Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Copy Edit the World
Below are links that lead to "Copy Edit the World" corrections. The pictures were too large to just paste on the page itself so I uploaded both of them to Imgur. They can be found here and here.
Column (LATE)
The free flow of information as we know it is at risk.
Recently, a bill called the “Stop Online Piracy Act”, better known as SOPA, was introduced to Congress. This bill, as the name suggests, aims to stop the rampancy of piracy, the illegal free downloading of music, movies, games and numerous other applications. While this may seem like a noble cause at first, the specifics of the bill are anything but.
The bill gives the U.S. Department of Justice the right to blacklist any sites that are deemed to promote copyright infringement, literally taking it off the face of the internet. This applies to all sites on the internet, not just ones based on American soil. There would still be a process of having to get a court order, but the option being available at all is an example of censorship through and through.
The idea of the internet as it stands today is the free exchange of information, any measure taken to reduce this and give power to a select few is an affront to our rights to knowledge. Even if the point of the bill is to stop piracy, would it really end there? I don’t believe a group of people who would suggest such a bill possess the responsibility to draw the line here and call it quits.
If anything, all this bill would do is create a paranoid group of middle-aged men that would try and blacklist any site they think isn’t in line with the business interests of corporations. And between you and me, I doubt piracy is the only reason this bill was suggested. Control is a tough thing to have these days and if there was only ever one way to get it, it would be through the internet.
A weak grip is still a grip. While no one can ever own the internet, people can be tricked into believing so. Taking a stand before citizens come to accept that the “government knows best” is an important duty of an American. If I’m not mistaken, I believe that’s a big part of the job description.
And to top it all off, an official study coming from the government of Switzerland contradicts some of the common arguments in support of SOPA. This study found that piracy not only doesn't harm the industry as much as is claimed, it might even help it. How's that for ironic?
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Test Yourself!
How Wired Are You?
Inside Reporting, Second Edition, page 188
1. Write three leads.
a. Tensions boiled this evening as a stalemate between an armed suspect and an officer ended, resulting in an officer shooting the armed man as he refused to lower his weapon. This makes for two similar shootings within the past two weeks. We have Harry BoJayJay live on the scene.
b. Police put an arrest warrant out for the owner of a blue 2005 Toyota pikcup, Rocky Beach, for physical abuse and attempted murder of his wife, Sandy, who had fled to Providence Hospital after fleeing the couple's home.
c. Can feeling the beet help your feet? A yearlong study by Cooper State University show that increased consumption of beets can reduce feet odor by over 50 percent.
2. What's wrong with this broadcast newswriting?
a. OSU halfback Bud Weiser explains that he will be sitting out tonight's game due to a "painful cramp" in the athlete's groin.
b. The victims were taken to St. Vincent Hospital and while they are in the process of recovery, the hospital lists them to be in critical condition.
c. According to bank officials, the thieves stole over $17,900,000 from the vault.
d. Library officials announced that patrons will no longer be able to check out any movie videotapes or DVDs in the future.
e. A 10-year-old skateboarder was a victim of a hit-and-run by a truck this morning on Baker Street. Police have yet to identify the truck and its driver.
f. There was no reported damage from an earthquake that stuck early morning today, with only a few rattling windows and the setting off of car alarms across the city.
g. Today, President Obama announced a new plan to cut estate taxes by 9%/
3. Radio and TV
a. It's a dog-eat-dog world out there. Or a human-ban-dog world. Students Against Dogs, a campus club of like-minded individuals who are tired of walking in dog stool, have called for a campus-wide ban of dogs and, by extension, dog poop. Boasting 300 signatures, the club has brought attention to the fact that the overall condition of the campus has gone down with irresponsible pet owners not picking up enough doo-doo. On the other hand, responsible owners feel as though fellow, more fickle owners are causing those who go through all the motions to keep parks and streets clean to be punished.
The dispute has gotten so big that the Bilford College board will hold a public hearing on Thrursday, at the Bilford Union, Room 11, at 7 p.m..
b. Anchor Lead-in: Tensions rise between dog-owners and dog-haters as a campus club, Students Against Dogs, rallies to have a campus-wide ban on dogs due to an excessive amount of droppings that have been found on the street. We got Daryl Dogawnit covering the issue.
