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journalism

We ramble on Mondays

On pageants: A scholarship contest that requires a bikini competition starts out as a suspect issue. But if you want to take part, good for you. I don’t have an opinion one way or another, but you can’t help but notice that pageants do allow for odd reactions.

If you want to feel a bit feminist, stick with this disparaging bit of video for 60 seconds:

Kevin Scarbinsky calls Katherine Webb a golddigger.. and other creepy analysis from adults. from TheAuburner on Vimeo.

The host, the guy on the right, has Emmy awards and Best Sportscaster awards and the guy in the middle is the local columnist, radio guy, bomb thrower. Makes you proud, doesn’t it?

Need some regional bias? A New York City reporter went out to get the pulse of the city. “Ms. America is Ms. New York! And she is from … how do you say the name of that little town? Not important.” Here’s a report on the groundbreaking report:

But, according to a television news report from WPIX in New York [WARNING: Video begins playing automatically], some Brooklynites are not following the lead of their state’s senior senator.

WPIX reporter Magee Hickey took to the streets of Brooklyn, where Hagan eventually wound up after leaving Opelika (which Hickey pronounced Opel-EEK-uh) to interview her neighbors.

“There’s enough pretty women in New York that could run for Miss America. She shouldn’t be allowed to,” said one interviewee.

“Born in Alabama? That’s a lot of South to recover from,” one neighbor told Hickey.

We do have a terrible and tiresome affliction, I’ll grant you. How Mallory Hagan managed to stand upright and not gawk at everything in Brooklyn is a question for the ages.

Wikipedia tells us this: She is a native of Alabama, where she had been runner-up in the Miss Alabama’s Outstanding Teen Program, and non-finalist talent winner at Miss Alabama.

Less pretty, I waited out the rain and road back and forth on the two little hills that dip down into the creek bed near our house. This is the easiest little ride, a road perpendicular to the stream as it meanders through the neighborhood. (Maybe Miss America has been on this road!) My legs think it is a climb. The map says it is a gentle incline. I hate when the map is right.

For no reason in particular, my rear brakes:

That little part of the neighborhood is buzzing with activity. I’d have taken a picture of that, but I was too busy with my head down trying to catch my breath. There was an older guy slowly riding a bike. Two older gentlemen were walking. One lady walking a dog, another walking a cell phone. Kids were playing. A school bus stopped to let off reinforcements. A red car ran through the school bus’ stop signs and did not heed the bus honking a warning.

He had. Places. To Be. Man.

The kids got off the bus and all turned to the other side. He put the thing in gear and passed an SUV that obeyed the law and then me. By then the bus driver had already recovered and gave me a nice wave, which is better than you usually get from the buses. They are the most dangerous people in town for cyclists, I’m convinced.

Anyway, the point is hills and humidity. It was 70 degrees with 78 percent humidity when I got off the bike. I think I bumped every wall with my sweaty arms when I came back inside.

Also, the bike felt really good today. Got way down in the gears, had the wind in my ears, kept thinking there was a noisy car behind me. Felt great.

“Investigative journalism, what ever happened to that? John Oliver investigates in his new investigation investigating investigative journalism.”

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

The piece got a great reaction on Twitter.

Former Chicago Sun-Times editor and SIlicon Valley CEO Alan Mutter likes investigative journalism on YouTube. A little Kickstarter, a little labor of love, a good pitch to the right editor and you’re off and running.

Investigative journalism and watchdog reporting are what we need the most. Those are usually the second and third things cut, however, right after the copy editors. But at least we can do man-on-the-street reports about Miss America.

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17
Dec 12

This plumbing has happened before, this plumbing will happen again

For the seventh time in our two-plus years in the house I undertook a plumbing chore this evening. The working mechanism in the tank of one of our toilets had forgotten how to turn off — a plastic tab having turned to dust or what have you — which threatened an overflow and so on.

The good news is that this is the third one of these I’ve replaced in the last 18 months. At least it is easy.

The big thing is keeping everything dry. You have to drain the tank, and then climb between the cabinet and the porcelain and work your way through two plastic bolts. These were made in China, of course, so they are the best plastic money can buy.

And then there’s the water dripping, because a little drip is better than a lot of sponge drying. After that the new device, which will surely find some way to crumble before 2014 arrives, goes in.

Seen another way this is really an exercise in defying the Mayans, who were big on plumbing:

A water feature found in the Maya city of Palenque, Mexico, is the earliest known example of engineered water pressure in the new world, according to a collaboration between two Penn State researchers, an archaeologist and a hydrologist. How the Maya used the pressurized water is, however, still unknown.

“Water pressure systems were previously thought to have entered the New World with the arrival of the Spanish,” the researchers said in a recent issue of the Journal of Archaeological Science. “Yet, archaeological data, seasonal climate conditions, geomorphic setting and simple hydraulic theory clearly show that the Maya of Palenque in Chiapas, Mexico, had empirical knowledge of closed channel water pressure predating the arrival of Europeans.”

I had no idea I’d find that story when I started the Mayan joke.

Anyway, after a few attempts, the washer was seated. The newest fine plastic from China was in place and tightened.

Also replaced some light bulbs in the other bathroom, because electricity with wet hands is fun for everyone! And because if you’re going to one of the home improvement stores you may as well combine your misery. The bulbs are on the primary aisle when you walk in and the cheap plumbing stuff isn’t far away. Naturally, since I knew exactly what I needed tonight, I ran into two staffers who offered to help.

“Yes. Can you just wait here? Soon enough something I don’t understand will inevitably break in my house.”

We did our Christmas cards tonight. I was responsible for the stamps and the return address. The cards look great, because my lovely bride picked them out. I think everyone most in our address book is getting one.

Everyone else is getting an email with a JPG attachment.

Then I made a Christmas card for Allie. I’ll put it here tomorrow.

Tonight I also added several new banners for the blog. Many of the new ones are a departure from the thin 900 by 200 pixel design. Tell me what you think. (And reload to see more. Or see them all in one place, here.) My next trick will be to organize them in something that resembles a seasonal classification.

Oh, hey, there are new things on the Samford journo blog:

Maps that tell stories

A few lessons from Newton media coverage

You saw the Newtown picture now read the story behind it

There’s also Twitter and Tumblr and this, the complete Star Trek trailer.

See you tomorrow. Remember: Allie’s Christmas card will be here.

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5
Dec 12

That which cannot be argued with

Someone sent me a message, identifying me as a “science nut.” Well, no, but OK. Watch this video, they said, tell me what you think. I watched 32 seconds of it. The logos and graphics did not comport with anything that made sense.

I do not, I said, put any stock in this video.

But au contraire, the person that sent me this video disagreed, as you might imagine. This person put a great deal into it. “There are 14 peer reports and over 27 self funded university studies published.”

There were not. There are 12. Most conducted by the the company marketing the product. Ten of those were performed in a circumstance that don’t actually produce any results, but reads like a fishing expedition. Two human tests have been done. One of them makes no sense, the other disagrees with the company’s marketing.

You often here, in commercials shilling shady products, impressive lines like “double blind” and “independent study.” Sounds impressive at least, and moved the person that wrote me.

The note concluded thusly: “Can’t argue with science.”

Oh, well, then. I had no idea.

Here’s this week’s Crimson. There are a few errors, there are always a few, but generally it is a very sharp effort. Given that finals are looming, I’m proud of all of their hard work.

The story that goes with that lead art is here. You can, of course, go here for the rest.

Charter will pull their people from social media. I’ve found it is best not to try to make sense of anything Charter does. It is also best not to try to make sense of anything Charter doesn’t do. It is best to just not consider Charter.

This is the place where nihilism and solipsism (ahem) intersect. Such Cartesian dualism has no place in dealing with such highly intellectual types like those answering the phones at Charter.

The New York Post photograph? Should have never been published. David Carr minces few words on it. Gawker asked Pulitzer-winning photogs for their takes on the issue.

Lots of great stuff there, including:

Professor John Freeman from the University of Florida: In my classes, I always teach that photographers should help first and take pictures second. In the contest of “a photo vs. a life,” the life should always win. But what if the Post photographer couldn’t help the man on the tracks?
Professor Roy S. Gutterman from Syracuse University: Once a reporter or photographer lends a hand to someone, that journalist ceases being a journalist and becomes part of the story. There’s no way to maintain the independence as a journalist and participate in a news event at the same time.
Professor John Kaplan from the University of Florida: The blame in this controversy lies directly with the New York Post for publishing such a callous, crude and truly tasteless headline while at the same time wrongly splashing the tragedy on the front page.

An interactive global cancer map:

Cancer is often considered a disease of affluence, but about 70% of cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Explore this interactive map to learn about some cancers that disproportionately affect poorer countries.

Very nicely done project. Helpful, too.

Remember, you can’t argue with science.

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3
Dec 12

A difference in need

Much as you don’t want anyone to have to go, but I do love to hear the success stories from people’s encounters with modern medicine.

