Reporting Basics: Accuracy, Precision, and Balance

       Chapter 12 is a useful chapter that outlines the important reasons for and ways to go about checking all of your sources and being accurate.  The video we watched in class today was one of the possible consequences of not verifying your source, like the one given in the Introduction of the chapter where a scientist committed suicide as a result of wrongly being used as a source.  The author really stresses how important it is to fact-check everything, all the way down to spelling and getting numbers right.  I agree with how much he emphasizes accuracy.  On my college papers, I always put everything into my own words and never copy-and-paste anything in case the professor checks it for plagiarism, and they're the only person reading it.  When you write a news story, it's being given to the general public so it's pretty likely any mistakes will be spotted. 
       Edward R. Murrow is a beast for confronting Joseph McCarthy; you can just tell by that picture of him that's in the book.  I found his quote pretty inspirational, whether or not I go into journalism. 
       I like how the author says to never use any verb but "said" for quotes.  It really does change the way it's interpreted, like if you use "claimed" then "you're suggesting the person is lying."  Using words other than "said" makes it sound more exciting but it adds more detail onto the facts, and all you can use to write a news story is fact. 
       I agreed with scientist Andrew Weaver when he's quoted saying that "climate change" is less accurate than "global warming."  When I was rewording something from The Globe for a newsclip for The Comment last week, I actually chose to use "global warming" where they had used "climate change."  Not only does "climate change" butter up something that people should be concerned about, but just like Weaver said, "global warming" lets the reader know exactly what you're talking about. 
       The chapter showed me that it's worth it to be accurate at all costs, and if missing a side to the story makes you want to pick a side and throw off the balance, write another fact: "If you can't get the full story, put that in the story."

Second article for The Comment coming out 9/23/10

                                                                  Getting tough on texting

      On September 30, Massachusetts will enter a new era in the Information Age, with the Safe Driving Law, which most notably bans text-messaging while driving, going into effect.   Signed by Governor Deval Patrick in July, the new law also creates violations for any use of a cell phone by Junior Operators (16 and 17 year-olds), any use of a cell phone by public transport vehicle operators (MBTA, etc.), and improper use of a cell phone by operators who are 18 and over (one hand must be on the steering wheel at all times), according to mass.gov.  This legislation comes after the May, 2009 crash of an MBTA Green Line trolley that injured 49 people, caused by the conductor sending a text-message, and increased concern about car accidents as younger generations rely more and more on texting and using other handheld electronic devices.

            According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, 29 states have banned texting while driving before Massachusetts, New York having a ban on all handheld cell phone use since 2001.  These states cite using cell phones while driving as a major distraction, and believe this use to be a substantial cause of car accidents.  A study conducted by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis in 2002 calculated that about 2,600 people die each year because of it, and that another 330,000 are injured.  Young people are seen as the most at-risk for these accidents, which is why all cell phone use will be prohibited for Junior Operators.  “I never took [the danger] seriously until one of my close friends lost his life from texting and driving,” said BSU junior Taylor Cleary, causing her to “fully support the new law.” 

The Safe Driving Law does not prohibit Massachusetts drivers from making calls, but writing, sending, and reading text-messages, as well as emails, instant messages, and searching the internet, will be illegal according to mass.gov.  The law also applies to laptops, handheld video game systems, and digital cameras, but not GPS devices, and applies even if the vehicle is stopped in traffic.  Emergency situations are the only exemption from all aspects of the law.  Junior Operators committing their first offense will receive a $100 fine and have their license suspended for 60 days, and all other drivers will be fined $100 for their first offense and $500 for a third offense.  Drivers can be pulled over by police if they are believed to be texting while driving, and any car accidents known to be caused by cell phone use will be considered a criminal offense, the offender receiving a 60-day license suspension and $500 reinstatement fee. 

The new law compares to the one calling for the use of a seat-belt: it can’t be enforced unless a police officer notices it.  “Because it has some enforcement problems attached to it,” said BSU Chief of Police David Tillinghast, “doesn’t mean the statute is a bad idea.”  He believes that the law will “probably not” put a stop to texting while driving around campus, similar to how speeding laws have not ended speeding, but that it will have a “substantial deterrent effect.” 

“I can’t say [texting while driving] has specifically been the cause of any accidents on campus,” said Chief Tillinghast, because “it wasn’t tracked previously,” but after September 30 “officers will be more attuned to it.”  Students and others driving around campus will be charged with texting while driving “if an officer happens to see it” or “if someone tells us after an incident” that it was the cause, he said. 

“It is literally impossible to text and drive safely, so I’m glad the legislature has addressed it.”

Music video for "Walk of Life" by Stick Figure

This is a simple video Stick Figure made for an A/V class in 2006 for one of his best songs, "Walk of Life," from his first album, " The Sound of My Addiction."



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMF8_IfCqLw

Real roots reggae: from Duxbury, MA

       A few weeks ago I got into an underground reggae artist whose songs I've been listening to over and over, and about a week after I first hear his music I find out that he's from right over there in Duxbury.
      

       A reggae artist who goes by the name of Stick Figure dropped a new album on August 3rd that comes with authentic and original roots reggae blended with influences by southern California dub, and this is coming from right here in southeastern Massachusetts.  Stick Figure creates a unique reggae sound in a small town on the east coast, and does this while displaying amazing musical talent: Scott Woodruff writes, records, and produces all of his songs, playing each instrument separately and layering the tracks on top of each other. 
       There have been multiple major artists that mix reggae, rock, and dub from the coast of California, like Sublime, and others from closer to the east coast like Slightly Stoopid, but Stick Figure manages to stand out and maintain a completely unique sound.  His style is similar to Slightly Stoopid, with more of a relaxed vibe, the songs consisting of original, upbeat rhythms and strong, positive lyrics.  An example is one of the most original reggae rhythms to come out in a while in the first minute of the song "Vibes Alive," the opening track on his third album released in 2009 titled "Smoke Stack," where he sings, "Another generation, keeping the vibes alive."  He paid homage to one of his influences in February of this year, producing a dub remix of the song "2am" by Slightly Stoopid, a style that slows the tempo down and focuses on rhythm. 
       The album released over the summer was Stick Figure's fourth, titled "Reprise Sessions" because it's the first with three new members added to his live band after relocating to southern California.  With new musicians on bass, drums, and keys, and Woodruff still on guitar and vocals, the band re-recorded some signature tracks and layed down some new ones.  The newly-formed full band adds a more energetic sound in the reprise tracks, and a fresh vibe to new ones while keeping all the original Stick Figure elements.  The lyrics on the new songs deal with hardship and keeping a positive outlook, like on "Gone" where Woodruff sings, "Even when your mind is gone/you've got to keep your head on strong," and take a view on society on the song "Youth" where he sings, "An 18-year old boy just jumped off a bridge/and they'll call it another suicide," and repeats "The youth are getting restless" in the chorus. 
       The band is currently recording its debut album of all-new tracks together, expected to drop this fall.


http://www.stickfiguremusic.com/

Arts & Sciences severs alliances

This is my first article for The Comment, the first issue comes out tomorrow.  Make sure to pick one up if you're on campus, peeps, it's free.

As Bridgewater State is experiencing its exciting first year as a university after expanding its size, adding a new dorm in the past year and a soon-to-be-completed new math and science building, it is concurrently concentrating its focus on what was once its largest school of study. Effective July 1^st, 2010, the School of Arts and Sciences was divided into two new schools: the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the School of Science and Mathematics.  To commandeer these new schools, BSU appointed Dr. Arthur Goldstein as founding Dean of the School of Science and Mathematics on August 1^st, and Dr. Brenda Molife was chosen to serve as Acting Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.  Dr. Marian Extejt was also appointed on August 1^st as the new Dean of the School of Business.

            With the new math and science building bringing more physical space for the study of those disciplines, the split allows for more of a focus on the departments within each new school.  The smaller number of schools groups together departments that are more similar, such as the Art Department and English Department both within the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Biological Sciences Department and Mathematics and Computer Science Department within the School of Science and Mathematics. 

            A greater cohesion among similar departments was the major advantage seen among faculty in 2007 when BSU first began exploring the idea of forming new schools.  According to the Report of Findings of the Committee on New Schools Preliminary Study, released by the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, President Dana Mohler-Faria “charged the Committee on New Schools to conduct a campus-wide discussion about possible structures for academic schools” at BSU.  The popular opinion among respondents to the study was that “the internal functioning of new schools would be better than the [former] model.”  Advantages that were seen included a “discipline-specific focus” and “easier communication among departments with some similar interests.” 

            These advantages are along the lines of what Dr. Arthur Goldstein foresees for the future of the newly-formed schools.  Asked whether students taking courses within the School of Sciences and Mathematics will experience a change, he responded that students will not “notice anything different” because “there are not things in science and math that are problematical,” but that the formation of these new schools “allows each dean to focus on smaller departments.”             Splitting the School of Arts and Sciences was not done to fix something that was wrong in the past but to improve the future, such as more schools meaning more research.  As a new dean, Dr. Goldstein plans to “expand support for student research stipends” and to “approach local bio-tech companies for support,” as well as other actions which focus on his particular school that “couldn’t have been done with a dean of arts and sciences.”  As part of what is now Bridgewater State University, Dr. Goldstein says that he and the other new deans are “full of ideas” and “full of initiatives to push forward” in the years to come.

Intro

       Hey my name is Sean Taverna, and this is my blog for my Intro to Journalism class.  I am 20 years old from Watertown, MA and a junior at Bridgewater State University.  I'm taking this class because I'm a Communication major and I want to write as a career, even though journalism is a "dying profession;" I chose Comm. so I could be opened up for more jobs with my degree, maybe like writing for a company, but I want to start an English minor before this year is over.  I might start off writing for a newspaper but I'd like to write for a magazine; my #1 pick would be Rolling Stone because I'm really into music (reach for the SKYYYYY). 
       By reading this sick blog you can find out about underground music, which is mostly what I listen to, and that's why I named it after the Ninja Turtles (they live underground in the sewer if you're not cool and didn't know.)  This is also my first semester writing for The Comment, Bridgewater State's student newspaper, which you could call underground news since not that many people read it.  Some of the underground artists that I get real excited about are in hip-hop, reggae-rock, and ska-punk, so anyone who likes those genres but only listen to mainstream and want to find some really good bands can by reading my stuff. 
       I feel like I don't have the authority to write about music yet since I don't play an instrument, but I'm taking Music Fundamentals this semester and I plan on learning guitar (yeahhh I'll let you know how that goes.)  I'll post links to good bands, practice writing CD reviews of bands that I like, and maybe even concert reviews if I get to some before December.  I'll also post any articles I write for The Comment, which comes out every Friday.  And I'll try to blog about every time I eat pizza because that's what the Ninja Turtles eat (alllllllll dayyyyyy).