News Post #12: Final Summary

This past week has definitely been the most newsworthy week of 2011. It is also very possible that is the biggest week in news our country's had in years. From the deadliest tornadoes in our nation's history right here in Alabama to the death of Osama bin Laden, "chaos" is quite an understatement in describing this week's news.

Not only has the past week been chaotic, it has also been emotionally draining. Last night when I learned about the death of bin Laden, I honestly did not know how to react. After dealing with all the tornado damage back home and with all my friends in Tuscaloosa, I seriously did not think anything else could come from this week. But it did. And it was the most epic news our country has heard in ten years--since the 9/11 attacks. 

Over the past week, I have felt and actually seen a sense of patriotism like never before. With the April 27th tornadoes being titled as a "federal state of emergency,"I have seen not only our state, but our country come together and unite in the mist of hard times. Our country prides itself on patriotism, but to see that patriotism and unity right here in my own backyard is really incredible. 

Saturday I was fortunate enough to serve as a photographer for the Christian Service Mission. I was sent out into North Birmingham to capture the destruction and work going on in the area. Seeing power trucks from Michigan, Illinois, and North Carolina warmed my heart. To see people from thousands of miles away here in my home state helping out made me so grateful and appreciative. I also had the chance to go home to Walker County to document. Seeing everyone come together to serve put things in a whole new perspective. I can honestly say I have never been more proud of my state and fellow Alabamians. With all the constant battles over football and politics, it was so nice to see us all working together and sacrificing our time and possessions for our neighbors. This week was a perfect depiction on "Sweet Home Alabama."

And last night, I was able to go see my favorite band play at Workplay. Right in the middle of the performance, it was announced that Osama bin Laden was killed. An overwhelming feeling of patriotism swooped through the venue. Immediately afterwards, the sound guy turned Obama's speech on for all to hear. We all ran to the sound booth and crowded around the small television screen. Even the band rushed over, and I got chills as I witnessed a group of Americans crowding around a 12-inch TV screen watching the biggest news in ten years. It was definitely an unforgettable moment. Just like September 11th, 2001, where I found myself watching the news in my 5th grade classroom, complete naive to what was going on. And there I was, ten years later, experiencing the most powerful sense of patriotism after an exhausting and emotional week with my fellow Alabamians. 

While none of that had anything to do with critiquing a newscast or reporter, I will say that if it was not for NBC and all the other news stations, our country would have experienced even more disaster. All of the news teams have kept us up-to-date constantly through the tornado damage via television, internet, and social media. I am so grateful for the the people who dedicate their lives to keeping people informed. 

Throughout this entire semester, especially over the past week, I have attained a new sense of pride and appreciation for my field of studies. I am so happy to say that I will be one of the people actively involved in communicating vital information to my fellow citizens. Contrary to the popular phrase, "Love makes the word go 'round," I honestly believe journalism and mass communication is what REALLY makes it go around. Without the communication, we would all be left uninformed, uneducated, and unheard. Therefore, I am even more thankful for the right to free speech. 

This semester of following NBC13 has not only been interesting but also a learning experience. I have never paid so much attention to the details. But after touring the station, meeting the staff, and following their newscasts, I have seen all the hard work that goes into it. Watching the continuous updates of the tornado damage on NBC13 this week has only made me appreciate them more. I am very glad I chose to  follow a local news station. I will never lose sight of my new sense of gratitude and appreciation for their hard work.

News Post #11

A few days ago, I watched a newscast that really intrigued me. Like the rest of the state, I was happy to hear that the Birmingham Airport is going to be remodeled and improved for travelers.

Being an international airport, our airport has been some what sub par compared to other states'. While there are other smaller airports scattered amongst Alabama, the Birmingham International Airport is the most used and convenient for connecting flights. Countless times I have heard people complaining about the airport's quality. Not only is it outdated, but it does not offer common amenities for the travelers like every other airport.

According to Chris Pollone, Terminal A is being demolished in order to create a new Concourse A. Concourse B and C will also be renovated to make the airport more "modern and passenger friendly."
I was frustrated that the woman interviewed at the airport was not introduced or given a title. While she gave very informative statements regarding the airport, I had no idea who she was or how she was affiliated with the company.

She explained that customers usually have to stop in Dallas or Atlanta to clear customs to fly oversees, but with the expansion of the airport, travelers will be able to clear customs right out of Birmingham. I was very pleased with this fact, because I have traveled to Mexico and Europe quite a few times, and it is very frustrating to go through customs at the larger airports that are also completely off course of my destination.

