The hyping of an idiot

I decided to blog about the loony one. Who the hell is Terry Jones? I've seen news about him in recent days but wasn't really interested. I really don't know the whole story until just last night while browsing the net for a blogging piece about 9/11.

Apparently media/ cable pundits/bloggers/ social networks hyped and sensationalized the idiot's plan to burn the Koran. Terry idiot basked the limelight trying to promote his own radicalism. He loved it. The idiot! And the media... tsk tsk.

Read these: How the media ignite Koran burning story (theage.com)
What if media had ignored Terry Jones via Mike Thomas article (Orlando Sentinel)

Massacre; Journalists Killed

It's gruesome. Politics kills. It's dangerous to be on front lines. Bulk of those who were massacred were journalist. And to think this is not even in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Via Inquirer.net: Police on Mindanao island pulled bullet-ridden bodies from shallow graves in this remote farming area after gunmen allegedly employed by a local political chief abducted then shot dead a group of rival politicians and journalists. Read more

On a lighter and more upbeat and good news... Efren Penaflorida won CNN here of the year. Congrats. Nice speech too.

The Act of Being a Jounalist

I don't think throwing shoes at the Bush accomplished anything. Well, except for laughter, viral videos, online games, online popularity. So where's the accomplishment in throwing shoes? None.
Sad thing is.. he's a Journalist. Yikes.

If you really wanted to be heard and need to express you outburst against US presence in Iraq, throwing shoes, doesn't really help. Do your job and be nosy and ask hard tough question that would've made the President respond. Instead we're treated to a shoe throwing tantrum. To be a Journalist and do that says a lot about standards of being in the media and how you are as a someone trying to shed light on something or making other see what the real problem is. And isn't it that if you report something you should set a aside feelings because you wouldn't be able to put anything in perspective. Lest you be biased. I'm not sure if I'm right or wrong..but to each his own. I don't think the Journalist should be hailed as a hero. He expressed his feelings, but throwing shoes? In hindsight, sure it's funny, but it's crude to say the least. Missed that target too.

I'm laughing. The whole incident is a laugh trip.

I mean, if the shoes don't' struck, try again. Indeed. Boy, that scene played over and over with the many cable news out there. Blogged about and of course triggering may shoes jokes and what not. Oh yeah, what a day for comedians! Tons of punchlines for them.

No need for Sole...er, soul searching. Freedom is alive! Talk about freedom!

"This is a gift from the Iraqis; this is the farewell kiss, you dog!"

That's whats Iraqi Journalist, Muntazer al-Zaidi said while hurdling the shoes at the President.

When Saddam ruled Iraq nobody could even utter a word, nor write, nor do anything against him ('else they'd be tortured 0r worse.. killed), standing up for their beliefs and what they're fighting for. With the show throwing incident, it's just goes to show how freedom has come a long way. In that sense, the US and Bush can take credit for bringing back that liberty to be able to expressed opinions, albeit by throwing shoes.


Newslinks :AFP SF Chronicle DFP GlobeandMail

It's only funny when people laugh....

I guess. But nobody did...and so the repercussion.

The"Asians hate us" piece of student and opinion writer Max Karson for the CU campus press If it's war the Asians want.. it's war they'll get ignite furor among Asian Americans and spark protest within the CU community mainly because they say it's discriminating and stereotyping people from the Far East.

But c'mon, it''s a damn opinion of a student. It wasn't a serious take on racism because it did not tackle anything that's worth debating about. It's more like one of those thoughts that someone writes [publicly or not] through online journal or blog and rants whatever bugging the hell out that person when it comes to understanding cultural difference and diversity within the school community or just amongst peers. Reading the piece, it's like an attempt to be funny that didn't succeed. Lame parody, somehow.

Captured Asians will be dragged to my apartment on the Hill and hog-tied.

The Asians' reformation will begin with a 100-round beer pong tournament.

They will listen to "It's a Small World" on repeat while they play. When the tournament is finished, the Asians will then be forced to eat bad sushi from Hapa-with forks. When all the sushi is gone, they will be permitted to sleep for four hours, but the entire time I will shout through a megaphone, over and over, "Why didn't you make enough Wiis?!"

In the morning, the Asians will arrange themselves in rows, if they haven't naturally done so already. I will stand in front of them and hold up a card with the name of an emotion on it such as, "sad," or "surprised." The Asians must then make a facial expression to match the word on the card. Any Asian who remains deadpan or makes the wrong face will be tickled until they pee. When all Asians make the correct face at the same time, the game will end, but then they will be yelled at for being conformists.

