The Final Stretch

Hello. I would first like to discuss class before moving to my article from the N.Y.T. To be honest, I somewhat forgot the events that took place on Wednesday and Monday. What I remember most about Wednesday was how Media Fellows can improve and about the internships. The internship program is the most attractive incentive to join this program of distinction. Not only is that a career building experience, it prepares students for leaving college. I feel that is even more important at a school like this that can become a bubble at times. Also excited to hear about the new Media Fellows, especially Dr. Casey's nephew who is definitely a cool guy. I feel that this school is attracting lots of new intellectually driven students.

To address the discussion of the 'Chaos Scenario', I'll echo what I wrote last week. I have a real problem with the author's general stance on television's business model as flawed and the subsequent belief that a large amount of media mediums are a dying breed. To start with television, I'll say that I see this medium as improving because their are so many more channel options. With sports, ESPN and its family stations as well as more niche programming indicates that the consumer will have more options. A comprehensive business model in which cable programming packages include a full array of specified sports channels is a good one. From my perspective I think that the medium will not die, the broadcast model will simply emanate itself as a new narrowcast model. Same to radio. I generally believe this to be an increasingly popular medium because it is thorough and deep. Their are more choices. MLB Gameday radio on the Internet is awesome. Sometimes a visual element will be established through the voice and I don't see radio dying in the sense that the Internet can carry radio. I actually heard Garfield talk about his belief on NPR and just couldn't disagree more. I think some things will die like the newspaper and that's concerning, but the extent of his 'chaos scenario' I think is not applicable. I could be wrong, but from my dealings with these mediums, I think adaptability is the theme.

As for my article in the so-called dying medium of hard copy, good old New York Times, it was a selection from last week's Wednesday edition in the International section entitled, "South Sudan Says Sudan Strikes Again." I am very interested in African politics and societal structure as a whole. I am concerned by this predicament. It's an economic based fight unfortunately. The Times article is short and sweet, but to the point and that's what reporting is all about in this instance. The issues here are fairly simplistic and that to me is why I'm frustrated by a lot of inter-related conflicts between AU member nations. Sudan is not very nice and South Sudan acts like they are innocent but their is definitely mutual clash about the oil pipelines on border regions. Look, in that arid of a climate that is all they have and with two new countries in such a large area geographically, stuff is going to go down. I feel mad at China too, because they just are looking for profit from the oil pipelines, they don't care about peace. Darfur's bloodshed was catalyzed by shady Chinese weapons exchanges with a corrupt Sudanese government operation. Overall, I feel that the author is very independent in writing this article. Given that Sudan is very unfair with its neighbor, the article still justly points out that both party's are to blame for a centralized issue. It is objective reporting like this that continually makes me praise the best newspaper in the world.

To finish, my project is going fairly well, despite the fact that I need more B-Roll. I have to figure out my total shot list for the week, but am willing to work hard to achieve those goals. I have two interviews left in addition to the two I have and around 2:45 of interviews edited so I have a very good plan. It will be a very interesting film. Soundslides is the biggest struggle. It's a bad program and I disagree with the fact we have to use it. I would have rather done a longer film because I felt like it would have told a much better story with my medium. I can still use still photos in a video format through Final Cut, in fact it is much much much easier that way. I'll figure it out though as the framework for my project should make an interesting product.