Allan Sloan addressed students and faculty and the third annual William O'Neil Lecture Series in Business Journalism.
Sloan's prompt for his speech: "Is Journalism Dead? And Should it be?" Sloan addressed some of the problems that are going on right now in the business of journalism and in business journalism. Through his rich Brooklyn accent, he told students that if he could get a job anyone could.
Sloan, a self proclaimed recovering English major, said that Journalism has a business problem. After 38 years in the business he laughingly said he used to have hair and he used to be young. Hitting the highlights of his career he reflects back telling the audience about how he wanted to be a sports writer and that's what he thought he was. He was THE business staff in Charlotte, North Carolina.
He said that there's never been more of a need for people to understand the business realm. Now, he says, the audience is on their own. If you sit down and read the numbers that might not make sense they eventually will. In doing this, you have the power to change the way people live their lives for the better. Sometimes, the lack of a story may be the story says Sloan.
Sloan offered a real life experience to credit that statement. After receiving 400 pages of information that Blackstone released he said he found himself looking through it all asking, "where's the good stuff?" He analogized this instance to an episode of "Sex and the City on regular cable minus the good stuff."
The best piece of advice that Sloan gave was that journalism isn't just about writing something, go out look at what's going on and explain it to others who wouldn't normally understand. He even simplified the explanation of what journalists do each and every day. He says that with the flood of information that the business demands a sane, rational and calm voice to translate what's going on into something that resembles English. In other words, to make sense of the primordial chaos that's going on in what we call the profession of journalism.
I couldn't agree more. There is SO much information out there. I talk to people all the time that say they just don't even know where to begin because there is so much information. People don't want to be bogged down with useless data or information that doesn't improve the quality of their lives. Sloan offered a fresh perspective. I am not a numbers person, at all. That's why I chose words. To people who aren't in the business of business the jargon and language is overwhelming. For there to be someone that can shed light on a confusing subject is incredibly helpful to readers all the while making it interesting. His charge to know simple math and learn how to read business documents makes me want to sign up for another math class.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
The Straight Talk on McCain
For a candidate who has focused his campaign on 'straight' talk and rides around on the Straight Talk Express, he certainly addressed the media confidently and calmly regarded the New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/us/politics/21mccain.html?hp”>
article hit the Web.
The article alleges, among other things, that Senator McCain engaged in an affair with lobbyist Vicki Iseman. But there is so much more in the article, and as one of the 2430 comments posted on paper's Web site noted "how are people supposed to read or see anything other than that?"
I heard the press conference over XM radio in the car on the way down to Austin for the Democratic debate. Standing by to offer instant analysis was political contributor Bill Bennett. He said that in many ways John McCain should thank the New York Times because what he needs some way to unite the conservative conservatives and the moderate rights. Bennett said this could very well be the uniting factor because McCain went after the paper.
The McCain campaign was quick to respond to the article. Learning from previous candidate’s mistakes, it’s all about damage control – even if you have nothing to hide. Poliics 101: It’s better to get it out on the table and defuse any rumors that might be floating around then to let it circulate in the media. John Kerry learned this the hard way when he didn’t respond to Swift Boat Ads in 2004 and remained silent. On the McCain Web site, Campaign Manager Rick Davis blogs about how the campaign needs your help to combat the attack from the Liberal Left. How can you help? Donating money $$$$.
Check out this Times article that looks at the rest of the Senator's day after the press conference.
One CBS blog by Andante Higgins said that the McCain campaign was pleased with the response that they were receiving by the end of the first full day after the article had been published.
Meghan McCain blogs about how lucky she is and how great of a person her father is. You should really check out her blog. It's an interesting, inside look at the McCain campaign that really no one else could provide.
This blog on DAILY KOS essentially says that if you "have yourself a suit and a hankering to attack the media then you could get on T.V." This blog captures in quotation boxes some of what the blogger perceives as jabs at the media.
There is an overwhelming amount of information from both sides of the aisle out there. Most all of it is critical in some way. I personally think that this gave the McCain campaign the perfect chance to unite the party behind something that they see as "the enemy," the liberal media. Personally, when I read the article I was skeptical of the anonymous sources especially when the substance of what they were sourcing was an attack right at McCain's character and personal life. It is pretty bold to accuse someone of having a relationship outside of their marriage when you have no proof to present to your readers. I do think that the media serves a purpose and a watchdog function on the people who are putting themselves out on the line to serve as President of the United States...it just might have been nice for there to have been a little more substance to their accusations.
article hit the Web.
The article alleges, among other things, that Senator McCain engaged in an affair with lobbyist Vicki Iseman. But there is so much more in the article, and as one of the 2430 comments posted on paper's Web site noted "how are people supposed to read or see anything other than that?"
I heard the press conference over XM radio in the car on the way down to Austin for the Democratic debate. Standing by to offer instant analysis was political contributor Bill Bennett. He said that in many ways John McCain should thank the New York Times because what he needs some way to unite the conservative conservatives and the moderate rights. Bennett said this could very well be the uniting factor because McCain went after the paper.
The McCain campaign was quick to respond to the article. Learning from previous candidate’s mistakes, it’s all about damage control – even if you have nothing to hide. Poliics 101: It’s better to get it out on the table and defuse any rumors that might be floating around then to let it circulate in the media. John Kerry learned this the hard way when he didn’t respond to Swift Boat Ads in 2004 and remained silent. On the McCain Web site, Campaign Manager Rick Davis blogs about how the campaign needs your help to combat the attack from the Liberal Left. How can you help? Donating money $$$$.
