Online Media- Twitter

While I do find Twitter to be a source of networking and and information, I do not really see it as a journalistic website.  It is basically just personal accounts, or opinions that anyone can do.  However, there is some new that is updated by reporters or journalists, or even just everyday people that are experiencing an event.  This information is not verified though, and for all we know could be false.  I do believe that Twitter has the potential to blow up into a big source, but for now it is still second to website like facebook, myspace, and wikipedia.  So no I don't believe that it is a valid source of journalism, but who knows what the future might hold.

Feature Writing- The Inauguration

I am ashamed to say that this years inauguration is the first one that I have ever watched. I have never taken an interest in them prior to this, but since this one was historic, I felt like it would be wrong to miss it. I actually really enjoyed watching it, for it was very extravigant and well organized. I also thought that Obama's public address was wonderful. Since I enjoy public speaking myself, I love seeing a speech with such strong delivery and structure. His speech was spotless and very powerful. The only slip up was the oath, but they are only human, and I would be nervous too in front of millions of people. All in all I thought the inauguration the beautiful, and truly historic.

Online Media- Investigative Journalism

I believe that Investigative Journalism does have a bright future ahead of it.  America has become so technologically savvy, therefore, websites have become a large source of information.  The fact that the website supporting Investigative Journalism are independently funded may be the only downfall, yet I feel like that wont hurt them enough to stop.  I also believe that online journalism does need to re-invent itself, while still having a healthy mix of mainstream news.  People are creatures of habit, therefore, we like to see the usual print stories, yet the websites need to update themselves as far as multimedia goes.  People love to be entertained, and the Internet can do just that.  Finally, I do feel that investigative journalism is important, for people have the right to know what is going on around them.  

online media- Washington Post

After reading the articles, and perusing though the Washingtonpost.com, I am going to have to say that I do agree with Grubisich's statement. Now, if I had not read his article I would most likely feel differently, for I do find it fairly engaging at first glance. Then you read about the poverty and struggles of the common citizens, and you wonder where the articles are that pertain to them. I understand that the inauguration is a historic event that deserves to be talked about, but you still need other local news as well. Not one main article in the Washingtonpost.com right now talks about lack of recreational resources for children, housing foreclosures, the rise in poverty, or anything along the lines of pertinent information for the public. If you want to engage the public, then give them something that they care about, and need to know about. A healthy mixure of both the inauguration and everyday news would of been nice to see. Therefore, yes I do agree with Grubisich, that there is room for growth when it comes to Weymouths visions, and the pillars of the Washingtonpost.com.

feature writing- more like dried out campus

I thought that when I graduated high school, the juvenile drama that came along with the territory would end as well. Little did I know, I was actually graduating into another stage in me life exactly like my last, only with an older age group and alcohol. Florida Southern High School, excuse me I mean Florida Southern College, seems to contain more drama than ever before. Now, I understand that every stage in a persons life will contain mishaps and confrontation, but when you live with practically the same 2000 people for four years, that level of drama is only intensified. Normally, the gossip travels by word of mouth, which means in about 2-3 days everyone else knows your business, but now thanks to one of the worst inventions ever, Juicy Campus, anyone can find out gossip in a matter of seconds. I just don't see the point of such a crude and degrading website. If I had to guess, it is mostly female dominated, which makes the whole situation even worse. As women, we should not be degrading other women like that, especially to the public. Why would we want to people to be called "sluts", so the guys, and even some faculty, can think even less of us as a female student body? This is also something that may stay with these people forever, for the Internet can be very unforgiving. I understand it is our right as Americans to speak our minds, but when you go to a small college, where everyone knows one another personally, these comments are unnecessary, and hurtful to many people. I guess there is not a whole lot that anyone can do about it, I just don't know how many more Kaus stories I can take. People just need to realize that our lives here at FSC are not that interesting, so get over it, and "keep the drama fo yo mamma"!

feature writing- feature characteristics

The feature A Boy of Unusual Vision, definitely contains a lot of the major characteristics that a feature article should contain.  It appeals deeply to emotion and it is fully human driven.  The first thing I noticed about it was the wonderful use of description and imagery.  When your reading a story, it is kind of like you yourself are blind, but when you get such a detailed description of the scene, you are then able to paint a full picture in your head, and Steinbach does just that.  It is also a fairly timeless and universal piece as well.  It is a longer piece, but it did not drag, for it was very well written and it kept you wanting to know more about this poor boy.  All in all, Steinbach really captured all of the major characteristics of a good feature story.