Voice-over, displaying campus streets: Students of Bilford college have been claiming that the generally lax attitude taken towards dogs on-campus has resulted in an overall diminishing quality of the area. Irresponsible owners are leaving their dog's droppings on the ground instead of picking it up, as is required by state law, which leaves the smell to continue to permeate across campus, leading to the president of student club Students Against Dogs (SAD) to gather over 300 signatures on a petition calling for a campus ban of dogs.
SOT (Ferris Wheeler, president of SAD): This stinks. I mean, this school smells like dog doo. Irresponsible pet owners are letting their dogs chase cyclists, bark and crap all over the campus."
Voice-over: However, responsible dog owners like Juliet Sims, a junior of the school, feel as though the irresponsible behavior of other pet owners is to blame, and that their actions are punishing every pet owner regardless of whether or not they choose to pick up their pet's feces.
SOT (Juliet Sims): This proposal [to ban dogs on-campus[ is ugly and unfair to responsible dog owners like me. I admit there's too much poop on the sidewalks, but it's wrong to let a few bad apples ruin it for everybody.
Stand-up (Daryl Dogawnit): The school has seen rising tensions of the subject. The landscaping crew put up signs that said "NO DOGS ALLOWED" only to have students rip them down almost immediately. With the petition for the banning of dogs of campus hitting 300 signatures, the Bilford College board hopes to settle the dispute in a public hearing that will take place in the Bilford Union building on Thursday evening.
4. What's it called?
a. Actuality or cut. In TV, it's a SOT (or sound-on tape).
b. Out-cue
c. A voicer
d. Natural sound
e. Segue
f. A tease
Inside Reporting, Second Edition, page 188
1. Write three leads.
a. Tensions boiled this evening as a stalemate between an armed suspect and an officer ended, resulting in an officer shooting the armed man as he refused to lower his weapon. This makes for two similar shootings within the past two weeks. We have Harry BoJayJay live on the scene.
b. Police put an arrest warrant out for the owner of a blue 2005 Toyota pikcup, Rocky Beach, for physical abuse and attempted murder of his wife, Sandy, who had fled to Providence Hospital after fleeing the couple's home.
c. Can feeling the beet help your feet? A yearlong study by Cooper State University show that increased consumption of beets can reduce feet odor by over 50 percent.
2. What's wrong with this broadcast newswriting?
a. OSU halfback Bud Weiser explains that he will be sitting out tonight's game due to a "painful cramp" in the athlete's groin.
b. The victims were taken to St. Vincent Hospital and while they are in the process of recovery, the hospital lists them to be in critical condition.
c. According to bank officials, the thieves stole over $17,900,000 from the vault.
d. Library officials announced that patrons will no longer be able to check out any movie videotapes or DVDs in the future.
e. A 10-year-old skateboarder was a victim of a hit-and-run by a truck this morning on Baker Street. Police have yet to identify the truck and its driver.
f. There was no reported damage from an earthquake that stuck early morning today, with only a few rattling windows and the setting off of car alarms across the city.
g. Today, President Obama announced a new plan to cut estate taxes by 9%/
3. Radio and TV
a. It's a dog-eat-dog world out there. Or a human-ban-dog world. Students Against Dogs, a campus club of like-minded individuals who are tired of walking in dog stool, have called for a campus-wide ban of dogs and, by extension, dog poop. Boasting 300 signatures, the club has brought attention to the fact that the overall condition of the campus has gone down with irresponsible pet owners not picking up enough doo-doo. On the other hand, responsible owners feel as though fellow, more fickle owners are causing those who go through all the motions to keep parks and streets clean to be punished.
The dispute has gotten so big that the Bilford College board will hold a public hearing on Thrursday, at the Bilford Union, Room 11, at 7 p.m..
b. Anchor Lead-in: Tensions rise between dog-owners and dog-haters as a campus club, Students Against Dogs, rallies to have a campus-wide ban on dogs due to an excessive amount of droppings that have been found on the street. We got Daryl Dogawnit covering the issue.
