News Post #5

“In his weekly address, President Obama warns Congress against shutdown”

This Politico article, written by Abby Phillip, is a news post summarizing a portion of President Obama’s weekly address. The weekly address is the only source used by the writer. The article focuses specifically on Obama’s warning of a government shutdown. The deadline, March 4, is only days away, and both parties have yet to agree on a compromise for a short-term federal budget. Obama was quoted as saying that both Republicans and Democrats need to compromise in order to avoid the government shutdown, and said that neither party will get what they want. Republicans are proposing a short-term continuing resolution that includes cuts to the federal budget, while Democrats have proposed a bill that would temporarily extend the government’s spending level. Obama also said in his address that he is willing to consider any new ideas from either party to help reduce the deficit, as long as those ideas don’t cut much-needed investments. Additionally, Obama noted in his address that his administration has already begun making cuts by freezing non-discretionary domestic spending for the next five years, foregoing federal employee salary increases for three years, and slashing the budgets of programs designed to help low-income neighborhoods. The article ends with a quote in which Obama refers to the nation as a family; a family that has to live within its means.

            The article, written with a hard news approach, is a descriptive news article of President Obama’s discussion on the approaching government shutdown on March 4. In it’s entirety, the article is extremely objective, and uses very little descriptive words or opinions from the writer. The article includes a brief quote in the first paragraph, and quickly includes a quote in the second paragraph of the story. As a whole, the article uses more quotes than the average article, allowing the quotes, more than the writer, to tell the story. The article is very descriptive, and includes views of the ideal proposals from both parties. Finally, the article ends with a strong quote. In the quote, Obama compares the nation to a family, discussing the family’s need to keep finances in order. Ending with a slightly lengthy, yet strong quote proves to be the most effective way to end this article.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/50241.html

Film Analysis Post

Movies have become a regular part of our everyday lives. Whether it be seeing a movie at a theater, watching a movie on television, or seeing a preview for an upcoming film, movies have changed the way society thinks. Beginning in the late 1800s, movies began to transform our nation, and have since had major effects on the job market and made key technological advances.

            Eadweard Muybridge was the first to produce motion picture in film in 1877. In the film, Muybridge used 12 cameras to capture a horse’s movements as it ran along a track. Although Muybridge’s film was played without sound, movies began to use background music and words on the screen to convey the message of the film. Forty years after Muybridge’s film, the first motion picture with sound was produced. Since then, the movie industry has made leaps and bounds as a major mass medium. Although severely effected by the television industry in the 1950s, film has remained a significant industry. In 1966, the Motion Picture Association of America introduced its rating system; the same rating system we use for movies today.

            With the advancement of the movie industry, the job market in film production has increased tremendously. Although actors and actresses have the most visible roles in movies, several other individuals work behind the scenes in the film industry. These positions include screenwriters, producers, directors, production agents, and marketing and administration agents. Although these positions are the most well-known, several other positions such as make-up artists, boom operators, extras, and cameramen all play pivotal roles in determining a movie’s success.

            Film has made significant advances in technology since its initial inception in the 1800s. First, the introduction of high definition televisions and 3-D projections has effected the way viewers watch television.  Although created in the 1950s, 3-D has picked up steam in recent years, becoming a regular part of popular movies, such as the recently released film Avatar. Additionally, high definition televisions and widescreen televisions have changed the makeup of cameras and the way programs are shown on television. Perhaps the most significant change in recent year is the ability to watch movies on internet databases, such as Netflix. With this growing industry of movie viewing online, travelling to movie theaters is becoming increasingly less common.

            It is evident that the movie industry has evolved tremendously since its inception in the 1800s. Since then, the industry has involved in a number of ways. Film has established itself as a major mass medium, created numerous jobs, and made significant technological advances. With such significant advances having already taken place, the industry is likely to continue to evolve in the future.  

Television Response Post

The television group presented a wide-scale analysis of the television industry, discussing its past, present, and future. Specifically, the group covered the history of television, it’s effects on culture, the progression of television programming since the 1950s, changes in technology, and careers in the television industry.

            The group presented in most detail the cultural effects of television. First, the group discussed the social learning theory: the tendency of audiences to emulate what they see on television. As an example, the group showed a clip from School House Rock, pointing out the tendency of young students to learn national history through the program’s songs. Next, the group discussed the stereotypes produced from television programs, such as MTV’s Skins. Third, the group presented the cultivation theory, the theory that people who spend more time watching television are more likely to receive the real world in the way it is depicted on television, and used a clip from Criminal Minds as an example. With the clip, the group brought to light the tendency of individuals to become more aware of crime as a result of crime dramas. Next, the group discussed the tendency of individuals to have emotional attachments to characters in a show, a concept defined as para-social relationships. Finally, the group discussed the role of television as an outlet to get away from the stresses of every day life. To illustrate this, the group showed an eyebrow-raising clip from the show Jerry Springer.

            The group also showed a number of television clips from the 1950s, clips from the 1980s, and clips from today. Perhaps missing from the presentation was the similarities among television shows from each time period. While the differences were evident and quickly pointed out, the similarities of each television program were not. The aspects of television that have withstood the test of time could have been an interesting and unique contribution to the presentation.

