The growth of 24-hour news stations, such as CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, and FOX NEWS, created a demand for an inexhaustible flow of stories and guests. However, the nightly news programs on the three major networks struggle to find enough real news to fill the small allotments of time between the commercials every weekday, so the relentless need for up-to-the-minute broadcasts on cable news stations leads to a high volume of stories with hyped or exaggerated value. The news sources featured in the documentary have a fairly easy job; most of them are beat reporters who file a story everyday. Sitting around conference tables, the editors and journalists democratically debate the value of each proposed story and provide needed feedback to their coworkers. Sources appear to be screened and biases are at least addressed in these mainstream outlets. This vetting process is highly suspect and probably less rigid in the newsrooms of cable networks.
Feeding the beast by pumping the airwaves full of pundits, cable news somehow turned into the nightmarish prophecy described by Paddy Chayefsky in the film Network. Anchors assuming the role of demagogues, sensationalism eclipsing real news and ratings becoming the defining characteristic of news.
Every single night, network and cable news shows rerun the exact same episode. First, a suicide bombing is reported; then, the threat of a new pandemic is analyzed; and finally, a human interest story leaves the viewer with a warm, happy feeling.
Cable news is a vast wasteland for political discourse and what it lacks in thought, it makes up for it with egomaniacal hosts. Nearly every corner of CNN, MSNBC, and FOX News is permeated with programs that sensationalize the mundane and turn unsubstantiated rumors into political talking points. With news coverage that schizophrenically shifts from hyperbole to opinion to news to hyperbole, it is easy to see why so many disaffected Americans abandoned reality for the far extremes of political lunacy. Hard news is not even expected from the networks. Reporters that pound the pavement and track down sources--like the ones chronicled in the documentary--are becoming few and far between. Instead, opinions are now streamlined into the public’s veins like an IV drip.
The changing of the guard that occurred with President Barack Obama’s Inauguration was not limited to the White House. Media coverage of the event reflected a similar shift in American power. Television, newspapers, radio--every news medium underwent a shift. The bombastic punditry of Fox News was replaced with the bombastic punditry of MSNBC. A study of the inner workings at FOX or MSNBC would be just as revelatory as this documentary. If the press is supposed to be the ubiquitous gatekeeper of the news, then they have strayed away from their objectives.
Cultivating a democratic populace is reliant on an informed citizenry with a respect for the convictions of others. This state of mind is difficult to obtain, especially on vexing issues, but continually questioning the news and how it is conveyed to the viewer is a tenant in democracy.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Bone contract attracts criticism
The disclosure of the financial terms stated in Washington State University’s contract with Ken Bone, the new men’s basketball coach, last Wednesday aroused a variety of opinions across campus.
As the university faces widespread departmental cuts and students are burdened with increasing tuition costs, some students felt the contract was slightly excessive. According to the seven-year contract, Bone will be guaranteed $650,000 for his first season and $100,000 increases in “supplemental compensation” for the two subsequent seasons, plus benefits.
Bone’s contract places him in the lowest-paid tier of Pac-10 men’s basketball coaches. Tony Bennett, Bone’s predecessor, earned upwards of $1 million during his final year, including incentives. Other Pac-10 head coaches such as University of Arizona coach Sean Miller reportedly signed a $2 million contract, while University of California Los Angeles coach Ben Howland made approximately $1.8 million last season, according to The Seattle Times.
A number of students felt the lucrative contract highlighted the university’s priorities, placing athletics over academics. “It is ridiculous to the see the amount of money being spent by the athletic department,” sophomore Ann L. Hoag said. “They spend so much money.”
Other students felt the contract was appropriate despite the university’s current economic hardships. Senior Bryan A. Wagoner, a social sciences major, said, “Getting a good coach is a priority because sports bring so much growth to the university.” Men’s basketball was the only quality outlet for sports fans this year in Pullman, Wagoner added.
Despite the debates surrounding the contract, students unanimously agreed that Bone has some large shoes to fill. Bennett posted a 69-33 record and led the Cougars to three postseason births during his three seasons as head coach before departing Pullman in April for the University of Virginia.
Some discontent surrounding Bennett’s departure lingered, but students seemed mostly satisfied with the selection of Bone as head coach. “Bone is a proven coach,” said Wagoner. “He took a mediocre team at Portland State and made them winners.”
