J 201 - Section 317

Chapin, Research Report, March 15

2012-03-15T10:08:00.001-05:00

Lance Bennett is a professor at theUniversity of Washington. He received his Ph.D. in political science from YaleUniversity in 1974. In addition to his current profession of teaching, Bennettfounded the Center for Communication and Civic Engagement. He is currently thedirector of the Center, which is committed to understanding how communicationprocesses can improve citizen engagement with politics and social life.Bennett’s expertise in political science is beneficial for the topic at hand,but his background in the subject is not limited to his Ph.D. He has alsoserved on many editorial boards of leading journals in political science andcommunication. In addition, he has served on the American Political ScienceAssociation as its Political Communication Section chair. The definition of hiscurrent research is press-government relations and the quality of publicinformation. Needless to say, Bennett is sufficiently qualified to write aboutthe implications that political power can have on the press.

Bennett’s motivation for hisresearch is purely academic. At this point it would be logical (and easy) toargue that Bennett has more than adequately built his reputation. He has beeneither the author or editor of ten books and has received numerous awards. Manyof these awards, including the Murray Edelman Distinguished Career Award inPolitical Communication, were given to him by the American Political ScienceAssociation. Many prestigious institutions, including the National ScienceFoundation, the Ford Foundation, and the Social Science Research Council, havesupported his research. Theassigned reading, Press Politics inAmerica: the Case of the Iraq War, is one of six chapters in the book: When the Press Fails: Political Power andthe News Media from Iraq to Katrina. In addition, Bennett has two co-authorsfor this specific book: Regina Lawrence and Steven Livingston.

Regina Lawrence earned her Ph.D. inpolitical science from the University of Washington in 1997. She looks to bewell on her way to a successful career. Steven Livingston also received hisPh.D. from the University of Washington in 1990. His career has beenoutstanding to date. Both of these co-authors have experience in press andpolitics but could be attempting to bolster their reputations throughthis book. I do not believe that this affects the information because Bennett’s experience and leadership will not allow it to. The inclusion of threeauthors only ensures that there are more checks and balances in the editingprocess. When the Press Fails is awork intended to educate readers on the relationship between the press andpolitical powers. More specifically it focuses on how this association hasfailed us in the past. Its intended audience would be members of the pressbecause it calls for reconsideration and reconstruction of their relationships with politicalpowers.

The Internet response to the bookwas overwhelmingly positive. Nearly every review stated that the work’s proposed issues deservedclose attention. Most importantly, no reviews attempted to deny the authors’arguments. Using specific examples from the past, Bennett, Lawrence andLivingston are able to convince the reader that this subject matter must betaken seriously. As readers, we can be confident in the details of this reading.

Bennett, Lawrence & Livingston, Discussion Questions

2012-03-12T17:53:00.000-05:00

Discussion Questions-When the Press Fails

1. In the article, the authors describe PresidentBush’s “Mission Accomplished” speech in which the president dons a Top Gunflight suit and speaks in front of an aircraft carrier staged as a big-screenmovie set. What are your reactions to this? Can you think of any examples of politiciansand the press using dramatics such as this?

2. The article goes over journalists’ fear of theintimidating charge of being unpatriotic. How does today’s society definepatriotism? Why is there such a fear of being accused as unpatriotic? Couldn’tthe journalists claim they are being more patriotic by trying to reveal thetruth to citizens?

3. In the article there is an example of the pressbeing “uninterested” or “unable” to challenge inaccurate claims of VicePresident Dick Cheney. CBS reporter and anchor Bob Schieffer is quoted saying,“Dramatic-performance qualities were probably more important to the votingpublic than factual accuracy in such situations.” Do you think this statementis valid, and does it hold true today?

4. After reading this article and watching the PBS documentaryon press coverage leading up to the war in Iraq from lecture, do you now feel distrusttowards present day journalists/main news outlets? Why or why not?

Highlander, Discussion Questions

2012-03-07T20:35:00.000-06:00

In the beginning of the Vietnam war, Stonewas one of the only journalists criticizing the war. Do you think we needed someone like Stone after9/11? Why or why not?

The jobof journalists is to be objective and most would be insulted if you said their writingswere biased. Would you consider Stonebiased or objective? If yes, would you still consider him a reputable journalist?

Stone’s small pamphlet paper reachedno more than 20,000 people, why do you think he is being recognized to theextent that he is now?

Do you think a journalist’s bias helpsor hurts the public when covering important issues?

Burjek Discussion

2012-03-07T18:00:00.001-06:00

Journalism Discussion

Journalism Of Verification, by Korach and Rosenstiel

1. This article discusses how balance can lead todistortion. Can you think of anexample of how trying to see an issue from both sides equally fails to informthe audience of the truth?

2. Part of this article discusses how a journalist cannotassume anything. Do you thinkthat’s possible? Why or why not?

3. The 5 intellectual principals of reporting are 1. Don’tadd anything that did not happen, 2. Never deceive audience, 3. Be transparentabout methods and motives, 4. Rely on your own reporting, and 5. Exercisehumility. Can

4. There is such a science of Journalism and how to write ina fair and objective way. Dothink, in general, the audience puts as much effort and thought while readingthe article as the journalist does in writing them?

Bonefas- Research Report

2012-03-07T16:36:00.003-06:00

JosieBonefas

J201/ Section 317

Research Report

“Journalism of Verification” is a chapter from The Elements of Journalism: What news peopleshould know and the public should expect by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel.This book is dedicated to defining what good journalism entails. The intendedaudience is both journalists and readers of journalism. The concept ofjournalism as a discipline of verification, which this chapter is about, is oneof nine core principles of quality journalism that are described in the book.The others are: journalism’s first obligation is to the truth, its firstloyalty is to citizens, its practitioners must maintain an independence fromthose they cover, it must serve as an independent monitor of power, it mustprovide a forum for public criticism and compromise, it must strive to make thesignificant interesting and relevant, it must keep the news comprehensive andproportional, its practitioners must be allowed to exercise their personalconscious.

