J 201 - Section 308

Research Report - Sparks article

2012-02-14T03:01:00.002-06:00

The reading for thispast week, as a part of the Journalism 201 class at the UW-Madison included areading from a textbook Media EffectsResearch, a publication focused on communication research at the basiclevel. Publications such as these aregenerally intended to be used in academia for students entering courses at thebeginning level of focuses that include journalism, advertising, and media andcommunication research.

Sparkshimself is a professor in the department of communication, currently employedat Purdue University, his current self-described area of expertise beingcognitive and social effects of the media (Glenn G. Sparks, purdue.edu). A quick cursory check using the UW-Madisonlibrary guide will confirm his work often centers around popular media, usuallymeaning movies, television, and news broadcasting (Sparks, Sherry, Lubsen2005), (Sparks and Ogles, 1990), (Sparks 1991), (Sparks, Nelson and Campbell1997), (Sparks and Goode 2001), (Sparks, Pellechia, and Irvine 1999), (Sparks,Pellechia, Irvine 1998), (Sparks 1987), (Sparks and Spirek 1998), (Sparks,Sparks, and Grey 1995), (Sparks 1997), (Sparks 1998). These publications are very pertinent in thefields of communication and human development research, but he also has beenheard by the more general public via National Public Radio (Glenn G. Sparks,purdue.edu)

Asmuch of Professor Sparks aforementioned work focuses on the paranormal subjectportrayed in media and its effect on people, so is it the subject of thereading brought to our attention in class. Opening on a personal example from his childhood he proposes anexperiment to build on Cantors extension of Piaget’s theory of cognitivedevelopment (Sparks 2006). Simply statedPiaget’s theory of cognitive development is that humans develop physiologicallyand psychologically in stages (Piaget 1994). Cantor expands on this research by determining how Piaget’s model appliesto the fright response of children in the two to seven category and seven toeleven category (Sparks 2006). Theresults observed from showing the children studied a clip of The IncredibleHulk escaping a fire supported Cantor’s hypothesis. The first category (children two to seven)were more frightened by the grotesque appearance of The Hulk whilst thechildren aged seven to eleven appeared to be more frightened by the danger of thefire (Sparks 2006). The point is furtherdefended by a series of personal statements from people who feel that watchinga paranormal film early in their childhood strongly affected their development. The source of these however is unclear so itsvalidity is not assured. Other topicsexplored question whether or not the fear reaction in general is ever truly apositive subject. Also, how the mediauses other emotions to affect our perception of its programming.

Focusingon the main theme of this article, one can take away that there is a documentedcorrelation of fear reactions among minors. Whether or not this should be attributed to an inherent need to fostersocialization, or ignored for the generally held principle that all childrenare different and are affected in different ways seems interesting, butirrelevant. The standard MPAA movierating system is not based on science and vague. Whether or not one decides to introducechildren to these situations should be decided on good research-basedinformation, not a system based in opinion. The source of the article, along with its summary suggests the firststep to achieving this is by informing first university sources, and eventuallythe general public. In the end thegeneral public has the power to call for reform which appears to be needed.

Sources:

Sparks, Glenn G, John Sherry, and GraigLubsen. "The Appeal of Media Violence in a Full-length Motion Picture: AnExperimental Investigation."Communication Reports, 18.1/2 (2005):21-30.

Sparks, Glenn G, and Robert M Ogles."The Difference Between Fear of Victimization and the Probability of BeingVictimized: Implications for Cultivation." Journal of Broadcasting &Electronic Media, 34.3 (1990): 351.

Sparks, Glenn G. "The RelationshipBetween Distress and Delight in Males' and Females' Reactions to FrighteningFilms." HumanCommunication Research, 17.4 (1991): 625.

Sparks, Glenn, C. Leigh Nelson, and RoseCampbell. "The Relationship Between Exposure to Televised Messages AboutParanormal Phenomena and Paranormal..." Journalof Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 41.3 (1997): 345-358.

Sparks, Glenn G, and Erich Goode."The Relationship Between Paranormal Beliefs and Religious Beliefs / aComment." The SkepticalInquirer, 25.5 (2001): 50-56.

Sparks, Glenn G, Marianne Pellechia, andChris Irvine. "The Repressive Coping Style and Fright Reactions to MassMedia." CommunicationResearch, 26.2 (1999): 176-192.

Sparks, Glenn G, Marianne Pellechia, andChris Irvine. "Does Television News About UFOs Affect Viewers' UFOBeliefs?: An Experimental Investigation." Communication Quarterly, 46.3(1998): 284-294.

Sparks, Glenn G. "How Were ChildrenAffected by the Space Shuttle Disaster?." The Education Digest, 52.6(1987): 55.

Sparks, Glenn G, and Melissa M Spirek."Individual Differences in Coping with Stressful Mass Media: AnActivation-Arousal View." HumanCommunication Research, 15.2 (1988): 195.

Sparks, Glenn G, Cheri W Sparks, and KirstenGray. "Media Impact on Fright Reactions and Belief in UFOs: The PotentialRole of Mental Imagery." CommunicationResearch, 22.1 (1995): 3.

