Frontline Questions

1. When referring to the allegation that Mayor Jim West was pursuing underage boys
online, why do you think editor Steven Smith differentiated between a legitimate news
story and one that is not legitimate when he said, "If he's [Mayor Jim West] engaged in this activity … we need to know that. If he's not -- there's no story" ?

The story is only legitimate if the mayor is breaking the law. If he is not breaking the law and engaging in this immoral activity, then there is no story. Is a mayor chasing young but legal men a story?

2. How did reporter Bill Morlin justify the use of a concealed identity on Gay.com as part
of The Spokesman-Review's and the FBI's "sting operation"? Why didn't Morlin himself
create the assumed identity to engage Mayor West online?

He justified concealing an identity on Gay.com because the Spokesman-Review believed that this was the only way to really find out if the person online is the mayor. They chose to make thier fake identity a 17-year-old boy to see if the mayor would go after a boy opposed to a man. When the boy turned 18, the conversation turned sexual.

3. Why do you think The Spokesman-Review ultimately published so many articles on
Mayor West's alleged improprieties?

The story was not about the mayor being gay, the Review said, the story was about public abuse of office; offering young men jobs/internships for sexual favors. I think the Spokesman-Review believed more was hidden beneath West's personal life. Steven Smith suspected that more victims would accuse West, but following the initial stories, no one came forth. The paper continued to publish stories about abuse of office.

4. In the final analysis, who benefited from The Spokesman-Review's decision to expose
Mayor West and his alleged improprieties? Who was hurt? Do you think the outcome was worth it? Explain your reasoning.

The case against the mayor was much more than about his sexual orientation. Representatives from both major parties were involved in the committee to take Jim West out of office. The mayor and the gay community of Spokane were affected and hurt by this story. The small gay community trying to become accepted in a conservative town were hurt because the mayor felt ashamed. The gay community were angry because in order to protect his identity, the mayor went out of his way to inhibit the gay communities rights. Jim West introduced a bill into the legislature to prohibit gay teachers from teaching in the community. West believes his anti-gay record was overstated.

No one said that Jim West sexually abused them. Morlin eventually dug up sources who accused West, but one source had already accused another deputy and made a claim for damages. The source would only contact the Spokesman-Review and would talk to no other media.

Jim West was exiled and basically fell from power. West was "outed," admitted to being gay, and did admit that he opposed certain gay rights movements, but there was never any proof of truth behind the harmful allegations the paper wrote about concerning abusing young boys. I think the outcome came about in an inappropriate way and pieces of the process were unethical.

5. The Spokesman-Review has been criticized as conducting a "witch hunt" in its reporting on the private lives of some city officials. Below is a link to another recent article on Spokane Deputy Mayor Jack Lynch. Do you think that there are any ethical problems in the reporting in this story? Why or why not?

I think there is a limit to investigating stories about private lives. It is important for journalists to report the news for the community, but to draw out allegations and really hurt people for no reason is unethical.

Second Life Story

Emily Taflan
Second Life

The Virtual In-World Experience

A Second Life representative announced a new interactive feature called Showcase Thursday morning that will be available to residents of their virtual world.

“The purpose for Showcase is to connect people who are users of this world to the pool content,” Brett Atwood, Web editor for Linden Lab, the creators of Second Life, said. “Second Life is full of exciting 3-D spaces that are created entirely by Residents, but some of the best content and communities have been difficult to find until now.”

Atwood said Showcase is like a TV guide for the virtual world of Second Life. The guide features locations such as Weather Channel Island, Virtual Mexico, “CSI: NY” Island and Thomson Reuters Island.

Atwood said that Second Life is not a game. “It is more of a social engagement area,” he said. “There are actual classrooms and training sessions in-world.”

A 3-D voice function was introduced recently to enhance in-world tools and interactions. Second Life residents can talk to each other in addition to communicating via Instant Messaging and through chat functions.

