Journalism; who, what, where, why, when, and how. As a distinct authority that is manifest through writing, Journalism is one of, if not, the oldest record of important events. The ability to write has allowed man to document and trace events that have been most important and influential to the development of society. According to Wikipedia (2007) “digitalization of news production and the diffusion capabilities of the internet are challenging the traditional journalistic professional culture” (par. 2). The monopoly of the press is quickly coming to a halt as participatory and/or citizen journalism allows the general public to publish and prodcue stories in between the cracks of professional media outlets. It is through this differentiation that deliberation has evolved. The ability of the group or the individual to enact attitude change has come a long way since the days of yellow journalism. Now, ordinary people are on the forefronts of journalism, reporting and uncovering what you and I may or may not read in the New York Times. However it is important to note that Blogging is not subject to direct editing, but rather indirect, through the eyes of those who read them. Therefore it is crucial to think critically while reading a blog, is what this person is saying biased or balanced, true or manufactured?
Wikipedia (2007) classifies print journalism as characteristic of “newspapers, news magazines, general interest magazines, trade magazines, hobby magazines, newsletters, private publications, online news pages and others” (par. 4). It has been through the facilitation of online and digital journalism that information can now be quickly spread and disseminated. Furthermore it is key to note that the growth of blogging has effected the media through the ability of blogs to “create news as well as report it, and blur the dividing lines between news and opinions” (“Journalism”, 2007, par. 15).
Thursday, March 29, 2007. The New York Times reports that the “U.S. Iraq Role Is called Illegal By Saudi King”, similarly JOSHUAPUNDIT writes that “The Saudis bash ‘illegitimate occupation’ as Bush’s Sunni Pals show their true nature”; here we have the same story, but different perspectives. You would have to have been living under a rock if you did not know that the United States’ role in Iraq has been a hotly contested issue. The aforementioned describes the fact that as of late it has been subject to direct criticism of the Saudi King, King Abdullah.
After reading the Times, I found that the article was very formal, objective, and displayed both sides of the argument. This article, by Hassan M. Fattah is clear and concise in its objective; that is to report the news. I feel this article is heavily influenced by the hope for peace in the Middle East; a fantasy at best for the moment. Nevertheless, Fattah writes that “King Abdullah said the loss of confidence in Arab leaders had allowed American and other forces to hold significant sway in the region.” This is important to note because the Saudis have been long standing allies with America, and King Abdullah’s recent cancellation of his state dinner at the White House has only tainted the disintegrating relationship between the two countries. Hassan also writes that Abdullah has “not publicly spoken so harshly about the American- led military intervention in Iraq before, and his alliance with Washington may be less harmonious than administration officials have been hoping.” This article concerns itself with the differing opinions of both governments rather than the putrid backlash that is sure to come. Similarly, I find it very interesting that Saudi interest views Israel soil as Arab soil as is written in the article. I find international politics to be somewhat interesting, like a chess game naturally. “The Saudis have seen that the ball is moving into the court of the democrats, and they want to extend their hand to the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.”
On the other hand, JOSHUAPUNDIT’s blog is much more informal and seemingly more direct in its approach. After reading this blog I found it to be very unwavering in its focus. It was not characteristic of traditional media per say, but more subjective and analytical. It is catered to a particular viewpoint while at the same time provides enough background information to sustain an understanding. In their blog, JOSHUAPUNDIT writes in response to several comments made my King Abdullah that “unless they need us infidel slaves to take out Saddam or something.” Here JOSHUAPUNDIT mocks and takes advantage of the stereotype of westerners in the eyes of Arabs, that we are infidels. I highly doubt that I would read that in the New York Times, in fact, I did not. So no longer does freedom of the press mean those who have a press (Gilmour, 2004), but moreso who has a computer and access to the internet which almost everyone does. So journalism is no longer exlusive to Big Media, but rather the average who has some computer skills. The wroter also refers to King Abdullah as “the poster boy for the Bush administration.” Rightfully so, if that was written in the New York Times there would be serious reprocussions. First of all, if it even made it into print, not only the person who wrote it, but the person who allowed it to be published would most likely lose their job, hypothetically speaking. It is only on the internet that there is true freedom of the press. Not to be confused though, while some blogs are subject to an editorial hierarchy, “the editorial function has been adopted not just by bloggers, but by a host of new kinds of online news operations. Some peer-reviewed news sites, such as the collaborative Kuro5hin, which describes itself as technology and culture, from the trenches, are doing interesting journalism by any standard, with readers contributing the essays and deciding which stories make it to the top of the page” (Gilmour, 2004). That is a very good point, that while it is important to moderate what is written in blogs, peoples’ minds and opinions cannot be controlled.
