Feed the Beast

"Feeding The Beast" gave viewers an inside look at what goes on behind the scenes at major news outlets. From the rush to find leads to the short time in which stories are developed, the program covered many aspects of media production.

I believe the "beast" refers to the consumers that watch the news every day. They have to be fed with the newest, most interesting stories. In order to do that, media outlets have to wisely pick and choose what they feature on their program or newspaper.

Some critics might say that the media is biased in what they report on and may look down on the "war room" approach to developing news. However, the media fluctuates with what the "beast" wants to eat. So if the public wants violent stories and it shows through ratings and viewership.

Because of the limited time slots available to the media, they must carefully pick and choose in order to please their consumers. If they could run every piece of news all the time, they would be on air or printing a new edition every minute of every day.

Selective reporting always has and probably always will be a part of news reporting.

special lead

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1900849,00.html

Special Lead

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1900859,00.html

http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1900863,00.html

Sources for Article 1

see turned in paper

Avoid Injuries at Popular Summer Hangout

Pullman- Washington State University students will be making their way to The Cliffs to escape the heat this summer, though many may not be aware of risks, sources say.

Located 22 miles west of Pullman, The Cliffs provide an opportunity for WSU students to play in the sun and cool off in the Snake River. The Cliffs feature a large, flat area where visitors can lay out blankets and lounge in the sun. Swimmers and tubers take full advantage of the slow flowing Snake River. The most prominent feature of The Cliffs is a 25 foot cliff that gives daredevils a chance to spread their wings. There are also smaller cliffs that give first-time cliff jumpers a chance to try something new. While The Cliffs are an excellent choice for a summer activity for WSU students, many visitors do not consider the potential risks they may face in the area.

“I feel nervous when I go to The Cliffs,” said Haylee Pettersen, a Red Cross certified lifeguard. “I see people doing so much stupid stuff that I feel obligated to jump in and help in case anything happens.”

Sticks and rocks hidden underwater could cause serious injury and people often jump without looking and almost hit swimmers in the water Pettersen said. The cold water early in the season could also cause cramping and possible hypothermia Pettersen said. All of these dangers are multiplied when mixed with alcohol consumption.

“I’ve seen people get so drunk to the point where they can’t walk straight,” Said Kelsey Hodgin, a junior WSU student. “I’ve seen people fall off of The Cliffs and play it off like it was no big deal, but they could have hurt themselves.”

Alcohol causes difficulty walking and blurs vision, according to an article released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2004. Visitors to The Cliffs often consume alcohol in quantities that could get them hurt. Drunken decisions made on the side of a 25 foot cliff could lead to serious injury. Another issue is drunk driving that might take place after a day of drinking at The Cliffs.

Drunk driving is never a good idea. First there is the chance of crashing, which could lead to serious injury or death. Drunken driving related accidents killed 12,998 during 2007 according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Aside from the chance of getting seriously injured or killed, students who drive drunk could get a ticket and jail time if they are caught. First DUI offenders could serve a minimum of 24 hours or up to one year in jail. They would be fined no less than $350 and up to $5,000. Visitors should find a designated driver and consume less alcohol In order to avoid crashing or receiving fines and jail time. Aside from affecting decision making, alcohol consumption often leads to dehydration.

“A lot of people don’t take dehydration seriously,” Pettersen said. “People pass out at The Cliffs all the time without water proper shelter from the sun.”

There is very little shade at The Cliffs, so visitors are exposed to the sun and heat Dehydration can lead to major complications. Extended periods of dehydration can lead to kidney failure, coma, shock, heat exhaustion or heat stroke according to Dr. Ben Wedro, MD, and contributor to medicinenet.com. Heat stroke could lead to death and should be dealt with immediately. The Cliffs are in a cell phone dead zone and emergency services are not readily available. Visitors to The Cliffs should be sure to drink a lot of water and consume less alcohol to prevent dehydration Pettersen said.

The Cliffs are the perfect place to relax and have a good time as long as they are enjoyed safely. Visitors to the area should be aware of their surroundings, avoid drinking too much alcohol, ensure they have a designated driver and drink plenty of water to ensure they have a fun, safe trip to The Cliffs this summer.

summary news lead

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009240306_soldier20m.html

story pitches

1. Dear editor,

As we all know, technology has a huge impact on social interactions and culture. In recent years, networking websites have offered users fast, effective ways to interact online. Twitter.com has emerged as one of the more popular sites, giving users instant access to friends, associates, celebrities and different organizations.

