Dear Media, Please Step Up to the Plate. Thanks.

How much influence does the media hold over the general population’s opinion?
Should we allow the media to dictate our lives? Uh, no.

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I think it is an interesting idea that the media dictate the publics’ life. Sadly, I believe it is true. A few people, neither elected nor necessarily liked, tell us what to wear, how to look and how to act. Most importantly, they tell us how to think. These people judge others on high standards that they are not forced to live up to. They tell only half truths as it suits them. They dictate what we do in everyday life. They turn pop stars into brands. They take religious actions and make them out to be overbearing and uncalled for. They make jokes out people’s loses. They degrade the death of a living being. How can the public allow this to go on?

I look at the media as a powerful unstoppable force. And, although unstoppable, I believe the media can change. I desperately wish that the media’s standards were raised. I wish the reported facts! News! Journalism! Why does everything always come across biased? Why are we being told what to think?

I have never taken a journalism class. I don’t know if there is a right or wrong answer to this. I would just like to see change. I would like to see new reported as news. I would like to see entertainment represented as entertainment. I would not like the two to be tangled together.

Folly Lethal Injection? For All?

How much influence does the media hold over the general population’s opinion? In this case, should the media be airing the collapsing and ultimate death of a folly?

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After tragic accident on Saturday at the Kentucky Derby, people are questioning whether or not filly owner Rick Porter should have entered his horse in the race. Eight Belles, the horse, raced a hard day and came in second. Only a quarter of a mile after passing the finish line, however, the filly collapsed with two broken ankles. She was immediately put to sleep by lethal injection.

Since the story broke, clips of the poor horse collapsing have been airing all over ESPN and major news networks. Is this fair to the horse, although dead, and its owner? Should the owner be held responsible?

NY Times

Stepping out of the Office

How much influence does the media hold over the general population’s opinion? In this case, how televisions appearances affect the public’s view of political candidates?

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This week, the leader of the largest free country in the world will be appearing on the game show Deal or No Deal. Seriously. President George W. Bush will be appearing on Monday’s episode of the show. In a similar fashion, many of the current candidates and their family members will be appearing on popular shows.

All three candidates for the presidential election are currently slated to appear on American Idol – one of the most watched shows in the nation. Equally as embarrassing, the three politicians have been pushed back for what are considered to be larger stars. Both Miley Cyrus and Reese Witherspoon have been a part of the pushing back of the candidates

Barbara Bush is currently booked to be the co-host of the Today show on Monday, while John McCain’s wife will step into The View on Monday. These moves are clearly moves to create buzz around the candidates. Hopefully the issues will be forefront in these headlining examples.

Photo Credit:

New York Times

Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?

How much influence does the media hold over the general population’s opinion? In this case, how does the public view a documentary maker find a way to find Bin Laden?

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From the man who brought you Super Size Me, the new movie Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? is sure to cause stir among audiences. Claiming to make this movie in order to rid the world of bad guys for his unborn child, Morgan Spurlock made the journey across the world in order to find the secret to where one of the most hated men in the world lives.

Can a single man actually find Osama Bid Laden? It is an interesting story that many people will most likely witness. Super Size Me is one of the most well known documentaries of the time, and this one is most likely to follow in its footsteps. Although the two movies are the the only two written and directed by Spurlock, he is a very popular documentary producing with films including What Would Jesus Buy, Class Act, and Know Your Enemy: Al Qaeda’s Third Wave.

IMDB

Fandango

Apple
/Film

Dancing Into Hearts (Without Sound)

How much influence does the media hold over the general population’s opinion? In this case, how does the public feel about a deaf woman dancing her way into their hearts?

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At age 21, Marlee Matlin was the youngest female ever to receive the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1986. She won the award for Children of a Lesser God. Marlee became deaf as an infant – but she has never allowed that to hold her back. She is active actress today with a role on The L Word.

During the next few months she will be appearing on the hit TV show Dancing With The Stars. Marlee will be dancing, even though she is unable to hear the music. Her partner is Fabian Sanchez – a newcomer to the show. Fabian is the only newcomer, so one can imagine that the task of joining ws daunting; however, having a deaf partner must be extremely challenging. This is a groundbreaking story because a woman who can not hear music is now about to learn and express herself in difficult ball room dance.

Additional ARTicles:
Marlee's IMDB Page

Hey St. Patrick! Get Out of the Day!

How much influence does the media hold over the general population’s opinion? In this case, did the media or the Bishops influence the removing of a certain holiday?

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What do the years 1940, 2008 and 2160 have in common? These are all years when Catholic Bishops have been forced to move St. Patrick's Day festivites from March 17th to a different date.

In the case of 2008, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations have been officially moved from March 17th to March 15th, according to the Catholic News Agency.

Why is the holiday being moved? This is because it falls during Holy Week (the week prior to Good Friday and Easter).

Although the Catholic Church is in agreement with moving the celebration, some organizations are not. According to CNN.com, The Shamrock Club in Columbus has every intention for going forward with this parade plans – even though it will most likely draw protesters. In both New York and Boston, where the Irish Catholic communities are substantially sized, the bishops plan to approach the issue with a hands-off approach.

Most that are protesting the people who refuse to move the day argue that if not for religion and tradition, we would not celebrate such a green day.

Additional ARTicles:
History.com

Smiley Miley has Nearly a Billion Reasons to Smile

How much influence does the media hold over the general population’s opinion? In this case, how is the media assisting 15 year old Miley Cyrus into becoming a multi-billionaire?

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Miley Cyrus and Hannah Montana are pratically synonymous with one another these days.

