"He who rejects change is the architect of decay. The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery." -Harold Wilson
I chose to begin with this quote because it reflects my views on change. Our culture is based upon the changes we make, so it makes sense that newspapers and journalistic styles change over time to adapt to our ever-changing culture.
Since the invention of the wheel, man has used change as a way to improve things. Whether these changes make our lives better or easier, we must learn to accept them so we can grow.
AP style has changed with the times, announcing that all first references to presidents include their first and last names. This is an example of change making life easier. By using this universal style, people everywhere will know the correct way to refer to world leaders. It may also make these references clearer, as some leaders have similar names.
Another example of a style change occurred when "back yard" became "backyard" in all uses. If a majority of people can agree on one way to write a particular phrase, then why not make writing easier?
Before jumping ahead and changing the entire English language, there are a few things that must be taken into consideration. Is it necessary to change the word in question? If a majority of people are confused about the spelling, usage, or meaning of that word, then yes, a change is justified. Do people already use a word in a particular way--a way that is not referenced in journalistic style? If the answer is yes, then the style should be altered to fit in with popular belief of how the word should be used.
I look at these changes as an opportunity to have a uniform writing style and lessen confusion when using particular words. I also see these changes as a way that we can continue to broaden journalistic writing to fit in with popular belief.
Although adapting to new styles may be confusing initially, learning to change with the times is an invaluable lesson--not only in journalism, but in day-to-day life.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Sarah Palin and "Gotcha Journalism"
To begin this assignment, I used the Google, Yahoo, and MSN search engines and searched for "Sarah Palin and gotcha journalism."
The results included news articles, blogs, opinion pieces, and many YouTube videos. The videos either provided a link to an actual interview with Katie Couric, McCain, and Palin, or Internet spoofs making fun of the incident.
The first result from Google is the following link:
http://www.jossip.com/sarah-palins-big-problem-with-gotcha-journalism-its-actual-journalism-20081001/
This site is designed to be a gossip blog. Titled "David Hauslaib's 'Jossip:' the gossip's gossip sheet," I knew before reading a word that my search would not yield reliable results from this site. The blogger provided a basic background of what happened to cause the uproar, but he showed a clear bias against the McCain-Palin campaign.
Google's second result:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brett-ashley-mckenzie/the-gotcha-journalist-an_b_131600.html
This article from the Huffington Post featured author Brett Ashley McKenzie's interview with Michael Rovito, the man who originally questioned Palin in Philadelphia. While the writer's questions were objective, Rovito provided answers that leads a reader to reject Palin as a vice presidential nominee. I found it to be an interesting opinion piece.
Google's third result:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/29/mccain-palin-joint-interv_n_130412.html
This is another article from the Huffington Post. In this, writer Sam Stein tries to write objectively, stating that both parties are coming under scrutiny for things they have said. I write 'tries' because he makes an effort to defend Obama's statements and put them into context, but he does not do the same with Palin's statements.
Google's fourth result:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/29/eveningnews/main4487826.shtml
By far the most reliable site my search yielded, this piece features the partial transcript of the interview in question. CBS is a reliable news site because it presents news in an objective manner and has the authority to do so.
Google's fifth result:
http://irregulartimes.com/index.php/archives/2008/09/30/voters-do-gotcha-journalism-with-sarah-palin-says-mccain/
The author of this commentary clearly has a bias against McCain and Palin, even referring to Palin as McCain's "ventriloquist dummy." This article is unreliable for information because of this bias. You get the gist of the information, but it is portrayed in an unfair light by an author who does not have the authority to make these statements.
My Yahoo search resulted in many of the same articles I have listed above. Here are some different articles that I found interesting.
Yahoo result #1:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1075000/gotcha_journalism_to_blame_for_the.html
This article defines "gotcha journalism" and goes into the double-standard of journalism. The author talks about how each political party has used gotcha journalism to shed light on the other's mistakes. It is objective and informative, but not exactly what I was looking for, as it doesn't go into the details behind Palin's encounter.
Yahoo result #2:
http://thatsrightnate.com/2008/09/29/sarah-palin-victim-of-gotcha-journalism/
I liked the sarcastic tone of this blog. The author reveals a clear bias against Palin. Although funny, the site is unreliable because it does not present information from a scholarly source; it is a personal opinion on the matter.
MSN result #1:
http://www.observer.com/2008/media/interview-couric-palin-and-mccain-complain-gotcha-journalism
I found this site to be very reliable. The New York Observer is very well known, and the information within it is presented in a scholarly, authoritative manner. The only bias here is in the readers' comments at the end of the piece.
While most of my searches resulted in similar articles, I was surprised that more reliable sources were not shown. Most of my results featured blogs, commentary/opinion pieces, and gossip websites. Although these sites are interesting, they are not always reliable--or accurate. News sites are the most accurate because they are objective and cite authorities on the subject.
