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My classmates argued that to dispel these stereotypes, we must just stop allowing them to occur. Or, if that is not achievable - be educated enough to spot them, call them out for what they are, and ultimately accept our fellow human beings as they are. This means, not putting them into a preconceived box to belittle them or ignore them. 

In the team presentation about whether or not news organizations should publish certain graphic imagery, my classmates first presented us with a disturbing video of a cyclist being hit by a stolen Tesla. Behind the wheel were teenagers who later laughed at the incident, claiming it wasn’t that big of a deal. Overwhelmingly, the class decided that news organizations should air the video because it furthers understanding of the incident, therefore, furthering the story. The situation might have been different if there were more bodily injuries that were graphic and also if the video showed the cyclist's face. Another set of images shown were from actual news stories and colleagues of one of my classmates. One was from a fire, a motor cycle accident, and some kind of medical emergency. The motorcycle accident image was most graphic. It showed a person's bone sticking out of their leg. The class thought overwhelmingly that showing this image would not further the story and it would be gore for gore’s sake. We also thought the image of the dead dogs was too much to air because it would be disrespectful to the family. I think the contrast between this set of images and the video is interesting because it really shows what elements are taken into consideration before something is published in the interest of storytelling. For instance, with the cyclist video, there was controversy over the attitude of the teens at fault, whereas that did not exist for the motorcycle accident or house fire images. We also discussed current events in Gaza. Some of the events occurring there are truly horrific. Other ways to share this information was discussed, such as first hand accounts, press conference style, and audio reporting. I think we all decided that it was important to record these events as they happened for a visual historic record, but blatantly showing graphic imagery because it happened is not always the best way to share information and inform. Unfortunately there will always be a portion of people who say something didn’t happen, though. So, it’s up to us to remain objective, bare witness, and record historical or noteworthy events. 

In Chapter 8 of “Mobile and Social Media Journalism” titled “Mobile and Social Media Journalism in Your Career,” Anthony Adornato discusses the ever increasing importance of social media in journalistic storytelling and the role it plays in a lasting career in media. The first chunk of the chapter speaks to the qualifications of the modern journalist and the requirement that they must be nimble in a digital newsroom. One may be required to complete a number of tasks to aid in telling your story including using a smartphone or other professional device to record video, take photos, record audio or other multimedia. Moreover, in job postings from across the country and world, experience with “social media” is being mentioned almost always. What modern newsrooms need are reporters that can tackle social media distribution, visual storytelling, social engagement online, user experience, audience engagement/development/user metrics and computer coding skills. Speaking to computer coding skills, it has been my experience that this particular skill is highly sought after. Currently we work with a business that is responsible for building out the LA Times online formats for special visually compelling builds. If we had someone on our team that could code, we would not have to wait months for a tool or build to become available for us to use. This could technically be done in-house and to each story's needs, based on feasibility. So, what does a social media role look like? According to this chapter it could mean a range of things from managing story content on facebook, producing web stories that can air on snapchat/Facebook/Instagram/Twitter, or photo editing for online or platforms specifically. At the LA Times, I think our photo department has really struggled to transition to a social media driven world. While we have our own accounts, it’s difficult to manage because so many of us wear so many hats. We are mostly tasked with incorporating a “social media” element to any big story we produce and to keep in mind the format for each platform when considering a story. We may develop our own plan or have help from our audience engagement team to execute a social plan. The chapter also discusses finding a job or internship - by using social media or by leaning into it on the job application/resume etc… to land the gig. Search for open positions by looking at news outlet’s websites, general internet searches, professional organizations postings and social networking sites that may have specific accounts dedicated to job searches. Also, use your own social media to your advantage. Think about your own platforms and accounts like a brand and utilize it to tell a story about you and your work. This might be the deciding factor for a future employer to call you with a job acceptance! 

On the other hand, Qanon was explained by my classmates to be a right-wing extremist group founded on the Dark Web. The NY Times says it's a "term for a set of internet conspiracy theories that allege, falsely, that the world is run by a cabal of Satan-worshiping pedophiles." Our presenters didn't believe that this could be a real belief and included a news real clip explaining some of the wild conspiracy theories that Qanon supporters believe. Many Trump supporters and members of congress also are public supporters of Qanon theories and ideology such as Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene. 

In Chapter six, titled “From the Field: Social Media Engagement and Audience Analytics, the author discusses the best way to set up your social media posts for success. The technical term for this is Social Media Optimization or (SMO). Several ways that you can make your social media posts better and more effective is to add visuals. This means, graphics, photographs, Illustrations etc… in addition to using the platform's mechanism to add tags or mention specific products or accounts associated with the content. Hashtags can also prove to be a useful tool as some hashtags become trends or they become a central place on the platform to find related topics. If you want to share with your followers more information, including links is also useful. This can direct the reader to additional information you couldn't include in the original post. This chapter also points out that the most successful posts use short headlines or catchy descriptions to entice the reader. A critical information first approach followed by multiple posts is a good strategy to get the most information out quickly. Creating text that sounds more conversational will engage the audience more than third person academic text. The author asks us to consider how a social media post can continue the conversation after the story is published via callout questions or post that ask readers to share their opticians or participate in the story. Analytics themselves also may prove to be an interesting jumping off point for story ideas or it may inform what stories you should post when and where. It also may inform you of how people are engaging with your content from just like, reach, page views or new subscriptions. The book also outlines a whole section on using Twitter. However, I think in today’s state, Twitter is proving to be unhelpful in spreading content or sharing information other than hateful comments or spam/bots. However, Twitter has become and still is a useful tool in getting out information of breaking news events in real time. Ultimately, using social media can be viewed as an experiment that you may need to adjust over and over again. Use the tools at hand to inform decisions on what you post, when you post and where you post. 

I can see this in several ways and I think each way depends on the person and their circumstance. First, I can see a young professional, say in the age range of 20-25 taking this deal. Currently the job climate in journalism is slim and the pay scales are even slimmer. Therefore, if you land a 6 month gig at a successful broadcasting company, the odds are you need the experience to job hop somewhere else. Moreso, you’ll likely be fending off student loan payments, rent, and other cost of living expenses that a minimum wage gig won't support - even with 3 roommates. You could also argue that the newspaper business is changing so rapidly that you could look at Sinclair Broadcasting as more of a “media company,” which is no different than any other business. Therefore the ‘sizable’ donation they are asking you to donate would be no different than when you would donate money any other way. I would also ask if every employee at the company is being asked to make a donation to Conservative Political PAC’s. If they are, it may just support the company’s values and business model… which is what you would be signing up for anyway in working there. In regards to the question of whether or not people down the line would question the decision to donate a portion of their salary to a political PAC in order to receive a raise, if it’s company practice to do so, I wouldn’t be too worried. Especially because when you are in this business, it’s who you know, quality of work, work ethic, and ability to tough it out. Secondly, I can see how as a journalist, in the truest sense, would find this a clear violation of ethics. If journalism is supposed to represent truthful and unbiased reporting, the reporter should not donate to political organizations - at all.  This is because their political affiliations can be seen as an innate bias towards a political slant. By the media company asking the reporter to do such a thing in exchange for a higher wage, it can be seen as a quid pro quo. Therefore if the public sees you as being ethically compromised, your reporting will be too. Losing the public trust would be the worst thing you could do for your career and reputation. If I were in this position facing off against Sinclair Broadcasting, I would state this in writing to the higher ups as well as HR and ask for this stipulation to be removed from the ability to get the raise. I would also float the details of the job offer to other news outlets to see if there is any interest in matching the offer or providing a better one. If any of those other outlet bites, I would go back to Sinclair and state that you have a competitive offer and you’d like to continue working at Sinclair, but the deal breaker is the donation requirement - and will you remove it or accept the terms of the similar job offer.

In Chapter 5 of “Mobile and Social Media Journalism” titled From the Field: The Mobile Journalist the author begins by asking the reporter to come up with a story pitch that encapsulates these things: Story focus, news peg, sources, Data/background info, and visuals. Each of these things must be considered against the format and target audience of the story. For example, are we writing this story for print only? Or will this be digital or both? How will this story be distributed or engaged across these platforms? Also, the story types may also determine the approach one takes. Feature stories, for example, could be covered via a Q&A or may be long, colorful and full of images. Or, it may be structured for a quick and easy read, depending on the news value or cultural importance of the person, event or topic.  News, however, is most effective when the information reaches the reader quickly and accurately. When covering the news, the reporter is most likely to be working on the story in real time. Therefore this means Live-Tweeting, streaming, blogging etc… When things are happening so quickly, it may be best to provide the viewer with a first hand account of the situation rather than an analysis after the fact.  Additionally a journalist’s ‘office’ is often where the wifi or cell service is. Therefore, we must work to be as nimble and mobile as possible, when possible. Therefore it’s a good idea to have a go-bag of items that can help collect information like a camera, microphone, lav mic, mobile video or photo editing software etc.. Many companies have come out with mobile apps that simplify the reporting, editing or posting process. For example, “Call Recorder” is mentioned as an app on a cell phone that can easily import audio from an interview. Journalists should also have their workflow nailed down to be sure they can execute their reporting as swiftly as possible. This begins with a solid plan an ends with the analytics, which will tell you how successful your story is in reaching people. 

