As we come to the close of this semester, I would like to end with one of the same topics we first began with: the future of journalism. It's not as dire as many would believe, as this article points out.
Secondly, remember that it's not just words that we have to be careful with, but photographs and video reporting as well. Thanks to amazing software programs like Photoshop, it's incredibly easy to alter a photograph to make someone or something appear better (or worse). While that's fine for something like a senior picture, it's completely unethical to alter a photograph or video accompanying a news story. You wouldn't change someone's quote. Yet some people don't see anything wrong with changing a photograph. Remember, photojournalism must abide by the same ethical principles of truth and accuracy.
And on that note, here is a video clip from a few years ago when political satirist and TV host Jon Stewart criticized Fox TV's Sean Hannity for playing with the facts, the visual facts that is. Click here to watch the clip from the show. Pay close attention to the video and what Stewart is calling Hannity out for. (By the way, Hannity later apologized for what he called an "inadvertent mistake".)
Secondly, remember that it's not just words that we have to be careful with, but photographs and video reporting as well. Thanks to amazing software programs like Photoshop, it's incredibly easy to alter a photograph to make someone or something appear better (or worse). While that's fine for something like a senior picture, it's completely unethical to alter a photograph or video accompanying a news story. You wouldn't change someone's quote. Yet some people don't see anything wrong with changing a photograph. Remember, photojournalism must abide by the same ethical principles of truth and accuracy.
And on that note, here is a video clip from a few years ago when political satirist and TV host Jon Stewart criticized Fox TV's Sean Hannity for playing with the facts, the visual facts that is. Click here to watch the clip from the show. Pay close attention to the video and what Stewart is calling Hannity out for. (By the way, Hannity later apologized for what he called an "inadvertent mistake".)
I hope you've enjoyed our journalism class and the journalism blog. Each of you has the potential to be an excellent writer and editor, as well as a critical observer of the media. Share a final thought about the article, the video clip and/or what you consider to be the most important thing you have learned about journalism this semester.
Waldsmith's Dispatch will be on hiatus until September 2012 when a new crop of aspiring writers joins me for another semester of journalism boot camp!
I very much enjoyed the article "Five myths about the future of Journalism". It proved many commonly held beliefs about journalism wrong! I especially enjoyed the the fourth myth that newspapers around the world are on the decline! I definitely believed that print revenue would be decreasing, not on a 13% increase! I enjoyed these facts because they gave me hope in the future of journalism.
ReplyDeleteSecond, I found John Stewart's video HILARIOUS. My grandparents love Fox news and it was fun for me to see a different opinion! I found it hysterical that John Stewart was not only able to catch Hannity mashing together two videos, but also finding the source of the video! If you're going to mash together videos to prove your point, at least make sure they haven't already been used! Hannity definitely needed to check his sources on this one!
Last, the most important thing I learned in journalism this year was the efficient use of words. At the beginning of this class I definitely struggled to explain my ideas efficiently. Throughout the different stories I began to see myself improve. This course not only taught me effective word choice, but the journalistic writing style. I very much enjoyed my time in Journalism. I know the lessons I learned in this class will help me in all aspects of life!
I found the last myth in the article to be a bit creepy. I mean, it makes sense, but knowing that the social media and companies like Google watch what websites you go on and such, is unsettling.
ReplyDeleteLike Bridget, I thought that the video was really funny, but I cannot understand how they made that mistake. Wouldn't they have the tape labelled as to when it was taken, who shot it, and the piece it was intended for?
The things that I learned most was how to express my opinions, or the facts at hand, in a way that is clear and concise. I also learned how to choose words that express the meaning best. These skills will almost definitely be useful in years to come.
The article on the 5 myths of journalism was both comforting and discomforting. I was really interested that the news world itself wasn't declining and the more well known newspapers are still being read, even if it is on the internet. Watching the video I saw the importance of always being honest and not editing photos and videos. It is very easy for others to pick out your flaws and make them well known. In journalism the most important thing I gained was a more diverse writing style. Before journalism i never had to write direct leads or hard hitting stories. It was nice for a change in pace and a new style.
ReplyDeleteI think it is really refreshing to see an article not talking about how journalism is dying out, but how some think it will survive. Even though it did point out some rough spots that journalists have to accept, such as the decline of hard copies of news, it still gives me comfort to know that some think journalists still have a chance.
ReplyDeleteI think the video was really funny, but also quite informative. It showed just how sneaky people can be about editing visual journalism. I was surprised this was actually aired on Fox News, and that no one at Fox had realized this so called "mistake."
Journalism has been one of my favorite classes this semester. It has taught me the importance of my words, and the importance of others' words. Words are powerful things, and used in the right way, they can inform others in a truly great way.