All She Has, $150,000, Is Going to a University, is a feature of a different tone then the one before it.  It is still a timeless, sort of universal piece, that anyone who reads it could get a different message from.  It is also appealing to peoples emotions, by showing her drive, motivation, and struggles.  It is a humbling feature, that makes you appreciate what you have.  It also contains the race element, which makes it people driven.  It is a detailed piece that contains a good massage.  It is a shorter piece, but it contained everything important and summed it up fairly well.  This feature also wraps up many of the main characteristics into one good story.

Criteria of Analysis

Here is my opinion on four websites and how I analyzed them to check their credibility, opinions, and reputation.

The first site I looked at was the AirCongress, which contained all political news.  The first article that pops up seems more a gossip column rather then a news story, but when you click on the about section, it seems more reputable then I would think.  Still, its sources are unclear, yet all attached to the government.  One source is referred to as "government watchdogs".  It kind of sounds like TMZ to me.  Okay, so TMZ might be a bit extreme, because they do have some good articles as well.

Next, I went to Dave Barry's blog, and all of his blogs, while comical, seemed to actually be true.  I looked up a bit about Dave to see if it credible or not, and he actually has a very impressive and successful track record.  He has even won a Pulitzer prize for commentary.  He seems to be producing credible humor!

Then I went to the IMC (independent media center).  While at first glance, the websites set-up is a bit childish, which a bad color scheme and layout, the articles seem to be hard news.  Everything is surrounding worldly affairs, and political issues.  Then once in the about section, its credibility seems to run out.  There are no real sources, only a description of the "radical, accurate, and passionate" writers of the IMC.  This makes me wonder if it is opinion/biased news.

Finally I checked out the slate as my last site, and the first big article that pops up is a about president Bush and it is entitled "A Riddle Wrapped in a Mystery Inside a Moron".  This made me have to thing that it was fluff news.  There was also a "boob tube" article and one about a submarine containing the fate of the world.  when looking through the about us section, I found that even though they do refer to their news as "witty", there is some fairly strong staff members, and beliefs. The website does however, look fairly professional.

Website Analysis

Online Media:

First, I want to start off by talking about FSC's Communication website, and what I feel could be changed, and since I am a broadcasting major, i will focus solely on the broadcasting page. Then I will take a look at five other colleges websites, and list the characteristics that I find positive and negetive, and things that could possibly be useful for FSC's website.

Our department's website is very plan. It has minimal (if any) multimedia. The pictures could be updated, and the lack of color does not draw my attention. The major thing that I find upsetting, is that on the main page for Comm, there is no hyperlink for broadcasting, you have to search through to finally stumble upon the page for it. Then when you do, it just brings up the course requirements, which is all but exciting. The other few pages for Broadcasting are either "under construction", or so old that one picture even has a boy in like an 80's Letterman's jacket. We need more pictures, and way more information.

University of Florida:
At first click on their Comm department, you have a slide show of up-to-date pictures, and so many informative links that you could spend hours reading about the department, its faculty, and whats going on in the news, both within the college and beyond. Then you go into their telecommunication website, and it gives a great breakdown of the three specific areas within telecomm. I love the great usage of their school colors and symbols. There is just so much information, and it is a lot easy to navigate and find compared to ours. It also has info on organizations such at NBS. Plus, I am jealous of their radio and television stations!

University of Central Florida:
At first, I thought UCF's website was very easy to navigate through, until I got to academic departments. At first, I could not even find an actually website for Communication. The only website they have for is a course requirement/discription. The I went back and realized that you have to go under the College of Sceince to find Comm. They have some good pictures, and again a color scheme that is more intersting to look than just white. Their broadcasting website was nicely organized, and i liked how they had and overview of the major along with course requirements, faculty, etc. They also stress their "state-of-the-art" equipment, which is a nice draw for prospective students.

University of South Florida:
I was really unimpressed by their Comm website. Colors yet again were nice, but all they basically gave was a mission statement and a vision with one pictures. It lacked important information and it left me confused and disappointed. If their was more info somewhere else, it didnt make me want to search for it.

Florida Gulf Coast University:
It is a fairly plain site. I do like how they have a box that has the programs summary in it. This way people can quickly see the degree, major, hours, concentrations, and the college. It is a very straight to the point website, which is nice when navigating through it, yet it was not as boastful or as attention getting as the bigger school's websites were. This makes it not as impressive, and excited about the department.

Auburn University:
I actually really like their Communication and Journalisms website. It is intersting and very easy to find, understand, and get what you want out of it. They have easy to find hyperlinks for the different concentrations, and the information within them is very useful. I like the way it is set-up, and how easy it was to use!

Hopefully our website can be a healthy mix of all five!