According to reports by The Daily Evergreen following Bone’s hiring, many of the players expressed approval with the university’s hasty search for a replacement. Senior forward Nikola Koprivica told The Daily Evergreen that the team knew the university was searching for the best candidate and that they made a fine decision.
Discussing Bone’s contract, sophomore guard Nicholas M. Witherill said, “It is quite a lot of money, but it is a good investment for the university.” As for some of the contract’s perks that have drawn scorn from critics, such as a $100,000 bonus for every Final Four appearance, Witherill said the bonus would be appropriate because a Final Four appearance helps attract recruits and builds a strong program.
Commenting on the university’s budget cuts in The Daily Evergreen, WSU Athletics Director Jim Sterk said the athletic department has taken measures to curb expenses in its $30 million dollar annual budget. The department, which has the smallest budget of any Pac-10 school, is beginning to feel the strain of the economy. Preliminary budget cuts announced earlier this month by the university will reduce the department’s budget by $350,000 over the next two years, further reducing their ability to hire new coaches.
As the university faces widespread departmental cuts and students are burdened with increasing tuition costs, some students felt the contract was slightly excessive. According to the seven-year contract, Bone will be guaranteed $650,000 for his first season and $100,000 increases in “supplemental compensation” for the two subsequent seasons, plus benefits.
Bone’s contract places him in the lowest-paid tier of Pac-10 men’s basketball coaches. Tony Bennett, Bone’s predecessor, earned upwards of $1 million during his final year, including incentives. Other Pac-10 head coaches such as University of Arizona coach Sean Miller reportedly signed a $2 million contract, while University of California Los Angeles coach Ben Howland made approximately $1.8 million last season, according to The Seattle Times.
A number of students felt the lucrative contract highlighted the university’s priorities, placing athletics over academics. “It is ridiculous to the see the amount of money being spent by the athletic department,” sophomore Ann L. Hoag said. “They spend so much money.”
Other students felt the contract was appropriate despite the university’s current economic hardships. Senior Bryan A. Wagoner, a social sciences major, said, “Getting a good coach is a priority because sports bring so much growth to the university.” Men’s basketball was the only quality outlet for sports fans this year in Pullman, Wagoner added.
Despite the debates surrounding the contract, students unanimously agreed that Bone has some large shoes to fill. Bennett posted a 69-33 record and led the Cougars to three postseason births during his three seasons as head coach before departing Pullman in April for the University of Virginia.
Some discontent surrounding Bennett’s departure lingered, but students seemed mostly satisfied with the selection of Bone as head coach. “Bone is a proven coach,” said Wagoner. “He took a mediocre team at Portland State and made them winners.”
According to reports by The Daily Evergreen following Bone’s hiring, many of the players expressed approval with the university’s hasty search for a replacement. Senior forward Nikola Koprivica told The Daily Evergreen that the team knew the university was searching for the best candidate and that they made a fine decision.
Discussing Bone’s contract, sophomore guard Nicholas M. Witherill said, “It is quite a lot of money, but it is a good investment for the university.” As for some of the contract’s perks that have drawn scorn from critics, such as a $100,000 bonus for every Final Four appearance, Witherill said the bonus would be appropriate because a Final Four appearance helps attract recruits and builds a strong program.
Commenting on the university’s budget cuts in The Daily Evergreen, WSU Athletics Director Jim Sterk said the athletic department has taken measures to curb expenses in its $30 million dollar annual budget. The department, which has the smallest budget of any Pac-10 school, is beginning to feel the strain of the economy. Preliminary budget cuts announced earlier this month by the university will reduce the department’s budget by $350,000 over the next two years, further reducing their ability to hire new coaches.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Editor Pitches: Reporting Assignment
Dear Editor,
Pitch 1: An analysis of the Athletic Department’s budget and its appropriation of funds has yet to be investigated by The Summer Evergreen. Majors are being cut, tuition is increasing, enrollment numbers are bound to change and yet the athletic department is still making lavish per diem payments to student athletes in Pullman. Ken Bone, the new men’s basketball coach, will be earning upwards of a half-million dollars per season despite cutbacks to the majority of the colleges. The goal would be to answer the question What does this say about the university's priorities.
Caveats: Opinions could easily find there way into the article and access could be another issue. Many key sources may not want to discuss the department’s finances given the current cutbacks.
