i like getting back good [midterm] grades! =]

some excerpts from my blue book (nerd!):

On Objectivity in the Industry:
The landscape of the media is changing in favor of less objective journalism. "Infotainment," the mixing of information and entertainment, is much more common. Biased, not-so-objective news organizations, create programming that appeals to their specific audience by publishing a certain angle or viewpoint. For example, Fox news has heavy Republican roots, and therefore attracts Republican viewers. In an age of selective programming (not objective programming), people that consider themselves to be "news anchors/reporters" like Greta van Susteren, get away with reporting their sides of the "truth." People like Greta and Bill O'Reilly gain and retain their audiences by publishing the "truth" that appeals to them, so that they gain their trust.That is how selective TV programs thrive - they appease niche audiences instead of publishing non-biased, objective programming.
This is all more commonly found on cable programming and the internet. With thee rise of niche audiences comes the fall of viewership of more objective, "boring" journalism. Besides, objective journalism is losing itself due to compartmentalization and company downsizing. 24-hour news services that claim to be objective only now publish short news briefs. These news briefs often lack in-depth reporting, follow-ups with several sources and the basics of objectivity.
In the end, it is up to the audience to believe in what they read or see. Regardless, the media industry is becoming less and less objective every day.

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On using Anonymous Sources:
In general, the use of anonymous sources has declined over the years (with the exception of the Watergate times). Why? Audiences have lost trust in journalists because of several cases of mistakes made when using anonymous sources. In most of these failed cases, the anonymous sources were not only anonymous - they failed to exist!
Take, for example, the case of Jack Kelley, writer for USA Today. He made up stories and fabricated people (sources), making for example a Pakistani school for raising suicide bomber kids come to life in his stories. Journalism mixed with fiction for Kelley, but he kept getting praised by USA Today, which nominated Kelley for 5 Pulitzer Prizes. The discovery of his exploits led to countless printed corrections. Kelley was dismissed and the public opinion of USA Today (and journalists in general) greatly declined.
After Kelley, Jayson Blair, Dan Rather, and Janet Cooke (who won a Pulitzer for her story on an 8-year-old heroin addict which proved to be false - her Pulitzer was taken away!), journalists lost trust in having anonymous sources, and their audience lost trust in journalism!
It's no wonder then why the use of anonymous sources declined. Journalists continually wish to gain the trust of their source of money - their audience. How can they gain the audience's trust when the use of anonymous sources marred the industry?


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school just started back up again after a short spring break.

sitting here in the student center, i've seen so many people i know walk down the stairs, but not one person has stopped to say hi. makes me feel real good - or maybe they're all just in a rush [to grab lunch].

reading "Black Like Me" for a quiz tomorrow. interesting book. definitely covers the emotional/internal issues that are byproducts of racism.

i need to get out, chill, relax, go for a drive.. even though I had spring break, it just wasn't enough.

i want to bask in sunlight and drive with the windows down... off to some place like the beach or Washington State Park.. and go to some party and have fun.

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you could be my bestest friend. i should just be me.

should i play along and cling to that 0.00000001% of hope that i get from you, or just admit to myself that all you want is nothing personal...?

i should just let go of inhibitions and thoughts and be just like you. ooh, dangerous.

lessen the complication, boil it down to what i'm truly feeling. chill.

just say f**k it and not care if you and i have many potentials and don't owe anything to each other.

i never thought the day would come that i would be that kind of girl.

so sorry if i'm not 100% there with you. i refuse to really change because of a dude. if you truly feel something, work on it and i'll return the favor. if not, leave me be.

bottom line: things could work out.. but maybe not now.

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what makes me happy?

outdoors on a good day. that car ride i mentioned above (windows down, sun out, warm breeze, music blasting).

with people? feeling accepted or loved (in general).

material? i prefer hand-made gifts or surprises. surprises (not necessarily monetary) make me =].

career/school? doing well. generally. and loving what i do (making sure my heart is in it).

phone/text? communication, baby. that's what works for any type of relationship. i may be at a loss for words sometimes, but other times i'm straight-up too talkative. which do people prefer? which do i prefer? a little bit of both. listening is JUST as important as speaking. hell yes.

hobbies? i found out that i get happy/confident when i get a press pass. (LOL). in all seriousness, i like the feeling of being a part of media. it may very well be my calling. not sure yet though. everything changes.

goals? setting goals and ACTUALLY achieving them or seeing the end result... makes me soo happy.

freedom of expression? i'm generally happiest when i wear it on my face (expression = window to my soulllll. lmao.).


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okay, i got to get packing up for class #2 out of 3. ugh.
play practice after class tonight at 9. full day. i don't know if i'll be ready for the black like me quiz... should have been reading right now! spark notes to be printed later. yay.