The Asians will then be allowed to play "Dance Dance Revolution." However, the game will be rigged so that the Asians will receive no points, regardless of how robotically they dance.

Any Asian who tries to escape will be butterfly-netted and sent back to my apartment for another "Phase 2." Anyone caught speaking any language other than English will be kissed on the lips.

Once the Asian spirit has been broken, "Phase 3" will begin. Before we let the Asians go, we will go to their homes and redecorate them in a traditional American style. We will replace their rice cookers with George Foreman Grills, their green tea mochi with fried Snickers bars, and their rice rockets with Hummers. And booster seats.

When "Phase 3" is complete, the Asians will be released.

I actually felt that it's mostly directed towards the Japanese, Chinese and Koreans students. It's his opinions and whatever he wrote wasn't serious. Not good journalism if the opinions expressed is meant to initiate constructive approach to the problem of racism within the CU community. I don't know. Maybe there's an underlying tone to what he's trying to say. The Editor-in-chief at fault somehow for not checking enough the article before they published it. Author of the opinion column has been suspended though.

Maybe he should have just ranted his opinions via personal blog. Ha.

News links-> Romenesko, Rocky Mountain News

Yahoo's gift and political gayness

Some are criticizing it. Yahoo's $1million gifting and granting foreign journalists for a a mid career fellowship program at Stanford University. It's not without controversy like the 'ethics of accepting the money.'

Doesn't all accept something as a form of thank you for nice write up. Money or something. I don't know. Or maybe it's just a practice here. Ach. Maybe not the hardnosed journos.

Political gayness yet again!

Scandal in the (US) house as more ickey dickey Foley newsies make the rounds. Gosh them freaky politicians! If they're not gayness, they're perverts. Former Rep. Mark Foley (resigned because he's el shitty perverty dudey) checked himself to a rehab for alcoholism and behavioral problems. Yeah, like sending sexually implicit emails to young boys. Geez, and you thought priests were bad lots! (news link via St. Petersburg Times)

*edit. The former Rep. said he was molested between ages 13 and 15 by a clergyman. So is that supposed to justify his acts of malice?! Lawyer for Foley said no, and inapropriate behavior has nothing to do with the congressman being traumatized. Uh huh so what gives!? Oh and he acknowledges he's gay! Yes, just like ex Gov. Mc. Greevey. Gayness as well! I recently saw an interview done by Larry King, he was promoting a book or something along with his 'partner.'

So when will out local politicians here come out of the closet? Hmm, there's quite a few of them. Hah! Jack off Jill....come out, come out!

New word to hate: "Repurposing"

That's according to Judy Muller. Link via Romenesko. Article here

Yeouch! Got me thinking now. Hmm, I wonder if I'm guilty of"repurposing?" Eh, I don't think I am so but anyhow, my blog is just amateur wannabe trying hard to be professional but failing by long long standards plus it's personal crap hardly newsies but when I blog a certain news item from other newsources- like many online news sites- (yahoo and others, I give credit and links). I don't post anything as my own 'cept my personal dramatics and nonsensical social commentary only I would bother to blog about.

And yes, plagiarism definitely sucks and is evil. Heck one blog entry I made was plagiarized before.

Dangers of being a Journalist

It's tough being out there and covering the news especially in dangerous place like Iraq.

Correspondent Kimberly Dozier, cameraman Paul Douglas and soundman James Brolan - were reporting from outside their humvee and are believed to have been wearing their protective gear. Douglas and Brolan, both London-based, were killed. Dozier sustained serious injuries in the attack and underwent surgery at a U.S. military hospital in Baghdad. She is in critical condition, but doctors are cautiously optimistic about her prognosis. [CBS News]

Here in the Philippines, Journalist are getting killed one after the other and they didn't even have to cover any war.

Freedom of speech and clash of culture

Poor Denmark and Danish people. They hardly ever figure in any international issues and events and now all because of local newspaper (Jyllands-Posten) cartoon drawing of Prophet Muhammud in a turban depicting that of a bomb, the muslims are now burning their flags and storming their embassy and protesting. What was supposed to be a cartoon aimed to be humorous (I guess they thought it would be that way) turned out differently.

According to the LA Times

It's not the decision by Jyllands-Posten and other European newspapers to publish the cartoons that is appalling, it's the response from the Muslim world. If the Muslim outrage is really about demanding respect for others' beliefs (a valid argument), Arabs should be insisting that their own media stop the almost-daily depictions of Jews and Christians as bloodthirsty cannibals and murderers of children. One tasteless act does not excuse another. Tolerance is a two-way street.

And what of the cartoons? The real issue is not that some of the cartoons portrayed Islam unflatteringly but that the prophet's image was drawn at all. While Muslims are prohibited from depicting Muhammad, and doing so is considered blasphemy, this prohibition should not apply to non-Muslims. Demanding that non-Muslims abide by such a religious edict is tantamount to ordering them to follow an Islamic halal diet or cover their women's hair. In a world with more than a dozen major religions, no faith can prescribe such behaviors to others.

Where does one draw the line for freedom of speech and expression and the respect for other religion? There's an identity crisis happening. Remember what happened in France last year. The riots by Muslims? A clash of culture once again happening.

Btw, Iran said they're gonna boycott Danish products...well...there goes the yummy Danish cookies!

Reporters plea

Judith Miller, the NYT jailed reporter wants federal shield law for journalists.

Former Senator Bob Dole, who said he had visited Miller in jail, commented, "For the life of me, I don't know why she is there," he said. "She never published anything."

Newsweeek Apologizes

If you erred, you must acknowledge.

Newsweek magazine has apologized for errors in a story alleging that interrogators at the U.S. detention center in Guantanamo Bay desecrated the Quran

Newsweek Washington Bureau Chief Daniel Klaidman said the magazine believes it erred in reporting the allegation that a prison guard tried to flush the Koran down a toilet and that military investigators had confirmed the accusation.

When reporting, gotta checked re checked and checked again. I'd be outrage too if I hear or read about somebody flushing a Bible down the toilet. Not that I read the Bible everyday just that I'm a Catholic and no one should desecrate my religion by flushing something that symbolizes faith.

The Most Dangerous Places

The countries listed have several things in common. War or civil strife has shredded their economies, their police forces are corrupt or non-existent and some even harbor elements of terrorist regimes such as Al Qaeda or the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. According to Stratton, "the most dangerous environments are found in failed states where there has been a total or partial breakdown in governance and, therefore, in law and order. Criminals and terrorists can operate with virtual impunity, and the state affords no protection to Western companies and their personnel.

Most dangerous destinations for travellers (Employees of high-profile companies in the security-consulting or defense sectors expect to put their lives at risk on a regular basis).

My Country not part of it! (Thank God). But the thing is, Philippines most dangerous country for journalist. Not good at all for country's image. Just recently journalist Klein Cantoneros was gunned down

It's tough to be in place (plague with war and terror[ist]) doing business or just trying to earn your keep because your life could end by just trigger of a gun or worse a rocket propelled grenade.

Biased in the media..

And Bill O'Reilly Got It Right this time

If Fox is for GOP then CNN is for the Democrats.. but the problem with that is journalist, broadcasters losing some credibility in reporting what really is the truth. We are somehow lost in verbal laments and prostrate debates and the biases of media men. Where does one draw the line then? CNN show crossfire has two blabbermouths who works for the Kerry Campaign, Paul Begala and Jame Carville. A for Fox, geesh! the whole network is GOP itself.

The point here according to Frank Rich article in NYTimes is Bill O Reilly attacked CNN for keeping James Carville and Paul Begala as hosts on "Crossfire" after they had joined the Kerry campaign, he fingered yet another symptom of the decline and fall of the American news culture. Mr. Carville have argued that the line wasn't blurred here because the liberal "Crossfire" hosts are unpaid, loosey-goosey Kerry advisers and their show is an opinion-mongering screamfest, not a news program.

No matter how long the overlap between Mr. Carville and Mr. Begala's TV and campaign roles, that brand and CNN itself are now as inextricably bound to the Democrats as Fox is to the Republicans. The network has succeeded in an impossible feat — ceding Mr. O'Reilly the moral high ground. The thing is, The Bush campaign doesn't have to enlist Fox hosts for its staff since they're willing to whore for it without even being asked.

I think individuals who works for election campaign and candidates should be castigated for doing shows which ultimately affects perception and can ulimately change opinions of people especially if all they do is defend their bosse instead of being neutral.

Lies, Deceit and Deception

Jack Kelly, former USA Today reporter apparently had all that so he's being investigated by commitee of outside journalists cos he was able to insert fabrications and uncredited passages from other publications into his articles. Further more, the report also says that colleagues had approached editors with suspicions about the accuracy of four articles by Mr. Kelley in recent years but their concerns, they said, were often dismissed by editors. .

This type of deception probably happens too with the local newspaper [here and everywhere] just because one wants to be famous and well known or be the favorite of an editor or something like that. Some fabricate stories or exaggerate reporting in order to present something in away that would favor their reporting skills.

