Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Wrapping up - JUA 2007
In about one hour, we will be wrapping up the whole schedule of JUA 2007 and going back to New Hampton. In thirteen hours we will be heading back to our classes. In 29 hours, I'll be on a plane heading back home. In those senses, I would like to wrap up the JUA on this blog.
Since when I first became a junior in September, I was highly anticipating JUA. To be honest, the reason was only because I get to get out of classes for two days, go to Boston, and have fun. However, as I was involved in JUA progress, I found out that there was something more in JUA. Until I actually started JUA, I didn't know how exactly JUA works though I attended NHS since when I was freshman. Now, I know that JUA is all about trying to answer a question in a group by solving various other problems in the middle of Boston.
The first day was not a success, but it is hard to say that it was a failure. Our appointment with Media Lab of MIT was canceled, but we were able to grab few of the actual students of MIT and ask about what media they use to view information on the news. That was very helpful because we were able to find out what people actually use to find news information. We went to a nice Thai restaurant and ate dinner. (That was the first time I ate Thai food.) Then we watched 'I Am Legend', a highly anticipated movie starred by Will Smith.
The actual schedule started in the second day. We visited WBUR, a part of NPR in the morning. Two people from the marketing came and toured us through the whole office including the actual radio studio, which was built very scientifically. At afternoon, we visited NECN, and had a chance to watch the recording of 'Patriot Football Weekly' which anchored by Chris Collins, who is a graduate of New Hampton School. It was an unique experience.
So, do I think the truth is manufactured? Also, do I think the truth can change? I think I do, because some people controlling the media companies has the ability to alter truth. However,
I know now that there are people who work hard to find the real truth. And because of them, I think I can trust the media for now.
Since when I first became a junior in September, I was highly anticipating JUA. To be honest, the reason was only because I get to get out of classes for two days, go to Boston, and have fun. However, as I was involved in JUA progress, I found out that there was something more in JUA. Until I actually started JUA, I didn't know how exactly JUA works though I attended NHS since when I was freshman. Now, I know that JUA is all about trying to answer a question in a group by solving various other problems in the middle of Boston.
The first day was not a success, but it is hard to say that it was a failure. Our appointment with Media Lab of MIT was canceled, but we were able to grab few of the actual students of MIT and ask about what media they use to view information on the news. That was very helpful because we were able to find out what people actually use to find news information. We went to a nice Thai restaurant and ate dinner. (That was the first time I ate Thai food.) Then we watched 'I Am Legend', a highly anticipated movie starred by Will Smith.
The actual schedule started in the second day. We visited WBUR, a part of NPR in the morning. Two people from the marketing came and toured us through the whole office including the actual radio studio, which was built very scientifically. At afternoon, we visited NECN, and had a chance to watch the recording of 'Patriot Football Weekly' which anchored by Chris Collins, who is a graduate of New Hampton School. It was an unique experience.
So, do I think the truth is manufactured? Also, do I think the truth can change? I think I do, because some people controlling the media companies has the ability to alter truth. However,
I know now that there are people who work hard to find the real truth. And because of them, I think I can trust the media for now.
IN CONCLUSION OF JUA....
Jua 2007 has been a very interesting experience for me. Usually Newhampton school trips are in the woods, or in New Hampshire away from civilization. But this was different. This is a city adventure that students take place in. Its the oppoiste location of our school. I think it is a good program that the school does and it is very insteresting, informitive, and also fun.
Learning about new things is always a good thing. Thats what I learned about JUA. I entered a subject that I have never had much interest in before. But now I think it is interesting and fun because JUA made me ask questions, and I found answers to those questions and got something out of it.
Above all I think JUA is a very exciting trip, its a good time, and is a very good experience.
Learning about new things is always a good thing. Thats what I learned about JUA. I entered a subject that I have never had much interest in before. But now I think it is interesting and fun because JUA made me ask questions, and I found answers to those questions and got something out of it.
Above all I think JUA is a very exciting trip, its a good time, and is a very good experience.
Junior Urban Adventure - Closure from Lindsay
When i first heard about the Junior Urban Adventure trip, i was very nervous and skeptical on how the whole trip would play out. Any and all things that could possibly go wrong or turn the trip into a downer were racing through my mind. Once we got on the bus and headed into Boston, i began to get very excited and I truly couldn't wait to start interviewing people and answering not only my personal driving question, but as well as the group question of, "Is the truth manufactured?". I knew that this trip, whether I knew it straight from the get-go or not, would definitely be a memorable and once-in-a-lifetime experience that I would greatly appreciate.
Our first play of business was the MIT student lounge and cafeteria where my group and I had a blast interviewing both students and staff and got several varied and similar responses on their preferred source of media such as TheNewYorkTimes.com, the places they wouldn't trust which consisted unanimously of Fox News, and their own beliefs on the topic of manufactured truth which was also a complete yes across the board. All in all, MIT (especially the campus itself) and the people that spent their time there were very impressive and inspiring.
Our second appointment in the Boston adventure was NPR radio which personally was my favorite experience throughout this entire trip. My dream for college as well as for a future career is to get involved in Journalism, Communications, and Radio business, so to be able to spend a good chunk of time at a very prestigious, well-known, and trusted station was more then I could have asked for. the studios were amazing, the personal were fabulous, the tour guides themselves (one of which just happened to be a girl from my hometown in little old Washington 2500 miles away from Boston,.. Hi Rachel!) were more then kind and informal, and the general experience is something I know I was very lucky to receive. NPR Radio is easily the one place in this trip that was the most inspiring as well as it completely added to my drive to make it big in the Journalism/Communications world. To NPR, thank you!
Last but certainly not least was our voyage to NECN (New England Cable News) which was just like NPR, very impressive. We took a complete tour of the station, the sets, the behind the scenes areas such as the meteorologist's office, the engineering room, as well as so much more. We actually got to sit in on the set while Chris Collins (who is actually an Alum from our school) and the other men he worked with reported on the sports. We were able to talk with him one-on-one as well as first hand sit on a table behind the cameras and watch him the men bicker about the Patriot's and their defense from this past Sunday's game (or lack thereof according to one man) which was hilarious and also an experience I will probably never be able to get again. I feel very lucky to sit on on such a cool event.
To sum up this entire trip, the only word that comes to mind is grateful. I was able to interview amazing people, watch people work in action like Chris Collins at NECN, the workroom at NPR and to see the famous Bob Oaks do a live broadcast. My experience in Boston for the last two days, to me, is definitely brag-worthy and I'm more then satisfied for how this trip turned out. It was better then I ever expected! Thank you, New Hampton, for giving us this opportunity. =]
Our first play of business was the MIT student lounge and cafeteria where my group and I had a blast interviewing both students and staff and got several varied and similar responses on their preferred source of media such as TheNewYorkTimes.com, the places they wouldn't trust which consisted unanimously of Fox News, and their own beliefs on the topic of manufactured truth which was also a complete yes across the board. All in all, MIT (especially the campus itself) and the people that spent their time there were very impressive and inspiring.
Our second appointment in the Boston adventure was NPR radio which personally was my favorite experience throughout this entire trip. My dream for college as well as for a future career is to get involved in Journalism, Communications, and Radio business, so to be able to spend a good chunk of time at a very prestigious, well-known, and trusted station was more then I could have asked for. the studios were amazing, the personal were fabulous, the tour guides themselves (one of which just happened to be a girl from my hometown in little old Washington 2500 miles away from Boston,.. Hi Rachel!) were more then kind and informal, and the general experience is something I know I was very lucky to receive. NPR Radio is easily the one place in this trip that was the most inspiring as well as it completely added to my drive to make it big in the Journalism/Communications world. To NPR, thank you!
Last but certainly not least was our voyage to NECN (New England Cable News) which was just like NPR, very impressive. We took a complete tour of the station, the sets, the behind the scenes areas such as the meteorologist's office, the engineering room, as well as so much more. We actually got to sit in on the set while Chris Collins (who is actually an Alum from our school) and the other men he worked with reported on the sports. We were able to talk with him one-on-one as well as first hand sit on a table behind the cameras and watch him the men bicker about the Patriot's and their defense from this past Sunday's game (or lack thereof according to one man) which was hilarious and also an experience I will probably never be able to get again. I feel very lucky to sit on on such a cool event.
To sum up this entire trip, the only word that comes to mind is grateful. I was able to interview amazing people, watch people work in action like Chris Collins at NECN, the workroom at NPR and to see the famous Bob Oaks do a live broadcast. My experience in Boston for the last two days, to me, is definitely brag-worthy and I'm more then satisfied for how this trip turned out. It was better then I ever expected! Thank you, New Hampton, for giving us this opportunity. =]
Closing Statments
Tonight ends JUA, and over the course of it I had some fun, learned a lot and found interesting subjects around our site areas. Although our plans didn't exactly go as...planned, we had some fun interviewing people at MIT, despite the paranoid person who refused to be interviewed and thought the government controlled the media.
In regards to our Essential Question feel that the media that the majority of America believes and listens to is manipulating the truth, which is not to say they are lying, but the way they state the truth is deliberate in order to sway public opinion. Publicly funded studios and media sources, while they may contain bias, as all things do, keep it to a minimum and attempt to emphasize facts. Therefore I can safely say the truth IS manufactured, however those who do the manufacturing are not the entire media, but those with a private agenda be it political or otherwise.
In regards to my driving question, yes how things are said can effect people's outlook on issues being discussed. In fact, once the use of descriptions are used, one is putting their own personal bias into the statement. For example, I could say "it was 36 degrees today" (hypothetically) it would be fact, but if I say "It was very cold today" it is a bias statement and is therefore no longer fact. Whether or not this is intentional in media varies from station to station and even anchor to anchor or DJ to DJ, however the fact that manipulation is possible through use of words is undeniable.
These are my conclusions upon leaving JUA and Boston.
In regards to our Essential Question feel that the media that the majority of America believes and listens to is manipulating the truth, which is not to say they are lying, but the way they state the truth is deliberate in order to sway public opinion. Publicly funded studios and media sources, while they may contain bias, as all things do, keep it to a minimum and attempt to emphasize facts. Therefore I can safely say the truth IS manufactured, however those who do the manufacturing are not the entire media, but those with a private agenda be it political or otherwise.
In regards to my driving question, yes how things are said can effect people's outlook on issues being discussed. In fact, once the use of descriptions are used, one is putting their own personal bias into the statement. For example, I could say "it was 36 degrees today" (hypothetically) it would be fact, but if I say "It was very cold today" it is a bias statement and is therefore no longer fact. Whether or not this is intentional in media varies from station to station and even anchor to anchor or DJ to DJ, however the fact that manipulation is possible through use of words is undeniable.
These are my conclusions upon leaving JUA and Boston.
NECN
Today we visited the studios of NECN, the New England Cable News. They pride themselves on their serious, more in depth look at their stories, and the fact that they are not just a news station, producing many documentaries from solemn subjects such as New England born soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan that have fallen to lighter tone stories on a New England stand up comedian who juggles several jobs, her family and her dream.
While there we met Chris Collins, a New Hampton alumni and the anchor for the sports casting of NECN. We also saw the process of the recording of a Tuesday segment, PFW TV, or Patriot Football Weekly Television. In this segment there were evidences of "truth manipulation", in which the future Patriot vs Dolphins game was referred to as "squish the fish time", and the description of the Dolphins given being the "lowly Miami Dolphins", while it is true they have a far worse record than the Patriots the use of words in the description gives them a sort of pathetic feel while they are, despite their record, still professional football players.
We also met another anchor and a few behind the scenes coordinators, such as producers and story "finders", this shows how many levels the news goes through before we end up getting it. (ie. it may end up like the game many of you played as kids 'Telephone").
And although it may not relate very much to the topic at hand, we met a very kind meteorologist who showed us his job...Which goes through one person, with no teleprompter. What you see is what you get with the weather, although I now have newfound respect for meteorologists for the amount of work they have to do to get you an accurate forecast.
PS: Mr. Menke, Chris Collins says hello.
While there we met Chris Collins, a New Hampton alumni and the anchor for the sports casting of NECN. We also saw the process of the recording of a Tuesday segment, PFW TV, or Patriot Football Weekly Television. In this segment there were evidences of "truth manipulation", in which the future Patriot vs Dolphins game was referred to as "squish the fish time", and the description of the Dolphins given being the "lowly Miami Dolphins", while it is true they have a far worse record than the Patriots the use of words in the description gives them a sort of pathetic feel while they are, despite their record, still professional football players.
We also met another anchor and a few behind the scenes coordinators, such as producers and story "finders", this shows how many levels the news goes through before we end up getting it. (ie. it may end up like the game many of you played as kids 'Telephone").
And although it may not relate very much to the topic at hand, we met a very kind meteorologist who showed us his job...Which goes through one person, with no teleprompter. What you see is what you get with the weather, although I now have newfound respect for meteorologists for the amount of work they have to do to get you an accurate forecast.
PS: Mr. Menke, Chris Collins says hello.
Visiting NECN
We visited NECN at this afternoon. NECN is short for New England Cable News, and it is one of the biggest news network in New England.
NECN not only broadcasts news, but also has 'Patriot Football Weekly' which anchors discuss about Patriots games and predict their next game, and has their own documentary team which achieved a lot of things, including making a documentary about families in New England who lost their family members during the Iraqi War.
We visited its main studio, weatherman's room, and the reporters' office. Also, we were able to watch the actual recording of 'Patriot Football Weekly' which is hosted by Chris Collins, the graduate of New Hampton School, and will air tonight at 11:30 pm.
Visit to the NECN was one of the best experiences of the JUA this year. I actually could see how a TV program is recorded, which I personally think it's pretty fantastic.
NECN not only broadcasts news, but also has 'Patriot Football Weekly' which anchors discuss about Patriots games and predict their next game, and has their own documentary team which achieved a lot of things, including making a documentary about families in New England who lost their family members during the Iraqi War.
We visited its main studio, weatherman's room, and the reporters' office. Also, we were able to watch the actual recording of 'Patriot Football Weekly' which is hosted by Chris Collins, the graduate of New Hampton School, and will air tonight at 11:30 pm.
Visit to the NECN was one of the best experiences of the JUA this year. I actually could see how a TV program is recorded, which I personally think it's pretty fantastic.
Review of NECN by Lance and Jimmy
Today we went to the NECN station and saw a live news recording on the Patriots. We also saw how the news station works. We saw the reporters and producers office area, and we saw the Meterologist. The meterologist showed us how he managed his part of the news show.
Seeing the guys argue about football was fun. They voiced their opnions well, and I think our group appricated going to the station and see how every thing works. While we were there we also met Chris Collins, the sports reporter who also happens to be a New Hampton School graduate. He was very nice to us and treated us with lots of respect. It was a great interview.
P.S. Chris Collins says "Hello" to Mr. Menke.
Seeing the guys argue about football was fun. They voiced their opnions well, and I think our group appricated going to the station and see how every thing works. While we were there we also met Chris Collins, the sports reporter who also happens to be a New Hampton School graduate. He was very nice to us and treated us with lots of respect. It was a great interview.
P.S. Chris Collins says "Hello" to Mr. Menke.
Review of 'I Am Legend' - Jake
Our JUA group watched the movie 'I Am Legend' last night. The movie is based on the novel of same name by Richard Matheson. The movie is differed from the novel by trying to bring the concept of the novel in the near-future sense by setting the time of the movie in 2012 compared to the novel taking place in 1976. (The novel was written in 1954.)
In 2009, a virus called KV is developed by humans as a way of cure to cancer. However, this KV virus had side effect that nobody knew about. This virus eventually kills 90% of the whole population in earth, leaves less than 1% of people immune, and the rest transforms into bloodthirsty nocturnal vampires known as 'Dark Seekers.' Robert Neville, who was one of the immune people, loses his family, and lives in his house with his dog, Sam, for three years without seeing anybody who is not infected. He once was a virologist working for army, and he tries to develop a cure for the virus using his own immune blood, and also looks for survivors.
Here's my random opinions of some scenes. I personally liked the opening scene. It starts with the interview with the developer of the KV virus, then it shifts suddenly into the deserted New York City three years after the KV virus was developed. The movie shifts between Robert Neville's story in 2012 and then his story in 2009 when his family was all killed in some kind of dreams, which was an interesting composition. The overall scene of deserted New York City is well done, with the outstanding mix of real scenes and CG scenes. Will Smith's act as the last man on earth was outstanding. The problem of the movie was that the story of the movie became so wide that it became really hard to wrap it up. That's why the ending remains pretty doubtful to most audiences. It could have been better if the ending could have been better, or try to spend little bit of more time on ending so that it would be clear to the audiences. (Well, this can be all the problems of movies based on novels, huh?)
The movie 'I Am Legend' is recommended for the people what may happen if the most people of the Earth is gone. Also, when you watch, don't anticipate the ending. Just enjoy the scene you're watching now.
In 2009, a virus called KV is developed by humans as a way of cure to cancer. However, this KV virus had side effect that nobody knew about. This virus eventually kills 90% of the whole population in earth, leaves less than 1% of people immune, and the rest transforms into bloodthirsty nocturnal vampires known as 'Dark Seekers.' Robert Neville, who was one of the immune people, loses his family, and lives in his house with his dog, Sam, for three years without seeing anybody who is not infected. He once was a virologist working for army, and he tries to develop a cure for the virus using his own immune blood, and also looks for survivors.
Here's my random opinions of some scenes. I personally liked the opening scene. It starts with the interview with the developer of the KV virus, then it shifts suddenly into the deserted New York City three years after the KV virus was developed. The movie shifts between Robert Neville's story in 2012 and then his story in 2009 when his family was all killed in some kind of dreams, which was an interesting composition. The overall scene of deserted New York City is well done, with the outstanding mix of real scenes and CG scenes. Will Smith's act as the last man on earth was outstanding. The problem of the movie was that the story of the movie became so wide that it became really hard to wrap it up. That's why the ending remains pretty doubtful to most audiences. It could have been better if the ending could have been better, or try to spend little bit of more time on ending so that it would be clear to the audiences. (Well, this can be all the problems of movies based on novels, huh?)
The movie 'I Am Legend' is recommended for the people what may happen if the most people of the Earth is gone. Also, when you watch, don't anticipate the ending. Just enjoy the scene you're watching now.
WBUR/NPR
At 10:00 we visited the studios at WBUR. During the tour we were brought to the on-air studios, the cubicles and the mail room. We were shown some of the behind the scenes publishing areas that drive WBUR, the main conference room, and even a live air broadcast, albeit behind a double pane of glass for soundproofing reasons.
At the end of the tour we were brought to the mess hall/lunch room where we asked them questions on how they decided what was news worthy, how they try to remove bias from stories and segments and some of the differences between public and commercial radio stations. Of course we asked our overall driving question "Is the Truth Manufactured?" to which the tour guides answered in a number of ways/perspectives. One from a philosophical point of view that nothing can ever be completely without bias, and even one that separated public and commercial stations due to agendas in commercial that are not present in public radio. Public radio relies heavily on fund raising, so they need highly produced, unbiased stories to keep the listeners with them. To keep the studio alive they need to produce highly produced and meticulously "scanned" pieces for balanced statements.
At the end of the tour we were brought to the mess hall/lunch room where we asked them questions on how they decided what was news worthy, how they try to remove bias from stories and segments and some of the differences between public and commercial radio stations. Of course we asked our overall driving question "Is the Truth Manufactured?" to which the tour guides answered in a number of ways/perspectives. One from a philosophical point of view that nothing can ever be completely without bias, and even one that separated public and commercial stations due to agendas in commercial that are not present in public radio. Public radio relies heavily on fund raising, so they need highly produced, unbiased stories to keep the listeners with them. To keep the studio alive they need to produce highly produced and meticulously "scanned" pieces for balanced statements.
Wbur radio station
Today we went to take a tour of the Wbur radio station. The tour guide is very imformative and has lots to say on telling us about the shows that the radio station puts on. There were many interesting things that we saw, like the air studios, the technology they use, and their work stations. I thought that they were very fair people. I believe the truth is told when it comes to the Wbur radio station.
(Manipulated) New York Times/Starbucks
Today, we went into Starbucks to grab coffee, get out of the cold and read the paper. We found our way to reading the New York Times. While reading, we found that the Times had grossly prioritized their stories. On the front page, accompanied by a large photograph was an article on Mitt Romney's urge to become President since his childhood, due to his father's influence, however left to page 10 was a story on Russia providing nuclear power to Iran, something which could be threatening to National Security at some point. And on page 29 a story on New Orleans, a city where many relatives of the readers of the times had lived. This is an important story to the readers and yet, through their unfortunately skewed view of what is "good news" they give the spotlight to a relatively unimportant and foolishly overstated article.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Interviews @ MIT
Christian and I posed a series of questions that were videotaped to students and staff in the student center/lounge/cafeteria. The five questions were:
1.) Where do you get your information as in specific sources (ie: washingtonpost.com, Fox News, NPR, etc.)
2.) Do you prefer television, radio, print, or internet news sources?
3.) Specifically, what do you think is the least trust-worthy of sources?
4.) Do you believe the truth is manufactured or manipulated?
5.) Do you ever question the information you receive from any and all sources?
The responses varied but many of those we interviewed responded with similar answers such as Fox News being the least reliable and that the sources from the Internet were favored because of convenience and prestigious reliability (ie: newyorktimes.com). Many felt that the truth we receive is manipulated in some way for some reason and even one responded with the opinion that the government manipulated our news (this man also refused to be videotaped). Another common opinion was the doubting of all information received and that it is human nature to question all that we hear in the news today.
Our interviews will be uploaded as soon as we return to the hostel later tonight. Currently, we're still at MIT and will be conducting further interviews and a potential tour of the media lab facility. We'll be back!
--Christian and Lindsay
1.) Where do you get your information as in specific sources (ie: washingtonpost.com, Fox News, NPR, etc.)
2.) Do you prefer television, radio, print, or internet news sources?
3.) Specifically, what do you think is the least trust-worthy of sources?
4.) Do you believe the truth is manufactured or manipulated?
5.) Do you ever question the information you receive from any and all sources?
The responses varied but many of those we interviewed responded with similar answers such as Fox News being the least reliable and that the sources from the Internet were favored because of convenience and prestigious reliability (ie: newyorktimes.com). Many felt that the truth we receive is manipulated in some way for some reason and even one responded with the opinion that the government manipulated our news (this man also refused to be videotaped). Another common opinion was the doubting of all information received and that it is human nature to question all that we hear in the news today.
Our interviews will be uploaded as soon as we return to the hostel later tonight. Currently, we're still at MIT and will be conducting further interviews and a potential tour of the media lab facility. We'll be back!
--Christian and Lindsay
Summary of Interviews
We've done a lot of interviews, and here is some of our results:
Most people use internet for their news sources. The reason why they use is primarily because it's convenient, and people in MIT usually are on computer constantly, so it will be easier for them to access to news by internet.
Some people also watch TV for their news. TV channels they like to watch was CNN. There was one person who said that she watches FOX news. For newspapers, they like to read New York Times, but people usually don't read the paper: they like to read it online. Most people answered that they did not have time to sit at somewhere and read newspaper.
By the way, there were some people who were afraid to be on camera, because they thought this was going to end up on the news.
Most people use internet for their news sources. The reason why they use is primarily because it's convenient, and people in MIT usually are on computer constantly, so it will be easier for them to access to news by internet.
Some people also watch TV for their news. TV channels they like to watch was CNN. There was one person who said that she watches FOX news. For newspapers, they like to read New York Times, but people usually don't read the paper: they like to read it online. Most people answered that they did not have time to sit at somewhere and read newspaper.
By the way, there were some people who were afraid to be on camera, because they thought this was going to end up on the news.
Up to Monday at 13:45
We're currently at Stratton Student Center in MIT.
Until now, we visited a bookstore in MIT and read newspaper and magazine headline, and what they are talking about in the headline.
Then, we headed to Stratton Student Center and asked people the following questions:
1) Where do you get the news information from for general?
2) Why? Also, do you trust your news source?
The results and videos will be uploaded soon.
Until now, we visited a bookstore in MIT and read newspaper and magazine headline, and what they are talking about in the headline.
Then, we headed to Stratton Student Center and asked people the following questions:
1) Where do you get the news information from for general?
2) Why? Also, do you trust your news source?
The results and videos will be uploaded soon.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
video
I choose this video because it reminds people in the US that people are in Iraq for a reason. If we do not support the people, they will die out there. They say that people say that they support the soldiers, but not the war effort. If the soldiers are going to succeed, they need the real support of the American people. Their job is tough, and they cant do it alone.
An interview of Stephen Colbert on the O'Reilly factor. Colbert is known for a comedic portrayal of the manipulation of information on news networks. He often states, on the show, his support of the war in Iraq and President Bush, but his reasons show that he is obviously saying one thing and believing another. Through complements towards the president he is able to criticize him. This relates to my topic of how the alteration of how something is said can alter one's perspective on an issue.
Video - Jake
This video is about the Republicans' trick to steal votes for the White House. This points out my driving question. Is this the real truth? Or is this the truth made by the this campaign group? Or the CBS? Can the truth be changed?
Video clip - Lindsay
I chose this video clip because it covers two important areas that I'm trying to cover with my driving questions, which revolve around the media and pop-culture. In this clip we see a group of teenage boys "Ghost-riding the whip" which has become a pastime for many kids in our generation. This clip from King 5 News makes the community aware of the new pop-culture trend and informs them by the consequences that evolve from such an act (IE: jail-time, automobiles being impounded, and thousands of dollars worth of federal fines) This clip also discuss' new slang among teens and young adults that have been spawned by other aspects of media, such as music music videos being produced by rap and hip-hop artists.
This clip proves that the media can be both informative and persuasive in many ways, both good and bad. the media revolving around the music industry can introduce many interesting ideas to teenagers, while the news can inform said teenagers parents and community members their actions and the consequences that follow.
Monday Night Options
Here's some movie listings at Loews Boston Common. What do you guys want to see?
And... Thai Restaurant?
--McCarron
And... Thai Restaurant?
--McCarron
WBUR/NPR
WBUR/NPR is a Boston centered radio station that covers many local stories, and several high profile stories such as the 2008 election. Other stories include coverage of sports games and "drama" within the sports world, such as their story on "Sox & Steroids"
Some students within our group are interested in learning about the way they get their information, their coverage of the election, and the difference in permissible and available stories for radio as opposed to television.
Some students within our group are interested in learning about the way they get their information, their coverage of the election, and the difference in permissible and available stories for radio as opposed to television.
MIT Media Lab: Inventing a Better Future
Media Lab of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT, is devoted to the convergence between multimedia and technology. In 1990s, the Media Lab used to work on the practical inventions in the fields of wireless networks, field sensing, browsers and World Wide Web. Recently, the Media Lab is working on the product design such as human adaptability. They are largely researching human computer interaction including the User Interface, or UI.
Lindsay's Driving Question
How does the media contribute to pop-culture trends? Does the media we see and hear daily influence our opinions on what is "cool" or "important"? Can the media express more then just "the news"?
Our Itinerary
Once we hit Boston (fingers crossed for smooth driving tomorrow!), here's what we'll be doing:
Monday at 3PM: Talking with the graduate students at MIT's Media Lab Center for Future Civic Media.
Tuesday at 10AM: Visiting and touring WBUR, an NPR Affiliate
Tuesday at 2PM: Visiting and touring NECN, New England's cable news network
Students will be posting more information about each of these organizations.
Monday at 3PM: Talking with the graduate students at MIT's Media Lab Center for Future Civic Media.
Tuesday at 10AM: Visiting and touring WBUR, an NPR Affiliate
Tuesday at 2PM: Visiting and touring NECN, New England's cable news network
Students will be posting more information about each of these organizations.
Jake L. - Driving Question
Hi, I'm Jake, and here's my driving question.
'Can the truth change?'
I think it's closely related to the topic.
When I read a controversial book about an event from the past, I am very surprised.
For example, there is John F. Kennedy's assassination.
When Lee Harvey Oswald shot JFK, nobody knew why because Oswald also got murdered by somebody else.
Since there is always only one truth, so there must be only one reason (OK, there may be several reasons) why Oswald killed JFK, but many historians (or others) write books about why Oswald killed JFK in very various perspectives, so various that makes no sense if they're altogether the reasons.
That's where this question comes in. Many press (or media) companies get criticized for their erroneous reports on controversial issues. Do they make mistakes? Or do they do that on purpose? This is my question.
'Can the truth change?'
I think it's closely related to the topic.
When I read a controversial book about an event from the past, I am very surprised.
For example, there is John F. Kennedy's assassination.
When Lee Harvey Oswald shot JFK, nobody knew why because Oswald also got murdered by somebody else.
Since there is always only one truth, so there must be only one reason (OK, there may be several reasons) why Oswald killed JFK, but many historians (or others) write books about why Oswald killed JFK in very various perspectives, so various that makes no sense if they're altogether the reasons.
That's where this question comes in. Many press (or media) companies get criticized for their erroneous reports on controversial issues. Do they make mistakes? Or do they do that on purpose? This is my question.
Christian's Driving Question
Does the way in which one tells the truth affect how the listener thinks about what they have said?
I.E. If one rearranges the words, or uses different ones that mean/ describe the same thing.
I.E. If one rearranges the words, or uses different ones that mean/ describe the same thing.
Hello from the Senior Leader
Hello, everyone. Senior leader Alex S. (a.k.a. _alexander_zero, yes it's a dumb handle, I didn't realize it would be the display name when I signed up for it) here. You probably won't be hearing from me very much, my JUA experience is over and done with, you can go here for that, but I just wanted to be the one to tell you that the Media JUA group is on and ready to go. I'm here as the grizzled veteran helping out the young'uns.
Over the next few minutes, everyone else is going to be posting their "driving questions": questions that will help them determine the "essential" truth: is the truth manufactured? Can't wait to see what they come up with.
Ciao.
Over the next few minutes, everyone else is going to be posting their "driving questions": questions that will help them determine the "essential" truth: is the truth manufactured? Can't wait to see what they come up with.
Ciao.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Welcome to Media 2007
This will be the media group's home base as we explore the question, "Is the Truth Manufactured?" We'll be visiting radio, television, print media, and new media organizations in order to better understand what the media tells us, how it tells us, and how all the rules are being rewritten by new technology. Feel free to scroll down and see what students came up with last year.
--McCarron
--McCarron
Monday, January 15, 2007
Jimmy's final essay
Hitting the new years, people are reminded how continuously they are hit with new problems. Problems that can be solved with local people, doing local things. When people collaborate, the possibilities are endless and can end to the solution needed for progress. How does media affect the solution of global problems, and what group is best to target for these solutions?
When applying for a Media related job, people who chose that job because of their passion are always receiving that paycheck at the end of that week. When I was brought to Boston so I could meet some of these people and ask them how they involve themselves with these problems and solutions.
The common answer that came from their mouths seemed to be with a positive attitude and supplying the hard facts, people will come to a sense knowing what is good and what isn’t. The nature of people is to follow with good, and so when in media they see that ad about cleaning up our environment, they can’t just go pollute.
If a true artist believes in his work, a viewer will be able to see it and is more likely to agree and interact with it. By supplying hard facts through Media, global solutions can be known worldwide and are much easier to take care of. A major problem right now is our Pollution throughout the world. In order to spread the knowledge through state-to-state, country to country, and continent to continent, Media is the number one source of being able to do that.
Without that source, even with the given information about our problem right now about the war on terrorism, what if they cannot get the news about where to signup for the army, or help promote the war. Many people, who view television, can often see ads for the army and the benefits for it. What if that didn’t exist, would you join the army? Does it increase your chance about joining? Either way, the knowledge is priceless, and that is spread through media.
A personal experience of my own is within my family. My mother, a great influence of mine, saw on television an ad asking people to help support local towns. Since that time, I’ve been influenced by her for whenever I go out to get that hair cut, whenever I go out to find my burger, I’ll do it in my town. Influenced by my mom, who was influenced by the media. How does that affect the globe? Incredibly. Small towns advancing at this time is an experiment that is going on everywhere. To help your small town locally is by using your own towns businesses.
When applying for a Media related job, people who chose that job because of their passion are always receiving that paycheck at the end of that week. When I was brought to Boston so I could meet some of these people and ask them how they involve themselves with these problems and solutions.
The common answer that came from their mouths seemed to be with a positive attitude and supplying the hard facts, people will come to a sense knowing what is good and what isn’t. The nature of people is to follow with good, and so when in media they see that ad about cleaning up our environment, they can’t just go pollute.
If a true artist believes in his work, a viewer will be able to see it and is more likely to agree and interact with it. By supplying hard facts through Media, global solutions can be known worldwide and are much easier to take care of. A major problem right now is our Pollution throughout the world. In order to spread the knowledge through state-to-state, country to country, and continent to continent, Media is the number one source of being able to do that.
Without that source, even with the given information about our problem right now about the war on terrorism, what if they cannot get the news about where to signup for the army, or help promote the war. Many people, who view television, can often see ads for the army and the benefits for it. What if that didn’t exist, would you join the army? Does it increase your chance about joining? Either way, the knowledge is priceless, and that is spread through media.
A personal experience of my own is within my family. My mother, a great influence of mine, saw on television an ad asking people to help support local towns. Since that time, I’ve been influenced by her for whenever I go out to get that hair cut, whenever I go out to find my burger, I’ll do it in my town. Influenced by my mom, who was influenced by the media. How does that affect the globe? Incredibly. Small towns advancing at this time is an experiment that is going on everywhere. To help your small town locally is by using your own towns businesses.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Gunnar's final essay
For my Junior Urban Adventure question, I had to consider just how it should pertain to the group that I was in, and the people that I would be meeting. I didn’t just see this as an opportunity to ask people something; I wanted to know how the people we were interviewing applied their expertise to the world of media. Because of this, my essential question was based off of that very subject. I thought about it, refined it, and finally came up with what I considered to be a very useful question to ask: Do you feel that you position in the world of media gives you any influence over people’s opinions? If so, is this accidental or on purpose; helpful or a hindrance?
Naturally, I felt that I would receive highly different answers based on the different locations that we would be visiting: NPR radio, ESPN, Emerson college, and the New England Cable News network (NECN). All of these groups had different goals, ranging from making sure that the listeners were informed, or that they were simply amused or exited.
The first company that we interviewed was NPR, which mainly focused on dry, opinionated news stories, music, classical literature, and political talk shows. As expected, when my question was asked, I received the answer that they made it their business to remain as opinion-free as possible, and that their purpose was to be one of the few radio stations that did so. They also stated that in the event that if someone was influenced by them, it was entirely the listener’s own doing.
The second station that we visited was ESPN radio. This station seemed to be entirely different from that of NPR. They broadcasted only exited and highly vocal news stories on sporting events, comments from viewers, and discussions between several different radio jockeys. Naturally when I asked them if it was their intention to influence their listeners, the replied that that was exactly what they tried to do. If there was a game the Red Sox and the Yankees, they wanted to create excitement for the Red Sox and the exact opposite for the hated rivals. That, as it were, was the bread and butter of sports radio.
Our third visit was that of Emerson College, one of the greatest schools in the world for those studying for anything ranging from radio to news anchor to actor to cameraman, and anything in between. I must admit, I was alittle unsure of what I would receive for my answer. What I received for my answer was far different from that of our previous two destinations. They said that weather or not they had an influence over their viewers was entire upon the program that they were airing. Unlike NPR or ESPN, which only aired specific programs on specific subjects, Emerson radio had a multitude of different radio shows and many different broadcasters. The opinion-altering goal varied show to show.
