AJRL 475: Lions, Tigers, and Penny Papers, Oh My!

In Chapter 9 of Writing in the Wall, Standage starts to lay the foundation of modern day newspapers, and journalism alike.  From the early 1800’s two large problems plagued the newspaper industry; the affordability of publication and the ability to increase circulation.  In September 1833, The New York Sun, led by printer Benjamin Day found a solution.

At the time newspapers were centralized to those who can afford subscriptions.  Day was able to accommodate all potential audiences by lowering the cost of his paper to one cent compared to the average cost of  6 cents per paper.  He was able to get businesses to purchase ad’s within his paper that would help subsidize the cost of the paper.  Day was one of the first to do so, setting the precedent for newspapers, print and online today.  However, those buying ad’s

needed to know that the paper was reaching enough viewers so that they would benefit from it.

Through Day, mass produced news flourished as other publications soon caught on. Thanks to such innovations,  James Gordon Bennett, the founder for the New York Herald had this to say about his paper:

“It is equally intended for the great masses of the community –the merchant,mechanic,working people –the private family as well as the public hotel –the journeyman and his employer –the clerk and his principal.”

How many ad’s do you see? (Kudos, TU!)

The process of funding and being able to circulate news as rapidly as Day was able to do was a key cog in the mass media movement.  The more consumers read, the more they demanded, and the more the demand, the greater the need for efficient publication.  Therefore the need for more reporters and journalists, or at the time, folks willing to go on the prowl for interesting news stories was on the rise.  The need for stronger communication was large, thus the development of the telegram and the birth of the Associated Press made it easier for newspapers to commonly access the latest in current events.

Fast forward to 2014, the online and print publications of many news organizations would cease to exist if not for strong advertising sponsors.  Yet alone, each organization is comprised of several reporters, editors and publishers all key and integral members of the clean paper or article that you pull on your tablet to read every morning.  Thanks to Benjamin Day and his contemporaries, journalism and mass communication has woven itself seamlessly into the lives of millions of people worldwide.

 

AJRL 390: Does Cranium use its Cranium?

Upon exploring the Hasbro Games website, I came across one of the most beloved games of my youth, Cranium.  However, though I was given the link by Professor Palmer for their website, I honestly question if I would have been able to access the game as easily, had it been on my own.

First things first, my initial reaction to the page where Cranium was being advertised was that it was very bland, and did not offer much to the consumers or audiences who were viewing the page.

However, once you further get into the site, it becomes much more user friendly.  If you click on a game, the link redirects you to a whole new product screen interface.  Here you can find product descriptions, pricing and stores where you can find the game, which makes it very easy for viewers to use.

Being an avid fan of classic games such as Cranium, the toolbar on the upper right part of the screen makes it easy to connect via social media (Twitter and Facebook).

Adding your company’s Twitter and Facebook handles to visible parts of your website make it easy for users to follow you without having to be on your site. Great tool used by journalists as well!

Though there isn’t much SEO on this site, something comparable that Hasbro has been able to do that we see journalists of today do as well include appropriate links to outside sources as well as strategic content.  If you hover over the “Where to buy” feature on the website, you are immediately directed to the latter half of the page where  you are given clear options as to where you can purchase your game.

Exporting users to outside websites according to Briggs will “increase your authority in many search engines.”  The zip code search tool is also another great feature that can help customers find stores near them.  The ultimate goal is to make everything seem easier for those viewing your site.

each store shown in the chart is linked with a “buy now” section, making purchasing all the more simple. Enter your zipcode in the lower box to find stores near you!

Cranium may also keep heavy track of how many page views and visits it gets daily simply to keep track of where they stand in lieu of their competition.  Journalists in the newsroom do the same thing according to Briggs however, instead of doing it to track a product, they are more concerned with news stories, blog posts, etc etc.

The way Cranium has been able to simplify purchasing options for users is something that can be done in the newsroom as well depending on the story that you are covering.  To take that thought a step further, advertisements who pay to post ad’s on a news companies online site should do the same.  The act of cultivating as many users to your website is critical not only in a business driven site such as Hasbro, but especially in the newsroom where competition is always lurking.

Security features keep the site user friendly given the age demographic that may tend to visit a site selling games.

Writing on the Wall, Chapter 7: The Information Spread

In Standage’s, Writing on the Wall, the 7th chapter examines the development of the liberty of printing.  He explored the rudimentary principles of printing.  The connection between these concepts, even if its most fetal stages resonates loudly with the development of social media.

