Research Exercise

1.) In 2006 there were 4 sexual oriented hate crimes in Pullman. In 2007 and 2008 the Uniform Crime Report did not show comparable tables though. This is unfortunate because it makes it extremely difficult for people to deciver and compare statistics. Also, if there is a common crime that keeps happen repeatedly each year it would be hard to find by looking over these tables.
A website such as this should make it a goal to have comparable and identical tables each year.

2.) In 2010 the assembly/house candadite Terry Nealy received the most monetary contributions. Nealy's two main contributers were Wal-Mart and Avista. The forestry contribution gave the most money to the republican party. ($212,252) The next largest contribution that they gave was to the democratic party. ($149,368) The lobbyists contributed almost twice as much to the democratic party as they did the republican party. A difference of
$22,828,626 to the democrats and $13,063,471 to the republicans.

3.) "virtual reality" http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=y6ofAAAAEBAJ&dq=%22virtual+reality%22
"portable personal computer" http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=nC0oAAAAEBAJ&dq=%22portable+personal+computer%22
"automobile" http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=E9lrAAAAEBAJ&dq=%22automobile%22
"cordless telephone handset" http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=UNMoAAAAEBAJ&dq=%22cordless+telephone+handset%22

Frontline

Frontline was fascinating to watch because it made me think more closely on where I choose to learn my news and information from. More people are going to blogging websites or other internet sources because it has the ability to portray a more trustworthy and realistic environment. Most people know who the main news stations are and what their main political views are. 

People also are aware of the fact that news stations are mostly driven by the desire to make high revenue and entertain. With both these goals in mind it can allow people to only hear about certain news stories, or wrong facts all in general. It is too easy in our society for people to trick, so to speak, one another. Technology has really grown, which has brought speed and character to our daily news. New technology has also made it easy to mix facts with own opinions, and more importantly post these view points almost anywhere you feel necessary.

I do believe that people have the right to give opinion and the chance to share news that other large news stations may be depriving us of. As a society though, we do need to be careful on how great of an impact this type of 'blogging news' has and that we are critical thinkers when determining its credibility. 

Profile Article

Pullman may be known for its reputation as a boisterous college town, but is also the home to many individuals who seek a slow-paced lifestyle and closely-knit community.

Meghan Wiley, a Washington State University professor and general manager of the Pullman Holiday Inn Express, has lived in Pullman for her entire adult life.

Wiley graduated from WSU in 1992 with a degree in Hotel Restaurant Administration. Wiley immediately entered a Holiday Inn management-training program following her graduation and has been in the hospitality field ever since.

“My training recruiter joked about placing me with a job back in Pullman,” Wiley said.

Coincidently, Wiley did end up back in Pullman less than two years after graduating from WSU. The Holiday Inn Express offered Wiley a management position that she has held ever since the hotel’s grand opening.

Wiley loved her college experience at WSU and was able to move back to Pullman while many of her friends were still living on the campus.

“It was perfect timing and a great opportunity,” Wiley said.

The close community and ability to always bump into a familiar face are the reasons Wiley continues to work in Pullman today. Wiley did not originally plan to become a part-time teacher as well but has enjoyed re-familiarizing herself with the campus.

“Teaching has reminded me how hard it is for students to both work a job and attend school,” Wiley said. “I have become a lot more understanding.”

Wiley considers herself to be quite the workaholic sometimes and her newly recent teaching position has allowed her to step out of the office more. Working on campus has also allowed Wiley to find many perspective employees for the Holiday Inn Express.

“I loved how professor Wiley was able to use real-life experiences from the Holiday Inn Express during class lectures,” Alissa Beason, a student in professor Wiley’s class, said.

Although Wiley has been enjoying teaching and remaining active on the WSU campus, she simply appreciates Pullman for its beauty and serenity.

“I love winter and summer breaks in Pullman when it is a little more quiet,” Wiley said.

Pullman has not only provided Wiley with two careers she loves but has also given her an environment to relax, explore and form close friendships.

"Media Hype" video questions

1.) I think that it is ethical to alter a photo or video when it could unnecessarily harm a person's reputation. For example, if a particular photo was risqué without the person's intention to act this way, I believe that a news source should have the decency to crop or blur this portion of the image. It would be unethical to frame a story about someone by catching them doing something accidental or unintentional. Any person would want a video or photo of themselves altered if their intentions and actions were pure. Although it may be hard to judge the situation or a persons motives, it is still the medias responsibility to take this into consideration and not harm a person's image carelessly.

