Funding

I think we should fund Brittany's online magazine "Charm." First off, I see a huge whole in the market and she's really hit a perfect target audience.  There's no magazine for women who are just graduating college and just starting careers.  These are the women who don't need "recipes your kids will love" and "how to relight the romance on your 10th wedding anniversary."  I think that having it online will allow it to reach a wider audience.  I know that I would read this magazine and I know many women who would read it.  I think that she’s got a great plan for expansion and for it to become a real power house.

            However, I’d like to see the name changed.  I know the definition of charm means what she wants it to, however the connotation doesn’t.  Charm makes it should like just another women’s magazine that’s about sex and impressing men.  I think this is one that we’d have to take to a naming company because I’m not exactly sure what to call it.  We want it to sound fun, not dowdy but at the same time it should reflect a level of professionalism. 

            I’d also like it to eventually move to being a print outlet.  I think this is something that could be a definite kind of “beach read” magazine.   So I’d like to see a physical copy should the magazine expand enough. 

            Overall though, I think she’s got a ready, willing and asking audience.  Not only that she’s got a fantastic plan.  Her magazine is one I’d like to see produced.

 

This Graph

I know this is late, but it sums up everything not indy. This is the link to a bigger version.

Accountability

I think all media, independent or conglomerate need be held accountable for their actions.  Be it independent student media, Democracy Now! or the Disney Corp. trying to cover things up.

I only write this because I just fired someone and now because of his actions, he's off all student media in Park.

See, coming into Newswatch and hanging out in my newsroom and doing my show while drinking isn't ok.  I've never been put in this position before.  An assistant producer can't write a show or design graphics under the influence.  So today, I had to fire someone.  I've never been so disappointed and upset in my life. 

I've seen it in another Park media group, who published something under the name of a person who didn't write it.  The person in charge doesn't want to believe it's happening.  It's sad, because good people make bad choices that lessen your outlets' credibility.

I feel that people are quick to jump the gun and attack conglomerate media about covering things up.  Where as Indys like Breitbart are defended for heavy editing by their fellow bloggers and indy outlets.  In fact, in some cases, it isn't until others point out problems that they publish corrections.  Sometimes, I feel that Indy media, like bloggers, sometimes get away with saying certain things because they aren't seen as a "real media source."

I think all media, big or small, indy or conglomerate, professional or amateur needs to be held to the same standards as a way to be held accountable for the things they say and the news they spread.

The Market for Fantasy Sports

I writing this in the ICTV Greenroom as the sports guys discuss their fantasy sports teams.  More so, they're yelling at me because evidently my boyfriend is beating someone.  Honestly, I don't care, he's got something like 5 leagues.  I can't keep up with them all.  And again, I really prefer to not care.

But now they want me to ask him if he wants to do fantasy basketball.

Fantasy Basketball?  Really?

Then I learned from Rotoworld.com there are fantasy sports for any sport that has a team.  So that leaves out tennis and boxing.  There is fantasy golf and NASCAR.

Then I found a whole host of sites and books that will tell you who to pick, how to get the best team, lists of stats, good trades to make.

Except for ESPN, Yahoo! and CBS  of these are independent websites that give up to the minute sports information.  They run on fees for organizing your fantasy league, some ads and one even runs on donations.  None of them are owned by conglomerates.

In fact, some of these have been quicker to pick up on NFL injury reports than news outlets.  Interesting concept when you think about it.  It's almost like when independent news outlets set the story out first and then the conglomerates get it.

Andrew Breitbart

This man.

Why did he have to be right about Andrew Weiner? 

Why?

Because if he hadn't been, he'd have his crazy cult following and he'd still be massively twisting the videos of ACORN and re cutting Shirley Sherrod to make her look like a racist. 

And he calls himself a Journalist.  That's just the thing, independent of conglomerate, journalists don't cut up the words of others to make them look like they are saying the complete opposite of what they're saying.

The ONE THING he's ever been right about was Weiner.  And during the Weiner press conference Breitbart took over the microphone and essentially the press conference.  If Breitbart wants to be some kind of conservative journalism hero, more power to him, but let's all stop pretending that BigGovernment.org, BigMedia.org and breitbart.com are suddenly these meccas for good reporting.

