Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Media coverage negative on Romney

The Washington-based Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism found that “positive stories about Obama (29%) outnumbered negative ones (19%) by 10 points in the week leading up to the voting” on Nov. 6.

The survey of 59 news outlets found that Romney got considerably more negative coverage, both at the end of the campaign and in the period dating back to the nominating conventions, beginning in late August.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Journalism ethics an obvious problem in presidential campaign


The Blaze reported two examples today of a failure of journalists to act ethically.

One was in the questioning of VP candidate Paul Ryan by a local reporter. Ryan had explained the need for economic development and education to cut crime.

Out of nowhere the reporter asked: “And you can do all that by cutting taxes? With a big tax cut?”

“Those are your words not mine,” Ryan responded.

One of the basic principles of good reporting is neutrality.  Another is that you don't ask loaded questions.  This reporter like many on the campaign trail needs a lesson in Journalist 101.

The other incident was more serious because it was perpetrated by Associated Press editors. The AP released to papers a picture without context that seemed to show a young girl's surprise while looking down at presidential candidate Mitt Romney's backend. The next pictures of the girl and Romeny showed it was not surprise, but rather excitement.

Steve Manuel, senior lecturer at Penn State’s College of Communications and an award-winning photojournalist, said the AP would have known how the image would be perceived.
“In this photo, while it may appear funny, AP knows exactly what viewers are thinking,” he wrote in an email. “It’s not legitimate news. AP knows that viewers are going to chuckle and imagine what the little girl is seeing, and it makes Gov. Romney appear a bit foolish. That isn’t the purpose or mission of photojournalism. … Candidate or not, it is not the mission of a news organization to place anyone in a position to be ridiculed or made fun of. Reporting the news is, and this is not newsworthy.”

The National Press Photographers Association code of ethics offers some guidance in the selection and presentation of photos: “Treat all subjects with respect and dignity,” it says. And also, “Be complete and provide context when photographing or recording subjects.”



Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Chick-fil-A president shows no disrespect

Because someone stands behind traditional marriage doesn’t mean the person doesn’t respect other people’s choices and viewpoints. Labeling the person as homophobic is name calling and polarizing.  It shows disrespect for our national tradition and Constitution and for the person’s right to express personal viewpoints.

In a statement Chick-fil-A indicated: The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect — regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender. Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena.
Chick-fil-A’s record suggests this statement is true. 
The comments that drew media attention and backlash addresses family values. Chick-fil-A’s president, Dan Cathy, never says anything to criticize homosexuality or gay marriage.
Here is Cathy’s statement to Biblical Reporter, published July 2. When asked about the company’s support for traditional marriage, he says: “Well, guilty as charged. We are very much supportive of the family – the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that. We operate as a family business … our restaurants are typically led by families — some are single. We want to do anything we possibly can to strengthen families. We are very much committed to that. … We intend to stay the course. We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles.”
In an earlier statement taken out of context “Cathy made some wide-ranging remarks about the family in general and about his own father in particular—remarks which had no reference to homosexuality.”
The U.S. Constitution and American tradition respect the right to express varying viewpoints.  In an effort to be politically correct some people forget that this applies to all viewpoints and in some cases both viewpoints. In the media and on Facebook I have read a lot of vitriol against Chick-fil-A. It’s obvious the authors don’t even know what Dan Cathy said or what the company stands for.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Even in tragedy victims find humor

(Christchurch, NZ) - An American traveller had just come out of the Southern Ink tattoo studio in the central city, where she had "There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be", from the Beatles song All You Need Is Love tattooed on her back, when the earthquake hit.

She was on the footpath when the concrete awning of the building and the brick layers of the second floor came crashing down [killing] her.
The New Zealand Herald
March 9, 2011 Wednesday
Eight more quake victims named

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Protecting Girls from Negative Media Influences

Susanna Barrett, whose daughter appeared on Toddlers &Tiaras, recently filed a $30 million lawsuit against TMZ and other news outlets for featuring a video montage that she felt "sexualized" her five-year old.  In the video, her daughter Isabella is seen performing to LMFAO's song "Sexy And I Know It."  While many parents surely understand Susanna's reason for this specific suit, many also find fault with an entire entertainment industry that exploits girls, and with networks like TLC that glamorize the childhood pageant world.

Others simply wonder why mothers would expose their children to the pageant world in the first place.

Such outrage is also increasingly directed at clothing labels, which sell shirts for young girls that include slogans like "scratch and sniff" or "so many boys, so little time".

So how can parents protect their children from a culture that exploits them at such early ages?  And how can they teach them to stand up for themselves and resist such influences?

Dr. Tim Kimmel -- author and Executive Director of Family Matters (familymatters.net) -- has answers.  Considered one of America's top advocates for the family, Tim has written multiple best-selling books
on parenting, including "Raising Kids for True Greatness".  He has strong views on why it's critical that parents work to protect their children:  "We need to draw up new battle plans." says Kimmel.  "We
fought for their intellect. We fought for their paychecks.  Maybe it's time we fight for their souls."

Tim talks about why the pageant and music industries often get away with exploiting young women; why it's important to take a stand as a parent against degrading slogans on girls' clothing; how parents can approach these topics with their daughters; and why fighting for girls' dignity is just as important as is fighting for education and work opportunities.

New On-Line Media Expert/Source Directory Now In Use By Major Media Outlets



GuestMatch is Free, Easy To Use, Searchable By Topic

 Media professionals across North America are using the new www.guestmatch.com as a quick and easy resource when searching for interview guests, story sources and experts in a variety of topics.

 GuestMatch.com features on-line media kits for hundreds of expert sources in all fields, and includes backgrounders, hi res photos, video and audio samples and best of all, direct contact phone numbers and email addresses for each GuestMatch member.

In addition to a search feature that allows media members to sort both by topic, name, program idea and area of expertise, the GuestMatch.com service also offers free telephone support for media outlets who can't find the expert, source or interview guest they need, even on short notice.

Here are just a few of the GuestMatch media interview guests available this week:
*  America's Got Talent reigning champion Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. on going from washing cars to Hollywood stars and selling out The Apollo Theatre
*  5 Ways To Stop Stress Before It Happens with Dr. Rob Pennington
*  Learn How To Increase Your Chances of Winning The Lottery with 7 Time Lottery Game Grand Prize Winner Richard Lustig (as seen on CNN, GMA, Fox, MSNBC, The Today Show, etc.)
*  How to afford college AND plan for retirement by age 55 with financial guru Mark Singer
*  Former NASA astronaut trainer and "October Sky/Rocket Boys" author Homer Hickam on the end of the shuttle era, mining on the moon and his new best seller CRATER
*  Thriller writer Robert Liparulo on incorporating religion into his new action packed page turner THE 13TH TRIBE

Monday, March 5, 2012

UVU Disaster Conference


UVU hosts 2-day conference on emergency preparedness and disaster response


Two disaster scholars will speak at a conference at Utah Valley University Thursday and Friday, April 5 and 6 about emergency preparedness and disaster response.

The conference entitled, “2012: Anticipating and responding to Future Disasters,”will bring two keynote speakers to UVU. Both, Dr. Mark Yang and Dr. David McEntire are scholars in the fields of emergency and disaster relief.

The Utah Valley University Institute of Emergency Services and Homeland Security is sponsoring a two-day emergency and disaster conference, Thursday, April 5 and Friday, April 6, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the UVU Sorensen Center room 206. In addition, faculty from the UVU School of Public Service will speak about their experience and research in emergency management and homeland security.

Dr. Mark Yang will speak about “Spiritual and Existential Themes in Disaster Relief Work” on Thursday, April 5 at 10 a.m. in the UVU Sorensen Center room 206a. Dr. Yang is a licensed clinical psychologist with expertise in grief and bereavement counseling and cross-cultural psychology. He is currently involved in the training and supervision of psychology students from the humanistic-existential perspective in Hong Kong and Macau. The core of his clinical experience has been working in university counseling centers where he conducted short-term individual and group psychotherapy for students and consulted with faculty regarding mental health issues.

“Dr. Yang shows how important cultural competence is in helping people whose lives have been upset by catastrophes,” said Dr. Rodger Broome, a faculty member in the Emergency services department. “He found in China that as an American he had to do a lot of listening before he could help people in disasters and then most of the help was supportive.”

Dr. David McEntire will speak about “2012 and Disasters: Popular Myth or Future Reality” on Friday, April 6 at 10 a.m. in the UVU Sorensen Center room 206a. Dr. McEntire is professor of emergency administration and planning in the Department of Public Administration at the University of North Texas. He has taught terrorism response training for FEMA and contributed to a study of Texas Homeland Security Preparedness for the Century Foundation. He is the author of five books and has written numerous articles on emergency management theory, international disasters, community preparedness, response coordination, homeland security, and vulnerability reduction. He has received several Quick Response Grants, funded by the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado, along with a grant from the National Science Foundation. Dr. McEntire is the 2010 Dr. B. Wayne Blanchard Award Recipient for Academic Excellence in Emergency Management Higher Education.

“We’re fortunate to have Dr. McEntire come speak on the UVU campus,” said Dr. John Fisher, a faculty member in the Emergency Services Department. “He is one of the leading disaster and homeland security scholars in America. His knowledge is based on the practical experience of training responders and planning for catastrophes.”

More information about the conference is available from Dr. John Fisher, phone 801 863 7732 or email uvuconference@gmail.com. The conference is free to UVU staff and students and to community members.

The program for the two-day conference is as follows:

THURSDAY, APRIL 5

10-10:10 a.m. – Introduction

10:10 -11 a.m. Keynote Address, Dr. Mark Yang, “Spiritual and Existential Themes in Disaster Relief Work.” Introduced by Dr. Rodger Broome.

11:10-12 noon – Presentation: “Hero Construct,” Dr. Rodger Broome, Emergency Services Department.

1-1:50 p.m. – Presentation: “Terrorism Realities in America,” Ken Crook, JD, Criminal Justice faculty, Introduction by Eric Russell.

2- 2:50 p.m. – Presentation: “The LEAP Model of Leadership,” Dr. Jeff Maxfield, Associate Dean of the College of Technology and Computing; “Servant Leadership in the Emergency Services,” Eric Russell, Emergency Services Department.

FRIDAY, APRIL 6

10-10:10 a.m. – Introduction

10:10 -11 a.m. Keynote Address, Dr. David McEntire, “Disasters & 2012: Modern Myth or Future Reality?” Introduction by Dr. John Fisher.

11:10-12 noon – Presentation: “Extreme Interrogation Methods,” Matt Duffin, JD, Criminal Justice Department; “Mass Media Coverage of Disasters: Help or Hindrance?” Dr. John Fisher, Emergency Services Department.

1-1:50 p.m. – Presentation: “What We Have Here Is a Failure to Communicate,” Gary Noll, chair of Emergency Services Department; “Leadership in the Fire Service,” Andy Byrnes, Emergency Services Department.