2.) I believe that the news should make it their priority to inform rather than entertain, so to speak. Too many news stations have gotten in the habit of stretching facts or stories simply to gain peoples attention. I think that each news station should work more closely at the stories they are relaying and double-check for their accuracy. Although viewers may tune-in to a 'entertaining' news station more frequently at first, I do believe that truth does have a way of proving itself overtime. The longer that a news station does its best to remain credible and truthful, more people will begin to catch on to this.

3.) I think that this limits the ability for a journalists point of view or the truth of a story to be expressed. It is a tricky situation for journalists because it puts them in two difficult situations. Firstly, a journalist must now choose who he/she wants to side with and what incentives each party can bring to the table. This automatically leads the chance for wrong motives. Secondly, the journalist may risk upsetting a PR firm or lobbyist for the chance at writing a story he/she desires. 

4.) I think that so many news stations fall for fake stories because they simply want to believe in them, regardless of if they have an instinct that the story is far from accurate. News stations feel the constant obligation to always have some new and interesting fact to report. Since reporting to the public is their primary job, many news stations will purposely choose to look past the obvious in order to have a new breaking story. I think that news sources on the internet are less likely to fall under this pressure because they do not appeal to the entertainment portion of media. Television has a way of applying pressure to entertain, whereas the internet does not. This simple difference is exactly why I cannot see the internet to be likely to cover fake stories.

Article #3 Idea- President Floyd

I want to do my profile on President Floyd of WSU. I would like to focus my piece of what parts of the college campus he enjoys most and relate it to the things he once enjoyed during his college years. I would also like to find out what he does for fun or relaxation when the Pullman craziness gets to be a little much. 

I would like to find out what his family thinks about living on campus and how it affects/dictates their everyday lives. Also I will discuss why WSU was the campus for him and what about it makes it a desirable place to be.

I will also interview Floyd about his hopes and goals for the future of WSU and allow him to tell me what he thinks will help to better our university. 

Article #2

Summertime is known to be the most desirable yet expensive months to get married, but during this economic recession brides may be able to score quite the deal as wedding venues scrape for business.

            “During this economic recession people have been tightening up their purse strings,” Elizabeth Averill, catering sales manager at the Davenport Hotel, said. Although weddings are still being booked, many wedding venues and catering businesses have needed to change their rates and offer incentives.

            The Davenport Hotel, located in Spokane, Wash., has booked nearly the same amount of weddings during the economic recession as it has in past years, Averill said. Reservations have remained steady due to accommodating, cheaper fares though.

            The going rate for the Davenport Hotel ballroom is $4,500, but a large number such as this began to scare off customers as the economy worsened, Averill said. In order to attract more business, the Davenport Hotel has changed their starting set-up fee to $1,500 and the choice of food and beverage costs to be determined independently.

Even if money-related issues do not personally pertain to a bride and her family, people in general have been feeling more guilty and reluctant to spend a large figure, Averill said. Along with reduced fares the Davenport Hotel has also added incentives such as a free hotel room for one night, a bottle of champagne, and free parking for the new bride and groom.

Special advertising techniques have also been highly important during the recession, Averill said. The Davenport Hotel is known for luxury but has the ability to seem overly expensive to certain customers with financial struggles.

“We are trying to take the expensive stigma out of the public eye while remaining a luxury hotel,” Averill said.

Price cuts are affecting wedding venues statewide. The Lake Union Crew, a Seattle wedding venue, has also been impacted by the poor economy. Summertime weddings are the most popular and desirable, yet the Lake Union Crew summer fares are now the same price as any other season, Laina Sobczak, Lake Union Crew employee, said.

The Lake Union Crew has needed to lower their rates in order for reservations to remain steady, Sobczak said. Almost every summer weekend has been reserved for weddings, but presumably because of new reasonable rates.

“Finding a way to do things yourself is key right now,” Brittany Miller, a local Washington bride, said. Brittany Miller and her fiancé are getting married at the Leifer Manor in Marysville, Wash. The tables and chair coverings for the reception were both free as an incentive to book with this venue, Miller said.

Many venues and bridal stores are also offering coupons with excellent savings in hopes to attract more business, Miller said. It is a good time to find a great deal.

Story #2 Ideas

Idea #1

Is the economy impacting people's plans to get married? The recession has had a large impact on peoples ability to spend money and I want to research whether this problem has gone as far as postponing a wedding. I would interview different catering businesses and see if popular wedding destinations have had to reduce their prices. Possibly see if the combination of rising divorce rates and a bad economy are stopping people from wanting to spend thousands of dollars on a wedding.