Our final destination for JUA was none other than NECN. When I had the chance to ask RD Saul what he felt about it, he answered that it was his job to report the news to the world, but not to forget that he was a human, not some fact-spewing machine. He had to explain the news in a way that people could relate to, and reflect upon it afterwards. So if they were influenced by his work, he found that to be a great reward, but he felt that if one tried to influence people one way or another, than that would be an abuse of power.
Naturally, I felt that I would receive highly different answers based on the different locations that we would be visiting: NPR radio, ESPN, Emerson college, and the New England Cable News network (NECN). All of these groups had different goals, ranging from making sure that the listeners were informed, or that they were simply amused or exited.
The first company that we interviewed was NPR, which mainly focused on dry, opinionated news stories, music, classical literature, and political talk shows. As expected, when my question was asked, I received the answer that they made it their business to remain as opinion-free as possible, and that their purpose was to be one of the few radio stations that did so. They also stated that in the event that if someone was influenced by them, it was entirely the listener’s own doing.
The second station that we visited was ESPN radio. This station seemed to be entirely different from that of NPR. They broadcasted only exited and highly vocal news stories on sporting events, comments from viewers, and discussions between several different radio jockeys. Naturally when I asked them if it was their intention to influence their listeners, the replied that that was exactly what they tried to do. If there was a game the Red Sox and the Yankees, they wanted to create excitement for the Red Sox and the exact opposite for the hated rivals. That, as it were, was the bread and butter of sports radio.
Our third visit was that of Emerson College, one of the greatest schools in the world for those studying for anything ranging from radio to news anchor to actor to cameraman, and anything in between. I must admit, I was alittle unsure of what I would receive for my answer. What I received for my answer was far different from that of our previous two destinations. They said that weather or not they had an influence over their viewers was entire upon the program that they were airing. Unlike NPR or ESPN, which only aired specific programs on specific subjects, Emerson radio had a multitude of different radio shows and many different broadcasters. The opinion-altering goal varied show to show.
Our final destination for JUA was none other than NECN. When I had the chance to ask RD Saul what he felt about it, he answered that it was his job to report the news to the world, but not to forget that he was a human, not some fact-spewing machine. He had to explain the news in a way that people could relate to, and reflect upon it afterwards. So if they were influenced by his work, he found that to be a great reward, but he felt that if one tried to influence people one way or another, than that would be an abuse of power.
Arianna's final essay
I came into the JUA experience with the attitude that I wouldn’t be able to successfully find the answer to my essential question. I am very interested with the creative aspect of advertising, and how advertisers manage to sway thousands of people to buy their products. The ability to be able to make people want your product has always fascinated me, and that is how I arrived at my essential question which is “What are the specific aspects of advertising that make their products more appealing to me?”
On our trip to Boston we visited four places full of information that helped me to arrive at my answer. First we visited the non-profit radio station NPR. Before visiting the station, I had no idea how they managed to make money and support the station. I soon learned that they receive their money solely through donations and fundraisers, which they hold quite often. In fact 44% of the station revenue is raised by donations. They also utilize their lack of commercial air- time to ask for donations for the station. There are also 65,000 individual donors, who were most likely found through the emails that are sent out by NPR in order to attract new donors. The web designers also have to think about a lot of things while making a web site more attractive to the viewers. They have to take in to consideration the colors, and the icons used because if they don’t appeal to the viewers, they most likely will be turned off of the web site and not make a donation. The station also felt that it was best the ask the opinion’s of the public. That way, if they didn’t like what was on the web site, the creators could change it to fit the public’s liking.
The next place we visited was the ESPN radio station. In this tour of the station, they spent a long time explaining how important it was to have outside advertising. They went into great depth describing how they did most of their advertising. They couldn’t stress enough how important it was to give away little trinkets that displayed ESPN’s name all over them. First they target the fans at sports games outside the stadium. They set up tents, with beer and games where the people can win prizes or things that would attract people. They said it was very important to create commotion because when people see excitement, they naturally want to join in on the fun. The advertisers have to be very creative, and aware of how to make a “buzz” I left ESPN that day with a greater understanding and a much better insight to what makes good advertising when the visual aspect is missing.
I was disappointed after going to see Emerson College and NECN in regards to answering my essential question. When we went to visit Emerson, I found that the college itself was great, but it was missing the answer to my question, which did not help any. NECN was also great and probably the best place we went to go tour. They didn’t explain to us anything about the process of advertising, so I wasn’t able to use their resources in the answer to my question.
My essential question once again is “What are the specific aspects of advertising that make their products more appealing to me?” I found overall that appearance is very important. Color choice, and personal connection are possibly two of the most important aspects. If I am searching for a shampoo bottle the first thing I notice is the color. That is why Herbal Essence has been able to be so successful with their new line of shampoo and conditioner. They changed their color scheme to bright colors and a cool and intriguing container. Personal connection is also very important. If I can connect to something, it makes the product all the more appealing to me. I think that JUA was a great experience. It helped me to come to a greater understanding about the advertising world and how it influences me and everyone else.
On our trip to Boston we visited four places full of information that helped me to arrive at my answer. First we visited the non-profit radio station NPR. Before visiting the station, I had no idea how they managed to make money and support the station. I soon learned that they receive their money solely through donations and fundraisers, which they hold quite often. In fact 44% of the station revenue is raised by donations. They also utilize their lack of commercial air- time to ask for donations for the station. There are also 65,000 individual donors, who were most likely found through the emails that are sent out by NPR in order to attract new donors. The web designers also have to think about a lot of things while making a web site more attractive to the viewers. They have to take in to consideration the colors, and the icons used because if they don’t appeal to the viewers, they most likely will be turned off of the web site and not make a donation. The station also felt that it was best the ask the opinion’s of the public. That way, if they didn’t like what was on the web site, the creators could change it to fit the public’s liking.
The next place we visited was the ESPN radio station. In this tour of the station, they spent a long time explaining how important it was to have outside advertising. They went into great depth describing how they did most of their advertising. They couldn’t stress enough how important it was to give away little trinkets that displayed ESPN’s name all over them. First they target the fans at sports games outside the stadium. They set up tents, with beer and games where the people can win prizes or things that would attract people. They said it was very important to create commotion because when people see excitement, they naturally want to join in on the fun. The advertisers have to be very creative, and aware of how to make a “buzz” I left ESPN that day with a greater understanding and a much better insight to what makes good advertising when the visual aspect is missing.
I was disappointed after going to see Emerson College and NECN in regards to answering my essential question. When we went to visit Emerson, I found that the college itself was great, but it was missing the answer to my question, which did not help any. NECN was also great and probably the best place we went to go tour. They didn’t explain to us anything about the process of advertising, so I wasn’t able to use their resources in the answer to my question.
My essential question once again is “What are the specific aspects of advertising that make their products more appealing to me?” I found overall that appearance is very important. Color choice, and personal connection are possibly two of the most important aspects. If I am searching for a shampoo bottle the first thing I notice is the color. That is why Herbal Essence has been able to be so successful with their new line of shampoo and conditioner. They changed their color scheme to bright colors and a cool and intriguing container. Personal connection is also very important. If I can connect to something, it makes the product all the more appealing to me. I think that JUA was a great experience. It helped me to come to a greater understanding about the advertising world and how it influences me and everyone else.
Andrea's final essay
What’s the difference of hearing something on the radio rather than seeing something visually on television? How does it affect the way people interpret information?
Hearing something on the radio rather than seeing something visually on television has a distinct difference. People on the radio have to persuade listeners and affect the way they interpret information. Tone, dictation, and enthusiasm are what I look for when I am listening on the radio. I can paint a picture in my mind on what the radio news anchor is saying, and have a good idea what the person is trying to broadcast. Or when I am watching news on the television I can distinctly see the anchor and see live events and pictures broadcasted worldwide. Both ways of media is very effective to millions around the world.
On JUA, my group visited NPR, ESPN, NECN, and Emerson to experience how media is presented. NPR is a famous radio station outside of Boston and I realized how the station presented their information. Many of the local news come from “Morning Edition” and afternoon news. The most important part of how information is let out is the fact that this specific radio station has no bias. Information is factual, and concise. People are allowed to make their own decisions. There is a very natural setting at the station and it allows people to be relaxed and broadcast information clearly. People interpret this information in a good way because whether it being traveling to work, or sitting in the car missing the news cast at home, NPR is available for all local people in the area.
NECN was a local news station broadcasted all over the world, focusing on local news and worldwide news. NECN varied from entertainment, to sports, and to news. This news station has a connection with the Boston Globe, which allows getting information from a very well known resource. Other stations are also on so producers and others make sure they are not missing anything that isn’t covered. News is broadcasted in a very official way. Viewers are allowed to not only get local news, but worldwide as well. NECN has been very effective on catching stories first in Boston, and being able to influence people to get their news effectively, and precisely direct. Television news is can be more effective than radio news because you can see expression, pictures, and see live stories at the place of a news story.
Emerson was another great visit. Emerson College is a famous school of the arts. So many available majors are offered in journalism and many classes for film. Emerson also has it’s own radio station, and students receive the opportunity to be on live radio news. This is a great way to effectively learn how to be a live news anchor or even a DJ. College students can learn how to write stories and publish them. Even internships are available at many news stations depending on how interested you are in the subject.