The authors of the book, Bill Kovachand Tom Rosenstiel, are both accomplished journalists who seem reliable assources. Bill Kovach has won several awards for his journalistic abilities,including two Pulitzer Prizes when he was the editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He also becamea fellow, then the curator of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism, which isthe primary journalism institution at Harvard University. Tom Rosenstiel haswritten many books on journalism, as well as founded the Project for Excellencein Journalism. This organization works with the Pew research center inWashington, D.C. and studies news media. Kovach and Rosenstiel together foundedthe Committee of Concerned Journalists, which is a group worried about thefuture of journalism. Based on these credentials and their clear dedication totrustworthy journalism, the book this excerpt was published in can beconsidered a reliable source, and one that students can look to for accurateinformation about quality journalism.

The book has gotten a lot of positivefeedback, and is considered a very reliable source by a lot of prominentfigures. A writer for the New York Times said,“Don’t even think of becoming a reporter, editor, columnist orinfluential blogger without reading this modern classic” about it. Also awriter for the Wall Street Journal said, “The Elements of Journalism...belongs on the shelf of everycitizen who reads the paper or watches the tube.” These reviews address thefact that the book is intended for journalists who wish to be successful anddependable, as well as readers who should be able to identify qualityjournalism. The authors clearly achieve these intended goals of the book.

Both authors have extensive experience in the journalismfield. Also they both clearly have a commitment to reliable journalism becauseof their involvement with organizations dedicated to this, such as the Projectfor Excellence in Journalism and the Committee of Concerned journalists. Theirintent on writing this book was to define the process and aspects of qualityjournalism, and to help journalism students develop these skills. Also, thebook has gotten praise from scholars and prominent newspapers. Therefore, wecan conclude that this source is very reliable, and as students, we can learnfrom the authors’ working knowledge of the field.

Burjek Online Assignment 2

2012-03-06T23:25:00.001-06:00

1) How well didthe journalistic community live up to its responsibility to present the‘facts’? The journalisticcommunity did not live up to its responsibility. Instead, it rolled with the patriotism that proceeded 9/11and supported the president or government’s decisions without question. Anything in opposition to Bush or hisadministration was deemed “Un-American”, and so many times the real facts wereignored in the place of deceptions or theories of the pro-war government. The press marginally gave up theirindependence in order to support the war. They failed to ask questions actually helpful to the situation.

2) Where theyfailed, why did they do so? “ThePatriotism Police” made sure to get rid of anything disloyal to the countryafter 9/11 and did not allow the press to push too hard or ask too many questionsto the Bush administration. Therewas not an actually press police force but an inter-country push forjournalists support pro-war propaganda between US and Iraq, which had noconnection to 9/11. Societalpressures stopped journalists from doing their job.

3) What kinds ofpressures did news organizations face?

Advertisersthreatened to abandon organizations that did not support the war. Being too liberal was equivalent tobeing anti-American. The people ofthe US were sensitive post-9/11 and Iraq was the scapegoat.

4) How did different kinds of news outlets cover the issuedifferently? What was the difference between these outlets?

Magazines such as Vanity Fair were notskeptical in the stories they posted. One story was proven untrue after a year. In newspapers, the stories became more and more fantastic,and yet the public still believed stories such that Sudaam had a biologicalweapon facility underneath his own home. All the news media- internet, magazines, newspapers- went along withwhat they were told to report with few questions to get to the truth of thestory.

McKeown Online Assignment 2

2012-03-02T17:04:00.001-06:00

1. The Journalistic community did not live up to its responsibility to present to facts because time after time they just listen to what the government wants them to write and report rather than what is fully true. they feel forced to stretch the truth or present the truth so it makes the government look good even if they are not acting as they should.
2. The journalists failed in taking a stance and being their own person. Many did not voice their opinions they simply put that they supported the U.S.'s decision to enter Iraq and attempt to capture Saddam Hussein. They did not speak out against the government's decisions due to the fear of getting heavily criticized nationally.
3. If these journalists were not seen as patriotic people would write them off and not even give them a chance. Therefore, to gain following and respect these writers needed to speak on behalf of the government and voice clear patriotism so their thoughts could be heard. Journalists were becoming more propagandists than anything and they were seemlessly the puppets for the government supporting the government.
4. Many national news sources had different interpretations of the story and risks that the government was taking. The New York Times and Washington Post supported the stance taken by George Bush and wanted to see troops enter Iraq and wanted to see strong stances taken post 9/11. However, there were some news outlets that did stand up to the government and voice the fact that sending troops to Iraq was not a good idea and could potentially be harmful to the country. These people were heavily criticized and there views were not supported nationally by both the public, government, and media outlets.

Stanton, Online Assignment #2

2012-03-02T15:50:00.003-06:00

1) How well did the journalistic community live up to its responsibility to present the ‘facts’”

The journalistic community utterly failed to live up to its responsibility to present the facts. As the “watch-dog” for a democratic United States, they should not have relied upon information provided by the government. They should have searched out alternate sources, questioned motives, and made sure the evidence was good evidence, and not falsified. The staged questioning/script given to the president was the worst. A lack of searching for other evidence could be seen as lazy, naïve, or ignorant, but the staging was outright sabotage of the “watch-dog” system.

2) Where they failed, why did they do so?

They failed in not checking the evidence, and allowing the questions of the president to be scripted. As for why, many journalists at that time most likely were fearful of their reputations being tarnished, branded as “unpatriotic” after a “national tragedy” and before war. Because of the patriotism sweeping the nation, anything “unpatriotic” was likely to stir up anger and bad press relations, and they could lose sales. It comes down to money, in the end.

3) What kinds of pressures did news organizations face?

Opinions of fellow workers who are very much human and likely swept up in the patriotism would have pressured coworkers, and if the editor him or herself was subject than any “unpatriotic” news would be unlikely to be published. Also, perhaps more importantly to the business, some of the readers would not react well if such articles were published, which could lessen sales dramatically. The government would have also attempted to exert pressure in order to win public appeal in regards to the war.

4) How did different kinds of news outlets cover the issue differently? What was the difference between these outlets?

Knight Ridder and 60-Minutes were the outlets that actually questioned the information, while larger networks like The Washington Post, The New York Times, Vanity Fair, and large television news stations like CNN gave more support to the government effort and either didn’t investigate for hard evidence against the government’s claim or outright ignored it and didn’t publish anything that might paint them as “unpatriotic”. Knight Ridder and 60-Minutes didn’t have to worry about the same public appeal as the larger institutions because of their more selective audience, and so they questioned the public opinion following the government’s claims.