After reading the article "Five myths about the future of Journalism" I was happy to see that aspiring journalists still have a chance to fulfill their dreams.
ReplyDeleteThe video was funny and it showed me how people can edit a photo without most people catching it but when someone does that person or organization will be made fun of.
Journalism has been one of my more challenging classes. I had to change from writing long essays to short strait to the point leads and news stories. I was reminded strongly that words are very powerful and can have more than one meaning. I liked the class and feel that it gave me a great look into what my future career could potentially be.
I thought that the Five Myths of Journalism article helped to quell some of my fears about the future of journalism. I liked how it kind of rebutted some of the most commonly heard (negative) things about journalism, but I also liked how it put things in there that weren't just about how newspapers were dying out.
ReplyDeleteI thought that the John Stewart clip was funny. I laughed out loud a few times, especially at the end where he spliced in footage from the movie 300. But seriously, I think what Hannity did was wrong, or at least a huge mistake, and that somebody should have caught it before it went on the air.
Journalism was one of my favorite classes this semester. I enjoyed how we were taught how to put our ideas across clearly and quickly, and how we were able to learn not just writing, but also things like ethics in journalism, which I found really interesting. I think that this class will help me in whatever I try to do in life.
In the article "Five Myths of Journalism" I found it to be inspiring, in a way, because aspiring journalists are always hearing how bad regular news papers are doing but still journalists are not losing hope. Even though times are hard I believe that people will always need to know something that is happening, whether it is major story or just their local weather people still need the news. I thought it was a great idea that sites like Google Chrome are seeing what people are interested in because if newspapers or online news can see what people are interested in they can write about it and receive more readers.
ReplyDeleteI felt the John Stewart clip was hilarious. I didn't really noticed how the leaves changed color and the sky changed. I don't think that a lot of people would've realized that they were two different days either. The ending where he showed the clip from 300 where the people are charging and said they looked "really mad" was the funniest part. I can't believe that Fox would have gotten away with putting a different clip on the screen if it wasn't for John Stewart. It makes me question Fox and lose my trust in them.
Journalism was one of my favorite classes of the year. To be honest, I didn't think I would love it so much. I love how creative we can be with our writing when writing feature stories, I enjoy learning about the design of the newspaper and I liked writing hard-hitting news stories because I like writing the leads and figuring out the structure of what details are most important. Journalism is a class that everyone should take. I know I have become a better skilled writer and have become better at editing my papers and others. These skills will help me in whatever I chose to do. Also now when I read articles I can tell if they used a nut graph or if it is a news-feature story. I feel articles are also easier to read now that I know the structure. But, for me the most important thing I learned this semester was just to have faith in my writing. I never considered myself an amazing writer, and I still know that my writing isn't perfect but I feel that my writing has improved so much because of this class. I'm not afraid for people to read my writing and I've learned to welcome criticism and I know my writing is better because of it.
In the "Five Myths of Journalism" it was shocking to hear that ad revenues have decreased by 48% in the past four years. That number is very surprising. Also, it was sad reading that America is suffering the most in print newspapers because it's where we live. So many people are employed in the newspaper industry and it's sad to think that one day there isn't going to be a tangible newspaper. However, like the article said, online newspapers haven't found a way to make money, I am very curious to see how this will turn out in the future.
ReplyDeleteThat John Stewart video was crazy! The details, like the sky and leaves, that he pointed out made me feel stupid for not noticing. I can't believe Fox, a news source that so many people trust, would ever do that.
Last, the most important thing I learned this semester was how much work really goes into a newspaper. Now when I read the newspaper I can't help but spot a 'direct lead' or an 'indirect lead' and the catchy headlines. It made me admire the journalists who can write an article on a demanding deadline while we had as much as three weeks to write ours. Everything from the page design to the photography has so many guidelines and things to keep in mind that I was so unaware of. I learned that in order to be a good journalist you have to do everything ethically, no short cuts. That is a valuable lesson that I can apply to things other than journalism as well.
I found the "Five Myths of Journalism" to be rather inspiring. It was nice to see some of the common misconceptions explained and corrected. Even if news is now becoming more popular on the internet, a Journalist's role is still one of great importance.
ReplyDeleteI found the video to be quiet funny! Fox New's, like any major news source, is supposed to be trustworthy. Either this was a huge mistake, or they intentionally did this hoping no one would notice. Still, it is clear that it should have been caught before it made it on air.
Journalism was, without a doubt, my favorite class this semester. It has given me so much confidence as a writer, and I have gained respect for the Journalists out there. I never really had a understanding of all the work that goes into a Newspaper. Now I read them with respect, noticing the "little things" that really pull the paper together. Also, over the course of the semester, I was introduced to a new way of looking at things. I now use more of a "critical" eye when reading an article or watching something on TV. I definitely think I can use the lessons learned in this class in the years to come.
