My Personal Code

While my views have changed greatly due to Dr. Cressman and the lessons taught unto me, I understand my views and beliefs still stand strong. As I said in the beginning of the semester, I believe first and foremost that journalists are the people that seek out the truth that society needs to know. Our society cannot thrive without the knowledge of what is going on in the world. With that, they need journalists. Furthermore, journalists are there to discover factual and important information. Lately, society finds entertainment like “Brangelina” or “Balloon Boy” far more interesting than the Health Care Bill or the swine flu epidemic. Journalists are brought to inform others of what they need to know, rather than what they want to know or find interesting and funny. Overall, journalists need to be truthful, accurate, objective, and fair. And while these are all admirable and necessary qualities of journalists, they also need to have the heart and the hunger for news and information. Without a doubt, I can testify that I have the heart and the will-power to set out to find the story every day of my career.

In addition, journalism is the process of informing society in many different types of medium. Journalism will never cease to exist because it is, in fact, in the Constitution. Journalism also is a system of protecting of our society, a watchdog if you will. We are there to keep an eye on the government and powerful institutions that like to take control and abuse their powers. We have the chances to investigate and inform the helpless of the powerful’s wrong-doings.

Lastly, I will conduct myself as a professional in all situations. I will make sure to be fair and never be biased. I will protect the world of wrong-doings by the powerful and help the weak. The community that I will be informing deserves to hear both sides of the story, and that goes for the rest of the world. I truly value the profession, I have learned many things that I did not know previously. I am grateful for the opportunities I have at this institution to grow and better inform myself, so I can better inform others.

Citizen Journalism

Citizen Journalism kind of freaks me out. Citizen Journalism, as described verbatim by Jay Rosen, is "when the people formerly known as the audience employ the press tools they have in their possession to inform one another." This sounds good, because recently citizens have gotten information out to the media even before the news cameras and reporters can. For example, people already were tweeting and posting videos of when the plane crashed into the Hudson River, simply because they were in the right place at the right time, with their camera phone. Sounds innovative, right? Well what about the journalists that have been in tons of school and preparation to be the best journalists they can be, with the competition of citizen journalists at their feet? How much experience do the citizen journalists have under their belt? It's trivial competition that is starting to have the draining effect on professional journalists. I don't find it fair that citizen journalists can be reimbursed for a story just because they were in the right place at the right time?! Do I need to pick another profession? That is the topic that is stuck in my brain all day.

Families Together During Holidays

I was blessed to go home for Thanksgiving for four days to see my family and friends. As I sat there reflecting on what I was thankful for, I realized not all Americans are so lucky. There are many children, wives, brothers, and mothers that are without their fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons that are fighting for our safety in the war. It's heart-breaking, to be constantly concerned about someone over-seas, especially during the holidays. There must be tons of families that know what I'm talking about, but I honestly couldn't imagine the uncertainty.

There is an upside. In the New York Times, there was an article about soldiers being released early and surprising their children in their daily lives. It was uplifting, to see the light and joy in the child's face. That is what the holidays are about, being together with your family. I know all soldiers cannot be so lucky, but when it does happen, I'm sure they don't miss that opportunity to surprise their family! Here is a link to the story.

New Moon

Stephanie Meyer's vampire trilogies have impacted not only teenage girls around the world, but pretty much everyone else. Mostly everyone I know has been hooked like a fish to the love triangle of Edward, Bella, and Jacob. Last night (Thursday the 20th) at midnight, society waited in line to get the first look at the second movie.

The second movie will be more dramatic than the first. With Edward departing and Jacob stepping in and sweeping her off her feet, this flick is jammed pack with mythical creatures and drama in the little town of Forks, Washington.

Stephanie Meyer actually graduated from BYU. She currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona, (where I am from) and where Bella is originally from in her series. She invented these characters actually in a dream, and would put everything she had to do on the back-burner and transformed her dream into a four-book series that seems to be enticing the whole world.

Am I a crazy Twilight fanatic? No, but I do enjoy her books, she is a fantastic writer. I believe the movies do no justice, but that is my opinion. I hope everyone who wants to see it makes it to the show sometime this busy weekend.

Let It Snow!

I'm from Arizona. The hottest it gets is 120 degrees Fahrenheit and the coldest it gets is 40 degrees Fahrenheit, in the valley. You'd think since I've been here for a year and a half that I'd be used to this blistering cold weather? But I'm not. This morning I walk out on my porch and was dumbfounded to see white everywhere! How can this be? It's mid-November! Sometimes I forget where I am. Now I have to worry about slipping on the way to class, buying gloves and beanies, and my tires skidding and fishtailing while driving! Utah can be a scary place! But the only positive thing I have gotta say is..."it's starting to look a lot like Christmas!"

America's Pasttime

I truly appreciate baseball. In the 2009 World Series, the Phillies, 2008 World Series Champions, stepped up to bat against the ever popular Yankees. For Americans, they either really love the Yankees or really hate them. The Yankees have previously won 26, yes, twenty-six, World Series Championships. With the Yankees new and improved stadium under their feet, their moral was very high. How did the Phillies feel? Well, with their previous title to the throne, I'm sure they felt invincible, and possibly a little cocky. With A-Rod, Derek Jeter, and Matsui on the Yankee side and Chase Utley, Cliff Lee, and Cole Hamels on the Phillies side, it was sure to be an interesting game.

But, as we all know, the Yankees pulled out in the end of game 6, final score 7-3, in their brand new home field.

Charlie Manuel, the Phillies manager said, "Are they better than we are? For this series, they were. They've got the trophy. We don't. We gave it up, but we're going to get it back."

Mariano Rivera, the pitcher who blew Game 7 of the 2001 World Series in Arizona, pitched the last inning, clinching the last five outs. Immediately following the last out, the team traditionally sprinted to the pitcher's mound, waving their arms and screaming with joy.

"We play the game the right way," said Derek Jeter, "and we deserve to be standing here."

What team did I cheer for? Neither, I'm a Red Sox fan!

Skype Conflict

As journalists, we have the opportunity to convey information to others. Whether it be by magazines, newspapers, text messages, television broadcasts, or even by word of mouth. Skype, the Internet calling service that is free to its 520 million registered users, is spreading like wild fire. Skype is familiar with PCs and mobile devices that allows the Skype software.

It was invented by Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, and later sold to eBay in 2005. But tensions flared when Index Ventures, the firm was in the center of the industry's sale, is withdrawing from the deal. Zennstrom and Friis later sued eBay in a British court because it allegedly violated a term of contract that used the core technology, Jolstid. Ebay tried to get even by selling 65% of Skype to a rival group, which organized a different system and resulted in avoiding the Joltid technology. As complicated as it all may sound, it is damaging the reputation of everyone involved.

Personally, I hope this lawsuit does not end badly because I am one of those 520 million registered users that requently uses it to call my family and friends in Arizona. If the company fails or has a verdict of a negative result, the world will have one less way to be in contact with one another.