Voice-over, displaying campus streets: Students of Bilford college have been claiming that the generally lax attitude taken towards dogs on-campus has resulted in an overall diminishing quality of the area. Irresponsible owners are leaving their dog's droppings on the ground instead of picking it up, as is required by state law, which leaves the smell to continue to permeate across campus, leading to the president of student club Students Against Dogs (SAD) to gather over 300 signatures on a petition calling for a campus ban of dogs.
SOT (Ferris Wheeler, president of SAD): This stinks. I mean, this school smells like dog doo. Irresponsible pet owners are letting their dogs chase cyclists, bark and crap all over the campus."
Voice-over: However, responsible dog owners like Juliet Sims, a junior of the school, feel as though the irresponsible behavior of other pet owners is to blame, and that their actions are punishing every pet owner regardless of whether or not they choose to pick up their pet's feces.
SOT (Juliet Sims): This proposal [to ban dogs on-campus[ is ugly and unfair to responsible dog owners like me. I admit there's too much poop on the sidewalks, but it's wrong to let a few bad apples ruin it for everybody.
Stand-up (Daryl Dogawnit): The school has seen rising tensions of the subject. The landscaping crew put up signs that said "NO DOGS ALLOWED" only to have students rip them down almost immediately. With the petition for the banning of dogs of campus hitting 300 signatures, the Bilford College board hopes to settle the dispute in a public hearing that will take place in the Bilford Union building on Thursday evening.
4. What's it called?
a. Actuality or cut. In TV, it's a SOT (or sound-on tape).
b. Out-cue
c. A voicer
d. Natural sound
e. Segue
f. A tease
Sunday, October 9, 2011
How Wired Are You?
How Wired Are You?
Inside Reporting, Second Edition, page 176
1. Could you create a Web page?
Yes: I haven't used DreamWeaver in a while, but I do have a solid understanding of how it works.
2. Have you written a blog?
Yes: I've written a few blog posts about video games and such. I'm a nerd.
3. Are you a consumer of digital content?
Yes: Who isn't?
4. Do you comment, chat, and tweet?
Yes: I tweet more than I should. No one really reads them either.
5. Are you familiar with different online platforms?
Yes: I'd say "familiar" is an understatement.
6. Can you shoot a video, edit it and post it online?
Yes.
7. Can you record audio, edit it and post it online?
Yes.
8. Could you create an interactive graphic?
Maybe: I haven't used Flash in ages. I'd have relearn a few things but I think I'd be able to get it down quickly.
9. Is the Web now your primary news source?
Yes: I have access to almost all the news through it. The fact that there's nothing that's on TV or newspaper or radio that ISN'T on the internet helps a bit.
10. Could you cover an event at 9 a.m. where you shoot photos and video for your narrated slide show, then post a 6-inch story (complete with links and images) by noon?
Yes: This depends mostly on whether or not I would want to put in the effort, but if I did I think I'd be able to manage.
SCORE: 19
Looks like I have the new-media skills editors are looking for.
Inside Reporting, Second Edition, page 176
1. Could you create a Web page?
Yes: I haven't used DreamWeaver in a while, but I do have a solid understanding of how it works.
2. Have you written a blog?
Yes: I've written a few blog posts about video games and such. I'm a nerd.
3. Are you a consumer of digital content?
Yes: Who isn't?
4. Do you comment, chat, and tweet?
Yes: I tweet more than I should. No one really reads them either.
5. Are you familiar with different online platforms?
Yes: I'd say "familiar" is an understatement.
6. Can you shoot a video, edit it and post it online?
Yes.
7. Can you record audio, edit it and post it online?
Yes.
8. Could you create an interactive graphic?
Maybe: I haven't used Flash in ages. I'd have relearn a few things but I think I'd be able to get it down quickly.
9. Is the Web now your primary news source?
Yes: I have access to almost all the news through it. The fact that there's nothing that's on TV or newspaper or radio that ISN'T on the internet helps a bit.
10. Could you cover an event at 9 a.m. where you shoot photos and video for your narrated slide show, then post a 6-inch story (complete with links and images) by noon?
Yes: This depends mostly on whether or not I would want to put in the effort, but if I did I think I'd be able to manage.
SCORE: 19
Looks like I have the new-media skills editors are looking for.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
LATE/REVISION: Got what it takes to be a reporter?