"We want the entire passenger experience to be a pleasant one. From the parking deck to checking-in to the check point and onto the aircraft," said the mysterious interviewee. Regardless of who she was, I was very pleased with this announcement, and I am very glad that our state is about to reap some great traveling benefits.

News Post #10

This morning, a story about downtown Birmingham caught my attention. Just having recently visited the new Railroad Park, I was excited to hear the news regarding possible renovations being done in the area.

I actually had the opportunity to practice my photography on my sister and one of my best friends in the area just a week before. While the park itself is surprisingly nice and gives Birmingham almost a "Central Park" kind of feel, the area around it is deteriorating and resembles some what of a ghost town.

City leaders are now planning to renovate the old Nabisco building, which is located directly across from the park. The project will cost the Shannon Developing Company $3.8 million, and it will convert two buildings into retail, office, and loft space. Hillary Golston reported the story.

"Some people say that the park is creating a bridge between different groups of people, " she stated. And I can't help but to agree with this statement.  From first hand experience, I have seen many different people groups gathered at the park, which I find fascinating considering Alabama's history of racial discrimination.

Goldston explained that the project will consist of two phases. Phase one will be to move the developer's office to the bottom of the building. Phase two will be building rooms for the retail and office spaces. 

Goldston also interviewed a UAB student, who is studying downtown redevelopment. Danielle Rand stated, "Maybe if we had a more vibrant downtown, even people who didn't live downtown could be drawn towards it and support it. That could just be kind of a gateway into a better Birmingham."

I agree that the city has the potential to be a "better Birmingham." Birmingham already has so much to offer, but this addition will really be a step in the right direction. I am also glad to know that the city is so supportive of this endeavor and is loaning Shannon $1 million to cover expenses.

News Post #9

Recently, the city officials of Pelham have considered replacing one of the infamous skating rinks at the civic complex with a fire fighter museum. These plans have been debated due to the $2 million that has been lost over the past two years. Chris Pollone reported the story.

Pelham's mayor Don Murphy has been flooded with letters and emails petitioning to keep the rink, which is  why he is fighting to save it. Tracey Kerbler, a local hockey coach, was interviewed to express some of the community's emotion on the matter. She explained that losing the rink would also result in a loss of income for the city. Kerbler added that the ice skating sports, such as hockey, provide opportunities to bring in revenue for the city through tournaments and other gatherings.

In the footage, Mayor Don Murphy stated, "I will work with you. I want to work with you. Everything is on the table. I will sit down and listen. . .and do what we need to do as a community." The whole story really illustrated a sense of "community." I was really impressed with the mayor and how he handled this tough situation. He is willing to keep both parties happy by fighting to keep the skating rinks but also trying to find an alternate location for the museum. Murphy seemed to be very diplomatic.

NBC13 did a great job showing images of strikes, interviewing citizens, and attaining footage of the mayor, but I wish they had gone the extra mile of finding one of the city officials to interview. The story would have been less biased by showing representatives of both sides. Other than that, I found this story very interesting, and I definitely plan to follow up on the plans for civic center.

Digital Media Analysis

One of the first sentences of Chapter 9 effectively summarizes today's digital media: "Within the last 30 years, the emergence of the Internet as a media delivery system has transformed the structure and the economics of the media business in the United States and throughout the world." That statement has proven to be completely true as digital media has completely transformed and improved the world's way of communication.

The invention of the Internet forever changed the media business. The Internet connected all the outlets of media and created new media products, as well as, competition. It was created by scientists with the simple motive of sharing more information. The Internet has "evolved in way no one planned or expected," says Roger Fidler. I do not think Fidler could be any more accurate. This idea is true for now and for the future. There is no way to tell what innovations will take place through digital media next.

I found it very interesting to learn how the Internet actually started. Tim Berners-Lee, an Oxford graduate, was the person most responsible for its invention. He created the HTML programming language, which led   to the sharing of information through "links." Berners-Lee is quoted saying, "The original goal was working together with others. The Web was supposed to be a creative tool, an expressive tool." He also created the first browser, which allows people to share documents. Berners-Lee's innovations led others to create search engines, domains, and home pages.