Really, they're the same thing this blog is: one person spewing their ideas and using the pieces that fit their argument.  The difference: He's treating his a news, I know mine is an opinion.  

Post Secret

We've talked a lot about start ups.  I appreciate a great start up and one of the most prominent of our time has been postsecret.org. Post Secret was the idea of Frank Warren, a guy in Maryland who collects secrets that people write him on postcards.

Since it's inception Post Secret's cards have gotten bigger and better.  A few weeks ago, a woman sent in her wedding ring and later asked for it back after her husband saw it and they worked out what ever problems they were having.

The website, the books and the new app are all done by Frank and his team of interns.  They keep the site updated with weekly secrets and prepare the books.

While the books aren't independently published, not much is censored in the way of secrets. Nudity, profanity and drugs are all more than allowed on secrets.  It seems as if this is one hybrid of an independent and a conglomerate.

Post Secret has also been active in the world suicide prevention.  They're huge supporters of Hope Line and other non-profits who don't charge per minute or charge at all.

Post Secret also has been working with vetrans to use put their secrets and feelings into words after they've returned home and after the government stops trying to treat their PTSD, a cause very close to my heart and part of the reason I love them.

Defunding Public Broadcasting

Our government is sensitive, perhaps too sensitive.  They get so offended by every bad thing that some out about them.

Which is why I feel Public Broadcasting does work here.  Take NJN for example.  My governor (who I openly hate and am not allowed to do stories on) Chris Christie made one of his plans of actions after destroying teachers was destroying NJN.  I liked NJN because NJN News made sure to tell everyone how Christie was trying to destroy NJN and was probably NOT the best choice to be governor or president while everyone cheered him on.

I see many merits in Public Broadcasting.  I think that a lot of times we see our news being clouded by advertisers.  If your funding is through donations and maybe a government grant then you don't have to worry about an expose on a used car dealer who is selling dangerous cars losing advertisers.

There is a place for public broadcasting and I think it's stupid that governors like Christie would think it ok to something like defund them.  I understand NJ's financial situation, but to be honest the double dip pensions and unnecessary transportation are really causing problems...not a station run by donations and the government.

The Case Against Citizen Journalists

They're cheap, they're willing and they're woefully untrained.

While CNN may think not paying real photojournalists is the easy way out to balance a budget, they're doing so by sacrificing their quality. iReport gives you assignments with dead lines!  You can take pictures!  You can write what you want to see!  It's stupid.

I know many professors here are huge supporters of Citizen Journalist because they think that sometimes professional journalists miss the story.  I get it, I really do, but I can't help but think that these people have ZERO training.  They don't know how to put together a package, they don't know what's ethical, they don't know every law, they haven't had the ideals of a shield law and where they exist drilled into their heads.

It sounds elitest of me, but I hate them.  Do I think there is merit when Citizen Journalists who are participating in Occupy can really get inside and aren't afraid to get arrested do just that?  Yes I do.  But then again, nobody can protect their freedom of the press, because they're just some guy with a camera.

Journalism is like teaching, a lot of people think they can teach elementary school. You only have to know how to write and take pictures, but the truth is it's so much more than that which his why my teacher parents say they could never be journalists because they aren't willing to do the work.

I can't believe Final Cut Pro X would have an "export for CNN iReport" and no way to export to .mov.

I think my hatred stems from my need for a job and people thinking they can do it.

"The Media are Cowards"

As more and more occupy protestors are arrested, the scene in LA proved to be another place where the media could have stepped up and used their rights to show the police brutality.  Actor Wil Wheaton a huge supporter of the Occupy movement and resident of LA was tweeting and retweeting sentiments from protestors and viewers who were watching protestors and the few citizen journalists (like victim @OakFoSho) being carted off and threatened by officers.