The mid 1600’s through the mid 1700’s saw great censorship in what was allowed to be written and distributed to the public.  However at the same time, it did not seem to bother people that they were so greatly censored.  In fact, the most striking point Standage was able to bring up was the how The Boston News-Letter approached printing.

The Boston News- Letter,  was the first regular newspaper in the colonies, with a circulation around 250 in its early stages.  The publication had news from England as well as internationally, news from other colonies and finally local news.  This circulation struck me because it was mostly complied of information that wasnt original, but merely repeated news.  The logic behind this?

“Simply to increase the circulation of reliable information, for although some few gentleman and merchants might have all or some part thereof, yet for the most part the people in general, in this and the Neighbouring Provinces, have it now, and what they have, variously, and often falsely reported,’ according to Campbell.  

The methodology taken by the News-Letter was an important step in printing as it relates to printing, social media and citizen journalism.  At the time news came from sailors, people who worked at the ports, coffeehouses etc, so in order to find legitimate details and news, one needs to find accurate sources.  The same way we can repost or retweet something on social media platforms, Campbell took it upon himself to retweet everything he knew to be true via his publications.

Campbell’s publication inspired the birth of many similar newspapers to start developing, such as its rival, The Boston Gazette, as well as imitators like the American Weekly Mercury and New-York Gazette.  Eventually this idea of circulating news so that it can reach more people, turned into what journalism and social media do collaboratively today –finding and sharing news in speedy and timely fashion.

‘Trending Now,’ began with John Campbell.

Net Neutrality: Leveling the Playing Field

The transformation and development of the internet has made it the hub for daily living in the 21^st century.  Wherever you go someone is using their Wi-Fi or mobile data enabled phone, tablet, laptop, etc.  The internet has taken on a form similar to that of an omnipresent being.  However we tend not to notice its presence or value until it’s gone or worse… until we have to wait for our videos to do the unforeseeable –buffer.

The varying speeds and connection services provided by different internet providers have placed a strain on the relationships between providers, the user (us), and several industries (Google, Facebook, Netflix).  Thus the issue of net neutrality arises.  Net neutrality is the rising belief that Internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favoring or blocking particular products or websites.

That being said, it makes perfect sense that net neutrality should exist between providers and consumers, and that favoritism and bribery should not interfere with how the internet is presented to the millions, if not billions of people that use it nationwide.

As a conservative, it is enlightening to see that the majority (83%) of self proclaimed conservative voters do support net neutrality.  Does this go against an over arching right winged belief that the less government intervention, the better?  This is the argument raised by several in opposition to neutrality within the party; however, what they don’t understand is that through neutrality, greater freedom is achieved by the consumer.

If America prides itself upon its internet freedoms and constitutionally protected rights, it would realize that having corporations run wild with internet schemes is unfair.  In response to Senator Ted Cruz’s tweet comparing net neutrality to Obamacare, Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) had the following to say,

“When [Cruz] says this is the Obamacare, Obamacare was a government program that fixed something, that changed things, this is about reclassifying something so it stays the same. This would keep things exactly the same that they’ve been.”

Conservative majority support for net neutrality is an amazing thing.  Comcast, Verizon, AT&T, amongst other providers should not be able to bully their ways to the top.  Though these provider companies may argue that net neutrality poses less consumer choice and freedom, it actually implies the opposite.  The concept of net neutrality is to keep internet connections on a fair and even playing field.

When outside industries spend large sums of money to advertise, it nix’s the amount of control the actual provider has.  This leaves companies who rely on fast internet connection such as Netflix in tough positions.  Netflix, Reddit and other companies have taken to their websites in support of net neutrality by arguing that internet connection should be even throughout all providers.

In the end, internet usage and speed should follow a fair for one, fair for all protocol.  In a email written by Google, one, if not the giant of the internet to the FCC, voiced their support for neutrality in the most fitting way possible for 21^st century internet junkies like ourselves.

“If Internet access providers can block some services and cut special deals that prioritize some companies’ content over others,” Google wrote, “that would threaten the innovation that makes the Internet awesome.”

JRL 390: Final Project Proposal

Theme: The Rise and Fall of Yik Yak

Yik Yak is a relatively new social media app that allows users to anonymously post threads into a forum based on your GPS location.  The app operates similar to Twitter, however there is no user identity.  Yik Yak was originally made exclusively for college aged students as to prevent altercations with younger folks.

Recently the app has come under fire given its ability to be a platform for multiple cases of cyber bullying.  On a local level we have seen the threat that Yik Yak poses on the UAlbany campus, given the terrorist threat made on the app last week by a student.  Though the student was apprehended and convicted by authorities such an app can be dangerous.

People tend to have no sensor or concern for others when they are not held accountable for their words, as they are on Yik Yak.  My project would examine how this app has impacted social media as well as the lives of college students; especially on the heels of the app being used to threaten our own campus.

AJRL 390: Cutline Assignment

1. Alaska Storm brings frigid weather to US.

Original Cutline: This Nov. 5, 2014 photo provided by NASA shows a picture captured by NASA’s Aqua satellite of Typhoon Nuri. Weather forecasters say an explosive storm, a remnant of Typhoon Nuri, surpassing the intensity of 2012’s Superstorm Sandy is heading toward the northern Pacific Ocean and expected to pass Alaska’s Aleutian Islands over the weekend

Revised Cutline: NASA satellite showing Typhoon Nuri.  Forecasters are predicting that a severe remnant of the Typhoon is heading towards the Pacific while passing Alaska’s Aleutian Islands over the weekend.

2. Obama Takes blame for Democrats’ Loss

Original Cutline: Obama spoke to Bob Schieffer on CBS’ ‘Face the Nation.’

Revised Cutline:  President Obama acknowledges the short comings of the Democratic Party in the Midterm Elections, and vows to take responsibility for the aftermath in his sit down with CBS’ Bob Schieffer.

3. Florida Woman Survives 45 minutes Without Pulse

Original Cutline: Ruby Graupera-Cassimiro of Deerfield Beach, Fla., holds her newborn daughter, Taily. Doctors were about to pronounce the mother dead when her heart began beating 45 minutes after she lost a pulse.

Revised Cutline: Ruby Graupera-Cassimiro fought death, surviving 45 minutes with no pulse during the birth of her child Taily.  Cassimiro suffered no brain damage and can normally care for her newborn daughter.

4. Bus Driver dies while driving students to school

Original Cutline:  A neighbor says that the driver of the school bus had a medical emergency. (Photo Source: WMC Action News 5)

Revised Cutline:  The bus carrying five students to school Friday morning ended up crashing into a residents yard.  Nearby residents said that the driver had a medical emergency and died on the scene.

5. Elderly man gets illegally evicted from home

Original Cutline: Home that man was evicted from.

Revised Cutline:  An elderly man was illegally evicted from his longtime home.  There is no documented eviction paperwork filed in the Saginaw County Courthouse, yet the new owners of the house changed locks and removed his belongings from inside the home.

Breaking the Pack

Social media has made story access for journalists much easier, am I right?  I mean, if you really think about it, a journalist can browse through Facebook or Twitter and pick up a something of news value to report on.  Wrong.

A Canadian news article weighs the pro’s and con’s that social media has on the lives of the everyday journalist and how it has created in turn, a pack mentality among them.  But what is “pack journalism?”  The first known use of pack journalism was coined in 1972 and is meant to describe a form of journalism that is “practiced by reporters in a group and is marked with uniformity of news coverage and lack or original thought or initiative.”  Not an encouraging market point for advertising the profession, and in ways; social media is to blame.

To be fair, social media is a tremendous asset to the world of journalism.  It provided a whole new outlet for journalists to find stories, sources, and key information.  However, when every journalist nowadays is using social media as a tool, it can become a vice.  When it comes to social media use in the newsroom and who journalists follow, reporter Peter Cowan says it best,

“Sometimes, though, it seems that who journalists are following the most closely are each other.”

However, despite the convenience of tweets and likes, I would say that social media is transforming the role of a journalist.  More traditional folks would probably say that it has killed conventional journalism.  Given pack journalism, journalists are getting their information from other journalists.  If there is a mistake or error in what is written, the chain of suffering goes on until someone catches the error.  This compromises that one basic rule we all learned in our introductory to journalism courses… maintain your credibility and legitimacy.

Journalists in the realm of social media find themselves getting lazy.  We were once taught to go out and find stories, reach out to people, raise every stone etc.  Now, our stories are just one swipe away every time we refresh our news-feeds.  If journalists are holding each other accountable for stories and beats, what happens when the well runs dry?  Will there be a generation that would be incapable of going out into the field on a beat?    

Increased social media usage has increased the amount of journalists who have fallen into “packs.” Breaking these packs are key if we want to get back into pure journalism.  We can all but hope, that stage of the profession hasn’t gone extinct.    Cowan put it best,

“I’m not immune to this. I follow lots of fellow reporters on Twitter and if I think they have a good story, I’ll pick up the phone to try and match it. But that instinct may be hurting journalism instead of helping it.  Sadly, in this day of shrinking newsrooms it means there are fewer people chasing fewer stories.  It’s a reminder to me as a journalist to spend less time keeping an eye on my colleagues and more time looking for stories in places others aren’t.  And next time I’ll look more closely before I eagerly share the next nugget of news.”