Sparks, Glenn G. "Moving Images:Understanding Children's Emotional Responses to Television."Journal ofCommunication, 47.1 (1997): 176-178.

Sparks, Glenn G. "ParanormalDepictions in the Media: How Do They Affect What People Believe?." The Skeptical Inquirer, 22.4(1998): 35-39.

“Glenn G. Sparks.” Department ofCommunication. Purdue University, n.d.Web. 11 Feb 2012. <http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~sparks/>

Sparks,G., (2006). Media that Stir Emotions. In MediaEffects Research: A Basic Overview, pp. 127-147. Canada: Wadsworth, CengageLearning.

PiagetJ (1994). Cognitive Development in children: Piaget Development and Learning,J. Res. in Sci. Teaching, 1964, 2: 176-186.

Discussion Question: Wounded but Not Slain

2012-02-14T02:26:00.000-06:00

Wounded but Not Slain: The Orderly Retreat of the American Newspaper - James L. Baughman

Over the past century, newspapers have seen many changes including different content, reporter backgrounds, design, etc. Reporters had gone from being random white males looking for work to well educated men, women, African Americans, etc. Before, there was a large emphasis put on foreign news and involving the community, but as professionalism and autonomy grew in newsrooms, newspapers began using that space for entertainment and to give more opinions about recent happenings than actual events. As Baughman states, "Opinion was masquerading as information..." Do you think the fact that journalists were becoming increasingly educated (gaining college degrees, etc.) influenced the change from high news content to opinions? If so, why do you think that? Was there any pressure from the audience to move away from high news content in papers? Is it possible that instead of the journalists' education and superior feelings causing the change to opinionated content, it could have been their need to cater to an audience whose interests have shifted from learning world events to people's thoughts and being entertained (possibly as a result of the rising popularity of television)? Is this comparable to modern day internet opinion blogs and the further diminishing interest in news among younger generations?

Cassie Baker

Baughman Research Report

2012-02-12T17:00:00.003-06:00

James L. Baughman’s excerpt Wounded but Not Slain focuses on the evolution of the newspaper and its readers from the 1920s into present day. Baughman describes changes in readership, technology, influence, and focus of newspaper as a medium while employing various sources and using insights that he has gained as long-time member of the journalistic world.

His profession as a professor for the University of Wisconsin-Madison influences the informational perspective that Baughman provides within his excerpt. Though this piece is a section within a collection of pieces by various authors, Baughman has also written several books individually, including Same Time, Same Station: Creating American Television and Republic of Mass Culture. He has earned various awards for his teaching at UW-Madison and served as director of the School of Journalism for several years. Prior to his arrival at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1979, however, Baughman received his B.A. at Harvard as well as his M.A., M. Phil., and Ph.D in history from Columbia University.

Wounded but Not Slain was published as a chapter within Volume Five of the five volume series, A History of the Book in America. Contributors from various institutions detail the histories of printing and publishing from the days of early European settlement to today and provide insight as to the evolution of media in its current form. As a reference and informational book, this work seeks to objectively educate the reader and provide insight into the historical perspective of the world of media. This book has been commended for its detail, significance, and ability to inform the reader while still maintaining an interesting perspective. A main factor in this may be that the book was written not by just one author but is, in fact, a compilation of the work of many established contributors. This format provides a reminder that the book in and of itself serves a different purpose to numerous communities and is able to be interpreted in various ways. Baughman accurately confirms this reminder within his own segment as he describes the different meanings and purposes of newspapers throughout history.

This article should therefore be interpreted as a factual, informative piece within a collective book detailing the history of print media. Baughman’s unique perspective, while still quite factual and accurate, contributes to the underlying message of the entire book that different communities can interpret print media in numerous manners. For instance, in his piece, Baughman details the beginning of the newspaper sensation with a description of newspapers as politically- and news-based and read in most households. He continues the account with a description of the changing media to more independent, feature-filled newspapers and, with these changes, the rise in African American print. Prior to this point, African American newspapers were rare. However, the African American community soon created their own alternatives in weekly papers. In the same way that other individuals used newspapers as a method to keep current in the lives and events of others and the world, African Americans used their newspapers to learn what occurred in the lives of other African Americans. Baughman also details a parallel phenomenon that gradually grew and continues to occur today in regard to the manner in which people obtain their news. Previously, newspapers were the only option for most Americans. Now, with the growth of media, individuals are able to tailor their news and choose other methods of information retrieval such as television, radio, and Internet, among others. In this way, Baughman exhibits the idea that, since media carries different ideas for various communities, the types of media involved consequently do the same. As media has grown, people have gained the ability to choose their form of media consumption based on their own definition of news.

Sources:

"A History of the Book in America." The University of North Carolina Press. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb 2012. <http://uncpress.unc.edu/books/T-8338.html>.

"Baughman." School of Journalism and Mass Communication. University of Wisconsin-Madison, n.d. Web. 12 Feb 2012. <http://www.journalism.wisc.edu/users/baughman>.

Baughman, J. “Wounded but not slain: The orderly retreat of the American newspaper.” In D.P. Nord et al., (Eds) A history of the book in America, vol 5. (pp. 119-134). Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press.

Media that Stir Emotions (Sparks) Discussion Question

2012-02-12T17:00:00.001-06:00

In the chapter MediaThat Stir Emotions, G. Sparks evaluates the effects that horror movies andtelevision shows have on individuals’ emotions. He most thoroughly emphasizesthe reactions of children to frightening images and concepts and how those emotionalreactions might stick with a viewer for years to come.

Sparks cites several examples where images in scary movieshindered some people’s lives. For example, after Jaws a lot of Americansavoided the ocean, and after seeing Poltergeist some unplugged theirtelevision sets at night, even a decade or so after seeing it. Have youpersonally felt “scarred” by some sort of media, and if so what type of emotionstuck with you? Think about a personal example, and in section we will discussthe reasoning for this phenomenon and other key points of Spark’s text.

Online Assignment #1

2012-02-09T17:55:00.000-06:00

Online Assignment

Name and hometown: Yoon Hyuk Park, Seoul, Korea

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now?
I have a couple of interests but I guess my ultimate dream is writing a bestseller

and being loaded for life. My favorite authors are Dave Eggers, Tim Dorsey,

and JK Rowling.
Do you consume "news"? If you do, what are your main sources?
I used to read the International Herald Tribune when I was in Korea, along with

online portal newspapers. Now I'm mostly pressed for time so I usually read

tidbits off a BBC app I downloaded.
What kind of music do you like?
I enjoy all kinds of music as long as they don't kill my ears or put me to sleep.

I've got songs floating around my head all day most of the time, and I'm currently

listening to Seasons of Love from the musical Rent and Goodnight Moon by Shivaree.

Favorite online video (link to it): http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=121786551258284 This always cracks me up and puts me in a good mood.

I love my dogs.
What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)?
I'm not very familiar with recent pop culture. Me and a couple of friends had a private

screening of the cult classic, "The Room," by Tommy Wiseau, and we now have tons

of our personal cues. My favorite is 'You're tearing me apart!!'

The Unbeautiful Game (Gopnik) Discussion Question

2012-02-06T09:34:00.000-06:00

In the article The Unbeautiful Game, Adam Gopnik argues many principles that he believes apply to football. First, he argues that perspective is important. Depending on if you watch a game on television, watch form the press box, are actually playing in the game, or are playing a video game, you will have a different perspective, because you will have different amounts of knowledge, and will be able to see different things. In terms of football or society as a whole, do you think perspective is important? Should we agree with Gopnik and always take perspective into account, or are there certain situations when we must act without obtaining all necessary information?

Gopnik also argues that even individuals with the same perspective have different views. Blount and Feinstein both wrote books from the press’ point of view, but Blount glorified the game and sided with coaching, while Feinstein showed the negatives of the game, and sides more with the players. Who do you tend to agree more with?

Gopnik raises the issue of disparity within NFL contracts. He points out, “seventy-eight percent of N.F.L. players are unemployed, bankrupt, or divorced within two years of leaving the game, and those are the guys who make it” (42). Do you think that it is fair to offer some players multi-million dollar contracts while letting others only make the minimum salary? While the minimum salary is $375,000 after the new CBA (collective bargaining agreement), do you think that the increase of $55,000 will be significant, taking into account the fact that the average NFL career is only 3.3 years? Also, before the new 2011 CBA, there were no guaranteed contracts. Now, contracts are only guaranteed against injury. Do you see this as a final solution, or just a step in the right direction? Why?

Research Report - Gopnik Article

2012-02-06T00:29:00.001-06:00

In the New Yorker’s article, “TheUnbeautiful Game,” author Adam Gopnik attempts to describe and dissect thepeaks and the pitfalls of modern-day American football. Using various sourcesas well as his own insight and opinions, Gopnik discusses the differences offootball today.

Adam Gopnik wrote “The Unbeautiful Game”for the Sporting Scene section of The New Yorker in January 2008. By that time,he had been writing for The New Yorker for twenty-two years and had won twoprestigious awards: The National Magazine Award for Essay and Criticism, andthe George Polk Award for Magazine Reporting. Preparing him for his life ofwriting was his very broad liberal arts education he received at McGillUniversity, where his parents both taught. While “The Unbeautiful Game” wasclearly a sports piece, Gopnik has written many other genres of work for TheNew Yorker, including: book reviews, humorous pieces, fiction, and professionalreports. In 1987 Gopnik also became The New Yorker’s art critic and in 1990 heco-wrote the book, High & Low: ModernArt and Popular Culture. Gopnik continued to write for the magazine when hemoved to Paris in 1995. While in Paris, he wrote the Paris Journal column forthe magazine, worked on a collection of essays that he later titled “Paris tothe Moon,” and wrote an adventure novel called The King in the Window. After writing in Paris, Gopnik moved backto New York and wrote another book, Throughthe Children’s Gate: A Home in New York in 2006 and continues to write forThe New Yorker today.

“The Unbeautiful Game” was published inthe prestigious The New Yorker magazine, which has been in publication since1925. The New Yorker not only contains very professional reporting, but alsoarticles of humor, satire, fiction, poetry and critiques. While The NewYorker’s main clients are from New York itself, it is a national magazine thathas received much praise for its journalism regarding political and socialissues as well as its lighter articles such as literary reviews or shortstories. It is well known for its’ excellent copyediting and fact checking, aswell as its strong editorials; it clearly prides itself on accuracy andprofessionalism.

Not only has he won prestigious literaryawards, but he has also won the verbal praise of many observers. Two Frenchpublications, Le Monde and Le Point praised his writings from Paris,saying that he really paid attention to the “details of French culture”(bookbrowse.com). His Sporting Scene article, “The Unbeautiful Game,” did notreceive neither extremely harsh nor praiseful reviews due to the fact that itwas a more lighthearted article. The blogger Gary Andrew Poole (who is also acontributor to TIME) wrote that though Gopnik is a superb writer andstoryteller, he somewhat disagreed with the arguments that he was trying tomake in “The Unbeautiful Game.” Poole believes that, though Gopnik makes somevalid points about the way football is today, the structure of modern-dayfootball is still very similar to its past, so the idea that football hasdeveloped into this “unbeautiful game” is irrelevant.

Sources:

Adam Gopnik, TheSporting Scene, “The Unbeautiful Game,” The New Yorker, January 8, 2007, p. 38

Poole, Gary A."Review: Adam Gopnik's "The Unbeautiful Game"" In TheFray. 4 Jan. 2007. Web. 06 Feb. 2012.<http://garyandrewpoole.blogspot.com/2007/01/review-adam-gopniks-unbeautiful-game.html>.

"AdamGopnik Author Bio." Book Reviews: Find the Best New Books. 28 Dec.2008. Web. 06 Feb. 2012.<http://www.bookbrowse.com/biographies/index.cfm/author_number/522/adam-gopnik>.

"AdamGopnik." The New Yorker. Web. 5 Feb. 2012.<www.newyorker.com>.

Research Report: Creation of the Media

2012-02-05T23:30:00.000-06:00

Paul Starr places confidence in thereader of the book with his knowledge on media. As Stuart Professor of Communications and Public Affairs at PrincetonUniversity, Starr displays extensive understanding of the evolving media. He graduated with a B.A. from Columbia and aPh.D. from Harvard. He then becameProfessor of Sociology and Public Affairs. By winning the Pulitzer Prize and winning the Goldsmith Book Prize for Creation of the Media, Starr displayedhis credibility, giving his readers assurance of his facts. He is a respectedas an intellectual and a leader of the Princeton campus. His motivation of writing this book was toeducate readers and to promote future research in this field.

Perseus Books Group, the publisherof Creation of the Media, won the publisherof the year in 2007 by Publishers WeeklyMagazine. This group had to be veryselective about what they publish if they want to keep up their eliteimage. They tend to associate themselveswith scholarly publications. PerseusBooks Group focusses their publications toward intellectual citizens who arecollege level and above.

Starr used the sources he didbecause of their intellectual input on media related topics. He used Charles Merz and Walter Lippmanninvestigation the New York Times, in 1920, as evidence that the media wasdistorting the news with bias and inaccurate information. The media has changed since then focusing onthe facts instead of opinions. Lippmannwanted journalism to become more professional. Another source was Paul Lazarsfeld, BernardBerelson, and Hazel Gaudet’s research on the spread of media. Their input on the “two-step flow” backedStarr’s opinion on social science. People gain their opinions through social relationships more than theyheard in the news. Their friends,however, maybe are getting their information from the news. Starr effectively uses various researchstudies to convey his purpose of informing the reader about various forms ofmedia and their effect on society. Starrindicates media’s change between generations. Lizabeth Cohen’s research backs up Starr’s statement. Her research indicated how ethnic familiesused various forms of media to escape the bounds of their ethnic world. He used all his sources effectively tosupport his various ideas and theories.

Starr’s book was received well bythe audience. People thought it wasinspiring enough to grant it the Goldsmith Book Prize. Reed Business Information raves that Creation of the Media, “should draw theattention of serious readers” (Google Books). This review exhibits the fact that Starr’s target audience is beingreached, the intellectual community. Reed Business Information has been known for great reviews on very scholarlypublications. Its review is a credible source. Kirkus Reviews gave this book a great review. Their interest was exclaimed through theirstatement, “A sequel, please.” This well respected group wanted more fromStarr. Not only was this book respectedby the intellectual community, it was valued by the general public. Julie states, “A book dense with detail andsecondary source material worthy of a lengthy study” (Google Books). Starr’s Creationof the Media gave an interesting perspective on the evolvement ofmedia.

Bibliography

“The Creation of the Media” Google Books. Web. 1 Feb. 2012.

“Paul Starr” Princeton University-Paul Starr. PrincetonUniversity. Web. 1 Feb. 2012.

Starr, Paul. “ChapterTwelve/ Coda: The Advent of the Media” Creationof the Media: Political Origins of Modern Communications. Perseus Books Group,. p.385-402. Print.