Miss Cyrus is the daughter of popular country singer, Billy Ray Cyrus. She is quickly becoming one of the riches teens ever.

Let’s talk numbers: (from portfolios.com):

• 7 songs from Miley’s first album, Hannah Montana made the Billboard 100 Chart


• 5.1 Million viewers tuned into to Hannah Montana’s debut in March 2006


• $31.1 Million Dollars the 3D movie Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour grossed during opening weekend


• $36 Million Dollars worth of revenue in 2007 for the Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour

This girl is clearly a mega star. She manages to hit the preteen and teen market with a punch.

Her movie beat out long time preformers’ U2’s similar project but nearly $30 Million. According to Portfolios.com, both movies were 3D. U2’s movie cost 10 Million to make, while Miley’s movie only took 7.

According to AOL’s Predictions, Miley Cyrus is well on her way to being worth more than the Olsen twins (combined!)

What's on Your Face?

How much influence does the media hold over the general population’s opinion? In this case, how has 23-year-old Mark Zuckerberg emerged as one of the most influential minds of this generation?

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Why are people so impressed with Facebook?

• Nearly 150,000 new users daily
• Referred to as a “social utility” as opposed to a “social network”
• More than half the users use the site everyday
• Nearly 30 Million active users
• 40 Billion page views every month
• Yahoo thinks it is worth more than a Billion Bucks!!!

As one of the most influential quarterlifers, Mark Zuckerberg has got quite a lot going for him. He is the creator of the mega popular Facebook.

In September 2007, Yahoo offered to by Facebook for ONE BILLION DOLLARS. Zuckerberg rejected their offer, as he had done in the past when Viacom offered $750 Million. His plan for the utility is that it remains independent – he wants Facebook to “make it really efficient for people to communicate, get information and share information.”

What draws viewers in? Some people think it is the applications. Applications on Facebook are made by users themselves, not Facebook employees. This allows users to feel as though they are a part of the Facebook team.

Facebook started on Harvard’s’ campus, then moved to other colleges campuses, then to high schools and businesses; now it is international. By only allowing certain groups to join at certain times, Facebook has managed to control its growth – and therefore, continue it.

Some say Mark Zuckerberg is the next Bill Gates, but it is Steve Jobs whom he looks up to. Both Zuckerberg and Jobs see eye to eye on one thing, however:

"In order to be doing something like this, you have to really, really like what you're doing, because otherwise it just doesn't make sense."

ARTicles: TIME
Picture Credit:
TIME

The Pencils Reach Peace

How much influence does the media hold over the general population’s opinion? In this case, did internet rumors help the Writers’ Guild reach a deal with Hollywood producers?

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As of Saturday February 9th, a tentative deal has been made between Hollywood Producers and members of the Writers Guild. According to the New York Times, the writers will be returning to work on Wednesday the 13th.

Reports of the strike being over have been floating around the internet for the past week. On Thursday February 7th, Just Jared claimed that Walt Disney chief executive Michael Eisner announced a deal between the Guild and major media companies. Whether or not this was fact at the time is currently unknown – but speculated false. Perez Hilton, a fellow blogger, also latched on to the story claiming that the Writers’ Strike was 99% over at the time.

On Wednesday February 6th, the New York Times announced that Vanity Fair canceled its Oscar Party. With the strike being over, perhaps it’s back on. This event costs a lot of money and adds much to the economy -

Although in the spotlight for the last three months, it appeared that strikers were suddenly trendy again. The Oscars were coming up, and after the economy already lost $20 billion dollars, it was clear that action needed to be taken. Bloggers and commenters were pleading with themselves, really, for a resolution to be made.

Did all this sudden speculation help negotiators with their task? Did pleading fans influence the need for a solution? Well, one way or another, the strike being over can only be a good thing for writers, fans, and economists.

Additional ARTicals:
United Hollywood
TV Guide’s Strike Watch
Photo Credit:
Scrubs writers and cast members
United Hollywood

Edited to add: According to United Hollywood, the Union vote as to end the strike will take place on Tuesday.

Cassie Edwards: Writer? Researcher? Thief?

How much influence does the media hold over the general population’s opinion? In this case, did a pair of bloggers ruin a person’s long lasting career?

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Some people just do not understand the realities of plagiarism. If a writer is not required to cite where she did her research – is it plagiarism? Recently, Cassie Edwards has been accused of this act.

Cassie Edwards is a well known historical romance author whose career spans more than 25 years; she currently writes for Signet, a branch of Penguin Group. One of her novels was passed to an academic who noticed something odd while reading. Many of Edwards’ sentences appeared familiar to her, and ill-fitting with the rest of the novel. The academic began to google the sentences and came up with startling evidence. It appeared that Edwards had taken from Paul Tolme’s article "Toughing It Out in the Badlands," almost word for word.

Originally Signet stood behind Edwards 100%, but the support quickly dwindled. These accusations rooted from the blog known as "Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Books," but the Associated Press latched on to the story, even making the New York Times. When questioned, Edwards’ admitted to sometimes taking her information from references books – but she remained firm in her belief that what she was doing was not plagiarism.

By January 21st, 2008 – 13 days after the story first broke - the bloggers from “Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Books” had assembled an 87 page document showing Edwards’ words versus articles they found when typing phrases into google. The proof is extreme, as it is clear that Edwards copied information.

Since novelists are not required to provide a bibliography or works cited, at what point should plagiarism be punishable? And what should the punishment be? Plagiarism is a form of theft. What will be taken from her in return? Clearly, in this case, the bloggers have already demolished Edwards’ credibility and career.

Additional ARTicles:
Publishers Weekly

Picture Credit:

New York Times