Chapin, Online Assignment #2

2012-03-02T14:37:00.002-06:00

1) How well did the journalistic community live up to its responsibility to present the ‘facts’?

The journalistic community did not live up to its responsibility to present the 'facts'. Nobody dug to find the truth and everyone seemed to go with the flow. They were not as critical of the government as they should have been. For instance, they were publishing stories, without much thought, from sources that eventually led back to the government. In addition, one of the things I found most disturbing and damning about the time leading up to the war was the President's press conference where there were scripted questions. It was really upsetting to me when President Bush made a joke that he called on the wrong person and everybody just laughed with him.

2) Where they failed, why did they do so?

I cannot say that I blame the journalistic community in its failure to live up to its responsibility to present the 'facts'. After 9/11, there was an extraordinary amount of pride and nationalism in the United States. The journalists themselves experienced these feelings as well, as can be seen by Dan Rather's emotional Letterman appearance. In addition to their own patriotism, the journalistic community also had to deal with pressure from the outside. If they would run a story that questioned the government, they would be portrayed as "un-American" and have to deal with the fallout of that.

3) What kinds of pressures did news organizations face?

News organizations felt pressure from all over. They felt it from the general public for the reasons above. If the public did not want to hear questions about the war, then the news organizations wouldn't talk about them. In order for the news organization to get advertising, the public needs to follow and support it. Thus if the general public was in favor of the war and was pro-government, the news organizations didn't really have much choice. So commercialism was a driving force in how the news organizations acted during this time. They also felt pressure from the government as well.

4) How did different kinds of news outlets cover the issue differently? What was the difference between these outlets?

News organizations at the time had different approaches to cover the issue. CNN, at first, began to list Afghanistan casualties but was labeled "anti-American" and unpatriotic. Their competitors used this to their advantage by claiming that CNN was on the liberal side. They felt this pressure and were forced to rethink the stories that they presented. Knight Ridder was an organization that was lauded in the video for being critical of the government and questioning the war. While Vanity Fair was mentioned for trying to grab eye popping headlines. The difference between these outlets was the approach they took. The basis for their approach was based off of commercialism and what they thought would interest followers. Only a small number of news outlets, like Knight Ridder, were interested in finding the facts and the truth.

Bonefas, online assignment #2

2012-03-01T22:42:00.001-06:00

1. How well did the journalistic community live up to its responsibility to present the 'facts'?

The journalistic community did not do that great of a job presenting the facts because they did not verify the 'facts' that the government and other sources were giving them. At this time, all of America was overwhelmed with a sense of national pride, and to question the statements being made by the government was considered Anti-American. The documentary referenced the term "patriotism police," which demonstrated that at this time everyone supported the government and no one was critical. The job of a journalist, however, is to be critical. Therefore, they did not live up to their responsibility, and they only regurgitated the facts given to them by the government rather than verifying and questioning.

2. Where they failed, why did they do so?

The place that they failed was in thoroughly verifying the information that was given to them about the reasons for the attack on Iraq. In effect, they bought what the White House was selling. The journalists had to choose between supporting the country or supporting their personal beliefs, and many chose to support the country and not risk being heavily criticized. Everyone seemed to agree that Saddam Hussein needed to be killed, but some information about Iraq's role in terrorism didn't add up. There was no hard evidence to connect Saddam Hussein to the 9/11 attack. Journalists failed to investigate the connections that the government was making between the two. They just supported the government because it was a time of crisis for the country.

3. What kinds of pressures did news organizations face?

News organizations faced pressure from viewers and from the government to present a patriotic viewpoint on the events. The viewers pressured them because they got offended and upset if the news organization questioned the government at a time of national crisis. The government pressured them because they needed the war to be presented in a good light to raise national support. They instructed news organizations to balance news of the violence in Afghanistan with reminders of the 9/11 tragedy. This would supposedly let the news organizations provide both sides of the story and be objective, while still reminding viewers the reason the country was at war.

4. How did different kinds of news outlets cover the issue differently? What was the difference between these outlets?

Different news outlets definitely had different approaches to the whole situation. A lot of national news sources, like the New York Times and the Washington Post, supported the governments decisions completely and did not question the facts. They even published stories that had facts that did not add up and took stories from Iraqi sources as fact without verifying. The problem with this was that the Iraqi sources often made up more and more sensationalized stories to help convince the American public that fighting in Iraq was a good thing, in order to get rid Saddam Hussein, whom they didn't like. Other news outlets, such as 60 Minutes, questioned the facts that were being presented from the government as well as in the NYT. Sometimes when reading articles from the NYT there would be major "red flags" that just didn't add up. And in these articles the government verified the information so it seemed very legitimate. The difference between these outlets was their willingness to not support the government during a time of national crisis. The NYT and Washington Post are sources that are closer to the government's realm and did not want to go against them. 60 Minutes had no problem questioning the government and fully investigating.

Highlander, Online Assignment #2, 3/1

2012-03-01T17:00:00.001-06:00

1) How well did the journalistic community live up to its responsibility to present the 'facts'?

During the beginning of the war on terror, the journalistic community did not do its job of presenting the facts to the people. Instead of being watchdogs of the government, the journalists covering the issues only supported the government. There was no reliable information regarding the weapons of mass destruction, and the journalists should have turned to other sources instead of listening to the same unreliable ones as the government.

2) Where they failed, why did they do so?

The journalists failed to present the facts because after 9/11 there was a sense of patriotism that filled America. The journalists who didn't support America during this time could be considered "Un-American". This put pressure on the journalists to support the war because it meant they supported America. If the journalists or broadcasting companies said anything threatening American patriotism they were sure to get emails from angry advertisers and threatening emails from U.S. citizens.

3) What kinds of pressures did news organizations face?

News organizations felt pressure to support the war because it was a very sensitive time for America. Advertisers didn't want to support the news companies that appeared to be "Un-American". Also, a lot of American families had experienced tragedy from 9/11 and for the news organizations to be insincere about this, were sure to upset many Americans. Everyone knew that they were not to be too critical of the American government during war time. The reporters and news organizations also have human emotions and this led them to their sense of patriotism resulting in the reluctance to dig deep into the facts.