References
Gilmour, D. (2004). We the Media: Grassroots Journalism by the people, for the people.
Retrieved March 29, 2007 from http://download.nowis.com/index.cfmphile=WeTheMedia. html&tipe=text/html.
Journalism. (2007, March 28). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 18:31, March 29, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Journalism&oldid=118575756.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Lets Adopt: Even the Celebrities are doing it!
The Buffalo HodgePodge defines itself simply as "a melting pot of ideas about our world, nation, and hometown.” It is a blog where community is both fostered and developed through online interaction and offline action. The Buffalo HodgePodge is a member of the WNYmedia.net conglomeration; the bloggers' pseudonym is Buffalo HodgePodge and his or her e-mail address is also present. The earliest recorded archive was June 12, 2006; the initial conception of the Buffalo HodgePodge. Technorati has ranked the Buffalo HodgePodge 138,722 with 264 links from 31 blogs. In my opinion, the Buffalo HodgePodge is an informal blog used to discuss prurient issues. From Wal-Mart woes to Sabres fever, the Buffalo HodgePodge offers an excellent mix of popular and political culture. It incorporates well into the public sphere, however with some topics lacking frequent posts it may be evident what this blogger enjoys doing most, or least. However, with a plethora of links to “all things Buffalo”, the Buffalo HodgePodge also serves to connect other blogs present in Buffalo’s sphere of influence. As I have alluded to in earlier posts, blogs are a great example of participatory journalism, Where people like you and me gather the facts and tell the whole story, without bias. As I began reading the Buffalo HodgePodge, I quickly became aware of its intent. That is, not to criticize or belittle, but rather to report and define. I will say with confidence that the Buffalo HodgePodge does not interpret, for everything that us posted is without bias. You see, most blogs are uncensored by the media and are not subject to corporate welfare or partnerships. In the same sense, the main duty of “political” blogging is to educate and raise awareness of what people would not know otherwise.
I also found the Buffalo HodgePodge to be very concerning of issues important to our hometown; ironically Super Wal-Mart and Super Target. It were these posts and similarly those about Medicare and Healthcare that generated the most comments. For example, in the post relating to Western New York’s hospital debate, Steve writes “With that, DeGraff might still be an appropriate consideration for closure, as North Tonawanda-area citizens still would have relatively easy access to Kenmore Mercy to the south, and Niagara Falls Memorial or Mount St. Mary’s to the north, and Millard Fillmore Suburban to the east.” To be honest, Buffalonians could probably care less about lobbyists than other prinicpal issues such as the economy.
Without people politics do not exist. It is people who breathe life into politics, converting ideas into legislation and law. However, in my opinion politics serve to emasculate public opinion through the bolstering of agendas and policy. Politics also become instated through discourse and translation. Therefore if there were no people to discuss, argue, or simply agree to disagree, politics would have a short half life. In Thornetone’s article (2002) Mark Surman writes that “massive and positive social change will emerge from the introduction of a single, discreet [sic] communications technology. . .” (p. 6). With that in mind, could not blogging be that very communication technology that transcends society to become one of the most influential communication mediums known to exist? Thornetone (2006) also goes on to say that “the role of traditional media (television, magazines and newspapers) in modern democracy is increasingly problematic, and serious questions have arisen about its capacity as a site for political criticism or rational debate (p. 9). That is where blogs shine. Bloggers are not worried about making their contributors and sponsors happy, if anything blogs are out their to stick it ot the man. Take for example “Baghdad Burning” which brought out the secrets and true events occurring at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. I cannot innumerate that idea that blogs raise a serious question; that journalists should interact with the audience and reflect the desires of the group through non-commercial methods. Blogs allow people to play an active role in collecting, reporting, analyzing, and sharing information. I feel very strongly that blogs do in fact affect politics due to their ease of use and its promotion of practical reflection.
