PAF 494 Final Project Blog 2: How Sweet is the Tweet?

TWEET! TWEET! TWEET!

With more than 119 million account 85 million of which have at least one follower people are flocking to Twitter to express themselves along with seeing what others have to tweet. Twitter is a pretty sweet setup and if your tweet is really sweet it will probably get re-tweeted (tweeted again on someone else's Twitter page). You can view everything on Twitter from what someone is doing, what they've done, what they plan to do, thoughts, opinions, and even political activism. Twitter is one information superhighway in the cyber sky that has more than the average social media user singing like a bird. Special interest groups are voicing their cause, businesses and entrepreneurs are pushing their products and services, journalists are reporting news, celebrities are hyping up fans, and politicians are campaigning through the medium of social media. Imagine the ripples that come from a single drop of water or the splash from a bird's wing in a birdbath. Now imagine over one million birds diving into a huge lake all at once.

The use of social media is creating perpetual waves when it comes to political influence and public opinion. Even those who don't trouble the water see and feel the effects of the ripples. This is one way that social media influences politics and public opinion. Many of the thoughts and opinionated expressions shared are embraced by those who they are shared with, and this can influence what people believe, who they admire and despise, what they support, and in some cases it even affects how they will vote. Twitter is a part of the social media revolution that is stirring up media and public affairs as both the common and uncommon become avid content creators of communications that are shared with the global online community. Below I've shared six tweets I pulled off Twitter to show you how they each individually relate to something I've learned in my media and public affairs class. Twitter is social media where the affairs of the public are aired so I've come up with the "Golden Rule of Tweeting". "Tweet unto others as you would have them tweet unto you." ~ Deneene A. Collins

Tweet! Tweet!

1. 60Minutes 60 Minutes 
   

   
   
   Congressman Barney Frank announced his retirement Monday. On Overtime, watch Lesley Stahl’s 2008 interview with Frank:bit.ly/tlDf7Z

   
   

   This tweet tweeted by 60Minutes announces the retirement of a congressman and links to the full article on www.cbsnews.com. This relates to lessons learned in my media and public affairs class because it shows how the news media is leveraging social media to further broadcast their news stories. Furthermore, this is political news and that is largely what media and public affairs is about. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee also tweeted about Barney Frank's retirement with 100 re-tweets as of Tuesday, November 29, 2011 at 3:18 PM Arizona Mountain Time: dccc DCCC (100 Retweets) Barney Frank is retiring and we're going to miss him. Send him a personal thank you message right now: dccc.org/Barney

   
   
2. townhallcom Townhall.com 
   

   
   
   
   Katie Pavlich: Ann Coulter Censored for Calling John McCain the "D" Word on Television: If you're an Ann Coulter... tinyurl.com/cbeww29

   
   

   Townhall.com which is a conservative website with political commentary that over 100 columnists and millions of grassroots conservatives contribute to tweeted the above tweet which also links to a full article. MSNBC bleeped out/censored a comment best-selling author Ann Coulter made about John McCain. This tweet obviously relates to what I learned in media and public affairs about media influence and how what a person, especially a well-know respected person with fans can shape people's views of political figures by what they say. This also relates to a topic we covered on media bias and how certain networks tend to favor with conservatives or liberals what stories they air and how they air them. 

   
   
3. President Election 2012 News 
   

   
   
   
   Florida attorney general co-host presidential forum on Fox News.bit.ly/syKxh9

   
   

   President Election 2012 News tweeted about this forum that will be broadcast on Fox News. The tweet links to an article on www.washingtonindependent.com that states several GOP and democratic presidential candidates are confirmed for the event. Since a large portion of my media and public affairs class dealt with presidential elections and campaigning the relevance of this tweet to the class is obvious. This is political news about a political media event that can influence the candidates' campaigns. Social media is being used here to inform and advertise. The article this tweet links to also contributes to the cloud hanging over Herman Cain's head as it states that they are not sure if he will be a part of this forum while mentioning the negative issues he is dealing with in regards to accusations of his longtime affair with a Georgia woman. The article also calls Cain a one-time (meaning former) front-runner. I wonder how many mental seeds Johnny Appleseed could have planted if he had Twitter at his fingertips?

   
   
4. SenJohnMcCain John McCain 
   

   
   
   
   Stmt on overwhelming bipartisan 61-37 vote supporting detainee provisions in #NDAA mccain.senate.gov/public/index.c…

   
   

   This tweet by US Senator John McCain voices a statement he made in a press release regarding bipartisan support for the Defense Authorization bill. One way social media is being used here is to inform the public on public policy and show how joint party support is working to pass laws that are much needed and beneficial to the nation's security. This tweet relates to topics in my media and public affairs class that discussed foreign policy, how politicians represent the interests of the American society, and how social media is being used to keep people informed about what is going on behind the walls of Congress. 

   
   
5. CBSNewsHotSheet CBS News Hotsheet 
   

   
   
   Trump: I could enter presidential race in May: bit.ly/s7Bh8R

   
   

   CBS News strikes again on my Twitter Six List. CBS seems to be consistent in reporting political news on Twitter. The word on the street is that Trump may enter the presidential race as an independent in May 2012. This tweet relates to my class on media and public affairs as it presents a possible new competitor for the 2012 presidential election. This could be a Game Change if Donald Trump resurrects himself back into the race. In my course the topic of what candidates have to deal with and do to overcome their competitors was visited. With this tweet the current presidential candidates have been put on alert that they may end up facing more than what's in their faces right now. 

   
   
6. freepress Free Press 
   

   
   
   
   Don't Let Them Censor the Internet: Urge your senator to stand up against online censorship, & against #PIPA: ow.ly/7J0Hr #SOPA

   
   

   Working to reform the U.S. media the national nonpartisan, nonprofit Free Press has name that comes directly from the first amendment. Their micro-blog entry on Twitter posted above is about preventing large corporations from censoring websites at will. One of the things we went over in my media and public affairs class was Internet freedom. This tweet is chirping to the song of freedom. What regulations should be placed on Internet freedom? Should the voice of online text regarding public policy be muffled or hushed? Does social media enhance the essence of a democracy and how should it be monitored? These are all valid questions relating to Internet freedom and the answers are still being sought after. This tweet is an example of sounding off for a cause that seeks to rally support in the land of the free and the home of the brave. 

For some reason I've never been a huge fan of Twitter. Nevertheless, it is a power medium of social exchange, and I know the world would not be the same without it. I do like to tweet from time to time, but sometimes I feel overwhelmed with all of the information that is coming at me. I think that for a person to gain the full benefits that Twitter offers they need to check it multiple times a day to see what is being said. Even so, so many people are tweeting so often that it is easy to miss something you may have wanted to see if you don't scroll down to see what has been tweeted when you were offline. I will keep tweeting and I will continue to catch a chirp here and there. Until I fly in the Twitter sky a little more often I'd like to send out a shout to all the little birdies on Twitter street that love to hear Deneene Collins go tweet, tweet, tweet. I'll keep micro-blogging in a macro world, and I hope you keep reading Deneene Says...You can follow me on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/deneenecollins


How tweet it is to be blogged by you!

PAF 494 Final Project Blog 1: Please Don't Clog the Blog

As of February 16th of this year there were over 156 million public blogs in existence. With this many web logs out there in order to comment on all of them I would have to comment on 650,000 blogs a year for twenty years. New blogs are being added everyday, and it can be a challenge to find the one that gives you exactly what you want and need. In this blog entry I'm going to play the role of a blog critic as I critique three different political blogs to let you know what I think about them. Take a look at them for yourself and let me know if you agree or disagree with my opinion. I'm in search of blogs with excellent content where the writers report the facts and don't clog the blog with meaningless banter. Fasten your seat belt and ride with me as I make my way through cyber fog identifying the clear messages of some of today's political blogs. 

CNN Political TickerAll Blog:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

Likes: Overall I like CNN Politics' Political Ticker blog, and I give it four and a half out of five stars. The CNN brand in itself carries the credibility of a trusted news source. Across the top of the homepage are pictures with easy access links to articles that readers may want to read immediately. In the upper right hand corner of the page is a brief statement to let visitors know exactly what the site is all about along with links for following the blog on Twitter and Facebook. The site has huge, bold, and intriguing pictures to go along with their articles as well as a Twitter and RSS feed, related links, and links to recent posts. The site has a good look and setup and is easy to navigate. They even make recent comments on blog articles, top topics, and archives readily available with the click of a mouse. The article posted on this blog peek interest and consistently report on current political stories and issues. CNN gets an "A" in my political blog grade book. 

Room For Improvement: While taking Jakob Nielsen's 113 Design Guidelines for Homepage Usability into consideration, I was unable to identify any improvements this site needs to make. Though the site looks good as is to me it is my belief that there is always room for improvement even if I don't see it myself. I think improvement for this site will come as new Internet technologies emerge that they can incorporate. All websites should update to new and more efficient versions from time to time and the CNN Political Ticker can do this best by conducting periodic usability studies to continue to project a site that best serves their users. I like the fact that the site doesn't really have any advertising on it which can take away from the potency of the site, but there is a lot of blank space in the bottom right hand column that could be used for tasteful advertisements which would help monetize the site and increase revenues for CNN. One other place for possible improvement is for CNN to make sure they report a variety of stories without bias as they have been accused of doing.

Reliability Rating: On a three tier reliability scale of three being low, two being medium, and three being high, the CNN Political Ticker gets a rating of three for high reliability. Their news stories come across as valid and even seem to report things that are about to happen as opposed to what has already happened. One danger in reporting what is about to happen is whether or not it actually happens. The proof is in the political pudding and so far CNN's pudding tastes great. 

In My Opinion: In my opinion CNN has been known to report in an opinionated way. It has been alleged that CNN has a liberal bias. While their partial projections of news are not always obvious, the stories that are published and how they are worded do seem to portray some favoritism at times. Though Republicans have been said to be portrayed in a negative light on CNN they are not the only ones. In the 2008 presidential election both Clinton and Edwards ended up with more negative news coverage than positive news coverage on CNN overall. Even so, CNN has been referred to in the past as the "Clinton News Network". Maybe CNN is reporting the news accurately and the accuracy of how the cards fall make them appear biased, partial, or partisan at certain times. I think they report the true news and sometimes the truth appears as biased. If what I've stated seems to jump from one side of the track to the other I might be able to get a job reporting for CNN. 

Feature Article: "Democrats ramp up anti-Romney ad attack"

"Democrats ramp up anti-Romney ad attack"

Wow! The ad is titled "Mitt vs. Mitt" while in reality it is "Mitt vs. Obama". View the ad below.

 It is the belief of the Democratic National Committee that Mitt Romney will ultimately be Obama's opponent in the 2012 political race for the presidency which is why they launched this ad. The ad fragrantly displays the stink of an inconsistency of Romney's views on healthcare and abortion. Death is the most serious medical condition of all and it seems as though the Democratic National Committee is attempting to abort Romney in fetal stages of his campaign. 

In the class Media and Public Affairs I took at Arizona State University this article relates to several topics from the class. First and foremost it relates to media influence. Through advertising media this ad can influence voters by the message it communicates which appeals to their beliefs and the positions they take on certain issues. Since the ad paints Romney in a negative light, people that have previously supported him may change the decision of their support. The ad is like a mini one-sided debate which displays the power of the media message. In Media and Public Affairs I learned about the strategies involved in campaigning; this strategy is both tactical and strategic from a political campaigning standpoint. This ad and article also display that political candidates are armed with a knife that cuts deep, and it is called the media. Media influence is as real as it gets, and those who represent political candidates will do what they think they must do to win. 

The Washington Roast:

http://thewashingtonroast.com/

Likes: I can't really say that I like this site, but I threw it into the review for contrast. I do like their savvy approach to political news with outrageous, highly visible pictures, font that mimics The Washington Post, and well-structured website that is credible in appearance. This is a satire site so one thing I like about it is the comedy involved. The irony is thick enough to cut with a knife so I'm sure most people who read it know not to take everything said seriously. It is funny however how so many jokes are serious business. We laugh and joke about the comments and actions of politicians as they operate in a hilarious realm they call truth. I like the humorous atmosphere of this blog site along with the parodies, ridiculous ridicule, and laughable exaggerations that pinpoint serious political issues. I like that this site has a tagline immediately beneath the boldly branded name of the site. 

Room For Improvement: The site itself is actually well put together. The appearance and navigation of the site are both good. A reduction in clutter for the arrangement of the site so that it is more aesthetically appealing would be an improvement. Though comedy is the site's claim to fame I think a focus on more serious stories that report the facts would enhance the site. Maybe they can find a way to mark their stories in such a way where readers will know which stories are serious business about accurate news and which stories are news that makes fun and jokes about the facts. Some spots on the homepage of the site/blog seem a bit busy. The major suggestions that I have to improve this site may take away from what the purpose of this site is. One improvement I'm sure they need to make is in the quality and length of their stories. In spite of this being a comical site for political news, they need more news-worthy stories period. I can't really find out what us happening in politics from this site. Their news reporting on current issues sucks and that isn't funny. 

Reliability Rating: How reliable can you be when you are always making jokes? I think the stories on this site/blog tell a little bit of truth mixed in with a lot of jokes. The content is fairly reliable, but due to all the other stuff which is pure comedy the reliability factor goes way down. On my three tier scale I rate this site as a one and three quarters rating. It is above low but not quite credible enough to gain a medium rating. 

In My Opinion: This site is definitely smoking the opium of opinion. That is what comedians do. Not to say that nothing they say is valid, it is just that comedy usually is highly opinionated. That is what makes people laugh. It is the exaggeration of the obviously stupid that people attempt to pose as something that makes sense. With its comedic expressions this site is no doubt biased. I knew this the moment I logged on and saw Herman Cain in a picture next to an Avatar. Maybe someone should construct a political amusement park since so many things in politics are already taking people on a ride.

Feature Article: "The Poor Live Better Than the Rich"

http://thewashingtonroast.com/?p=2076

I've lived in poverty in America in the past and due to my first hand knowledge of what it is like I think this article is complete hogwash. The poor absolutely do not live better than the rich. Sure, billions of dollars in government aid are given to poor families, but a person has to be practically destitute to qualify. Funding for this aid has been cut at every corner and if the poor are living better than the rich, why are so many Americans without basic healthcare coverage? The cars and televisions they own may have been purchased before they were in a poverty situation, and even if they were obtained in poverty I can assure you that they weren't purchased with food stamps, unemployment income, or the minuscule $200 to $600 a month a person can get only if they have children and no income at all. Some poor families receive gifts from family members and live in tiny homes without enough room for the people who live there. I know a lady that lives in a half million dollar house who lost her job and now can't even pay her light bill. This article is an insult to all the families scraping every day just to survive. If the poor really live better than the rich, why don't the rich become poor to live better? I don't think so! Based upon what I've learned in media and public affairs this article is an example of opinionated and inaccurate media. False perceptions by someone who obviously does not know what it is like to be poor, and this perpetuates a negative media influence. If a poor person is living better than a rich person it is because the rich person is living beyond their means. There seems to be more justice for the greedy than the needy in America. Ask Warren Buffet who wanted to know why his secretary pays a higher tax rate than he does. Granted, I will say that some people take advantage of public assistance benefits, but the number of those who do are far less than the ones that are truly poor and are by no means living better than the rich. I'm sure the Westchester, New York business man that makes $90,000 a year quoted in this article has nicer cars, TV's, computers, and DVD players than the poor people in this country. I'm also sure he is living better than them. The words in this article are like a pile of dung to me. 

Politico:

http://www.politico.com/

Politico is a great political blog so I wanted to review it but came across another blog that required more critique. I've posted the link to Political above so you can visit the site and enjoy the articles they post. The site is well put together and the stories are valid and current. Now on to my next review. 

News Blog 5000:

http://newsblog5000.blogspot.com/

Likes: I only liked two things about this site. 1.) The site has a nice patriotic look. 2.) The site has good white space, typesetting, proximity, and  overall good aesthetic quality. There is a third thing I like about this blog which is that they call "comments" for the blog "complaints". I'm not big on complaining, but I thought it was a unique twist in the blog scene. 

Room For Improvement: When I went to this blog site I was looking forward to seeing some good articles and being informed with current political news. To my disappointment, the most recent post was posted on August 12, 2007. What? Did the person who created this blog fall off the face of the earth? Maybe they did so I don't want to be insensitive. Blogs need to be kept up-to-date and this one isn't. I don't know what the problem is, but there is a lot of room for improvement starting with the need to blog on a regular basis. Maybe the blogger quit blogging, but if they did they should have posted an article informing their audience of this decision. 

Reliability Rating: I have no idea how reliable this blog is. The fact that it is outdated doesn't say much for reliability. Because of that I will have to give it a low reliability rating, but on the high end of low since the articles that have been posted seem valid. However, don't look here for the next great and up-to-date political news story. 

In My Opinion: This blog uses quotes to substantiate the messages of its articles and reports various facts and statistics, but the tone of the blog is biased. The way the articles are written seem to sway towards the writer's opinions on the issues. In my opinion, this blog is partially partial. 

Feature Article: "Nine of Ten say no to Text Driving" 

This article was so short that I found myself clicking on the title looking for the rest of the article. In regards to what I've learned in media and public affairs, I felt that this article displayed what it is for media to communicate current issues that are being deliberated. Statistics, quotes, and references to credible organizations strengthen the article, but overall the article left the readers deprived of a full story. As far as what I've learned in my media and public affairs class I can also relate this article to issues that are debated on both a local and national level. "All politics are local politics."

Thanks for tuning into Deneene Says...once again. This is the blog where I have something to say so I say it regardless of how it may be received. I found out through this post that critiquing blogs suits me well so I've decided to dress myself up as a blog critic at least once a week. You can view my upcoming blog on blogs The Blog Frog Report at: http://hoppingblogfrog.blogspot.com/.

PAF 494 Module 14: GOOD ADVICE: The 10 Commandments of Political Campaigning

Naked Candidates, The Media MRI, and The Illumination of Influence

Deneene Says..., "A lesson learned is wisdom earned." While taking this class in media and public affairs I've been able to gain a new perspective on media and politics. I would have to say that knowledge is bliss and ignorance is just ignorant. Since taking this class I'm confident that some political candidates and powerful political figures would keep the public on a "need to know" basis if they could; I'm glad the media feels like we need to know. Recognizing the raw truth of what goes on behind the scenes of a presidential election and in politics as a whole was probably the most surprising thing I learned about in this class. Reading the book Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime, was like popping in a permanent pair of political contacts. This compelling literary work that covered the real deal on the 2008 presidential election corrected the vision of my political understanding likened unto laser vision correction for those with politically-impaired sight. I loved this class which snatched me out of my comfort zone as it pressed me to become aware of media influence and public affairs through research, knowledge acquisition, and interactions with others on many different levels. A few other things I learned about were:

Naked Candidates:

While we see political candidates dressed in suits and ties, dresses and blazers, the media strips them all naked before our eyes so that we can see the true essence of the individual. When a person makes the decision to run for office they are making a statement that they are willing to be viewed intimately before they ultimately lead. A fairly famous quote from the Bible in Ecclesiastes 5:15 says, "As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand." Running for and holding a high political office is both a birth and death of sorts; a person is born into an entirely new lifestyle which means they die to the life they once had. I've learned that political candidates better be comfortable in their own skin because they will be undressed with the lights on. Furthermore, if they've undressed literally with anyone they shouldn't have their dirty laundry will most likely be aired on all the news networks. 

The Media MRI:

I learned that the media can be like an MRI news machine that can find, identify, and expose things that can't be seen in a photograph or by a simple visual examination. You can't always judge a book by its cover; neither can you judge a political candidate by the way they look. Unfortunately, a lot of people do just that. Many people are visually motivated, and when you add good audio to good visual deception can be effortless. I've learned that we all need to understand the mechanics of politics and take a good long look under the hood of those we vote for before voting for them. In my opinion the media truly is the fourth arm of "checks and balances." The media checks and it balances for the American public what the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the government may not. The media is political medical technology that helps keep our political system healthy. I'm not saying that it does; I'm just saying that it helps. 

The Illumination of Influence:

Another very important fact that was brought to my attention is this course is the power of media influence. When a candidate is positively portrayed in the media it can greatly benefit the results of their campaign. Media is highly influential and can shape perspectives like soft clay in the hands of a sculptor. The media is a shining light that has the power to place a dark shadow over anyone they aim to. While most of us are intelligent enough to know that everything that glitters isn't gold, there is a large majority that may not yet know that you can't believe everything you read in the paper or see on TV. In this course the influence of media was ever so illuminated to me and how this power works to shape public policy.

GOOD ADVICE: The 10 Commandments of Political Campaigning:

I read the Huffington Post article, "10 Things You Need To Know Today," and I came up with a little list of my own based upon what I've learned in this class. I consider this good advice based upon what I've learned and what I have seen for anyone in a political race. I call this, "The 10 Commandments of Political Campaigning". Rather than being written on stone tablets with the Finger of God and given to a man to lead a nation these are just a few suggestions written in cyberspace with my computer to some people that may one day lead a nation.

1. G - God Speed; Gain an Advantage: In a political campaign "first mover advantage" is highly important. Move swiftly in a strategic and tactical way. Do things first, gain an early advantage in the polls if possible, and touch the public personally and profoundly. 
2. O - Overcome Opposition: Handle opposition with grace and tact. Minimize your weakness and maximize on your opponent's weakness without indulging in a mud campaign. Accentuate your positives. 
3. O - Orate Well: Master the art of public speaking. Learn when to say what, practice answering pertinent questions, and inject charisma into every speech you deliver. 
4. D - Do What You Say: Your word is bond so be a person of your word. Mean what you say and say what you mean. Above all...deliver on your promises. 
5. A - Advertise: Advertise yourself in every possible medium. Establish and enforce your brand. Secure media endorsements and advertise on your own on radio, television, and the Internet. Pass out fliers, have phone calls made on your behalf, and leverage the power of social media. Advertise on the Internet and be sure to lock down as many media interviews as you can. Make your name a household word. 
6. D - Differentiate: Set yourself apart! Make known what makes you different and special. Your differentiation will be your campaign domination. Be unique by establishing your voice and expressing how you are unlike any other candidate. Voice your promises for change and reiterate the resonance of your personal revolution. 
7. V - Veracity: Be accurate and full of integrity. Be sure not to get caught with your pants down. As a matter of fact keep your pants pulled up. Practice habitual truth. 
8. I - Intelligence: Be informed on everything a political leader needs to know including the issues that face the country you seek to represent as well as foreign policy. Be in the know so you can operate in the now and inspire a promising future. 
9. C - Community: Focus on more than unity but on how you will bring people together. Communicate and collaborate while emphasizing a common vision and dream that you can make reality.
10. E - Eloquence: Be suave but real. Speak well and talk with eloquence. Be inspirational but not phony and communicate with the language of a leader that can talk to anyone from the homeless on skid row to the middle-class bread-winner to the billion-dollar CEO. Let your words be pretty but not too smooth and shifty. Make sure the media only captures your best moments. 

Well there you have it, not written on tablets of stone but on a tablet/computer notebook. "A ruler measures and there are rules that should be followed by anyone who wants to be a ruler which can help them measure success." (another nifty quote by Deneene Collins) I don't expect anyone to follow these commandments but I think they should at least be considered by those with the memory of an elephant and by those as hard working (or stubborn) as a donkey. The pun was absolutely intended. Until next time keep watching the news, pray for political wisdom, given an elephant a peanut, and hope that you don't have to wait for donkeys to fly before a political candidates consistently stay true to their words.

PAF 494: State of the News Media: The Fight To Be Politically Right

Jon Stewart Decides to Box with Fox:

If you're a swimmer you're likely to swallow a little pool water from time to time. It may not taste good, but what you are in gets inside of you even if it's not by choice. According to Jon Stewart in his interview with Fox News he rejects the proposed title of being labeled a partisan ideological activist stating that this is the soup Fox News swims in. In the political alphabet soup of today's news media we will find letter-shaped noodles such as ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC, FOX, and other tasty treats that may contain MSG which I refer to as "Media Swayed Government". After I witnessed what almost seemed like a broadcast brawl in the Jon Stewart Fox News interview I would say that the interviewer and the interviewee could use some chicken soup for the journalist's soul. Jon Stewart had his boxing gloves on his tongue and there were more rounds in this interview than in the final scene of a Rocky film. 

The interview with Jon Stewart on Fox News Sunday made me want to scream, "Where is the referee?"! They were talking over each other with their tongues drawn like swords in a fencing match. Jon Stewart, the proclaimed comedian, wasn't smiling or making anyone laugh during this interview. He did however imply that Fox is a joke. I have my own little joke. "Knock, knock. Who's there? Jon. Jon who? Jon you wanna report the facts while making people laugh?" Jon Stewart produces paramount parodies and I think it is laughable when he proclaims that what he does is not activism. Happiness is an emotion, and when you make people laugh about something you make a spectacle of they will remember it and it will influence them. If Jon Stewart looks in the mirror and sees anything less than a man that uses his comedic, news reporting skills to influence others' opinions he is probably legally blind when it comes to seeing himself. My favorite part of the Jon Stewart Fox News interview is how incredibly good Jon Stewart's hair looked that day. If all political news was as perfect as his hair, everything would be good in the journalistic hood. 

Jon Stewart consistently disagreed with the painted perception of him, but never seemed to agree to disagree. Jon Stewart praises the creators of South Park. I wonder if the biased news should be produced in cartoon form. If so, at least the truth would be told bluntly and maybe we could all laugh while viewing the animated state of a nation as the Wile E. Coyotes of politics blow themselves up during the chase for the roadrunner of true and just American politics. Do we exist in a box where, "politicians are taken as a joke and comedians are received as serious?" Was there an attempt to de-legitimize Fox in order to validate Jon Stewart? I don't know, but I'm sure many would pay to see this again live in a boxing ring at Caesar's Palace in Vegas or anywhere else for that matter. While there are people/journalists that deride mainstream media, the question is why do they deride it and does anyone really get it? Whether it is for sensationalism, conflict, or partisanship, two very different sides still deride the media on these issues. There seems to be a liberal bias and conservative activism in the media. It is all there and we are all here.  I don't know how much the Jon Stewart interview was edited, but he didn't seem to be projected as a man screaming as a little girl to me. The interview was bold; it was strong, and Jon Stewart was projected as serious as any comedian can be. Personally, I think he does influence politics even if he claims to be joking. Many jokes are serious business. "And so I have this friend..." Some people are laughing all the way to the bank.

De Bait:

Debates are always significant as they provide a platform on which candidates can preform. A debate is where the issues are aired and candidates argue their position. No argument is complete without a beginning and an end, and this debate lacked the latter. Well, it did have an end the end just wasn't aired. Even a lawyers case can be won by closing arguments, but we are witness to a debate where the last thirty minutes where not broadcast. The last thirty minutes still happened, what good are they if the public was not able to view them? Sure, some will look up and view the ending online, but many won't. 

Debates are significant and the broadcast of a debate is as significant as the debate itself. Earlier I mentioned a boxing match. There are winners and there are losers. A debate is a verbal boxing match where the important issues that matter to the masses go head to head. Somebody is going down even if it is by a technical knock out. Debates are highly significant and voters will gravitate towards the candidate that is able to throw the most significant auditory blows allowing them to get more people in their corner. "De bait" a candidate uses can not only help them win the fight, it can empower them to catch more fish (voters). 

A Perry Moment:

I don't think Perry's brain freeze is that big of a deal. It has happened to the best of us even under less stressful conditions. I must say that even though it's not nice to laugh at people I thought Herman Cain's brain freeze regarding a response to the question he was asked on Libya was hilarious. What's funnier is that the media doesn't call Cain's incident a brain freeze, they call it "a Perry moment". During President George W. Bush Jr.'s reign as president there seemed to be thousands of these types of events aired on The David Letterman Show. Whenever someone is in the public eye such as a presidential candidate these brain hiccups will always be over-dramatized. 

The Perry incident will more than likely cause more laughs than harm to his campaign. I think Verizon Wireless should launch a new ad campaign featuring presidential candidates that have had brain freezes. In the commercials the candidates can say, "Can you hear me now? What was I saying? Ummm. Can you hear me now?" I don't know how much Perry's mistake will impact his campaign, but I know it has changed my life. At least three times a week I now say, "I'm sorry, I was having a Perry moment." Between political debates, a vigorous travel schedule, and the fight to win the race, all of the candidates may appear a little punch drunk every now and then though it isn't always caught on camera. Tissues and called Kleenex, petroleum jelly is commonly called Vaseline, all varieties of soft drinks are called Coke, and brain freezes are now called "a Perry moment". There is life in politics even after the infamous on-camera brain freeze, and I think we can all understand that running for office is a huge political freezie to sip from. I was going to say something else but I'm having "a Perry moment" right now so hopefully I remember before the next time Deneene Says...