4) How did different kinds of news outlets cover the issues differently? What was the difference between these outlets?

Although the majority of news outlets did not challenge the war on terror in the beginning, there was one news source that did. The Knight Ridders were determined to scrutinize the war because their readers weren't just American citizens, they were the ones who would be going to fight in the war. The Knight Ridder was the only news organization that really criticized the war early in time. The other news organizations such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Vanity Fair, and other broadcasting stations such as CNN and Fox News were trusted news organizations and failed to present the facts to the public. These news outlets are influential and when they report on news, the public will be likely to believe it. Whereas I had not heard of the Knight Ridder until the documentary, I would have only seen the information provided by these other big time news providers.

Online Assignment #2-Amanda M.

2012-03-01T15:48:00.004-06:00

1 . Howwell did the journalistic community live up to its responsibility to presentthe ‘facts’?

To my surprise, Buyingthe War depicted the majority of the journalistic community not living upto its responsibility of presenting the facts. Questions directed towardsPresident Bush and his administration were scripted and planned for thepresident to answer. Journalists were not asking original, hard-hittingquestions that dug beneath the surface. September 11^th was adevastating time for our country, and as a result journalists resistedchallenging the government. They did not want to risk being accused of acting “unpatriotic.”Journalists were not devoted to discovering the truth about the lead up to thewar in Iraq, which in turn has lead to a very skewed national perception. Hardevidence was not present to back up claims made by the Bush administration, buttheir statements were taken to be truth by the general public.

2. Wherethey failed, why did they do so?

During this devastating and uncertain period oftime in our country’s history, there was little public tolerance for scrutinyfrom the press. Journalists could not be critical of the government leading ourcountry during wartime. Similarly, journalists faced indirect pressure fromadvertisers and sponsors. Journalists failed to report on civilian devastationand atrocities committed overseas, and also did not question the claims made bythe Bush Administration on Saddam Hussein and the terrorists behind the 9/11attacks. Reporters got caught up in patriotism and the desire to produce headlining,front-page stories that would further inspire the overwhelming nationalisticsentiment. Instead, they should have been more skeptical and hungry for strongerevidence and support behind the government’s claims. Further, journalistsshould have had the courage to speak up once they realized that these storiesfrom other news organizations and the government were not matching.

3. Whatkinds of pressures did news organizations face?

News organizations and journalists faced strongpressure from the government, advertisers, and the general public. It waswildly unpopular to criticize the government during wartime and publishanything that would extinguish the patriotic fire. The country was vulnerableand uncertain after the 9/11 attacks- it created a strong sense of unity andnationalism among American citizens. For example, the documentary described anews organization being heavily criticized and flooded with complaint messagesafter publishing pictures of civilian devastations in Afghanistan. Further,advertisers recommended that news organizations would not publish stories orimages that could be considered “anti-American.” The pressure from thesedifferent sources came from a combination of strong emotion and focus onprofits.

4. How diddifferent kinds of news outlets cover the issue differently? What was thedifference between these outlets?

Buying the War described the ways a variety of differentnews outlets covered the lead up to the war in Iraq. What was most shocking wasthe depiction of the way the top, well known and seemingly most credible newsoutlets failed at presenting the real facts. The documentary exposed thejournalistic shortcomings of the New York Times, Washington Post, Vanity Fairand other television stations like CNN. These organizations are incrediblyinfluential and the general public expects them to report nothing but thetruth. If stories were published from one of these main media outlets, theyreceived a “stamp of approval” in the eyes of the public.

The Knight Ridder soughtto bring to light the instances when stories did not match up or have solidevidence to support their claims. There were also ideological differencesbetween the ways certain outlets covered the issue. For example, Fox Networkprided themselves on being more patriotic and supportive of the government’sdecisions than the more “liberal” CNN. Finally, news organizations working fromor with bases inside Washington lead to a cyclical reporting, in which theyreported the same stories, creating the illusion that multiple, differentsources were reporting the same facts. However in reality, nothing was beingproperly verified. As a result, the Administration went unchallenged andsuccessfully “sold the war.”

Derse- Online Assignment 2

2012-02-29T20:35:00.004-06:00

1. How well did the journalistic community live up to itsresponsibility to present the facts?

The September 11 attacks struck people on anemotional level, and how to best respond to the terrorist attacks in terms ofreporting the news was a difficult ongoing situation. One viewpoint from thevideo said that they should show their patriotism by serving their country andproviding good, accurate stories and not pretend to be robots. Journalists hadthe potential to write about or bring into light many controversial topics, butwere encouraged not to do so because readers were becoming angry and upset overseeing the casualties in the Middle East. They were also told not to critiquethe Bush Administration because it was seen as un-American to criticize ourcountry’s leader. All of these constraints in journalists caused them to notpresent the facts very well.

2.Where they failed, why did they do so?

It is likely that the majority of journalistshad not been in a situation such as this before, where they had to be overlyconscious of what they were writing so as not to offend anyone or seemunpatriotic. They wanted a credible source to get a good story, and this wasnot easy to come by. They were trying to connect Hussein to al-Qaeda with nosolid evidence, but just using bits of information to pull the story together.Stories also ended up getting more “fantastic” as they got passed along, andthis embellishment was due to the fact that journalists were unsure how torespond to the entire situation and wanted to have something important thatthey wrote about, but ended up doing this in an untruthful manner. They neededto realize that even though what they were writing might be a stretch, thegeneral public was looking up to them and reading their stories. The public hadno choice but to take their word because they were known to be a crediblesource.

3. What kinds of pressures did news organizationsface?
They had to deal with the pressure of gettingtruthful, accurate messages to the public, and this was a challenge. They hadto do this without criticizing the Bush Administration or writing anything tooradical because it was such a sensitive topic. However, journalists had to writesomething for their papers, andsometimes there was the temptation to piece together a story that was full of possibly true statements, not facts. Inaddition, they were encouraged to support the fact that the United States wasgoing to war, and were highly discouraged from reporting American deaths thatoccurred in the Middle East.