Discussion Question: The Creation of the Media

2012-02-05T21:16:00.000-06:00

The Creation of the Media: Political Origins of Modern Communication

Coda- The Advent of the Media

Paul Starr

Media, in the form of the press, started off being subjectto the government. Throughout time, media began to become independent of partyinfluence. In order to be autonomous, the press needed to find a way toincrease circulation, “circulation means advertising, and advertising meansmoney, and money means independence,” (Pulitzer) To reach a state of politicalindependence, advertising seemed to be a necessary route to take. Advertisingas the primary source of funding for the press, not the readers, means thatadvertisers have a greater influence on content than the readers themselves do.Where political parties used the press to sell their ideas, now advertisers usethe press to sell a product. Is one really better than the other? As influenceon press has shifted from political parties to advertisers, has the pressreally become autonomous? Is it possible to have a press that is completelyfree of outside sources and is driven only by public interest?

Abby Wuestenberg

Online Assignment

2012-02-01T22:29:00.000-06:00

Name and hometown: Dan Knoedler, Mosinee, WI

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now?
I am considering many different fields, but ideally I would like to do anything in the golf industry, from managing and operating a golf course to working for a golf retail company like Titleist in their marketing or managing depts.
Do you consume "news"? If you do, what are your main sources?
I am usually most interested in Political news especially now during election season. I tend to consume my news from more conservative sources.
What kind of music do you like?
My favorite artists right now are Wiz Khalifa and 2pac, but I enjoy a lot of different types of artists from James Taylor to Destiny’s child. I can pretty much get enjoyment out of any stlye of music with Modern Country music being the exception to that.
Favorite online video (link to it): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8Y9-JlSRXw
Usually watch this about 3 times a day.
What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)? \
My roommates and I can’t get enough of “Trailer Park Boys,” and probably the best part of that show outside of Bubbles is J-Roc and his use of “ Know I’m saying” after pretty much every sentence. We use it around the apartment every once in awhile and it gets a laugh every time.

2012-01-31T12:11:00.001-06:00

Name and Hometown

My name is Robert Gorowsky. I generally go by Robby but some people enjoy calling me by some permutation of that, so as long as I know you're talking to me anything is fine. I come from Lino Lakes, MN. Not to be confused with Land o' Lakes as many people do.

Possible future job? Anyone in that job you admire right now?

I'd love to work in some specific field of biology research. If I could work for the Discovery Channel that is probably the coolest profession I could think of, but we'll what happens there. Currently my favorite person in that field is the professor I did research with, Dr. Warren Porter. When you meet him one on one he's a compassionate person and doesn't have the "big head" some professors get, and his does incredible work in his field.

Do you consume "news"? If you do, what are your main sources?

The news I receive is generally from popular sources, i.e. the internet, Daily Show/Colbert Report. But I don't trust the spin of most things so if I come across anything that piques my interest I'll try to find the original source and read from there. If it's VERY interesting I may try and read a few different sources.

What kind of music do you like?

I have a lot of different kinds of favorite music. The genres I listen to least are probably hip hop and classical. But it all depends on what my mood is. It can be anywhere from rock and country to christian and dubstep. However I do think the genre I most often (not by much) listen to is classic rock.

Favorite online video

Not sure if I have a favorite but I've been hearing a lot about the removal of Wolves from the endangered species list and re-opening them to hunting. This video is an excerpt from a show on Animal Planet from a conservation station in Northern Minnesota, and it's freakin' adorable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyG3XzsT2_s

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)?

AY RODGAS! DISCOUNT DOUBLECHECK!

Research Report

2012-01-30T23:56:00.000-06:00

Schudson wrote so articulate on American Journalism and the reader can be confident with the examples and reasoning in his texts.
He is considered an expert in his field. Schudson received is B.A. from Swarthmore College and his Masters and Ph.D. in sociology from Harvard University. He then taught at University of Chicago, and University San Diego and now educates graduate students at the University of Columbia in the School of Journalism. He has written books and articles on American mass media. Admired by students, colleagues, and scholars, Michael Schudson has been awarded the Murray Edelman distinguished career award as well as received many honors (Michael Schudson).
As a professor Schudson’s audiences tend to be college students or individuals who are further educating themselves on the history of the American mass media. Writing at intellectual level, Schudson provides his audience with appropriate vocabulary and strong constructed grammar.
In Discovering The News, many of the individuals referenced were editors or founders of popular Newspapers during the 1800’ s-1900. Such editors mentioned were: William Cullen Bryant (Evening Post), Wm L Stone (Commercial Advertiser), James Gordon (Bennett’s New York Herald), Edwin Croswell (Albany Argus), Thurlow Weed (Albany Evening Journal), Horace Greeley (New York Tribune), etc. Schudson provides the reader with an accurate timeline of the advancements of technology in printing from the wooden, hand-powered press, iron press, flatbed hand presses, cylinder press, leading to the steam-powered cylinder press, which produced one thousand sheets per hour. These improvements occurred in the 1800’s. The telegram, longer stretches of railroad were soon to follow. Along with technology, literacy rates improved (Schudson, 1978).
There are abundance of examples that portray Schudson’s message on the dominance and circulation of the penny papers; which defined and constructed the American mass media. These examples include but are not limited to, page 14, “[The] ‘penny papers’ --- appeared most powerful. The new journals reflected political, social, and technological changes that a thoughtful man might well have been alarmed about.” (Schudson, 1978). And on page 46, “The penny papers themselves contributed directly to the extension of the market in two ways. First, they made advertisements more available to more people and so enlarged the potential market for manufactured goods. Second, they transformed the newspaper form something to be borrowed or read at a club or library to a product one bought for home consumption.” (Schudson, 1978). And of course, in the conclusion there are approximately ten lines contributed to the success of the penny papers (Schudson, 1978).
Online reviews of Discovering The News provided positive reinforcement on the educational and factual novel. John Biers wrote, “It's useful to look back at a time of great change in journalism.” and Mfalco65 raved that, “Schudson is a phenomenal sociologist and makes such compelling points about the nature of objectivity and the role newspapers played in the development of our cities.” (Google books).