Although the Internet has brought a lot of positive change to communication, it still faces four major challenges: free access, storage capacity, compatible delivery, and consumer privacy. Free access at first sounds like more of a positive than a negative; however, it causes unnecessary spam and viruses to be sent out. It also allows for bad, or wrong, information to be posted on the web. Digital delivery also requires a lot of electronic storage space, which creates problem since there is so much floating around on servers now. However, researchers are working to fix this by developing a process of date compression. The issue of compatible delivery is occurring because of the fast pace of digital media. New ideas and products are created almost every day; therefore, there is no way for the world's population to stay up-to-date with technology due to finances and resources. Lastly, probably the biggest issue digital media users seem to face today is the lack of privacy. Today, there are so many ways to connect and contact each other, which leads to invasion of privacy. Even if one attempts to block off unwanted invaders, there are still people who have learned how to pirate the technology in order to get what they want.

In conclusion, digital media has completely and forever changed the world's way of communication. There are countless ideas being brought to life through new technology, which enables the entire world to connect and communicate more efficiently. However, the broadening of this communication also effects what we think is "private." With the rate things have changed over the past 30 years, it is exciting and almost scary to imagine what will come out next.

Print Response

On Monday, the print group discussed the history, technicality, and future of print journalism. To be quite honest, I have always been turned off by the idea of print journalism, but the presentation pleasantly surprised me. 


One topic I found particularly interesting was the "newsworthy" concept of stories. The group illustrated each component for the class: impact, timeliness, prominence, proximity, conflict, bizarre, and currency. While some aspects, such as, conflict, are quite obvious, I found myself thinking back to recent articles I have read and how they fit into these categories. These ideas made print journalism to be more strategic than I had originally thought.


I also found the discussion of demographics to be very interesting and informative. Once again, the points made by the group proved that print journalism is very strategic. I recently wrote a paper for JMC200, where I had to describe the average reader of a very specific audience-geared magazine. Being the girl that I am, I chose to read Seventeen. I completely dissected the magazine and questioned every motive of the creators. I actually went through the trouble of counting the advertisements and categorized them by product. Out of the forty-seven ads, over twenty were strictly promoting face washes for acne. While I found this amusing, I also realized that it made perfect sense. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the group's analysis of demographics and advertisements. I also think that their points and examples brought about ideas that some of the class had never thought about. 


While the group did present a lot of valid information, I wish they had done more research on the future of print.  I enjoyed the Katie Couric video, which I found to be very interesting and noteworthy; however, I feel like the subject was some what overlooked. The decline of print journalism is all we really hear as journalism students in today's economy. I just wish more information was presented on exactly why the industry is dying and how journalists are trying to compensate. I also would of liked to of seen more optimistic opinions with reasons explaining their stance. This topic is very trivial in today's culture, so I think it would have been appropriate to spend more time on it, along with some class discussion to help the audience form their own opinions. 


However, I am glad the group emphasized the importance of being well-rounded in order to succeed in this field. Numerous times throughout this semester I have been told that to make in today's media-related careers, you have to know "stuff," and being a good writer is a necessity. The group also highlighted the fact that in order to do so, you must be tech-savvy. I appreciated hearing the truth instead of brushing the negativity under the rug. 

News Post #8

Over the past week, one story flooded all of the local news stations. On Sunday, March 20th, a playground in Jasper, AL was set fire around three in the morning.

This story grabbed my attention, because Jasper is my hometown. I also spent two of my summers working at the city pool, where the APEX playground is located. APEX was built in 2007 in hopes of providing a fun, safe environment for disabled children. With its modern design and rubber flooring, this playground has been cherished by our town for the past four years. I also do a lot of volunteer work with the children this playground was created for, so this news really broke my heart.

NBC13's report of the story aired the following morning. I dreaded what I knew was about to appear on my screen. Of course, I was upset about the arson crime, but I was more upset that, yet again, Jasper was portrayed as another "hick" Alabama town. Although there is a large quantity of rednecks, there is an abundance of educated citizens as well. I felt like the reporters intentionally picked out a person off the street wearing a wife-beater and do-rag to, more or less, "dumb" the story down. While vandalism to a playground is not exactly hard hitting news, the story did have value, and interviewing people, who obviously lack an education, does not help the matter.

