Roy's Totally Subjective Picks: 85 Wonders of the Journalism World

This article talks about the Wonders of the Journalism World. The writers of the Wonders of the Journalism World split these wonders into five categories: story forms and shapes, institution/ organizations, technologies, documents, and people. They are listed in the order of which they felt was most important.

Here are their top picks in each category:

Story forms and shapes: The Inverted Pyramid
Institutions/ Organizations: The New York Times
Technologies: The QWERTY keyboard
Documents: The First Amendment
People: Edward R. Murrow

It is revealed that they used recommendations of Poynter's faculty and staff to help come up with the list. Many beginning journalists can learn many things from this list concerning the journalistic world from this list. The Wonders of the Journalism World help put into prespective how the journalism industry has become what it is today. The list even speaks about the impact Google and Facebook have had on the modern journalistic world. The list has also helped close the gap between journalism in the past and present along with allowing readers to understand authors more clearly. I feel this is a fantastic idea to help educate people within the journalistic world along with the people outside looking in. This list can help the world understand the amazing advances in the history of journalism and the past that still affects it.

If you would like to read more, here is the link to the article:

http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=78&aid=139028

Improving Accuracy: Creating a Newsroom System

There are more accuracy issues with online publishing. Eight newspapers in Southern Brazil are trying to stop this trend. They are starting by trying to get rid of their most common answers. The top five issues that add up to 53 percent of the mistakes are:

1. Names
2. Professions/positions/ages/political parties
3. Dates/numbers
4. Geography
5. E-mails/addresses/Web sites/telephones

These RBS Group has made an accuracy packet to help others in their efforts of online publishing. So far, their method of helping writers realize the common mistakes and drilling them into their head has helped tremendously in Southern Brazil. Hopefully, This method of madness can spread to insure an improved online publishing system. This is a great idea that seems to be working. Therefore, why not try it everywhere to see if online publishing can stop making journalistic mistakes. The way to fix mistakes is knowing what to look for to prevent those mistakes. This is precisely what the RBS Group is trying to accomplish.

If you would like to read more, here is the link to the article:

http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=101&aid=137822

Eye to Ear: From Newspapers to Public Radio

The world of newspapers and public radio differ in many ways. This is shown by discussing David Folkenflik's experiences; he switched from working with The Baltimore Sun newspaper to being a National Public Radio correspondent. Folkenflik made the switch because he had grown up listening to the radio and greatly enjoys it. He had to start over again when it came to his thoughts of getting the information out to the public. A big part of this was the fact that there was now sound involved, which made it more complicated. Sounds were added to stories to make them seem like real life. Radio correspondents also have to do a very hard thing, not be afraid of their own voice. At the same time the writing needed to be different. The basics are similar, but everything else needs to be done somewhat differently. Here is how Folkenflik sums up the writing transition from working with newspapers to working with public radio.

"You have to be willing to collaborate to a greater degree," Folkenflik said. "You have to tell complex stories more tightly -- but without losing any of the sophistication or vital context."

It is every journalists choice as to which part of the field they enter into. If they switch areas I just hope its because they want to experience a new area of journalism rather than a salary increase. Hopefully, they will keep their passion for journalism no matter which area of journalism they go to. Every area of journalism is different in a way, and each is done with a little bit different expertise. The world of newspaper and public radio journalism may be different in many ways, but their point is the same. They want to reach the public and inform them on issues or get whatever information they feel needs to be told out to the public. Journalism is an amazing tool of the people that lets voices be heard by others.

If you would like to read more, here is the link to the article:

http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=52&aid=138083

Hero or Victim: Not the Only Choices

This article shows how the media can help make the public's opinions about certain groups of people. The article does this with a great example. The author raises the question of why people in wheelchairs are always depicted as a hero or a victim, never just an ordinary person with a story to tell. Not necessarily about how they came to be sitting in a wheelchair or how they overcame such a struggle with flying colors.

When news writers are asked why they don't add to stories about people in wheelchairs when they do act badly or inappropriately; they simply reply that they feel it is ingrained in them to speak of how people that are in wheelchairs overcome it. They don't realize that maybe some one needs to show the public that just because a person is in a wheelchair does not mean that they are a good person trying to inspire us all.

