By: Kevin LaTorre
BLUE BELL, PA--The exact definition of a confidential source is a right accorded to journalists under the laws of many countries as well as international laws. Confidential sources are also described as protective sources, reporter’s privilege or confidentiality of sources.
Any person that does not mind giving out information that relates to a fact or story but doesn’t leave his or her name is known as an anonymous tipper. This kind of confidential source could give out a fact for a story that can be from an unofficial source, will not give any credit for the journalist to credit and it can also lead to false pretenses. Journalists working on a story who get facts from an anonymous tipper that can give out false information often has the potential to lose to their job. Worse yet, the story the journalist prints may turn out to be false or force authorities to catch the wrong suspect.
Student media creators should know about this important issue. I had a chance to interview Dave Aston, the Editor-in-Chief for the Montgazette, on the subject of confidential sources. He explained, “That people who use Facebook, Twitter, and other media sites are all in danger because people these days can give out false stories without anyone citing their own work which can lead to photos being edited and words being altered.”
This is a major problem because users can say the person who received the information from is a confidential source. In reality, the user just posted a fake story, claiming that an anonymous tipper gave the information when it was really their own thought put on the internet for pure entertainment.
Stories featuring confidential stories can gain wide popularity. Buzzfed.com published a story that was put on Facebook claiming, “[President Barack] Obama ran over [former president] Jimmy Carter with his car last night.” Cracked.com also wrote that, “The iPhone 5 would have hologram projection.” This was ranked as a Top Five story and was put all over social media. It turned out to be fake. Far too often people still believe any story is true because they don’t look for any primary or secondary sources or photos of that story.
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Defame Me Not!
By: Matt Mashaintonio
BLUE BELL, PA--We hear about it all the time, a big celebrity is suing some tabloid for “defamation of character,” but what does that really mean? The real question is “what is defamation?”
Joseph Turow in his book Media Today defines defamation as, “a highly disreputable or false statement about a living person or organization that causes injury to the reputation that a substantial group of people hold for that person or entity.” In simpler terms, this means that deformation is when someone either says or prints something that is false about a person or organization that can harm their reputation. There are two types of deformation as I alluded to above. There is libel, written defamation, and slander, spoken defamation.
All people are vulnerable to defamation but the general population is split into two different factions, public figures and private people. Public figures are seen as people who are of the public and open themselves up to defamation. For example, politicians, actors, professional athletes and authors. Private people are people like you, the average person who is not in the public eye.
You might think that you will never be a victim of defamation. But let’s say you were reading an article in your local newspaper that says you were involved with a group of students from your school that broke into the school’s computer lab and stole a computer. Now you are associated with a crime you did not commit, you are now a victim of defamation.
According to the Associated Press Style Book, there are five things you would need to prove to win your defamation case:
1. A defamatory statement was made. (You were one the students that stole a computer.)
2. The defamatory statement was written, or said, as fact not opinion. (The newspaper said you were definitely involved and that there is no speculation about it.)
3. The defamatory statement is false. (You have proof you were visiting a relative in a different city at the time of the theft.)
4. The defamation statement is about the plaintiff. (The newspaper was talking about you.)
5. The defamatory statement was published with the requisite degree of fault. (The newspaper checked their facts and said you were definitely there, or just lied about which students were there.)
Now, there is another side to this coin. What if you are the one that says the defamatory statement? Then what do you do? My number one suggestion is to make sure it never happens.
As media creators, we have a duty to only report on the truth. Fact check everything you can before you send your article to print. Have someone else double check your facts and sources. If you are unsure of something, don’t print it.
Stop defamation before it happens.
BLUE BELL, PA--We hear about it all the time, a big celebrity is suing some tabloid for “defamation of character,” but what does that really mean? The real question is “what is defamation?”
Joseph Turow in his book Media Today defines defamation as, “a highly disreputable or false statement about a living person or organization that causes injury to the reputation that a substantial group of people hold for that person or entity.” In simpler terms, this means that deformation is when someone either says or prints something that is false about a person or organization that can harm their reputation. There are two types of deformation as I alluded to above. There is libel, written defamation, and slander, spoken defamation.
All people are vulnerable to defamation but the general population is split into two different factions, public figures and private people. Public figures are seen as people who are of the public and open themselves up to defamation. For example, politicians, actors, professional athletes and authors. Private people are people like you, the average person who is not in the public eye.
