Pragmatic Truth: Advocacy Journalism and Cinematic Journalism

When it comes to journalism, I feel as if though honest, unbiased opinions are important. Of course, journalists want a story that sells, but you can just as well get that with the truth without making it overly dramatic. You can grab attention with cinematic journalism; this is also a delicate matter. I don't agree with overly dramatic background music, or journalists standing in front of people dying. That may be a story, something true even, but you're not getting the story the right way.

Is it real journalism if you're just picking and choosing? Picking sides on a story is not something I agree with; real journalism sees every side or every story. You have to take time on stories and dig out the whole the whole story.
Cinematic journalism depends on suffering, it's all about grabbing attention of the audience. Is a story about a baby getting shot really news? Should it be on the front page as a top story? People die everyday so why this story? It has a more dramatic plot. Grabs the attention of us, pulls us in. Is that right; that we are drawn to this suffering? This isn't journalism anymore.

Student Debt Loans Suicide: Real or Fake

There's evidence, data and numbers; that proves to the common eye that one of many things is the reason for suicide; this being unemployment and student debt loans. As many numbers as you throw into an article, as many facts as you give; if you're not giving the entire, whole story then it's not real journalism. Real journalism is telling the whole story not just parts of it or what will grab the crowd's attention.  

There are plenty things that are factors in the suicide of a person. This being my point; focusing on one of these factors is not appropriate. Mental illness, among many other problems can be reasons for suicide and without someone leaving a note how do you know why they really decided death was the only option? We're assuming, all assuming why things happen to find comfort maybe to help understand. For "journalists" assuming is a problem. Assuming things, putting together some simple facts and data, and making it look real to the common eye to grab their attention; not always getting the whole story.

Massive student loans debts could undoubtedly be the one thing that puts a person over the top. If they are already experiencing some type of mental illness then no saying that something else couldn't have put them over the edge or given them that push to die. As real as this story is, other factors or reason for their choice in death need to be included in the story for it to be real.

Vanderbilt Paper

 http://www.insidevandy.com/

Headline stories seem to be all news worthy.
http://www.insidevandy.com/news/article_6b4d81b4-8f6b-11e2-84ac-0019bb30f31a.html
Useful. Tells pros and cons of commodore card as identification for voting and thoughts from legislation.
http://www.insidevandy.com/news/administration/article_bc37f4b0-8f6b-11e2-a16c-0019bb30f31a.html
Useful. What it takes to be a Young Alumni Trustee. Also, information on the new trustee David Head.
http://www.insidevandy.com/special_projects/collection_7c4ac728-3fb7-11e2-8a76-001a4bcf6878.html
Useful. Information on finals week. Ways to study and advice.
http://www.insidevandy.com/news/safety/article_dd8e73a8-3f31-11e2-845e-001a4bcf6878.html
Useful. Problem of Adderall use on campus. Why it's a problem and what the administration is attempting to do.



http://www.insidevandy.com/life/article_e402baa2-3f2f-11e2-8761-0019bb30f31a.html

Swarthmore Paper

Headline	Infinitely Useful (Why?)	Infinitely Harmful (Why?)
Two Teenagers Sentenced on Charges of Rape in Steubenville, Ohio		Given names Given place
LIVEBLOG: Michael Walzer on Politics, Justice, and Jewish Thought	Not News	Not News
Q&A With Founder of New Anonymous Group “Swat Sociopaths”	Gives no names Gives an understanding of the sociopaths
Assault  Date: Fall 2012 Time: - Location: Phi Psi Fraternity House Synopsis: A staff member reported that a male…
Politics Explained: Rand Paul Signals a Coalition Shift	Information on politics	Biased
Op-Ed: One Detainment and Two Marriage Proposals, Or My Study Abroad Experience		Biased -There own expirience
Three Nominees for MTV Awards Talk Music, Inspiration, and Dreams	Info about artists

Drawn to Suffering

I understand raising awareness for a cause but what I don't understand is standing by while people struggle and turning it into our own entertainment. I don't agree with hopping in front of the camera as a riot breaks out or while someone is taking there last breath.I believe it's important to let things speak for themselves. Is it right to turn pain and struggle into entertainment for ourselves? If we were those people suffering would we want our pain exploited by journalists? Though, does this drama that draws people in help with the raising of awareness?

Compare and contrast Jamal Osman and Peter Greste’s versions of life in Somalia in journalism ethics.
Jamal Osman pulls on our heart strings with his music and how the video is set up. As much as these stories try to draw attention to violence; I believe the journalists are worried more about entertaining. Peter Greste's life is Somalia video was more of something for entertainment you can tell by the way he jumped in front of the camera. I feel as if journalists have lost their way in telling a story. As good as it is to draw people in by pulling on the heart strings you have to show the story in a proper way that doesn't so much exploit the pain and suffering for entertainment.

Obesity and Gasoline Consumption

Are you driving the F350 because you're fat? What's the connection?
The Facts
1. Weight gain since 1960s 0.8 percent of gasoline consumption by passenger vehicles in 2005
2. F350 15-19 mpg
3. Bigger people want a bigger car
4. More weight, more gas

Both obesity and gas consumption are two significant issues in the United States today. Now, our question is, are they linked? It has been stated that since the 1960's weight gain amounts to 0.8 percent of gas consumption in 2005.
As an example we can look at the F350, the vehicles mpg is stated to be anywhere from 15-19 mpg. Typically bigger people want a bigger car. No one wants to be crammed in a small smart car if they weigh 300 pounds. Though, with a bigger car comes a price to pay, literally. Larger cars typically use more gas faster, but if you weigh more that can add to how fast you lose gas. Stated in Huffington Post for every 100 pounds in your car that gets approximation 31 miles to the gallon you will have about 30 added dollars to an annual gas bill. So, a car with lower gas millage and a heavier person would result in much more added money to an annual bill.
It has come to our attention that heavier people are more likely to drive a larger vehicle; and these larger vehicles will result in higher gas consumption. Though, even if a heavier person were to drive a smaller car that had lower gas mileage they would still receive a higher bill due to their weight.

Fuel Economy Lies

Ford and Hyundai have been recently sued for their lies about the fuel efficiency of their new vehicles. Ford continues to fight and keeps their stand on the fact that they were not lying. Ford claims, it's when, how, and where you drive it. Hyundai admits to their lie and agrees to settle. Hyundai is offering to reimburse the car owners with all the money lost in fuel plus an extra 15 percent.Fuel efficiency is an important factor when a consumer is looking to buy a car; so this is no surprise a company may lie about the fuel economy to persuade a consumer into buying their car. Though, this could simply be a mistake made by the companies. In 2008, a New York Times article states that m.p.g is a bad way to judge fuel efficiency. A more accurate way to judge our fuel efficiency would be to rate it by gas consumed per so many miles. 

There is a lot of money that rides on fuel efficiency of a car. If there is a situation such as Ford's, where they've been caught in a lie then they would lose a lot of money and investment. Locally, this would be problematic because we would lose money as a city. Also, because Ford is not offering to settle, if they are found guilty in the lawsuit they will more than likely loose more money. Hyundai offers to settle, and loses money but are fixing a problem before it becomes worse.