Trip to The Republic South Sudan

> Although the basic cultural and security information provided is useful it lacks in-depth issue that will arise from a female reporter going into the African warzone. I would first contact a leading expert on African culture and traditions and discover the expected gender norms for a female and the area and attempt to work around them. I would also ask the expert for insight into the religious and traditional beliefs of the different tribes as background about the people I would be dealing with. I would also call up any peers who have visited the South Sudan to gain their insight into the area’s problems.

> According to the Embassy of Sudan (http://www.sudani.co.za/), the weather will be hot with tropical rainy seasons from April until November. Thus, I will have to pack for heat but keep a modest approach to my clothing. Loose, cotton pants with sturdy hiking boots will be useful in the field with cotton shirts that are breathable. Flip-flops, wind and water-proof jacket and a sweater will be brought for relaxing at night. I sturdy backpack will serve as my only luggage so I am able to travel into rural locations easily for the advancement of my story. I will have to bring a fair amount of my medication for my chronic migraine headaches because I will not be able to have access to more whilst abroad. A good torch with batteries, GPS map, toilet paper, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, anti-bacetial, anti-diarrhoea tablets, anti-malaria tablets, paracetamol, iodine and plasters have all be recommended by other travelers (http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Africa/Sudan/Packing_Lists-Sudan-MISC-BR-1.html).

> A camera that uses batteries, a tape recorder, a video camera, a satellite cell phone, computer, and my journal will be used to cover my stories. Hopefully, the satellite phone and laptop will be able to access New York’s editors. If not, I may have to rely on telegrams and letters, which will take more time than necessary.

> I will have to rely on the translators, or guides, that I will be traveling with to interview members of the tribes. However, translations are not always exact and therefore I must be transparent in my report about the use of translators.

> Hiring guards to travel with our guides may be useful to protect ourselves from becoming a part of the battle raging between opposing tribes. Bullet-proof vests may protect myself and my crew from an gun fire we might run into. Additionally, informing The Republic of South Sudan of our plans may be useful because they may give us insight into protecting ourselves.

> My first story could be ready within the first day I arrive in The Republic of South Sudan because you never know when the encounters between the two tribes could escalate while I am traveling. However, if nothing has changed, and the events are isolated, I may have to wait for interviews with both members of the Nuer and Acholi tribes.

Dilemma: I would have to tread carefully on the story about the mass grave I discovered. First, the Acholi may be telling me the truth about their participation in the ethnic cleansing. However, I must report the story objectively, making sure both sides of the story are told. I would interview my guides and then find Nuer survivors of the cleansing and uncover their view of the situation. I would try and get all sides of the story before I sent the report to my editors in New York.

Miami University Students Unite Against Hate In Two Distinct Ways

Miami University Police Officer silently watches over the students, staff, and faculty who gather in Central Quad for the Unite Miami Festival.



A Miami University student listens to a local A capella group preform at the Unite Miami Festival instead of attending the protest against the Westbro Baptist Church.



Attendees of the Unite Miami Festival stand firm on the side of love over hate.



A young girl and her mother hold the peaceful signs they made at the Unite Miami Festival.



Four members of the Westbro Baptist Church display their controversial signs during their 30 minute protest at Shriver.





Two Miami University students hold one another's hands as they watch members of the Westbro Baptist Church, who are known for the negative views of homosexuality.




A Miami University police officer survies the crowd of people who are agressively protesting the Westbro Baptist Church's protest.



A female Miami University student watches on as her peers gather to either protest or observe the Westbro Baptist Church.



One of four present members of the Westbro Baptist Church proudly displays her provocative posters to the dismay of the surrounding crowd.




Miami University police officers escort the four members of the Westbro Baptist Church away from Shriver after their permit to use the area expired as onlookers sang Steam's "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye".




Those students who decided to observe the Westbro Baptist Church's protest were reminded by other students that a peaceful demonstration was taking place in Central Quad.




As students left Shriver after the conclusion on the Westbro Baptist Church's protest many passed reminders that they were urged to stay away from the four protestors by Miami University and instead stay united against Westbro Baptist Church.

Leather's Dismissal a Mystery

On the 40-yard line of the Bulldog Stadium, home of the Springfield University football team, quarterback D’Andre Lewis lead 25 of his fellow teammates in prayer. Tears leaked from the star’s eyes as he clutched the hands of his peers, the group in a tight circle, holding hands as they listen to him speak with their heads lowered to the ground.

“Oh, Lord, please forgive our leader, our mentor, our friend,” Lewis said, tears continuing to fall from his eyes.

Lewis continued his prayer, stopping at least four times to wipe tears away from his eyes. It is evident that something has happened to this team. Something has brought the team together to pray for their former leader. What, however, appears to be illusive.

* * *

Jonathan Leather, who has been the head football coach of Springfield University for 18 years, was dismissed this afternoon. The terms of the dismissal will not be disclosed according to university Athletic Director Alison Lowe.

With an overall record of 98-46 for his last 18 years, Leather’s dismal comes as a surprise. Leather is currently in the midst of a divorce from his wife of 22 years, Tawny Leather.

Leather has not answer his phone, nor has replied to his email for a comment about his release.

Assistant Coach Loren McCormack will act as interim varsity football coach through the remainder of the season.

“We are pleased to have such an experienced, 10-year veteran of our football program to call on in a challenging situation like this one,” Lowe stated in her October 27 press release. Lowe has not responded to neither phone messages nor emails over questions about the Leather’s dismissal.