This article speaks wonders. Just because people have to use a wheelchair does not mean that they want to be that "heroic or victimized person in the wheelchair." Maybe they want to be looked at as just another normal human being. I feel that this disability biased, and yes it is a biased, in stories helped make the public think this way. People with disabilities as well as every other person on this planet should be treated the same. A news writer should realize they are doing their duty by telling the true story, not always the one the public wants or expects to hear.

If you would like to read more, here is the link to the article:

http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=78&aid=137798

A Sign of the Times

The print industry, especially in newspapers, is having a hard time keeping up with the times. A man named Michael Stephens is a prime example. Stephens is "a librarian, professor of library and information science, tech enthusiast and blogger." This obviously shows his support for writing and the world of journalism. Stephens decided to cancel his print subscription to the "South Bend Tribune." Here is where the problem comes in. If people as supportive of the writing word as Stephens cancels his print subscriptions, what is going to stop the people that just get their newspaper for the sports section from following in the same direction?

Not as many people read the newspaper anymore. Instead they decide to search the internet or watch broadcast news to keep up with their news. It is free, which is obviously cheeper than buying a subscription to a newspaper. The print media may be less biased than broadcast or internet news, but people are starting to feel that it is worth it not to have the hassel of print. The internet is truely an amazing thing that I am glad people are putting to use. I realize that print media can be useful and is right for certain people, but I am a person that has to keep up with the times. I do not look back. Print media is slipping and in the future it will continue to do so. The world has seen the age of the internet is not going to go back to having black fingers after reading their news.

If you would like to read more, here is the link to the article:

http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=123&aid=137054

Public Views Towards the Press

A study done by Sacred Heart University found that the public's bias towards the media might be more serious than the bias of the press itself. The public feels as though the media is not a trusting source much of the time. Journalists may need to continue to improve so that the media moves in a trusting path. In this way the public will start to regain the media's trust. On the other hand, journalists are supposedly more accountable than ever with the information they pass to the public.

I feel that the public needs to be more responsible in realizing which sources they are receiving their information from. Some sources are obviously not going to be as accredited as others. In this way, the public can have confidence in the media. They just need to make sure they are using media sources that they trust themselves. Journalists will always have a continuous fight to gain the faith of the public. Journalists need to constantly strive for higher journalism goals to prove to the public that the media can and should be trusted.

If you would like to read more, here is the link to the article:

http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=101&aid=136625

The Giants and the Belief That Made Them Champions

There were many critics that deemed it impossible for the Giants to win Super Bowl XLII that was played last night on Fox. The Giants belief in there qualification to be champions helped them to overcome this mountain. Throughout the preseason there were many ups and downs before the final verdict. The Giants started with two losses, which quickly was turned around. The team did well on the road, which made up for their misfortunes on their home field. They seemed to be gaining major ground from were they had begun. Then when the postseason came along the Giants had a chance to redeem themselves of the losses suffered in the preseason. They beat the Cowboys and Packers in the playoffs, returning the favor from the preseason games, but could the Giants beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl? The Patriots had come from behind to barely beat the Giants in the preseason game yet they were so strongly favored over them. None of the beliefs of others mattered to the Giants though. The team and their amazing fans believed in a win and that is all that mattered. After an amazing catch by David Tyree The Giants scored in the final minute to put them in the lead, 17-14. The Patriots could not rally back. The Giants had won Super Bowl XLII!

The Giants and Patriots played an amazing game last night. Both teams wanted it really bad, and it showed in there back and forth battle. The score was not very high, but that was because the defensive teams were so fierce. In the end the Giants prevailed and beat the Patriots to win Super Bowl XLII. I really enjoyed watching these teams fight each other for something they want so badly. The Giants truly deserved the outcome of the game. Everyone watching could see the emotion that the Giants put forth every snap of the ball. The Patriots became a fantastic competitor with a great record, but the Giants pulled off the win. The Giants are an remarkable football team that showed that no matter what the underdog always has a chance to succeed!

If you would like to read more, here is the link to the article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/sports/football/05giants.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin