge social aspects to physically going to a movie theater that you do not get from just sitting on the couch.

I found it kind of sad but not surprising how movie theaters are losing their audiences because of TV and new companies like Netflix.

I didn’t specifically know what made movie theaters so much different than movies at home until this lecture so that was interesting. I didn’t really think about the distinct differences between watching a movie at home and watching one at a theater, but I learned that movie theaters make the overall movie a special occasion. Movie theaters have 3D/color effects, large screens, sophisticated sound, uninterrupted/dark environments, and specific content that make for a more not only immersive, but overall enjoyable experience.

So I found this lecture very educational and fun to listen to and learn about.

Media Critique: Ahmed Mohamed Story

Earlier this week at a Texas high school, 9th grader Ahmed Mohamed brought a clock to school that he made, hoping to show it to his teachers and peers. He ended up being handcuffed and interrogated by police officers because they thought the clock was a bomb. There were many news stories and many reporters covering this story from all around the country, but some news sources did not follow an important rule of the 7 yardsticks of journalism- fairness.


Many news sources covered this story and most of the stories were fair, well-rounded, and included interviews from people of both sides of the event. For example, CNN covered this event and made sure that they included an interview from Ahmed, Ahmed's father, Mayor Beth Van Duyne and a spokesperson from the school district. The New York Times also covered this story and included quotes from Ahmed, President Obama, Josh Earnest (the White House press secretary), Ahmed's father, Irving Police Chief Larry Boyd, and a few other people.


Stories that include interviews and quotes from many different people or at least both sides of the story are often the stories that are the most interesting. News stories that follow the 10 elements and 7 yardsticks of journalism also are easier and more interesting for readers. Unfortunately, there were some news organizations that covered this story and did not interview people from each side of the controversy which is not following the yardstick of fairness.  


Fox News Insider was one of the sources that did not follow the fairness rule. Fox News Insider covered the story by giving readers very few details and very little background information. They also didn't include any important interviews from the other side of the controversy. The only quote that they included was from Ahmed's father. If Fox News Insider would've included at least an interview from Ahmed himself and maybe an interview from someone from the school district, this story would have been much better journalism and it would follow the elements and yardsticks of journalism.


Fairness is a very important part of journalism. Journalists should make sure that they are being fair and writing a well-rounded, unbiased story that always includes both sides of the controversy. Good journalists don't leave the audience hanging by not giving them enough information and they do not just cover one side of the story. They always make sure that the information they provide for the people is descriptive and FAIR.


The yardstick of journalism known  as "fairness" says that journalists should cover at least one other side of the controversy or event. Fox News Insider obviously did not cover any other side of the event because they only interviewed one person, and that one person didn't even contribute very much to the event. Fox News Insider failed to follow the 7 yardsticks of journalism and that definitely had a negative impact on the overall news story.


You can read Fox News Insider's story at-
http://insider.foxnews.com/2015/09/16/ninth-grade-student-ahmed-mohamed-arrested-bringing-homemade-clock-school


Check out CNN's story at-
http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/17/us/texas-student-ahmed-muslim-clock-bomb/
And the NY Times article at-
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/17/us/texas-student-is-under-police-investigation-for-building-a-clock.html

Ali's Newspaper Blog Post

I found Ali's blog post on newspapers very interesting and fun to read. I really enjoy how Ali adds her own personal spin on her writing and has her own unique and original style. I also really enjoy her posts because they are very personal.


I really enjoyed how Ali gave her views and opinions on this lecture in her post. It was cool how she informed readers about what she found interesting and what didn't really make sense. I really liked that she used information about the Romans and how a lot of them were illiterate to back up some of her claims. I also liked how she discussed broad sheet newspapers and the rights reporters have in journalism.


I also really enjoyed this blog post because it didn't go on and on about one specific topic, but instead touched on a lot of different points! To read Ali's full post go to-
http://alisinfoblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/response-to-newspaper-lecture.html

Cameron's Binary Models Blog Post

Today I read Cameron's blog post about our binary models lecture. I found it very interesting and I agree with everything she had to say in her post. Before the lecture on binary models, I really had no idea what hot and cool mediums were or what any of the other binary models were. So I was completely unfamiliar with this topic and that was what made it interesting for me to learn about.


In her blog post Cameron mentioned a lot about hot and cool mediums and I agree with everything that she had to say! Like what Cameron said in her post, I listen to music while I do my homework everyday and I had no idea that that was considered a cool medium. It was really helpful when she gave examples in her post of hot and cool mediums.


Also in the blog post she talked about information, entertainment, infotainment and conglomeration. I agree with and can relate to everything that she said about those things and I really liked how she gave examples about these things. I liked how she talked about how the Daily Show with Jon Stewart is an example of infotainment and how the binary models merged. I also liked how she brought up conglomeration and discussed what it was and gave some examples.


You can read Cameron's full post at-
http://cameronsjournalismblogs.blogspot.com/2015/09/response-to-binary-models-lecture.html

Effects of Gutenberg's Metal Movable Type: RESPONSE

One of the most interesting lectures from Journalism 1 for me would have to be the books/movable type lecture. Before learning all about books and the first metal movable type, I had no idea about Gutenberg or what he invented. Once I learned about the inventions and technology leading up to Gutenberg’s invention of the metal movable type, I was very interested in learning how it had an effect on the world and life in general.


I found out that once Gutenberg invented the metal movable type, education and literacy went up because more people had easier access to books and documents for education. Also, one of the biggest effects of Gutenberg’s printing press was the Renaissance. When the printing press was created, ideas began spreading rapidly all around Europe and that was basically what sparked the Renaissance.


Since ideas could spread so rapidly with this invention, philosophical and political ideas also began spreading rapidly. The invention of the metal movable type also meant that it would be easier for history to be recorded and for people to keep records of events. This invention even meant that more accurate maps could be distributed and exploration could be a little bit easier because the maps people used would be more accurate.


Before listening to this lecture over books and the first metal movable type by Gutenberg, I knew nothing about this topic. I didn’t realize that the printing press had such a huge effect on today’s world and how we live our lives. I found it super fascinating to learn about how just this one invention has had such an enormous impact on the world! If Gutenberg had not invented the metal movable type, then the world we would be living in would be completely different. In fact, we probably wouldn't even be here right now if it was not invented! Overall this lecture taught me a lot and I found it very interesting!