Bibliography
"Discovering the News: A Social History of American Newspapers - Michael Schudson." Google Books. Web. 30 Jan. 2012..

"Michael Schudson." Home - Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Columbia University. Web. 30 Jan. 2012. .

Schudson, Michael. "Chapter One/The Revolution In American Journalism In The Age Of Egalitarianism The Penny Press." Discovering the News: A Social History of American Newspapers. New York: Basic, 1978. 12-60. Print.

Online Assignment #1

2012-01-30T23:08:00.000-06:00

Name and hometown: Cassandra Baker; Linden, WI

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now? I am actually majoring in business, but have always dreamed of being an editor for any sort of fashion/entertainment magazine with a college aged demographic. I think Ann Shoket and Kate White both do wonderful jobs now with Seventeen and Cosmo and would love to reach that level of success someday.

Do you consume "news"? If you do, what are your main sources? Yeah, I definitely consume "news" in some way each day. Whether it be global, local or just keeping up with my friends, I am always exposed to it. Most of the time, I get news through social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter. If I see something interesting mentioned, I'll go research it a bit more through Google to find the original article. I can also see what my friends have read through the Washington Post app on Facebook, which allows me to keep up with more current events that way.

What kind of music do you like? I'm fairly open about what music I listen to - basically anything on the pop radio stations, but I also enjoy house/electronic music like Avicii, Skrillex, etc. I love finding musicians before they hit the mainstream - like Timeflies - because it mixes things up. Last but not least, 90s music is ALWAYS a good choice.

Favorite online video (link to it): Cal has mad freestyle talent!

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)? "Get on my level!" I definitely use this daily - especially when engaging in friendly competition.

Online Assignment #1 attempt 2

2012-01-30T22:25:00.000-06:00

Name and hometown: My name is Jared Heino and I'm from Florence, WI but I consider Iron Mountain, MI to be my hometown.

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now? I at some point would like to run for office nationally. My favorite politician at the current moment, granted it's really hard to pick an individual in a profession filled with so many people of bad tastes, is Jon Boehner. I just really enjoy the way he speaks, not all of his view points. Feel free to watch any video of him crying which is what he is known for. I would also enjoy writing for any major newspaper or magazine. I really enjoy reading anything by Rick Reilly.

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources? I'd say that I consume a little bit of news. It mostly comes from The Colbert Report or The Daily Show. I occasionally read The New York Times but other than that what I consume mainly comes from hear say with my friends or family. I also write for the Badger Herald so I'm always reading headlines in there, even if I don't have time to read the whole article.
What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture.) This happens to be one of my favorite questions on this assignment because I absolutely love music. I can't do anything without it. My favorite genre is definitely rap/hip-hop/rnb music. It's nearly impossible for me to choose a favorite artist but for the sake of the assignment I'm going to say that Childish Gambino is my favorite rapper. He's kind of obscure and random, but if you watch Community on NBC, you'll realize that he plays "Troy."

Favorite online video (link to it): I think this video is pretty neat.

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)? "That sh*t Cray"--Thanks Kanye West/Jay-Z

1st online assignment

2012-01-30T01:55:00.000-06:00

Name and hometown: Michelle Gonzalez. I was born in Los Angeles California, but my family and I moved to Milwaukee when I was 9.

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now?

I am still not sure about my future job because I have many interests, but I think I might want to do something with journalism or law.

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources? I read the New York Times online, but I do read the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel while I'm at home. Other than that I get a lot of news from networking sites or the television.

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture.) I pretty much listen to all kinds of music. The majority would have to be rock, alternative, country, and hip hop.

Favorite online video (link to it): I don't have a favorite online video, but I enjoy this plot line of the music video by Best Cost,"Our Deal". Although this video is very lengthy.

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)? "Yeaahh Buddy!"

Schudson Article Pre-Discussion Questions

2012-01-29T20:45:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone!

On Tuesday I will be leading a discussion on Michael Schudson’s article, “The Age of Egalitarianism: The Penny Press.” Below are some pre-discussion questions that I would like you to consider during or after reading the article:

If the penny press had ceased to exist, and journalism continued to be the way it was during the era of the six-penny papers, how would your personal media consumption be affected today? Would you consume just as much media, or would your consumption be drastically cut? And furthermore, what kinds of media would no longer be available to you?

My Example Response: As an avid reader of media concerning fashion, entertainment, and gossip, I can’t help but wonder if such forms of media would exist had the penny press never existed. Would my fashion blogs and magazines still be available to me? Would I be able to enjoy my celebrity gossip magazines like InTouch, People, and Star while sipping chai lattes at Starbucks? Would I be able to wake up and go to sleep to E! News? While reading Schudson’s article, my answer to all of these questions was inevitably a big, fat, depressing NO. Because of this, I will be first to admit that my media consumption would be drastically cut. This is not to say that I would not consume any media, as I’m sure my taste for certain kinds of media would be altered if we still lived in a six-penny paper era, but I would not have the media that so thoroughly inspires and entertains me today.

We will begin the discussion by talking about your responses to these questions, so please give them a good amount of thought. Not only will it make the discussion more interesting, but it will help to shape the rest of the discussion as well.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Paige

Online Assignment #1

2012-01-29T15:47:00.000-06:00

Name and hometown: My name is Anna Fronberry and I am from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now? I hope to become a buyer for a fashion company one day. I am really into fashion and the upcoming trends. I don't have a specific person I admire as a buyer but I admire the various companies. Nordstrom's is definitely my favorite store and I would love to work there as a buyer someday.

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources? I don't read newspapers ever, so I consume news through various online sites. My homepage is msn.com so I usually get a lot of my information from there. I also watch E! news. It is a TV program about entertainment news. I always find it very interesting.

What kind of music do you like? I will listen to almost anything. It really depends on what mood I am in. If I am working out, I will listen to rap or hip-hop. When I am doing homework I usually listen to alternative style music or sometimes country.

Favorite online video: Marcel the shell with shoes on

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)? I find it interesting that now a days, people are shortening words. For example, my friends always say "strug" when the mean "struggle".

Online Assignment #1

2012-01-28T13:45:00.000-06:00

Name and Hometown: Nicole Franz, Chanhassen, MN

Possible future job? Anybody in that job that you really admire now? : I honestly don't have one main passion in life but I always thought it would be really interesting to be a talk show host. I definitely admire Ellen Degeneres. Degeneres is a very intelligent and funny hostess and offers a lot of personality. Otherwise I always thought being a sports reporting would be exciting (interviewing the players, etc).

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources? : I do enjoy consuming the "news". I do wish that I had more time to watch the news or pick up a newspaper and read it. When I am at home I will watch the news with my mom before dinner. At college I rarely watch TV so I generally get all of the big news headlines from friends and statuses over Facebook.

What kind of music do you like? : When it comes to music, I care more about the song more than the artist or genre. I really enjoy all kinds of music and I'm not picky at all.

Favorite online video [link to it]: Sh*t Nobody Says

What recent pop culture expression do you love [or find yourself using]? : My friends and I always say 'soups cute' for 'super cute". It's more of a joke about how everything is becoming abbreviated but we use it a lot.

Online Assignment #1

2012-01-28T13:14:00.000-06:00

Name and Home Town- Abby Wuestenberg, Watertown WI

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now?- I aspire to work as an event planner for a larger venue. Planning banquets, fundraisers, and ceremonies while simultaneously having a hand in the PR to promote these events would be my dream job.

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources?- I have a subscription to the Wisconsin State Journal and I read CNN online.

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture.)- I love Lady Gaga! I am definitely gaga for Gaga.

Favorite online video (link to it):- Boots and Cats

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)?- I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a Charlie Sheen fan, consequently I've caught on to saying "Winning" a bit too much.

Online Assignment #1

2012-01-28T13:12:00.001-06:00

Name and Hometown: Paige Schultz. Oshkosh, WI.

Possible future job? Anybody in that job that you really admire now? : For as long as I can remember, I’ve always dreamed of working as a writer or editor of a fashion magazine. I really admire editors like Anna Wintour [American Vogue], Franca Sozzani [Vogue Italia], Joanna Coles [Marie Claire], Robbie Myers [ELLE], and also Leah Chernikoff, the executive editor of fashionista.com, one of the largest independent fashion news sites in the world.

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources? : This may be slightly embarrassing to admit, but a lot of the news I consume revolves around the fashion and entertainment worlds. The two places I get news from the most are fashionista.com and E! News, but I have also recently started to read bits and pieces of the New York Times in an effort to expand my horizions. Otherwise, most of my “worldly news” comes from the brief news sections in the fashion/lifestyle magazines that I read.

What kind of music do you like? : Music has never been something that I have been particularly picky about. On any given day of the year you could catch me listening to Lil Wayne or Mozart, both of which are obviously on opposite sides of the music spectrum. A song that has recently caught my attention [thanks to one of my good friends and a fairly recent episode of Gossip Girl] is a song by Robyn called “Hang with Me.” She has a really interesting voice and eclectic sound, which makes her music rather fun to listen to à mon avis.