On the other hand, interviewing someone of a higher social status and intelligence did not necessarily help the story either. Mayor Sonny Posey was interviewed, and although I did not support his candidacy, I think NBC could have done better editing of his footage. I was in complete and utter shock as the fourth word that left his mouth was "bastardly."  Yes, he could have chosen a better choice of words. But as one of the top broadcasting stations in the area, NBC should have used to discretion for the audience. The fact that that term was used in a story regarding a playground makes no sense to me.

If more focus had been placed on interviewing citizens the crime directly effected instead of finding idiotic comments to air, this could have been a better report.

PR Analysis

Chapter Eleven begins with a very brief but good definition of Public Relations: "...people today work to create favorable images-- for corporations, public officials, products, schools, hospitals, and associates."It also says that there are three ways to "encourage people to do what you want them to do." The first is power, which simply means ruling by peer pressure. The second is patronage, also known as bribery. And the third is persuasion, the act of using argument or reasoning to make someone do something. Persuasion is the basic art of public relations.

The most well-know early PR practitioner was Ivy Lee, who opened an office in New York with George F. Parker. Lee and Parker represented George Baer, a coal magnate, when coal workers went on strike. Lee prepared a "Declaration of Principles" that was published in city newspapers. Consequently, the declaration shaped the framework of public relations companies for the future.

In 1923, Edward L. Bernays began to further impact the field of public relations. He wrote the first book on public relations Crystallizing Public Opinion. He also instructed the first course on the subject. Later in his career, he defined PR as "giving a client ethical advice, based on research of the public, that will win the social goals upon which the client depends for his livelihood." Obviously, the field and art of public relations had changed drastically just over his lifetime.

The book then explains the different specialities of public relations. Financial PR pertains to the business aspect if the industry. Information is usually relayed from the practitioners to the business reporters. Product PR uses techniques to sell products or services, which works hand-in-hand with advertising. Crisis PR is executed in situations where a company, person, or place is effected by an unexpected emergency.

I found it interesting and very applicable when the book referred to websites as being the "face" for a company. We tend to overlook the power of the internet, as it is available to so many people all over the world. While the internet can help build the reputation of a company or person, it can also easily and quickly damage one. The chapter goes into how outraged consumers can easily go online to rant and tear down the image of a company. So while the internet is great for posting information for publicity purposes, it also requires a ton of up-keep and constant watch to prevent crisis situations.

Lastly, the chapter discusses the different services and responsibilities of a PR practitioner. Because public relations is an important part of government, education, nonprofits, industries, business, athletic teams, entertainment, and other international markets, public relations requires a lot of skills. Important services PR agencies offer are writing, editing, media relations and placement, special events, public speaking, production tasks, research, programming and counseling, training, and management. So obviously, a person interested in public relations, such as myself, should take advantage of opportunities to practice these skills and abilities in order to launch a successful career.

News Post #7

Tonight, on the ten o'clock news cast, Mike Royer reported on the latest Census reports regarding the Birmingham area. Royer starts by stating that Birmingham itself has not changed, but the population definitely has. The city has lost almost thirty thousand inhabitants over the past decade.

The story was reported in a very melodramatic tone. After Royer opens, slow and dramatic music starts playing to set the mood. Images of the busy city during the day are shown until the streets are eventually clear- almost as if it is deserted.

The bulk of the story was an interview with Barry Copeland, a leader in the Birmingham Business Alliance. Royer and Copeland are shown walking down the street conversing, which added to the already set tone. All the different parts of Birmingham are discussed along with their percents of decline, showing that the population has decreased to 212,000.

For a visual example of the decline, Royer shows Ensley High School. The high school is completely vacant with all the windows boarded up and doors welded shut. "People leave, the student numbers go down, and the tax dollars go down as well," says Royer. Dr. Phil Hammond, superintendent, explains what this means for the schools and how it effects the second largest school system in the state.

Copeland further states that there must be an improvement in the school system in order for the city to "grow in a positive way." With all the focus of the story on the schools, I feel like the school system and its leaders are being blamed. I do agree that the quality of school systems is a major deciding factor for families moving in or out of an area, but that cannot be the only reason people leave Birmingham. I recently heard that Birmingham is now the third most violent city in the nation. Statistics such as this were completely overlooked in the story, which could have better explained the recent Census.

In closing of the interview, Copeland shares that the Birmingham Barons baseball team's new facilities, growth of UAB, development of the new Railroad Park, increase of condominiums and lofts, and expansion of the entrepreneurial district have all added to Birmingham's presence. Copeland very optimistically states that we should see a change in five years if the right decisions are made.

