I must admit that when I signed up for CNJ442 I was a little concerned. I wasn't sure what the course would entail, what we would have to do and it was my first 400 level course. Scary! Having already weathered the storm I must admit it was not what I expected and I came out of this course with a lot more knowledge than I entered it with. I have learned so much about online journalism and where it's going. The short of it is that media is online. I was a person who had always looked a some news on the internet but this course really made me analyze online journalism and see what I like and don't like. I enjoy the different components that multimedia allows for people that unfortunately print or television can not provide. I enjoy the comments more than anything. This is something that I have discovered is solely in online publications and I learned to truly appreciate it. Although people sometimes get nasty or really show their level of ignorance, I think it's a positive thing to know how the community feels about certain topics.
I learned the different ways that websites can be displayed and how figure out if a website is user friendly or not. My online journalism lingo has been significantly improved and I am now knowledgeable about how media make money from online- advertisements, yes those things that everyone hate. But the most rewarding was that I was finally in a class where I learned how to really use a computer program. Learning Audacity was not an easy thing and spending hours editing was not the most fun I've ever had on a Friday night but it was all worth it. I spent time researching and interviewing people in order to make a wonderful slideshow about The Barnacle Historic State Park. An end to a great semester. Check out my final project below.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Dunkin Donuts Crime Suspects Caught
Covered in a wonderfully written article by The Miami Herald, Palm Beach and Broward County residents can finally take a sigh of relief knowing that the horrendous individuals involved in the Dunkin Donuts robberies are behind bars.
The last two men were caught trying to take a boat to the Bahamas and were arrested by police. The three other men involved were caught when police officers saw them attempting to steal a pitbull who was on a walk with its owner. The authorities reported that the men were not remorseful. A total of five people were shot in the robbing spree.
I thought the story was covered very well and made the robbers look like complete idiots (not a bad thing). I was surprised however that there was no link to related stories. This is a story that has been covered for awhile and maybe The Miami Herald felt that they had covered the background information already. I don't really think this was the case. The comments, as always, are incredibly interesting because people become so outraged. Some praised law enforcement, others claimed that the men would be back on the streets in no time, while one other said he/she would hang them from a rope. It's nuts, but I have come to appreciate the comment section of stories because it is something that is solely based in online journalism. I like to know what people are thinking and how they react to certain stories and situations.
The last two men were caught trying to take a boat to the Bahamas and were arrested by police. The three other men involved were caught when police officers saw them attempting to steal a pitbull who was on a walk with its owner. The authorities reported that the men were not remorseful. A total of five people were shot in the robbing spree.
I thought the story was covered very well and made the robbers look like complete idiots (not a bad thing). I was surprised however that there was no link to related stories. This is a story that has been covered for awhile and maybe The Miami Herald felt that they had covered the background information already. I don't really think this was the case. The comments, as always, are incredibly interesting because people become so outraged. Some praised law enforcement, others claimed that the men would be back on the streets in no time, while one other said he/she would hang them from a rope. It's nuts, but I have come to appreciate the comment section of stories because it is something that is solely based in online journalism. I like to know what people are thinking and how they react to certain stories and situations.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving!! I woke up this morning to assist my mother in washing some dishes and stuffing the wonderful bird that we will eat in approximately two hours (can't wait)! Since it's Thanksgiving, I've been spending some quality time with dear Ma painting our toenails and just hanging out. While online I found a wonderfully hilarious article about Thanksgiving day disasters.
In all honesty, I know that someday in the near future it will be my turn to prepare Thanksgiving dinner. To think that I will have to do all the things that mother does with ease is quite a frightening idea. But once you read these horror stories from local Miami chefs it gets a little scarier.
One couple left their turkey out and came back to find that their cat enjoy the bird before they even had a taste. A few others highlight restaurants who have events and sadly end up running out of turkey! What a shame. These hilarious little quotes will bring a smile to all who enjoy them and are a great way to bond on a day when people just spend quality time together. This is exactly what I did with my mother and needless to say we had a great laugh, especially imagining our fat cat eating the turkey.
