Readings: Chapter 9 & 11
Titles: "Make the News Comprehensive and Proportional" & "The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens".
My discourse on Chapter 9:
I thought it was genius for the teenagers to answer the question of "What do you think the next trend will be?" with "What do you mean, what will the next trend be? We rely on you to tell us what the next big trend will be". It is so true! We do rely on the media to tell us what will be the next trend and what we will want--kind of discerning, to me, as that doesn't really allow for an individual's full and complete independence. However, of course researchers are the ones who tell us what is trending but I believe that will prove to be too influential. Check out this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3_rTT9gfnU which tells us some of the hot trends like the Prius PHV. Of course, the research of trends may not come via word of mouth or old-fashioned "pounding the streets for information" like such results used to come out of. No, instead these days a lot of research on trends comes from researchers keeping an eye on the social networks that we use--like Twitter.
A little bit into this chapter it talked about journalists who put too much effort into writing about celebrity scandals because they know it will make a good story. I hate that type of journalism! We, as citizens, get drawn into that stuff, the reason why it sales, and in all perspective it is quite useless. How many of us have heard about the Kardashian divorce, two million dollar ring, the new baby on the way, and any other pitter smatter of their daily lives. I can't even recall why exactly they are famous. They don't sing, dance, act, etc. They just look super good in front of a camera and who knows why they have their own reality TV show? I don't. I am sure there is a reason for their fame but it is pretty nonexistent now. (sorry for my banter on these celebrities--I have a personal distaste for them). For any of you who may be wondering why they are famous just watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYuwfohfflU video and you will see not only how pointless their fame is but also how exactly this family just makes for good stories. After all, their fame started out with an over-publicized sex tape, or it pretty much did anyway.
My discourse on Chapter 11:
Information helps people become informed citizens and "public opinion, in turn, made possible the rise of self-government" (book, page 247). Basically, journalism and democracy came together. I am a big fan of democracy, but like the chapter heading of the "Responsibilities of the Citizens" I am no fan of much responsibility so my first question is "What exactly are these responsibilities?". I mean, as a present citizen I do not want any more responsibility than I can currently handle.
The following is a list of responsibilities:
On truthfulness: "The citizen has an obligation to approach the news with an open mind and not just a desire that the news reinforce existing opinion".
On loyalty to citizens: be transparent in giving information
On Independence: no divided loyalties
On monitoring power: news sources should be focused on the major issues, rather than the minor issues.
A Public Forum: our views and values should be reflected in the news
On Proportionality and Engagement: keep things simple, not over-exaggerated, and to be read or viewed in a timely manner.--Even these kids know when the news is being exaggerated. This is a video of some random kids and their rendition of the news http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNiK_2CcUzY
Titles: "Make the News Comprehensive and Proportional" & "The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens".
My discourse on Chapter 9:
I thought it was genius for the teenagers to answer the question of "What do you think the next trend will be?" with "What do you mean, what will the next trend be? We rely on you to tell us what the next big trend will be". It is so true! We do rely on the media to tell us what will be the next trend and what we will want--kind of discerning, to me, as that doesn't really allow for an individual's full and complete independence. However, of course researchers are the ones who tell us what is trending but I believe that will prove to be too influential. Check out this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3_rTT9gfnU which tells us some of the hot trends like the Prius PHV. Of course, the research of trends may not come via word of mouth or old-fashioned "pounding the streets for information" like such results used to come out of. No, instead these days a lot of research on trends comes from researchers keeping an eye on the social networks that we use--like Twitter.
A little bit into this chapter it talked about journalists who put too much effort into writing about celebrity scandals because they know it will make a good story. I hate that type of journalism! We, as citizens, get drawn into that stuff, the reason why it sales, and in all perspective it is quite useless. How many of us have heard about the Kardashian divorce, two million dollar ring, the new baby on the way, and any other pitter smatter of their daily lives. I can't even recall why exactly they are famous. They don't sing, dance, act, etc. They just look super good in front of a camera and who knows why they have their own reality TV show? I don't. I am sure there is a reason for their fame but it is pretty nonexistent now. (sorry for my banter on these celebrities--I have a personal distaste for them). For any of you who may be wondering why they are famous just watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYuwfohfflU video and you will see not only how pointless their fame is but also how exactly this family just makes for good stories. After all, their fame started out with an over-publicized sex tape, or it pretty much did anyway.
My discourse on Chapter 11:
Information helps people become informed citizens and "public opinion, in turn, made possible the rise of self-government" (book, page 247). Basically, journalism and democracy came together. I am a big fan of democracy, but like the chapter heading of the "Responsibilities of the Citizens" I am no fan of much responsibility so my first question is "What exactly are these responsibilities?". I mean, as a present citizen I do not want any more responsibility than I can currently handle.
The following is a list of responsibilities:
On truthfulness: "The citizen has an obligation to approach the news with an open mind and not just a desire that the news reinforce existing opinion".
On loyalty to citizens: be transparent in giving information
On Independence: no divided loyalties
On monitoring power: news sources should be focused on the major issues, rather than the minor issues.
A Public Forum: our views and values should be reflected in the news
On Proportionality and Engagement: keep things simple, not over-exaggerated, and to be read or viewed in a timely manner.--Even these kids know when the news is being exaggerated. This is a video of some random kids and their rendition of the news http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNiK_2CcUzY
No comments:
Post a Comment