PAF494 - Nixon's Vixen and The State of the News Media

Nixon and His Vixen

After listening to Mark Feldstein's author interview on National Pubic Radio covering Nixon's Failed Attempts At 'Poisoning the Press', I began to think of the news media as Nixon's Vixen. For President Nixon the news media was like a quarrelsome woman, and as a Quaker I'm sure he knew that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. While Nixon's paranoia was substantiated by false stories that were published about him, his extreme actions towards journalists were largely unjustifiable. Considering having a journalist assassinated is absolutely absurd, however I will not deny that the media was out to get Nixon and get him good.  In present day times I can see the same type of battle emerging between presidents and political candidates and the news media. Journalists should rightfully and boldly dig into every nook and cranny that will expose corruption associated with political leaders and candidates as long as they themselves are not acting in a corrupt manner. As long as journalist don't break the law and practice good ethical journalism, I stand by their side proclaiming, "Extra! Extra! Read all about it!" The news media is still the public's political police and arm of "checks and balances". 

There could be many potential Watergate type scandals that surface in the future of American politics and the news media must sound an alarm loud enough for those dead to integrity to hear it. The news media must not stoop to a level of illegality like the ones they expose so that the stories they report will be published "check mates" in a game of chess that no popular public relations imitation "Checkers" speech will be able to compete in the overall game of truth. Chess is much more challenging, strategic, and thought-provoking than checkers. It is an entirely different game all together. The bottom line is that no president, politician, or presidential candidate should be able to justify their power-hungry measures by stating with charisma that they are only for the good of the people. The news media should turn every political popularity contest into a test of truth utterly and forcefully removing the "con" from contest. Presidents that receive a fortune from holding office should gain that fortune from things like their salary, paid speaking events, and the sales of books they publish, but not from being paid-off which displays that they have sold-out. Hush money will not stay quiet forever. When I think of the word corrupt, I visualize the core of a scandal erupting. It is absolutely amazing to me that Irish play Oliver Goldsmith said, "Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies" as opposed to an American president or presidential candidate. 

Audience vs. Economics:

The amount of viewers of cable news seems to be deceasing but that hasn't necessarily had as much as an impact on revenue as it would seem. Cable news networks have seemed to be able to retain large advertising contracts and they also receive subscriber rates. According to an annual report on American journalism for 2011 put out by the Pew Research Center, cost conscious Americans don't seem to be cancelling their cable subscriptions, they are just watching things other than news on cable. With the ever increasing use of the Internet I personally think a lot of people view their news online. While the strategy of some cable news outlets to lock in prime talent may help retain certain audiences, I think the future could remain bleak in regards to increasing viewership. However, as technology continues to progress cable news may be able to capture an online audience to watch cable news programs on the Internet. They could live stream shows on facebook like so many other programs are doing now. In the future we will probably even see many people watching cable news through mobile apps on their smart phones.

Key Questions Facing Digital News:

1. "How much progress has been made trying to monetize the Web, particularly when it comes to producing news and information about current events?" A lot of news is now communicated on the Web, but the challenge to monetize this content is ongoing. As news outlets continue to learn how to leverage their online news media they will become more effective in increasing revenues through it. One step forward would be to alter their current advertising packages for television broadcast to automatically include online advertising. As they draw in larger audiences to the Web they should in turn be able to achieve more successful results in monetizing the Web. 
2. " If the mobile revolution has begun, how big is it, and how large will it become?  And what do the early data suggest about whether tablets will create new revenue potential for news?" The mobile revolution has definitely begun and it's big. It is estimated that 65% of the U.S. population will own a smartphone or tablet by 2015. The early data shows signs that new revenue streams will flow progressively as a result of the use of tablets and mobile devices to view news. Hold on news buffs, we are in a mobile revolution!
3. " Is the shift to digital accelerating?" This is a simple question with an obvious answer. Yes. A lot of people's computers is now their mobile phone (smartphone) or mobile device. 
4. " What is occurring in online newsrooms? How much progress has been made, and in what ways? And to what extent can we generalize about this diverse and rapidly changing space?" For one thing, online newsrooms are innovating and creating richer content than before. The news is not only being reported, it is becoming interactive through viewer comments. News can be more static online. Instant updates can be posted and now we are seeing more live streams. We can generalize that the presence of the news on the Net will continue to grow and the way it is delivered will be enhanced. 

Does reality and tabloid media corrupt our politics and frame the message?

I believe that reality and tabloid media does corrupt our politics. This out of the norm, gossipy, and highly opinionated form of media can frame messages that are broadcast in such a way that truth is distorted and people's minds are negatively influenced.  I often ask myself, How real is reality TV? Tabloids make money by producing drama, making insinuations, and by publishing stories that are mutated. "The thrill of the kill through tainted messages fuels the capitalism of corruption." - Deneene A. Collins 

Since I always seem to have something to say I hope to bring you more interesting content soon on Deneene Says...