I think it was a good idea for the Herald to put up a comical story on the main page. With the holidays this year being extremely rough for many people it's nice to have a little laugh. Plus, out there somewhere today, their are people who are having their own Thanksgiving crisis. Good luck to all the cooks, and may everyone enjoy a wonderful day with family and friends. What I love is that even on a holiday people can go online and fine up-to-date stories on things that have happened today. To all the journalists pumping away stories in the middle of spending time with friends thank you. This just proves to the world the dedication journalists have for their craft and that online journalism is truly up to minute and neverending.
In all honesty, I know that someday in the near future it will be my turn to prepare Thanksgiving dinner. To think that I will have to do all the things that mother does with ease is quite a frightening idea. But once you read these horror stories from local Miami chefs it gets a little scarier.
One couple left their turkey out and came back to find that their cat enjoy the bird before they even had a taste. A few others highlight restaurants who have events and sadly end up running out of turkey! What a shame. These hilarious little quotes will bring a smile to all who enjoy them and are a great way to bond on a day when people just spend quality time together. This is exactly what I did with my mother and needless to say we had a great laugh, especially imagining our fat cat eating the turkey.
I think it was a good idea for the Herald to put up a comical story on the main page. With the holidays this year being extremely rough for many people it's nice to have a little laugh. Plus, out there somewhere today, their are people who are having their own Thanksgiving crisis. Good luck to all the cooks, and may everyone enjoy a wonderful day with family and friends. What I love is that even on a holiday people can go online and fine up-to-date stories on things that have happened today. To all the journalists pumping away stories in the middle of spending time with friends thank you. This just proves to the world the dedication journalists have for their craft and that online journalism is truly up to minute and neverending.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Obamas Display Model Relationship
Kathlyn and Gay Hendricks are relationship experts who analyzed the body language of Michelle and Barack Obama by analyzing their body language in interviews and during the campaign. In an article for the Huffington Post the two experts take a look at the how the President Elect and so-to-be First Lady exhibit good relationship qualities.
The main thing that the experts note is how the Obamas truly seem interested in what the other one has to say. This is something that the Hendricks claim has been uncommon with previous presidents and their wives. They even dare people to look at photographs of all the Presidents as far back as Nixon to see what they mean. To think that truly being interested in what your significant other has to say would be such a uncommon phenomenon is quite disheartening for a young woman such as myself. The Hendricks even tell a story where a man asked Gay Hendricks how he acts like he's interested in what his wife has to say. His answer- truly be interested!
Now I applaud Mr. Obama for showing men all over this great nation how to be a wonderful husband and to show to the world that you truly care about your wife. But can this type of attention and affection be acted? The Hendricks say no, and the great part about online journalism is that along with the article they have provided photos of a recent 60 Minutes interviews as well as photos from the campaign which clearly show the type of eye contact and the connection that the new First Family have for one another. It is truly something refreshing to see.
Dave Barry's Holiday Gift Guide
It's sad to say but with the current economic problems many people are not in the holiday mood. Leave it a man to come up with gifts specifically designed for the people who are never in the holiday mood to buy for others.
Dave Barry's Holiday Gift Guide includes a list of outrageous gifts that are sure to make someone never want to buy you a gift again. Barry even analyzes the gift giving techniques of men and women. Where a man will buy a gift because he has a specific occasion, a woman on the other hand will buy something because it's cute. Although I think Dave Barry's assumptions here are a little off I must agree with the another statement that he made: women start behaving in the Holiday mood early, like in July. Now, I didn't start that early, but by August (only a month later) I was already contemplating what I wanted to get people and scoping out the merchandise at stores. I can't help that I need the most time to get this kind of stuff done. I must admit though the gifts on this Holiday Gift Guide are not only sure to shock, but some would be quite humorous to give as gifts. Look at my personal favorites the talking fly swatter, the 'War Hammer' back razor, and the restroom baby-hanger. To think that all these products are actually sold.
