Anonymous Sources

What is a name? While yes, when a name is not on paper, its a means of addressing someone, of giving their identity and being a word to call. But on paper, in an article where the person is not the main focus, but the  words they say contribute to the point being made, what does it matter? If something they say does in fact deem itself important enough to be attributed to a person by name, they by all means the journalist should use wise discretion and include the name; but if a quote just adds flavor to the story, and the speaker would rather not be named, then I see no harm in not including it. 

As for an editors demand for a source that will allow his or her name to be used, perhaps a speaker might not be as candid if he or she knows that their words will be attributed. Illegal activity or unsavory behavior is most certainly not something a person would want associated with their name. But if that information helps along a story, then it seems ridiculous to rule out useful information for the sole reason that the speaker does not want to be named. This is most especially true if the alternative is a nameable source with inferior comments. 

Even some of the most intriguing and influential stories have involved anonymity; does name Deep Throat ring a bell?

It seems quite evident that journalists must use their discretion when deciding if appropriate to include an anonymous source. While editors ultimately have control, it seems they should be willing to lose a "Bob" or "Sally" for decent information.

SUNY Albany's Historic Celebration

Most every student at the University of Albany has been to or at least heard of Fountain Day, the celebration where pretty much anything goes, and crowd control is a joke. With pent up energy from the treacherous winter, which has never seemed as brutal until braving the frigid winds of Albany, a majority of students are just bursting to dive into two feet of water while somewhat intoxicated; purely for the sake of U Albany spirit of course. With all of this celebration, and the blossoming Spring, however, it seems that it might be appropriate to uncover the origins of such a festive day. 

The tradition began in... well, that's actually a bit ambiguous. A melange of sources, mostly blogs or articles of students who have attended the festivities, state varying origins of the school sponsored free-for-all. Wikipedia, that search engine that has all of the answers to life's questions and is hated by professors, states yet another. According to this electronic sage, the year was 1979, and the Human Awareness Program dreamt up day as a way to unite all members of the university, and to welcome in the warm weather and conclusion of classes. But, Wikipedia can be slightly misled, right? Even the most wise of sages could be misled once in a while; so for now, this origin is under speculation.

A 2004 article, by SUNY Albany alumni Jennifer Falcetano, "Do students Really Know What All The Splash is About?" states that Fountain Day finds its origins about thirty years ago; "... because of the Vietnam War the fountains were unable to run all the time during suitable weather. The pumps that operated the fountain were turned on sparingly." It was thus that when the pumps were put to use it was in a more celebratory manner, and festivities were born out of this. Falcetano's article mentions the Human Awareness Program in 1979 and the evolution of the celebration into the Fountain day we know today. Yet another student writer, Chelsea Barraco, wrote that the tradition began in 1978 in an article she wrote in 2006 for an online U Albany magazine, ualbanyezine.com

 

With all of this possibility it seemed there were a few details to be straightened out. The university website offered no answers, but another student article appeared the most informed out of the many available online. 

Written in 2006, by U Albany alumni Erica Boms, from the same issue of the ualbanyezine  as Barraco's article, "The History of Fountain Day" was the answer to any uncertainty. It stated that the tradition began May 5th, 1978 under the title May Fest. Then, in 1979 it was renamed the Human Awareness Program in order to facilitate more than the celebration of Spring, but also the unity between faculty and students. It grew to earn the title Human Awareness Program Podium Beer Blast Friday, but was later changed to Fountain Day, for no university would be proud of sanctioning a school day of that title. The celebration was moved to the weekend after the infamous Fountain Day of 2004. 

As such, the mysterious past of Fountain Day was uncovered. However, for the most part students don't seem to be as interested in the history of the celebration, or any of the reasons for it, other than the clement weather and excuse to be intoxicated at a university function. It appears that the majority of the journalistic attention the day draws is focused more upon the chaos. With media coverage up the wazzoo, most every incident, some slightly horrifying, has been covered, much to the administrators' chagrin.

Fountain Day 2004, for example, was the most embarrassing for the university, and the most remembered; it even made the evening news. Nicole Way, who attended the celebration remembered, "Everyone was so gone. No one was thinking about what they were doing." Articles of students who attended recall that a couple of "artists" attempted to turn the water gold but instead turned it a radioactive green. It also later became apparent that the off color water bottles students were chugging were not juice or water. And the resultant injuries were cause for alarm; diving into two feet of water while heavily intoxicated proved not to be the best idea. Ambulances ran to and fro from the scene throughout the afternoon. The chaos called so much attention that local reporters struggled to be heard over the bedlam in the background. Disciplinary action was taken in the following days. The combination of beer helmets and pool floats would no longer be tolerated, and blatant disregard for civility was to be done away with. This more recent history of Fountain Day has proved to be of more interest to student writers.

