Monday, November 26, 2012

Virtuous Journalist

What is virtuous journalism? Who working today is, to your mind, a virtuous journalist? If a journalist isn't "virtuous," as Kirkhorn defines the term, what is he or she?

Your response is due Wed., Nov 28, by 4 p.m.

Monday, November 19, 2012

W. Eugene Smith Photos

https://www.google.com/search?q=eugene+smith+photos&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=OAC&tbo=u&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=1XGqUIiJLKjB0AHbsICICw&ved=0CC8QsAQ&biw=1280&bih=853

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

"Ruth Herrick's Assignment"

What is the moral of "Ruth Herrick's Assignment"? In deciding this, consider how the woman journalist is portrayed. What are her defining characteristics? Are they the same as a male journalist's? Is it surprising that a woman  journalist portrayed her fictional alter ego this way? How do you explain that? Does MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD offer any clues?

Your response is due on Sunday, Nov. 18, by 4 p.m.

Press Pause Play

http://vimeo.com/34608191

Sunday, November 11, 2012

History Is. . .

Relevant? Irrelevant? Using Mightier Than a Sword (chaps. 6-10) as a reference, please argue for which every position you believe most. Your response is due by 3 p.m., Wed., Nov. 14.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Good Night, and Good Luck

This film recounts the Cold War-era confrontation between CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow and anti-Communist witch-hunter Sen. Joseph McCarthy on a series of historic TV broadcasts. Do the events the film portrays reflect the recurring traits of the news media identified by Rodger Streitmatter in his book, Mightier Than the Sword? (Refer to the last chapter for a summary list of the traits.) Are there analogous events in the history of American journalism, including recent history? Do you believe such events are typical or exceptional for the press (that is, which traits seem to dominate -- courage or cowardice, public service or self-interest)? Explain why.

Your response should take the form of a three-page essay sent to me as a Word or rtf attachment before class on the Monday we return from Thanksgiving.

Dead!

http://www.newseum.org/news/2008/01/the-daily-newss-front-page-photo-of-ruth-snyders-execution-new-york-daily-news.html

http://thispublicaddress.com/tPA2/2002/11/composograph.html

Monday, November 5, 2012

A_Worker_Reads_History-by-Bertolt_Brecht

http://allpoetry.com/poem/8503711-A_Worker_Reads_History-by-Bertolt_Brecht

Mightier Than the Sword (Chaps. 1-5)

What, in reading about the history of American journalism, surprised you the most? A particular incident? A particular personage? A particular development or trend? Briefly explain why (but in more than one hurried sentence). Please post your response by 4 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 11.