Newseum

Tuesday, November 5, my professor took me and my peers to the Newseum. Initially I wasn't excited to go because I've been there previous semesters. But, this experience was different. I think since my last visit I have acquired the mind sight to appreciate all that this museum has to offer for future journalist.

Several exhibits intrigued me the most while there this time around. For example, the lessons incorporated in the museums ethics center exemplified how journalists and individuals alike cannot agree on the what is the right thing to do in a certain situation. It made me begin to think that there isn't a set answer on how to handle situations, it all depends on someone's perspective.

I absolutely loved how interactive all the exhibits were especially, the mini sets where we were able to test out our anchoring skills by reading scripts from a teleprompter. This was definitely good practice for my classmates who want to be in front of the camera. Although, none of this was live I still felt nervous knowing that it would be aired for my classmates and other spectators to see.

Lastly, the JFK exhibit consumed me emotionally, because of how family oriented and genuine he as. It sadden me that this good natured mans life was taken away in a blink of an eye in front of hundreds of people and most importantly next to his wife.

Overall, the newseum is the place to go for past, present, and future journalist to gain inspiration and recall moments in the history that changed the evolution of the media industry.

A Legacy Remains

Dr. Lee Thornton, a journalist, teacher, friend, and family member passed away at the age of seventy one in her Bethesda home. In a statement given to the Washington Post by her sister, Marilyn; Dr. Thornton lost the battle to pancreatic cancer on September 25.

Thornton broke barriers within the industry with a masters in radio, TV and film (RTVF) from Northwestern University. In 1974, she landed a gig at CBS News and in a few years the network deemed her the White House Correspondent during Carter's presidency; making her the first African American to cover the White House at a major network. After her short stint at a CBS affiliate in Detroit, Michigan; Thornton found herself at National Public Radio (NPR) in 1982, hosting the weekend program of "All Things Considered".

In the 1980's, Thornton switched gears for a bit. After becoming a Washington reporter for the American Business Network she came to the "Mecca" and began teaching journalism at Howard's University's School of Communications. According to Carol Dudley, the director of the Office of Career and Development, Thornton was "extremely professional, if not overly professional", she didn't share much of her personal life with faculty members. Her professional attitude combined with her teaching methods influenced students to make a difference in the media industry.  She left "a strong reputation of producing broadcast graduates...her training was just undeniable", said Dudley.

In 1992, she became a senior producer at CNN, handling the production of many public affairs show, one being the infamous "Both Sides with Jesse Jackson". Yet Thornton couldn't stay away from teaching. In the late 90's she became a professor at another school in close proximity. She taught a vast range of classes at the Phillip Merrill College of Journalism, a part of the University of Maryland in College Park.

Thornton made sure to leave her mark. Playing a very active role at the Merrill College of Journalism she was able to produce the show "Front and Center" for the schools cable channel, then became the first female interim dean for the college between 2008 and 2009, and lastly she served as the Interim Associate Provost for Equity and Diversity, before retiring in 2011.

Other accomplishments of hers included: being the Washington chapter president for the Society of Professional Journalists', serving as board of the Radio TV News Directors Association of Washington, as well as chair of the President's Commission on Ethnic Minority Issues. Dr. Lee Thornton imprints within the media industry makes her legacy unforgettable. Dudley believes she broke stereotypes that  "black woman in particular aren't as good as black males; who aren't as good as white women, who aren't as good as white males".


SOURCE Washington Post NPR UMD Phillip Merrill College UMD Office of Provost

A Lesson on Ethics

There are four ethical aspects that media professionals should adhere to. These include truthfulness, fairness, privacy, and responsibility.

• Truthfulness: is the ability to tell the truth, to be honest and open. 
• Fairness: is the ability to present the story from an objective stand point; giving either party a chance to openly state their opinions on the topic at hand.
• Privacy: involves not invaded, intruding, trespassing the subject at hands personal space such as their home. 
• Responsibility: is being able to own and accept any mistakes to come for news pieces that you play a part in. 

Each of the characteristics listed above will make a good journalist. Its a  professional journalist job to present the audience with fair and accurate reporting, that stems away from bias. 

There has been many incidents in which the four rules of ethics have been breached and turned into controversial cases in the public eye.

One for instance was Janet Cooke who fabricated stories of an eight year old drug addict named Jimmy. Her stories were featured on the front page of the Washington Post and she later received the Pulitzer Prize for this piece. Cooke's scandal opened up a door of mistrust between reporters and its viewers in which their credibility is questioned.

In other cases, journalist go to jail for trying to do what they feel as though is the right thing by protecting a source. In most cases this results in jail time. In August of 2006, Joshua Wolf refused to turn over a video tape of a protest in San Francisco in which protesters set a police car on fire. FBI agents and other officials inquired the tape to pin an open investigation on individuals who were responsible for setting the squad car on fire and inadvertently injuring a fellow police officer. Wolf spent 226 days in prison before releasing the tape in its entirety to prosecutors. 