In even more recent history of the celebration, the university took steps to repair its tarnished reputation by hosting the World's largest pillow fight in Collins Circle in 2005. Since then, it appears this effort to improve has led to annual celebrations with out irreparable damage. Though students today still attend the event quite hammered, alcohol consumption is not as obvious. According to a freshman who wishes to remain anonymous and had quite a bit to say since her brother attended last year's and she is eager for this year's celebration, " The Poland Spring bottles can't be like, Jack and Coke colored, they have to be somewhat believable." And it seems the rules for the day have taken on new meaning; a web page created by "The Rick" recalled that at the Fountain Day he attended, the university's motto for the day was, " we don't care if you drink, just try not to do it while standing in or in the immediate area surrounding the fountain if you could please thank you." 

The event has gained a place in SUNY Albany's legacy. It is a celebration that has evolved from a student unity function to a day of anarchy, to a happy medium somewhere in between the two. The event has led to the proliferation of numerous articles and prompted students to take more interest in their environment. It has brought a population so used to hibernating all winter into the brilliant light of Spring; it has promoted student and faculty bonds and promoted a more unified campus. Despite the dangers, the necessary discipline, and the aid the day gives to Albany's image as a party school (fifth in the nation!), Fountain Day proves to be welcome in a campus of cold concrete, serious faces, and dreary days.  

Coverage of Spitzer

The coverage of Spitzer's sex scandal has been all encompassing; most every angle has been covered. From the feelings of everyone remotely involved, the stoicism of Spitzer's wife, and the dreams of "Kristen", his call girl, to spoofs, and hard news of the scandal, no stone has not been overturned.

        Not only was it covered, but to some degree it was over covered. Entire news programs have been devoted to this. The tuned in world now knows the aspirations of "Kristen, " also known as Ashley Dupre. Apparently, thanks to myspace, she left a broken home for New York in pursuit of a music career. CNN actually had a link to view her page, and the number of visits for today, for instance, was 5,953,892, quite impressive. And while Spitzer is dealing with the consequences of his activities, the media is having a hay day making Spitzer wish he had never had wandering interests, or at least not made the call to his bank which raised a red flag and led to the discovery.

Overall the coverage of this story was......thorough, to say the least. But it seems that the media merely abided by the principle that sex and scandal sex newspapers. It seems that the papers have been so saturated by news of the war in Iraq, that any sort of distraction was welcomed whole heartedly. Now the time has come, however, to move on. Had this been a governor in Idaho or Nebraska, the press would most definitely not have given its undivided attention, and we most definitely would not be hearing about it every time we opened a paper or turned on the tv. 

The Bill of Rights

1. Freedom of speech

    Freedom of press

    Freedom of religion

    The right to peaceably assemble

    The right to address grievances about and to the government

2. The right to bear arms

3. No soldier, during peace time can be quartered in a house with out the consent of the owner, and laws must be followed if quartered during war time.

4. No person or his belongings or home may be searched with out a warrant

5. No person can be forced to answer anything in court, with a few exceptions (involving the military or in times of war), and a person cannot be subject to double jeopardy

6. "The right to a speedy and public trial," a person must be informed of the trial they are being accused of, and be provided a lawyer if not able to.

7. The right to a trial by jury

8. No cruel or unusual punishment is allowed for crimes,  and excessive bail or fines cannot be imposed.

9.The right to have rights; no one can take away another persons civil rights.

10. Powers not given to the federal level are given to the state level, or to the people.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0749825.html

Prince Harry

The idea that the press has the potential to be bought off for the secrecy of information seems a bit disheartening. Regardless of what exact information the press knew and intended to withhold, this concept of being so easily manipulated and so self centric that the media only cared for the glitz and glamour of procuring a story with all the glossy 8x10s handed to them. The press was essentially told, in the case of Prince Harry, that if it kept secret the prince's military status, it would be rewarded with pictures, information, interviews and anything else it desired. Personally, this seems sort of corrupt. It's understandable that Harry would be a target, if his presence was widely known, and as a result his company could perhaps be in danger as well. So this secrecy of his presence was rightly kept covert. 

The whole problem with this scenario is that is shows just how easily bought and manipulated the press can be.

The Paper

The Paper, a documentary by Aaron Matthews, is a film of great journalistic might; it puts lessons and philosophies learned only through experience as a journalist into cinematic form. This, in turn, makes such wisdom available to the future journalists of the world.  A new cult classic of journalism schools, this film follows the headaches, the progress, and the successes of one of the top student newspapers in the nation, "The Daily Collegiate" of Penn State. SUNY Albany held a viewing of this seventy-eight minute film last Wednesday. In the dim light of the theatre, mostly filled with journalism students, one could see that all eyes were transfixed on the glimpse into the future that many in the room would imminently be embarking upon. The film offered a look into the responsibilities of a newspaper staff, the ethical dilemmas they face, the restrictions, the concern for lagging readership, and the balance all journalists try to maintain between their profession and personal life.
           In this film, far-reaching axioms that all journalists, regardless of experience should keep close at hand, were presented through the experiences of the students at the newspaper. To start with, one must be on their toes, fully alert. Such was evident in the cry, "Who walks to a fire? It was a fire!" Apparently, due to sluggishness a reporter had missed out on some pressing news. Next, a journalist must be willing to go an extra step or even twenty or thirty. He or she must be able to relate a story to outside society; if reporting on sports, as in the documentary, or a particularly dry topic, like economics, he or she must be able to pull in a concept relevant to humanity across the board. Even if a particular topic is of no interest to a reader, the journalist must be able to pull that reader in for a different reason. 