McCormack responded to email, saying, “I am distressed and saddened by the situation my men 100 percent, particularly since we face a formidable opponent this weekend.”

Springfield University’s nest scheduled game is Saturday, October 29, against University of Kentucky at home.

Love and Honor: The Possible Death To Tradition Looms Near

Miami University’s President, Dr. David Hodge, gave his annual address to an audience that mostly contained professors, or faculty of the university. Yet, the irony of the audience’s situation was due to the overarching theme of Dr. Hodge’s speech: Miami University must change its culture to be able to adapt to the demands of a turmoil economy and nation. “"Change is no longer an option,” Dr. Hodge declared passionately to his audience, “whether we like it or not, rapid and profound change is coming to higher education" This change, which was only vaguely mentioned in the course of his address, must involve all members of Miami University. Dr. Hodge seems determined to alter and mold the culture of Miami University into a collective group that follows his ideals. If Dr. Hodge is truly determined to alter traditions, to make the university have a new mindset of principles, standards and morals then he needs to appeal to all of the people the make up Miami University. He cannot change every tradition—this will isolate the alumni that are vital to the financial survival of the university.

In addition, Dr. Hodge must consider the possible implications of his determination to change the culture of the university that prides itself in tradition. When I asked a senior professor of The College of Arts and Science, who wished to remain anonymous, about their thoughts on the changes Dr. Hodge has in store for Miami University I was not surprised that they seemed spectacle. “Dr. Hodge has always been a little too idealistic,” they whispered to me, making sure no one could hear their honesty. “[Hodge] needs to realize that many people will not be willing to change the “culture” of Miami. He needs to find a better way to talk about change than attacking tradition.”

"Love and Honor", the ending to Dr. Hodge’s speech, is a tradition that will hopefully not be altered to “Innovation and Execution.”

(Image from Miami University)

Politico: Ignoring the Average American Voice?

Politco.com as a website brings up many issues about a genre-centric approach to journalism. When a group of journalist focus on one sole type of new stories, in the case of Politco.com is American politics in Washington D.C., they neglect other important stories that are not part of their chosen scope. For example, when one opens the website page the first thing noticeable is every article on the main page is about Washington related politics. The main article for Sunday afternoon, for instance, was about how Rick Perry lost the Florida straw poll to Herman Cain, a “long-shot candidate”.

Within “Rick Perry reels after Florida flop” reporters Alexander Burns and Maggie Haberman only have quotes and analysis of the GOP candidate’s failure in Florida by Washington based individuals. What would have been more conducive to this article that was about how state based members of the Republican Party would have been to have insight to why Florida citizens chose not to support Rick Perry. Instead, they had Republican strategist, for example, point out the ways Perry could return to power and why he was unable to win the straw poll. Due to Politco.com’s desire to solely look at American politics in the scope of Washington many of their articles loose the voice of the average American, and the politics that truly matter to them.

In truth, Politco.com is a wonderful idea. It allows readers to know exactly what kind of view they will be given on certain political issues and stories. There is nothing wrong with having a genre-centric approach to journalism. However, the only concern of this approach is the way isolates average Americans, who have something to say about politics that take place in their state and affect the whole nation.

A Media Comparison

While reading The New York Times, Fox News and Sam Stein’s article that was posted on Huffington Post about the national unemployment report and President Obama’s address to a Joint Session of Congress that will occur this Thursday I could not help but notice that despite the fact that all three sources tell the facts of the story there seemed to be a slight slant in the wording the articles. However, before the conversation about the skewed viewing of the facts, it is important to consider how the facts are presented in the articles.

The New York Times presented the facts, which are the how, what, when, who and why’s of the story, in the most detached, passive voice about Obama’s speech and the unemployment report. Also, the article provided links to their other articles about the facts. Due to the fact that The New York Times provides these links it forces one to believe that it has an authoritative voice, a trustworthy voice, and one that you can trust while you pursue the truth. It seems as if The New York Times is aimed for liberal, upper class Americans, who have a thirst for knowledge that is not tainted with the GOP’s agenda.

Fox News has the same facts as The New York Times; in actuality, their facts are quoted in the Huffington Post article. However, there is something funny about the article. It was hard to discern the facts from the opinions of the writers. For instance, when the writers is discussing why Obama will not be focusing on unemployment in his speech Henry and Barnes “but it could also be an attempt by the administration to show the president is trying to stay all over the economy heading into what will likely be an uphill re-election battle”. The tone of this piece, in comparison to the other two that are more passive in their voices, suggest that there is something sinister about Obama’s decision to not touch upon the report.

All of the articles ended on a note of the unknown. Because the news story has not reached its conclusion, and the press is speculating about what Obama will speak on at his address, the articles cannot give a concrete answer about the future of America’s employment issues. Noteworthy, however, is the conclusion of the Huffington Post article, which had former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell speaking on what he believed Obama should be doing instead of going on a tour and speaking about the employment issues in America while among Americans and not politicians.

After looking at all of the articles I would have trusted The New York Times the most because it is just providing cold hard facts with little opinions. Huffington Post is a close second because despite the detached voice and little opinions I cannot seem to trust a source that is one: a blog and two: getting their facts from other people’s articles. That does not make them a source or an authority on the subject.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/02/obama-jobs-speech_n_947181.html

http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/09/02/white-house-hints-more-economic-speeches-proposals-ahead

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/03/business/economy/united-states-showed-no-job-growth-in-august.html?_r=1&hp