The Economist ran a mock election to see if the entire world was able vote in the 2008 U.S Presidential Election, which candidate they would have voted for. No surprise President-elect Barack Obama was the favored candidate but there were a mere 5 or so countries that liked McCain…Iraq, Namibia, Congo, Sudan, Algeria and a few other small countries.
Some 52,000 readers from all over the world voted and Obama won 44,000 of those votes. The polls were done similarly to how the U.S runs our Electoral College. Compared to how many people live in the area/ how many chose to vote/ equals how many elector votes each country received. President-elect Obama claimed 9,115 delegate votes while Senator McCain held onto 203.
Click on each country to see how they votes and their turn out! Obviously the 3rd world countries did not have as many people vote because they do not have as easy of access to computers but you’ll be very surprised to see how many actually did vote!
http://www.economist.com/vote2008/?a=true&cid=169&v=true
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
the dating challenge!
I thought this was an absolutely adorable little article. An ongoing story, the Washingtonian Magazine is following two separate individuals in their quest for love. For people living in the Washington D.C. area I think fun little pieces like this help to make people feel connected. Their challenge was a little elementary to me but then again being in college we meet new people all the time. It is definitely an article I will continue to follow to see how each person progresses.
Maybe to improve the blogging aspect of it, the magazine should let Max and Dana have a blog space where they can update on their daily progress with the challenges… that may be asking for too much but it has the potential to be a cute addition!
The idea of a challenge for readers is a great way to attract readership and also engage the browsers who have stumbled upon the magazine or website.
http://www.washingtonian.com/blogarticles/people/capitalcomment/10349.html
Maybe to improve the blogging aspect of it, the magazine should let Max and Dana have a blog space where they can update on their daily progress with the challenges… that may be asking for too much but it has the potential to be a cute addition!
The idea of a challenge for readers is a great way to attract readership and also engage the browsers who have stumbled upon the magazine or website.
http://www.washingtonian.com/blogarticles/people/capitalcomment/10349.html
Tyler Perry wins lawsuit
USA Today covered the breaking news of Tyler Perry’s win in the lawsuit over copy write infringement. I liked the lede because it gave me just enough information to hook me and then left me wondering who the woman was, so I kept reading. It went on to explain the situation and why she was suing Perry.
She accused Perry of stealing material from her 1991 Fantasy of a Black Woman, to create his 2005 hit, Diary of a Mad Black Woman. She not only tried to sue Perry but also the actor's company, Tyler Perry Inc., for selling the movie and Lions Gate Entertainment, Inc., which funded as well as distributed the film.
Jurors said that West did not present enough hard evidence to support her claim.
I would have liked to know which aspect of her play she thought Perry stole but all together the article was informative and easy to follow. It was a great AP article.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2008-12-09-tyler-perry-suit_N.htm
She accused Perry of stealing material from her 1991 Fantasy of a Black Woman, to create his 2005 hit, Diary of a Mad Black Woman. She not only tried to sue Perry but also the actor's company, Tyler Perry Inc., for selling the movie and Lions Gate Entertainment, Inc., which funded as well as distributed the film.
Jurors said that West did not present enough hard evidence to support her claim.
I would have liked to know which aspect of her play she thought Perry stole but all together the article was informative and easy to follow. It was a great AP article.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2008-12-09-tyler-perry-suit_N.htm
Katie Couric answers all. . .
After reading the interview with Katie Couric I thought Vanity Fair did a great job at showcasing who Katie really is. What do you ask the woman who interviews such celebrities and politicians like Sarah Palin and Tom Cruise?
After meeting her this past September at the Presidential debate, I would have loved to have known these quirky little things about her. Some of the questions included: What is your most marked characteristic? And, what is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Her answers were down to earth and informative.
Many see Katie Couric as this strong woman, who’s very picky and rude but when listening to her answers she is just like everyone else. The last question she was asked was my personal favorite because it is my motto as well; “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.”
I think fun little questionnaires like this help readers view the media as normal people who chose to do the extraordinary. Just like doctors save lives, journalists report the accidents.
http://www.vanityfair.com/magazine/2009/01/proust_couric200901
After meeting her this past September at the Presidential debate, I would have loved to have known these quirky little things about her. Some of the questions included: What is your most marked characteristic? And, what is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Her answers were down to earth and informative.