This young lady, for example, lost four fingers in a car crash. Now she has a working hand again. Three decades ago this was only television and a sound effect, but she may still be playing softball:

Two weeks ago, Higdon received a $112,000 myoelectric prosthetic hand that will enable her to do many of the things she did before.

She’s already learned how to pick up a cup and pick up a softball – a sport near and dear to her heart, and she’s eager to learn how to do more.

Higdon and her mother said they’re thankful for the opportunity she’s been given by the generosity of the Inner Wheel USA Foundation, a Rotary affiliate that has picked up most of the tab for the advanced prosthetic hand.

“My insurance paid next to nothing on this,” said Higdon’s mother, Judie Cummings.

Naturally there is video:

Speaking of hospitals, a new law shows you which ones to watch out for:

The law also honors the memory of Denton’s son, Mike, who died at age 42 from an infection acquired after knee surgery in 2002.

Mike Denton never really healed after that surgery, his father said; he would eventually spend seven weeks at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital before he died.

“It was a traumatic experience, to say the least,” Denton said from his home recently. “At least we got to be with him that long. They never could turn it around.”

The experience moved Denton to sponsor legislation to require Alabama’s hospitals to collect and report healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The Alabama Department of Public Health is responsible for analyzing the data and making the results available to the public.

“It ought to give the public information that they should know about the track record of infectious diseases in the facilities,” Denton said.

First they came for the money and electronics. And then they came for the copper. And now … I try to attach some larger meaning, some economic indicator, to stories like these

Missouri Farm Bureau president Blake Hurst says thieves are actually targeting those big bundles of hay that are left out in fields prior to being harvested, hauling them off and selling the valuable commodity.

“Of course, no one brands their hay so if you hook onto it with your tractor or your pickup and make it out the gate, then it’s impossible to prove where the hay came from,” Hurst said.

With winter approaching and grass dying out, the price for fresh hay to feed livestock is on the rise, and Hurst says that makes unguarded bales a tempting target.

Of course, without hay being branded in some way, it is also only a matter of time until someone commits hay fraud.

You might have noticed the story of the New York police officer Lawrence DePrimo giving shoes to the homeless man. Well, turns out that Jeffrey Hillman isn’t homeless. (Don’t worry. He didn’t build that.)

Also, he’s shoeless again. All weather shoes get in the way of panhandling, you know:

Mr. Hillman, 54, was by turns aggrieved, grateful and taken aback by all the attention that had come his way — even as he struggled to figure out what to do about it.

“I was put on YouTube, I was put on everything without permission. What do I get?” he said. “This went around the world, and I want a piece of the pie.”

God bless America.

journalism / links / Monday / Samford — Comments Off
26
Nov 12

No ostriches were harmed in this post

Have to love a deadline journalist. One of my jobs is to coordinate the coordination that is involved in coordinating nominations for student journalism awards. It leans a bit toward tedium sometimes, but our department likes to brag on award-winning students. We have quite a few worth such young men and women and so we do the contests because we want our share. Journalists like awards.

One of the better contests we enter has an odd holiday deadline this year. The nominations were due today. This could have somewhat put a crimp in the implementation phase considering how everyone had several days off last week and that goes against the very last minute nature of every journalist you’ve ever met.

So for weeks I’ve been sending my colleagues emails. Remember the rules, here’s what we have to do. Please have these things to me by this time. The deadline is 5 p.m. Monday.

I spent much of the day finalizing my portion of the contest. It is all online now, a big improvement. Once upon a time this took folders, a stenographer, two notary publics a series of semaphore motions, stamps, labels and ink obtained from the inner lining of an ostrich egg. That was a two day process.

I mean just curing the ink from the ostrich eggs.

This was of course all done after the bird had hatched.

So yes, selecting nominees still takes a bit of time, but I have a marvelous committee that makes that happen. And now, this year, it is simply a matter of finding, selecting, renaming and uploading the correct PDFs in the many categories. This only takes a few hours. (There are many categories.)

I received a phone call around noon or so from one of my colleagues with his nominees. I received an email from another at 3 p.m. with his nominees. At 4:46 I sent off the final document.

At 5:03 I received another email from the last colleague. He had no nominees this year. Well then.

We nominated student-journalists in 18 of 30 categories. We should have at least a few wins in there, hopefully.

You can see all of their work at the Crimson and SNN and various other corners of the Samford net.

Something new on Tumblr, there’s always something on Twitter and maybe on Google+ if we’re lucky.