4. How did different kinds of news outlets cover the issuedifferently? What was the difference between these outlets?

Inthe video, Knight Ridder was consistently the most known for getting the factsstraight and presenting the public with accurate, quality information. However,this was not the case for the majority of journalists because they did not doublecheck the information they gathered. Also, news stations relied on informationfrom The New York Times or The Washington Post, and simply acceptedwhat was written as truth. In the case of the news on television, there wasmore pressure to get the stories out quickly, and there was not always the timeto recheck the information.

Online Assignment 2-Megan Hakes

2012-02-29T17:29:00.000-06:00

How well did the journalistic community live up to its responsibility to present the ‘facts’?

As a whole, the journalistic community failed to accurately present the facts following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. News was filtered and therefore one-sided, as reporters such as those who worked for CNN were told not to publicize many photos of civilian casualties and others failed to verify the accuracy of the facts that they were exposing. In addition, the press overwhelmingly asserted that following the attacks the United States was going to go after Saddam Hussein. This was not confirmed and caused an abundance of emotion in the American people.

Where they failed, why did they do so?

Following the attacks, the United States became increasingly patriotic. This hindered the journalistic community as they too were dealing with the hurt and anger of the attacks. Many journalists felt that it would be wrong of them to be critical of the government at that time and therefore felt a responsibility to the people to portray the United States government in a slightly skewed viewpoint. Dan Rather states in the movie that, “No journalist should try to be a robot,” which reinforces the idea that emotion came into play. Lastly, it was difficult to find credible sources on the attacks in New York, which led many journalists to fall victim to con men and their false information.

What kinds of pressures did news organizations face?

As previously mentioned, the journalistic community felt that they should not be critical of the United States government during wartime. In addition to this, the movie mentioned that media acted as a sales campaign to sell the war. This placed a lot of pressure on the journalistic community to present information that supported the war. The movie also suggested that television, print media, and news were as important for the war as guns and trucks, which added to the pressure that media faced. Lastly, it was said that if an article or information appeared in the New York Times there was no debate about its accuracy. This would seemingly place pressure on the New York Times to present nonbiased information, despite the individual journalists’ perceptions of the situation.

How did different kinds of news outlets cover the issue differently? What was the difference between these outlets?

A big dispute occurred in the media regarding the role that Saddam Hussein played in the terrorist attacks. Most news outlets asserted that Hussein was involved with al-Qaeda and therefore should be held responsible for the attacks. A few news outlets, however, managed to use logical sense rather than emotion to reason out that Hussein would not have had someone else carryout the attacks for him. Hussein would have wanted all the power to himself, according to Bob Simon of 60 Minutes. Using this reasoning, news outlets such as 60 Minutes and Knight Ridder Newspapers chose not to get caught up in the media frenzy idea that Hussein and al-Qaeda had worked together to attack the United States. Most of the journalistic community got caught up in the patriotic and emotional side of the attacks, but a select few focused on finding the true facts.

Online Assignment 2- Ben Harvey

2012-02-27T17:07:00.002-06:00

1. How well did the journalistic community live up to itsresponsibility to present the ‘facts’?

The journalistic community did not do well with respect toliving up to its responsibility to present the ‘facts’. The video provided manyexamples where the media altered the ‘facts’ in order to justify thepresident’s and congress’ decision to go to war in Iraq. A great example waswhen the president hosted a question and answer session with the media after hehad announced he planned on entering Iraq. Not only did the journalists allowhim to plant his own questions, but they also made sure they were questionsthat made the war in Iraq appear to be a good idea. It was clear the mediawould report anything that made President Bush appear favorable to the votingcommunity. A great line from the video said that journalists “tried to sell warinstead of report it.”

2. Where they failed, why did they do so?

When the media failed to report the news fairly they did sofor a variety of reason. The first reason presented in the video was that thejournalists let their emotions take over. After 9/11 a tremendous sense ofpride and patriotism came over America, which included the journalists who weresupposed to take a fair and object approach to the war. Instead manyjournalists wrote articles explaining how America would not stand for thisterrorist attack and that something must be done.

3. What kinds of pressures did news organizations face?

News organizations faced pressures from many advertingagencies and corporations who had close connections to the government. Theysaid they would not pay for the newspapers if it had too many anti-war articlesor articles about civilian deaths. Journalists also felt pressures from otherAmericans who made them feel if you spoke out against the war you were not atrue American. For example, one paper that put the statistics for civiliancasualties on the front page received hundreds of emails from both readers andadvertising condemning the article.

4. How did different kinds of news outlets cover the issuedifferently? What was the difference between those outlets?

The majority of papers followed the norm and would focus onwriting things that made the war in Iraq appear favorable. Although they wouldreport things such as civilian casualties, they would usually pair the anti-wararticles with ones reminding people of 9/11 and how it was linked to al-Qaida.However there were a small group of journalists who actually were determined topresent the facts who focused on finding direct, reliable sources. These papersreported how the white house was making the link between Saddam Hussein andal-Qaida appear much stronger than it actually was.

Research Report- "Wounded but Not Slain: The Orderly Retreat of the American Newspaper"

2012-02-15T13:18:00.006-06:00

Megan Hakes
Journalism 201
16 February 2012

Research Report

James Baughman’s work, “Wounded but Not Slain: The Orderly Retreat of the American Newspaper” is the seventh chapter in the book, A History of the Book in America, Volume 5. The Enduring Book in Print in Postwar America. It addresses the ever-changing print media as it has progressed from the time of World War II to present. The book is composed of work from 33 contributors, which leads to a differing of opinion between chapters, but nonetheless it offers an in-depth look at the progression that print media has made throughout the years. Baughman’s piece, “Wounded but Not Slain: The Orderly Retreat of the American Newspaper” focuses on the changes in the American newspaper. He focuses on the racial, generational, and competitive forces that made the newspaper what it is today.

Baughman is currently a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he teaches the History of Mass Communication. He has received degrees from both Harvard and Columbia University, served on the Wisconsin Advisory Committee to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, and the Erik Barnouw Award Committee of the Organization of American Historians. On staff at Madison since 1979 and awarded the UW Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 2003, he was named Fetzer Bascom Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication last year. In addition, he served as the head of the University of Wisconsin- Madison School of Journalism & Mass Communication from 2003 to 2009 and has authored three books. His extensive qualifications give “Wounded but Not Slain: The Orderly Retreat of the American Newspaper” much credibility. He also presented the Journalism 201 lecture with similar information as can be found in this piece when he spoke as a guest lecturer on February 3, 2012.