Check out this Times article that looks at the rest of the Senator's day after the press conference.
One CBS blog by Andante Higgins said that the McCain campaign was pleased with the response that they were receiving by the end of the first full day after the article had been published.
Meghan McCain blogs about how lucky she is and how great of a person her father is. You should really check out her blog. It's an interesting, inside look at the McCain campaign that really no one else could provide.
This blog on DAILY KOS essentially says that if you "have yourself a suit and a hankering to attack the media then you could get on T.V." This blog captures in quotation boxes some of what the blogger perceives as jabs at the media.
There is an overwhelming amount of information from both sides of the aisle out there. Most all of it is critical in some way. I personally think that this gave the McCain campaign the perfect chance to unite the party behind something that they see as "the enemy," the liberal media. Personally, when I read the article I was skeptical of the anonymous sources especially when the substance of what they were sourcing was an attack right at McCain's character and personal life. It is pretty bold to accuse someone of having a relationship outside of their marriage when you have no proof to present to your readers. I do think that the media serves a purpose and a watchdog function on the people who are putting themselves out on the line to serve as President of the United States...it just might have been nice for there to have been a little more substance to their accusations.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
“Blog of the people, blog by the people, and blog for the people.”
Long before computers and technological advancements, President Abraham Lincoln characterized democracy as a government “of the people, by the people and for the people.”
So what does this have to do with blogging?
The emergence of the “blog” provides people who wouldn’t have traditionally had a voice in society a platform to express their opinions. After reading portions of David Kline and Dan Burstein’s book blog! It became apparent to me that one thing blogs have succeeded at is democratizing information flow. According to Kline and Burnstein knowledge once held by a few has seeped into the hands of many where the lines between creator and consumer are becoming invisible.
For citizens who rely solely on blogs for information or for amateur bloggers it’s important to not throw mainstream media out or kick it to the curb. The reporters and producers serve as news gathers and disseminate information throughout the Web. This is not the case for all bloggers but typically information that is presented by the media is picked up by bloggers and from there compelling conversation starts.
Compelling conversation can stimulate, and often does, political action. From action starts the process of change. I see the result of this conversation online today. The emergence of blogging and the role of the internet became evident during the 2004 Presidential election. Howard the scream Dean launched his presidential campaign online and raised awareness, and big money, through the Web. Volunteers and supporters were able to use sites such as Meetup.com to literally meet up and promote Dean. He didn’t make it to the White House, but he was one of the candidates to see the importance of the internet and use it.
We should be thankful for the emergence of the blog. By showing your thanks, I’m not advocating that you agree with every blog or even that you have to spend hours reading blogs. Thanks should be given because of the platform the internet provides via blogs giving ordinary citizens the chance to be heard. There are concerns about citizen journalists and the ethical guidelines that non-professionals are to follow or even what they are. Am I concerned that someone could take my future job from the comfort of their own bedroom? No. I believe there is a need for journalists and that they can only benefit from browsing these blogs. The people and their stories are the news.
Media companies see the importance of the i-Report or the citizen journalist. They want feedback from news consumers on their stories because more stories come from just that, the feedback.
The more people involved in the process the better. If only voting could catch on as the blog craze has the principles of democracy would be in full swing.
So what does this have to do with blogging?
The emergence of the “blog” provides people who wouldn’t have traditionally had a voice in society a platform to express their opinions. After reading portions of David Kline and Dan Burstein’s book blog! It became apparent to me that one thing blogs have succeeded at is democratizing information flow. According to Kline and Burnstein knowledge once held by a few has seeped into the hands of many where the lines between creator and consumer are becoming invisible.
For citizens who rely solely on blogs for information or for amateur bloggers it’s important to not throw mainstream media out or kick it to the curb. The reporters and producers serve as news gathers and disseminate information throughout the Web. This is not the case for all bloggers but typically information that is presented by the media is picked up by bloggers and from there compelling conversation starts.
Compelling conversation can stimulate, and often does, political action. From action starts the process of change. I see the result of this conversation online today. The emergence of blogging and the role of the internet became evident during the 2004 Presidential election. Howard the scream Dean launched his presidential campaign online and raised awareness, and big money, through the Web. Volunteers and supporters were able to use sites such as Meetup.com to literally meet up and promote Dean. He didn’t make it to the White House, but he was one of the candidates to see the importance of the internet and use it.
We should be thankful for the emergence of the blog. By showing your thanks, I’m not advocating that you agree with every blog or even that you have to spend hours reading blogs. Thanks should be given because of the platform the internet provides via blogs giving ordinary citizens the chance to be heard. There are concerns about citizen journalists and the ethical guidelines that non-professionals are to follow or even what they are. Am I concerned that someone could take my future job from the comfort of their own bedroom? No. I believe there is a need for journalists and that they can only benefit from browsing these blogs. The people and their stories are the news.
Media companies see the importance of the i-Report or the citizen journalist. They want feedback from news consumers on their stories because more stories come from just that, the feedback.
The more people involved in the process the better. If only voting could catch on as the blog craze has the principles of democracy would be in full swing.
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