Questioning the Media: Chapter 16

4) Who is Judith Miller? Should the United States have a federal shield law to protect reporters?
Judith Miller is a reporter for the New York Times she spent 85 days in jail. Miller was sentenced to jail for refusing to testify and reveal her sources in a CIA investigation. Miller was convicted of many accounts of perjury and obstruction of justice. The United States should have a federal shield law to protect reporters. Reporters have the right for their safety to not reveal their sources. In some cases if a reporter were to reveal where they got their information they could be put into danger. However, most of the time this is not the case but if reporters were made to reveal their sources their sources would stop giving them their information.

6) Should the Fairness Doctrine be revived? Why or why not?
Yes, the Fairness Doctrine should be brought back. The Fairness Doctrine required holders of broadcast licenses to present the public with controversial issues of public importance and do it as honest and fair as possible. The basis of this doctrine sounds like a good idea. People would be better informed and hear both sides to issues instead of the one that is chosen for them to know. Under the implementation of the Fairness Doctrine people would be left up to make their own decisions on issues and would also be more informed.

Questioning the Media: Chapter 15

1) What re your main concerns or criticisms about the state of media studies at your college or university?
So far I have not had many classes that deal with media studies at my university. I plan on taking more classes that study the media more in depth. Some of my previous classes have incorporated a little bit about the media especially my sociology classes. However, I do wish classes would incorporate more current events into the curriculum. This would raise discussions about things that are happening in today's world and how students are going to be affected and what they can do to change things. Media in our society is extremely important it rules every aspect of people's lives. Students also need to learn about how powerful the media is and gain a better understanding of it.

2) One charge that has been leveled against a lot of media research-- both the effects and the cultural models-- is that it has very little impact on changing our media institutions. Do you agree or disagree, and why?
I agree with the statement that media research has had little impact on changing the media institutions. The media is very tricky, much of the things presented through the media are biased in one way or another. In addition to being biased the media doesn't give all of the facts or information. Media has been like this forever and the people who are in power decide what the public can hear. Media institutions have always been this way and will always be this way.

Questioning the Media: Chapter Thirteen

1) Are you exposed to popular culture from other countries? Why or why not? Give some examples.
Yes, I am personally exposed to popular culture from other countries. I am exposed to popular culture from other countries because I am interested in it. I receive in the mail a newspaper from Norway that has things such as current events like festivals and different things relating to their culture. However, I think that the American popular culture has extended to the rest of the world and all popular cultures are either the same or close to that of the United States. Another reason that i am exposed to popular culture from other countries is my upbringing. When I lived in California there were 11 different first languages in my first grade class. Many of my friends were first generation Americans and this exposed me to their cultures.

5) Is there a such thing as a global village? What does this concept mean to you?
I don't think that there is any true global village. However, the concept of a global village is in practice. A global village is not possible in my mind because there are numerous places in the world that do not communicate with other countries because they are not as technologically advanced and do not have the means to. The idea of a global village makes me think about unity. There is not very much unity in the world even in our own culture others are discriminated against. Hopefully one day the idea of a global village is possible and could happen.

Questioning the Media: Chapter 12

2) What might a college or university do to improve public relations with homeowners on the edge of a campus who have to deal with noisy student parties and a shortage of parking spaces?
There are numerous things a college or university could do to improve their public relations with homeowners who have to deal with the noise issues from student parties and the shortage of parking spaces. First of all, the campus could monitor parties and take noise complaints seriously and punish those students and to solve the parking issue make more lots and spaces or even reserve spots for the neighbors of the school. Those suggestions are a little harsher towards the students so maybe the campus could come up with a trade off. For instance, they could make some campus facilities open to the neighboring public for no cost. Things like the gym and library would be a plus for neighbors to use.

4) Can and should the often hostile relationship between the journalism and PR professions be mended? Why or why not?
Yes, the hostile relationship should be mended between the journalism and public relations professions. Hostile relationships are never healthy. Many of the workers in both fields have identical if not very close to the same schooling and may even use the same methods in their work. If differences were put aside possibly the relationship between the journalism and PR professions could be very productive and help both fields. If the two professions got along work for the journalists would be a lot easier and the PR people.