Baughman’s work is part of Part I: Technological, Business, and Government Foundations, which examines how these foundations changed printed media and reader habits. Part II: Forms and Institutions of Mediation and Subsidy, discusses and analyzes the financial and “noncommercial support for publishing witnessed by the last half of the twentieth century” (Wolf). Lastly, Part III: Reading, Identity, and Community, offers a more general outlook, displaying the book in relation to the reader and society. Joining Baughman in presenting these ideas are other notable professors from renowned schools such as Northwestern University, Harvard Divinity School, Rice University, etcetera. This combination of intellectual individuals gives the overall book much ethos. The reviews support this, making statements such as, “A model of scholarly publication and institutional cooperation,” from the Journal of Scholarly Publishing and “Magisterial scholarship, compelling writing, and extraordinary range,” from the Journal of American History. Due to the knowledgeable contributors to the book and the impressive reviews, it is fair to assume that A History of the Book in America, Volume 5. The Enduring Book in Print in Postwar America is a very credible source.

As a whole, A History of the Book in America, Volume 5. The Enduring Book in Print in Postwar America offers an in-depth insight into the progression that print media has made. Based upon the credibility of Baughman, as well as the other contributors to the book, it is more than reasonable to trust all that is presented in “Wounded but Not Slain: The Orderly Retreat of the American Newspaper.”

“Baughman.” School of Journalism &Mass Communication. 2010. Web. 12 Feb. 2012. .
Hall, David. “A History of the Book in America, Volume 5. The Enduring Book in Print in Postwar America.” UNC Press. 2011. Web. 13 Feb. 2012. .
Karl H. Wolf, (2011) "A History of the Book in America, Volume 5. The Enduring Book in Print in Postwar America", Journal of Documentation, Vol. 67 Iss: 3, pp.562 – 574

McKeown Discussion Questions, Feb 16

2012-02-15T11:27:00.003-06:00

As Sparks says in the article "Anecdotes of intense fright in the media are common," as he asks in the text, can you think of one instance in your media experience where you found yourself frightened?

Time after time the media attempts to trigger out emotions by making us form personal connections with certain individuals. Do you think that the media is responsible for some people's sudden fame (i.e. Jeremy Lin, Tim Tebow, Kardshian Family) or do you believe that these people worked hard and deserve the recognition that they receive?

What aspects about an animated feature do you think could potentially scare you?

Maenner, Research Report, Feb. 9

2012-02-08T15:05:00.000-06:00

Amanda Maenner

Journalism 201

7 February 2012

Research Report:“Coda: The Advent of the Media”

“Coda: TheAdvent of the Media” is the twelfth chapter of the book The Creation of the Media: Political Origins of Modern Communications byProfessor Paul Starr. The Creation of theMedia gives a detailed account of the rise of mass communications and itspowerful effects on America during times when the country was the world’sdominant super power (Princeton.edu 2012). With historical information, extensiveanalysis and concrete examples, Starr shows how great the impact of massbroadcasting and printing was and still is on American culture. Finally, “Coda:The Advent of the Media” discusses the colossal social, cultural and politicaleffects of the media during the time.

Paul Starris currently a professor of Sociology and Public Affairs at PrincetonUniversity. According to his biography, Starr “has written extensively onAmerican society, politics and public policy” (Princeton.edu 2012). He receivedhis BA from Columbia University, and then his Ph.D. in Sociology at HarvardUniversity. Starr also has an impressive resume filled with countlessfellowships and honorary degrees he has achieved. Further, Starr is therecipient of many notable awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Nonfiction(1984), Bancroft Prize in American History (1984), and the Goldsmith Book Prize(2004). Looking at his rich experience, it is clear that Paul Starr is apassionate educator and intelligent writer with a great appreciation forAmerica’s history and media revolution. It is important to note that Starr isthe co-founder of The American Prospect,which is a prominent liberal magazine on politics, policy and ideas. Many ofStarr’s past works have reflected his liberally biased opinions and values.

Starr’sbook The Creation of the Media waspublished in 2004 and won the Goldsmith Book Prize in 2005. According toHarvard’s School of Government, the Kennedy School (2012), the Goldsmith BookPrize is awarded to the book that “best fulfills the objective of improvingdemocratic governance through…the media, politics and public policy.” Thishighly esteemed award gives Starr’s Creationof the Media great credibility and book integrity. The achievement ofreceiving the Goldsmith Book Prize also tells readers that one of Starr’s goalsin writing this work was to improve today’s modern governance by presenting acomprehensive and compelling account of our nation’s mass media history. ThePrinceton professor’s objective was to educate modern society on Americanmedia’s rich and influential past. Many responded to this work positively,complimenting Starr on his captivating description of key developments in mediahistory (Princeton.edu 2012). It is clear that Starr is a highly respectedprofessor, writer and leader within the history, media and sociology worlds.

Inconclusion, students should regard “Coda: The Advent of the Media” as a highlyfactual, analytical and credible source on American history and mass media.Professor Paul Starr has notable experience and education in the areas, and haswon prestigious awards for his work. While it is important to be aware of anyliberal political bias, Starr is professional and leaves his personal opinionsand emotions for opinion editorials. Be confident in the details this articleprovides, and know that the analysis comes from an award-winning professor atPrinceton.

References List

Princeton.edu (Updated2012). “Biographical Sketch.” Paul StarrHomepage. Retrieved from http://www.princeton.edu/%7Estarr/starrbio.html.

Harvard KennedySchool of Government (2012). “Goldsmith Awards Program.” Joann Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy. Retrievedfrom http://www.hks.harvard.edu/presspol/prizes_lectures/goldsmith_awards/index.html.

Adam Gopnik "The Sporting Scene" Discussion Questions Ben Harvey

2012-02-05T20:03:00.000-06:00

Thearticle brought up an interesting point about the difference between watchingthe game live, in person vs. watching the game on television. The author notedthat you cannot see a wide receiver who is wide open down field or some of thegreat work done by the defensive players not in the camera angle. Do youbelieve there is a significant difference or compromise for watching an event(sporting event, concert, award show) on television vs. in person? Is thedisconnect between the fans and the athletes too great when the event iswatched on television?

