Double Duty

After reading an article about Haiti, I was surprised to learn that there are journalists over there serving the function of both doctor and reporter. They are qualified to do both. They have been trained as doctors and are now reporting on the terrible conditions that the Haitian people are facing.

These reporters are treating people on camera and reporting about the health conditions. The journalists are "actively participating in the story." There is argument over whether that is right. Journalists are mere observers and report on what they see. They are not supposed to get involved in the story. So is it ethical that these people should play double duty, acting as both reporter and doctor? Everyone wants to help but can getting so involved within the story affect the reporting?

Blogging is the new Black

Ever since the internet, the nature of journalism really has changed. Now people do not have to rely strictly on newspapers and news shows to get their news. In fact, most people I know find their news online and sights such as Yahoo, let you sample different news from different outlets. You are no longer relying on just one paper either. Most newspapers have an online version that the public can access for free.

Blogging is one thing that is changing journalism. It is now allowing everyone to be their own journalist. They can report news about their own lives or help to spread the word and comment on current events. It's also a quicker way to get news. Instead of having to wait for the morning paper or 6 o'clock news, a person can simply go online and find out in an instant. More and more people are starting to blog and with it's popularity, it seems that blogging is slowly becoming the new "black" in journalism.

Even Facebook and twitter can serve as news venues. I found out about Michael Jackson's death through looking at my friends Facebook statuses and I'm sure that that is how other people, at times, have received breaking news as well.

With the advent of the internet, classic newspapers and television shows are not playing as big of a role in journalism as they used to. Classic news media just needs to find a way to fit in with the new media.

Fight Club

Who would have guessed that a boxing night could be one of those things that "brought people together?"

At Goshen College, in a male dormitory, Wednesday nights were boxing nights. The boys (who participated in the campus ministry) would hit each other and let out their aggression. Although this weekly ritual did not last long, it still caused quite a stir.

A journalism student at this protestant school wrote a feature story leading with the detail of the activity. It was published in both the campus newspaper as well as a national protestant magazine. The publication in the protestant magazine stirred up some controversy with people asking if it was ethical to publish that article in the magazine.

Because it had to do with the campus ministry, should the boxing detail have been left out? Was it unethical to portray the campus ministry engaging in such an unconventional manner? Or was it just a story where the truth needed to be told?

As a reader I found the story to be very interesting. I can't believe that students were willingly boxing with each other. It sounded like a scene straight out of fight club. However, it is not fiction or a movie. It is true and students have a right to know what is going on at their school. And the public has a right to the honest story.

To read the article click here.

In the Know: Codes of Ethics

After reading the article "The Digital Reach of a Newspaper's Code of Ethics" I was surprised to find out how posting a newspaper's code of ethics can help the newspaper. Not only can journalists and other employees of the newspaper, easily access the ethics code, but so can the public. The newspaper's readers can offer their own criticism to the newspaper on a story and both the reader and editor will be informed.

While the newspaper's lawyer may not like this tactic, it is good for both the journalists and the readers to know the ethics code. It allows the paper to improve itself and realize when a wrong was committed. It may even wind up saving the newspaper.

Twitter

I found the article "Mom's tweet as Son was Dying Stirs Debate" to be very interesting. It is amazing how much controversy can result from one tweet.

Last semester I took a theology class on Christianity and the Media and I think this article provides a perfect example of how religion is intermingling with media. The mother posted a tweet asking everyone to pray for her son. I think by posting such a request online many people were able to know what happened and more apt to pray for her son.

Haiti and Social Media

I was surprised to see how much of a role social media played in helping Haiti. Many people in Haiti were saved via Facebook and Twitter. The sites were used as a life line. People were able to ask for/get help for friends and family trapped in rubble and debris from the earthquake. Social media helped to spread word of the disaster. CNN even created a website called iReport, where through the use of social media people reported on the quake. CNN now uses it as a legitimate source for news gathering.

Even now social media is still being used in reference to Haiti. There is a charity text message campaign telling people to donate money to Haiti and where to send it. I actually just received one of those text messages the other day. It is shocking to see how social media is helping to bring the world together and pitch in to help Haiti. Social media can be a very useful tool in a disaster.

Facebook: Friend or Foe?

In doing the reading for this class, I have read many different view points on Facebook and the role it plays in both personal and professional lives.

I find it interesting that both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal have policies regarding Facebook and both are quite different. The New York Times allows its journalists to use Facebook. It is a good way to find sources and leads. The Wall Street Journal does not allow any social media use, believing that business and pleasure should not be mixed.

Personally, I think if a journalist knows how to use Facebook properly and friend the right people it can be a great journalistic tool. In agreement with the New York Times, Facebook helps find sources and potential leads on stories. After all, the only way Journalists could get in touch with the White House Crashers was through Facebook.

New Start

Hey all,

so it's time to start a new semester, which means a new communications class. This semester the class is Ethics in Communications.