Tuesday 19 December 2017

Journal Entry #8 Facing Fake News

When looking at the photo of the flowers, I thought this image did not provide strong evidence about the conditions near the Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant, it made me very curious whether to believe it or not. Even though the flowers looked damaged, I still think they could of been photo shopped. I thought this would of been considered fake news because there was not enough information such as other pictures or other sources to prove it. I did not consider this article a reliable source of the nuclear disaster because it left me asking too many questions, until I went into further research of the Nuclear Disaster. I first researched if a nuclear disaster happened in Japan on March 11th at the Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant and I found out it actually did happen according to this website. After reading along this website I came to realize that the disaster was factual news.

This article could be the same as the topic of Yellow Journalism, this news could be used to make money and to get their name out there to become popular/famous. I would not consider this news article Satire news because Satire and fake news are quite different and Satire news is easily spotted, unlike this picture. Fake news is considered dangerous because people will take false information and spread it around. Fake news is also dangerous because people can take action against the topic of the fake news with the wrong information in their head and cause a big racket. Spotting fake news is usually very hard but it is very important to find. The fact checking tool kit is a great thing to use when trying to spot fake news , because finding the real facts is an important element in news articles,

Friday 8 December 2017

Journal Entry #7 WikiLeaks and Whistleblowers

The website I chose to do is The Intercept. This website is about people who can give information to journalists anonymous. This allows people to give out important information to journalists without anyone knowing who they are.
This is a great website I think because sometimes people are nervous to tell what they know because they do not want anyone to know that the information was leaked by them. Also privacy reasons would be another way to benefit from this website because since you can do it anonymously it does not invade anyone's privacy.
 This connects to the journalism world because journalist can get more topics easy but an implication would be that the person could be lying or just trying to make a joke out of something.

Thursday 2 November 2017

Journal Entry #6 Caught In Lies

Have you ever considered that the news you read (or watch or hear) may be factually incorrect or even fabricated? Explain why or why not.

  • Yes I have considered that news I had read could be fake or incorrect because some stories seem very unrealistic and people could be just doing it for the attention. Journalist also can exaggerate to make the story more entertaining and get more views. 
What is your reaction to the two articles? Were you surprised to find out that professional journalists have fabricated news?

  • My reaction to the two news articles was that I wasn't very surprised, and did not shock me that journalists have fabricated news because I think a lot of stories seem unrealistic.

Journalist Jack Shafer writes “most liars make things up for the simple reason that they don't have the talent or the ability to get the story any other way.” Do you agree with Shafer's assertion? Explain.

  • I agree with Shafer's assertion because liars do make things up and convince themselves that what they are telling others is true news and that it is what they heard, but really it is what they have made up themselves in their head believing it's the truth. 

Given what Shafer says, do you think that colleges and universities should make sure graduating journalism students can handle the responsibilities and pressures? Discuss your thoughts in your entry.

  • I  believe that colleges and universities should make sure graduating journalism students can handle the responsibilities because they will need to use the skills in the real world when they go out to be a real journalist.

Do you think when issues of ethics arise that a newspaper ombudsman helps? An ombudsman is a professional journalist whose sole responsibility is to respond to reader complaints and provide an independent critique of the paper's performance. Explain why or why not.

  • I agree that a newspaper ombudsman helps when issues of ethics arise because they allow people to give their opinion without giving theirs or getting offended. It allows access for many to express their thoughts. 

Wednesday 25 October 2017

Journal #5 Hard News vs. Soft

HARD NEWS
Carnage on the streets of Toronto
I consider this news definitely hard news. I think this because it is about Toronto drivers that are killing pedestrians at an alarming rate and it has to change. It is hard news because it has a strong effect on people being killed and warning people in the world. This is certainly important because people cannot even walk around the city without being in fear of getting hit by a car.

BLURRED NEWS 
Father finds long-lost twin sons in Edmonton 
I consider this blurred news  because it has hard news effects like it pertains to more personal information, but it has a great effect. I would categorize this article as also soft news because it really only effects the life of the father.

SOFT NEWS
John Stamos Announces Engagement to Girlfriend Caitlin McHugh: 'She said Yes' . This article is an example of soft news because it is only entertaining the fans of  star John Stamos. It does not go into anything serious. It doesn't grab the worlds attention like hard news would or effect the world.

Friday 20 October 2017

Journal Entry #4 What is Newsworthy?

