If Only All News Was This Revealing

One of the great things about Online Journalism is the ability for people to receive news whenever they have the time. Many news station don't replay past talks with political candidates or advisers and the public is left wondering if certain statements are a true reflection of the person's position from the beginning.

In an effort to inform the public of double standards, Jon Stewart of The Daily Show aired clips of flip-flopping by the Republican party. The subject of the comments are women in politics and to see the proof before your very own eyes is not only comical, but it makes a people sit there and shake their heads. Not only is The Daily Show funny and gives people information, it has been able to show things that major news stations just don't broadcast.

With the power of YouTube and the wonderful world wide web, now everyone can receive pertinent information on their own time and in whatever form they choose. Bravo Mr. Stewart and YouTube for presenting such thrilling and riveting information!

Unfortunately, the video clip I had up is no longer available.

Multimedia Storytelling

In telling a story online many news media incorporate multimedia storytelling. Multimedia is when different elements such as videos and photos are incorporated into a story to give further information.

The Knight Digital Media Center gives students and professionals information about the world of Online Journalism through tutorials, blogs, and workshops. One of the tutorials offered is titled What is a Multimedia Story? This tutorial describes the ways that journalists can incorporate multimedia into their online stories appropriately. The tutorial gives examples of the proper ways that multimedia has been utilized in the media and the benefits that such added information can afford.

The tutorials breaks down the steps of composing a multimedia story including choosing a story, figuring out the components and what media form will work best, and storyboarding.

Wonderfully educational and interesting, the tutorial includes information that every journalist should be aware of before writing for online.

Influence of the West Creepy and Loving

USA Today covered an interesting story about Western influence on Russian youth. Valentine's Day and Halloween have begun to grow popular in the country and Russian lawmakers are trying to institute legislation that would force people to instead celebrate Russian holidays. According to the article, analysts are saying that Russia feels threatened by Western influences.

The idea that such holidays could be banned in other countries is mind-boggling. These are two holidays that some say were invented by candy companies while other like dressing-up one day and expressing love the next. Despite what people label these holidays, they are fun and enjoyable for everyone who participate and obviously the Russian youth feel the same.

Comments online are pretty funny and should definitely be looked at after reading the article. One person named hayseed made a good point, obviously Russia's government is paying attention to the trivial instead of focusing on the real issues in their country. The commenter even took it a step further saying that the United States Congress is doing the same... ouch! Can't we all just love each other and share some candy corn?

An Online Treasure

Most known for their amazing photography and lengthy feature stories about the sciences, National Geographic is a treasure. Extremely colorful and fun, their website is a change from the usual media sites that can be found online. An exploration of the site will afford wonderful information that most news outlets simply don't have time to cover.

Take for example an article about the sun's intensity decreasing and possibly endangering the earth. With other news such as the presidential debate and the economy being in a recession, the media simply doesn't have time to deal with such news as the sun. The feature is wonderfully written, incredibly informative, and simply warns that the intensity of the sun is decreasing which could possibly cause an increase in cosmic rays (more of a problem for astronauts traveling into space and the little alien creatures located passed Pluto). Also, this increase in cosmic rays could alter the climate of the earth... interesting, seeing as everyone is so concerned about global warming.

Check out National Geographic and all their enlightening information.

The Power of Photography

One of the greatest things about the internet is the amount of photos that can be posted online. Photos are a vitally important component of stories . In many cases images enable people to really experience a situation more so than words would ever be able to.

The picture of a Miami homeless man brings to light the situation and strong emotion. Photos can transcend language barriers, display emotion, and freeze a moment forever.

For Online Journalism picture are usually set to a smaller scale but brings the same extra information that photos can in print.

Check out some great photography at World Press Photo.

4,172 Angels

While many people continue with their daily routines, others are left in grief, pain, and sadness.

On the USA Today website next to their world section is a link to the Troop Deaths in Iraq. Clicking on this link leads to a page with small rectangles lined up in rows. The number of these rectangles, which resemble mini blue coffins, is the number of casualties in Iraq- 4,172. This is 4,172 families severely impacted, 4,172 lives altered, 4,172 people who will never again enjoy the breeze on their face or the tickle of sand between their toes. The casualties of Iraq have not been a main component in daily media and this is a sad thing. The United States is still at war as the economy and the deaths sadly reflect.