This would be a great experience to learn how a real anchor or journalist can find real information, and broadcast it to people locally and worldwide.
ESPN was another great radio station focusing on sports, and being able to cover live news on games and information on athletes. The persuasion in being a sports anchor is key, and being able to deliver the information, quickly, and efficiently at the same time. ESPN focuses on local news around the area, but still covers other information on teams all around the world.
Radio news is a great way to make pictures in your mind to visualize what the news anchor is broadcasting. Television can persuade viewers around the world what is going on by broadcasting weather, entertainment, health, politics, and sports. Viewers can actually see their news with their eyes, and seeing real live news stories in local areas. Radio news and television news affect the way people get information in two ways. Radio news is more effective for listening in, while sometimes-live news is not focused on as intently. Both are extremely affective because even though there are two different ways to broadcast information, they have a big impact on peoples news. Sometimes the defects of radio news are it can fade in and out depending on the radio towers. Television news can come in anywhere depending if people have cable or a television satellite. JUA was a great learning experience and I learned how much media affects me today.
Hearing something on the radio rather than seeing something visually on television has a distinct difference. People on the radio have to persuade listeners and affect the way they interpret information. Tone, dictation, and enthusiasm are what I look for when I am listening on the radio. I can paint a picture in my mind on what the radio news anchor is saying, and have a good idea what the person is trying to broadcast. Or when I am watching news on the television I can distinctly see the anchor and see live events and pictures broadcasted worldwide. Both ways of media is very effective to millions around the world.
On JUA, my group visited NPR, ESPN, NECN, and Emerson to experience how media is presented. NPR is a famous radio station outside of Boston and I realized how the station presented their information. Many of the local news come from “Morning Edition” and afternoon news. The most important part of how information is let out is the fact that this specific radio station has no bias. Information is factual, and concise. People are allowed to make their own decisions. There is a very natural setting at the station and it allows people to be relaxed and broadcast information clearly. People interpret this information in a good way because whether it being traveling to work, or sitting in the car missing the news cast at home, NPR is available for all local people in the area.
NECN was a local news station broadcasted all over the world, focusing on local news and worldwide news. NECN varied from entertainment, to sports, and to news. This news station has a connection with the Boston Globe, which allows getting information from a very well known resource. Other stations are also on so producers and others make sure they are not missing anything that isn’t covered. News is broadcasted in a very official way. Viewers are allowed to not only get local news, but worldwide as well. NECN has been very effective on catching stories first in Boston, and being able to influence people to get their news effectively, and precisely direct. Television news is can be more effective than radio news because you can see expression, pictures, and see live stories at the place of a news story.
Emerson was another great visit. Emerson College is a famous school of the arts. So many available majors are offered in journalism and many classes for film. Emerson also has it’s own radio station, and students receive the opportunity to be on live radio news. This is a great way to effectively learn how to be a live news anchor or even a DJ. College students can learn how to write stories and publish them. Even internships are available at many news stations depending on how interested you are in the subject.
This would be a great experience to learn how a real anchor or journalist can find real information, and broadcast it to people locally and worldwide.
ESPN was another great radio station focusing on sports, and being able to cover live news on games and information on athletes. The persuasion in being a sports anchor is key, and being able to deliver the information, quickly, and efficiently at the same time. ESPN focuses on local news around the area, but still covers other information on teams all around the world.
Radio news is a great way to make pictures in your mind to visualize what the news anchor is broadcasting. Television can persuade viewers around the world what is going on by broadcasting weather, entertainment, health, politics, and sports. Viewers can actually see their news with their eyes, and seeing real live news stories in local areas. Radio news and television news affect the way people get information in two ways. Radio news is more effective for listening in, while sometimes-live news is not focused on as intently. Both are extremely affective because even though there are two different ways to broadcast information, they have a big impact on peoples news. Sometimes the defects of radio news are it can fade in and out depending on the radio towers. Television news can come in anywhere depending if people have cable or a television satellite. JUA was a great learning experience and I learned how much media affects me today.
Carson's final essay
My essential question was “How are art and advertising related?” It very difficult to discover an answer for it because we did not have any scheduled stops concerning advertising. Our stops included ESPN radio, National Public Radio, Emerson College, and the New England Cable Network.
Only one had any remote connection to advertising and ironically enough it was National Public Radio which is commercial free. It is also on radio so even in their programs concerning spurring up interest in donating money can not be seen to include art. The part that had to do with art was a man we met who was working on programming a new web banner. He explained his job as making things look pretty. I made the connection that he was an artist using his talent to make the banner for NPR visually appealing enough for someone to think it may be worth checking out.
The rest of the information I got on my topic of choice was mostly from advertising I had seen previous to the trip as well as Billboards or posters scattered around Boston. What made me want to look deeper into this topic was a commercial that is no longer playing but I can still remember it quite vividly. It was an M&M commercial I had seen and ABC where the different colors of M&Ms were arranged and moving around as if camera were looking directly into a kaleidoscope as someone else turned the end of it. The song playing in the background was also very artsy, it was an Iron & Wine cover of the Postal Service song “Such Great Heights”. The art in this commercial not only made my mouth water for the taste of M&Ms but it also has stuck with me this long and driven me to write a paper about it.
Another brand which has deeply explored the possibilities of using art to make their product look good is Apple with the Ipod. The original Ipod commercials have a background of a solid color; usually a bright vibrant one such as blue, green, pink, etc…, in the center of the screen would be a silhouette of a person dancing to an upbeat song. The person would be completely black with the exception of the white Ipod and headphones. The art techniques used in this commercial are mainly color and music. The song would be catchy and one these commercials actually made the song “Jerk It Out” by The Caesars famous. The commercial was so unique that as soon as one came on you would know what the product was, and that to me is an effective commercial. One where it comes on, you can sing along, and you are provided with interesting eye candy.
Ipod also had posters up on the subway in Boston which were very artsy. In the posters were for the new colors of the Ipod Nano. It was on a black background, and all there was a Nano which you can tell had been moved around in an intricate pattern based on the dim colored trail that led to it. Anyone who has ever played with a sparkler on New Years Eve knows exactly what I mean.
Commercials that include art I tolerate much more than boring stupid ones. The art gives the viewer something to look at and appreciate while you are indulged in the commercial. It not only does not piss you off but you remember it and tell others about it. That is what makes an effective commercial. So there is no straight forward answer to my question. Art and advertising are to complete different things, but when used together it can be a beautiful yet effective way to sell a product.
Only one had any remote connection to advertising and ironically enough it was National Public Radio which is commercial free. It is also on radio so even in their programs concerning spurring up interest in donating money can not be seen to include art. The part that had to do with art was a man we met who was working on programming a new web banner. He explained his job as making things look pretty. I made the connection that he was an artist using his talent to make the banner for NPR visually appealing enough for someone to think it may be worth checking out.
The rest of the information I got on my topic of choice was mostly from advertising I had seen previous to the trip as well as Billboards or posters scattered around Boston. What made me want to look deeper into this topic was a commercial that is no longer playing but I can still remember it quite vividly. It was an M&M commercial I had seen and ABC where the different colors of M&Ms were arranged and moving around as if camera were looking directly into a kaleidoscope as someone else turned the end of it. The song playing in the background was also very artsy, it was an Iron & Wine cover of the Postal Service song “Such Great Heights”. The art in this commercial not only made my mouth water for the taste of M&Ms but it also has stuck with me this long and driven me to write a paper about it.
Another brand which has deeply explored the possibilities of using art to make their product look good is Apple with the Ipod. The original Ipod commercials have a background of a solid color; usually a bright vibrant one such as blue, green, pink, etc…, in the center of the screen would be a silhouette of a person dancing to an upbeat song. The person would be completely black with the exception of the white Ipod and headphones. The art techniques used in this commercial are mainly color and music. The song would be catchy and one these commercials actually made the song “Jerk It Out” by The Caesars famous. The commercial was so unique that as soon as one came on you would know what the product was, and that to me is an effective commercial. One where it comes on, you can sing along, and you are provided with interesting eye candy.
Ipod also had posters up on the subway in Boston which were very artsy. In the posters were for the new colors of the Ipod Nano. It was on a black background, and all there was a Nano which you can tell had been moved around in an intricate pattern based on the dim colored trail that led to it. Anyone who has ever played with a sparkler on New Years Eve knows exactly what I mean.
Commercials that include art I tolerate much more than boring stupid ones. The art gives the viewer something to look at and appreciate while you are indulged in the commercial. It not only does not piss you off but you remember it and tell others about it. That is what makes an effective commercial. So there is no straight forward answer to my question. Art and advertising are to complete different things, but when used together it can be a beautiful yet effective way to sell a product.
Sayde's final essay
How do different media sources treat bias? Do they stay neutral, choose to support personal opinions, or are they forced to take a certain side? Is it even possible to remain neutral?
In the media group, we went to three different sources (NPR, ESPN Radio, and NECN) to answer our essential questions. At each of the places, the answers I found were actually pretty different from one another, especially depending on the type of news being broadcasted.