            On the whole, the group did an excellent job presenting television as a form of mass media. The details of television, from its inception to its modern-day uses, were presented to the class well, inspiring critical thinking and discussion among the class. With the information the group presented, the upcoming trip to NBC-13 will be even more interactive and informative as we see the hands-on uses of the topics the group discussed. 

News Post #3

“Robert Gibbs: ‘I hope you had fun, too”

Written by Politico writer Carol E. Lee, this article outlines the events of Press Secretary Robert Gibbs' last working day in the White House. It is evident that Lee is the primary source of information for the article; however, Mike Allen also contributed to the article, as noted at the article's close. The article begins by describing the end of his time in the White House as a “fitting end to a colorful tenure,” and goes on to point out that Robert Gibbs’ last day was also the last day for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Lee writes that White House staffers were not only scrambling to deal with the events in Egypt, but also preparing the final ceremonies outlining Gibbs’ departure. President Obama joined Gibbs in the White House Briefing Room on his last day. The president joked about the coincidence of Gibbs and Mubarak both leaving the same day, followed by a story about the tie he borrowed from Gibbs before speaking at the Democratic National Convention in 2004. The speech, the writer notes, catapulted him into the national spotlight. Obama returned the framed tie to Gibbs at the press briefing. Unlike many other press secretaries, Gibbs was also a long-time key advisor to Obama in his campaigns and in the White House, a key role that very few of his predecessors filled. Lee also points out several key events that Gibbs covered during his time as Press Secretary, including the oil spill in the Gulf, the economy, war, unemployment, the party crashing of a state dinner, and tragedies at Fort Hood and Tucson, Ariz. Lee briefly writes of Gibbs habits and personality. Gibbs, an Alabama native, was known for his refusal to answer questions and back-and-forths with reporters. Gibbs was also well known for being late to briefings, and Lee devotes several paragraphs to the breakdown of the three-hour delay of Gibbs’ last briefing. He was also the first White House press secretary to create a Twitter account, @PressSec. After his last day, Gibbs will begin work with Harry Walker Agency as a paid speaking circuit, as well as working with Obama’s presidential campaign in 2012. Gibbs also plans to spend more time with his family, pointing out that he plans to walk to the bus stop with his son on Monday. The writer quotes Joe Lockhart, a former Clinton press secretary. Lockhart notes that perhaps the most difficult part of the transition out of the White House will come after his last day, saying that it will be difficult to watch the news and not immediately prepare for “political combat.” In closing, Lee writes that Gibbs caught many reporters off-guard at the end of his final press briefing, telling all of them, “I will miss you.”

In the article, Lee chooses to write in a more story-telling fashion rather than using the hard news approach of quickly relaying the crucial information of the story. Without previous knowledge, the title of the article and first paragraph give no indication of what the topic of the article may be. By the second paragraph, Lee states the purpose of the article: the departure of Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. However, she cleverly weaves in the coincidence of Gibb’s departure also falling on the same day as Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s departure. Quotes do not begin until the fifth paragraph, with a quote from President Obama about Gibbs’ necktie. After pointing out the major events of the press briefing, Lee effectively points out the highlights of Gibbs’ career and his future plans after leaving the White House. Perhaps most effectively, Lee quotes a former press secretary for President Bill Clinton, introducing the hardships Gibbs’ will face after departure. With such a strong quote, Lee hooks the reader into continuing to read, even though the story has already become lengthy. The article also ends with an effective quote, one that was both shocking to reporters and readers alike. Although extremely wordy and long, the article successfully gives a recap of Gibbs’ final briefing and brief history of his time as a press secretary.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/49378.html

News Post #2

“Grand event marks Ronald Reagan’s 100th”

This article, written by Johnathan Martin and James Hohmann of Politico, is a summary article of the ceremony at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library held in honor of what would have been Reagan’s 100th birthday. Martin and Hohmann identify no source in the article, leading to the assumption that at least one of the writers may have been present at the event.  Taking place in Simi Valley, California, Reagan’s native state, the writers are quick to praise Reagan’s longtime supporters that planned the events and festivities in his honor. Most notably, the writers devote several paragraphs to Reagan’s aging wife, Nancy Reagan. At age 90, Nancy Reagan took part in every aspect of the ceremony Sunday, including the placement of a wreath on her late husband’s gravesite. As often occurs, Nancy Reagan referred to the late president as “Ronnie,” and the writers echoed the often-heard sentiment of how close the couple seemed to be.  James A. Baker III, a former Chief of Staff to Reagan, was the keynote speaker at the event. Baker noted that today’s environment is similar to that faced by Reagan during his administration and encouraged those in office to reach across the aisle much like Reagan did. Baker said to the crowd that “Reagan’s biggest legacy may have been that he challenged us to have big dreams about where we’re going.” Gary Sinise, the actor known as Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump also spoke at the event. Additionally, musicians such as Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, the Beach Boys and Greenwood sang “Happy Birthday” in memory of the late president. The ceremony also included a 21-gun salute, a Marine color guard and band, and a four-jet fly-over. The article also included commentary from former Vice President Dick Cheney after the ceremony, who chose to focus more on Reagan’s record on foreign policy than his personality, pointing out his advancements in relations with the Soviet Empire. At the conclusion of the article, the writers include a sentimental quote from Nancy Reagan about her feelings of the day and memories it brought.