Trending Now: #Ebola

The Ebola virus outbreak in western Africa has killed thousands.  The handful of cases that have been reported within the United States have come and gone with only one fatality, which can possibly be attributed to hospital error as well.

That being said, it’s no surprise that news outlets have managed to successfully cover this Ebola outbreak as a means to raise awareness of citizens. While an argument can be made for American over exaggeration, awareness never hurts.

However, thanks to an increase in digital literacy, citizens themselves have been able to take it upon themselves in the spread of knowledge and awareness relevant to this disease.  Thank you social media!

Ebola coverage on Social Media channels have come in many different styles and forms.  Each with its own specific agenda.  You have those who choose to raise awareness and those who choose to use Ebola as a form of political capital for their respected parties.  

Australian Government taking to Twitter to announcing a travel ban from West Africa. Just one example of how the virus is impacting politics on social media

On a national level, several members of the GOP have taken to some very extreme views in how to handle the situation.  The following tweets are from Todd Kincannon, the former executive director of the Republican Party in South Carolina:

Ebola has been used by politicians in an attempt to garner support from their party especially that the virus conveniently decided to become a national issue during election season.  Billionaire businessman, Donald Trump has also taken to the “Twitter-verse,” to criticize the poor job of the Obama Administration in handling the virus here in the U.S.  He went as far to call for the President to resign.

Despite these political spins, the great thing about social media, is its ability to raise awareness.  From top dogs such as Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates, to everyday people like ourselves, raising awareness through Facebook and Twitter has been the fastest spread of knowledge during this time of crisis.  Grassroots Social Media campaigns have started in an effort to raise one million dollars of relief money that can be sent to the African countries severely impacted by the disease.

Please take note if you begin to display the following symptoms. Ebola has a 5-21 day incubation period.

Its heart warming to know that despite all the political jargon that can arise through such medical crisis’, people can still assemble together to fight the good fight, looking out for the interests of others.  This would not have been possible had it not been for the power of social media.  #Ebola.  

City of the Shark: Coming to Beaches Near You

Steven Spielberg’s 1975 thriller created a negative reputation of one of the ocean’s most important predators.

To say that I was lucky would be an understatement.  What had the potential of being a scene plucked straight out of Steven Spielberg’s

“Jaws,” was no more than a mere scratch on the leg.  They have the worst reputations of all ocean dwelling creatures, yet they are worthy of our respect, as I’ve witnessed first handedly.  Sharks.

They are designed to be the oceans most elite predator; standing the test of time, going virtually unchanged for millions of years.  They inhabit our favorite tropical beaches, yet we hardly pay them any mind –I never did. 

“We’re from the northeast, it’s too cold up here to worry about sharks,” were the response of many.  You’re wrong.  New York beach goers be wary…they’re here.

---

The Domain of the Shark

From the moment you leave the shore and begin wading into the surf, you’ve left your world and entered into the sharks.  Scientifically classified as Selachimorpha, there are over 400 species of sharks ranging from the eight inch long Etmopterus perryi, commonly known as the dogfish to Rhincodon typus, or whale shark measuring at lengths upwards of 60 feet.

However, out of the abundance of species, only three have proven to be a legitimate threat to humans.  The Great White, the Tiger, and the Bull sharks have amassed the most attacks on humans than any other shark species as shown in the following chart with data obtained from the International Shark Attack File: 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Shark	Unprovoked Attacks    (1580-2013)	Unprovoked attacks	Unprovoked Fatal
Great White Shark	279	201	78
Tiger Shark	101	73	28
Bull Shark	93	67	26

About three years ago, I was personally introduced to the fear that one of these sharks can induce.

Great White Shark breaching. Swimming vertically from the depths, it never misses its chance to grab an unexpecting seal

---

A Sunny Day that Turned Crimson Red

Growing up I never feared the water, or marine life.  I would always joke about getting bit by a shark or wanting to work with marine life as a profession.  The joke was on me.  This experience would have left many traumatized, but for me it was just a reminder… the ocean belongs to those who dwell there.  In this case, a 6-8 foot Bull Shark.