As what happened to Mr. Kelly- only USA Today reporter to become a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize since it began in 1982 .

Knowing code of ethics when reporting and should be present at all times when in the media or business or anywhere else...especially with politicians! Haha!

Do Weblogs/Journals really help a candidates campaign?

Yes. in some ways it does. It has become an indispensible tool for journalist and candidates. There are increasing number of voters who are net savvy and always online and tend to stay and linger much more when they go to a certain blogsite. Either they read the post and make a comment or just look around. Consider this:

"A blog's not going to have the same reach as a Washington Post or USA Today or an AP article," said Cameron Barrett, a longtime blogger now with Wesley Clark's campaign. "But it does have reach, and people consistently go to online blogs to find information that traditional media ignore."

Case in point is Howard Dean's weblogs. Though the man has skidded in polls (and lost in Iowa caucus) he still remains one of the popular Democratic candidate for President. Thanks in part to his weblogs and internet campaign which gets a lot of hits a day.

Media's web journal and constant blog post have become a viable tool for political junkies who mostly turn to their blogs for news and articles and post we don't normally see with the traditional media.

There's a lot of journalist with web journals! Some news outfit and media company forbids their reporters to have blogsite though.

Journalist and their political contributions

It's not only the business sectors but oh yes even the media outlets and their journalists contribute funds for their own respective choice of candidates. I think that it's wrongs because it casts doubts about their reporting. Washington Post reports that...

Such donations raise difficult questions: Do employees of news organizations give up certain civic rights? Or, in an age when polls show growing public perceptions of media bias, should the appearance of siding with a candidate or party be avoided at all costs?

"A good rule of thumb," said Tom Rosenstiel, director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism, "is, if this were known publicly, would it cause the audience to have doubt about the credibility of this person's coverage?" That, he said, is often "a judgment call."

Here in the Philippines, it's probably happening too. I mean, with the Lopezes most likely will contribute to either Noli de Castro or Loren Legarda. Mostly though it's the other way around. The politicians are the ones giving money away as sort of encouraging or enticing certain media people to write more favorable news about them. Ethics in journalism should be practiced and getting money or contributing funds to certain politicians should be forbidden.

blogging the news

Yikes.. I mentioned Sacbees Weintraub blogs (California insider..link down below) there's a controversy it seems and I am dazed and confused and just reading it now via Romenesko and the link. The problem is this ...
The blogosphere gets fired up when Daniel Weintraub's California Insider gets pre-edited after a controversial posting. Read the whole article from OJR

Okay the thing is should the news weblogs copy a Press release? edit?. Have it all blogged in verbatim? More and more are using the web blog as form of news and there's bound to be trouble in some aspects of it. I know CNN does not adhere to news blogging..remember, they wanted to put a stop to that news blog from Kevin sites during the war in Iraq.
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The perils of the job

The second Reuters camera man got killed by U.S forces in Iraq. Of course you remember the first one during the height of military campaign of US against Saddams Iraq. I'm sure there's an investigation.Reporters without Borders and Committee to protect Journalists will want to make sure what really happened. But yeah, the hazards of being in the media sometimes takes a toll on their job and their life. Eh..just ask(Tina Panganiban-Perez) a GMA-7 Reporter. Yay!

Media in a Bind

From poynter online (aka romenesko) Do TV news people really want to be game show hosts? and has this piece of linkarticle.
Heh. I think most news people[here] are of thesame too..or maybe not but you would see couple or so doing commercials and whatnot..eeekk.. remember that one newscater endorsing a wine or was it brandy? Heh! Meanwhile NY Times resigned managing editor, Gerald Boyd, speaking for the first time publicly talks about Jayson Blairs plagiarism and fabrication and diversity in newsroom.

Me wonders if there's plagiarism of news by reporters too within our media.. hmm hmm.. Haha. thats my answer!

Worst Places for Journalist

Yahoo has news from CPJ about the worst places for journalist to be in and it says IRAQ is ranked first..uhmm yeah, I agree with that too..quite a few journalist(in the course of war) has died already..and while they're staying there and covering it..there's bound to a lot of unstableness still cos there's not really functioning government yet. There's also Afghanistan and Vietnam and Cuba..and others as well. I wonder if there has ever been a journalist(hurt or be in place of danger)covering news in places and other countries where war or regime isn't the cause for it to be deemed as worst place for them press people to be in. Oh well, just blogging thought.

News Celebrity

Since the constant news of the war In Iraq 10 news stars emerge.. uhmm, I'll add my favorites..Bill Neely(ITV/n) and John Simpson(BBC). One that I dont like... Rageh Omaar..hahahaa