Idea#2

What impact does summertime have on weight loss subscriptions? Do more people subscribe for dieting plans during the summer and how much does this increase? I would interview representatives from weight loss organizations such as Weight Watchers and Jenng Craig. I would also research if people drop weight quicker during the summer on weight loss programs than they do during the other months. I would also possibly touch on the issue of eating disorders and the anxiety summertime can bring to certain girls. I might also include healthy ways to diet and easy ways to figure out a steady weight loss plan depending on your body type.

Special Leads

1.) The Seattle Times- contrast lead

Studies have shown yoga has many health benefits, including increased flexibility and strength and reduced stress. But starting a program can be intimidating.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2011942091_yoga24.html

I think that contrast leads can have great potential to illustrate a point you want to make in an article. I think that this is an awful contrast lead though. It does not encourage me to want to read on.

2.) The Seattle Times- question lead

Melting pot or racial divide? The growth of interracial marriages is slowing among U.S.-born Hispanics and Asians. Still, blacks are substantially more likely than before to marry whites.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2011953807_apusinterracialmarriage.html

I like how this is a question lead but also goes on to gain the reader's attention by giving some details. This not only poses a question but encourgaes me to read on.

Second-day lead

In recent news, a 4-year-old girl is discovered missing from her crib when parents return home from a movie. No new leads have been made in the investigation but police have knocked on every door within a six-block area and found no traces of the young girl. 

News article #1

With summer off to a start, a new pattern of crime begins to emerge in Pullman. Three quarters of assaults stop during the summertime in Pullman but the potential for burglaries is at an all-time high.

            “Pullman is a destination town, for one reason or another, Chris Tennant, a commander at the Pullman Police Department said. “Some people come to party and others come to commit crimes.”

            According to the Pullman Police Department Activity Statistics, on average, almost 13 reported assaults take place in Pullman each month during the fall and winter semesters at Washington State University. Reported assaults drop to a low average of only three assaults each month once WSU students leave for the summer.

            Alcohol-related crimes, such as assault, fluctuate depending the amount of campus activity. There is less crime during the summer than other parts of the year, Tennant said. The decrease in crime is related to the decrease of students on the WSU campus.

            Rachel Tapert, a WSU student and member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, tells about a fellow sorority sister being sexually assaulted in their chapter house a few years back. “The man who broke into our home was highly intoxicated and assaulted one of our sisters while she was sleeping in her room,” Tapert said.

            Risk of assault heightens during the school year just as burglary tends to increase during the summer. According to a Pullman Crime Report, property crimes are twice as likely as violent crimes when compared to a national average. Criminals are aware that a majority of WSU students head for home during the summertime and this leads to many potential break-ins.

When the population on the WSU campus drops, so do assaults. Unfortunately alcohol is to blame and this is not simply coincidental. Ten to 15 years ago there was a giant dip in crime-related phone calls received by the Pullman Police Department during the summertime, Tennant said. More students have begun to stay for summer classes in the recent years though and the crime-related phone calls have not been dropping as dramatically, Tennant said.

            As students clear out for vacation breaks or the summertime, burglars become attracted to Pullman, Tennant said.  In recent news, a burglary took place this past January on the WSU campus while students were home for the holidays. There were reportedly more than 20 victims and 10,000 dollars worth of goods stolen.

            Break-ins are a common crime when burglars know houses are vacant and witnesses are limited. The campus activity at WSU directly affects the types of crime that will or will not take place within the Pullman community.

International News Assignment

1.) I think that the internet would be highly effective for Al Jazeera. The internet allows me and other viewers to hear about international news in an easy-to-access manner. The only problem with this website is its lack of advertisement. I have never heard of these type of sites before, let alone Al Jazeera. I think that other U.S. citizens would also like to know about sites like these because they are a great way to learn new or further details about current controversies. 

2.) I do not think that Al Jazeera English should be allowed to broadcast in the U.S. Although I do believe that people should be allotted the right to speak freely of their opinions, I also think that our country needs to have boundaries. America has had much controversy in the Middle East in recent years and I feel that we need to be careful on what doors we allow to open, so to speak. It is important to learn and hear about different debates and opinions, but for now I do not feel that the positives would outweigh the negatives for this particular situation.

3.) I feel that U.S. news is often censored, in a sense. Although we learn a good deal of important information through the news, certain topics and stories get more attention and focus than others. Al Jazeera seemed to focus on an array of different global issues though. I felt that Al Jazeera informs not only a greater amount of information, but also a greater amount of controversies and opinions within that information. 

