In class this week we had another great guest speaker come and talk to us about a new wave of online news that has come onto the scene. Our speaker, Barry Parr, came and spoke with us about hyper-local news sites and introduced to the site he created called Coastsider. He created this site because he realized there was a lack of news coverage in his town and he felt that he could do something about it by writing his own stories and creating his own online news site for the community of Half Moon Bay, California.
In addition to informing us about all the interesting aspects of hyper-local news, Parr talked about news blogs in general. Like myself, Parr discussed how blogs are becoming more and more of a news source for people around the country. While this may seem relatively harmless, bloggers are not always forced to stand up to scrutiny like their fellow journalists are. They do not face the repercussions of reporting misinformation like true journalists do because there jobs do not necessarily depend on reporting accurate, fair, and balanced news. With that being said, Parr explained how as a blogger its important to take the job seriously and ALWAYS disclose a conflict of interest. By doing so, you are showing the readers that not only are you a fair reporter but you are showing them what possible biases you may have regading the subject so that they can make a judgement call themselves.
Monday, 9 March 2009
Thursday, 5 March 2009
News: To Trust or Not to Tust?
Today, we had a guest speaker in class named Kaizar Campwala who is the current associate editor at Newstrust. Not only was his presentation interesting and insightful, it was also very encouraging. Essentially, Newstrust is a non-profit social news network that screens and checks up on articles and seeks to promote quality journalism. While as you would imagine this site offers its viewers quality news, however, it also includes information credibility filters, news literacy tools, as well as a whole civic engagement network.
In his presentation, Campwala discussed all the different cause-effect and problem-solution issues with today's media and news coverage. It was interesting to see how he laid out each major issue and how you can solve each one. For someone like me, who is weary not only of the legitimacy of news blogs but also mainstream news coverage like that of Fox, CNN, MSNBC, etc. it's really comforting to me to know that there are people out there who still hold the core values of journalism to the highest of standards. It's about time news became rated based on quality and not popularity.
According to Campwala, there are 22 editors on Newstrust. Some of these are regular citizens while other range from doctors, bankers, librarians, or just people passionate about effective and accurate journalism. Its nice to see that there are only 3 practicing journalists who are editors for the site. Its a breath of fresh air knowing that other people can also identify what is good and bad news. With sites like this, there is no reason why people cannot be fully knowledgable about what is REALLY going on in the world. I think now what we need be concerned about is those who are too stuck in their opinions and ways of thinking that they ignore the facts put in front of them and refuse to accept that some of their "trusted news sources" actually give them poor information. With newstrust on the prowl, ridding the proverbial internet "streets" of malinformation, I think our next issue to tackle is a much more complex beast: Ignorance.
In his presentation, Campwala discussed all the different cause-effect and problem-solution issues with today's media and news coverage. It was interesting to see how he laid out each major issue and how you can solve each one. For someone like me, who is weary not only of the legitimacy of news blogs but also mainstream news coverage like that of Fox, CNN, MSNBC, etc. it's really comforting to me to know that there are people out there who still hold the core values of journalism to the highest of standards. It's about time news became rated based on quality and not popularity.
According to Campwala, there are 22 editors on Newstrust. Some of these are regular citizens while other range from doctors, bankers, librarians, or just people passionate about effective and accurate journalism. Its nice to see that there are only 3 practicing journalists who are editors for the site. Its a breath of fresh air knowing that other people can also identify what is good and bad news. With sites like this, there is no reason why people cannot be fully knowledgable about what is REALLY going on in the world. I think now what we need be concerned about is those who are too stuck in their opinions and ways of thinking that they ignore the facts put in front of them and refuse to accept that some of their "trusted news sources" actually give them poor information. With newstrust on the prowl, ridding the proverbial internet "streets" of malinformation, I think our next issue to tackle is a much more complex beast: Ignorance.
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
The Root: Blog or Online News?
For our digital journalism class we have been asked to follow different news and blog sites and analyze their content throughout the quarter. While my list of sites contain both news blogs such as Crooks and Liars, Jack & Jill Politics, and Pajamas Media and news sites including MSNBC and Fox News, one site seems to need a category of its own: The Root.
