NEWSEUM TRIP 11/4/13

FIFTH VISIT TO THE NEWSEUM: 

ONE OF MY FAVORITE SPOTS IN D.C.

THE NATIONAL NEWSEUM

Washington, D.C. -- The National Newseum: one of the few place in the United States that honors the work of a field journalist and the fine art of communications and media.

On Tuesday, November 5th 2013, the members of my Newsvision class and I took a trip to the National Newseum, located in the Archives area of Northwest D.C. The purpose of the trip, established for free by our professor Jennifer Thomas, was to compare some of the ethical standpoints that we have learned in class, practice stand-ups and other elements of a news package, and receive further knowledge about the history and archiving of media. This blog post is to honor some of my favorite exhibits at the National Newseum!

THE 9/11 EXHIBIT AT THE NEWSEUM

 

                                                                 The fifth time to the exhibit:
To this day, my favorite exhibit is the 9/11 feature, located on the fourth floor, because it brings me back memories of my experience that day. On September 11th, 2001, I was being dropped off to my 4th grade class in Rahway, North New Jersey. I was  about to hop out the car, around 8:49am when the programming on my favorite car radio station, Z-100 (100.3FM) announced that the world trade center just collapsed. I get into class, and there is pandemonium everywhere I turn. Teachers, rushing students into seats, secretaries, stopping by each classroom and talking to teachers, and kids, just sitting there in quiet not really sure what is going on. Around 9:30, the Principal gets on the intercom and announced that our country is currently under attack.  The principal notified us when a second plane crashed in the Pentagon, when the second Twin Tower collapsed.

Around 12pm, I was finally picked up by my father.

 

My mother worked at a hospital in North New Jersey, a town overlooking the New York Skyline. We hopped on the New Jersey parkway, where the smoke was in full vision. It looked like we were driving closer, and closer. We were able to retrieve my mother by 2pm and bring her home in safety. I will honestly never forget September 11th, 2001. There was honestly nothing like witnessing it in the forefront.



The New York Times, Sept. 12 2001

The best part of the exhibit: Everyone who knows me, knows my personal connection to 9/11 (seeing the smoke, trying to get my mother out of her hospital job on the New York Skyline, etc) and each time I visit that exhibit I remember the event. The main feature of the exhibit includes a 10 minute movie feature on 9/11, where you can sit down and see the review the moments of the incident, how it was reported on, and personal testimonies. 

My favorite part of the exhibit: Has to be the entrance, which shows a montage of every single front page of a major newspaper in the United States (and others throughout the world) front page cover of September 12th, 2001. My family still has the New York Times Newspaper from the next day; classic.



THE PULITZER PRIZE PHOTOGRAPHS

The fifth time to the exhibit: One part of the newseum I make sure I always visit is the wall that contains all of the winning Pulitzer Prize photographs over the past generation. 

The best part of the exhibit: Everyone says- a picture is worth 1000 words, rights? Well these pictures usually one an award for the following: capturing an incredible, magnifying, or tragic moment in the United States. 
My favorite part of the exhibit: Has to be the war pictures (WWI and WWII) and anything in the mid 1950's. I think that pictures at the time really helped tell the story of print. They also because future news elements when Broadcast News rose in the 50's and 60's. 

PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY 

The fifth time to the exhibit: This is the second time that I watched the tribute to President Kennedy located on the fourth level of the newseum. 

The best part of the exhibit: Everyone likes the actual exhibit, which is located outside of where they show the movie screening. 
My favorite part of the exhibit: The movie really gives you an in depth look at his life: from marriage, to a senator, to the President of the United States. The movie goes into details about some of the scenarios that occurred under his presidency, such as the "Bay of Pigs" and the "March on Washington." The majority of the film shows his assassination. 

Conclusion: My experience at the National Newseum was enjoyable! Especially being at a point where many of my classmates (who I have grown with and even visited with) will soon be separating and entering the massive media industry! I look forward to my future visits here and hopefully one day will be able to speak on a panel :)

 

REMEMBERING: DR. LEE THORTON

 
 

Dr. Lee Thorton has broke boundaries in the field of broadcast journalism for African American's. She passed away on Friday, age 71, after being ill with cancer.

Thorton grew up in Leesburg, Virginia, and received degrees in Washington D.C and Michigan.

Within three years of joining CBS as a field reporter, by 1977 she was honored with the role as the first African-American woman White House correspondent for a major news network. She remained in that position until 1982, when NPR offered her to be the first African-American host for All Things Considered, which aired on the weekends. Her radio voiced shined through millions across the United States for almost ten years, until deciding to return to television in 1992. She joined CNN News Network as a correspondent for 5 years, and then decided to withdraw from the fronts of news and share her talents with students on the rise. Thorton already had years as experience at Howard University, where she brought life to many students who were interested in following her footsteps, as well as created the course "NEWSVISION" which still exists to this date. She joined the staff at Merrill College at the University of Maryland as a production teacher. In 2008, she was promoted to interim Dean. 

 




There are many people on the Howard University faculty staff that have been graced by the memory of Dr. Lee Thorton. This includes Professor Jennifer Thomas, who clarified to the student body along with Professor Lamb that Dr. Thorton indeed taught at the university, despite reports that left this fact unannounced. Professor Thomas, who teaches three levels of journalism courses requested The Hilltop, student newspaper, to make sure to shed light by running an article about her contributions to the university. In an interview I helped my writer set up, Dr. Judith Latta states "Lee had the most incredible work ethic." 

 Sonja Williams, who teaches Radio Production and graduate classes in the evening. Professor Williams worked at NPR within the same period as Thorton and quickly stated "yeah I knew her!" While she shared that her relationship with Thorton was not as strong as others in the department, she noted the effort she put in as a journalist. When talking to Dr. Kaggwa, former department chair, he shared "yes- I was taught by the remarkable Dr. Thorton." He encouraged all to visit his office for anyone who wants a better understanding of her. 

The university will always have Dr. Thorton in their hearts. 

Journalism Ethics and More

JOURNALISM ETHICS

Here we have it: Journalism news departments strive to ensure that their employee's are constantly performing the company's ethics. Ethics in the journalism world are codes of conduct, placed order to keep journalists from being liable from being fired, hurt, in a lawsuit, or in some cases jail. These codes are here to protect the station (who may look unpartisan) and importantly you (who wants to keep your salary.) While newsrooms may stress the important of these conducts, it is up to the individual to adhere to them.

Here are some examples and definitions for "dummies."

TRUTHFULNESS
Making sure that there is no false information or attribution in your story. Everything reported must be accurate. For all the Christians, the eight commandment clearly states "thou shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."

FAIRNESS
Making sure that a story is told presented with all sides included sides. As my Human Resource Manager told me today at CNN-DC, there are three parts to every story: two parts and somewhere in the middle lies the truth.

PRIVACY:
Making sure that you as a reporter, producer, or newsroom manager is doing everything in your power to not invade someone else's privacy. This goes from as small as peering over someone's phone when they go to the bathroom, or as far as breaking onto their property to take a picture of them in malicious behavior. There is a quote that says "do onto others as you would want others to do upon you."

RESPONSIBILITY: 
Making sure that you are always responsibility AND taking responsibility for your actions (whether good or bad.) When you are responsible, others will rely on you, making you more valuable as a journalist.


TRIVIA FACT: 
Who was the longest person to spend time in jail for not revealing their source?
Josh Wolf. The freelance Journalist spend 226 days in jail for refusal to deliver tapes from a San Francisco demonstration.

TRIVIA FACT:
Write about a journalist that didn't follow ethical code:
The most popular answer to this would be Jayson Blair of the New York Times. The UMD graduate and New York Times renown journalist was busted for writing a story in similarity to someone who used to intern with him. In contrast they found that most of his writing was in some form, stolen from other articles.

9/11 MEDIA COVERAGE

MEDIA COVERAGE

HOW IT WAS COVERED: SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001

After the first plane crashed the first building of Twin Tower at 8:46am, it startled every single person in the newsroom in every part of the United States by storm. Within three minutes, CNN's New York Bureau cut off their scheduled commercial time and was the first network to air a live-streamed picture of the breaking news incident. As seen in this video, the Vice President of Finance for the network just happened to be only a mile and a half away and gave his entire witness stance from his location. He was able to be the confirmer for the bureau and brought this station major ratings for days to come. 

In order from the New York stations, the next stations to confirm the reports go: ABC-7, FOX-5, CBS-2, AND NBC-4 all back to back within seconds. The majority of the station's went ahead and aired the breaking news on their affiliate stations as well. 

 Station-wide, you could hear each anchor describe exactly what was going on, in the calmest tone they can. Because no one truly knew what was going on at that point, it sounded like each journalist was reporting something similar to a very terrible car accident. 

Not even two hours later, they went into shock all over again, as a plane drives right into the Pentagon in the D.C Metropolitan area. At that point, the reporters could confirm through vision alone, that we are most likely under some serious danger. 

 Once the second twin tower collapsed around 11am, media coverage just caved in and continued to cancel all programming. For the entire rest of the day until the President of the United States spoke after 7pm, the news continue to run pictures, interviews, updates, and information on the country being under this predicament. 

Other forms of media include radio, in which Howard Stern's NPR show & NYC's 1010AM radio were one of the first to announce the breaking news. 

HOW IT WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED TODAY:

If twitter and social media and smart phone's were around during 9/11/13 ....

• History would have been written in 160 characters (Twitter)
• Pictures would have been in a 8 photo collage (Instagram)
• Status updates would explain your entire opinion (Facebook)
• A picture of the twin towers would have been sketched (Google Home Page)
• Next to position, would've listed "survivor" 9/11/01 to present (LinkedIn)

REMEMBERING 9/11/01

REMEMBERING:

SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK



 

MY EXPIRENCE

 

On the day of September 11th, 2001, I was being dropped off to my 4th grade class in Rahway, North New Jersey. I was running a little late that morning, as the bell rings at 8:48 each day. My teacher, Ms. Valerie Wagenhoffer, had a close relationship with my family, and would never be mad that I was running a little late.

 

What a day to be late- around 8:49, I am about to hop out the car, when the programming on my favorite car radio station, Z-100 (100.3FM) announced that the world trade center just collapsed. My dad screams "what?" and I continue on to my class, not really worried about his last comment.

 

I get into class, and there is pandemonium everywhere I turn. Teachers, rushing students into seats, secretaries, stopping by each classroom and talking to teachers, and kids, just sitting there in quiet not really sure what is going on. Around 9:30, the Principal gets on the intercom and announced that our country is currently under attack. 13 years later, I can agree, that was all my fellow classmates needed to hear.

 

For the two hour, Ms. Wagenhoffer and the students sat in complete silence. No one asked her what was going on, and she probably didn't even know how to explain it. The principal notified us when a second plane crashed in the Pentagon. The Principal notified us that the second Twin Tower collapsed. The Principal even made sure to announce that the President of the United States, George H. Bush, was no where to be found (I learned at a young age that we lived in a very Democratic pro city.)

 

Secretaries were in their office calling parents. Parents were calling and taking their kids out of school. Around 12pm, I was finally picked up by my father.

 

My mother worked at a hospital in North New Jersey, a town overlooking the New York Skyline. We did not know much, but we know that we were about to go retrieve my mother. We hopped on the New Jersey parkway, where the smoke was in full vision. It looked like we were driving closer, and closer. We were able to retrieve my mother by 2pm and bring her home in safety.

 

There is one thing besides the smoke that I will never forget about that car ride. In a total of a 25 minute drive, 7 exits up the parkway, we saw, in total, three cars. Yes, three cars. In a state of 7 Million people. That's when I realize that we were seriously in trouble in America.

 

The rest of the day is pretty much a blur to me. I am happy I was old enough to remember even half of the day, with time frames.  I did watch the President's speech. I don't remember what he said, I just remember it was at 7pm.

 

Once school started up again, I found out we had three classmates that lost immediate family to the incident at the World Trade Center. Three students in a room of 30 felt like 100. Our hearts went out immediately to those students, one who is still a great friend of mine to date.

 

I will honestly never forget September 11th, 2001. There was honestly nothing like witnessing it in the forefront.

 



 

Christiane Amanpour Biography

Christiane Amanpour currently serves as the Chief International Correspondent for CNN News Network. The award winning journalist has gained much praise for her works overseas since the beginning of her career in 1983.

Amanpour was born January 12, 1958 in London, England.  Being born to a Muslim father and a Christian mother, living areas of her childhood split in half: age 1-11 she grew up in Tehran, Iran and from the age of 11-18 she attended boarding school in London, England. Both parents continued to make attempts to go back to Iran, but were unable to do so because of the country's several conflicts. Amanpour remained in London. 

After completion of elementary and secondary schooling, Amanpour accepted an offer from the University of Rhode Island School of Communications to study journalism and mass media.

Our future journalist accommodated herself in America; working heavily on campus and through her internship with a radio station and the Providence NBC-4 affiliate. She graduated summa cum laude with a B.A in journalism.

Amanpour's first job out of college was at the foreign desk for CNN. She worked heavily on the Iran-Iraq war and climbed her way up until she gained the title as the chief international correspondent for CNN in 1992.

The chief correspondent stayed in her role for almost 20 years, covering everything from out biggest international crises in Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, Iraq, and 9/11. Her American coverages include Hurricane Katrina. From 1996-2005. Amanpour was also on contract with 60 minutes, contributing international packages quarterly for 10 years.

After 27 years at CNN, in 2010 Christiane Amanpour announced that she will be leaving CNN and hosting "This Week" on the ABC Network. After a year of terrible ratings, ABC cut the program . Amanpour returned to CNN and through a unique agreement, ABC still has her on contract as a global correspondent, when needed.

Christiane Amanpour continues to be an inspiration for all those interested in foreign affairs and international journalism. 

Herman Cain "Suspends" From the Candidational Bid

Herman Cain drops out of the presidential bid a few weeks before the nomination begins after facing several allegations towards being improper towards women. Always producing innovative ideas such as 9-9-9, Cain has been a liked candidate and remained high in the polls since his begin in May.

A rally that was supposed to launch Herman Cain’s campaign turned into a news conference in Atlanta on Saturday, December 3rd, as he stated, "I am suspending my presidential campaign because of the continued distraction.” Cain voices to his 400 supporters that appeared that day that his suspension in the race is due to the fact that the allegations have been hurtful to his family. “My wife, my family, and I – we know that those false and unproved allegations are not true!” he shouts as his wife Gloria sits and nods in agreement behind him.

Allegations that cause Cain’s dropout included Ginger White, a businesswoman in Atlanta who discussed how they have had ongoing affairs for over 13 years. Women leaking stories about being sexually harassed by Cain while working with the National Restaurant Association haunted the candidate throughout the past month.

Polls that originally had 23% of Republicans in favor of Cain dropped down to a whopping 8% in some areas of America. The former CEO was left with little choice as the media continue to display the situations. In regards to his choice to leave the race, Cain quotes "I am disappointed that it came to this point, that we had to make this decision."

Cain’s dropout now leaves seven candidates left: Bauchmann, Paul, Santorum, Gingrich, Perry, Romney, and Huntsman. Favorites Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney will be able to increase their voices and rise in the campaign. Other candidates will benefit with more spotlight as well.

Cain wishes to continue being a voice. Those who still support Cain can support him through his upcoming website thecainsolution.com.