News Post #11

“Sarah Palin to GOP: ‘Fight like a girl’”

This article, written by Andy Barr of Politico, reports on a speech given by Sarah Palin at a tea party rally in Wisconsin on Saturday. According to the article, Palin critiqued congressional Republicans by saying that they need to “fight like a girl,” and cut spending deeper and faster. In her speech, Palin pointed out the University of Wisconsin women’s hockey team, which recently won the national championship. Palin specifically discussed the GOP’s pledge to cut $100 billion in spending, and the party’s later decision to only cut $60 billion. Palin said that the $38 billion reached in the compromise was full of “accounting gimmicks,” and was “politics as usual.” Palin also took several stabs at President Obama, saying that Obama is unserious about cutting government spending and simply trying to win reelection in 2012. The final three paragraphs of the article discuss the background of the speech, which was given at a two-hour tea party rally in the snow. Palin was introduced by Andrew Breitbart. After being introduced, Palin praised the activists at the rally. In addition, Palin showed her support for Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker for his recent legislation regarding state employee unions. The article ends with Palin’s praise of Walker, saying, “Hey folks, he’s trying to save your jobs.” No sources were given in the article.

This Politico article uses a hard news approach to report highlights of Sarah Palin’s speech in Wisconsin. The writer’s decision to use a quote in the headline proves effective in catching the reader’s attention, and the opening paragraph with the same quote encourages readers to continue reading the article. Although a partial quote is used in the headline and first paragraph, a full quote is used in the second paragraph. In fact, the majority of the article is dominated by quotes from Palin, effectively allowing her speech, not the writer, to tell the story.  Background of the story is given in the sixth paragraph, informing readers of the context of Palin’s speech. The writer includes that Palin’s speech was 15 minutes long. It is worth noting that of the numerous topics likely covered in the speech, the writer decides to include Palin’s support of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. Including this part of the speech in the article not only reinforces Palin’s conservative political views, but also allows readers to connect with a topic that received national attention for weeks.  The article ends with a solid quote praising Governor Walker. Overall, this article was engaging, well written, and nearly void of political bias.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/53308.html

News Post #10

“Gabrielle Giffords’s office ‘making plans’ for shuttle launch”

This Politico article, written by Meredith Shiner, details the recent release by Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’s office of her plans to attend her husband’s upcoming shuttle launch. The shuttle, Endeavor, is scheduled to launch April 29 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Gifford’s husband, Mark Kelly, is expected to command the shuttle. The statement issued Friday said Giffords was “making plans” to attend the shuttle launch pending medical approval from TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital. Giffords has been at the hospital since the end of January after suffering a gunshot wound to the head. The statement issued by her office said the hospital would have the final word on whether or not Giffords can attend the launch. Additionally, her office said the dates of her travel have not been determined. However, her staff noted that Giffords would not meet with the media or issue a statement from Florida if she is able to attend the shuttle launch. Members of her staff will instead hold a press conference, where her chief of staff and communications director are expected to speak on her behalf. The article ends by reminding readers that attending the shuttle launch has been a goal of Giffords for a long time. In addition, Shiner writes that doctors describe Giffords recovery as “miraculous.” No sources are given in the article. It is assumed that Politico had access to the statement issued by Rep. Giffords’s office.

The article uses a hard news approach to relay information about Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’s plans to attend her husband’s shuttle launch. The article is very straight and to the point. It simply relays the information given to journalists. Full quotes are not used until the fourth paragraph, and this paragraph is the only paragraph in the article to have a direct quote from the statement issued by Giffords’s office. In the second to last paragraph, there is an instance of careless repetition by the author. She writes, “Giffords’ chief of staff Pia Carusone and Communications director C.J. Karamargin, Giffords’ communications director are expected to speak on her behalf.” Also, the author switches between writing “Giffords’” and “Giffords’s.” The article also assumes that the reader is aware of Giffords’s current health situation. There are instances in the article where clarification or background could be beneficial to the reader’s understanding of the topic. However, the article’s closing paragraph wraps the story well by reminding readers of how unusual Giffords’s speedy recovery has been. Overall, the article does a fair job of reporting the news, but it is written carelessly and with many mistakes.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52813.html

News Post #9

“Obama ’12 launch likely next week”

This Politico article, written by Glenn Thrush and Mike Allen, details Barack Obama’s upcoming announcement of his reelection campaign. The campaign headquarters will be based in Chicago. The campaign will likely file registration papers on Monday, but those with the Obama campaign will not commit to a specific date in case a world event could overshadow the campaign kickoff. The announcement will be given electronically. The article goes on to discuss details of the campaign and its launch. David Axelrod, who returned to Chicago after spending two years in the White House as senior adviser, will lead the campaign.  According to the article, campaign organizers have been planning to launch the campaign at the beginning of the second quarter to show large fundraising gains in their first report to the FEC. Obama is scheduled to raise money in Chicago on April 14. Jim Messina, the likely campaign manager for the 2012 election, has been holding donor meetings around the country. The campaign expects to raise $750 million to $1 billion. The article closes by stating that Politico originally reported that Obama would file for reelection in April, and Lynn Sweet of the Chicago-Sun Times reported Friday that papers would be filed on Monday. While sources were used in the article, they are simply referred to as “sources.”

