Bearing Witness 2.0: You Can't Spin 10,000 Tweets & Camera Phone Uploads

An interesting article on how China feels the need to cordially invite "eyewitness" journalists but tries to exile new media that takes place online or through cellular devices. It's a valid statement to make that there is a huge difference when writing a story whether or not you were actually at the scene in person or your evidence comes from a technological device. However, what isn't valid is to think that there is only one form of reporting when it comes to journalism. You may not always have to be live and in person to get a message across and that is what phones, the Internet, and social media does. I especially like the end quote when she says, "New media is not replacing the need to "bear witness," it is spreading it beyond the elite few, and therefore making it harder for those elite few to get it as wrong as they've gotten it again and again -- from Stalin's Russia to Bush's Iraq." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/bearing-witness-20-you-ca_b_231096.html

As Web Challenges French Leaders, They Push Back

In the article As Web Challenges French Leaders, They Push Back, it's an interesting article, yet not a surprising topic all at once. The facts are interesting but as far as the story line it's almost a no-brainer. When you make obscene gestures or do something "on the edge" how can you not expect it to end up on the web and you then become the target for criticism. Nonetheless it makes for good entertainment and I enjoyed every minute of this video from class! http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6p3yu_morano-show_news

New Technology, New Voices

Once I had read the article New Technology, New Voices it made me realize how much of a phenomena cell phone usage is globally. In the United States we think of our cell phones primarily for recreational use, although much more in a job-friendly manner if you're a journalist but nonetheless not in the way cell phone coverage is happening outside of this country. The snap of a picture or a recording of voices can tell the whole story. That's what came to Egypt and Burma's rescue when it came to torture, abuse and inequality of rights. Just by Journalists using their cell phones to capture moments in time are what create the ability to enforce permanent change. In Egypt officers were prosecuted for torturing a minivan driver. Other areas like Kuwait used this "mobile democracy" to organize rallies  women to have the  right to vote. It is a sensational, instantaneous way to "reach" the masses and "grab" the change in history. New Technology, New Voices

ProPublica

I was really impressed when I took a look at ProPublica for the first time last week. It was similar to most of the other websites we've taken a look at, yet in certain ways very different, very clever. I personally thought it was a good idea to incorporate a "donate" button throughout the webpage, occurring at least 3 times, from the top all the way down to the bottom. I also thought the MuckReads section was a nice touch for citizens to learn what other people are doing and who is watching them and taking notes on it...aka the journalists. However, what I found most interesting about the site from class were the revenue streams that ProPublica relies on: funding by big foundations and small donors from the donation button throughout the site. I'll definitely be keeping my eye on this one. http://www.propublica.org/

News 21

News 21 definitely caught my eye when my browser first opened the page. I was impressed automatically with the choice of layout they chose to use. It's clear, bold and easy for the eyes to navigate through. For being a student-run site I give them credit for the professionalism the site exemplifies, however, in some ways I feel that  it's a bit bare. I also think the use of more graphics would help fill some empty space and add to the creativity. Overall, it looks very reputable and a site that could potentially keep growing in popularity.

Amy Goodman's Speech

WOW. After watching and listening to Amy Goodman's points all I could think of was how much I wasn't aware of every point and topic she was covering. How is it that CNN (U.S) can't show the masses of the horrific acts happening as a result of war. Not only are children being affected, but it's their families, friends and homes. Why is CNN International more understanding about the need to see what is happening, about being transparent, showing a split screen of direct cause and effect relationships? By the end of the video I was an awe of how much research and knowledge Ms. Goodman possessed on the issue of ending war. If only people could visually see the effect of war on people and children, Ms. Goodman predicted that in a week we could eradicate war. It's astonishing that after all we do know and see, that a bigger change isn't being made. That the media/news should be challenged as Goodman says. We can't keep letting news coverage and reporting dwindle so that their reputation is even further tarnished. We need to examine all media coverage world-wide and realize that  what the news is showing us may not be what is actually "seen" from our perspective. That something bigger or badder is at stake.http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6840473009639653689#

Creating a blog for the first time and it's a little intimidating. Hoping I'll get the hang of it sooner rather than later.