Periodical Publications

Because I am interested in pursuing a career in public relations, I chose Public Relations Quarterly and Public Relations Journal for my publications to research. Public Relations Journal is published quarterly by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), while Public Relations Quarterly, which was once published by Howard Penn Hudson Associates Inc., stopped production in 2008.

Because Public Relations Quarterly is no longer in print, there is no direct way of accessing the articles except through periodical libraries, such as Samford’s online database. Also, the ex-publisher Howard Penn Hudson Associates Inc. either no longer or never had a website to access information. All that can be found is that it is or was a publishing company located in New York. But from my own conclusions from reading its articles, it was directed at a younger audience that is actively involved in PR and interested in reading and learning more to enhance their business.

According to the PRSA, Public Relations Journal is an “open-access, peer-reviewed electronic research journal facilitating the transfer of knowledge from the educational community to the professional community.” Dr.  Donald K. Wright Fellow, editor of the journal, quotes on the website:

 Our goals are to support and facilitate an increase in quality public relations research within the academic community, promote research necessary to grow and build public relations as a profession, and earn respect throughout the academic community as a highly thorough juried publication.

Public Relations Journal is an online publication. Therefore, access to the publication is found at http://www.prsa.org/Intelligence/PRJournal/ and is of no cost to the reader. “The site states that the articles are written by “academics or practitioners, who examine public relations in depth and/or create, test or expand public relations theory. “ The journal’s main audience is practitioners, scholars, and students of public relations.

The publication is found on the Public Relations Society of America webpage, so it provides access to lots of information for PR practitioners and students and acts as a gateway into the PR world.

I specifically focused on the periodicals' articles that discussed social media because of the obvious influence social media plays in mass communication today. Public Relations Journal’s “Can you see the writing on my wall: A content analysis of the Fortune 50’s Facebook social networking sites” and Public Relations Quarterly’s “Social media…the hunted can become the hunter” both discuss the topic of social media in regard to public relations and marketing for business. Although both articles argue the importance for Facebook and other social networking sites for public relations, they also vary tremendously in their overall presentation.

The Public Relations Journal comes across as very serious and intellectual literature for PR practitioners.  “Can you see the writing on my wall: A content analysis of the Fortune 50’s Facebook social networking sites” could be seen as more of a thesis than an article. Written by Dr. Tina McCorkindale, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at Appalachian State University, the analysis covers the basics of Facebook. Her work is obviously written for the computer illiterate, because it is explains each aspect of Facebook and how it is used. Because there is so much research and explanation, it seems to be more appropriate for the older generations. It could easily be compared to a “how to” book.

McCorkindale’s research took an in-depth look at some of the Fortune 50 companies’ social media marketing.  She begins with an overview of her work and explains that fifty-five company Facebook pages were used for experimentation; however, she never states the companies that are used for sampling. McCorkindale does include numerous statistics of Facebook analytics to introduce the importance of engaging with customers on their turf in order to gain customer loyalty. She also explains that understanding Facebook is absolutely essential to successful public relations.

On the contrary, Public Relations Quarterly is more of an easy read. Author Andy Marken writes in a very conversational manner, using short sentences and slang in order to engage and intrigue the reader. He even begins with a quote from the Bourne Supremacy: “Nothing in those files makes their sacrifice worthwhile. You have to let go. We’re professionals, when an operation goes bad, we tie it off.” Marken uses more quotes from the movie throughout the article to keep the discussion of Facebook and his theme of “hunting” interesting.

Along with his on-going conversational writing, he also supplies several statistics and bar graphs to explain Facebook and prove his points. Unlike McCorkindale, Marken only goes over the basics of Facebook briefly. Alternatively, he answers more of the why questions for PR practitioners.  Marken makes it very clear to his readers that Facebook is crucial in marketing to customers in this new age of technology. He also gives advice and examples of what really works, such as videos grabbing most of the audience’s attention. Furthermore, Marken makes the point that the integration of “traditional” media and new media is vital and very relevant in today’s business.

Although the periodicals differ quite a bit, both articles assure the reader that Facebook is a must in marketing to customers. Both Marken and McCorkindale discuss the importance of engaging with the customer and how the online interaction will provide much needed feedback.  They also state that continuous and consistent updating is vital in the engaging process. Furthermore, they state that the majority of companies are not using their online resources to their fullest potential.  The articles bring a lot of valid and necessary information to the table for PR practitioners.