Theauthor also noted how both players and coaches try to give boring oruninteresting answers to questions to ensure the media does not blow any oftheir answers out of proportion. I think we can all agree that the media has atendency to exaggerate people’s statements in order to have somethinginteresting to write about. How do you think the media is able to do this? Doyou think this is fair to the people who originally made the statement?

Finally, The New Yorker is famous forincorporating illustrations, many times with a funny sentence below it, intotheir articles. Do you think this is effective or does it detract from thearticle?

Also feel free to comment on this blog post and post a link to your favorite super bowl commercial!

Derse, Discussion Questions, Feb 1

2012-02-01T12:55:00.001-06:00

The Schudson article goes into detail about how the penny press helped increase circulation to people because it was less expensive than the other newspapers at the time. In today’s society, many people rely on television or newspaper websites for news, which is free, meaning that it is less expensive than buying a newspaper. Do you think that there is any compromise in quality for getting free news from television or websites versus getting news from a newspaper? (assuming it’s not a free newspaper)

Another aspect of the article explained that with the rise of newspapers, people became more knowledgeable about worldwide and national events, especially once international correspondents were established. Compared with other countries, the US was much more up to date and was aware of many events taking place. Do you feel that today’s society is as informed about current events as they should be?

Of the three main arguments made in the article: the Technology Argument, the Literacy Argument, and the Natural History Argument, which of these do you believe makes the most convincing argument and why?

Highlander, Research Report, Jan 31

2012-01-31T21:49:00.001-06:00

AsI began this research paper I soon realized that The Economist does not explicitly list the author(s) who took partin writing their articles including, HowLuther went viral. Without beingable to research the individuals whose ideas and opinions were expressed inthis article I had to resort to researching the ideas and opinions of The Economist as a whole.

The Economist is a weekly news and internationalaffairs publication, owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd., and edited in London. Although it is referred to as a newspaper, the articles appear on glossypapers quite similar to the ones in magazines. After researching The Economist I found that they choosenot to present the names of the journalists involved in their pieces becausethey want their articles to represent a collaborative effort rather than anindividual one. Despite the name of thepublication, it does not solely focus on economics. After reading the article in question we cansee that it has nothing to do with weekly news or international affairs. Its focus is on new and old media and thepassing of information along social networks. The article was published in theChristmas edition of The Economist on December 17^th, 2011, just intime for the holidays. This article may havebeen published at this time because it focuses so much on Martin Luther and theReformation, a topic that fit well to publish during a month of many religiousholidays. It also focuses on new mediaand social networking which is prevalent in the world at any time.

HowLuther went viral, was written to show that media sharing along socialnetworks is a catalyst for social change, but not a new one. New technology and the means of sharinginformation that we enjoy today may be faster but they are continuations oflong time traditions. The article linksMartin Luther’s methods of sharing information to the public as we do todaywhen we “like” and “retweet” information. Martin Luther was just as successful in rallying supporters for theReformation 500 years ago with his printed publications as the Arab Springmovement was with Facebook and Twitter. The article connected the past and the present and showed the power ofmedia at any advanced stage. These ideasof sharing information have been around much longer than people give themcredit for.

TheEconomist’s intended audience is highly educated readers and on thecontents page of each newsmagazine their mission statement can be read, 'Firstpublished in September 1843 to take part in "a severe contest betweenintelligence, which presses forward, and an unworthy, timid ignoranceobstructing our progress." Sincethis news company has been operating successfully since 1843 while successfullyadhering to its mission statement, the article How Luther went viral and the publication itself is one that can betrusted and relied upon.

My Online Assignment

2012-01-29T15:18:00.000-06:00

Name and hometown: Tom Chapin from Waukesha, WI.

Possible future job? Anybody in that job that you really admire now?: Right now I am focusing on Actuarial Science but I am also looking into Finance. There isn't really anymore I admire and there really isn't a certain job I am looking for (other than becoming an actuary).

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources?: Honestly, I never look at news websites unless something big or important has happened. However, I find that twitter and CNN updates on my phone sufficiently keep me in touch with the world.

What kind of music do you like? I have a wide variety of taste in music. My favorites include Bon Iver, Brand New, TBS, Manchester Orchestra, PATD, Kanye West, Moving Mountains, and fun..

Favorite online video: I do not have any favorite online video, but I love South Park so I just chose one of my favorite clips-Importance of Saving Money.

What recent pop culture expression do you love? I catch myself quoting South Park far too often. My favorite quote to use is the "annnnnnnnd its gone" from the clip above.

2012-01-29T15:01:00.001-06:00

Name and Hometown: Matt McKeown, Rye, New York
Possible future job? Anybody that you admire now?
Since as long as I can remember, I have been a huge sports fan, and have always had an interest in finding a career in the world of sports. Ideally, something in the broadcasting/journalism side of sports since I have experience writing for my high school paper, and anchoring the morning announcements, and my favorite areas in acadmeics are those that involve writing or composition. People I admire in the field right now are Bill Simmons of ESPN and Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated. They are two columnists who are not afraid to voice their opinions and do so in a quirky, satirical fashion which keeps the reader on their heels and engaged in their articles.
Do you consume "news"? If you do, what are your main sources?
I mainly consume news through the social media, but I do try to stay ontop of current events and will always go on to CNN or read newspapers online to try and stay up on what is happenning in the world. I will follow the news now more than normally too because of the coverage of the caucases and the upcoming election.
What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture.)
I am a big fan of classic rock and '90s rap. I like Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Eminem, and The Notoriuos B.I.G. most of all.
Favorite online video (link to it)
Terrell Owens Touchdown Celebration
What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)?
I have found that I have been using hashtags too much lately, both in speech and in writing online, I've really gotta tone it down.

2012-01-28T16:03:00.002-06:00

Name and hometown: Dan Covington, Des Plaines, IL

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now? One of my many dream jobs would be as a television sports commentator, which is usually the product of being a sports writer for many years. Workers in this field get to talk about sports all day long, something I still do but don't get payed for. Both Skip Bayless and Michael Wilbon, TV personalities of ESPN First Take and Pardon the Interruption, are both former sports writers who's careers have taken them to national spotlight daily on ESPN. While I don't agree with all of their opinions, they have the best job in the world.