Many see Katie Couric as this strong woman, who’s very picky and rude but when listening to her answers she is just like everyone else. The last question she was asked was my personal favorite because it is my motto as well; “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.”
I think fun little questionnaires like this help readers view the media as normal people who chose to do the extraordinary. Just like doctors save lives, journalists report the accidents.
http://www.vanityfair.com/magazine/2009/01/proust_couric200901
Monday, November 10, 2008
Roger Stolle
Marketing the Delta and the Blues
A native from Dayton, Ohio he learned the blues listening to the beginning songs from the King of Rock himself, Elvis. Graduating from the University of Cincinnati in 1989 he knew he wanted to do something that did not involve math.
His first job was copy writing and worked his way up before taking a job as a manager in Saint Louis. Once he was close enough to be near the start of it all, the Blues, he was driving through Holly Springs, Miss. when he saw his first juke joint.
He is now a promoter in Clarksdale, Miss. where he promotes the Blues, making sure people who it’s still alive and its impact. Ground Zero, located in Clarksdale, is where he books his blues bands. Stolle says you can learn the most about the Blues by the natives. They’ll tell you everything you want to know, the good, the bad and the ugly.
Writing up a 40 page business plan, Stolle decided he didn’t want to lean on loan money and debt to start up his business. He started Cat Head, Delta Blues & Folk Art, Inc. with the mission to ‘promote from within.’ He exports his product while drawing people into the store! Paste Magazine recently said that Cat Head is in the 17 coolest record stores in America. Cat Head was named one of the ‘1000 places to see before you die.’
In the Spring of 2008, Stolle did a documentary of some of the living Blues players in the Delta . “M for Mississippi – a movie by the numbers,” took two years in the planning and pre-production before being filmed over seven days this past spring. Including eight towns and 12 musicians, it took a mere six months of editing to produce this 94 minute movie. The movie includes artists such as Pat Thomas and U.C Ulmer. Thomas, a bi-polar clay worker who loved to draw cat heads, which is where Stolle got the name for his store. Ulmer is a native of Taylor, Miss. right outside of Oxford.
Stolle was a great speaker and really expressed his passion for the Delta Blues! I plan on making a trip to Clarksdale to see the store before graduating in May!
A native from Dayton, Ohio he learned the blues listening to the beginning songs from the King of Rock himself, Elvis. Graduating from the University of Cincinnati in 1989 he knew he wanted to do something that did not involve math.
His first job was copy writing and worked his way up before taking a job as a manager in Saint Louis. Once he was close enough to be near the start of it all, the Blues, he was driving through Holly Springs, Miss. when he saw his first juke joint.
He is now a promoter in Clarksdale, Miss. where he promotes the Blues, making sure people who it’s still alive and its impact. Ground Zero, located in Clarksdale, is where he books his blues bands. Stolle says you can learn the most about the Blues by the natives. They’ll tell you everything you want to know, the good, the bad and the ugly.
Writing up a 40 page business plan, Stolle decided he didn’t want to lean on loan money and debt to start up his business. He started Cat Head, Delta Blues & Folk Art, Inc. with the mission to ‘promote from within.’ He exports his product while drawing people into the store! Paste Magazine recently said that Cat Head is in the 17 coolest record stores in America. Cat Head was named one of the ‘1000 places to see before you die.’
In the Spring of 2008, Stolle did a documentary of some of the living Blues players in the Delta . “M for Mississippi – a movie by the numbers,” took two years in the planning and pre-production before being filmed over seven days this past spring. Including eight towns and 12 musicians, it took a mere six months of editing to produce this 94 minute movie. The movie includes artists such as Pat Thomas and U.C Ulmer. Thomas, a bi-polar clay worker who loved to draw cat heads, which is where Stolle got the name for his store. Ulmer is a native of Taylor, Miss. right outside of Oxford.
Stolle was a great speaker and really expressed his passion for the Delta Blues! I plan on making a trip to Clarksdale to see the store before graduating in May!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Starkville, Miss. to pardon Cash annually
This fall, Starkville will hold the 2nd annual Flower Pickin' Festival on Oct. 17-19. The festival was made in jest of an arrest Cash received back in 1965 and in light of the event the city will issue Cash a pardon every year the festival is held.
The article was very interesting and it was surprising because I had never heard of a city praising someone for a public intoxication arrest. Granted yes it was Johnny Cash but out of his 7 arrests, this is the only festival created.
The article could have had a stronger lede. I'm not a fan of using a question in the lede, especially one that can not be answered; like on for the dead. The quotes were very well and I like the angle of getting the family's input. The Cash family is known for not participating in many Cash related functions. Both daughter's quotes were strong but I also would have liked to hear from his son.
"And, despite his having been recently indicted in a 2007 shooting in a Texas Bar, Cash’s old friend and songwriter Billy Joe Shaver will offer up a few tunes himself."
I did not like this paragraph. I thought it was very awkward and upon reading it the first time thought the writer was implying Cash's son-in-law or even Cash in the bar fight. Seeing as Cash passed away in 2002, I reread the paragraph two or three times before i realized it was an awkward attempt to introduce Billy Joe Shaver. I would recommend the writer to rework this.
Over all I thought the article was informative, attention grabbing and exciting. This festival is something I'd possibly attend next year!
http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2008/10/starkville-to-re-issue-pardon-for-johnny-cash.html
The article was very interesting and it was surprising because I had never heard of a city praising someone for a public intoxication arrest. Granted yes it was Johnny Cash but out of his 7 arrests, this is the only festival created.
The article could have had a stronger lede. I'm not a fan of using a question in the lede, especially one that can not be answered; like on for the dead. The quotes were very well and I like the angle of getting the family's input. The Cash family is known for not participating in many Cash related functions. Both daughter's quotes were strong but I also would have liked to hear from his son.
"And, despite his having been recently indicted in a 2007 shooting in a Texas Bar, Cash’s old friend and songwriter Billy Joe Shaver will offer up a few tunes himself."
I did not like this paragraph. I thought it was very awkward and upon reading it the first time thought the writer was implying Cash's son-in-law or even Cash in the bar fight. Seeing as Cash passed away in 2002, I reread the paragraph two or three times before i realized it was an awkward attempt to introduce Billy Joe Shaver. I would recommend the writer to rework this.
Over all I thought the article was informative, attention grabbing and exciting. This festival is something I'd possibly attend next year!
http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2008/10/starkville-to-re-issue-pardon-for-johnny-cash.html
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Hawaii Ending Universal Child Health Care
I really enjoyed this article because I was completely unaware that there was even a state in the Union that had a universal health care program. I thought the lede was very good, capturing the reader’s interest as well as giving enough information that I knew exactly what I would be reading.
With Obama up for the presidency and being from Hawaii originally I wonder if this is type of health care is what he had in mind. That being said should the country look at Hawaii’s failed plan and learn from it? Granted Hawaii’s plan was only for children but it still makes senses that people are not going to want to pay for a health care plan if the poor would be able to receive the same plan for free.
I think for a program like this to work, equality for its participants is a must.
With Obama up for the presidency and being from Hawaii originally I wonder if this is type of health care is what he had in mind. That being said should the country look at Hawaii’s failed plan and learn from it? Granted Hawaii’s plan was only for children but it still makes senses that people are not going to want to pay for a health care plan if the poor would be able to receive the same plan for free.
I think for a program like this to work, equality for its participants is a must.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Sound check for Katie Couric. . .
Sitting in a three foot high bar stool I shifted from left to right desperately trying to get comfortable as Paul placed my microphone on my shirt and handed me an earpiece. My eyes wandered around the Ford Theater, as the camera began to focus and the teleprompter turn on. The house lights dimmed as a single voice was heard in my ear, "Ladies, all of New York is watching you." There I was doing the sound check for the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
The Art of the Tease
After hearing Tom Rose, managing editor of the Palm Beach Post, speak Monday one sentence stuck out, journalism is the “art of the tease.” It is finding out what hooks our readers. He stressing that we must tailor or stories to our readers and he is correct. Newspapers and Magazines will continue to strive once they figure out what brings their demographics of readers alive.
His story on Bear Bryant is exactly what Journalism is all about to me. To everyone else he was a football coach and a great one at that. But to the state of Alabama, he was their pride. Writers have the privilege to capture a memory and share it with those that were unable to experience it. That is why I want to write. I want to inform people about a side of the story they would otherwise not hear.
If I remember nothing else from Mr. Rose’s speech I will remember this: you learn to write by reading great writers and journalism can bring people to life.
His story on Bear Bryant is exactly what Journalism is all about to me. To everyone else he was a football coach and a great one at that. But to the state of Alabama, he was their pride. Writers have the privilege to capture a memory and share it with those that were unable to experience it. That is why I want to write. I want to inform people about a side of the story they would otherwise not hear.
If I remember nothing else from Mr. Rose’s speech I will remember this: you learn to write by reading great writers and journalism can bring people to life.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Palin... a risky move?
Upon seeing that McCain picked Alaskan governor Sarah Palin as his vice president I immediately thought it was a rash decision, but not necessarily a stupid one. Picking a woman as his running mate, McCain equals up the playing field. Regardless of which party wins, history is being made. Obama will be the first African American as president and Palin will be the first woman ever to be on the presidential ticket.
Having a woman on the ticket, which until Friday was completely unknown, makes it easy to question if the Republican Party merely added her on to try and win the voters that supported Hillary Clinton. While it may entice some, I cannot see many women looking merely at her sex instead of her policies.
McCain’s campaign focused mainly on the lack of experience Obama held. Why then would they pick a woman who has been a governor for less time then Obama has been in the senate? One would think if this was such a serious point the Republican’s were trying to make they would have picked someone equally as qualified as McCain for the Vice President nomination.
Yet, Palin, being only 44 years old does bring a younger vibe to the republican ticket now. With discussion of McCain’s old age, after celebrating his 72 birthday last Friday, the Republican have someone equally as young as Obama to counter the Democrats “out of touch” slurs. Being a mother of 5, she not only gives a new aspect to the campaign but she brings a younger feel to the Republican Party.
I think it was a very risky move on McCain’s part but seems to be a wise decision.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/us/politics/29palin.html
Having a woman on the ticket, which until Friday was completely unknown, makes it easy to question if the Republican Party merely added her on to try and win the voters that supported Hillary Clinton. While it may entice some, I cannot see many women looking merely at her sex instead of her policies.
McCain’s campaign focused mainly on the lack of experience Obama held. Why then would they pick a woman who has been a governor for less time then Obama has been in the senate? One would think if this was such a serious point the Republican’s were trying to make they would have picked someone equally as qualified as McCain for the Vice President nomination.
Yet, Palin, being only 44 years old does bring a younger vibe to the republican ticket now. With discussion of McCain’s old age, after celebrating his 72 birthday last Friday, the Republican have someone equally as young as Obama to counter the Democrats “out of touch” slurs. Being a mother of 5, she not only gives a new aspect to the campaign but she brings a younger feel to the Republican Party.
I think it was a very risky move on McCain’s part but seems to be a wise decision.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/us/politics/29palin.html
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
“Site/Possession” by William Christenberry
After reading the press release and seeing the museum, I walked away with certain unease about the exhibit and of the artist. Knowing that Christenberry has been haunted by the eyes of the hooded Klan member he ran into forty years before made me take a second look at his objectives and design. Once inside the red curtains there seemed to be walls of Klan member’s surrounding you. Around the exhibit were G.I. Joe dolls dressed as Klan’s members hanged, drenched in wax, stabbed with pins and in coffins. I noticed he made all his drawings in deep red, dark blue and white backgrounds, exposing the Klan’s so called “Patriotism.” I noticed how he places the frames in a cross and has a christening blanket with KKK embroidered to represent their strong “Christianity” faith. While the exhibit was very educational, I thought it showcased an artist’s obsession with a moment in time.
The exhibit, a bit eerie, was not painful to view. I’m glad to see an emotional piece of southern identity shown and not covered up; as much as we’re ashamed it happened. By allowing it at the University of Mississippi I think the school is letting students and the community take a closer look at one man’s perspective on this piece of southern history.