1. I enjoy reading. I consume a lot of books and magazines. Yes, +2
2. Writing is fun and rewarding. And I'm confident that people genuinely enjoy the stuff I write. Yes, +3
3. I am lousy at spelling. My grammar and punctuation ain't so great, neither. No, +2
4. I'm technologically skilled enough to shoot video, download files from the Web, post photos online, etc. Very yes, +1.
5. I can organize my ideas and write quickly when I need to. Yes, +3
6. I'd make a good game-show contestant because I'm good at remembering facts and trivia. Yes, +2.
7. I'm efficient and self-sufficient when it comes to doing tedious library or Internet research. Yes, +2.
8. I'm generally more curious than most people I know. Yes, +3.
9. In public situations, I'm pretty shy. I avoid asking questions in class, for instance. No, +2.
10. I think it's unpartriotic to dispute or criticize government officials. No, +1.
11. When I choose a career, I'll need a stable, 9-to-5 job where my workday is routine and I make big money. No, +3.
12. If I really want something, I'm tenacious until I get it. Yes, +3.
13. When I'm under pressure, I'm able to stay calm and focused without losing my temper. Yes, +1.
14. Whenever people criticize what I say or do, it really annoys me. Who do those people think they are? No, +2.
Well. It looks like I'm destined to be a journalist. Never thought my fate would be sealed via textbook.
2. Writing is fun and rewarding. And I'm confident that people genuinely enjoy the stuff I write. Yes, +3
3. I am lousy at spelling. My grammar and punctuation ain't so great, neither. No, +2
4. I'm technologically skilled enough to shoot video, download files from the Web, post photos online, etc. Very yes, +1.
5. I can organize my ideas and write quickly when I need to. Yes, +3
6. I'd make a good game-show contestant because I'm good at remembering facts and trivia. Yes, +2.
7. I'm efficient and self-sufficient when it comes to doing tedious library or Internet research. Yes, +2.
8. I'm generally more curious than most people I know. Yes, +3.
9. In public situations, I'm pretty shy. I avoid asking questions in class, for instance. No, +2.
10. I think it's unpartriotic to dispute or criticize government officials. No, +1.
11. When I choose a career, I'll need a stable, 9-to-5 job where my workday is routine and I make big money. No, +3.
12. If I really want something, I'm tenacious until I get it. Yes, +3.
13. When I'm under pressure, I'm able to stay calm and focused without losing my temper. Yes, +1.
14. Whenever people criticize what I say or do, it really annoys me. Who do those people think they are? No, +2.
Well. It looks like I'm destined to be a journalist. Never thought my fate would be sealed via textbook.
LATE/REVISION: Student Journalists' News Attitude Survey
1) I think news stories usually contain inaccuracies and distortions.
2) I prefer to get my news through a combination of text and images.
3) Generally, I think the government should do as little as possible to restrict what the news media publish.
4) The president is assassinated. I would track developments online by monitoring news and listen to radio news and talk shows.
5) Which of these people do you consider to be journalists? Katie Couric
6) In general, the news is biased in favor of neither. (I would have put "both" because it largely depends on where you're looking, but since it wasn't an option I didn't.)
7) If you hear conflicting versions of a news story, which version would you most likely believe? The national TV news
8) Which of these adjectives would you generally use to describe most news today? Boring, useful, depressing, sensationalized, negative.
9) How often do you generally watch TV news? Occasionally.
10) How often do you generally read newspapers? Never.
11) How often do you generally read news online? Several times a week.
12) A news reporting career seems like it would be rewarding, frustrating, and important.
Confidential Sources
In the given scenario, where if I had to be given a choice between revealing an anonymous sources or not, my decision would largely depend on the circumstances of the case. If I wrote a piece of reporting that resulted in a criminal investigation, there would be many more variables involved in the situation than I can currently consider.
Which of these statements do you most agree with?
1) I prefer news that is as neutral and objective as possible. I resent it when journalists inject their own opinions into stories.
2) Neither.
3) Journalists don't do enough to challenge public figures and expose governmental problems.
4) I generally feel that most news stories have little relevance to my life.
5) Neither.
6) Generally, I prefer to read news about serious issues and major events.
2) I prefer to get my news through a combination of text and images.
3) Generally, I think the government should do as little as possible to restrict what the news media publish.