My article will include an examination of the site, potential longevity of the site's popularity and the different organizations using Twitter.com.

potential sources:
I. Maria Ortega, manager, WSUnews Twitter account

II. WSU student Twitter user

thank you for your time,

Ryan Bergau

2. Dear editor,

Summer has arrived and students will be itching to get outside. There are many options to cool off in the Palouse area including the dunes and the cliffs.

My article will provide information about these locations to promote outdoor activity.

potential sources:
I. WSU students who go to the dunes/cliffs

II. Law enforcement who have jurisdiction in the area

thank you for your time,

Ryan Bergau

3. Dear editor,

With the recent economic troubles our country has been faced with, many people are trying to cut costs. This need to save money could have an effect on the amount of money spent on entertainment and other non vital expenditures.
My article would look into Pullman's economy and see what kind of impact the nation's economic struggles have had in the area.

potential sources:
Managers at various entertainment venues including Zeppoz and Pullman cinemas.

Thank you for your consideration,
Ryan Bergau

Fox News/MSNBC/reuters

When comparing news websites, it is important to be aware of how fair and balanced the source will be.

After comparing three websites' homepages it became apparent that a more in depth approach would be required to determine the legitimacy of the sources. All three sites had headlines covering the same stories on the front page. One story stuck out in particular and was chosen to be compared between the three sites,Reuters , MSNBC, and Fox News

A recent switch of the Obama administration's decision to release photos of alleged human rights abuses by United States soldiers has created a a backlash from the American Civil Liberties Union. The controversy has given the media plenty to talk about.

Three of these sources present the same story under different lights. The stories differ in tone, headline content, and presentation of fact. These differences give readers a clue as to the political affiliation of each source. While two of the stories are politically fair, the third comes across as very conservative.

The first source was Reuters whose headline read "Obama Opposes detainee abuse photo release". This headline is unassuming and declares the story as objective fact. The American Civil Liberties Union and the Obama administration are given an equal chance to state their views. The article is free of subjective commentary and seems fair and equal to both sides of the issue. The visual of Obama giving his speech was appropriate for use with the article. The site's primary audience would be well educated people who understand the importance of objective reporting. I believe this story adheres to the "Murrow Standard" very closely.I would definitely pay attention to this site for reliable and balanced news.

The second article was from the Associated Press via MSNBC. The headline read "In reversal, Obama seeks to block abuse photos". This headline is straightforward and free of opinion. The article also allows both side to express their views. Both sides of the story were fairly represented. The article is very objective and tells the story thoroughly, without drifting into subjective editorialism. The visual used with the article is appropriate, showing Obama announcing his decision to reverse his stance on the issue. MSNBC has been known as a liberal news source and it shows through the commentary on television. However, the AP wrote this article, it is very reliable and meets the "Murrow Standard". The main audience for MSNBC woulr probably be people with liberal viewpoints. Whether stories are written by the AP or MSNBC contributors could vary greatly and could cause inconsistencies in their reporting styles. I would visit the site for news, but would be very cautious about what I read there.

The third article appeared on Fox News. From the beginning, the article was full of subjective writing. The headline read "Obama Faces Uphill Battle in Blocking Release of Detainee Photos". The story allows both sides to present their view of the issue, but are interspersed with subjective commentary. The presence of subjectivism makes the source seem uncredible. The visual shows Obama scratching his head. This makes the president look confused and disoriented as if he was unable to make up his mind on the situation. Fox News is known as a conservative source for news and it shows in this article. The article would not meet the "Murrow Standard" because of the overwhelming presence of subjective reporting. I would not look to this site as a credible source for news.

Chevron vs. Ecuador news excerpts

The two videos presented in class contrasted greatly in their presentation of fact. The first video, produced by CBS, provided a fairly objective approach to the oil dumps in Ecuador. Each side was given a fair chance to present and defend their case. CBS used visual aids effectively and offered viewers an unfiltered look at the situation in hand. The Chevron produced video went in a different direction and used a very subjective tone to present their case. The Chevron video did not allow any of their opponents to speak on camera, which could have jeopardized the effectiveness of their propaganda. They provided a plethora of experts who all supported Chevron's actions but still denied any input from experts who dispute their claims. The visuals used in the Chevron video were often edited to point out areas that they felt were important. The videos illustrated the importance of looking deeper into both sides of story rather than taking news at face value.