The internet also allows for convergence through its profound effects on members of a network or a group. According to Entman, the media frames meanings into social events; giving us a guideline by which to interpret the information. On the other hand, blogs and the internet saw a remarkable increase in use for political avocation. For example a PEW study found that, “in 2003, the Dean campaign posted 2,910 entries on its “Blog for America” and received 314,121 comments, which were also posted there. As the result of one of those comments, 115,632 handwritten letters were sent from supporters to eligible voters in the upcoming Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary (Cornfield, 2005, p.2). Similarly, Cornfield (2005) also found that “the internet made a difference in helping campaigns decide who to contact, what to say, when to say it, and, crucially, who to send to say it” (p. 5).
In closing I would like to leave you with something to contemplate.
I also found the Buffalo HodgePodge to be very concerning of issues important to our hometown; ironically Super Wal-Mart and Super Target. It were these posts and similarly those about Medicare and Healthcare that generated the most comments. For example, in the post relating to Western New York’s hospital debate, Steve writes “With that, DeGraff might still be an appropriate consideration for closure, as North Tonawanda-area citizens still would have relatively easy access to Kenmore Mercy to the south, and Niagara Falls Memorial or Mount St. Mary’s to the north, and Millard Fillmore Suburban to the east.” To be honest, Buffalonians could probably care less about lobbyists than other prinicpal issues such as the economy.
Without people politics do not exist. It is people who breathe life into politics, converting ideas into legislation and law. However, in my opinion politics serve to emasculate public opinion through the bolstering of agendas and policy. Politics also become instated through discourse and translation. Therefore if there were no people to discuss, argue, or simply agree to disagree, politics would have a short half life. In Thornetone’s article (2002) Mark Surman writes that “massive and positive social change will emerge from the introduction of a single, discreet [sic] communications technology. . .” (p. 6). With that in mind, could not blogging be that very communication technology that transcends society to become one of the most influential communication mediums known to exist? Thornetone (2006) also goes on to say that “the role of traditional media (television, magazines and newspapers) in modern democracy is increasingly problematic, and serious questions have arisen about its capacity as a site for political criticism or rational debate (p. 9). That is where blogs shine. Bloggers are not worried about making their contributors and sponsors happy, if anything blogs are out their to stick it ot the man. Take for example “Baghdad Burning” which brought out the secrets and true events occurring at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. I cannot innumerate that idea that blogs raise a serious question; that journalists should interact with the audience and reflect the desires of the group through non-commercial methods. Blogs allow people to play an active role in collecting, reporting, analyzing, and sharing information. I feel very strongly that blogs do in fact affect politics due to their ease of use and its promotion of practical reflection.
The internet also allows for convergence through its profound effects on members of a network or a group. According to Entman, the media frames meanings into social events; giving us a guideline by which to interpret the information. On the other hand, blogs and the internet saw a remarkable increase in use for political avocation. For example a PEW study found that, “in 2003, the Dean campaign posted 2,910 entries on its “Blog for America” and received 314,121 comments, which were also posted there. As the result of one of those comments, 115,632 handwritten letters were sent from supporters to eligible voters in the upcoming Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary (Cornfield, 2005, p.2). Similarly, Cornfield (2005) also found that “the internet made a difference in helping campaigns decide who to contact, what to say, when to say it, and, crucially, who to send to say it” (p. 5).
In closing I would like to leave you with something to contemplate.
Cornfield (2005) says that “The more citizens use the internet, the more they might expect from campaigners and political journalists: rapid responses to information searches; a multiplicity of perspectives available on controversies; short and visually arresting promotional messages; drill-down capacities into referenced databases; more transparency from, and access to, institutions and players. Meanwhile, on the supply side of the political equation, candidates, groups, and parties now have models for how to use the internet to raise money, mobilize voters, and create public buzz. The new benchmarks established in 2004 could well be matched and surpassed in 2008” (p. 7).
References
Cornfield, M. (2005). The Internet and Campaign 2004: A look back at the campaigners. Retrieved March 25, 2007 from http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/.
Thornton, A. (2002). Does Internet create Democracy? Retrieved March 25, 2007 from http://www.zip.com.au/~athornto/thesis_2002_alinta_thornton.doc.
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