4) The president is assassinated. I would track developments online by monitoring news and listen to radio news and talk shows.
5) Which of these people do you consider to be journalists? Katie Couric
6) In general, the news is biased in favor of neither. (I would have put "both" because it largely depends on where you're looking, but since it wasn't an option I didn't.)
7) If you hear conflicting versions of a news story, which version would you most likely believe? The national TV news
8) Which of these adjectives would you generally use to describe most news today? Boring, useful, depressing, sensationalized, negative.
9) How often do you generally watch TV news? Occasionally.
10) How often do you generally read newspapers? Never.
11) How often do you generally read news online? Several times a week.
12) A news reporting career seems like it would be rewarding, frustrating, and important.
Confidential Sources
In the given scenario, where if I had to be given a choice between revealing an anonymous sources or not, my decision would largely depend on the circumstances of the case. If I wrote a piece of reporting that resulted in a criminal investigation, there would be many more variables involved in the situation than I can currently consider.
Which of these statements do you most agree with?
1) I prefer news that is as neutral and objective as possible. I resent it when journalists inject their own opinions into stories.
2) Neither.
3) Journalists don't do enough to challenge public figures and expose governmental problems.
4) I generally feel that most news stories have little relevance to my life.
5) Neither.
6) Generally, I prefer to read news about serious issues and major events.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Siemens calls it quits on the nuclear industry
Behemoth engineering company Siemens decided to step away from nuclear power in light of the recent Fukushima meltdown. They hold the reputation of being the company that built all of Germany's power plants. Chief executive Peter Loescher said that there is a "clear positioning" that puts much of German society against nuclear energy. A planned joint-venture with Rosatom, a Russian nuclear energy company, has been cancelled as a result. However, the company plans to continue its business in the power industry and will allow the components they build to be used in power plants that are built in the future.
As the Fukushima incident falls farther into the past, its repercussions become clearer and clearer. Wanting to avoid a similar tragedy, Siemens is protecting itself by reducing the chance of more possible liabilities. With the world giving nuclear energy the stink eye, a huge company that has its hands in the industry is no doubt under a lot of scrutiny. Wanting to protect their hides is definitely a move that's understandable. What's more striking to me is how quickly Germany is poising itself to move away from nuclear energy and whether or not other countries will follow suit. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that by 2022 all the nuclear reactors in Germany will be shut down. If their efforts prove successful, Germany could end up setting an example for the entire world on how to become a properly green country. I'll definitely be keeping an eye on similar news stories and seeing where it goes.
As the Fukushima incident falls farther into the past, its repercussions become clearer and clearer. Wanting to avoid a similar tragedy, Siemens is protecting itself by reducing the chance of more possible liabilities. With the world giving nuclear energy the stink eye, a huge company that has its hands in the industry is no doubt under a lot of scrutiny. Wanting to protect their hides is definitely a move that's understandable. What's more striking to me is how quickly Germany is poising itself to move away from nuclear energy and whether or not other countries will follow suit. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that by 2022 all the nuclear reactors in Germany will be shut down. If their efforts prove successful, Germany could end up setting an example for the entire world on how to become a properly green country. I'll definitely be keeping an eye on similar news stories and seeing where it goes.
Fog Index
For my Fog Index, I took an excerpt of my writing that I wrote about a video game that I failed miserably at.
"That was it. I rose from my seat and staggered my way towards the door. It seems I had somehow injured my foot in the chaos, so I alternated between dragging it and limping my tattered self down the stairs. The cool tiles felt almost refreshing on the soles of my feet upon my arrival to the kitchen. As I made my way towards the fridge, I passed a mirror in which I caught a fleeting glimpse of my haggard, slack-jawed self. Bloodshot eyes with bags under them, not only from the late nights but the late nights of failure, beard untrimmed and out of control, hair ruffled from bouts of frustration – I was a mess. With shaking hands, I open the fridge in search of refreshment. Soda? No. Orange juice? Uh uh. V8? I wish. All that stood on the platform that should be housing at least four different drinks for my consuming pleasure was a towering carton of milk and a pitcher of water. I’ve had water my whole life so I opted for the milk. I wearily search for a cup that wasn’t in the dish washer and after a good minute of meandering around the place I find one. A bit large but it’ll do. I pour myself a glass, set myself down on the nearest chair, and knock back my dairy product. With the faintest trace of a milk ‘stache, I took this time to begin some introspection..."