Overall, I think Public Relations Quarterly is a much easier and interesting read compared to Public Relations Journal. Although it is hard to find much information on the retired publication, I feel like it was very worthwhile and most likely popular among PR practitioners.

Advertising Response

I've always been interested in advertising, and I'm still considering it as a career path; therefore, Monday's presentation was very intriguing to me.


I found the transitions of different ads over the year very fascinating. The earlier ads tried really hard to promote a product with lots of detail and information, while today's advertisements are all very simplistic. It's funny to me how a very simple, almost elementary graphic can manipulate people into buying something without any words. Obviously, the quality of photographs and computer-generated graphics have improved the world of advertising, but it also reminds me just how competitive the field must be today. Which leads me to wonder how these ideals will change in the coming years.


I also thought it was crazy how much the social media outlets have influenced the industry. Clearly, the majority of the world's population is using some form of social networking sites. But then I think about myself, and how I almost always completely ignore the almost irritating banner ads on Facebook and Twitter. I've actually gotten to use and analyze social media sites for marketing purposes for my internship, and I am responsible for promoting my company's national event all over Facebook and Twitter. However, I will still dumbfounded earlier this morning when I received a weekly marketing newsletter at work. The email informed me that Facebook has now ranked #1 in the most effective advertising mediums. Google and Yahoo followed behind. So apparently the future of advertising DOES lie in the realms of social media.


Lastly, I especially found he Daniel Boorstin quote the group presented to be very thought provoking: 
"We read advertisements... to discover and enlarge our desires. We are always ready - even eager - to discover, from the announcement of a new product, what we have all along wanted without really knowing it."
This quote really sums of the true meaning of advertising. It is insane and almost scary to think how companies subliminally put thoughts, ideas, and desires in our heads. But at the same time, it's intriguing and riveting to me, which is why I might pursue a career in it.

News Post #5

March of Dimes

Film Analysis

Chapter seven opens with a very interesting and surprising fact. Although it characterizes the movie industry as "an industry based on dreams" and assumed to be "one of the biggest media businesses," it actually brings in less revenue each year than the newspaper, television, or book businesses.

After presenting on the television media chapter, I found it interesting that, according to page 137, "movies mirror the society that creates them." You would think television would more so than movies, since movies tend to be somewhat unrealistic. It also states that movies were invented before television, so they used to be the primary source of entertainment for the nation.

The equipment used to create movies came during the Industrial Revolution. First, a machine to capture moving objects was invented, and then a device to project the images. This innovation process took a total of six people. Etienne Jules Mary, a French scientist, and Eadweard Muybridge, a photographer, worked separately to create motion pictures. However, they eventually met and perfected a "photographic gun camera."

Thomas Edison then met with Marey in Europe shortly after Marey had invented a projector. However, the pictures on the film strip tended to jump, so William K. L. Dickson, Edison's assistant, learned to perforate the edges of the film, which led to the invention of the kinetoscope. From there, two French brothers Auguste and Louis Lumiere took the inventions and improved them by developing a way to project the film on large screens.

In 1896, America's first motion picture was shown in New York City. At first, the movies were just a side show and only cost a nickel. But soon after, they became more popular, and by 1900, there were more than 600 nickelodeons in NYC.

By the 1930's, the motion pictures had gained audio and color footage. These developments led to five major transformations in the industry: the move to California, the adoption of block booking, the formation of United Artists, and the efforts at self-regualtion. The move to Hollywood occurred when Harry Chandler, owner of the Los Angeles Times, sold a lot of his own real estate for an inexpensive price and promise of moderate weather and cheap labor.

News Post #4: A Better Perspective

Last Wednesday, I was fortunate enough to view the 5:00 news from a totally new perspective. Our JMC 201 class made a field trip to the NBC13 news building for a private tour. Being able to see all the behind-the-scenes aspects of a news station was both interesting and an adrenaline rush. I've never had a real interest to pursue a career in broadcast, but last week changed that. I loved the energy and high emotion that rushed through every room in the building. Most importantly, I loved the apparent tight-knit relationships among the employees and the fun and assumed to be "laid back" atmosphere.

While standing in the control room, amazed by all the different control boards and TV screens, I watched breaking news from Auburn. AL. My classmates and I watched in complete shock as were informed that someone had poisoned the beloved 130 year old oak tree on Toomer's Corner. Being a life-long Auburn fan, I was especially hurt by this story.

Toomer's Corner is not just a town landmark, it's tradition. It's a legacy. For someone to pull such a cruel prank that affects the entire university and its supporters is absolutely outrageous. While half of the state feels that this act of insincerity is "harmless," I beg to differ. The infamous Alabama-Auburn rivalry has now gone too far.

I've heard and read numerous complaints about the continous coverage of the crime. In my opinion, the media is not reporting the story to its fullest potential. People think this story is pointless, because it's about a tree. But honestly, the media is not depicting the true emotions of the citizens and students of Auburn. That oak tree was much more than just any old tree. It was symbolic of the unity of the Auburn "family."

All that said to say, I don't think NBC13 really did a superb job of showing exactly WHY this crime is so tragic. I believe some heart-felt, one-on-one interviews with the people of Auburn community would give this ongoing story the justice it deserves.

News Post #3: "Freebie"

Last Monday was my "free" blog post due to the stress of my presentation.

February 14, 2011

News Post #2: Hope for America

On Sunday, February 6th, Brian Mooar reported on the unemployment issue. Supposedly, there was a 9% decrease in the job market this path month. He stated that 36,000 jobs  have been lost, and this is "not nearly enough to get the economy moving again." Austun Goolsbee, White House Economic Advisor, said, "It's got to be more, the president is the first to admit, but we're on the right path out." Mooar also discussed the recent bad weather and how it is taking a hit on the job market as well, as it especially hurt the construction industry. Furthermore, Mooar explained that the half million unemployed are just simply giving up since there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel. NBC did feature a couple of hopeful graduating college students, who, despite not landing their "dream job," are looking for any opportunity that is open and available.

Being a college student myself, this story really strikes a cord with me, and this issue is the very thing I fear as I am working my way through a private college that I really cannot afford. I know our country has been hurting for quite some time now, but no one is really giving our nation much hope. This is the main issue I have with this broadcast. I understand that things are not great, but the media is not sharing any kind of economic forecast for our country. Like the well-known phrase "the good, the bad, and the ugly," I feel like all I am seeing is the bad and ugly and absolutely no glimpse of good. I feel like the news outlets are over-dramatizing our current situation, because apparently, it is only worthwhile to show death, hate, and sadness these days.

Mooar did close with saying, "The White House says that it believes that the recent tax cuts passed by Congress will create even more jobs." I just don't feel like this one small statement of hope is giving our country the push and motivation it needs to keep pushing forward into a brighter and more successful tomorrow.

News Post #1

Living in the Birmingham area all of my life, I've grown up watching NBC13 News. For years I have counted on Mike Royer, Wendy Garner, Jerry Tracey, and Stephanie Walker to report the local news and weather to get by day to day. My on-going love and trust for this news station are precisely why I have chosen to blog about them for this semester in JMC201.

Although it's more enjoyable to watch the broadcast on television, I'm having to resort to the online version because of my "bright" idea to not bring a TV to my dorm this year. I had thought leaving it behind would be a great way to stay focused on school work, but who knew I would be needing one FOR class? That being said, I will be discussing the content and structure of the the online news outlet. 

Much like the television broadcast, the website is laid out very efficiently. Everything is in a very orderly structure that corresponds with the broadcasts shown throughout the day. NBC13 reports on local, national, and global news and presents it in an easy-to-find structure by dividing into detailed sub-categories. While the site offers video broadcasts of news, weather, sports, entertainment, and lifestyles, it also provides written articles. Some may find the detailed aspects of the site confusing and time-consuming, but I find them to be very a helpful and direct way of finding information. 

Last night, I watched a newscast that was surprisingly less gruesome in news. Hilary Golston reported the news of January 30th, and I was surprised to learn that Taco Bell, my guilty pleasure, was in trouble for its food. Taco Bell has been accused of serving a meat filling that is less than 35% beef. I found this precent disturbing and immediately began to question what Taco Bell's plan of action was, which is exactly what the story was on. With the accusations taken place about a week ago, the company has already taken affirmative action to defend itself. Golston said that both newspaper and television ads have been produced to combat its name. Coincidentally, Dr. Bernie Ankney, Samford's JMC Department Chairman, was featured as a source discussing the action taken by Taco Bell's public relations. Ankney described Taco Bell's actions as "really, really strong, proactive steps." Golston also reported that "the lawsuit will be tried in a California federal courtroom and NOT in the press."