Pitch 2: A large number of students who planned on enrolling in summer classes dropped at the last second, leading to an apparent dip in student enrollment for summer courses. This sudden plunge is more than likely due to the economy. Students were forced to decide between earning a couple credits or trying to earn money for the fall semester. Possible sources include professors and students whose classes were cancelled, employees in the registrar’s office and possibly local business owners who feel the effects of having fewer customers. This could be a panorama of a community and how it is managing to get by during the first summer of the current economic downfall.
Pitch 3: Governor Gregoire is set to sign a law that imposes harsher regulation on payday loans in Washington. Many college students rely on payday loans despite the high interest rates and numerous other drawbacks. In order to provide a human element to the story, interviewing people who not only take payday loans but also those who make the loans would be a necessity. If I could find a couple local payday locations and talk to their customers, readers will be able to understand why these loans created such a lucrative market.
Sincerely,
Gavin Mathis
Pitch 1: An analysis of the Athletic Department’s budget and its appropriation of funds has yet to be investigated by The Summer Evergreen. Majors are being cut, tuition is increasing, enrollment numbers are bound to change and yet the athletic department is still making lavish per diem payments to student athletes in Pullman. Ken Bone, the new men’s basketball coach, will be earning upwards of a half-million dollars per season despite cutbacks to the majority of the colleges. The goal would be to answer the question What does this say about the university's priorities.
Caveats: Opinions could easily find there way into the article and access could be another issue. Many key sources may not want to discuss the department’s finances given the current cutbacks.
Pitch 2: A large number of students who planned on enrolling in summer classes dropped at the last second, leading to an apparent dip in student enrollment for summer courses. This sudden plunge is more than likely due to the economy. Students were forced to decide between earning a couple credits or trying to earn money for the fall semester. Possible sources include professors and students whose classes were cancelled, employees in the registrar’s office and possibly local business owners who feel the effects of having fewer customers. This could be a panorama of a community and how it is managing to get by during the first summer of the current economic downfall.
Pitch 3: Governor Gregoire is set to sign a law that imposes harsher regulation on payday loans in Washington. Many college students rely on payday loans despite the high interest rates and numerous other drawbacks. In order to provide a human element to the story, interviewing people who not only take payday loans but also those who make the loans would be a necessity. If I could find a couple local payday locations and talk to their customers, readers will be able to understand why these loans created such a lucrative market.
Sincerely,
Gavin Mathis
Thursday, May 14, 2009
New York, New York
Numerous American cities are losing one or--in some cases--all of their daily newspapers. New York, on the other hand, has numerous papers vying for readership. The New York Times, New York Post, New York Daily News, and The Wall Street Journal work to carve out niches in the market for their special brand of reporting. Each of their websites displays the news in a manner that reflects their target demographics. Examining these different websites and their respective front pages allows readers to understand each papers’ framing techniques and appreciate the need for a ubiquitous press in every major city.
The New York Times is essentially a national newspaper, an authoritative voice of record, featuring a wide array of local, national, and international news stories produced by their own reporters. Long considered to be a bastion of liberal thought, the Times’ editorial page is consistently liberal, but they employ several conservative op-ed columnists. Displaying the classic moniker “All the news that’s fit to print” at the top of the front page, The New York Times works diligently to incorporate a collection of articles for people of varying interests. Whether it is politics, economics, or entertainment, the Times’ website features something for everyone.
The New York Daily News is a less authoritative publication that presents news geared towards people who take the subway to work in the morning. Because the paper features an extensive metro section, Mort Zuckerman, the publisher of the New York Daily News, unabashedly calls his daily “a transit paper.” There is nothing wrong with gearing news towards a particular audience, but it prevents the paper from achieving the same circulation as The New York Times.
As for Rupert Murdoch’s two newspapers, The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post could not be more different. The Wall Street Journal has maintained its readership amongst businessmen while expanding into new territory since the paper was purchased by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. two years ago. Murdoch’s sensationalist brand of yellow journalism has yet to creep onto the pages of the Journal, whereas the Post is only a minor step above tabloids such as The National Enquirer.
Every newspaper--the Times, the Journal, the Post, and the Daily News--disseminate a different reality of the same events because every publication is constrained by its own professional standards and the viewpoints of the people working for the paper. What emerges from these multiple and diffuse viewpoints is a harsh rebuke of the press’s classic image as a pursuer of truth.