You might think that you will never be a victim of defamation. But let’s say you were reading an article in your local newspaper that says you were involved with a group of students from your school that broke into the school’s computer lab and stole a computer. Now you are associated with a crime you did not commit, you are now a victim of defamation.
According to the Associated Press Style Book, there are five things you would need to prove to win your defamation case:
1. A defamatory statement was made. (You were one the students that stole a computer.)
2. The defamatory statement was written, or said, as fact not opinion. (The newspaper said you were definitely involved and that there is no speculation about it.)
3. The defamatory statement is false. (You have proof you were visiting a relative in a different city at the time of the theft.)
4. The defamation statement is about the plaintiff. (The newspaper was talking about you.)
5. The defamatory statement was published with the requisite degree of fault. (The newspaper checked their facts and said you were definitely there, or just lied about which students were there.)
Now, there is another side to this coin. What if you are the one that says the defamatory statement? Then what do you do? My number one suggestion is to make sure it never happens.
As media creators, we have a duty to only report on the truth. Fact check everything you can before you send your article to print. Have someone else double check your facts and sources. If you are unsure of something, don’t print it.
Stop defamation before it happens.
Monday, November 24, 2014
Copyrights, Pirates and Borg! Oh, My!
By: Morgan Killian-Moseley
BLUE BELL, PA--Copyright law is a tough subject to deal with. On one hand, if someone creates something that makes the world better, they should be allowed to reap the rewards. Ideas are never fully protected by copyright. So if someone uses their work without any gain by the so-called “pirate”, I don’t think that should be prosecutable.
But what constitutes an idea, exactly? Is it something that just stays in somebody’s head forever? That I doubt, because most ideas have gotten out already and have changed the world. If an idea is something that can be tangible, why should it always be copyrighted, kept away from those without the money to pay for it?
Small portions of some software is used for free under fair use regulations, with the expectation that you’ll buy the full version. But some people don’t. They just keep taking free trials of something else. Some other people can’t afford to buy computers, period; so they have to rely on the kindness of others.
The entire idea of copyright is money. Only if you profit will you do something good, the Founding Fathers said. What we need to do is take the money out of the equation. In “Star Trek: First Contact”, in the 24th Century, human society had evolved to the point where currency no longer existed, and humanity worked to better itself. Having taken a trip back to 21st Century post-apocalyptic Montana to stop the Borg from changing history, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, played by Patrick Stewart, explains to a surprised Lily Sloan, played by Alfre Woodard, that very fact.
Lily can’t understand how currency doesn’t exist. But it needs to be done. If people want to be better, they need to become equal and the thing that holds society back the most is money. Money is power, and those who have it, abuse it. Therefore, if people are pirates who “steal” music, then in the words of Robbie Rotten from Lazy Town, “do what you want, (because) a pirate is free.”
BLUE BELL, PA--Copyright law is a tough subject to deal with. On one hand, if someone creates something that makes the world better, they should be allowed to reap the rewards. Ideas are never fully protected by copyright. So if someone uses their work without any gain by the so-called “pirate”, I don’t think that should be prosecutable.
But what constitutes an idea, exactly? Is it something that just stays in somebody’s head forever? That I doubt, because most ideas have gotten out already and have changed the world. If an idea is something that can be tangible, why should it always be copyrighted, kept away from those without the money to pay for it?
Small portions of some software is used for free under fair use regulations, with the expectation that you’ll buy the full version. But some people don’t. They just keep taking free trials of something else. Some other people can’t afford to buy computers, period; so they have to rely on the kindness of others.
The entire idea of copyright is money. Only if you profit will you do something good, the Founding Fathers said. What we need to do is take the money out of the equation. In “Star Trek: First Contact”, in the 24th Century, human society had evolved to the point where currency no longer existed, and humanity worked to better itself. Having taken a trip back to 21st Century post-apocalyptic Montana to stop the Borg from changing history, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, played by Patrick Stewart, explains to a surprised Lily Sloan, played by Alfre Woodard, that very fact.
Lily can’t understand how currency doesn’t exist. But it needs to be done. If people want to be better, they need to become equal and the thing that holds society back the most is money. Money is power, and those who have it, abuse it. Therefore, if people are pirates who “steal” music, then in the words of Robbie Rotten from Lazy Town, “do what you want, (because) a pirate is free.”