Organizations are taking advantage of the Second Life experience and 3-D voice function through the Second Life Grid. This area is a Website that shows you how you can use 3-D voice for business, education, and non-profit organizational purposes.

Atwood said business organizations like IBM and Nissan are currently using Second Life as a promotional outlet. Nissan’s space even allows Residents to test drive new models of their cars.

Universities and libraries are doing more than just test driving their plot in the virtual world, according to Linden Lab’s Website. Harvard Law School’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society opened a campus extension in Second Life. Educational entities make use of the large amphitheaters available in-world to teach classes and give lectures.

The public areas available to business and education are also open to artists said Atwood. U2, a rock group from Dublin, Ireland, recently performed in-world to raise money for ONE organization. This non-profit, humanitarian association utilized this benefit event to help fund their efforts to fight AIDS and extreme poverty.

While organizations make use of their spaces to better their groups, individuals are also attempting to flourish in the virtual world. Atwood said architects often display their work in-world and Residents can pay to have their land developed by these designers. “One woman really took to the space and built sort of a real estate tycoon,” Atwood said. “Some people’s primary income in the real world is from the virtual world.”

According to Linden Lab, Second Life is growing throughout the world with more than 100 countries utilizing the space. On a bad day 45,000 people will visit Second Life, Atwood said. On a good day, the peak nears 65,000. Its business, educational, non-profit, and creative aspects may be used as a unique tool to further global relations.

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In-Class Research Exercise

1. Several crime statistics are available at the FBI's "Uniform Crime Report" Web site:
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm.

At this site, you should be able to search for crime statistics by year.

Write a brief paragraph detailing the crime statistics for "Offenses Known" at Washington State University (Pullman campus) in 2006. How does WSU compare to other Washington universities?

Washington State University in Pullman, WA, had 23,544 students enrolled in 2006. Crime offenses known at WSU included 6 violent crimes, 4 forcible rapes, 2 aggravated assaults, 200 property crimes, 30 burglaries, 167 larceny-thefts, 3 motor vehicle thefts, 3 arson cases, and no murders or cases of robbery. WSU falls about mid-way between the other Washington universities on the known offenses crimes. The University of Washington has the most crimes and Eastern Washington University has the least (close to Evergreen State College, but this is a college).

2. Followthemoney.org is a Web site that allows you to track flow of money in state politics. Use the site to research and answer the following questions:

- Which Washington state house candidate and senate candidate received the most political donations in 2006? How much did each of them receive in total tracked donations for 2006?

Washington state house candidate Troy Kelley received the most political donations in 2006, an amount totaling $305,599.

Washington state senate candidate Christopher J. Marr received the most political donations in 2006, an amount totaling $565,880.

- For each of these candidates, what individual or organization was the largest donor (aside from their donations to themselves)? How much did they give?

For candidate Troy Kelley, the largest donor was the Washington State Democratic Party contributing $42,974.

For candidate Christopher J. Marr, the largest donor was the Washington State Democratic Party contributing $46,615.

- Use the same tool to investigate how donations play a role in politics. Use the "Explore" and then "Industry Influence" button to load in charts by each industry topic. What political party was the recipient of more donated money for anti-gun control regulations in Washington state in 2006? What political party received the most donated money for "women's issues" in Washington state over the past few years?

The political party that received more donated money for anti-gun control regulations in Washington state in 2006 was the Republican party (a donation totaling $72,000).

The political party that has received the most donated money for "women's issues" over the past few years has been the Democrats.

3. Use Google's Patent Search to find the patent application with the FIRST REFERENCES to these technologies:

* Digital Video Recorder

http://www.google.com/patents?id=TGeNAAAAEBAJ&dq=digital+video+recorder&as_psra=1

* Social Networking

http://www.google.com/patents?id=QMCGAAAAEBAJ&dq=social+networking&as_psra=1

* Automobile

http://www.google.com/patents?id=C_qEAAAAEBAJ&dq=automobile&as_psra=1

For your response, simply include the Web link to each patent filing. Please note that in your search results, you may need to sort by date.