I liked that the article "Five Myths of Journalism" took a different stance on the topic. I think it was really interesting that they emphasized people weren't reading less news, but the advertisement was getting newspapers less money. I found it comforting to know journalism probably is not going to die out any time soon.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the video and I thought it was really funny. I'm glad they pointed this out, hopefully it will teach news organizations that this is not okay. However, I don't think what they did could have possibly been a mistake. Hannity must have known what he was doing. I have put videos together and editing things before, and it is nearly impossible to accidentally throw in the wrong clip unless he isn't very good at labeling files and is extremely unobservant.
Journalism was definitely one of the best classes I've taken at Mercy. I think the most important thing I learned is how to write the different types of stories that make up a newspaper. My favorite part of the class was writing the review and the bit on photography. I'm interested in reviewing music as a possible career or being a photographer, so those things were particularly interesting and fun for me. I'm really going to miss this class next semester.
I highly enjoyed reading the "Five Myths of Journalism" article and found it to be very interesting. I found the fourth myth to be particularly reassuring. Although most articles focus on the dying out of newspapers, this one focused rather on the growing percentage of newspaper circulation worldwide. It definitely gave me hope for the future of journalism.
ReplyDeleteI found the video clip to be really funny. Whether Hannity purposely or accidentally used footage from a different event is debatable, but it gives a clear message to journalists about what is believed to be unacceptable in the media today.
Journalism has undoubtedly been one of my favorite classes at Mercy. Although it was very stressful at times, I learned many skills that I will remember for the rest of my life. I enjoyed learning the different types of stories that journalists can write, such as profiles and feature stories. While I have been taking this class, I have been paying more attention to local newspapers, noticing the layout and whether the article I am reading is a news feature story or a review. Journalism has definitely helped me to improve my writing skills and I am positive it is a class that I will miss.
It was great to see such a positive report for the news industry in the "Five Myths of Journalism" article. It's especially encouraging to see an optimistic outlook on the future; that can be hard to find in the news these days.
ReplyDeleteThe video was very funny! It seemed so silly that Hannity would use such different clips and either not notice the discrepancies himself or think that others wouldn't know the difference! And, if you're going to mix video like that (despite the unethical aspect), you could at least have the sense to make sure no one else has used it before you. Hannity made himself look really stupid, and it's a good warning to journalists (and private citizens) who think it's okay to tweak or tamper with published fact.
Journalism was one of my favorite classes this semester. It's true that it could be stressful sometimes, but I loved the opportunity to expand my writing skills. It has also taught me a lot about the news that I am exposed to. I learned that I should examine the information that people, even professionals, give me; bias, mistakes, and ethical breaches could affect my perception of the world around me.
Thank you to Ms. Waldsmith and my classmates for a great semester! :)
Myths are all around us. No matter what we do to filter the wrong from the right, people just keep uploading the wrong. The article was fantastic and in fact the writer of this story was Tom Rosenstiel who is the co-author, with Bill Kovach, of “Blur: How to Know What’s True in the Age of Information Overload.” Knowing what is true is sometimes impossible; if we have people like Rosenstiel then we do not have to worry about believing the wrong for being right. We need more journalists who respect the audience and the value of accuracy and truth. I believe Mrs. Waldsmith had taught me very well in this subject of writing.
ReplyDeleteThe article itself was very informative. My favorite quote states, "Even though about half the audience may now be accessing papers online, the newspaper industry took in $22.8 billion last year in print ad revenue but only $3 billion in Web-based revenue." It goes to show us that newspapers aren't really dying. A very heartening piece of information for sure.
The video was incredible. I have come to truly love Jon Stewart and his portrayals of media. When he said "Where have I seen that footage before?" and showed the same scene from 2 months previous, I totally flipped out! To think that every single type of news media can fake their way through a program or edition or print and practically brainwash their audience into thinking their information is true is unbelievable. Of course they got caught in the end, but what about those viewers who didn't see this video and witnessed the lying game that FOX was airing? Not only is it wrong to show this, but it is wrong to allow false information to be presented as true. I believe ethics are a lot more important than what the law states.
Everything that this last blog post describes--I think--summarizes the whole semester class. I have learned many wonderful things throughout the beginning of the school year, but the most important has to be decisiveness. Learning how to get my point across and do it in a timely matter is key. The beginning of the semester—when we were writing hard news stories and leads—was the hardest part for me. I am a more creative (and definitely lengthier) writer. Although I struggled, I have come to learn that being to-the-point is a great quality. I will miss this class a great deal and everything that comes with it: new friends, more confidence, and great ethical values.