From an editorial stand point I think concerns would be: should we replicate it? Should we allow lynched Klan dolls and rag dolls that flip into hooded figures? With the Presidential Debate coming in less than a month, is it wise to have such an exhibit out with an African American candidate running? History should not be neglected even if we’re ashamed it took place but would people be okay with a replication of a gas chamber with a Nazi soldier in it? Probably not. We should ask ourselves, is the exhibit a proper way to explain hate crimes?
The exhibit, a bit eerie, was not painful to view. I’m glad to see an emotional piece of southern identity shown and not covered up; as much as we’re ashamed it happened. By allowing it at the University of Mississippi I think the school is letting students and the community take a closer look at one man’s perspective on this piece of southern history.
From an editorial stand point I think concerns would be: should we replicate it? Should we allow lynched Klan dolls and rag dolls that flip into hooded figures? With the Presidential Debate coming in less than a month, is it wise to have such an exhibit out with an African American candidate running? History should not be neglected even if we’re ashamed it took place but would people be okay with a replication of a gas chamber with a Nazi soldier in it? Probably not. We should ask ourselves, is the exhibit a proper way to explain hate crimes?
Friday, August 29, 2008
A New School Year. Much Concern.
Questions:
Who does it concern?
What is being done to fix the problem?
How Can I help?
A new school year; fresh resolve; renewed enthusiasm. For some. Hopefully for many. But not everyone.
There are lots of reasons why some children do not face a new school year with optimism: little home encouragement, low self-esteem, inadequate educational foundation, poor classroom achievement, no dream of the future.
Volunteers can make a difference. Volunteers are making a difference. Schools need tutors and mentors for elementary, middle school, and high school students, especially for high school students at risk of dropping out.
And volunteers are beginning to respond. Due to a concerted effort during the past year, 20 mentors were recruited for Oxford High School and 25 for Oxford Middle School. More are needed. Many more. In all the schools. For example, OHS needs 25 and OMS 100.The greatest need for tutors is in the lower grades, school officials say. They hope that the tutoring relationship might develop into mentoring. Anyone interested may apply at the district office.
A New School Year. Much Concern.
With problems such as poor grades, low self-esteem, and zero home encouragement some children are left with no dreams for the future.
Oxford officials have asked its citizens to reach out to these students and get involved with the volunteer tutoring programs being set up in their school system.
The greatest need for tutors is in the lower grades, school officials say. The middle school is also looking for more than 100 additional volunteers for the upcoming year and the high school is looking to find at least 25.
Oxford School Officials hope that the tutoring relationship will develop into a mentoring for these students as they continue in their academics and in doing so lower the drop out rate in Oxford, Miss.
Anyone interested may apply at the Oxford School District Office or call, 662-234-0000.
Who does it concern?
What is being done to fix the problem?
How Can I help?
A new school year; fresh resolve; renewed enthusiasm. For some. Hopefully for many. But not everyone.
There are lots of reasons why some children do not face a new school year with optimism: little home encouragement, low self-esteem, inadequate educational foundation, poor classroom achievement, no dream of the future.
Volunteers can make a difference. Volunteers are making a difference. Schools need tutors and mentors for elementary, middle school, and high school students, especially for high school students at risk of dropping out.
And volunteers are beginning to respond. Due to a concerted effort during the past year, 20 mentors were recruited for Oxford High School and 25 for Oxford Middle School. More are needed. Many more. In all the schools. For example, OHS needs 25 and OMS 100.The greatest need for tutors is in the lower grades, school officials say. They hope that the tutoring relationship might develop into mentoring. Anyone interested may apply at the district office.
A New School Year. Much Concern.
With problems such as poor grades, low self-esteem, and zero home encouragement some children are left with no dreams for the future.
Oxford officials have asked its citizens to reach out to these students and get involved with the volunteer tutoring programs being set up in their school system.
The greatest need for tutors is in the lower grades, school officials say. The middle school is also looking for more than 100 additional volunteers for the upcoming year and the high school is looking to find at least 25.
Oxford School Officials hope that the tutoring relationship will develop into a mentoring for these students as they continue in their academics and in doing so lower the drop out rate in Oxford, Miss.
Anyone interested may apply at the Oxford School District Office or call, 662-234-0000.
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