Smoking, Campaigning, Polling, and Fundraising

In regards to the 2012 Presidential Election, the issues at hand remind me of the typical sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll issues from the 50's, 60's and 70's. We are now in the 21st Century and these are the questions we ask in a radical new millennium:

Does America Need a Smoke Break?:

With over a million and a half views Herman Cain's "Now is the time for action!" ad has more than twice as many "dislikes" as it does "likes" on YouTube. The number of people who have disliked this ad is sending out a powerful message about the ad as it appears on the the second largest search engine in the world after Google. Personally, I thought the first part of the ad was fine and communicated a good message, but what's up with Mark Block smoking a cigarette at the end and why does Herman Cain's face look so weird at the end of the ad? We are living in a time where there is a focus on being fit and smoking is being outlawed in public places almost everywhere in the U.S. The message to unite America is good but what do they want America to do once it's united, get together and smoke a cigarette? Whether or not people agree with the message, it is quite brilliant in many ways. The strategy to go viral on YouTube while communicating that everyone has their own right of choice all while stirring things up equals mass publicity with an "In your face I don't care about your thinking your better than somebody else attitude." This controversial ad is dumb to some and smart to others, but the huge thing about it is that people are continuing to talk about it and even the ones that don't like it have watched it multiple times aiding in its viral status. Cain, who once claimed to being ignored by the media isn't being ignored anymore. He's a business man and he's shaking things up. I guess you could say, "Herman Cain's ad is smokin'."

Late night comedic talk shows ate this ad up thus giving Cain's campaign even more free publicity. When I watched the ad I thought about are current president being a smoker when he was voted into office. I'm just glad that you can't suffer from second-hand smoke through a YouTube video or television commercial. If I were to have produced this ad myself I think I would have place a no smoking sign at the end of it to add even more controversy. There are people that have smoke coming out of their ears over this ad and they may be the very ones that need to realize that America needs a figurative smoke break. The office of the president of the United States is an office that marries the American people. A lot of people are looking for a mate that is a good boy with a little bad boy in them. It looks like Herman Cain has a little rebel in him, and while I don't agree with a pro-smoking message; I do think we need a revolution of change, and revolutions are led by those that go against the grain. I'm not supporting Herman Cain, I'm just acknowledging his ability to lead a possible revolt to change what needs to be changed. I've always been who I am without caring what others think about me and I respect other who do the same. Nevertheless, Herman Cain's face at the end of the ad is still a bit creepy to me, and before fully analyzing the ad I was confused about its overall message. 

Does the early bird (candidate) get the worm when it comes to political polling?

If you haven't read the book Game Change covering the behind the scenes actions of the 2008 presidential election, read it. I feel that this book confirms that the early bird doesn't always get the worm. In regards to a presidential election what I'm saying is that what the early polls report don't always dictate the final outcome. Sometimes however, polls do accurately predict the future. The game can change at anytime. Many times, more often than not, the results of the polls pick the winner ahead of time. Sometimes the early polls lack the insight of reality failing to see the possible game change or hidden strategy of a candidate. While I think the early numbers do matter I also believe they can be deceptive when it comes to true outcomes. The early bird candidate in the polls will not always be the one that ultimately gets the worm. The polls are a guide that can sometimes lead beliefs of expected victories in the wrong direction. They are still a good statistical indicator of what is probable or what will most likely happen, but the true lead and majority vote can change at any time. Early numbers may matter and they may not matter. How much early numbers in the polls matter depends on how much change a candidate is able to bring to the race despite what is forging against them. 

Do big or media endorsements put the "sign" in significance for a political campaign?

Having media endorsements seem pretty important to presidential candidates but they don't always mean a win for them. It is interesting however how in recent years the Democratic party has been favored in media endorsements and they are on top in Washington. Many studies have also shown that candidates with a lot of media favor don't succeed in their efforts to hold office. More favor in the media is of course better than less. Hilary Clinton was thrilled in the book Game Change when she received her media endorsement. I don't think there is any rhyme or reason to this, nor do i think media endorsements put the "sign" in significance for a political campaign, but I do think these endorsements are important and can play a vital role. 

Are political donation guidelines a fair space for candidates to color their campaign within?

It is important to have guidelines when it comes to making political donations and raising campaign funds. Are the guidelines fair? For the most part I think they are. There are restrictions on amounts that can be given by any one individual and when giving significant amounts names do have to be disclosed. There are however some loopholes and ways around identity disclosure in some circumstances. Also, it takes a whole lot of people with shallow pockets to keep up with the few with deep pockets. When reading the article from the New York Times "From $25 to $10,000,000: A Guide to Political Donations" I was reminded of the line from the movie Aladdin, "You've heard of the golden rule haven't you? He who has the gold makes the rules." I guess I would say the guidelines are fair, but the truth is that the one with the most money can do more, say more, and influence more and I'm not sure if that is fair. 

Deneene Says...Choose not to smoke if you can while retaining your power of choice, don't believe the hype even if it's the first thing you see, know for yourself those who big companies or the media endorse, and make sure the donations that support the candidate you support are fair and not some political carnival act. 

I'll speak with you again soon with more political news.