       Also, journalists must remember that knowledge equals power. They must ask themselves, what do people want to read? They must remember that one must not make ethical decisions alone; and that they must consider diversity regarding the newsroom and stories. A journalist must realize that all of his or her story ideas will not be welcomed with open arms; some will be shot down. If at a loss for a story, a journalist could fall back on, "if it bleeds, it ledes."Journalists must realize that they create their own access, and for more complete access they must be willing to step on toes, or at least covertly step around them; and be willing to face the consequences of doing so. The worst thing a journalist can do is tell the truth poorly, but it happens. Journalists must consider what is important versus what is newsworthy when ruminating over a story idea. They must take into consideration who could be hurt by a story, or who could receive undue celebrity from it. They must prioritize their personal beliefs and objectivity, and decide on stories accordingly. Finally, journalists must keep in mind that if it comes down to it, sex sells papers.
        This last axiom is especially intriguing; why are people so drawn to reading about it? In an attempt to boost circulation, The Daily Collegiate introduced a dating and entertainment page. Despite the fact that it raised circulation, if only a little, there is extensive debate as to the appropriateness of its presence in newspapers. Many believe such gossip belongs in women's magazines or tabloids, but its d'ebute in newspapers is becoming more common.
      Other movies such as the Devil Wears Prada and How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, though not by any means on the same cinematic level as The Paper, revolve around journalists who write about their love lives or are immersed in a world of shallow sensationalism or materialism; essentially the mindless babble that a majority of the world finds entertaining.
In the show Sex and The City, the protagonist, Carrie, is a well known sex collumnist for a newspaper in New York City. She finds fame writing about all those topics most people would talk to only their close friends about; the guy who stood her up, the lack of romance before more physical relationships, the stupidity of men, the list could go on forever. But through all this, Carrie ties in universal truths of human nature. She questions why we think the way we do.
      As such, it seems that perhaps, gossip and love do have their place in newspapers. Though most definitely not the front page, it seems that if people enjoy reading about such topics, and it will elicit them to pick up a paper, then it can't hurt.Thus, the staff of The Daily Collegian did no harm to introducing a page of romance and gossip. It drew in a new audience, and shared the stories of fellow college students and their views of the opposite sex. The page allowed for a bit of entertainment in a paper that was dehydrated by dry news stories of no interest.
        Thus, The Paper by Aaron Matthews will indeed survive through time as a glimpse into the real world of journalism. It has essentially outlined the concepts journalists should keep in mind through real life events. It has given insight into the amount of analysis and brain power journalists use on an everyday basis. Yet it has also shown all of the glory and triumph which can be attained through hard work and perseverance. Such a documentary has given the average person a look into the life of those who provide them with their news and information; and basically, journalists do the same for their living: they get to take a look at the lives of others, taking a look at the World through someone else's eyes. Through all of the setbacks and hardship, it seems that this sole ability is what makes journalism so appealing.

Bourdain Tells of Beirutis' Shattered Hope and Competency of Military in Time of Chaos

Popular travel channel host, Anthony Bourdain, spent a week in Beruit; and while his first two days were "paradise," the rest of the week he spent there was permeated by chaotic violence. While standing with his Sunni, Shiite, and Christian companions, gunfire erupted while Hezbolla supporters displayed their support of the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers. From that point on, Bourdain witnessed events we could all hope but never be witness. As such, Larry King of the Larry King Live Show interviewed him on his experiences.

While Bourdain offered insightful and inspiring answers to the questions he was asked, King's disposition was of a simplistic interrogative manner. His questions were short and to the point, leaving Bourdain unlimited expansion in his answers. Perhaps the most pressing question he asked was, "would you go back, Tony?" This question seemed to drive home the points Bourdain had been making up until then; he had explained how hopeful and welcoming the Beruitis had been, how there was a sort of refreshing feel to the place as though it were, "kind of a dream version of what we hope the Middle East to be some day." The people were "sophisticated, largely English speaking, food centric, and friendly." This of course was in reference to the city before the subsequent bombings and violence. He applauded the military's competency in the matter and questioned the disorderly actions of the embassy. Despite all of the trauma and grief he had documented during the week he was there, Bourdain said, "I would love to go back. I- I will- it is great unfinished business with me that I have yet to be able to show the world what was possible in Beirut, how good the food, how nice the people I met, how hopeful a situation I saw for only two brief days."

It seems this near perfect interview lacked only the mistake that King did not ask Bourdain  how close he had been. Had he ever feared for his life while completely encapsuled by such danger? While this question could edge on a sort of  gutsy sensationalism, it seems a more candid choice of question, one I might have asked, though perhaps not on television. The only other mistake seemed to be that more time had not be allocated for the guest to share his experiences in the eloquent way he does on his show Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations.