Archive for February 13th, 2008
Deal or No Deal Finally Seems like a Good Deal
Unfortunately, the article fails to mention where they get this kind of money from or this kind of generosity to want to give its players such a large sum of money. However one can assume that more people will be tuning into the show to see if someone will finally become a millionaire. Although there is yet to be one single contestant to win the grand prize, we can be hopeful that this new turn of events might make the difference, who knows maybe this next player will really get a great deal!
Hanna Montana Set to take over the World!
Fifteen year old Miley Cyrus is taking the world by storm with her popular television show and addictive cheesy songs. In the recent article in USA today, “Hannah Montana concert film earns extended theater stay,” I have come to find that not only does Miss Cyrus have a TV show and record deal but apparently her concert actually made it into theaters too! Although the article explains very little of her many accomplishments, i know from personal sources (babysitting jobs) that she is an extremely successful young woman!
If rumors are true, It is said that her most recent concert sold out within a few minutes of tickets being released which may be justification for bringing the concert into theaters. Although, I personally think that a concert just isn’t the same in the movies as it is live in person. The only plus I can see to viewing the film from your comfortable theater chair with your popcorn and thousands of screaming kids is the cool 3-D option that is apparently offered at all theaters showing the film. The movie itself has already made a staggering 29 million and will apparently be staying in cinemas for another couple of weeks depending on how well it continues to sell tickets.
Either way I think it is safe to say that Hannah Montana is taking over, beware!
Bono and Gates Strive to make a Difference
Bill Gates a man of many riches and accomplishments announced last Friday that he would be giving a mere $306 million to use new “green technology.” In the article in USA Today, ”Bono leads standing ovation for Gates at World Economic Forum,” it is evident that Gates has decided to use his very large income to make a difference in the world. Unfortunately, I am not quite sure what this “green technology” is as the writer did not specify, but what was assumed is that it will make a great change for farmers in Africa.
Bono, a man I personally admire and respect, was also at the event declaring his joy at Gate’s announcement to donate such a large sum of money to the cause. Some of the questions that arose after I read this article made me wonder how exactly this new technology would make such a difference and what exactly this foundation does? The writer fails to give the reader any inclination as to what exactly this money is being used for!
I would also like to state that the article, changes from talking about Bono and Gates and the new technology to the subject of terrorism (as it usually does). This was thoroughly confusing as the writer almost throws its audience off the original topic. Apparently we should be more concerned with Iran and how it can be stopped than worry about suffering farmers in Africa!
“Nothings ever going to look right again”
When I picked up the copy of last Thursday’s USA Today, I was glad to see that the tornado coverage was front and center (not that I’m glad the tornadoes happened, but glad that the coverage was found “newsworthy” enough to be on the cover.) My eyes were automatically drawn to the color photo in the center showing an elderly man walking through a pile of rubble and debris; what used to be his daughter’s home. The writers drew me in with a catchy headline and an even catchier deck, doing a proper job of informing readers about what happened and, more importantly, the severity of what happened. Then, however, I read the story and it was all downhill from there.
The story begins with a heart-wrenching tale of the deadly tornadoes ripping through Tennessee, destroying a family’s mobile home and taking the life of 33-year old Dallas Warner. After reading the first two paragraphs I began bracing myself for what I thought would be a tear-jerker of a news story. I was wrong. It was in the fifth paragraph that the writers interjected and changed where the story was going. Rather than focusing on the devastation and who was affected in what way, the writers attempted to put a dramatic spin on the story by asking questions such as, “Were warnings adequate? What more could have been done?” and “Why did so many people die?” I realize that in doing so the reporters were simply doing their journalistic duty and finding out the “W’s” about what really happened. I also think, though, that they could have focused less on what wasn’t done properly and more on what is being done and can be done in the future. No one likes to read about natural disasters destroying lives (I hope). But when I do, I would like the reporting to actually be about the people who were affected and what is being done to help them immediately, as opposed to reading about what else could have been done in the past and who is to blame. Rather than dwelling on the past I would love for a story such as this one to focus on what is being done in the present to help.
Another issue I had with the article was the overt, overdone Southern-drawl tone of the entire piece. The storms ripped through the Southern US, leaving nothing but rubble in some areas. And picking up the rubble are “Southern folk.” I’m not saying backwoods, cousin-hitching people, but those who live a slow-paced life compared to others. And the writers did not want readers to forget that. Throughout the entire piece the writers chose to make the people affected sound as southern as possible, almost to a point of dumbing them down. By choosing to include quotes like, “I was thinking I would lose my legs,” and, “… said she was trapped in the basement and could I get her help,” the authors play up the southern-base of the story to an annoying level. Not only it is annoying, but it can be considered offensive in many cases. If a storm suddenly ravaged my home town, which happens to be in the south, I would not want reporters to overplay the southern aspect, forgetting about the people behind the accents.
In the beginning of the article the stories about individuals and families affected were touching and heart-breaking at the same time. I think the authors did a good job of tapping into their resources and finding personal accounts of people dealing with the aftermath of the storm. I think they fell short, though, the closer they got to the end. I found the stories were becoming more and more dull with each sentence. It almost seemed as if the authors were desperate to fill up the full page devoted to the tornado coverage and as a result, settled for less interesting information toward the end of the story.
I am pleased that this story was newsworthy enough to be on the cover page of USA Today. However, I am displeased with the way the writers portrayed the affected individuals with a pumped-up Southern tone, attempted to insert a dramatic, controversial spin by asking unnecessary questions and with how they let the quality and interest-level of the story slip toward the end.
I think I would have rather had Jon Sciezka speak to my first-grade class than the local librarian.
In today’s issue (well, technically, yesterday’s issue) of USA today, I found a profile on Jon Sciezka, a noted children’s author. The Library of Congress and the Children’s Book Council recently appointed him to be the United States’ first-ever “ambassador for young people’s literature.” As such, he will travel around the country, speaking to parents, teachers, and yes, children. Sciezka claims that humor is the best way to encourage children to read, a belief that is reflected in his books, such as The Stinky Cheese Man and Science Verse.
According to the article, “only 30% of 13-year-olds said they read for fun ‘almost every day’,” as reported by the National Endowment for the Arts. While providing this statistic adds a bit more weight to the article, I think that Greg Toppo, the journalist who wrote the story, could have provided more comparative details. Do other countries’ children read for fun more than American children? What percentage of adults read for fun on a daily basis? What about college students (if reading Facebook newsfeed religiously isn’t included in ‘reading for fun on a daily basis’)?
Despite my small criticism, I think that Toppo wrote an excellent piece. And from the pictures included, taken by Tyler Mallory, Sciezka’s accolades seem to translate into real life. Judging by the pictures, I think he’ll have a better impact on children than any librarian I ever had.