In class last week we watched several videos containing media, cartoons, Tik Tok’s and explainer videos on nature documentaries that present attitudes of American society across the last 100 years or more. In one video on Youtube, a cartoon from the 1930’s-40’s was shown in black and white with characters seemingly shown in Blackface. The main characters presented as speech illiterate and also goofy. Another shows images from “Lazy Town” where their residents are slow, sloth-like and unmotivated. While these cartoons may be cast aside as taking ‘creative liberty’ or appealing to what entertains audiences, they really reflect racist ideologies that inhabit the psyche of America.  Minstrel shows, which were recorded using real actors, showcased white actors in Blackface and appealed to the Racism that was reflected in everyday America. It can be argued that the reason these shows appealed to so many in the “mainstream” of the time is due to the lack of knowledge of the Black community and the unwillingness to incorporate them into society as equals. Alarmingly, we watched several videos where fake videos were posted showing ‘missiles’ in Israel. This mirrors trends across the world by bad actors to present misinformation in hopes of swaying public attitudes for or against American values or nationalism of one’s country. For the majority of people it is incredibly difficult to spot these videos as fake, which means that the viewers opinions of the video are more likely to be shaped by the maker of the videos intention, rather than logical analysis or facts. Additionally, the explainer video on nature documentary shows revealed that the editor of the show is really responsible for how the audience feels or understands the narrative. At first glance, ‘nature’ shows might seem strictly educational. However, if one looks deeper you begin to realize the sequence of images and sounds from the footage may not have been recorded in real time or cut in chronological order. This calls into question the intentionality of the filmmaker and it’s really up to them to keep true to a truthful narrative or not. The thing I found most curious about this explainer video is that many of the ‘nature’ sounds are recorded in the studio. I could not imagine watching a majestic wolf gallop across a field while listening to the blades of a helicopter. So, in some sense, I understand this practice, but I also found it surprising all the same.

In Chapter 4 of “Mobile and Social Media Journalism,” the author Adornato first details the basics of using social media platforms to establish a presence for sharing journalism and storytelling. One must first create a handle for each platform that the journalist would like to join and present their work on. Then, hashtags are used to group together topics, posts or events. Each social media platform uses hashtags differently and for different purposes. So it’s up to the journalist to rally target their approach to certain demographics of people who may interact with the individual platform. Another way to generate eyeballs on your stories or point your reader to related content is to add social media posts to stories. Social media can also be used to find and communicate with sources for stories. Facebook will not allow DMing through a professional page, however it can provide an entry point for further communication. Twitter threads, comments or retweets are also forms of engagement with the online community that can help any journalist’s online presence and ability to make connections, find new stories, verify information, and communicate with sources. The chapter also details the app SnapChat as another useful social media platform to not underestimate. However, I think that ShapChat and Twitter are on a steady decline and may not be as relevant today as when this book was written. Many platforms like instagram and Tiktok have emulated the more popular aspects of SnapChat and have improved upon it, making the original app less useful. The author also recommends subscribing to many social media pages, streams etc… in order to gather information in real time. It can also be useful in monitoring what posts are performing and can inform when you should schedule posts for the maximum engagement with followers. Another powerful tool that can be used with social media platforms is crowdsourcing. This means pulling images from followers in real-time. This also can mean a callout for information, images etc… that can be inspiration for stories or content that can be used in further reporting and storytelling. This can also be used to determine what stories are top-of-mind in any given community 

In our classes’ Right Vs Left comparisons I found it to be incredibly interesting that all groups found that conservative news outlets like Fox, Newsmax, Oann, had a distinguishably more diverse range of stories that seemed to cover them in a journalistic way. However, as many of us analyzed, each more conservative outlet did have a slant towards extreme right views and overall presented more-so like propaganda than news when considered holistically. On the other hand when considering CNN, Los Angeles Times, and MSNBC the same could be said to the slant in news coverage. Overall, these stations tended to present the news in a more balanced way; however, the slant came from opinion pieces and choice of topics to present, rather than the specific writing. Additionally, I found it interesting that my classmate from group 3 (MSNBC vs  Newsmax) found both sites hard to follow unless you were already a politics junkie or ‘in the know’ about current events. This brings up a good point that the majority of folks don’t necessarily think in any particular slanted way, left or right, that news outlets should be educational and present information in an easily digestible way. One news outlet that I wish that we compared is PBS because I believe that they do a good job in presenting informative balance reporting. But as we saw with the presentation analyzing CNN from group 2, which is supposed to be more center, they still had overtones of political ‘bias’ or slant to the content of their reporting. Because I am a journalism major and I do watch a ton of news, one thing I look for in each news organization is how much they actually talk to both sides and how much they are able to reflect each voice in their reporting. A good example of this kind of thing is the recent interview by Michael Barbaro of Republican Representative Tim Burchett. At the end of his interview Burchett praised Barbaro for the conversation and fair questions. I personally think this is how both sides should leave a story or interview - feeling like they’ve been heard and also challenged to think in a meaningful way. 

In Chapter 3 of “Mobile and Social Media Journalism,” the author, Anthony Adornato outlines what any up-and-coming journalist needs to do in order to create a personal brand surrounding their journalism content. One simple thing recommended is to google oneself to see what images and associations come up in the search. It’s best to have a professional image appear alongside a short professional bio that is written in a certain voice that provides the reader a glimpse into the journalist's personality and experience. Additionally, current and often social media posts that can be found via a link or icon on the Journalists website is standard in attracting an employer or reader by showcasing a dynamic and accessible portfolio. Basically a journalist's online presence is a representation of their reputation, according to the book. The author cautions that everything is public online, so it’s best to keep what you want professionals or other non-friend-family entities to see in public view and not mix in personal items. Key points in building a successful reputation or brand include engaging authentically and conversationally, abiding by traditional journalist standards, taking the time to slowly and steadily build your brand, and using the digital tools necessary to create a digital business card. Journalists building a successful brand should have a catchy easily identifiable social media handle that is professional and falls in line with the brand. Most journalists prefer to use just their first and last name as their handle. The author cautions that consistency in posing is key with posts to Facebook once every other day, a post to Twitter three times per day, a post to Instagram one to two times a week, and a post on LinkeIn once per week. It might also be important to establish a style or beat with the items you post or choose to include within your website portfolio or social media content. A good way to test the waters with this is to create a blog where you post consistently about a particular topic or write within a particular theme. Overall, the main take-a-ways from chapter 2 is as a working journalist it’s important to build an online presence, establish credibility as a journalist, and engage with your audience regularly where they can easily access your content. 

In my opinion mainstream media, in all platforms, has a slant. I think that this stems from local and hyper local communities that these platforms cater to, to survive. In America we like to think of the media as being free from the sway of politics or ideologies etc… but the heart of it, media actually stems from strong philosophical beliefs put into writing to sway large swaths of communities one way or another. For us originally, this was to sway the colonies towards American independence. Nowadays, the media is definitely used to inform objectively. We look towards reporters to dissect large un-sexy reports and statistics about topics that will affect local communities. We look towards reporting to uncover dark truths about government officials, people and entities - for example the Catholic Church. However, in the age of MAGA politics and fake news, media organizations can also be used to inflame rhetoric vis-á-vis national political organizations or people. Cough, cough, former President Donald Trump - or liberal talk show hosts like Rachel Maddow. I would argue that when we consume this kind of media we are choosing to swallow our own pill of choice and that decision is largely made without reason, analysis or informed consent of the general public. As a journalism student, I am constantly reminded of what media organizations are present in our world, what they stand for, how they survive and why it is or isn’t important to value them. My neighbor, who is about my age 25-27 years old, thinks that it is thrilling and amazing that I work for the Los Angeles Times. However, I often wonder when was the last time she read an article from my “thrilling” and “amazing” media organization? And if she did read, even a single article, did she have thoughts about it? Was it anything other than an acknowledgement of the crazy photo that we got of a goat on a surfboard in Huntington beach? Maybe, Maybe not. As mentioned in the “What do the numbers say about U.S. web/news sites & social media” presentation by Aileen Rayas, Danny Solano, Guadalupe Garibay and Jessica Phan, the top news site for generally all consumers is Twitter (X). This platform, which is highly chaotic and unfiltered, can and does address newsworthy topics that a wide range of people can access. However it’s followed by The New York Times, arguably the most prestigious and trustworthy news organization still operating that stems from the western world. This saddens me greatly. Especially because Twitter (X) has also become a safe haven for racist, hateful speech, egged on to continue by its most recent owner Elon Musk. One of my best friends had to make his profile private because QAnon conspiracy theorists began harassing him online because his nickname is Q. Q as in Q from Star Trek, not the head of a right-wing conspiracy theory from the dark web. Other organizations, not holding extreme views, are also losing viewership in steady numbers. As stated in the presentation by Jose Fraire, Lauren Hannah, Micah Hall and Emylie Avelar, PBS’s viewership declined by a staggering 1 million viewers from 2021-2022. I think this speaks to the platform not being able to reach viewers where they will consume the media and the network's ability to rise out of extreme rhetoric and be relevant to those viewers. 