4.) I think that rule #5 under the code of ethics is the only one that partially stands out to me as an issue. Rule #5 talks about the importance of information remaining non-bias. Although I feel that Al Jazeera touches on many different controversies, I still believe that all news sites are biased in one way or another. The news has the power to impact so many people's decisions and I feel that all reporters want their ideas to be both heard and respected. I did not see any extremely bias opinions on the Al Jazeera website, but I did observe a particular lens that they wanted me to view the information through. 

A good example of a summary lead

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/19/sports/19galea.html?ref=sports 

The lead:

A Toronto doctor provided unapproved drugs to professional football players, according to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday in federal court in Buffalo.

From the article titled: 

Doctor Charged in N.F.L. Doping Case

This article is a great length and includes all the necessary details in order for a reader to understand the five W's properly.

News article ideas

Idea #1
I would like to talk about the main 'hot spots' in Pullman during the summer time. Two popular spots to hang out at are the Dunes and the Cliffs. I have never stayed in Pullman during the summer, but I have heard about accidents taking place either at these places or commuting to them. I want to finds facts and inform ways for students and other young adults to remain safe.
I think that past accidents will allow me to teach readers on what to look out for and be aware of.

Idea #2
I would like to interview peoples reactions and personal stories about the impact that increased tuition rates would play on their education. I want to know if this summer session has less enrolled students than in years past. I feel that summer enrollment may have dropped in order for people to adequetly save for future semesters. I also want to discuss certain expenses that could be cut out of WSU's budget.

Idea #3
I would like to research safety ideas for students staying during the summer time. Is there more burglary during the summer due to the lack of people in town? I would discuss ways to be extra careful and how to protect yourself when less people are around to both protect you or witness a crime. I would also talk to the Pullman police and see if types of crime change during the summer vs. fall and winter semesters.

The Drudge Report vs. The Huffington Post

Both of these news sites have similar layouts along with relative main stories. The difference lies in how these topics are discussed and the views that they hold. The Drudge Report tells a story about President Obama, yet frames him in a way  that could be seen as him incompetent of his presidential roles. The headline for the story is "Russia Lectures Obama on Iran 'Sanctions'."  The word 'lectures' in this title makes Obama seem incapable or unaware of the particular affairs taking place. After making this conclusion, I would assume that The Drudge Report is a conservative paper who does not agree with nor respect Obama. The Huffington Post has a bold headline that states the amount America has spent on the Afghan war. To me, The Huffington Post seems to be blaming our country's monetary issues on previous republican president, George Bush. This paper gives a liberal viewpoint on the war and seems to blame many current issues on the past presidency. 

The criteria for choosing news stories seems to be relevant with current issues, but the leading stories are still what journalists know will sell the most copies. Although many leading stories do discuss topics of importance, I truly believe that money is the number one driving force behind decision-making. Stories regarding the war or presidential elections have been dominating the news attention for some time now. Newspapers know this topic arises much confrontation and curiosity, both characteristics which will sell papers. I do not doubt most newspapers desire to inform, but I do doubt their priorities at times. Although popular news stories are often times informative, it does not mean that they are what should be deemed as most 'important.'

Both The Huffington Post and The Drudge Report have fairly bold headlines. Although the stories do relate with the headlines, I feel that both newspapers allowed their headings to be much stronger than they were able to support. A strong headline should lead into a strong news piece, which in hand means that hard facts need to be present. I understand that a headline is what captures a reader, but I do not find it credible nor fair for a newspaper to abuse this privilege. 

I do believe that both these sites have the power to influence the public because they are not afraid to pick one side of an issue. The less neutral that a newspaper remains, the more influential I believe it to be. Although I may not necessarily agree with a newspaper's point of view, it still has the power to make me think in a different light than I may on my own. Neutral newspapers do not hold this same power because they are unable to require their readers to remain objective and critical. A piece which simply informs does not allow much emotion to spark in its reader. 

Money Causes Confrontation

It is unfortunate the impact money can make. Money, or business success, often drives people to act and respond in particular ways. The oil case between Chevron and the Ecuadorean people may be related to the environment, but more importantly these two groups are arguing over who will pay for the clean-up of the rain forest. The spokeswoman who represented Chevron in both films was portrayed in two different lights. This example demonstrates the power that framing can have in media news. The questions and statements that are mentioned during an interview greatly impact how the audience will interpret and judge an issue. It was insightful for me to have seen more than one side on this issue or else I do believe that the media and/or Chevron would have had the ability to shape my thoughts. My personal advice to people who watch and learn from the media is to be careful and remain critical. 

Another example of media framing and shaping is displayed in a story about the war on Iraq in 2004. 

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/16526/media_framing_of_war_in_the_2004_presidential.html?cat=37