Feeding the Beast

Who or what is the "beast"?

The "beast" is the audience. The readers, listeners, and viewers who will pay attention to what the news media puts out there.

Why does it need to be fed?

The audience needs to be fed because if they are not, they will turn to another feeding ground. The information and trust that is built between the "beast" and its news source is important and essential to keep the "beast's" attention.

What compromises (if any) might occur in trying to feed the 24-hour news cycle in print, TV and the Internet?

There could be a discrepancy between the original journalistic work and the 24-hour news cycle, TV or the Internet. It is important that the immediate news sources maintain a journalistic approach, give credit where credit is due and report the facts. These sources also need to establish and maintain a trust with other news sources to keep their processes running smoothly. Twenty-four-hour news cycle in print, TV and the Internet have to be careful not to compromise the facts and not to rush potentially harmful/inaccurate information into circulation.

Not only must these outlets maintain a trust with sources, they must also maintain a viewer/reader/listener trust. If this trust is violated, the news outlet's credibility will deteriorate.

Feature Story

Emily Taflan
Pullman Cost of Living

Empty Pockets in Pullman

Cars fill the streets. Pedestrians run through intersections. Luggage. Bedding. Books. School is starting.

Washington State University is practically synonymous with Pullman, WA because it represents a majority of the town’s population when school is in session.

Most businesses’ revenues come from students, but do the students suffer from high prices and little competition?

According to the American Chamber of Commerce Research Association, cost of living in Pullman, WA is 7 percent higher than the national average.

Alexandra A. Bond, a 19-year-old sophomore attending WSU, said she thinks the cost of living in Pullman is high. She said she spends about $500 a month just on rent, utilities and food.

“I’d rather live in a box outside of Safeway and dumpster-dive for my dinners every night,” Bond said. “I think the cost of living in Pullman should be a main concern for students.”

“My rent is pretty cheap,” Cody J. Williams, a 21-year-old junior attending WSU, said. “Before I moved into the house I’m in, I was paying $415 a month just for rent in a one bedroom apartment off campus.”

Williams said he thought the cost of living in Pullman was high, but that it could be a lot higher. He said he was surprised the cost of living was higher than the national average, because Pullman is a college town and students do not have as much money to spend.

“You learn to live like a college student and don’t buy the top brand toilet paper,” Bond said. “Shopping trips are cut down, but there’s really no place to shop in Pullman.”

Williams said he goes to Moscow, ID whenever he really needs anything. He said everything is located in the same general location, the tax is less, and things are cheaper. Gas prices have not affected his trips to Moscow because it is only eight miles from his house, and in any other town, this is a relatively short distance to a shopping center.

Both Bond and Williams said they receive financial aid from their parents.

Bond said most of her money is withdrawn from her personal savings account, but if she needs more her parents contribute.

Williams said, “I’ve never really felt like I’ve had a monetary problem because I’ve always had the bank of Brian and Debbie to back me up.” He said he tries not to purchase many unnecessary items because his parents are providing so much for his education.

Bond said, that as a college student, her one weakness, and the item she considers an extraneous buy, is coffee. She said she spends around $20 a week at Zoë Coffeehouse and Deli on coffee.

“If your parents pay for everything, you may not have the real picture,” Bond said. It is important to make a budget every month now, to prepare for life after college.

While Bond and Williams differ in opinion about the severity of Pullman’s cost of living, both students said they are attending college to ensure financial security for the future and the cost of living associated with it.
###

Story #2

Emily Taflan
Tourism and Travel

Hospitality Emergency?

How far does America’s economic recession stretch? The slump may be stuck somewhere in the rolling Palouse Hills, but perhaps not. The La Quinta Inn in Moscow, Idaho has felt few repercussions from recent years’ market dive.