While this might not seem out of the ordinary from all of the Occupy news we've heard, the LAPD also blocked most press from being allowed in to the area, set up press approved areas and threatened to arrest any journalist out of the press pool.  Which resulted in this tweet

What's most disturbing isn't that the police but this press ban on, it's that the reporters then FOLLOWED it.  The fact that all these reporters have the chance to get the story and really make a difference.  More so they're openly giving up their rights as reporters.  They are just not doing their jobs on checking the power of government and this might be a time when citizen journalists are going to take hold of the media because trained journalists don't do their jobs.

Mainstream and Sexual Abuse

Both Penn State and Syracuse have been hit hard by recent child abuse allegation. The tragic sexual abuse of young boys many of whom were at risk came as a shock to the nation.

But some people in media may have known about this years before and never said a single word.

According to an article recently posted by yahoo, ESPN and The Syracuse Post Standard have, for the past eight years, possessed a tape that alleged Bernie Fine, a Syracuse basketball coach sexually abused a teenage boy.

The tape is conversation between Fine's wife and the boy who was abused where it seems as if she knew about the abuse.

Both outlets released the tape on Nov. 27th, well after the abuse allegations of both Sandusky from Penn State and Fine were out and open in the media.

Both outlets said that they didn't release the tapes or do a story on them because they couldn't verify the truth of the allegations at the time.  However, neither outlet reported the tapes to the police.  Which is scary.  The fact that they knew that there was possible sexual abuse was going on and they did nothing to help these boys.

I think as a media source we have an obligation to protect minors from those who can hurt them, especailly if we know it's going on.  I find it disgusting that ESPN and the Post-Standard would allow not knowing if it was true to stop them from reporting it. They could have saved so many other young people and they didn't.  They dropped the ball.  They ignored a chance to be a hero.

With a new Penn State accuser this is the time for the media to step up and give all the info that they know.

Wikipedia's Plea

Jeff, you looked really different on Tuesday....

The source every high school and college teacher warns against is at it again.

The site, which is run by donations and is used and read by over 1/3 of the internet it needs a heafty amount of money to stay free.

This isn't the first time Wikipedia has used pictures of writers and founder Jimmy Wales to garner donations.  As the chart shows, Jimmy's personal appeal has pulled in a lot of money, but it still isn't enough.



However, Jimmy's appeal is no different than say, Democracy Now!  urging patron's to give to keep the site free and out of the hands of advertisers.  Because it's only a matter of time before some company wants to change their Wikipedia page that has information of a past scandal and Wikipedia can't say no because they can't lose the ad revenue.

I couldn't start a lot of papers with out Wikipedia's ability to give me fantastic primary sources, my best friend and I would still be trying to figure out the plot to the final season of Supernatural.  So Wikipedia has more than enough reasons to take all the money I have that I didn't have to spend on books or DVDs.

However, this has resulted in some parodies, my favorite has been seeing his face looking like the picture of the article.   But this one is the best one, that is probably NSFW but has gone viral.

A Dedication to A Dear Friend

This doesn't have anything to do with Indy media, rather a huge supporter of everything indy related.  Kevin Michael was a staple of the basement of Park.  His larger than life personality was one that was an inspiration to all.  He was never afraid to treat his students like adults, like we were his colleagues and we were solving a problem together. The countless times he stopped my tears with a funny story or a story to put my tears into perspective made him a wonderful friend. 

Kevin Michael also appreciated Indy Media.  He helped independent projects for students any chance he got.  He saved my show more times than I can possibly count.  Kevin loved student media.  He knew how important it was.  He knew that we became better at our jobs and we would always be there because of student media.  Kevin is the reason I stayed at Park.  He also thought that everything dealing with school was stupid because classes interfere with education.

More than once he encouraged me to skip classes to go hunt down a story or dig further into a piece I was working on.  Usually after this class I'd go down on Thursday and sit and talk to him and learn so much.

Today it kills me that he won't be there and I went to his memorial and not to his office.

So Kevin, Park pushes on with out our best assest.  We miss you.

Is This the End Of Occupy Wall St.?

I know this is from a mainstream source, but they were the first to pop up on twitter with this story despite the number of indys I follow.