The Fog Index calls for a 100 word excerpt, so I cut down the size of the paragraph. After calculating it, my findings were that I averaged about 12 words per sentence with 1.4 words being considered "hard". This ultimately lead me to the Fog Index of 5.36. Frankly, I was surprised that the number wasn't lower as I feel like my writing can be quite basic at times. Aside from that, I also think it's a neat way to see where different pieces of writing stand a bit more objectively than just a normal read and response. This test will hopefully allow me to expand my diction beyond what I'd normally use and hoepfully I'll bring my Fog Index up a couple notches.
"That was it. I rose from my seat and staggered my way towards the door. It seems I had somehow injured my foot in the chaos, so I alternated between dragging it and limping my tattered self down the stairs. The cool tiles felt almost refreshing on the soles of my feet upon my arrival to the kitchen. As I made my way towards the fridge, I passed a mirror in which I caught a fleeting glimpse of my haggard, slack-jawed self. Bloodshot eyes with bags under them, not only from the late nights but the late nights of failure, beard untrimmed and out of control, hair ruffled from bouts of frustration – I was a mess. With shaking hands, I open the fridge in search of refreshment. Soda? No. Orange juice? Uh uh. V8? I wish. All that stood on the platform that should be housing at least four different drinks for my consuming pleasure was a towering carton of milk and a pitcher of water. I’ve had water my whole life so I opted for the milk. I wearily search for a cup that wasn’t in the dish washer and after a good minute of meandering around the place I find one. A bit large but it’ll do. I pour myself a glass, set myself down on the nearest chair, and knock back my dairy product. With the faintest trace of a milk ‘stache, I took this time to begin some introspection..."
The Fog Index calls for a 100 word excerpt, so I cut down the size of the paragraph. After calculating it, my findings were that I averaged about 12 words per sentence with 1.4 words being considered "hard". This ultimately lead me to the Fog Index of 5.36. Frankly, I was surprised that the number wasn't lower as I feel like my writing can be quite basic at times. Aside from that, I also think it's a neat way to see where different pieces of writing stand a bit more objectively than just a normal read and response. This test will hopefully allow me to expand my diction beyond what I'd normally use and hoepfully I'll bring my Fog Index up a couple notches.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Scientists create glow-in-the-dark cats to help with AIDS because we totally needed that
In the name of science, more specifically AIDS studies, researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota genetically modified a group of cats so that they all literally glow in the dark. One of the genes is a restriction factor gene that helps protect against HIV/AIDS, or FIV in this case (feline immunodeficiency virus). The other is a fluorescent protein to help mark whether or not the gene "stuck". If the cat glows, the restriction factor gene is most likely working, too. The end goal is to help understand HIV by first understanding FIV. Dr. Eric Poeschla, the head researcher, hopes by proving that if cats can be helped this way then it's possible that we can protect humans as well. While only cells have been tested and proven to be resistant to FIV, the team plans to take the next step and expose the animals themselves and see if they can live.
 |
| Familiar with the girl from The Ring? |
Not only is the novelty of knowing that we are capable of taking the cutest internet pop culture sensation and making it emanate green extremely gratifying, it's important as it also happens to advance AIDS research. While what we have here isn't the next gigantic leap in medicine, it's still another step towards understanding and hopefully curing the condition. AIDS is a serious issue that will possibly take many more years, if not decades, to figure out. Creative solutions to understanding its nature are a welcome effort, especially if felines are involved.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Introductions
Why, hello there. Let me put my tea and top hat off to the side for now as I introduce myself. My name is Sami. Sam for short, Constantine for the crazy. This is a blog for my Journalism 61 class that I'm taking for my broadcast journalism major at San Jose State University. I spent two years attending community college at Diablo Valley College prior to this, getting my general ed done. While I'm being "classically" trained as a journalist, I hope to make my way into video game journalism where I would be allowed to be slightly more immature than your typical writer. It's a humble goal, I know, but a goal nonetheless. I'm aiming to find a job at IGN, where I'd be reviewing and previewing games, writing editorials, and traveling around the world attending video game expositions.
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