Jena 6

As a journalist and writer, I have yet to cover stories that compare to this level of controversy. I think the story has been well covered. However, in one story, a resident of Jena made the point that the town is being pegged as racist. Although the media did not intentionally do this, I think that's what the public has pulled from it, and it is the public who has created the notion of Jena being a racist town. Yes, from the events with this case, Jena will more than likely always be associated with racism. However, it is the publics choice and responsibility to form their own educated opinion of the town. Although the news is supposed to be unbiased, this doesn't mean that the reader will be. Every reader has their own preconceived notions about certain subjects, so when they read a story or view a newscast, each person takes away something different from the story based on their prior thoughts on the subject and their personal beliefs. So, in closing, I think the biased opinions formed from the media coverage has a strong correlation with the prior views and thoughts in the mind of their audience.

My News Source-Assign. 1

My schedule is very hectic, and I don't have a set schedule for getting my news. Overall, most of my news is found through online sources. I keep DMN as my browser homepage, and always skim through the stories to see what new headlines grab my eye. Online resources are incredible; however, I would much rather sit down with a newspaper in hand I feel as though I miss out on so much by having to navigate through a website to find information. Television and radio news are definitely secondary in my routine. The TV is rarely turned on in my house, but if it's news time, I watch the news, or rather, listen to it while accomplishing other things.

I think that as much as the news--mainly broadcast--tries to avoid stereotyping groups in their reports, I personally see straight through them. That may be a fault of mine, but I like to make comments throughout the newscast as to the motive of airing a certain story, or the angle to which they used to tell a story. Most of the time, I get frustrated with them, and turn it off. Yes, I would say that my biggest pet peeve as far as the news goes, lies in broadcast journalism and their need to fill their time with so many "fluffy" stories, or their attempt to over dramatize every story by using daunting music in the background as the report gives the lead info for the report. Alright, that's my rant for now, and I think I may have gotten slightly off topic, but there it is...and please to any broadcast majors who read this, don't take offense. If you understand where I'm coming from, then please when you go into your profession, do something to change it!