In the days and weeks following the incident, friends and family thought my lack of concern over what happened was my way of denying anything ever did.  They were wrong, I genuinely was not afraid, if I were I would not have swam for the rest of my stay in Florida.  However I do respect the ocean now, and have fully realized the magnitude of the oceans top predator.  As I left Florida two weeks later, I thought that such encounters can only occur down south.  I was wrong.

---

Sharks of the Big Apple

1056 miles north of Englewood, Florida.  I’m back home and decided to do some research.  I recalled that about a century ago there were several fatal shark attacks along the northeastern coast.  The attacks of 1916 were the last major shark threat to plague the Jersey shore, close enough to my hometown of Queens, NY to raise some concern.  However a couple months prior to my own attack down in Florida, sharks were beginning to claim New York waters once again.

There are six species of shark that are common to NY-NJ waters.  They are the blue, basking, great white, shortfin mako, porbeagle, and thresher.  At times, we may be treated to a hammerhead or bull shark sighting as well.  Though most of these sharks can be found well off the shores of tri state area beaches, some occasionally can be seen from the beaches of Long Island.  However, recently, the most notorious of the group have been uncharacteristically getting closer to our shores… the great white.

“New York City is the new Cape Cod,” said Paul Sieswerda, head of Gotham Whale, a marine life tracking group based in Breezy Point, Queens.

The humor-isms and negativity commonly associated with sharks in a humor filled meme.

In an article written by the NY Post, one of the major reasons that sharks and large whales have been so abundant in tri state waters as of late, can be directly linked to the cleaner waters surrounding the area  which promotes a higher concentration of sustainable food to support these animals while they make their migration north.

“The river used to bring nothing but pollution but in the last five years or so there is cleaner water, more nutrients and less garbage,” Sieswerda said.  Other conservation and protection measures elsewhere in the region have also improved the ocean waters considerably.

The fact that three great white sharks were spotted as recently as this past summer swimming in Rockaway beach, a mile off shore is a testament to what may a trending occurrence for years to come.  These sharks for the most part are juveniles, and don’t pose much harm to humans.

---

Whats Next?

The shark is a beautiful creature.  I may have been bitten but that does not mean I hold any resentment towards these animals.  In fact, the best case scenario is to make sure that sharks are properly understood and respected, as an asset to marine life and not some “man eating fish.”  From Florida to New York, sharks swimming in our own backyards shouldn’t be something that petrifies us.  As if you were swimming in the tropics, simply treat New York beaches as such during the summer.

We share an ocean with such diverse marine life.  In fact, we should be happy that our waters are clean enough to support such wildlife.  Sharks are the ideal New Yorker.  They’re relatively calm once left alone, but piss them off and you’ll see a wrath similar to bumping into someone trying to catch the train during rush hour.  Welcome to the city that never sleeps. They’re here.

 

Pain’s Writings and Today’s Revolutions

Colonial America saw many great writers during its time.  Though many writings were often restricted and censored at the hand of the British, many publishers and writers would go under an alias to remain anonymous while they write.  

Pamphlets and newspapers were the main source of how ideologies and news were spread throughout the colonies.  Thomas Paine was at the forefront of this literary revolution.  His writings, most notably Common Sense ignited social movement and action towards independence within the colonies.  Modern day social movement and independence can be done through social media, most notably seen during the Occupy Wall Street movement.  

 

The Occupy movement garnered tons of support through its ability to advertise and ignite the interests of people through social media.  In the 21st century, where the world exists through computer screens, Occupy marketed themselves accordingly –if they wanted to ignite any form of action or response.  According to Jeremy Heimans CEO and Co-Founder of Purpose:

“The best way to get people away from their computer is through the computer; you can’t organize thousands of people in New York City [the way Occupy Wall Street has] without the web,”  

As Occupy Wall Street hit its stride in the latter half of 2011, it was a direct result of heavy usage of Social Media devices such as Facebook and Twitter that led to the massive turnouts in New York City, as well as nationwide.  This can be seen as a modern day Paine at its best, where people respond to a call of action and where the true power of social media is harnessed to assemble large amounts of individuals in a successful revolution of sorts.

Though Paine’s work was centuries before the internet, it is safe to say that his strategies of social implementation are found in the common tenets of the World Wide Web today.  Paine’s Common Sense sold around half a million copies within its first year of publication to the approximate 3 million people within the colonies.  Like the internet, information needs to be able to flow quickly for it to be effective.   

       

Looking at Occupy Wall Street and its thousands of supporters, none of that would have been possible without someone sending out a Facebook post or a Tweet.  All it takes is one person with one idea.  Would America have been America, had it not been for Thomas Paine?