Print journalism is a very blunt narrative. Journalists strip the English language down to the bare necessities to prevent preconceived notions from entering their work. Disseminating the news is not the only job of the press, they are also obligated to pursue the truth of the subject with extreme haste and accuracy. But based on the articles published in mainstream New York newspapers, the coverage of national events can be promoted in a variety of ways.
Every communication medium--whether it be newspapers, magazines, government documents, photographs, or film--is capable of representing the same event in dramatically different ways. It is often said that history is written by the victors or the powerful. According to Noam Chomsky, through the selection of topics, the framing of issues, and the filtering of information, the press and the government are capable of keeping debate within the confines of acceptable premises. The varying representations of the world in New York’s major publication illustrate this phenomena and how the reporter’s role in the free press sometimes comes into conflict with their loyalties to the nation and their profession.
When evaluating information, the viewer has the responsibility to determine the validity of a message and decide how to interpret that message. Kenneth Burke, a philosopher and language theorist, believed humans were symbol using animals and that reality is constructed through the use of these symbols. Once a reader understands that language is the use of symbols to communicate concepts, they are more likely to recognize the motivating factors behind each newspaper’s representation of the same event. The Fourth Estate’s capacity to convey information in a variety of ways is on full display every morning in New York, where the differences in representation force the populace to look beyond the text and into the context of the stories they read. Once this occurs, the people of New York are more able to determine their own beliefs and actions in their daily lives.
The New York Times is essentially a national newspaper, an authoritative voice of record, featuring a wide array of local, national, and international news stories produced by their own reporters. Long considered to be a bastion of liberal thought, the Times’ editorial page is consistently liberal, but they employ several conservative op-ed columnists. Displaying the classic moniker “All the news that’s fit to print” at the top of the front page, The New York Times works diligently to incorporate a collection of articles for people of varying interests. Whether it is politics, economics, or entertainment, the Times’ website features something for everyone.
The New York Daily News is a less authoritative publication that presents news geared towards people who take the subway to work in the morning. Because the paper features an extensive metro section, Mort Zuckerman, the publisher of the New York Daily News, unabashedly calls his daily “a transit paper.” There is nothing wrong with gearing news towards a particular audience, but it prevents the paper from achieving the same circulation as The New York Times.
As for Rupert Murdoch’s two newspapers, The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post could not be more different. The Wall Street Journal has maintained its readership amongst businessmen while expanding into new territory since the paper was purchased by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. two years ago. Murdoch’s sensationalist brand of yellow journalism has yet to creep onto the pages of the Journal, whereas the Post is only a minor step above tabloids such as The National Enquirer.
Every newspaper--the Times, the Journal, the Post, and the Daily News--disseminate a different reality of the same events because every publication is constrained by its own professional standards and the viewpoints of the people working for the paper. What emerges from these multiple and diffuse viewpoints is a harsh rebuke of the press’s classic image as a pursuer of truth.
Print journalism is a very blunt narrative. Journalists strip the English language down to the bare necessities to prevent preconceived notions from entering their work. Disseminating the news is not the only job of the press, they are also obligated to pursue the truth of the subject with extreme haste and accuracy. But based on the articles published in mainstream New York newspapers, the coverage of national events can be promoted in a variety of ways.
Every communication medium--whether it be newspapers, magazines, government documents, photographs, or film--is capable of representing the same event in dramatically different ways. It is often said that history is written by the victors or the powerful. According to Noam Chomsky, through the selection of topics, the framing of issues, and the filtering of information, the press and the government are capable of keeping debate within the confines of acceptable premises. The varying representations of the world in New York’s major publication illustrate this phenomena and how the reporter’s role in the free press sometimes comes into conflict with their loyalties to the nation and their profession.
When evaluating information, the viewer has the responsibility to determine the validity of a message and decide how to interpret that message. Kenneth Burke, a philosopher and language theorist, believed humans were symbol using animals and that reality is constructed through the use of these symbols. Once a reader understands that language is the use of symbols to communicate concepts, they are more likely to recognize the motivating factors behind each newspaper’s representation of the same event. The Fourth Estate’s capacity to convey information in a variety of ways is on full display every morning in New York, where the differences in representation force the populace to look beyond the text and into the context of the stories they read. Once this occurs, the people of New York are more able to determine their own beliefs and actions in their daily lives.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The convergence of media in the Amazon
Fermenting beneath the harsh rays of the equatorial sunlight, pools of black sludge created from years of harmful environmental practices by oil companies dart the Ecuadorian landscapes. Such a disastrous use of the American landscape would warrant an immediate investigation and legal action--not to mention hours of press coverage. However, years of preliminary court proceedings have finally earned the people of Ecuador a day in court. Riddled with all the elements of a John Grisham novel, the story of the Ecuadorian people and their struggle for damages took a foray into another highly-debated issue due to a public relations effort initiated by Chevron: the role of the press and the convergence of media.