A giant thank you to USA Today to making sure that the American people are informed of the number of people who have given their lives to make sure that everyone else still has one to enjoy.

May God Bless Our Troops.

Breaking News Story Rewrite

The following is my rewrite of the breaking news story that I followed about the Embassy attack in Yemen. This is how I feel the first few paragraphs of the story should have looked following the update.

The U.S. Embassy in San’a, Yemen was attacked at 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday.

Sixteen people were killed and the U.S. said no Americans were harmed in the assault. The state news SABA reported that the casualties consisted of six attackers, six Yemeni guards and four civilians.

Multiple explosions and gunfire raged for 10 minutes along the perimeter of the heavily-guarded building. USA Today reported the U.S. Embassy in Yemen has been attacked four times with this attack being the worst. Militants were armed with automatic weapons, grenades and one suicide car bomb.

President George W. Bush said the attack on the Embassy is a reminder that the United States is still at war with extremists.

In response to the assault the U.S. said the situation had “the hallmarks of an al-Qaeda attack.”

Following a Breaking News Story #3

Final check 5:00 pm:

My final check on the story showed no changes : (

They should of added the President's comment and the comment released to represent the United States towards the top.

Following a Breaking News Story #2

Third Check 2:15 pm:

The story was no longer listed under the heading Top News but was moved to the right of the homepage and placed in smaller type. A picture of the bombing was taken off of the homepage.

Changes to the story were made but unfortunately the author placed the changes at the bottom of the article.
The first change was the adding of information about al-Qaeda militants who escaped from a prison in Yemen. This information was added to give more insight to the fact that Yemen security and intelligence services are corrupt because of al-Qaeda. This information is okay towards the bottom because it isn't vitally important; however, the other change that was made to the should have been towards the top of the story.

The author added a comment made by President Bush and the United States as the last two sentences of the article. Although the President's comment only stated the bombing is a reminder that the U.S is still at war it should have been placed at the top. As the main representative of the United States, people want to know what he has to say and what statement the United States has made to the world about this situation. The second part of this change stated that the bombing had the markings of an al-Qaeda attack. People want to know this! This should have definitely not been at the bottom.

Following a Breaking News Story

For the assignment of following a breaking news story I chose a USA Today story about the assault of the U.S. Embassy in Yemen.

First Check 9:30 am:
The story is listed big on the left side of the homepage under the heading Top News.

My main critique of the story is the time the attack occurred is listed in the sixth paragraph. I feel that this detail should have been within the first few paragraphs because it gives readers pertinent information as to whether people would have been in and around the building.


Second Check 12:00 pm:
No updates to the story, still listed under the heading Top News.

Funniest Political Video

I think this truly touches on how people can take comments the media make about political candidates and make it funny. Absolutely wonderful SNL. Enjoy!

Components Galore

Exploring the vast world of Online Journalism can lead people down a long road of further understanding one story. The many components available with online stories enables a person to find out more information than by just reading the words. Videos, photos, slideshows, interactive features and comments brings about the opportunity to further your understanding of a topic or situation beyond that of print journalism.

Take for example an article on CNN.com about the increase in online election merchandise linked to Sarah Palin. The story features a read tab and also a photo tab. The photos bring about a visual understanding of the types of merchandise that are being sold to promote the Palin/McCain campaign. The story even provides a link to eBay so people can see for themselves the amount of items for sale. By allowing people to do more than just read a story, CNN has demonstrated the true way an online media site should work. With the vast amount of Online Journalism components every media outlet would be smart to allow their users to take advantage and receive more information about the news.

Below are some examples of different types of components Online Journalism provides:

Slideshow
Interactive
Polls

Truly Eye-Catching

Upon attempting to look at the homepage for the Washington Post a rather unusual 'editorial' speaks for attention- literally. Forming a column down the right side of the page, a video along with what appears to be an actual piece of journalism appears, but journalism it is definitely not!

This lovely 'editorial' just happens to be an ad for apple computers, where the PC guy speaks about his unwavering anger towards mac users. (At the top of the page in rather small trpe is the word advertisement.) The ad is funny, oh yes, but is it right to form this ad as if it was an actual newspaper article? After a few seconds the ad changes and readers can clearly tell that this is only an ad created to blend with the stories on the Washington Post homepage but there is something to be said about this being online.