The mobile newsroom is not a term that is used to describe a place of newsgathering that is nimble and or easily moveable in their geographic location. A ‘mobile’ newsroom is one that meets their audience where they are able and willing to consume information. As newsgathering entered the digital age, all existing platforms of the time have struggled to adapt to an ever changing, fast-pace, digital ecosystem wherein the reader may lose interest in mere seconds. How does a news gathering organization adapt, Chapter 2 of “Mobile and Social Media Journalism,” asks? In a multitude of ways, depending on the style and type of journalism offered. However, all platforms have conceded that they must have a digital-first mindset in order to survive. Print journalism has struggled to employ something called a “pay wall.” This is a digital barrier that asks readers to subscribe to the specific organization for a fee before they are able to access certain content. Social media platforms like Twitter or “X” has  been one company that often offers short, concise tidbits of breaking news information for free with a subscription to the platform. This competes with many print newspapers who have been trying to make an attempt at being a digital first platform. Therefore, they have often supplemented income with special print advertisements and digital advertising. Television or broadcast news have tried to adapt to the new digital realm by developing apps or platforms that are easily accessible via a mobile device. While this may be user- friendly to most readers, a fee to use the platform has been few and far between. This makes accruing revenue even more difficult, especially when the same platforms then begin to add on a fee to their service. The epitome of ‘digital-only,’ according to the textbook, comes in the form of multimedia news programs like VICE that aim to target the attention of a younger audience and demographic. However, I would argue that VICE also has it’s issues, sometimes with ethics, and ultimately failed to reach the amount of viewership that it once touted it had. Ultimately, what is evermore relevant now is the use of social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter (X), Tiktok and Instagram to spread news and information. Additionally, the power of these platforms to make a profit is essential to the success of news organizations generally. What media companies have still failed to crack is being able to create top notch journalism while still being able to make a profit - without compromising ethical standards or crossing grey business lines. 

“Hollywood’s Finest” by Christina House This image was taken by Christina House of the Los Angeles Times. I don’t believe this image was taken this year, but it was published along with a final piece that was. The project ended up earning House the Pulitzer for feature photography. The story of this image centers around a young adult named Makenzie who is homeless and living on the streets of Los Angeles. At such a young age, she found herself pregnant and forced to battle addiction, navigate governmental systems for basic services, the dangers of living on the street and learning to become a mother all on her own. I think this project and this image was especially both powerful and important because it reflects the state of so many Angelenos and beyond. Housing and the unattainability of it for so many hardworking folks is one of the major leading causes of homelessness. For young people, stagnant wages, student loans, and the temptation of drugs and alcohol pose real threats to our prosperity in society. This image grabs people because it shows the innocence of youth tangled with the harshness of real challenges that frequently are a hairline away from disaster. This image also focuses on motherhood in such a tender and loving way. This quality of the image is why I think it makes such an impact on the viewer. I think this image speaks to my generation as frustration grows around the lack of financial opportunity and social services that would make the “American Dream” possible. It may be the case that we will not be able to attain better lives than our parents. Lahaina Fires by Max Whittaker This news image by Max Whittaker, for the New York Times, is a more recent addition to what some may call “Iconic” images of our lifetime. Whittaker, among other photojournalists, have been covering the devastation of the fires in Hawaii. This particular image shows part of the Maui coastline with an overview of the sheer wreck the fire created of the town of Lahaina. One small structure remains, almost by a miracle. The impact of this image visually takes your breath away as it chronicles just another chapter of climate change and the battle over safe, sustainable power for an ever growing population and warming planet. The heinous nature of the fire might be flanked by the reality that on an island there are limited resources for shelter and safety resources such as fire departments etc… that could aid in curbing damages. Furthermore, as an island community, the prospect of rebuilding becomes further out of reach with extensive environmental damage, shark-like corporations that are lying in wait to gobble up locally owned real-estate and inflated costs for new materials. This image also shows the stark contrast between a once green, beautiful flourishing island community and parallel  histories of erasure of past indigenous culture and island life. I think it’s important to look at these images and recognize the true danger of a warming planet and let it force us to take action. Because, the consequences in my mind would seem to mirror Whittaker’s photo. 

So there you have it! That's the life of a photojournalism enthusiast, francophile and dog-obsessed college senior. If you ever need some photography tips or just want a friendly chat, you know where to find me. À votre santé!"