This I Believe About Digital Journalism

What is journalism? Journalism is defined as the collecting, writing, editing, and presenting of news or news articles in newspapers and magazines and in radio and television broadcasts. Yet is there a limit with the advancements of technology?

As society's needs change and technology advances, the realm of journalism will continuously undergo transformation. The birth of new technologies has created a sense of urgency amongst society in retreiving news as it happens as opposed to waiting the next day to pick up a newspaper and sip coffee at the dining room table. Society as a whole is on a fast-paced schedule, therefore limiting the opportunity to enjoy news in a relaxing manner; rather individuals are seeking news through the Internet on computers, cell phones and iPods, creating a stir among journalists to scramble and capture news as it is breaking.

Dr. Christine Tracy states in the article, Ecology and Democracy: Citizen Journalism in the Digital Age: "Coverage of the July 7, 2005 London subway bombings included video clips from survivors cell phones. These grainy but powerful images were almost instantly broadcast to global audiences on television and the Internet. This event exemplifies the current media landscape, which is experiencing tumultuous change since the advent of digital technologies in the early 1980s. Change, innovation, and experimentation is so predominant now that it has become exceedingly difficult to distinguish the communicative form that delivers the news from the practice of journalism, which motivates individuals to both create and consume news."

The statement shows how journalists are able to partake in a many-to-many model, by submitting breaking news events on the Internet via phone images, video clips and so much more. Along with the ability to post anything and everything on the Internet, fellow readers have the power to view the material submitted and leave commentary for the author. This advancement supports the fact that "citizen" journalists are on the rise. Clay Shirkey explores the concept of "citizen" journalism in the article, It Takes A Village To Find A Phone. The story explains the journey of a woman who loses her phone in a cab and eventually is found. Yet the ironic factor is the phone is not retrieved by the police, but rather through a webpage following on the Internet that enticed mere strangers to come together and retrieve the phone from the theif...all with the simple clicks of the computer keyboard.

No longer must we wait for a letter to the editor to be published to voice our opinion. No longer must we apply for jobs at the local newspapers in hopes to "make" it to the large metropolitan papers. No longer must we aspire to be the "leading" television broadcaster. No longer must we hope to make a difference. As digital journalists, we ARE the difference. We continue to stride forth, pushing the envelope to transform the realm of how journalism is perceived. We are meeting society's needs, opposed to forcing opinions/beliefs onto them. We are making history as it evolves.

Some say the use of the Internet is causing the degradation of the English language, others say the newspaper is facing its deathbed. Why the close-minded approach? Looking through the past of how journalism has evolved, there is no consistent pattern. Journalism has been sensational, objective, investigative and "muckraking". The English language is drastically different 20, 40, 60 years ago. The lack of embrace into the digital journalism world is frightening, especially when the fate of the future lies within the hands of technology.

Digital Journalism is the face of the world of journalism.

EMU Embraces the Youth

Eastern Michigan University attracts more people than just students looking for a higher education. EMU's campus offers Ypsilanti High School students a place to hang out and enjoy recreational activities during after school hours.

Ypsilanti Township does not have the funding to provide teens with recreational activities, as well as many families are budgeted to the last penny, therefore also unable to supply teens the ability to partake in sports/extracurricular activities in school. So, where do teens go? Eastern Michigan University. The university is less than a 5 minute drive from Ypsilanti High School, providing the teens with an accessible place to gather with their friends without the proximity of their community.

What does Eastern have to offer high school teens? EMU's campus provides six lighted outdoor tennis and four basketball courts which were installed along Park Road in 1990. Both courts provide outdoor recreation for the community as well as a home for fall intramural athletics at EMU. Gehman Field, the home of the EMU softball team was installed in 1990. The complex underwent a major face lift after the 2002 season and now boasts two refinished dugouts, a press box and new outfield fencing. Enclosed outdoor batting cages with two pitching circles were also added behind the left-field fence. One of the last features added to the new University Commons building was an indoor climbing wall that simulates rock climbing. The structure 42 feet in height offers three sections of varying difficulty. Trained student assistants help users ascend the wall. Physical education professor Lester Zook, who spearheaded the project, says the rock wall prepares students for rock climbing on nearby mountains. EMU also offers high school students the use of the Fitness Center at a low rate of $35 per month, opposed to the majority of fitness gyms that overcharge into the $100's.

EMU stands behind their mission statement: "We extend our commitment beyond the campus boundaries to the wider community through service initiatives and partnerships of mutual interest addressing local, regional, national and international opportunities and challenges."

Check out the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=my1cMMy13sI

Ecology & Democracy: Citizen Journalism in the Digital Age

The question is asked, "What is journalism for?"

Journalism is for Democracy

The article, Ecology & Democracy: Citizen Journalism in the Digital Age by Dr. Christine Tracy furthermore explores the evolving changes in the world of journalism. Journalism is far too often confused with the realm of "news" and the conglomerate of the large corporations. "There is a widespread demand for less pro forma political representation, whether by the press or elected officials, and for more participation." This statement pertains to the political agenda, yet I strongly feel it is a larger voice for society's demands of journalism.

The article further states: "The central purpose of journalism is to provide citizens with accurate and reliable information they need to function in a free society. This encompasses myriad roles-helping define community, creating common language and common knowledge, identifying a community's goals, heroes and villains, and pushing people beyond complacency.....offering a voice to the voiceless."

As a citizen journalist, there is the ability to report "news" not through the newspaper, not through the broadcast stations, not even through the radio, but rather through the keystroke click of posting on blogs, web forums and social media outlets. The ability to "voice" opinions, thoughts and the TRUE facts gives the meaning back to a democratic nation. No longer are we bound to wait for another person to tell us the news, to filter what we should know and to voice our opinions for us. As a citizen journalist, we hold the key to our own freedom to report.

Another key point in the article is stated: "Unlike traditional reporting, which is highly competitive and focused on scooping the competition, open-source reporting embraces a collaborative model: a community of readers with access to multiple resources working together to report news in a highly transparent and flexible environment. In a typical open-source practice, reporters inform readers of a topic under investigation and then ask readers to contribute leads, sources, tips and ideas-to actually join in the real reporting."

Inviting the community to partake in researching, investigating and contributing to the story utilizes the advantages of "objectivity". Sure there will those who will incorporate their opinions, thoughts and slant, but there are so many more doors to open with including citizens. As much as we would like to believe that we are SuperMan (Woman), we cannot do it all on our own....we MUST utilize, incorporate, encourage the resources that others have to offer.

Christmas 2009: VIDEO ASSIGNMENT

Check out my video!!! I was nervous when the assignment was first spoken of, but when I took the time to work with iMovie, I can say that I absolutely love it! It was fun! :) Also, the video can be found on YouTube.

Dynamic of Collective Intelligence

Pierre Levy states in his book,Collective Intelligence: Mankind's Emerging World in Cyberspace:

"Media centric politics simply reverse the totalitarian formula: rather than organize the constant surveillance of individuals through a national party run by a dictator, it focuses our attention on political celebrities. Everyone watches the same stars; the president, ministers, journalists, media people. They are the only ones we see and hear. But real-time democracy is organized not around the vision of power over a society, but the communication of the community with itself, knowledge of the community's self."

The voice of the community is rising in power. The capability to retrieve news information is no longer limited to the nightly broadcast newsroom or the morning newspaper flung across the dewy lawn. News is being distributed through social media forums that is accessible to anyone and everyone who desires it. Society is engaging in breaking news stories, feeding sites such as Twitter and Facebook with viable information that journalists can access without having to pry, dig and interrogate people.

Tony Rogers posted a blog article that explores the ways that journalists are expanding the horizon of investigating news stories to retrieve information. The article: Journalists Use Facebook to Find Sources and Promote Stories, shows how a social networking tool can be utilized for both personal and professional matters. The blog states that many journalists are utilizing such sites as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and MySpace to find sources, news stories and information that is readily available and easy to access.

Levy confirms the point that Tony Rogers conveys in his blog post by his prediction, "that we will take greater control of that value and everything related to it as we use technology to organize ourselves into what we call Living Cities. Here, physical location is less important than the interactions of its members, and not surprisingly, the lack of territorialities will challenge present methods of governance."

Welcome to the freedom of the Internet!

"This I Believe"

I believe in Equality. I believe that every human being, despite race, ethnicity, gender, religious preference, and sexual orientation deserves a fair chance and not be judged upon by another.

"Building on a proud tradition of national leadership in the preparation of teachers, we maximize educational opportunities and personal and professional growth for students from diverse backgrounds through an array of baccalaureate, master's and doctoral programs." I believe that Eastern Michigan University exhibits equality in the selection of students that are given the opportunity to attend EMU, as supported by their mission statement.

I can distinctly remember the day that I attended EMU for the Fast Track program. I was still a senior in High School and quite nervous to tour the university campus. I wanted the ability to attend an accredited university without having to leave the comforts of home. My parents and I arrived onto campus and I was struck at the diversity of students that filled the campus walkways, hallways and classrooms. I was raised in Detroit for 12 years, yet attended a parochial school in Dearborn, then moved to the suburb of garden City, where the majority of the community were middle-class, white families. My graduating class alone only encompassed three African-American kids, therefore limiting my exposure to diversity and the understanding of equality. I had toured a few other university campuses and had noticed the clique of stereotypes that were exhibited on the campus. Yet at Eastern, I felt the diversity. Men, women, young, old, white, black, Mexican, Arabic, straight, gay....the sky was the limit: literally. I was amazed, awed, intrigued and had my decision in the few seconds that I had stepped outside the car door. I hadn't quite found my identity in high school, but I felt a passion, desire and belonging at EMU.

Since that first day I stepped foot onto campus, EMU has continued to thrive in equality. I have friends that attend other colleges/universities and they complain of the lack of individuality. No one at Eastern can exert that same complaint. I love walking into a new class at the beginning of each semester, not hoping, but KNOWING that I will meet someone just as uniquely different as me, someone who has passion, desire and feels like they belong.

The day that I walk down the aisle in my commencement ceremony, I will proudly boast that I am a graduate of Eastern Michigan University, a university that is passionate of its students; believing, supporting and standing up for equality.

Just a "Click" Away......

While browsing online, I came across an article that sparked my interest:

"Suspect Killed, Officer Wounded In Robbery Try"

Sure the newspaper itself is dwindling in print, but online news sources are flourishing. Information regarding international, national, state, local news is available at the whim of a keystroke.

I was intrigued by the article due to the proximity to my home in Canton. Despite the fact that this is important information to me, it may not be to many others, therefore never receiving face time in a printed newspaper. BUT now I am not limited to relying on printed newspapers to receive information about my community. I can visit websites, blog forums and so much more. The ability to access information outside the world of the printed paper opens the door to the opportunity of the "citizen journalist", which I am quite an advocate for.

I appreciate the ability to utilize my "voice" where I want it heard opposed to hoping for an editor to publish a letter. I appreciate the opportunity to "speak out" what I stand for as opposed to fearing an editor will silence my words. I appreciate my RIGHT to be a journalist...how I desire, when I desire and most of all because I desire.