Adam Henrique customized his skates for Movember
Timing- I would give this article a 3/4 for timing because it is about "movember" and a hockey player that is participating in it and it was posted on November 4th which is pretty close to the very first of November when "movember" woukd have started.
Significance- I would give this article a 1/4 for significance because it only effects the one person and not many.
Proximity- I would give this article a 2/4 because the hockey player is on the team New Jersey which isn't close to home, but it also effects us because we watch hockey all around the world.
Prominence- I would give this article a 4/4 for prominence because it effects a famous hockey player who is growing out a mustache, there are millions of people who also grow out their mustaches but don't get noticed but the hockey player did because he is famous.
Human Interest- I would give this article a 1/4 because it doesn't maintain much human interest and it is soft news.
Article here

At Least 26 Dead In Shooting At Texas Baptist Church here
Timing- I would give this article a 4/4 for timing because it was uploaded the day after the tragic incident happened.
Significance- I would give this article a 4/4 for significance because many people were killed in the frightening moment.
Proximity- I would give this article a 2/4 for proximity because the shooting didn't happen in our country but it affected people close to us and people from here could have had family in the accident.
Prominence- I would give this article a 3/4 for prominence because although no one involved in the shooting was famous it still made the news and a big part of it.
Human Interest- I would give this article a 4/4 for human interest because it is hard news that is very important and effects the whole world.

Tuesday 10 October 2017

Journal Entry #3 Writing the News Articles

Awesome surprise at school after the summer break for elementary students

After a long hot summer the kids arrived back to Brownview School on September 8th, 2023 jumping in excitement to see the new fence around the fixed up elementary soccer field.

A lot of hard work had paid off doing numerous fundraisers for the school. They finally came up with the money to get the new fence and fix the elementary field just in time for the soccer season.

The students were forbidden to play soccer on the field the past couple years because some outrageous hooligans ruined it for them. Over the years kids around the community kept spinning up and damaging the soccer field that it came to the point it was ruined. It was way to dangerous for students to play on the field. The school had worked hard and now finally the children can play safe on their home field.

"I am so excited to kick off the soccer season on our new fenced in field!"
Said grade 4 student Jackson Avery.

"Soccer is my favourite sport and this surprise is like a dream come true for my last year of elementary soccer."
Exclaimed grade 5 student Becky Robertson.

A couple weeks later after a few practices the soccer team held their home opener on the field. There was a huge crowd of fans there supporting the team and the players could hardly wait for the game to begin.

The game was a success. They won by a score of 4-1, scoring for the Browner's were Jaden Thomas, Lucas Luther, Daniel Jardine and Janet Jughead. This was a great start to the season for the team and they are going to keep up the good work!

It was a great day in the village of Brownview for not only the school but the whole community.

http://www.slowsoccer.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/1311895164_2.jpg

Monday 2 October 2017

Journal Entry #2 Starting With The Basics

The news article I have chosen is "Flames Talking to Free Agent Jagr" in this news article the Calgary Flames and veteran free agent Jaromir Jagr are discussing the possibility of joining forces with the NHL season beginning in two days, according to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun. I think that the lead is very effective because it catches the readers eye by clearly stating what the article is going to be about and the main events that will be discussed. Two quotes about the article are off twitter on social media saying "Hearing that the Calgary Flames and Jaromir Jagr's camp are talking tonight. No certainty it happens but it's very possible." - Pierre LeBrun. Also from twitter "Jagr would also have to be willing to accept a third-line and second PP role. #stlblues" -Jeremy Rutherford. The most important information was told first by giving information on 45 year-old Jagr and summarizes his previous seasons with the NHL and how he wants to continue his career. The article has a good ending because it provides the information of when the Calgary Flames are going to play there first game and if Jagr will be playing.

Another news article I have chosen is "Gallagher, De La Rose lead Habs to rout of Senators" in this news article, the Montreal Canadiens' first line is clicking at a great time. Centre Jonathan Drouin and wingers Brendan Gallagher and Max Pacioretty combined for three goals and nine points as the Canadiens beat the Ottawa Senators 9-2 on Saturday in the last pre-season game for both teams. I think that the lead is very effective because it gives the main events and information that tie into the title of the article to make the reader keep on going. A quote about the article "There are 82 games and hopefully we can stay together and be productive the whole way," said Gallagher, who led with two goals an assist. "If we all do our jobs, we're capable of being effective in this league." The most important information was told first by giving a video clip of the highlight goals of the game scored by the 1st line. It also gives the important information in the first paragraph by summarizing the information of the article. The article has a good ending by saying when both teams open their regular seasons on Thursday. Ottawa hosts the Washington Capitals. Montreal faces the Sabres in Buffalo where you can watch the 1st line keep up the work.