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources? Yes, but only online. For social news, I use Facebook. For sporting news, I both watch ESPN and go on espn.com. As for more global news, I generally get it all from Yahoo News.

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture.) I listen to a wide variety of music, ranging from alternative rock (Three Days Grace, Seether, Red Hot Chili Peppers) to electric music (Pendulum, David Guetta, deadmau5).

Favorite online video (link to it): Blake Griffin Song "I Will Never Back Down" by dj steve porter

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)? I find myself saying "dude" quite often. It can fit into any informal social setting.

Andie's first online assignment

2012-01-27T15:16:00.001-06:00

Name and hometown:

Andie Burjek Downers Drove, IL

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now?

Something in marketing or journalism maybe? My dream job would be to work at a fashion magazine or some other type of magazine in a big city like New York or Chicago.

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources?

Occasionally, on yahoo or twitter

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture.)

Mostly anything. Some of my favorites are the Beatles, Andrew Bird, and Bon Iver,

Favorite online video (link to it):

She and Him

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)?

"like"

Chloe's First Online Assignment

2012-01-27T13:30:00.001-06:00

Name and hometown: Chloe Derse- Hartford, WI

Possible future job? Anyone in that job that you really admire now?: My goal is to get a job in advertising, and hopefully this class will give me some insight as to if that is something I will actually enjoy as a career. There isn't really a specific person that I admire in the field.

Do you consume "news"? If you do, what are your main sources? My main sources of news are usually sites like yahoo.com, and sometimes in the morning I'll watch "The Today Show" before class.

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture): My favorite genre of music is country, but I also like John Mayer.

Favorite online video (link to it): One of my favorite videos is Sophia Grace on the Ellen show. She is so hilarious!

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)? For some reason, I have found myself saying "perf" (for perfect) lately.

Megan's First Online Assignment

2012-01-26T21:36:00.001-06:00

Name and hometown: Megan Hakes, Green Bay, WI

Possible future job? Anyone in that job that you really admire now?: My hope is to work for a business that serves children, as a public relations specialist. I am familiar with people who work in this field, but not specifically with children.

Do you consume "news"? If you do, what are your main sources? I tend to use sites such as yahoo.com to follow big news stories.

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture): I really enjoy modern soft rock, such as Boyce Avenue.

Favorite online video (link to it): I love the video "I Told My Kids I Ate All Their Halloween Candy"

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)? Although I myself use it rarely, the expression, "Too legit to quit" became quite popular in my high school last year.

Josie's First Online Assignment

2012-01-26T18:29:00.001-06:00

Name and hometown: Josie Bonefas, Lake Zurich, IL

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now? A possible future job I would like to have would be working in a public relations firm. Ideally, I would want to be part of a big firm in Chicago so that I can get the chance to work with really big companies and be part of big promotional events. There's not any specific people in this job that I especially admire, but some example companies I would love to have a job with would be Edelman and Weber Shandwick.

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources? Yes, I try to keep up with the news as much as I can, which ends up being a few times a week. My main sources are online articles, sometimes I use Yahoo to browse through articles, and I also like to use Twitter to get updates everyday from Entertainment Weekly and other breaking news sources.

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture.) I like a lot of different genres of music. One of my favorite singers is Adele and some of my favorite groups are Florence and the Machine, Matchbox 20, and Neon Trees.

Favorite online video (link to it): Jenna Marbles' "Face" video I think she's hilarious!

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)? I have found myself abbreviated words a lot, like legit, awk, and many more. I find it much more convenient, even if it isn't proper English.

Highlander, Online Assignment 1, Jan 26

2012-01-26T16:52:00.000-06:00

Name and hometown: Ashley Highlander, Menomonee Falls, WI

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now?

I can't decide what I want to be when I am older. I am interested in the media and so journalism is something I would be interested in. However, I am also interested in political science and biology. If a future job was working as a journalist, I really admire Katie Couric because she is so well known and has had amazing journalism opportunities.

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources?

My main source of news is from social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. I also check out the celebrity news in magazines and on E television. I also enjoy reading the news on Yahoo.

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture.)

I love all types of music so it would take me a while to list all of them, but one of my favorite bands is the Black Keys. I just bought their new album El Camino and I love it!

Favorite online video (link to it):

Mom's Sneeze is Scary this video always makes me laugh!

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)?

If I don't know the answer to something or I'm referring to looking up information on the internet I just say "google" it.

Amanda M, Online Assignment 1, Jan.26

2012-01-26T16:32:00.003-06:00

Name and hometown: Amanda M Edina, MN

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now?

After having the opportunity to shadow a few different individuals in the business world, I know that I would love to someday work in marketing, supply chain management, or both! I love the energy of the corporate world and envision myself in Minneapolis working for a company such as General Mills or Target. I currently have an internship at a German retail store called OSKA-Edina, and I admire my employer Nancy Karason for being a powerful marketer, business woman and mentor.

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources?

I consume news constantly via NY Times and CNN Twitter updates sent to my phone. My homepage is set to nytimes.com so I try to skim that whenever I'm online. I also enjoy getting my sports updates from Rick Reilly's articles and columns.

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture.)

I enjoy country (Taylor Swift, Zac Brown Band), Coldplay, Dave Matthews Band, and Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes.

Favorite online video (link to it):

Lost Lamb

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)?

I love Twitter, so I actively incorporate the verb "tweet" in my everyday conversation.

Online Assignment #1

2012-01-26T11:53:00.000-06:00

Name and hometown: Ben Harvey

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now?

After I ruled out my career in professional basketball I decided I would like to pursue a career in writing for some type of business journal, magazine or newspaper. Patton Dodd writes articles for the sports section of The Wall Street Journal and his jobs combines two of my favorite writing topics, sports and business.

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources?

Yes, I enjoy reading business articles from The Wall Street Journal but i usually consume my global and national news from either Yahoo.com or nytimes.com.

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture.)

I enjoy a huge variety of music but right now I am into rap/hip-hop by artists like Wiz Khalifa and B.o.B.

Favorite online video (link to it):

Cool Whip- Family Guy

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)?

I don't have too many pop culture expressions but I am from Wisconsin so yes, I drink out of a "bubbler" not a water fountain.