So Bloomberg decided that OWS had to end because "health and safety condition became intolerable" (he apparently hasn't been to some sections of NYC or out of a first world country.  As the movement continues to grow in other cities, it seems the founding city of New York might be coming to the end.

OWS protesters were kicked out of the park (forcibly removed) for camping.

Yes, it turns out the down fall of the movement is they can't have tents.  So they can stay at the park, but they can't use tents. They only have "the power of their arguments"

But with in about 3 minutes of me posting this, things changed. The National Lawyers Guild obtained a court order which allows OWSers to  keep their tents and keep living in Zuccotti Park.  A judge halted Bloomberg's decision and decided they could stay. 

I can't say that I totally agree with what OWS is fighting for.  I think people quitting their jobs to protest is a bit silly.  I don't think that you can complain that you don't have a job if you willingly left that job.  But I still don't think that our first amendment rights should be stamped upon because Bloomberg or leaders think that this is going to damage them.

More interesting is this Twitter timeline of the evacuation. A little bit scary.

The Election, from ICTV

Right now I work for an Independent Media outlet.  Newswatch 16! Last week we had election center and I've had time to critique the show and reflect on what happened so I can write about it.

Last year, we had critiques from a crazy townie who made lots of comments about our female anchor's chest and I was a little bit off set  But I suppose when you're the only local station the crazies watch you and then send you stuff of about your anchors.

This year was small and very local which made a lot of things easier.  We were able to put reporters at every single person running's parties.  We had staffs on data center looking up every single race.  I was proud, I was line producing.

When doing the opening though I realized something.  Our main SOTs that we used were all from Svante Myrick.  Svante is the new 24 year old mayor.  I've had his phone number in my phone for years.  Svante used to send us stories that were happening in the town and when he had a statement to make I was always the reporter.  Svante was more excited than me when I became news director.

Svante loves ICTV, he loves Newswatch and indy media.  He's become close to us not only because he's a huge supporter but because he's our age.  The problem with indy media is because we're not a big name, we're small we don't have the same credibility.  I can't tell you how many times I've had reporters struggle because they can't get an interview because "they're just college students" or "they're not real news."


So to be honest, my connection with Svante and his love for Newswatch may make us seem biased, but really if I sit in your office for 3 hours trying to get an interview and you still won't comment I'm going to somebody who will.

I'm excited that he's in office because now I know we'll get comments from more people.

Prop 26, Sanity Prevails in Mississippi

I've been reading a lot about Prop 26, a personhood law that would place the point of personhood at the exact point of conception.  As in the moment the sperm meets egg and the zygote is floating around the uterus.

It's been well publicized, because it's the strictest personhood law to come out.  On blogs, people who are pro-life have come out against it. And some pieces pointing out the strangeness of the whole idea have come out.

This is truly a stupid law. Let's be honest, do you prosecute a woman for miscarrying?  I mean, half of all fertilized eggs exit the womb with out a woman ever knowing she's pregnant.  Is God the number one abortionist in the world?  (I almost think that a lot of crazy, evangelicals' heads exploded every time somebody presents that thought)

On Tuesday, Mississippi voted on Prop 26.  Many in the mainstream acted like it would pass.  Fear was struck into the hearts of many and maybe it had an advantage because it had people coming out to the polls, but the main fact is, they got it wrong.

Slate realized this, and while the author was honest, he also thought that Prop 26 would do better than similar laws in other states because it was supported by people in the government.  The real problem is is they brought in outlawing the pill.  Making it just about abortion tends to get people going, but taking away a mother of 2's IUD will end your campaign.

The mainstream jumped to conclusions about why this would pass and the fact that it would pass in general.  Really, media should instead inform people that it has the chance to pass and not that it has passed already.

Net Neutrality

We were talking yesterday about Net Neutrality.  Imagine my surprise when a blog post by Senator Al Franken spoke on the subject of Net Neutrality.

Al Franken's position on net neutrality is this: we need it.  In this post he explains in very simple terms what net neutrality is and why and how it's under attack by those who want to let big corporations pay to have a "better spot" on the internet.