I am a newbie to Dave Barry's blog and found it to be quite funny and interesting. This would probably explain why so many people read his blog on a daily basis. What I liked about his blog was not only the humorous quality to his prose but also the fact that I felt like I wasn't reading a blog. The blog post read more like a comical news story or column. I guess when you really think about how online journalism has made print journalism accessible on a computer I would argue that a blog really is just your ordinary news column in digital form. Bravo Dave Barry, you have forced me to learn something new today.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Worst States for Drunken Driving
I decided to explore a some news websites that I've never really had an opportunity to look at. Forbes.com was my site of choice since I have been to the site a few times before when stories they cover end up on Yahoo! I came across an article that was so informative and riveting that the way it was presented wasn't such a huge problem.
Forbes did a story on the worst states for drunk driving related fatalities and the top five alone are a shock. Montana, South Carolina, Mississippi, Wyoming, and Louisiana come in as the worst states in the United States, and the crazy thing is that Wyoming is the least populated state out of all fifty. The article analyzes the reasons for these high numbers in these states which range from rural roads with higher speeds to states being a bridge state that many people travel through. I think the fact that Forbes covered such an important topic says a lot about the type of news this their willing to cover. This is one of those articles that everyone should read in order to be more aware of their own state and the types of drivers on the road. The story also contained a slideshow list of all fifty states along with pictures.
The things I didn't like about the story as it relates to online journalism is that the type was squished onto the left side of the page. Ads and empty space took up more than half of the page which was annoying and an eyesore. Also, the text was separated by links, comments, and related stories. Its distracting when the story is so interesting and engaging and then something interrupts the flow of reading. It's a great article but it could use some work on the layout.
Forbes did a story on the worst states for drunk driving related fatalities and the top five alone are a shock. Montana, South Carolina, Mississippi, Wyoming, and Louisiana come in as the worst states in the United States, and the crazy thing is that Wyoming is the least populated state out of all fifty. The article analyzes the reasons for these high numbers in these states which range from rural roads with higher speeds to states being a bridge state that many people travel through. I think the fact that Forbes covered such an important topic says a lot about the type of news this their willing to cover. This is one of those articles that everyone should read in order to be more aware of their own state and the types of drivers on the road. The story also contained a slideshow list of all fifty states along with pictures.
The things I didn't like about the story as it relates to online journalism is that the type was squished onto the left side of the page. Ads and empty space took up more than half of the page which was annoying and an eyesore. Also, the text was separated by links, comments, and related stories. Its distracting when the story is so interesting and engaging and then something interrupts the flow of reading. It's a great article but it could use some work on the layout.
CNN.com Disappointing
I have never gone to the CNN website and was expecting something as wonderful, colorful, and informative as the television version but unfortunately that is not what I found. I was extremely disappointed that although the site was simple it has some organizational problems.
The first thing I noticed was a list of stories under the title Other News. I can only assume that the list is in order by what CNN finds to be most important because it appears to be a random list of stories. The list is long, cluttered, and most people wouldn't have time to go through the entire list of stories. I want to be able to go to a news website and see the news in a more logical and cohesive way. When I go to a news website and the first thing I see is a list it makes me think that CNN doesn't care enough to present the news to me in a more logical way.
One of the good things that I liked about the website is the fact that there are bold headlines for some oranization of the news. The only problem is that instead of placing this organizational table of the news at the top of the website it is placed at the bottom. The site would be better presented if the bottom half of the homepage was placed at the top. I hope that at some point CNN decides to do some restructuring to their site.
The first thing I noticed was a list of stories under the title Other News. I can only assume that the list is in order by what CNN finds to be most important because it appears to be a random list of stories. The list is long, cluttered, and most people wouldn't have time to go through the entire list of stories. I want to be able to go to a news website and see the news in a more logical and cohesive way. When I go to a news website and the first thing I see is a list it makes me think that CNN doesn't care enough to present the news to me in a more logical way.
One of the good things that I liked about the website is the fact that there are bold headlines for some oranization of the news. The only problem is that instead of placing this organizational table of the news at the top of the website it is placed at the bottom. The site would be better presented if the bottom half of the homepage was placed at the top. I hope that at some point CNN decides to do some restructuring to their site.
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