Sunday 17 December 2017

Journal Entry # 8 - Facing Fake News

The photograph makes me curious about whether or not I can believe it.  Although the flowers in the photo are deformed looking, there isn’t enough information to prove it. I think that this photo could possibly be fake news because there is not much information to prove otherwise. There are no sources which makes me, and probably many others, wonder if it is actually reliable. I do, however, think that the photo is a form of evidence, but not enough eveidene because there is such thing as photoshop. I do not think that this article is reliable because it leaves me with too many questions.

The term “Yellow Journalism” came form a New York World comic known as “Hogan’s Alley” because it had a character who dressed in yellow and was called the “yellow kid”. The rival of New York World was New York Journal. The owner of New York Journal was William Randolph Hearst, and he hired Hogan’s Alley artist, R.F Outcault so that he could create a second yellow kid character. This resulted in a competition between the so called “yellow kids”. This event is what created the term “yellow journalism”. Yellow Journalism is a style of journalism that is based on the use of shocking stories at the expense of accuracy. Journals that contained the style of yellow journalism relied on sensationalist headlines and crude information so that they can make money. Compared to fake news, satire news is different because it is easier to notice. It’s mych more obvious than fake news is. Fake news is more easily hidden, which makes it more dangerous because it seems believably and makes the public think that it is the truth. It is much more believable than fake ness is. This can put the public in danger because they want to believe that what they are reading is true. Store news can easily be detected, but fake news is harder to spot.

Monday 4 December 2017

Journal Entry #7 - WikiLeaks and Whistleblowers

To help protect journalists and their anonymous sources from search warrants, the government passed a new law.  It is known as the Journalism Source Protection Act, or Bill S-231.  After news about Montreal and Quebec police spying on journalist had been spilled, Conservative Senator Claude Carignan introduced this law back in 2016.  It was passed unanimously by the legislation with all three main political parties in favor of it.

This new bill gives journalist the right to refuse to disclose information or documents that could identify a source who had requested to remain anonymous. Search warrants will only be granted if a judge decides there is no other way to get it, or if the investigation becomes more important than the public's interest of protecting a source.

Click here to read more about the new law. 

I think that this new law is a great way to help journalists out.  They have to make very tough decisions in their work, and it is not always a black and white situation. This law gives them more security, and may make their decisions a little more easier.  If they know that they're anonymous source can actually remain anonymous, they can inform the public on the important issues that they wish to address, but do not want to risk identifying a source. With the protection from search warrants, Journalists can be more open to releasing information.

There is no right or wrong action when it comes to releasing information that might be important for the public to know, because if they want to release it for the purpose of the public being in the know they should be allowed, but if they believe that it will risk the safety of the public and do not wish to release it than they do not have to.  It is a very grey area and I think that there is no right or wrong answer.

This is all very important in journalism because with more protection and security, Journalists can be more relieved when releasing information.  They do not have to worry about their "anonymous" source ever becoming not anonymous, and they do not have to worry about being spied on, or search warrants.


Thursday 2 November 2017

Journal Entry #6 - Caught in Lies

When reading news, I never actually considered whether or not it was factually correct.  I've never really thought about whether what I was reading was true, because I've always thought why write about it if it isn't true?  Why write a story on something that never really happened?  But clearly people do that.

My reaction to the first article was a mixture of anger and confusion.  The details throughout this article just didn't seem to add up, and were hard to take seriously.  Like where the article says, "she noted that Jimmy aspired to be a heroin dealer when he grew up", it just didn't sound right.  Although, there are lots of crazy people out there, would an eight year old boy even know what it means to deal heroin?  After reading the second article,  I became even more mad because why would they bash Stephen Harper for being "wrong" about a decision that he never even made.  The reporter who wrote this article was fired for all the right reasons. She came up with a story that was not even true, to damage the reputation of a man.

The statement "most liars make up things for the simple reason that they don't have the talent or the ability to get the story any other way" is something I really had to think about.  At first, I would have said not all liars I like that, and although I still believe that to be somewhat true, I do think that journalists who make up things so that they can have a story are not as talented as those who do not feel the need to lie.  I believe they have talent, however, are just too lazy to use it.  They do not want to put forth the effort in having to dig deeper into stories to get the necessary facts and details, so they just come up with their own facts, which is not right.

I think that colleges and universities should try and teach journalism students about the responsibilities and pressures that come along with the job, however, it is not their job to teach them the difference between true and false, or right and wrong.  I do not think universities nor colleges should be the ones who are reliable if their students choose to not honour the codes of being a journalist.

I think that a newspaper ombudsman does help because it allows the readers to give their thoughts and opinions.  If readers do not agree with stories that were published, with a newspaper ombudsman, they have the opportunity to give their opinions.  I think that this is a big help because an ombudsman would help the newspaper by improving it and making sure the readers are pleased with the stories.

Monday 23 October 2017

Journal Entry #5 - Hard News vs. Soft News

A Canadian student leader faces discipline for Facebook post blasting 'white fragility'
This article is an obvious example of hard news.  It is not what you would consider "entertaining" or "casual".  The headline is not casual and the story contains cold, hard facts about the event.  Although it does contain few soft news-like characteristics, such as human interest, it is hard news.  This article contains the basic information and quotations for the public to be aware of it, rather than for the public to be entertained.  The article goes into extreme depths of the main issue of this event.

John Stamos Announces Engagement to Girlfriend Caitlin McHugh: 'She said Yes'
This article is an example of soft news because it is entertaining the public fans of John Stamos.  It does not go into any depths of anything, and does not cover any issues.  It is a casual article and could be considered a  human-interest story.  It presents basic information, as a hard news story would, however, it is a soft story because it is simple, casual and entertaining.  The article discusses the headline.

It's Time Canada's Captains of Industry Woke Up to Africa's Potential
This article is sort of a cross between both hard news and soft news.  It contains characteristics of a hard news story, such as basic facts, discussing issues, and going into depths of the situation.  However, it also contains characteristics of a soft news story, like entertainment and human interest.  News story's like these are difficult to decipher between hard or soft news, so it just falls under both category's.

Monday 16 October 2017

Journal Entry #4 - What is Newsworthy?

Hundreds Killed In Somalia's Deadliest Single Attack Ever

Timing - 4/4
This is a news story that is relevant to what is going on in our world today.  There has been many, many attacks over the past year and this is an update on the latest one that has happened in Somalia.  I gave the timing of this news story a 4/4, because it was done up immediately after it happened.

Significance - 4/4
There are 276 people dead due to this attack, and an additional 300 injured.  These two numbers are very significant.  The news article also states that it was "the most powerful bomb blast ever witnessed in Somalia."  All of this information grabs the attention of people all over the world, which is why I gave the significance a 4/4.

Proximity - 2/4
The geographical proximity of this story is not close for a Canadian reader, however, that does not mean Canadians cannot relate to it.  Attacks are happening all over the world, including in Canada, so Canadians can try and understand what the people in Somalia are feeling.  I gave it a 2/4, because although it is not geographically close, we Canadians, can relate to it.

Prominence - 3/4
Although there were many people killed, and many people injured in this Attack, very few of these people are known.  Mostly all of these people remain unnamed, which is why I gave it a lower mark.  Even though people all over the world are paying attention to what happened, they do not know of the people who were involved, they only know numbers.

Human Interest - 4/4
I am giving the human interest of this story a 4/4, because there has been many attacks in our world and people are interested in what is happening everywhere.  If there is an attack anywhere, people on the other side of the world are interested in the details.


Canadian and American hostages in Afghanistan rescued from Taliban-linked group

Timing - 4/4
I gave the timing of this story a 4/4 because it has just recently happened and people are still reading and hearing about it.  It remains in the public eye, and like the previous article, it is relevant to today's world.