Our first stop was National Public Radio. When asked about the companies views on bias, our tour guide said they took pride in being an unbiased news source, and made sure people got the solid information so they could made their own opinions on things. Though this seemed to contradict things I had previously heard about NPR, our tour guide seemed pretty confident in what he was saying. Another interesting thing the tour guide said was that no sponsor or listener can influence what is broadcasted; meaning outside forces cannot choose what is put on the news.
Our next stop was ESPN Radio. Here, I got a completely different answer to my question. When asked if the broadcasters took sides in debates between team, our tour guide exclaimed “Yes!!...This is sports!” Unlike the news radio, sports radio thrives on rivalries and debates. “Commotion = listeners = prophet and advertising.” Sports radio is all based on opinion. It seems almost impossible to be successful in that market without playing on the rivalries like Red Sox vs. Yankees and Patriots vs. Jets. A program about a game without any sort of sides taken would be boring to listen to, and wouldn’t bring much excitement to the world of sports.
Our final stop was New England Cable News, which, unlike the other two, was a TV station. When asked about their opinions on bias in the news room, I got an interesting answer. One of the most experienced anchormen on the station stated that there is “not a neutral in this world.” He says he makes sure people get the honest, straightforward news without personal opinions, but that you have to have an understanding of human impacts on certain issues in order to give a good story. For example, though one might not state that it is a bad thing and should stop, he/she has to talk about the human cost in order to give a good story and tell people was is really going on.
Through all of the information gathered, I have found that there are multiple answers to my essential question. The answer varies mainly on the type of news being cast. If it’s a basic news story, one would most likely hear the all around raw material of it, without much opinionated news. If it’s a Yankee’s vs. Red Socks game, the song “Yankee’s Suck” will probably be playing in the background while the sportscasters give their reports. Though some may claim to be completely neutral, there is no such thing in the news world. Neutrality is a claim based on an opinion itself, and it is impossible to be truly and completely neutral in the media business.
In the media group, we went to three different sources (NPR, ESPN Radio, and NECN) to answer our essential questions. At each of the places, the answers I found were actually pretty different from one another, especially depending on the type of news being broadcasted.
Our first stop was National Public Radio. When asked about the companies views on bias, our tour guide said they took pride in being an unbiased news source, and made sure people got the solid information so they could made their own opinions on things. Though this seemed to contradict things I had previously heard about NPR, our tour guide seemed pretty confident in what he was saying. Another interesting thing the tour guide said was that no sponsor or listener can influence what is broadcasted; meaning outside forces cannot choose what is put on the news.
Our next stop was ESPN Radio. Here, I got a completely different answer to my question. When asked if the broadcasters took sides in debates between team, our tour guide exclaimed “Yes!!...This is sports!” Unlike the news radio, sports radio thrives on rivalries and debates. “Commotion = listeners = prophet and advertising.” Sports radio is all based on opinion. It seems almost impossible to be successful in that market without playing on the rivalries like Red Sox vs. Yankees and Patriots vs. Jets. A program about a game without any sort of sides taken would be boring to listen to, and wouldn’t bring much excitement to the world of sports.
Our final stop was New England Cable News, which, unlike the other two, was a TV station. When asked about their opinions on bias in the news room, I got an interesting answer. One of the most experienced anchormen on the station stated that there is “not a neutral in this world.” He says he makes sure people get the honest, straightforward news without personal opinions, but that you have to have an understanding of human impacts on certain issues in order to give a good story. For example, though one might not state that it is a bad thing and should stop, he/she has to talk about the human cost in order to give a good story and tell people was is really going on.
Through all of the information gathered, I have found that there are multiple answers to my essential question. The answer varies mainly on the type of news being cast. If it’s a basic news story, one would most likely hear the all around raw material of it, without much opinionated news. If it’s a Yankee’s vs. Red Socks game, the song “Yankee’s Suck” will probably be playing in the background while the sportscasters give their reports. Though some may claim to be completely neutral, there is no such thing in the news world. Neutrality is a claim based on an opinion itself, and it is impossible to be truly and completely neutral in the media business.
Caitlyn's final essay
The 2006 Junior Urban Adventure was an experience of a lifetime. From radio stations to watching TV broadcasts, there was so much to learn! I was able to successfully answer my essential question, which asked if the world of media has been and will be benefited by the steady rise in the use and necessity of technology. The answer is yes, but that only begins to describe what goes on behind the scenes and what is in store for our world next.
Our first stop was visiting the public radio station NPR. Though media is advancing dramatically through the use of technology, radio stations are advancing equally as fast. Radio stations all over the world have expanded onto the Internet in places like iTunes or mp3 streams. As an avid podcast listener to begin with, I was elated to be on a tour where the production of it takes place. The sound proof rooms are beyond state-of-the art, and to top it off, NPR is alive off donations from dedicated listeners. I learned that the there is a large difference between public and private radio. Public radio does not reap in benefits from paying advertisers, and if so, time is limited and certain words are prohibited. Following that, we visited ESPN radio Boston, which was drastically different from NPR.
ESPN is a nationwide station that broadcasts current news feeds about many different sports. From professional basketball and football to college sports teams, it requires a lot of organization, communication, and especially innovation. The Boston radio station has a writing team, a vocal team, a sound team, and a marketing team. Together, they work in conjunction to provide and produce a constant on-air news feed for all of Boston to hear. The employees who were working at the time were all very upbeat and outgoing. They seemed to be very open to the ideas and questions we had, and in return, they had a few questions for us. Next on our stop was even more awesome, Emerson College.
Immediately enamored with what Emerson encompassed, I had no idea what lay inside. First, we were taken into the school’s television studio. Emerson has state-of-the-art technological appliances in order to aid students in a very progressive study and prepare them to be instantly ready for the real world of media upon graduation. The journalism was something to behold. The classroom was set up in a series of cubicles, all connected to the Associated Press news wire. We were then given a tour of Emerson’s own personal radio station that is accessible to the public as well. Voted the number one college radio station in the country, it was easy to say why. Emerson’s radio station was even more advanced and complex than what we saw at ESPN! It was a sight to behold. Another sight that captured our JUA group was watching the filming of a TV news station.
After a somewhat long and tumultuous bus ride to get to the TV station, we got a better look into the world of what goes on behind the scenes of our television sets. Again, just like what we encountered at Emerson, people worked in connected cubicles and constantly were tuned into very recent news on the Associated Press wire. To the back of the studio, at least 20 little television sets were stacked, all tuned in to different stations in order to monitor what other news stations were broadcasting. We got to meet and chat with various news hosts, one of which was a New Hampton alumni! The woman who gave us the tour was from Miami, Florida, and we went to rival schools! I thought it was pretty interesting how media truly does make the world a smaller place.
Our first stop was visiting the public radio station NPR. Though media is advancing dramatically through the use of technology, radio stations are advancing equally as fast. Radio stations all over the world have expanded onto the Internet in places like iTunes or mp3 streams. As an avid podcast listener to begin with, I was elated to be on a tour where the production of it takes place. The sound proof rooms are beyond state-of-the art, and to top it off, NPR is alive off donations from dedicated listeners. I learned that the there is a large difference between public and private radio. Public radio does not reap in benefits from paying advertisers, and if so, time is limited and certain words are prohibited. Following that, we visited ESPN radio Boston, which was drastically different from NPR.
ESPN is a nationwide station that broadcasts current news feeds about many different sports. From professional basketball and football to college sports teams, it requires a lot of organization, communication, and especially innovation. The Boston radio station has a writing team, a vocal team, a sound team, and a marketing team. Together, they work in conjunction to provide and produce a constant on-air news feed for all of Boston to hear. The employees who were working at the time were all very upbeat and outgoing. They seemed to be very open to the ideas and questions we had, and in return, they had a few questions for us. Next on our stop was even more awesome, Emerson College.
Immediately enamored with what Emerson encompassed, I had no idea what lay inside. First, we were taken into the school’s television studio. Emerson has state-of-the-art technological appliances in order to aid students in a very progressive study and prepare them to be instantly ready for the real world of media upon graduation. The journalism was something to behold. The classroom was set up in a series of cubicles, all connected to the Associated Press news wire. We were then given a tour of Emerson’s own personal radio station that is accessible to the public as well. Voted the number one college radio station in the country, it was easy to say why. Emerson’s radio station was even more advanced and complex than what we saw at ESPN! It was a sight to behold. Another sight that captured our JUA group was watching the filming of a TV news station.
After a somewhat long and tumultuous bus ride to get to the TV station, we got a better look into the world of what goes on behind the scenes of our television sets. Again, just like what we encountered at Emerson, people worked in connected cubicles and constantly were tuned into very recent news on the Associated Press wire. To the back of the studio, at least 20 little television sets were stacked, all tuned in to different stations in order to monitor what other news stations were broadcasting. We got to meet and chat with various news hosts, one of which was a New Hampton alumni! The woman who gave us the tour was from Miami, Florida, and we went to rival schools! I thought it was pretty interesting how media truly does make the world a smaller place.
Jess's final essay
JUA – The Media Group
What is the difference between the ways in which teenagers get their news and the ways in which adults get their news? What is the best way for me to get my news?
During JUA, the Media Group visited several different places. We toured NPR, ESPN, Emerson College, and NECN. Emerson College was especially impressive because of the advanced facilities. We asked many questions in all of these places and got a glimpse of what a future in Media looks like. It was a fun experience and I learned a lot about what a career in media involves. I also asked questions to answer my essential question.
To answer my question, I asked the different news and radio stations about their targeted demographics. NPR is mostly listened to by adults on their way to work. Ages range anywhere from twelve and up. There are between 100,000 and 150,000 listeners each day. The station is 90.9 WBUR. The topics generally discussed are politics, world news, real-estate, commerce, and local news. There are also commercials. As a Public Radio Station, there were strict guidelines about advertising on air. In each commercial, there could be no mention of price, no mention of competition, and no call to action. The unbiased advertisements and sophisticated discussions targeted an adult audience. There aren’t a significant number of teens who get their news through public radio.
ESPN targets a much wider demographic because it is listened to by sports fans. Both adults and teens listen to the station every day. The tour of this office wasn’t what I expected because the rooms were very small and the whole office was cramped. I learned about piecing together different sound clips to make commercials. Just like the other radio station, there were sound proof walls and an accurate clock with the exact time on the wall. This would be a good station to listen to for anyone who wants to be updated on sports events.
On the second day, we visited Emerson. We toured the school and the major communication and arts buildings. I was amazed by the Communications program the school runs. The radio station targets all audiences and plays all different types of music. I was particularly excited to see the Emerson Radio Station because I have been listening to 88.9 WERS my entire life. Interestingly, I’ve even heard one of our tour guides on the radio before. This tour was my favorite part of JUA and I hope I’ll be able to visit the school again.
Our last part of JUA was taking a tour of NECN. New England Cable News is a regional news network and is actually the largest regional news network in the country. As a news station, they must be neutral observers of current events and don’t share strong opinions. I learned the people who are seen on T.V. must be likeable. Their conversations and discussions must be interesting and stimulating to listen to. This news station seemed like a good one for me to listen to in order to keep up with current events.
Overall, I enjoyed JUA and am glad I chose to be in the Media Group. I was happy to see the movie Borat during the two days, and there was never a dull moment on our trip. I learned a lot about the media and the hard work it takes to run a news station and a radio station. I was able to answer my essential question by researching the different places we visited and asking questions.
What is the difference between the ways in which teenagers get their news and the ways in which adults get their news? What is the best way for me to get my news?
During JUA, the Media Group visited several different places. We toured NPR, ESPN, Emerson College, and NECN. Emerson College was especially impressive because of the advanced facilities. We asked many questions in all of these places and got a glimpse of what a future in Media looks like. It was a fun experience and I learned a lot about what a career in media involves. I also asked questions to answer my essential question.
To answer my question, I asked the different news and radio stations about their targeted demographics. NPR is mostly listened to by adults on their way to work. Ages range anywhere from twelve and up. There are between 100,000 and 150,000 listeners each day. The station is 90.9 WBUR. The topics generally discussed are politics, world news, real-estate, commerce, and local news. There are also commercials. As a Public Radio Station, there were strict guidelines about advertising on air. In each commercial, there could be no mention of price, no mention of competition, and no call to action. The unbiased advertisements and sophisticated discussions targeted an adult audience. There aren’t a significant number of teens who get their news through public radio.
ESPN targets a much wider demographic because it is listened to by sports fans. Both adults and teens listen to the station every day. The tour of this office wasn’t what I expected because the rooms were very small and the whole office was cramped. I learned about piecing together different sound clips to make commercials. Just like the other radio station, there were sound proof walls and an accurate clock with the exact time on the wall. This would be a good station to listen to for anyone who wants to be updated on sports events.
On the second day, we visited Emerson. We toured the school and the major communication and arts buildings. I was amazed by the Communications program the school runs. The radio station targets all audiences and plays all different types of music. I was particularly excited to see the Emerson Radio Station because I have been listening to 88.9 WERS my entire life. Interestingly, I’ve even heard one of our tour guides on the radio before. This tour was my favorite part of JUA and I hope I’ll be able to visit the school again.
Our last part of JUA was taking a tour of NECN. New England Cable News is a regional news network and is actually the largest regional news network in the country. As a news station, they must be neutral observers of current events and don’t share strong opinions. I learned the people who are seen on T.V. must be likeable. Their conversations and discussions must be interesting and stimulating to listen to. This news station seemed like a good one for me to listen to in order to keep up with current events.
Overall, I enjoyed JUA and am glad I chose to be in the Media Group. I was happy to see the movie Borat during the two days, and there was never a dull moment on our trip. I learned a lot about the media and the hard work it takes to run a news station and a radio station. I was able to answer my essential question by researching the different places we visited and asking questions.
Megan's final essay
Essential question: How does the news vary from region to region
It is obvious the news would vary from region to region, but the question is what
vary’s from station to station.
We visited two very different kinds of radio stations, NPR and ESPN news radio. Both of which confirmed that they aired different stories and shows depending on the region that they where stationed.
NPR confirmed that they had several shows that where aired nationally, but time was then set aside for local shows and regional shows. Regional shows would cover a region such as the northeast or the Midwest, and local shows would cover areas such as Boston or Cincinnati.
ESPN also confirmed that they would air different shows depending on the region. This would be concerning whatever sports team would be in your area.
It is apparent that certain things must be aired differently depending on the region in which it is being aired. These things would include the weather, local sports, and things concerning certain neighborhoods and cities.
From personal experience I can vouch for the fact that it is not only the weather varys in the news from area to area. Since cultures are very different depending on what part of the country you are in, For example where I live in Cincinnati the local news is very different then it is here or it would be in New York. Because Cincinnati is a city But not as large as New York, it still reports on most of the murders but in a city like New York there are too many to report on in the news. It also varys form a rural place because it has sports teams to report on as well which are local.
We also visited a television news station in Boston. Like most of the news stations in Cincinnati they reported on local family type things, as well as having a sports show, and obviously the weather section. The weather varies greatly from region to region. This makes it very necessary to have diverse television programming. There could not be the same weather programming for each region because this is not helpful to anyone.
The popular religions in each region can affect the type of programming available. If there is a large population of Jewish people there will be different shows than in a Roman Catholic area. Churches and synagogues are televised in many regions. Especially during the holidays there are many religious shows and events that are aired.
The languages spoken in each region are important to the people as well, The diversity of written and spoken language in the United States affects the region by region programming. There are many types of languages that are televised in many types of shows. They are used for educational and entertainment purposes. Each region calls for different types of programs. There are so many different ethnicities and languages spoken in the United States that the programming needs to be just as diverse. There are many communication issues with the language barrier.
It is clear to all how important region-to-region programming really is. Each citizen needs to be aware of their surrounding area. The weather, sports, news is all-important in local programming. The diversity of our programming shows the diversity of our great country. A country that supports diversity and cultural awareness.
It is obvious the news would vary from region to region, but the question is what
vary’s from station to station.
We visited two very different kinds of radio stations, NPR and ESPN news radio. Both of which confirmed that they aired different stories and shows depending on the region that they where stationed.
NPR confirmed that they had several shows that where aired nationally, but time was then set aside for local shows and regional shows. Regional shows would cover a region such as the northeast or the Midwest, and local shows would cover areas such as Boston or Cincinnati.
ESPN also confirmed that they would air different shows depending on the region. This would be concerning whatever sports team would be in your area.
It is apparent that certain things must be aired differently depending on the region in which it is being aired. These things would include the weather, local sports, and things concerning certain neighborhoods and cities.
From personal experience I can vouch for the fact that it is not only the weather varys in the news from area to area. Since cultures are very different depending on what part of the country you are in, For example where I live in Cincinnati the local news is very different then it is here or it would be in New York. Because Cincinnati is a city But not as large as New York, it still reports on most of the murders but in a city like New York there are too many to report on in the news. It also varys form a rural place because it has sports teams to report on as well which are local.
We also visited a television news station in Boston. Like most of the news stations in Cincinnati they reported on local family type things, as well as having a sports show, and obviously the weather section. The weather varies greatly from region to region. This makes it very necessary to have diverse television programming. There could not be the same weather programming for each region because this is not helpful to anyone.
The popular religions in each region can affect the type of programming available. If there is a large population of Jewish people there will be different shows than in a Roman Catholic area. Churches and synagogues are televised in many regions. Especially during the holidays there are many religious shows and events that are aired.
The languages spoken in each region are important to the people as well, The diversity of written and spoken language in the United States affects the region by region programming. There are many types of languages that are televised in many types of shows. They are used for educational and entertainment purposes. Each region calls for different types of programs. There are so many different ethnicities and languages spoken in the United States that the programming needs to be just as diverse. There are many communication issues with the language barrier.
It is clear to all how important region-to-region programming really is. Each citizen needs to be aware of their surrounding area. The weather, sports, news is all-important in local programming. The diversity of our programming shows the diversity of our great country. A country that supports diversity and cultural awareness.
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