I really enjoyed the article "Five Myths About Journalism" because it showed me that although people are starting to get their news online, jobs aren't decreasing. It is nice to know that if I decide to go into Journalism there will be a place for me where I will be needed. And although there is less advertising in the paper it just means there is more online, affirming that there is a steady income for news papers.
ReplyDeleteI though the video clip was absolutely hilarious. Jon Stewart did a very nice job with how he approached the topic. He wasn't condemning Hannity at all. Instead he brought the topic about in a more humorous way. This was a very good idea because it insured that he would not be able to be sued for libel in any way.
Journalism was most definitely my favorite class I took this semester. It taught me how to channel my more creative style of writing into hard news stories, which I thought was impossible. It showed me that with all of the fact finding and checking, lead writing and source gathering, how hard it is to write a factually sound news paper article. This class has taught me how to stay focused and how to push myself to be the best writer I can be, even if the story seems like an insurmountable feat. Thank you Ms. Waldsmuth for showing me that with hard work, drive, and determination anything is possible.
The "Five Myths About Journalism" article was very interesting, it proved things that many people took to be fact wrong. I enjoyed reading it because it set the record straight and inspired a little hope.
ReplyDeleteI found the video clip hilarious, I can't believe anyone would be so brave as to do that with the video clips and pretend that nobody would notice. I can't imagine that anyone would have the nerve.
The most important thing I learned from journalism was how to write many different styled articles. I learned so many different ways to present information and the different types articles. I also learned that putting a lot of hard work into one finished product can be very rewarding. Journalism was my favorite class of the semester for those reasons.
I actually enjoyed the article a great deal because it presented a point of view that is not often seen. We hear so much about how newspapers are doomed or they will never survive the internet. It was nice to see a more positive outlook on the future of journalism, because the world may be changing, but there are still many ways for the news industry to adapt.
ReplyDeleteI, of course, loved the Jon Stewart video seeing as he is one of my favorite comedians. What I like the most about him, as seen in this clip, is that he is extremely funny, but at the same time, most of the points he makes are very important. At the same time, though, it worries me a little bit that if he had not brought this up, people may never even have noticed the fake footage.
Finally, I have to say that Journalism was one of most interesting (and difficult) classes this year and I think the most important thing I learned from this class is to ask the question "so what?". It has definitely helped my writing, because I am much more likely to think about why I am adding something in or make sure that I am explaining a point in more detail. It reinforced to me that people cannot read my mind or may not have the same amount of information that I do, so I have to always be sure to explain. I'm definitely going to miss this class, but I am very grateful for the skills that I've learned and the challenges of the class.
I really enjoyed the "Five Myths About Journalism" article because it really gave a fresh perspective to the journalism industry. Many think the art of journalism is dying, which is not at all true. With internet access available at almost any household, it's not a surprise that many are turning to the internet for their news. And usually, they are turning to the major companies' websites such as the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal. So this does not mean journalism is dying, it just means it is being shifted from paper to the internet. It is a problem, though, that the online advertising of these newspapers brings in such little revenue. This leaves many companies resorting to online paywalls, which, in my opinion, is not a good choice. Although this will provide much more profit to these companies, I think we should always have a right to free news on the internet.
ReplyDeleteI thought the video was hilarious. It leaves me wondering, though, if Hannity faced any repercussions. It is very hard to believe this was a mistake; it would require a large amount of ignorance.
I can say that I have never learned more in a class than I have in journalism. I can in to the class knowing little to nothing about journalism, and am now leaving feeling like an expert on anything and everything about journalism. When I talk to my friends from public school who took journalism, they said it was basically a blow-off and they didn't learn anything. This is not the case for us, Mercy has an excellent journalism program, and I learned all about the journalism industry, which was all very interesting to me. Most importantly, I learned how to control my use of words. I have always had a problem with wordiness, and this class really taught me how to be to-the-point and use words that fit the exact context of what I'm trying to say. I have really benefited from this class and I am glad I took it.
I liked the article "Five Myths About the Future of Journalism". I think with all of the negativity towards printed newspapers it was refreshing to read an article that didn't black list the newspaper as doomed. The most important thing I have learned from Journalism is the power of the written word and how to translate world happenings into pieces of writing.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading about "The Five Myths About the Future of Journalism". Many people are under the impression that because of the expanding use of the Internet, traditional journalism is dying out. Fortunately, this isn't the case. The fourth myth listed made me think. As we know and have seen, local newspapers in our area have been forced to make serious cutbacks. However, it was encouraging to hear the newspapers are on the rise around the world.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of Journalism class. I struggled in a few spots, but it was a really enjoyable class.I learned so much about working as a journalist, and I will definitely remember the skills I learned in this class as I continue through school.