Without the movement and speech of the ad an individual could assume that the Washington Post staff supports mac computers over PCs; hence, why this add would never work in print. Bringing about the wonders of media convergence, now an ad such as this one can bring both text and video together to form one eye-catching and content related advertisement on the internet. Granted, the ad has the immense potential to catch everyone's attention over anything else on the homepage. What more could apple ask for other then for the Washington Post to write such an 'editorial' themselves.

Do You Dare Shovelware?

Do you dare shovelware? First, shovelware is when a publication puts the same content online that is in the printed version. This has happened quite a bit with several media publications while other have realized that there is an audience out there that reads both online and print version, which means there has to be some difference between the two. With the world of Online Journalism flourishing, do certain publication have the staff to create original content for the internet? The answer- not all of them do. Take for example Tampa Bay Illustrated Magazine, which is a niche magazine for the Tampa Bay Area. Their website is full of shovelware and, in an effort to get people to subscribe, they only post the first half of the stories. Plus, its obvious that the print pages were placed on the website. Clever, lazy or simply the only recourse? Shovelware is just one dilemma that Online Journalism has created. Although it allows people to check out a publication before subscribing, it does not give much to the audience that is already interested and simply wants more. At some point more will have to be given.

Check out Tampa Bay Illustrated shovelware on Fall Fashion

To Blog or Not to Blog- That is the Question

Many journalists have stayed hooked on print formats, while others have realized the importance of expanding into the Online Journalism world. Scott Karp, the creator of Publishing 2.0, a blog that reflects on the impact of new technology on new media, wrote a post encouraging all newspaper journalists to start a blog. Encouraging these journalists to jump into new media is a smart suggestion; however, do these working people honestly have the time? Whether they do or not blogging and becoming more familiar with Online Journalism will end up being beneficial. The one incredible benefit of blogging that Karp mentions is that it allows for working journalists to see what their readers are thinking. This could not be more true. If a working journalist has a personal blog where he or she can reflect on topics that they might be covering, they are able to get feedback directly from the people who will be reading their work. In true journalist style Karp gives voice to the people who agree with him and to those who do not. Although replacing a paying job with a blogging job might not be the best financial decision for the majority of journalists, blogging along with being a newspaper writer could be a huge benefit by allowing them to feel out and become accustomed to the new form of journalism.

Scott Karp's Blog Post
Check out one working journalist's personal blog

Disturbingly Needed

In the world sad things happen, catastrophic things occur and journalists have the job of SHOWING and TELLING the public all about it. On a visit to The Miami Herald, one editor explained that a benefit of Online Journalism is that you can place a disclaimer before people view graphic photos. He is absolutely right. Newspapers lie around in most public places where anyone (whether they want to or not) can view a photo that is considered disturbing or graphic. If the media knows there is this risk why publish such a photo? The answer is easy- because people need to see it. In order to fully understand the severity of certain situations graphic and heart-wrenching photos must be displayed. Online a disclaimer can be put but in print what you see is what you see whether you choose to or not.

Such an issue arose recently when The Miami Herald published a photo of a father in Haiti holding the lifeless body of his five-year-old daughter, whose death was a result of Hurricane Ike. See the story and photo below as well as one Herald worker's blog about the photo.

Ike Kills Dozens in Haiti
Herald Worker and Mom Blogs About the Photo



Video: Hurricane Ike's devastating impact in Haiti

A Diverse Future

Despite the fact that a trip to The Miami Herald was more like a trip to the airport with all the security, it is truly an eye-opening experience to witness a real newsroom. All around this floor people are huddled tightly to their computers working on stories, layouts and discussing issues. On the surface it would appear to be a typical office setting where individuals are hard at work to compile a daily print newspaper- well not exactly. Along the walls of this giant floor are two radio studios, a continuous news desk for online, and a construction site soon to be a television studio. New media has essentially forced the print people to get with the program. The most intriguing of all is the continuous news desk that has a person keeping watch and updating The Miami Herald website non-stop from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. That's right people, just a few hours shy of 24/7. This is what should be expected in the media world that is 2008, but nonetheless to see it in person is a completely different story. A visit to The Miami Herald provides a true outlook on what the future of journalism will be, and man is it diverse!

Above photo of The Miami Herald office shows desks next to the radio studios.

Always Have the News

In a world of essays, reading, internships and class it's no wonder that many college students don't have time to pick up a newspaper and read what interests them most. Certain stories are always of particular interest and this is where the lovely world of Online Journalism comes into play. Online media offers the capability for people to receive news alerts via mobile phones (which of course everyone owns). By selecting specific key words, individuals can now receive the stories they're interested in immediately on their cell phones. This feature becomes especially useful in times of chaos when an immediate update is needed, such as when there is a massive hurricane approaching. Getting this feature is easy and can be found on numerous media websites. An example of what this type of instant messaging looks like can be found above. Sign up and you'll have the news your interested in wherever you go.

What am I going to do?

It's a Saturday and boredom begins to creep its ugly head in your direction. You ponder to yourself "what am I going to do?" The answer: go online and figure it out. Online Journalism not only allows for the dissemination of hard news but also of entertainment and local news. In whatever city a person resides they can easily get on a computer and see what is happening in their city just by the click of a mouse. In Miami, Miami.com is such a website where lists of places to eat, venues and simply things that are happening are listed for everyone's convenience. The truth of the matter is- no one should have nothing to do on a Saturday ever again. By allowing for people to know what is available in their area, people are able to experience the most out of where they live. Online Journalism has made the forever dreaded "What am I going to do?" completely answerable. Isn't it just a wonderful thing!

Above picture is of kids at the Miami Marathon (one of the great things to experience in Miami)

To Much Info vs. Not Enough Info

The media has successfully accomplished giving citizens the information they need through an online platform; however, some sites have just too much going on while others just don't have enough. Take for example USA Today, the site is colorful, allowing for attraction, but it also seems extremely crowded. There is big type and small type everywhere and advertisements linger amongst actual pertinent information. The good news- for people who just want it straight can search by category or type in a search box. All this colorful chaos although somewhat useful can be overwhelming. On the other side of the spectrum, MiamiMoms.com is supposed to be a site that gives Miami moms resources they need; nonetheless, upon inspection of the site it seems to be more of a list of other cities that use this resource website as well. Only three links exist on the site that give moms some resources, but its just not enough. The final conclusion- there has to be a happy medium for Online Journalism between too much information and just not enough.

Take a peak at both sites below:
USA Today
MiamiMoms

Online Readers Comment

Upon reading any news media online many may have noticed that at the bottom of the page there are reader comments. Some are over the top and funny, while others are thoughtful and reflective; nevertheless, they are enjoyable to read. Unlike print media, where the only place people can comment directly is through Letters to the Editor, Online Journalism has allowed a forum for people to express their true feelings and views about the subject matter of the above story. With the elections, citizens have begun to express their feelings whether other people like it or not. The comments help to open eyes to how other people are looking at the election and what they are focusing on. The media itself has even quoted as support for how men and women across the country are reacting towards the candidates.

Check out an article below and then one reader's comment via a YouTube video (media quotes included).

McCain, Palin to head to Battlegrounds
One Reader's Comment

A Pause in the Flow

With hurricane season in full force, online media sources have stayed busy covering the current track of Hanna and Ike and how people are preparing for the storms. Upon reading these articles one must pause after the first few paragraphs because an interruption has been placed in the way. Instead of stories reading straight through, and getting the full information about the hurricanes, links have been placed immediately after the general information. This can sometimes appeal to the person who just wants a brief update or it can confuse and distract another reader from the complete story. A pause in the flow of reading online could lead certain individuals to miss the continuous flowing articles that are found in newspapers (minus the page jumps) unless media outlets start deciding to possibly just place related links to the side of a story.

Check out the pauses at the following link:
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/hurricane/2008-09-03-hanna-usa-preparations_N.htm?csp=34

The Opening of Eyes

A warm welcome to Online Journalism (capitalization must be used to apply emphasis to the immediate reaction of a world many encounter on a daily basis but few have truly analyzed.) The Online Journalism world is vast, complicated, interesting and never-ending. Information must be readily available for all types of people, from the business woman heading to work who needs to know the current update of a tragic accident to the baseball lover seeking the current scores, many expect to know everything about everything with a simple click of a mouse. Looking into the minute details of this growing media format could pose a serious challenge or some serious insight to the future of media...