A “60 Minutes” investigative report that cast light on the oil company’s practices and the travails of the Ecuadorian people gathered criticism even before its May 3 airing on CBS. Reported by Scott Pelley, the “60 Minutes” story is a strong representation of the Murrow Standard despite an overemphasis on promoting the human interest aspect of the story rather than delving into the stacks of scientific and legal documents. Edward R. Murrow never withdrew from utilizing pathos in his work. “Harvest of Shame” places the audience into the lives of migrant workers, forcing even the most cynical person to empathize with the subject. Pelley employs a similar method to convey the cost of corporate malfeasance and the conflict besetting the plaintiffs and the defendants.
Masquerading around as news, the Chevron public relations piece, which was posted on the internet three weeks before the “60 Minutes” report aired, systematically smears members of the opposition. One at a time, Chevron attempts to discredit each of the plaintiffs’ lawyers by essentially calling them ambulance chasers and “New York litigants”--code words for elitists. Not since the Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company orchestrated a similar campaign to discredit Jeffrey Wigand, a former employee and corporate whistleblower, has a corporation utilized the media so effectively to promote their side of the story. Interestingly enough, “60 Minutes” was the investigative body behind both stories.
The oil’s company’s rebuttal is obviously biased, but the rhetoric saturating the production is found in the “60 Minutes” piece as well. Waste is referred to as “production water” and when Pelley mentioned Ecuador’s president Rafael Correa, he framed the conflict in a capitalism vs. socialism construct. Describing the issue this way coerces the audience to view the president’s motives through an unsympathetic prism rather than judge the merit of his position. In addition, Pelley failed to interview a key voice for the litigants: Richard Cabrera. I’m not sure if Cabrera was merely unable to comment or if his interview was cut to help support one side of the story, but either reason leaves many question to be answered.
The differences between the “60 Minutes” report and Chevron’s public relations campaign highlight the dichotomy between the old journalism paradigm promoted by Edward R. Murrow and the new standards of journalism where lines are blurred, events are distorted and the truth is suspect.
A “60 Minutes” investigative report that cast light on the oil company’s practices and the travails of the Ecuadorian people gathered criticism even before its May 3 airing on CBS. Reported by Scott Pelley, the “60 Minutes” story is a strong representation of the Murrow Standard despite an overemphasis on promoting the human interest aspect of the story rather than delving into the stacks of scientific and legal documents. Edward R. Murrow never withdrew from utilizing pathos in his work. “Harvest of Shame” places the audience into the lives of migrant workers, forcing even the most cynical person to empathize with the subject. Pelley employs a similar method to convey the cost of corporate malfeasance and the conflict besetting the plaintiffs and the defendants.
Masquerading around as news, the Chevron public relations piece, which was posted on the internet three weeks before the “60 Minutes” report aired, systematically smears members of the opposition. One at a time, Chevron attempts to discredit each of the plaintiffs’ lawyers by essentially calling them ambulance chasers and “New York litigants”--code words for elitists. Not since the Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company orchestrated a similar campaign to discredit Jeffrey Wigand, a former employee and corporate whistleblower, has a corporation utilized the media so effectively to promote their side of the story. Interestingly enough, “60 Minutes” was the investigative body behind both stories.
The oil’s company’s rebuttal is obviously biased, but the rhetoric saturating the production is found in the “60 Minutes” piece as well. Waste is referred to as “production water” and when Pelley mentioned Ecuador’s president Rafael Correa, he framed the conflict in a capitalism vs. socialism construct. Describing the issue this way coerces the audience to view the president’s motives through an unsympathetic prism rather than judge the merit of his position. In addition, Pelley failed to interview a key voice for the litigants: Richard Cabrera. I’m not sure if Cabrera was merely unable to comment or if his interview was cut to help support one side of the story, but either reason leaves many question to be answered.
The differences between the “60 Minutes” report and Chevron’s public relations campaign highlight the dichotomy between the old journalism paradigm promoted by Edward R. Murrow and the new standards of journalism where lines are blurred, events are distorted and the truth is suspect.
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