Originally, I had anticipated reading through a news blog, but when I first encountered the front page of The Root, I began to wonder otherwise. The front page is organized like any other news site or blog with the categories on the top of the screen including: Home, Views, Buzz, Multimedia, etc. The one category I was not expecting to find was one titles "Blogs." I thought to myself, "Wait. Isn't this whole site a blog?"
Because of this confusion, I did a little research and found that The Root is, in fact, considered to be an online news magazine and NOT a news blog. Although it does have blog postings and links to other blogs that will appeal to the African American culture like Jack & Jill Politics and Black and Married With Kids, it nevertheless is a legitimate online magazine launched only a year ago on January 28th and owned by the Washington Post Company's subsidiary, Washington Post-Newsweek interactive. For this reason, it includes articles written by well known and respected journalism such as David Plotz and Lenny McAllister.
While perhaps I am biased, I could not help but give The Root more credit than that of other blogs because of its Washington post affiliation. I understand how blogs and bloggers may be just as or even more accurate than online news sites like MSNBC or Fox News; however, for me, to be able to call yourself a true news site gives you more credibility, thus making me more likely to visit the site.
Originally, I had anticipated reading through a news blog, but when I first encountered the front page of The Root, I began to wonder otherwise. The front page is organized like any other news site or blog with the categories on the top of the screen including: Home, Views, Buzz, Multimedia, etc. The one category I was not expecting to find was one titles "Blogs." I thought to myself, "Wait. Isn't this whole site a blog?"
Because of this confusion, I did a little research and found that The Root is, in fact, considered to be an online news magazine and NOT a news blog. Although it does have blog postings and links to other blogs that will appeal to the African American culture like Jack & Jill Politics and Black and Married With Kids, it nevertheless is a legitimate online magazine launched only a year ago on January 28th and owned by the Washington Post Company's subsidiary, Washington Post-Newsweek interactive. For this reason, it includes articles written by well known and respected journalism such as David Plotz and Lenny McAllister.
While perhaps I am biased, I could not help but give The Root more credit than that of other blogs because of its Washington post affiliation. I understand how blogs and bloggers may be just as or even more accurate than online news sites like MSNBC or Fox News; however, for me, to be able to call yourself a true news site gives you more credibility, thus making me more likely to visit the site.
Monday, 2 March 2009
Beat Blogging
Although I was unable to attend the Katherine Fong lecture on beat blogging, I was able to learn more about it here. From this site I learned how beat journalists use blogs, more specifically community-based blogs, to gather information for their stories. Through a community based forum, journalism are better able to gauge how a community feels about certain issue pertaining to his/her beat. In other words man on the street interviews are essentially derived directly from the "comments" section on a blog.
According to Kent Fischer of the Dallas Morning news, approximately 80% of journalists' time is spent searching for good quotes. With beat blogging, however, not only are the quotes easier to retrieve, but they also are less "contrived" because the people are expressing them by their own free will as opposed to being approached and asked questions. People know very well how to express their own opinions and when journalists have a beat blog, it is easy to attract good sources because not only are they interested but ther are willing to share information and opinion.
Beat blogging, like that of Kent Fischer, is an easy and productive way to not only get people involved in your stories and the news, but it also self-generates your target audience. It is also a good way to keep the public's eye on the news. When there are more opportunities to become involved with news and share opinion, people will be more likely to engage and keep up-to date with whats going on in their community, country, or world.
According to Kent Fischer of the Dallas Morning news, approximately 80% of journalists' time is spent searching for good quotes. With beat blogging, however, not only are the quotes easier to retrieve, but they also are less "contrived" because the people are expressing them by their own free will as opposed to being approached and asked questions. People know very well how to express their own opinions and when journalists have a beat blog, it is easy to attract good sources because not only are they interested but ther are willing to share information and opinion.
Beat blogging, like that of Kent Fischer, is an easy and productive way to not only get people involved in your stories and the news, but it also self-generates your target audience. It is also a good way to keep the public's eye on the news. When there are more opportunities to become involved with news and share opinion, people will be more likely to engage and keep up-to date with whats going on in their community, country, or world.
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Online Coverage of Obama Inauguration--Friend or Foe?
Today in class we discussed the inauguration of President Obama. While I did not watch it on the television, I have watched other Presidential inaugurations and am quite sure I would have seen more of the same. I am more interested; however, on how different news sites are covering the huge story. In class we looked at different sites and rated them on a criteria of 5 things.
These included:
-Readability
-Easy to Navigate?
-Completeness
-Informative
-Interactivity
The three primary sites that I looked at were MSNBC, NY Times, and CNN. While all of them had their individual pros and cons, I personally enjoyed MSNBC's coverage of the inauguration. I found their multimedia slideshow particularily engaging and enjoyable. A picture truly is worth a thousand words and I loved how they integrated photos of people of other nations watching while Barrack Obama was sworn into office. The pictures were moving, while the articles were informative, straightforward, and well-written.
Additionally yet unrelated, MSNBC's website is one of the most well-organized news sites I have seen. The side bar on the left of the main page organizes the stories into categories that you can quickly scan simply by rolling your mouse over the text. It also has a great search engine to look at previous news stories, videos, pictures, etc. Here, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27721638/, you can look at all the videos from in the inauguration from Obama's speech to Aretha Franklin. Enjoy!
These included:
-Readability
-Easy to Navigate?
-Completeness
-Informative
-Interactivity
The three primary sites that I looked at were MSNBC, NY Times, and CNN. While all of them had their individual pros and cons, I personally enjoyed MSNBC's coverage of the inauguration. I found their multimedia slideshow particularily engaging and enjoyable. A picture truly is worth a thousand words and I loved how they integrated photos of people of other nations watching while Barrack Obama was sworn into office. The pictures were moving, while the articles were informative, straightforward, and well-written.
Additionally yet unrelated, MSNBC's website is one of the most well-organized news sites I have seen. The side bar on the left of the main page organizes the stories into categories that you can quickly scan simply by rolling your mouse over the text. It also has a great search engine to look at previous news stories, videos, pictures, etc. Here, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27721638/, you can look at all the videos from in the inauguration from Obama's speech to Aretha Franklin. Enjoy!
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
Ethics, Accuracy and Truth
In class today, we discussed issues pertaining to both mainstream news as well as news blogs. We discussed the ethics surrounding both of these news sources and whether or not there are or should be differences between the two. I personally feel that while news blogs are definitely informative, they can be unreliable. I think this because who is going to hold them responsible? For poor information, lack of research, or just plain lies?
When I think of the responsibilities of online news I can think of a rather long-winded list. Online news should be:
1.) Objective, fair, well-researched, and accurate.
2.) Must include different view points.
3.) Focus on a wide-range of topics.
4.) Use good, reliable and unbiased sources.
5.) Use numbers, statistics, hard facts and evidence.
6.) Fast and updated often
7.) Overview before specifics.
While I feel that not all news blogs operate with these ideals in mind, I feel that if I were to head a news blog I would undoubtedly feel the need to incorporate these. I also think that news blogs have separate ideals that one should follow including:
1.) Stay on what you know
2.) Do your research- ask questions!
3.) Don't be long winded
4.) Provide links to other pages with more information.
In other words, news blogs should act as mini news reports. While I do not entirely agree with people who get their news from blogs, it nevertheless happens and happens often. Because of this, new bloggers need to be aware of the responsibilities they have hanging over their head and use their best judgment in reporting fair and balanced news.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
When I think of the responsibilities of online news I can think of a rather long-winded list. Online news should be:
1.) Objective, fair, well-researched, and accurate.
2.) Must include different view points.
3.) Focus on a wide-range of topics.
4.) Use good, reliable and unbiased sources.
5.) Use numbers, statistics, hard facts and evidence.
6.) Fast and updated often
7.) Overview before specifics.
While I feel that not all news blogs operate with these ideals in mind, I feel that if I were to head a news blog I would undoubtedly feel the need to incorporate these. I also think that news blogs have separate ideals that one should follow including:
1.) Stay on what you know
2.) Do your research- ask questions!
3.) Don't be long winded
4.) Provide links to other pages with more information.
In other words, news blogs should act as mini news reports. While I do not entirely agree with people who get their news from blogs, it nevertheless happens and happens often. Because of this, new bloggers need to be aware of the responsibilities they have hanging over their head and use their best judgment in reporting fair and balanced news.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
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