Finding reliable sources is tricky, especially when using the Internet. Many of the sites I found contained articles written by authors who seemed knowledgable about the subject, but most of them had nothing to back up their information. Cited sources and objectivity are two of the most important qualities I look for when trying to find reliable information online.
The results included news articles, blogs, opinion pieces, and many YouTube videos. The videos either provided a link to an actual interview with Katie Couric, McCain, and Palin, or Internet spoofs making fun of the incident.
The first result from Google is the following link:
http://www.jossip.com/sarah-palins-big-problem-with-gotcha-journalism-its-actual-journalism-20081001/
This site is designed to be a gossip blog. Titled "David Hauslaib's 'Jossip:' the gossip's gossip sheet," I knew before reading a word that my search would not yield reliable results from this site. The blogger provided a basic background of what happened to cause the uproar, but he showed a clear bias against the McCain-Palin campaign.
Google's second result:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brett-ashley-mckenzie/the-gotcha-journalist-an_b_131600.html
This article from the Huffington Post featured author Brett Ashley McKenzie's interview with Michael Rovito, the man who originally questioned Palin in Philadelphia. While the writer's questions were objective, Rovito provided answers that leads a reader to reject Palin as a vice presidential nominee. I found it to be an interesting opinion piece.
Google's third result:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/29/mccain-palin-joint-interv_n_130412.html
This is another article from the Huffington Post. In this, writer Sam Stein tries to write objectively, stating that both parties are coming under scrutiny for things they have said. I write 'tries' because he makes an effort to defend Obama's statements and put them into context, but he does not do the same with Palin's statements.
Google's fourth result:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/29/eveningnews/main4487826.shtml
By far the most reliable site my search yielded, this piece features the partial transcript of the interview in question. CBS is a reliable news site because it presents news in an objective manner and has the authority to do so.
Google's fifth result:
http://irregulartimes.com/index.php/archives/2008/09/30/voters-do-gotcha-journalism-with-sarah-palin-says-mccain/
The author of this commentary clearly has a bias against McCain and Palin, even referring to Palin as McCain's "ventriloquist dummy." This article is unreliable for information because of this bias. You get the gist of the information, but it is portrayed in an unfair light by an author who does not have the authority to make these statements.
My Yahoo search resulted in many of the same articles I have listed above. Here are some different articles that I found interesting.
Yahoo result #1:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1075000/gotcha_journalism_to_blame_for_the.html
This article defines "gotcha journalism" and goes into the double-standard of journalism. The author talks about how each political party has used gotcha journalism to shed light on the other's mistakes. It is objective and informative, but not exactly what I was looking for, as it doesn't go into the details behind Palin's encounter.
Yahoo result #2:
http://thatsrightnate.com/2008/09/29/sarah-palin-victim-of-gotcha-journalism/
I liked the sarcastic tone of this blog. The author reveals a clear bias against Palin. Although funny, the site is unreliable because it does not present information from a scholarly source; it is a personal opinion on the matter.
MSN result #1:
http://www.observer.com/2008/media/interview-couric-palin-and-mccain-complain-gotcha-journalism
I found this site to be very reliable. The New York Observer is very well known, and the information within it is presented in a scholarly, authoritative manner. The only bias here is in the readers' comments at the end of the piece.
While most of my searches resulted in similar articles, I was surprised that more reliable sources were not shown. Most of my results featured blogs, commentary/opinion pieces, and gossip websites. Although these sites are interesting, they are not always reliable--or accurate. News sites are the most accurate because they are objective and cite authorities on the subject.
Finding reliable sources is tricky, especially when using the Internet. Many of the sites I found contained articles written by authors who seemed knowledgable about the subject, but most of them had nothing to back up their information. Cited sources and objectivity are two of the most important qualities I look for when trying to find reliable information online.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Short Bio
I'm a junior at Rowan University majoring in Public Relations. I graduated from Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster, PA. During high school, I wrote for my school's newspaper and volunteered at Albert Einstein Medical Center in North Philadelphia.
I also participated in a program offered by CosmoGirl! magazine that allowed me to share my opinions and suggestions with editors at the magazine. As a stringer, I got an inside look into the work that goes into magazine production. As an avid magazine reader, I really enjoyed learning more about the process.
As a PR major, I hope to somehow break into the magazine industry. The more I learn about the different aspects that are involved in public relations, the fuzzier my future becomes. I see how many options PR majors have after graduation because it is a skill that all companies and businesses use. I'm anxious to see what this year brings!
I also participated in a program offered by CosmoGirl! magazine that allowed me to share my opinions and suggestions with editors at the magazine. As a stringer, I got an inside look into the work that goes into magazine production. As an avid magazine reader, I really enjoyed learning more about the process.
As a PR major, I hope to somehow break into the magazine industry. The more I learn about the different aspects that are involved in public relations, the fuzzier my future becomes. I see how many options PR majors have after graduation because it is a skill that all companies and businesses use. I'm anxious to see what this year brings!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)