I agree with Franken. Here's the thing, competition is the most basic American principle.  Allowing media conglomerates to take over all of the stories on the internet (where most people get their news) we get a very one sided perspective of thing.  We need independent media, we need small start ups that are out digging for stories.  Net neutrality allows small start ups to have the same chance as media conglomerates to get their story out first.

Net neutrality is one of the more important parts of the internet and I think that it's something that we cannot let go.  Because as Franken says, it's not a government take over of the internet.  And really, not having net neutrality is way more of a government take over

The Power of Blogs

We've talked a lot about blogging.  It seems as if most indy media outlets are blogs.

I hate blogging.  It's like keeping a journal.  I was never, ever good at that and I can't seem to be comfortable blogging. It's frustrating for me to keep a blog because I know that I'm not good at it.

Our guest speaker, Mr. Jacobson however has really harnessed the power of blogging.  His blog Legal Insurrection is actually really well set up and great blog wise (even if I don't agree with what he's saying.)

I find that his use of contributors interesting.  His name and picture is right at the top of the page along with his job.  Having people blog for you when you're the face of the blog can we risky.  I mean, what would happen if one of them posted something that offended people and people assumed it was his voice saying that as opposed to one of his regular contributors.  I know being a prominent  blogger while working full time can be hard, but I think it's risky to be putting your name on something when others have content control.

He also doesn't take advantage of getting donations.  If you put it up higher, people will give.  I almost couldn't find the donate button and I wonder if some people are reading it and not realizing that they can donate.  He could be missing out on revenue.

Mr. Jacobson was a great speaker, his blog is very nice, but I don't know if he's getting 100% of what he can out of this blog.

The End of Wikileaks?

According to Julian Assange, places blocking donation to Wikileaks are going to drive them out of business.  Wikileak said that they will have to stop publishing temporarily to focus on revenue. It was something that is not surprising.

Both in the US and in Europe, credit cards have not allowed donations and so hosting website DataCell allowed people to directly donate through banks. The blockade, on a perfectly legal website is going to drive it out of business. With Assange's need for a lawyer for both his book deal and his possible sexual assault charge there's no money.

More so, these companies are shutting donations off to a person who can make or break them.  Meanwhile, you can use your credit card in any country to donate to every racist and hate group in the world, but a group that exposes government secrets is considered more dangerous.

It's frustrating for the government to act like this information is somehow going to destroy the lives of every American.  That some how the walls of America will be broken down by the release of papers that aren't totally, 100% secret.  The government should be scared of Assange, but shutting him down will just make others step up to take over what journalism should be about

Galid Shalit's Release and Egypt's Mistake

In the release of Gilad Shalit Egypt played a pivitol role in his release.  When he was released after his five years in captivity, he was brought through Egypt from Palestine before being delivered to Israel and the family who had not heard from him in five years.

Everything was good, Shalit's freedom was traded for the freedom of 1,027 Palestinian prisoners.  Gaza may have seen Israel as one half of a fool's bargin, but it was done none the less.  It seemed like the terms of the Israeli/Palestinian conflit would be mended for a short time.  And then Egypt made a huge mistake.

Egyptian officials coerced Shalit into an interview with Egyptian journalists.   The problem with this isn't that they wanted to interview him, it's the timing and the questions.  They interviewed him minutes after Hammas released him with Hammas standing around him, armed.  They interviewed a man, who was denied medical visits from the Red Cross and whose letters and DVDs were only given to his family and to Israel for 20 female prisoners.  They asked him questions like why didn't he allow for interviews while he was in prison, ignoring the fact that his captors wouldn't allow for him to have contact with the outside world.  They then asked, since he knew what it was like to be in captivity, would he campaign for the release of Palestinians from Israeli jails.   

Ignoring the Israeli/ Palestinian conflict, ethically this is beyond wrong.  He hadn't talked to his family, seen his home or really gotten out of captivity.  For them to go and feel like part of their right of brokering the deal for his freedom is an interview with him with in minutes of being released with his captors around him is wrong.  You don't broker deals for prisoners for interviews where you ask them insensitive questions, you do it because somebody needs to be saved. I'm not 100% of the time Israeli supporter, but I understand their anger and outrage at this line of questioning.

Gadaffi's Death

I was surprised to wake up to news that Gaddafi had died.  It seemed the entirety of mainstream and indy media was treating it the same way that we treated bin Laden's death: as a skeptical idea until confirmed by other people. There seemed to be a lot of questions on if he was actually dead or if, like all the other times we had heard he was dead he was really alive.

Then there were videos of (presumably) Gaddafi's being kicked and the confirmation came through.

There were quite a few conflicting reports on what had happened.  Some said that Gaddafi had been killed by his own people, which given that they have turned his compound into a tourist bazaar while it has been confirmed that he was shot after a NATO air strike.

For the United States and our media there isn't the same about of coverage for Gaddafi as there was for bin Laden.  While

Democracy Now has been reporting from Libya and Egypt, Huffington Post is trying to keep up with the updates of the going on and the main stream is just keeping us updated with weird Gaddafi facts.

The Stranger

We talked about The Stranger and Savage love in class today.  I can't deny that I love Dan Savage.  I've met Dan and he is the best advice giver and I wish I could hang out with him every day. Dan is a voice of a generation of people who have a different idea of being gay and who have a different idea of sex.  Dan doesn't get disgusted by much, with in reason, and I think his open ear and ability to give sound and respected advice with out mincing words is respectable.  He's also a fantastic public speaker and has given a lot back to the community in the way of his It Gets Better Project.

My other favorite project of his is Spreading Santorum.  The site was created after Rick Santorum was quoted saying that homosexuality was equal to bestiality.  If you google Santorum's name (do it yourself, I will not subject my professor to it unless he wants to see it) it comes up with a less than flattering definition for the word.  Dan Savage has in fact, destroyed Santorum's credibility on the web.  He's slowly breaking down Santorum's reputation.  

More so, I love The Stranger.  The Stranger gives voices to those stories who are widely ignored.  Like Savage Love, because an explicate sex column isn't going to be shown in The Washington Post.  The stories of Occupy Seattle and the headlines in a "Call 'em Like we see 'em" style is refreshing.  Reading The Stranger is like reading a news paper your friend wrote commentary on. I guess that's why I appreciate it, not totally for the news value but because I get enjoyment from it.

I guess that's what I like best about Indy Media.  I like that stories that would otherwise get ignored get published in works like The Stranger.  I like that The Stranger actually has a porn competition, because Indy media is for those who have "out there" ideas and will go out there and do what they want to so they can get their story out.

Occupy Wall Street, Occupy College?

So I just read this piece on occupy college.  It's interesting because I haven't heard exactly what we're supposed to be protesting.  Lack of freedom of speech on college campuses?  The debt we're facing?  Bad professors?

It's pretty unclear and nobody seems to know.  According to their website it seems to be that we have a lot of debt, not a lot of opportunities and no lobbyists to fight for our rights. 

Interesting.

So the plan is to walk out of class at noon at the local time of your college.  I'm not exactly sure how walking out of our classes will start a movement. The thing is it isn't doing anything, so professors can't teach and you miss out on a day of education.  At least with Occupy Wall Street those on Wall Street have to look at those who are affected by their choices.

While Ithaca College isn't scheduled to participate in this, my class ends at noon, so I guess I'll be walking out.

Indie Media

I'm really enjoying this class.  It's pretty interesting.  I've only ever worked with conglomerates and so it's interesting to learn about the other side of things.

I've blogged for the Huffington Post which at times I'm super embarrassed about.  Not because I did it, but more because people judged me so harshly for my choice. My piece wasn't about complaining about my debt, it was more about saying that I knew what I was getting into, but I made my choice because it was what was best for me.  It was what I needed to do, and for me the cost is still worth it.  If I could go back, I would do the same exact thing.

I'm not mad people judged me, I just feel like people took a look at a smile holding up a sign of that much and assumed "this girl doesn't work, she goes to a private school and she has no reason to complain" If they had read my piece they'd know that I have 3 jobs, my private school gave me way more than any state school and I'm not complaining, just worried about the future.