Significance - 4/4
I gave the significance of this story a 4/4 because the details in it are very significant.  It informs us that a Canadian man, his American wife, and their three young children were rescued from a Taiban-linked group.  The fact that it was a Canadian-American family is very significant, and the fact that it was a Taliban-linked group is also very significant.

Proximity - 3/4
Although this did not happen geographically close to Canada, Canadians were involved.  This gives Canadians a connection with the story.

Prominence - 3/4
This story does have prominence because the people involved are named.  However, few people would have known of these people, which is why I gave it a 3/4.  Even though these people will now be well known around the world, especially in Canada and the U.S.A, they were not heard of all over the world before this.

Human Interest - 4/4
I gave the human interest of this story a 4/4 because it grabs the readers attention fast.  People want to know why they were held hostage, and how it happened.  They want to know all the details.




















Tuesday 10 October 2017

Journal Entry #3 - Writing New Articles

Young Girl Goes Missing 

Gracelyn May, 6 year old daughter of Carrol and Jake May, went missing last Tuesday evening.  She was last seen outside of Sunnyhill Elementary School. 

Gracelyn's parents were concerned when she did not arrive home that day, and they immediately contacted the school.  When she was not found there, they went straight to the police. 

An Amber Alert has been issued and a police investigation has gone underway.  People are asked to share any information that may help in this case with the police.  

Gracelyn's mother, Carrol, asks for as much help in finding her child as she can get.  "No parent should have to search for their own child" she states.  

Sunnyhill Elementary is being closely watched for the safety of the other students. 

Police have advised other parents to keep their children close until this case is closed.  "You never know where she could have wandered off to, or who may have taken her" officer Lil Biggs states.  

Monday 2 October 2017

Journal Entry #2 - Starting with the Baics

     On Saturday, September 30, Vice News reported that a 30 year old man from Edmonton on multiple different charges.  One of those charges being terrorism.  He initially targeted a police officer, and then went on a high-speed chase in a U-Haul truck where he hit 4 innocent pedestrians.  This man is now in custody waiting to face multiple charges, including five different murder attempts, one charge of carrying out a terrorist act, participating in a terrorist group, along with other driving and weapon charges.
     Police later found an Islamic flag in the drivers seat of the car used in this attack, however, they do believe this attacker did not have anyone alongside him.  They think he acted alone. 
     The Edmonton Police officer involved in the attack was rushed to the hospital and sustained various, severe injuries.  Chief Rod Knecht said, "He was in a struggle for his life, holding on to his gun with one hand and blocking the knife with the other."

     The lead of this news story is very effective.  It provides all the information necessary, however, does not bore you with unnecessary details.  At the beginning we are provided with facts and details that allow us to know what is happening, while throughout the story the rest of the blanks are filled in.  The most important events to take place were talked about in the beginning, as smaller details and information were told more towards the end.  Although it is hard to come up with a happy ending to this horrible act, the ending of this article is very well done.  It states that the Edmonton Police Service is working hard and together to bring the people involved to justice. 


___________________________________________________________________________________

     CBC News recently reported about a shooting in Las Vegas.  A man released an insane amount of bullets from the 32nd floor of a hotel and casino in Las Vegas.  He shot at an outdoor country music festival that was taking place below.  The gunman killed at least 58 people, along with injuring at least another 515 more.  Among the large amount of people killed in this shooting, at least two were Canadian, along with six other Canadians being injured. 
     U.S president, Donald Trump, said that the shooting was "an act of pure evil."  Sheriff Joseph Lonbardo said "I can't get into the mind of a psychopath at this point."
     This chaotic event is now known as one of the deadliest mass shootings in American history.
     This lead is very effective.  Important details are told at the beginning of the article, and questions are answered throughout the story.  The ending leaves us feeling sick at heart and makes us realize how crazy of a world we live in.