“We are not a destination point,” Jason J. Penkacik, general manager of the La Quinta Inn, said. The hotel’s primary source of business results from the University of Idaho and Washington State University.

“If the universities were to close tomorrow, we would have to shut down too,” Christian J. Perry, director of sales at the La Quinta Inn, said. “For us to have that guaranteed business is keeping us alive right now.”

The recent decline in the growth of the tourism and travel industry, from 3.9 percent in 2007 to 3 percent in 2008, has not shaken the United States from its presiding role as the largest tourism economy, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.

However, Travel Industry Wire cited a national survey from Access America which says that American’s summer vacations are likely to be down 7 percent this year compared to 2007.

Penkacik said Moscow is not a place where families plan to spend their summer vacations. He said the hotel is not anticipating any new type of customer this summer or in the future. The hotel will remain focused on the existing market and will develop new strategies to beat out the competition.

“Our sales department has been shifting,” said Perry. He said the hotel is reaching out to the sports teams of colleges competing with UI and WSU.

Perry said the hotel wants both universities’ sports teams to do well. With the price of travel today, fans will not spend money to see a losing team.

Here in lies the issue for America. The U.S. may lead the world’s tourism market, but challenges are increasing in the form of a weak dollar, gas prices, and environmental concerns.

Perry said, “We have to shift with economy change, particularly gas prices.”

There is a general annoyance felt by guests as they learn that hotel room rates are rising along with gas prices. Perry said what a customer needs to understand is that hotels are not making money in the off-season. The La Quinta actually loses money a few months out of the year when school is not in session.

The latest trend in lodging hospitality is building, or remodeling, to environmentally safe standards. The U.S. Green Building Council developed a voluntary building certification program called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). This program rates buildings in several areas, including water efficiency and materials and resources.

Penkacik said the La Quinta encourages guests staying for more than one night to reuse the sheets they slept in the night before. A yellow card located on every bed-side table indicates to the housekeeping staff whether or not to change the sheets.

A majority of hotel owners, developers, and project managers said they will have at least one green hotel in the next five years, according to a survey by Lodging Hospitality magazine. The benefits of going green for the hotel industry are not only environmental but also economical. Changes can result in a lower operating cost and in a nation that is experiencing economic down-fall this is an important factor in decision making.

Penkacik said he will work harder to retain business because although the economy is not directly affecting the La Quinta, many other factors related to economy are. A trip to Moscow, Idaho is easily cancelled Penkacik said, but “People will still visit Disney Land.”
###

Ace in the Hole

1. In "Ace in the Hole," reporter Charles Tatum uncovers a compelling news story when he stumbles upon a man trapped in the rubble of a mine collapse. As a journalist, what responsibility (if any) did Tatum have in helping to rescue the trapped man? What are the ethical considerations faced by Tatum in his pursuit of the "big story"? What should he have done differently?

Technically, Charles Tatum had no responsibility to rescue Leo. As a person with a conscience however, one would think that Charles Tatum would do everything in his power to help. Not to say that he couldn't still get a story. He just should not have emersed himself like he did. The ethical condsiderations that Tatum faced included playing with a man's life, further corrupting the political base of the town, attacking a woman, and trapping (or playing with) the emotions of family, friends, and plain citizens who just wanted the news. I think that Tatum should have reported the story. It was a good human interest story, but it should not have become his "big story." I think Tatum should have taken himself out of the story. He should have simply reported the facts, not created fiction. It was also wrong of him to hinder the other press' ability to report on the story.

2. A carnival-like atmosphere develops amidst the sensationalized media coverage of the mine collapse. Do you think that this 1951 film's depiction of the media offers an accurate representation of how some tabloid journalists operate today? Are there are recent examples you can cite in today's news media coverage?

I definately think that there are corrupt journalists out there who, like Tatum, are always looking for their "big story," and don't think or care about the consequences. At times, the press seems more like a carnival, there for entertainment only, than as an information outlet. The best example I can think of are the press who surround famous people. They take advantage of every mistake they make and sensationalize it to capture attention.