Sources:
Wiki
First Amendment Center

Twelve Years Forward

  For me September 11 was a normal school day for me. I remember sitting in my fourth grade class taught by Mr. Rokita. He was teaching a lesson using the overhead when someone interrupted class to tell me that my father was here for early pick up. I was surprised we didn't discuss me leaving school early today. As I gathered my things it was announced over the classroom intercom that another one of my classmates was getting picked up from school as well. I greeted my dad happily but confused and asked what happened. He had a weary look on his face and as we walked out of Glenridge Elementary school and hopped into the car he told me of the plane crashes in the World Trade Center. We rushed to downtown DC and picked my mother up from work. Outside the Ronald Reagan building were reporters and their crew conducting man on the street interviews. Upon my return home I laid in my parents bed watching a local news channel as they played and replayed the plane crashes over and over again. At nine years old I couldn't possibly fathom why someone would do such a thing and that this could not be justified. My thoughts, feelings, and emotions were warped around this event until I peacefully fell asleep. From that day on tension brew between Americans and the Muslim community who fit the stereotypical description of being a terrorist. And many of us adhered to that.

   Looking back at this tragic event I am no longer confused as to why this attack took place. Its in our nature to behave this way. When ideas, beliefs, and values from two separate entities differ the end result is violence especially if ones ideas are beginning to influence the other. One can argue that the attacks of September 11 could easily be compared to the marches and protests during the Civil Rights Movement as an act of expression. Although it was the wrong way to go about things, none the less it got its point across effectively.
   In the video collage the media didn't hastily jump to conclusions in the initial coverage of the 9/11 attacks instead they used phrases such as "unconfirmed reports", "we cannot confirm", "we don't know anything about", "limited information", "apparently", and etc to convey to the audience that their will be more details to come. The media basically let spectators come on the air and tell there story. Once more information was gathered the media began to tell the stories in what some might consider in a sensationalized manner. Reporters emphasized key words or phrases such as "tragedy", "sad", "terrible", "devastating" and etc to evoke emotion into their audience. In other coverage I seen reporters out in the field interviewing witnesses and comforting tears as well.

SOURCE Youtube

The Father of Broadcast Journalism

Murrow has been deemed the father of broadcast journalism because of his extensive career. He was born as Egbert Roscoe Murrow on April 25, 1908 in Polecat Creek, North Carolina. Five years after graduating from Washington State University he was hired by CBS. He was initially brought on to be the director of talks however that quickly changed. Murrow covered the London bombings during World War II which was transmitted in the living rooms of American homes. After the dust settled Murrow produced and starred in the series of newscast known as Hear it Now. With the development of a new medium  Murrows radio newscast emerged into the television documentary series known as See it Now. He spent a considerable amount of time going up against Senator Joseph McCarthy and his communist accusations on See it Now. After his career span with CBS, Murrow became the director of the United States Information Agency in 1961. He resigned three years later after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

I think that Murrow has had an exciting career and many of his contributions back then have paved the way for journalism to emerge as a multimedia industry it is today. Murrow represented a fair and ethical journalist who went to great measures to report the truth to American audiences around the world. I selected Murrow as the topic for this blog because I aspire to have a career similar to his. One that will allow me to travel the world experiencing new cultures and reporting my findings, hopefully through the United States Department of State.

SOURCE--Biography.com

History gets Remodeled

                Opening two Sundays ago officially on April 15, the restaurant that’s been under construction for nearly a year and a half finally makes it mark on the residents of Georgia Avenue and Petworth. Chez Billy’s interior design is jaw dropping, exuding an ambiance that is definitely new to the neighborhood. Its atmosphere Chez Billy will have its patrons and critics raving about their experience.

The dynamic Hilton brothers, Ian and Eric were behind the successful launching of Chez Billy’s, a French bistro located at 3815 Georgia Avenue, a block away from the Georgia Ave/ Petworth Station. Chez Billy is just another addition to the slew of restaurants the Hilton Brothers have created. They also oversaw the construction of Eighteenth Street Lounge, American Ice Company, Blackbyrd, and etc., all which are dispersed in the North Western region of Washington, DC and are doing fairly well.

                For years the space at 3815 Georgia Ave remained vacant. In the mid 90’s this lot was home to the Billy Simpson House of Seafood and Steak. And in just 2009 Simpson’s House of Seafood and Steak was named a National Register of Historic Places. Even though the restaurants layout has completely changed,  its significance to the African American community is still known. During, its twenty year run Simpson’s restaurant served as the regularly meeting place for community leaders and activists to discuss civil right events while being served exquisite food. With a resume such as that it was only right that the Hilton Brothers were inspired by its history and named their bistro after the historic eating place that paved the way for the black community.

                According to Chief Marketing Officer of Chez Billy’s, Sheldon Scott the Donatelli Development Company which is responsible for the development of the apartments right next to the bistro negotiated a  l contract for Simpsons former House of Seafood and Steak to be remodeled and brought the Hilton brother on board to see through this new business venture.

                The location of the bistro is out of the element of the Hilton’s and his teams. Scott mentioned that because the area is more residential late at night there isn’t much “flow traffic” as their other restaurants in Dupont Circle, U Street, and etc.

Chez Billy’s French Bistro operates seven days a week starting at 5:30pm. Equipped with a bar anyone under 21 must leave the vicinity at the ten o’clock dinner service.  And with prices ranging from nine dollar appetizers to thirty dollar entrees Chez Billy appeals to the middle class residents of Ward 4.

http://soundcloud.com/tiara-shantel-davis/interview

Refining Art

Art Under Pressure located at the intersection of Georgia Ave and Decatur Street turns graffiti and skateboading into art.