Two of the most prominent ways we get our news today is through written publications and broadcast news. The two are similar in that they report a lot of the same information; the most important information is being presented first and a story is being told.
From there, though, things begin to look much different. Print news is written in a more formal tone, there is a bit of eloquence in the writing and a conversational tone is discouraged. In Broadcast news, the writing actually relies some on being conversational and informal. When you rely on sound and visuals in you news presentation, a quicker, informal tone is needed to connect with your audience and keep their interest.
Broadcast news is a bit of a novelty still since what we know as television news has only been around for 60 years or so. Print news, on the other hand, holds with it a bit of nostalgia and tradition. One could get up early in the morning, fix a cup of coffee, sit in a quiet nook and read current events in a favorite publication at one's own leisure. One of the reasons, among other things, newspapers still have a chance in America's fast paced, internet driven society is this connection with nostalgia.
Print is also seen as being more credible. Whether this statement is based in fact or fiction, the printed word does seem to carry with it a heavier weight of responsibility in presenting accurate information. It is straight forward and does not rely on intro music, good graphics, a soothing announcer's voice, or good looking anchors to be presentable.
As you can probably see, I prefer print news. I love the tangibleness of print media as well as the detail you get from a print news story. It's unfortunate to see the downturn Newspapers face today. I guess it's time to start showing my love by subscribing to my favorite publications, because at this point, I'm sure every penny counts.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Currently Eventing: Black Friday Madness.
The New York Times calls it a "carnival of capitalism." It's Black Friday, and the day nearly stands as it's own national holiday. Traditionally occurring the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday brings retailers monetarily "into the black" by luring customers into their store to buy offering merchandise at a great markdown. This "holiday" often brings with it connotations of punch throwing, clawing, elbowing and general greedy violence over mere products.
This has never been my experience. Working in retail, Black Friday, for the most part, has been a positive experience, aside from the long work hours (this year I worked 9pm-8am), eager groups of people come out to try and get the best deal for their holiday shopping needs. People this year were no different, turning out in droves to buy for kids and loved ones, and in an down-turned economy, it was good to have them out.
Of course, this begs the question, does Black Friday really help the economy? The New York Times seems to think so, stating that "billions of dollars, which would otherwise never be spent, make their way into circulation." Some estimate $59 Billion this year, nearly 13% jump from last year. But others believe big business shopping days led by big businesses like Wal-Mart, Target, Macy's and Kohl's only lead to inflation and mis-read numbers, temporarily pumping up the economy only to drop it later in the season. And this is a problem.
One solution to said problem may be the growing interest in buying local. Many local clothing stores, electronics retailers and record shops opened earlier this year to partake in the Black Friday festivities. Local stores may not be able to offer the deep discounts that national chains do, but by supporting local businesses you are more likely to support the local economy. Small business re-invest in the local economy and are largely responsible for new job creation, so purchasing Holiday gifts from local merchants could also mean investing in local necessities like new jobs, schools and infrastructure.
Black Friday will not be going away any time soon. We can either complain about it's negative impact on the economy as well as our nation's moral character, or we could make the most of it. Shopping local is one way to make the most of it, and hopefully next year I'll be able to stand in line at my local retailers instead of working all night. Until then, I hope to enjoy what the rest of the holiday shopping season has to offer, hopefully at 40% off or more.
This has never been my experience. Working in retail, Black Friday, for the most part, has been a positive experience, aside from the long work hours (this year I worked 9pm-8am), eager groups of people come out to try and get the best deal for their holiday shopping needs. People this year were no different, turning out in droves to buy for kids and loved ones, and in an down-turned economy, it was good to have them out.
Of course, this begs the question, does Black Friday really help the economy? The New York Times seems to think so, stating that "billions of dollars, which would otherwise never be spent, make their way into circulation." Some estimate $59 Billion this year, nearly 13% jump from last year. But others believe big business shopping days led by big businesses like Wal-Mart, Target, Macy's and Kohl's only lead to inflation and mis-read numbers, temporarily pumping up the economy only to drop it later in the season. And this is a problem.
One solution to said problem may be the growing interest in buying local. Many local clothing stores, electronics retailers and record shops opened earlier this year to partake in the Black Friday festivities. Local stores may not be able to offer the deep discounts that national chains do, but by supporting local businesses you are more likely to support the local economy. Small business re-invest in the local economy and are largely responsible for new job creation, so purchasing Holiday gifts from local merchants could also mean investing in local necessities like new jobs, schools and infrastructure.
Black Friday will not be going away any time soon. We can either complain about it's negative impact on the economy as well as our nation's moral character, or we could make the most of it. Shopping local is one way to make the most of it, and hopefully next year I'll be able to stand in line at my local retailers instead of working all night. Until then, I hope to enjoy what the rest of the holiday shopping season has to offer, hopefully at 40% off or more.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Challenges: Communicating Clearly in the Communication Age.