Favorite online video [link to it]: Sophia Grace Brownlee singing Nicki Minaj’s song “Super Bass” never fails to entertain me. She’s so adorable!

What recent pop culture expression do you love [or find yourself using]? : “Prec.” [pronounced “presh” short for precious], “perf” [short for perfect], “for real,” and “lezbehonest.”

Online Assignment #1

2012-01-26T18:11:00.000-06:00

Name and hometown: Kathryn Ficho. Glenview, IL (suburb of Chicago)

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now? I plan on pursuing bilingual speech pathology (also majoring in Spanish), but I am also interested in strategic communications and working with new and growing companies. My brother graduated from Wisconsin a few years ago and has since started a website called Obaz, which is pretty cool and you should all check it out!

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources? Not exactly. I use Twitter and Facebook the most, but at school I don't really follow any legitimate source. At home, however, I watch the news much more frequently because my parents always have it on the TV.

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture.) I am a huge country fan; my favorites include Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Jerrod Niemann, and Taylor Swift. This is one of my most played on iTunes: Luke Bryan: I Don't Want This Night to End

Favorite online video (link to it): I cannot say I really have one, but I saw this commercial recently and thought it was hilarious: Volkswagen barking dogs commercial

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)? "Fosh."

Online Assignment #1

2012-01-26T13:46:00.000-06:00

Name and hometown: Tyler Perlman, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now? My potential job at the moment is any place that will hire me. Experience is invaluable and unfortunately, I can't jump into my dream job of owning my own business right away. I really admire Steve Jobs. He had a creative vision for Apple, designed it to perfection, and let the product do its own advertising.

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your mainsources? I usually read BBC News or NPR online, but I do have a subscription to TIME Magazine.

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear inlecture.) The Black Keys!

Favorite online video (link to it): Ultimate Dog Tease

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or findyourself using)? WOOP! You should probably watch this one too...

Online Assignment #1

2012-01-26T12:20:00.000-06:00

I'm Rachael Gaenslen and I'm from Whitefish Bay, WI

I'm undecided about a future job but I am thinking something in the communications or business field. I really admire my family-friend Tina who started her own business and is very successful and organized.

I occasionally read the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel when I am home, but I also consume very basic news through Twitter and Facebook. I also enjoy watching The Colbert Report which is a form of news with a comedic/satiric twist.

I like a lot of different types of music. I love country music artists such as Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, and Miranda Lambert and I also like a lot of music from the 90s like Hootie and the Blowfish. I've always loved the Goo Goo Dolls as well and right now I listen to a lot of Adele.

My favorite online video is, I hate to admit, Kittens Inspired by Kittens.

I can't think of a popular expression that I use a lot or that I really like. I do like puns a lot, so I guess I like saying "that's punny"

Online Assignment 1

2012-01-26T08:48:00.000-06:00

Name and hometown: Carolyn Gasiorowski; Cedarburg, WI (suburb of Milwaukee)

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now? After I finish my undergrad, I plan to go to either business school for an MBA or law school. I would ideally like to be involved in something with economics or finance like a stock broker and bond trader, or even something with public relations and event planning. I recently changed my major, so I am really still just trying to find what I want to do and trying out a lot of new ideas. I really admire my uncle, a bond trader and also my cousin who started her own business and worked her way up to build a well-known and successful company with her use of PR.

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources? Most of my news comes from online sources such as Facebook, Twitter, MSN.com, and yahoo.com. I also read the Badger Herald and Daily Cardinal and watch shows like The Colbert Report whenever I can.

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture.) I am a HUGE fan of Frank Sinatra, but also like more laid-back groups such as Kid Cudi or Jack Johnson.

Favorite online video (link to it): I love Anderson Cooper.

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)? "It's casual."

Online Assignment #1

2012-01-25T20:43:00.000-06:00

Name and hometown: Sam Adler; Wilmette, IL (suburb of Chicago)

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now? I am considering being a stock broker, financial analyst, or accountant. Even though he is an investor, I really admire Warren Buffett because he is extremely experienced, and knows how to operate in a business setting while still acting morally.

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources? Yes; I really like reading articles on espn.com, and also read headlines and a few articles from the Wall Street Journal and New York Times.

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture.) Mostly hip-hop/rap. I can tolerate anything, but 2Pac is always going to be #1.

Favorite online video (link to it):

Keeping your refrigerator stocked will get you many women

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)? "Get swole"

Online Assignment Number 1

2012-01-25T18:10:00.000-06:00

Name and hometown: Samantha Kintz, St. Louis

Possible future job? Anybody in that job you really admire now? Either a high school counselor or a writer for a newspaper or magazine. I really admire the sports writers for ESPN and STL Today because I think it would be really interesting to be able to go to all of the sporting events and then write my opinion on them.

Do you consume “news”? If you do, what are your main sources? I get most of my news from Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, and STL Today online. And I also watch local news on tv every now and then.

What kind of music do you like? (It could appear in lecture.) I am probably the biggest country music fan you will ever meet.

Favorite online video (link to it):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqEeP1acj4Y

Don't forget the blueberries!

What recent pop culture expression do you love (or find yourself using)? "That's so frat"