Saturday, November 15, 2014
The Values of News
By: Alexandria Somers
BLUE BELL, PA--The first thing I do before getting in a relationship is find out if the person is honest, trustworthy, and loyal. This doesn’t just go for romantic relationships, this is a standard for any relationship I get into.
Who would want to have relations with a liar? The only thing you gain out of a relationship with a liar is patience. I am a full time college student, I work two jobs, and play sports; I don’t have time to waste. I look for the same things I look for in a relationship in the media that relays me the news. Telling the truth and the whole truth is a concept all Americans are aware of, so getting the truth from the media is expected. Throughout the day, my time is valuable.
If I so happen to walk past a television that has the news on, or if I’m in my car listening to the radio newscast, I expect to hear truthful and informative news stories. Having News Values protects the media and gives it credibility. With the knowledge I am gaining from the news, it will give me a better understanding of the world and what is going on around me.
The Wikipedia definition of News Values, sometimes called news criteria, as determining how much prominence a news story is given by a media outlet and the attention it is given by the audience.
The Associated Press stated that they insist on the highest standards of integrity and ethical behavior when they gather and deliver the news. This ensures that I am informed correctly and not ignorant to important information I should know as an American consumer. The great general manager of the AP, Melville Stone stated in 1914 that, "the thing [the news] is striving for is a truthful, unbiased report of the world's happenings … ethical in the highest degree”.
As a communications major at Montgomery County Community College, I am very critical when I interview people for a primary source. There are many rules and guidelines I have to abide by so that my work is credible and informative. Visiting sites such as www.ap.org is a great way to hone in on what standards and practices need to be followed to make writing and research better.
There are so many different ways of how information can be displayed, such as, Anonymous Sources, Audio, Bylines, Datelines, Fabrications, etc. which can be learned by the way the Associated Press presents its stories. News Values is a critical topic that all media creators need to understand and apply.
BLUE BELL, PA--The first thing I do before getting in a relationship is find out if the person is honest, trustworthy, and loyal. This doesn’t just go for romantic relationships, this is a standard for any relationship I get into.
Who would want to have relations with a liar? The only thing you gain out of a relationship with a liar is patience. I am a full time college student, I work two jobs, and play sports; I don’t have time to waste. I look for the same things I look for in a relationship in the media that relays me the news. Telling the truth and the whole truth is a concept all Americans are aware of, so getting the truth from the media is expected. Throughout the day, my time is valuable.
If I so happen to walk past a television that has the news on, or if I’m in my car listening to the radio newscast, I expect to hear truthful and informative news stories. Having News Values protects the media and gives it credibility. With the knowledge I am gaining from the news, it will give me a better understanding of the world and what is going on around me.
The Wikipedia definition of News Values, sometimes called news criteria, as determining how much prominence a news story is given by a media outlet and the attention it is given by the audience.
The Associated Press stated that they insist on the highest standards of integrity and ethical behavior when they gather and deliver the news. This ensures that I am informed correctly and not ignorant to important information I should know as an American consumer. The great general manager of the AP, Melville Stone stated in 1914 that, "the thing [the news] is striving for is a truthful, unbiased report of the world's happenings … ethical in the highest degree”.
As a communications major at Montgomery County Community College, I am very critical when I interview people for a primary source. There are many rules and guidelines I have to abide by so that my work is credible and informative. Visiting sites such as www.ap.org is a great way to hone in on what standards and practices need to be followed to make writing and research better.
There are so many different ways of how information can be displayed, such as, Anonymous Sources, Audio, Bylines, Datelines, Fabrications, etc. which can be learned by the way the Associated Press presents its stories. News Values is a critical topic that all media creators need to understand and apply.
Journalists' New Friend: Social Media
By: Christopher Calvano
BLUE BELL, PA--Almost a quarter of the time Americans spend on the internet is used on social media and networking sites. This is almost nine times the amount they spend on new sites. With this in mind, using social media correctly can get news across to a larger audience.
Journalists can use social media to locate leads and sources for a story, such as witnesses or other individuals directly related to an event. Photos and videos of events that are posted and shared via social media can also be useful in reporting. The instantaneous nature of social media also allows news stories to be published without the delay of print lead times as well as allow reactions to stories to be seen more prominently.
However, social media and networking sites should be used as a supplement, rather than a replacement to traditional reporting tools. It is important to fully verify sources that come from the internet because anyone can add information to social media. Not all of it is accurate and, many times, stories can be published before all the facts are known.
As a result of this, in addition to attributing online sources, one must verify sources claiming to be official by contacting the companies or organizations they claim to represent.
In addition, one should not use social media sources as a sole source of information when other methods can provide more information. Tweets are sweet, but real news comes from interviews. Instead of just quoting a tweet form a prominent or important individual, contact them directly and ask them for in-depth details.
Another thing to consider is privacy. Although many social networking sites have privacy settings that allow users to control who sees what, anyone who can see a post can share it with others. Likewise, anyone who receives an email can forward it, so it is important to take these facts into consideration when reaching out to sources via social media.
Social media can be a powerful tool for journalists in terms of outreach and collecting sources as long it is used correctly, is accurate, is relevant to the story and respects the privacy of others.
BLUE BELL, PA--Almost a quarter of the time Americans spend on the internet is used on social media and networking sites. This is almost nine times the amount they spend on new sites. With this in mind, using social media correctly can get news across to a larger audience.
Journalists can use social media to locate leads and sources for a story, such as witnesses or other individuals directly related to an event. Photos and videos of events that are posted and shared via social media can also be useful in reporting. The instantaneous nature of social media also allows news stories to be published without the delay of print lead times as well as allow reactions to stories to be seen more prominently.
However, social media and networking sites should be used as a supplement, rather than a replacement to traditional reporting tools. It is important to fully verify sources that come from the internet because anyone can add information to social media. Not all of it is accurate and, many times, stories can be published before all the facts are known.
As a result of this, in addition to attributing online sources, one must verify sources claiming to be official by contacting the companies or organizations they claim to represent.
In addition, one should not use social media sources as a sole source of information when other methods can provide more information. Tweets are sweet, but real news comes from interviews. Instead of just quoting a tweet form a prominent or important individual, contact them directly and ask them for in-depth details.
Another thing to consider is privacy. Although many social networking sites have privacy settings that allow users to control who sees what, anyone who can see a post can share it with others. Likewise, anyone who receives an email can forward it, so it is important to take these facts into consideration when reaching out to sources via social media.
Social media can be a powerful tool for journalists in terms of outreach and collecting sources as long it is used correctly, is accurate, is relevant to the story and respects the privacy of others.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Social Club Brings New Horizons to Adults with Asperger’s Syndrome
By: Christopher Calvano
BLUE BELL,PA--Life with Asperger syndrome can be challenging. For those who don’t know, Asperger’s Syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder characterized by difficulties in social and communication skills.
While there are many services for children with autism spectrum disorders, the challenges they face often continue into adulthood.
The New Horizons Club located in Montgomery County seeks to bridge that gap and provides help for adults with Asperger’s to build social connections, and learn to live independently.
The club’s membership mainly consists of adults ages 18-40 from various regions in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Monthly meetings are held in the Montgomery County Human Services building on the fourth Tuesday of every month.
These meetings and social outings give members opportunities to expand their social horizons and meet with like-minded people that would not be possible outside the group.
BLUE BELL,PA--Life with Asperger syndrome can be challenging. For those who don’t know, Asperger’s Syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder characterized by difficulties in social and communication skills.
While there are many services for children with autism spectrum disorders, the challenges they face often continue into adulthood.
The New Horizons Club located in Montgomery County seeks to bridge that gap and provides help for adults with Asperger’s to build social connections, and learn to live independently.
The club’s membership mainly consists of adults ages 18-40 from various regions in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Monthly meetings are held in the Montgomery County Human Services building on the fourth Tuesday of every month.
These meetings and social outings give members opportunities to expand their social horizons and meet with like-minded people that would not be possible outside the group.
“Before I was a member I was not very open to making new friends,” says New Horizons member Liz Yuhas. “Now I am. The group has given me a new sense of confidence not only in the group but outside of the group. It has given me the confidence to talk in front of a group about my disability, to reach out to customers in my job and the ability to distribute communion at church.”
Paul Gever, the facilitator of the group since 2005, has noticed many changes since he started. “When I first began leading the group, meetings were to me, oddly quiet,” says Gever, who noted that over time members began to learn to converse more freely. “Now I can’t get them to shut up!”
In addition to monthly meetings the New Horizons Club holds many social events. Such events include attending sporting events, movies, and festivals; events hosted by members such as holiday parties, super bowl parties, and book clubs; and vacations, most notably to Avalon and Knoebels Amusement Resort.
Another side effect of the club’s success, says Gever, is that some members “have made enough lasting friendships in the group that they now simply do their own thing. Obviously, we miss those folks who have moved on to what are for them greener pastures, but we have to celebrate them as their successes are truly our successes.”
Despite this, the club continues to grow and is always encouraging new members to join. “You could have the ability to make new friends and memories,” Yuhas says. “You can try new things and have a new appreciation for them. To see if you like the group you can come to a meeting or two.”
The club will be holding its sixth annual beef and beer fundraiser on Friday, November 21, 2014 at North Penn VFW Post 676 in Glenside, Pa. Montgomery County Community College students and others are welcome to attend.
For more information on the New Horizons Club visit www.newhorizonsclub.org or facebook.com/NewHorizonsClub.
Students React to Harassment Against Female Games Developers and Critics
By: Dave Leva
BLUE BELL, PA--“Some very scary threats have just been made against me and my family. Contacting authorities now.” Anita Sarkeesian, a feminist games critic, posted this update on her Twitter account in late August, in response to a wave of threats of murder and sexual assault. She wasn’t alone; independent game developer Zoe Quinn suffered a similar torrent of threatening messages, after her ex-boyfriend posted on a forum about her alleged relations with five other men in the games industry. And while these serious harassments have only caught public notice within the past month, such actions have been occurring for far longer.
“This is nothing new,” says Montgomery County Community College Assistant Professor Jason Wertz. He explains that male gamers have shown horrendous behavior online and at conventions for years, and many times he’s witnessed them firsthand. Such behavior, says Wertz, is often ignored within the industry, and that it’s “good to see [this issue] addressed” by the media in recent weeks. But the media alone can’t stand against this harassment.
Wertz says he’s begun to speak about harassment against women in the industry in his classes, focusing upon the positive aspects of diversity. He wants to make the next generation of developers more aware of the issue, and make them advocates for a more diverse industry. Wertz says that women need better representation not just in the games themselves, but in the whole realm of games as well, and that such changes would benefit everyone. He also explained that those behind the harassment and resisting progress are angry about the changing environment of the games industry, as if going through the stages of grief in an attempt to process it.
BLUE BELL, PA--“Some very scary threats have just been made against me and my family. Contacting authorities now.” Anita Sarkeesian, a feminist games critic, posted this update on her Twitter account in late August, in response to a wave of threats of murder and sexual assault. She wasn’t alone; independent game developer Zoe Quinn suffered a similar torrent of threatening messages, after her ex-boyfriend posted on a forum about her alleged relations with five other men in the games industry. And while these serious harassments have only caught public notice within the past month, such actions have been occurring for far longer.
“This is nothing new,” says Montgomery County Community College Assistant Professor Jason Wertz. He explains that male gamers have shown horrendous behavior online and at conventions for years, and many times he’s witnessed them firsthand. Such behavior, says Wertz, is often ignored within the industry, and that it’s “good to see [this issue] addressed” by the media in recent weeks. But the media alone can’t stand against this harassment.
Wertz says he’s begun to speak about harassment against women in the industry in his classes, focusing upon the positive aspects of diversity. He wants to make the next generation of developers more aware of the issue, and make them advocates for a more diverse industry. Wertz says that women need better representation not just in the games themselves, but in the whole realm of games as well, and that such changes would benefit everyone. He also explained that those behind the harassment and resisting progress are angry about the changing environment of the games industry, as if going through the stages of grief in an attempt to process it.
Montgomery County Community College students are also reacting to these threats, as well as the under-representation of women in the games themselves. “The lack of female protagonists means they don’t have an interesting story,” says game development student Rachel Shaw. Without female role models in games, the female demographic as a whole is ignored, she says, or worse. Another student, Lindsay Mergner, also says as much: “Watching women needing to be rescued made me think that women were useless, and video games reinforce that idea.”
The extra media attention to the threats against Sarkeesian, Quinn, and others has brought these deep-seated issues back to the surface once more, and with hope will encourage all involved in the games industry to take action against the misogyny surrounding the medium they love. But ultimately, according to Wertz, the vessel for change rests upon the shoulders of developers and those directly involved in the game-making process. “It’s our job to say ‘Look, that behavior’s not acceptable,’” he said.
In time, those sharing his sentiments can change the course of the medium’s progress towards the future, and the students of Montgomery County Community College’s game development program will surely hold great influence in that change.
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