Martin and Hohmann use a hard news approach to summarize the events of the ceremony to commemorate Ronald Reagan’s centennial birthday. While the first paragraph states the purpose of the story, the rest of the article unfolds in a story-like fashion, providing a play-by-play of the ceremony for the audience. The writers are respectable of the late president, and, rather than criticizing him, are intentional about continuing the praise he received during the ceremony. Quotes are not used until the sixth paragraph, but are consistently used throughout the remainder of the article to present new points and backup points already presented. In the final paragraph of the article, the authors effectively wrap the article with an emotional quote from the late president’s wife, conveying and affirming the overall theme of remembrance and respect shown towards Reagan.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/48951.html

In-Class Writing: 1/31/2011

Website Analysis

Politico.com, the online version of the Politico newspaper, is largely concerned with politics, through both elections and policy work. The site is mostly devoted to politics on a national level, focusing on the presidency, Congress, and lobbying in Washington. Additionally, the site features an opinion area and community section, where readers can create and contribute to forums on issues of national politics. A video section exists, as well as a section titled “Politico Click,” an area devoted to political gossip. The site often creates special sections devoted to specific topics. For example, politico.com recently created, “2012 Live,” a section specializing in the upcoming presidential election in 2012.

“Pawlenty hits Obama on Egypt response”

This news article, written by James Hohmann of Politico, outlines potential presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty’s criticism of the slow response to the Egypt crisis by the Obama Administration. Using a hard news approach, Hohmann states the main purpose of the article in his first sentence, and continues to give the location of Pawlenty when he was speaking and a more detailed description of who he is in the second paragraph. This is followed by quotes beginning in the second paragraph and continuing throughout the story. These quotes, which back up the title and initial paragraph of the article, were received from MinnPost.com. Pawlenty specifically criticizes Obama’s slow approach to the issue with Egypt, citing his recent State of the Union address, in which he hardly spoke of foreign policy, as evidence of his shortcomings. Additionally, Pawlenty goes on to describe his own credentials in foreign policy, discussing recent trips to Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as his recent hire of a former Bush assistant on foreign policy. The article concludes with a quote from Pawlenty that he made in a recent radio interview in Des Moines, Iowa, a recent stop on his book tour. In the quote, the theme of criticism against the Obama Administration’s approach to foreign policy continues.

In the article, Hohmann’s hard news approach seems to be the most effective. He clearly states the purpose of the article in very few words in his first paragraph, and backs up his information with direct quotes from Pawlenty. His approach is clean and concise, and his decision to wrap the article with a strong ending quote proves effective. Hohmann is also effective in subtly inserting his opinion into the article. He describes Pawlenty as an “all-but-declared presidential candidate,” and writes that Pawlenty is often eager to add his own personal experience in the Middle East. These additions, though they contain some evidence, are presented as being subjective to the author’s opinion. For example, another writer may not emphasize how “eager” Pawlenty seems to be to discuss his experience in the Middle East. Overall, however, Hohmann writes with little to no bias or opinion in the rest of his article.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/48524.html

“Mitt’s in the money”

            In the article titled “Mitt’s in the money,” writer Kasie Hunt of Politico outlines Mitt Romney’s financial position as he enters into 2011, and compares him to two other top possible presidential competitors, Sarah Palin and John Thune. Hunt writes that Romney currently has approximately $1.4 million of cash on hand after raising $6.3 million last year, trailed by Sarah Palin, who currently has $1.3 million and raised $4.5 million in 2010. Thune, however, has over $7 million of cash on hand after facing no opposition in his recent Senate reelection. Though no source is attributed in the article, several sources revealing financial information of Romney’s political action committee were used, potentially from the Federal Election Commission or another government agency. The article goes on to discuss the sources of Romney’s cash flow, and contributes this money to several state-based PACs of Romney’s. In closing, the article describes where Romney’s money seems to be going: other candidates and conservative causes. Additionally, it provides a breakdown of the sources of his money, with federal accounts having slightly more money than state-based PACs.

            Hunt’s article maintains its basis on statistics throughout, including numbers and dollar amounts in every paragraph used in the article. The article is straight to the point, and provides no analysis of the numbers or any sort of expert opinion on what the numbers may mean. Although the title, “Mitt’s in the Money,” is vague and almost demands a subtitle or preview of the article, Hunt’s first sentence quickly states her point: potential candidate Romney currently has more money than almost any other contender in the presidential race. Hunt’s use of details to provide the origin of the money proves helpful in giving readers a look at where the former governor may be campaigning the most, where his base may be, and where he may be looking to open headquarters if he decides to declare his candidacy.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/48512.html