Texting has to be one of the greater inventions of the twenty first century. Like a two way radio, texting sends your message directly to the intended receiver instantly, and often a response is received in matched haste. But what if the sender doesn't receive a reply right away? Did the receiver just miss the message? Are they busy and intend to get back to you later, or do they just hate you? With the influx of instant communication, we must learn a new way of communicating altogether or we will be left with wrong interpretations.
The communication era was brought about by the desire for information. Different forms of communication have existed over the centuries, but only in the past two hundred years or so has it become faster and more accessible. News can be found on television channels devoted solely to the medium at any time of day. News reporters are updating blogs, pages and twitter accounts with up to the second information, and with social media sites like Facebook, personal information can also be up to the second.
All these new avenues of information are supposed to make life easier, but do they? With news at every second of every day, important news can be drowned out in all the filler information designed to maintain viewership and subscribers. Reading up on your friends lives on Facebook means sifting through 10 meaningless posts about food choices and gym accomplishments before anything with substance is found. In todays fast paced information age, content is sacrificed for access, real relationships are sacrificed for 140 character updates. And with things like texting, getting a message immediately to a person can create the need for an immediate response. The ease of information is riddled with more problems and communication in todays age has with it it's own set of new problems.
Today we must be communication and media literate, we must know how to properly interpret the jumbled stream of constant communication or we may become overwhelmed and misinformed. More importantly, though, we need to learn to slow down. The need for constant interaction is a thirst which is too easily touched, but never quenched. It may soon be necessary to take a step back from information sources and concern ourselves again with the important things happening in our real lives.
The communication era was brought about by the desire for information. Different forms of communication have existed over the centuries, but only in the past two hundred years or so has it become faster and more accessible. News can be found on television channels devoted solely to the medium at any time of day. News reporters are updating blogs, pages and twitter accounts with up to the second information, and with social media sites like Facebook, personal information can also be up to the second.
All these new avenues of information are supposed to make life easier, but do they? With news at every second of every day, important news can be drowned out in all the filler information designed to maintain viewership and subscribers. Reading up on your friends lives on Facebook means sifting through 10 meaningless posts about food choices and gym accomplishments before anything with substance is found. In todays fast paced information age, content is sacrificed for access, real relationships are sacrificed for 140 character updates. And with things like texting, getting a message immediately to a person can create the need for an immediate response. The ease of information is riddled with more problems and communication in todays age has with it it's own set of new problems.
Today we must be communication and media literate, we must know how to properly interpret the jumbled stream of constant communication or we may become overwhelmed and misinformed. More importantly, though, we need to learn to slow down. The need for constant interaction is a thirst which is too easily touched, but never quenched. It may soon be necessary to take a step back from information sources and concern ourselves again with the important things happening in our real lives.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Opinion: Criticism of News Today.
Don Hewitt, creator of the TV program "60 Minutes," said, "There is a fine line between show biz and news biz. The trick is to walk up to that line and touch it with your toe but don't cross it."
Here Hewitt describes the challenge of creating something people will want to consume all while maintaining the truth. In today's ever changing 24-hour news cycle, that mandate seems harder than ever to uphold.
One example comes during the Presidential election last Tuesday. Different TV news sources could be seen competing for viewership through the use of up-to-date graphics and game show style story telling. News stations such as CNN went to great lengths to create a great event.
Two competitors raced for first place, their progress tracked by red and blue lights creeping up the top of the Empire State Building.
State-by-state progress was meticulously scrutinized and people came out in droves to various "viewing stations" being held in different parts of the nation.
One particular viewing station was in New York City right outside CNN's headquarters and was complete with a larger-than-life TV screen that would provide rally-goers with minute-by-minute information. At one point during the rally, camera crews scanned the crowds of people eagerly anticipating the latest results. As the camera grazed the attendants, the crowd cheered and jumped around with excitement.
One reporter on the scene commented on the celebrants. She stated to the news room and the viewing audience that, those these people were showing great displays of excitement, they were probably just excited to see themselves on the jumbo-tron much like at a sporting event.
So were is the real news here? Is this group of people really excited about the election as if it were second only to New Years Eve, or do they just enjoy seeing themselves on TV? Is this news station reporting news, or creating it?
Don't get me wrong, the election is an important event that deserves some level of excitement. But this was simply over the top.
Incidents like these may not have a profound effect on the election and it may not cause immediate injury to the general public, but it does create a sense of how we as Americans live our lives and what we really care about. Creating a sense of excitement and then reporting on it in order to increase viewership skirts the line of morality in reporting.
Viewership may be an important part of being a broadcast journalist, but it is still important to retain the line of fact vs. fiction, even if to the smallest degree.
As Don Hewitt said, "There has to be a line because the line is the truth. And the difference between what we do (and what others in entertainment do) is we tell true stories."
Here Hewitt describes the challenge of creating something people will want to consume all while maintaining the truth. In today's ever changing 24-hour news cycle, that mandate seems harder than ever to uphold.
One example comes during the Presidential election last Tuesday. Different TV news sources could be seen competing for viewership through the use of up-to-date graphics and game show style story telling. News stations such as CNN went to great lengths to create a great event.
Two competitors raced for first place, their progress tracked by red and blue lights creeping up the top of the Empire State Building.
State-by-state progress was meticulously scrutinized and people came out in droves to various "viewing stations" being held in different parts of the nation.
One particular viewing station was in New York City right outside CNN's headquarters and was complete with a larger-than-life TV screen that would provide rally-goers with minute-by-minute information. At one point during the rally, camera crews scanned the crowds of people eagerly anticipating the latest results. As the camera grazed the attendants, the crowd cheered and jumped around with excitement.
One reporter on the scene commented on the celebrants. She stated to the news room and the viewing audience that, those these people were showing great displays of excitement, they were probably just excited to see themselves on the jumbo-tron much like at a sporting event.
So were is the real news here? Is this group of people really excited about the election as if it were second only to New Years Eve, or do they just enjoy seeing themselves on TV? Is this news station reporting news, or creating it?
Don't get me wrong, the election is an important event that deserves some level of excitement. But this was simply over the top.
Incidents like these may not have a profound effect on the election and it may not cause immediate injury to the general public, but it does create a sense of how we as Americans live our lives and what we really care about. Creating a sense of excitement and then reporting on it in order to increase viewership skirts the line of morality in reporting.
Viewership may be an important part of being a broadcast journalist, but it is still important to retain the line of fact vs. fiction, even if to the smallest degree.
As Don Hewitt said, "There has to be a line because the line is the truth. And the difference between what we do (and what others in entertainment do) is we tell true stories."
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Currently Eventing: When Hurricane Sandy Came For Dinner.
I love New York City. The lights, streets, and parks are all so wonderfully enchanting. But the thing I love most about New York is the people. It's a huge community up there, and everyone from that City is proud to be a New Yorker.
So, this week when Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast, it was no surprise to me to see so many New Yorkers band together to help one another out. Each person has shown concerned for others in the city simply because they hail from the same place. The NYPD, NYFD and other first responders have also stood up again to heroically bring aid to a city in need, and this is a great thing.
One other place, though, where I see a lot of pride and support is from the various entertainers such as late night host Jimmy Kimmel and the comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live.
This week on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the Avett Brothers paid a special tribute to Brooklyn by playing an especially moving rendition of their song "I and Love and You" with the Brooklyn Philharmonic. The chorus of "Brooklyn, Brooklyn, take me home" was met with cheers and applause from the audience. The event was tasteful and beautiful and was a great way to show pride for the city.
Saturday Night Live has also long been known for paying respect to the city in times of crisis. In 2011, SNL tastefully came back on the air shortly after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center believing their job of making people laugh again was important and necessary. This week's SNL host, Louis C.K., who grew up on the east coast, wrote a heartfelt letter to his fans before the show aired regarding the hurricane and the night's episode. It was thoughtful and ingenious that a host would reach out to his fans in troubled times.
It's thoughtful ideas like these that help make disastrous times easier to bear, and it is entertainers like this who, by doing what they are good at, help bring the community back together, if just for an hour, to laugh and enjoy life again.
So, this week when Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast, it was no surprise to me to see so many New Yorkers band together to help one another out. Each person has shown concerned for others in the city simply because they hail from the same place. The NYPD, NYFD and other first responders have also stood up again to heroically bring aid to a city in need, and this is a great thing.
One other place, though, where I see a lot of pride and support is from the various entertainers such as late night host Jimmy Kimmel and the comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live.
This week on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the Avett Brothers paid a special tribute to Brooklyn by playing an especially moving rendition of their song "I and Love and You" with the Brooklyn Philharmonic. The chorus of "Brooklyn, Brooklyn, take me home" was met with cheers and applause from the audience. The event was tasteful and beautiful and was a great way to show pride for the city.
Saturday Night Live has also long been known for paying respect to the city in times of crisis. In 2011, SNL tastefully came back on the air shortly after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center believing their job of making people laugh again was important and necessary. This week's SNL host, Louis C.K., who grew up on the east coast, wrote a heartfelt letter to his fans before the show aired regarding the hurricane and the night's episode. It was thoughtful and ingenious that a host would reach out to his fans in troubled times.
It's thoughtful ideas like these that help make disastrous times easier to bear, and it is entertainers like this who, by doing what they are good at, help bring the community back together, if just for an hour, to laugh and enjoy life again.
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