The article does an excellent job of reporting on Obama’s upcoming reelection campaign announcement. It presents the information with little bias and is very straightforward in its explanation. The article uses a hard news approach, and the most critical information is effectively given in the first paragraph. Throughout the article, background is accurately given concerning Obama’s campaign. Very few quotes are used in the article. In fact, it is not until the last four paragraphs that quotes are used. Had there been more quotes, perhaps from a member of the campaign committee or a political scientist, the article could have gained more credibility. Overall, the article effectively reports on Obama’s upcoming campaign announcement.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52416.html

Print Response Post

      The print journalism group did an excellent job presenting both newspapers and magazines as a form of mass media. They began their presentation with discussion on the history of the print industry and the technological advances the industry has made. Specifically, they discussed the Partisan Press and the first printing machines. Next, the group focused on the changes over time between older newspapers and modern newspapers. They pointed out differences in layout, color, and pictures between the two examples. The group also dedicated a significant amount of time to the creation of a successful news story. In order to be a good news story, the story must be clear, precise, modest, and efficient. News worthy stories have an impact on people, are timely, prominent, close in proximity to the reader, present conflict, are bizarre, or involve money or currency. Many news stories that are written follow the inverted pyramid method, with the most important information being presented in the first and second paragraphs. The group also presented magazines in their presentation and discussed the different types of magazines, as well as how the magazine industry has evolved. Perhaps the most interesting part of the presentation was near the conclusion. The group presented articles and opinions that predicted the future of the print journalism industry. Although mostly considered to be a dying industry, the authors argued in their writings that journalism will never die but instead will only modernize and reform. Overall, the group did an adequate job of presenting the history, details, modernization, and future of print journalism. 

News Post #8

“Jim DeMint: Principles trump candidate in 2012”

At Rep. Steve King’s conservative principles conference in Iowa, Sen. Jim DeMint told the crowd to “get it right this time” with a Republican presidential nominee. DeMint also urged the crowd to identify “the right principles” in a candidate before they pick their favorite. DeMint, who has ruled out a 2012 run, was the keynote speaker at the rally. DeMint said he hoped that Iowa would be the first state to “redirect our country to the principles that we want our candidate to carry.” DeMint further described the Republican nomination as being not a personality contest and not a contest over who has the best speech. The article then describes DeMint as a major political mover in the Republican Party. It discusses his backing of conservative tea party candidates in 2010 and specifically mentions his support of Joe Miller, the Alaska Republican candidate for Senate that ousted Sen. Lisa Murkowski. The writer also refers to DeMint as “key” in 2012 for his ability to raise money for candidates. Near the close of the article, DeMint is reported to have urged the crowd to pay close attention to the GOP candidates in the coming year, referencing specifically how they debate in Congress, how they hold conservative values, and how they stand on foreign policy and Libya. The article closes with a quote from King, where he says that he hopes the conference will be a “multiplying” force in making Obama a one-term president. It is assumed that Politico writer Maggie Haberman, the story’s author, was present at the event. No other sources are given.

The article does an adequate job of reporting on Sen. Jim DeMint’s speech in Iowa. The article uses a hard news approach, with the first paragraph introducing DeMint and the second paragraph providing the first quote of the story from DeMint. While Haberman does do some writing and concluding of her own, the majority of the story develops through quotes. In paragraph five, the article transitions to political analysis and mentions the value of DeMint in the 2012 election. While this part of the article is beneficial, it does not quote an expert in the field of political science. An interview would have been helpful in establishing the credibility of these political conclusions. Finally, the article ends with a quote from Rep. Steve King. King says that he hopes the conference will be beneficial in preventing Obama’s reelection. This quote is an excellent way to end the story, but because King is barely even referenced until the final paragraph, it leaves the reader wondering what other information King could provide. Overall, the article does an excellent job of reporting on DeMint’s keynote speech.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/51994.html

News Post #7

“In India, Sarah Palin bashes President Obama”

At the India Today Conclave in New Delhi, India, Sarah Palin criticized President Obama, saying there would have been “less dithering, more decisiveness” on Libya if she were president. India Today Editor-in-Chief Aroon Purie was questioning Palin at the conference. Palin said, “I won’t criticize what [Obama’s] foreign policy has been. But certainly there would have been more decisiveness.” Palin went on to describe the “rich tradition” in America of defending those fighting for freedom, saying Obama should have declared support for the opposition to the Libyan dictator earlier. However, Palin supported much of Obama’s plan, agreeing that ground troops should not be used and a no-fly zone should be implemented. The article goes on to discuss the rest of Palin’s questions. The writer, Andy Barr, describes her as being at ease with other questions about her “beloved tea party.” Additionally, when asked about a potential run in 2012, Palin said it is too early to make a decision. Palin also described herself as “pretty independent” from many in the Republican Party. Finally, the article discusses the one-of-a-kind introduction Palin received from Purie. Purie described her as the “sexiest brand of Republican politics” and said she has a “creative vocabulary.” The article ends with Palin describing Purie’s introduction as an “exemplification” of the kind of welcome she’s received in India. No sources, except for the writer, are given in the article.

This article uses a hard news approach to discuss the comments by Sarah Palin in India. The articles initial focus is the hypocrisy of Sarah Palin’s criticism of Barack Obama abroad. The author presents the information in a somewhat left-leaning slant and is extremely critical of Palin. The article could have easily been presented in a different way, outlining the events of the entire conference instead of focusing on one comment. However, this comment likely increased readership with the headline it uses. The first paragraph states the purpose of the article, including a brief quote from Palin. The first full sentence quote is not used until the third paragraph. The article moves from topic to topic smoothly, and ends with a summary of Palin’s feelings on Purie’s awkward introduction. Overall, the article comes off as uniquely critical of both Palin and her tea party.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/51587.html

Periodical Comparison

Communication, Culture & Critique is a scholarly journal first published in March of 2008. According to the journal’s inaugural editor, Karen Ross, the journal exists to provide “an international forum for research and commentary that examines the role of communication in today’s world.” Topics explored in the journal include text and print-based media, broadcast, the Internet, games, and mobile telephones. Materials included in the journal are “research-informed articles, theory-focused essays, commentaries on evolving and topical issues, research notes, media reviews, and other scholarly contributions.” In addition, the editor hopes to publish issue-themed editions of the journal. According to its inaugural issue, Communication, Culture & Critique exists to not only inform readers, but also to provide thought-provoking works that produce question, debate, and dialogue. Contributors to the journal include scholars with “differing levels of seniority, experience, and background.” The journal is published by Blackwell Publishing Limited. To date, there have been four volumes and 13 issues of the journal, with four issues being published per year, one every quarter. Subscriptions to the journal are available through the publisher. According to Wiley Online Library, a database for scholarly journals, annual subscriptions to the journal with access in both print and online cost 100 dollars per year. For individual issues to be obtained, a quote is required from the publisher. For these research purposes, access to the journal was available via the Samford University library website.

Quill is the national magazine of the Society of Professional Journalists. According to the magazine’s online website, Quill offers “concrete techniques that help journalists become more effective in their profession, provides insight on the long-term impact of new developments in journalism, documents efforts to ensure press freedoms and includes new about the Society.” Additionally, the magazine includes six feature sections in each issue: ethics, freedom of information, diversity, journalism education, international journalism, and industry trends. In a 2001 survey of readers, of the 21,000 readers of the magazine, the majority of them are professionals in print and broadcast. The magazine was originally published in December of 1912 as the formal publication of Sigma Delta Chi, the forerunner to the Society of Professional Journalists. Today, Quill is published six times a year by the Society of Professional Journalists. Annual subscriptions to the magazine are 72 dollars. To date, there have been 99 volumes of the magazine. Access to the magazine is also available online through the Society of Professional Journalists’ website. For example, for the January/February 2011 issue, access is available through a downloadable PDF, with the issue broken into three parts. Advertising is also available in the magazine. A page on the magazine’s website details the advertising rates.

Both Communication, Culture & Critique and Quill are publications often referenced by journalism professionals. However, between the two publications exist two primary differences. First, the nature of each publication is very different. As mentioned previously, both publications are referenced by journalism professionals, but each publication serves very different purposes. Communication, Culture & Critique is an academic journal with articles submitted by various scholars in the field of communication. This journal is likely to be used by individuals studying in the field of communication in higher education or those pursuing other academic endeavors. In contrast, Quill is a magazine published with journalism professionals as the primary audience. It includes articles more likely to be read on a regular basis rather than used as a reference in academic research. Next, each publication discusses very different subject matter. Communication, Culture, & Critique looks at issues from an analytical level. It specializes in studying communication in today’s world and serves as a forum for discussion through its inclusion of thought-provoking and inquisitive articles. On the other hand, Quill serves as a publication for professional journalists. It serves to update readers on trends in journalism, advances in journalism ethics, and education. While Communication, Culture & Critique serves a purpose on the academic level, Quill primarily focuses on the professional level.

To illustrate the differences between the two publications, an example of an article from each publication is examined. First, an article from Volume 2, Issue 1 of Communication, Culture & Critique is examined. The article, “A Battle of Visions: Dueling Images of Morality in U.S. Political Campaign TV Ads,” is written by professors from the University of Florida and University of Missouri. The article discusses political campaign advertising and examines the Missouri senatorial election in 2006. The article applies symbolic convergence theory and fantasy theme analysis to critically analyze the senatorial election and political campaign advertising. In contrast is a recent article published in the January/February 2011 issue of Quill magazine. The article, written by Elissa Yancey, is a how-to article for professional journalists detailing how to best teach a class at a university or give a guest lecture at a professional conference. The article outlines five tips created by the author after her experiences giving lectures in a university and professional setting.