Special Leads

Narrative Lead:

A Veteran of the Swimsuit Wars of 1974 on the Swimsuit Wars of 2008

Direct-Address Lead:

Stop the Flow of Junk Mail

Hourglass Exercise

Twenty-two people were arrested and three university police officers were injured during a protest on campus Friday.

All of the 22 arrested were students, 21 were taken to County Jail and a 17-year-old high school senior was released into his parents’ custody.

More than 200 demonstrators, most of them students, were protesting one of the items on the Board of Regents meeting agenda, a plan to require a class in cultural diversity for all faculty. The protest was organized by two newly formed campus groups, Students Against Racism and the American Student Organization.

“They should not have come at us,” said Jonathan Walterson, president of Students Against Racism. “We would have remained loud, but peaceful. We were doing what we believed in. The university must do more to promote diversity.”

Brian Allen, a senior biology student and president of the American Student Organization, said his group will continue protesting. “We’ll do whatever it takes to keep the regents from caving into every demand that comes along,” he said. “Our faculty do not need additional training in diversity. Many of our faculty aren’t even from this country.”

The regents did not take action on the new requirement. They decided to study the matter more and discuss it again at their next monthly meeting, which will be held May 16 in Regents Hall.

University Police Chief R. Barclay Peterson gave the following account of the events that lead up to the student arrests and the aftermath.

“First they were gathered around the fountain at Central Mall, Peterson said. "One group was chanting, ‘No more racism’ and the other was saying ‘Stop diversity.’ Then they started marching toward Regents Hall, where the regents were meeting. They were disrupting classes. When they were asked to disperse, all hell broke loose.”

“The two groups never began fighting, but they kept screaming at each other as though they would begin a brawl at any second,” Peterson said. “There never would have been a problem if they simply would have moved back when we asked them. Instead, both groups decided to gang up against the police.”

Peterson said the two groups began the rally at noon. The regents had been meeting since 8 a.m. and were on their lunch break in the Student Union from noon to 1:30 p.m. The first item on their afternoon agenda was the class requirement.

At about 1:20 p.m. Peterson said he called in the extra officers because “the demonstrators just got too loud and rowdy. We asked them several times to disperse and go back to the fountain, where the rally was to be held, but they would not. They shouted at each other even louder, and some of them began throwing things.”

Peterson said by 1:25 p.m., the demonstration was at its worst and most of the protesters started shouting directly at the police and began throwing things at them.

Peterson said that three of his officers were injured when they were hit by stones or bottles. Officer Andrea Wilson was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital with a gash on her forehead. She was the first officer hit, Peterson said. Officer James Nelson and Sgt. Jerico Turner were taken to Community Hospital with bruises they received from thrown items, Peterson added.

“We’re not against rallies,” Peterson said. “They can hold them all they want, as long as they get a permit from the university. But we don’t want them to get out of hand. We don’t want our officers hurt. They can rally, but other peaceful students also have the right to attend classes without being disrupted by shouting and violent demonstrators.”

Second-Day Lead

It has been 24 hours since 4-year-old Angela Melissa Norton went missing from her home on 17th Ave. and police are still questioning her 16-year-old babysitter and parents.

Story # 1

Emily Taflan
Scholarship Story

WHERE IS ALL THE MONEY?

With tuition increasing approximately 6.4 percent at Washington State University for the 2008-2009 school year, according to the Office of Student Financial Aid, many students are struggling to come up with money needed for school and are not taking full advantage of scholarship resources available.

“I actually have never been to the scholarship office and don’t know where it is,” Yasmin R. Starwich, a pre-nursing student at WSU, said. “I assume it’s in Lighty.”

“I definitely believe that students under-utilize scholarship resources,” said Terry Umbreit, director of Hospitality Business Management at WSU. “They do not spend the time to investigate and complete the applications.”

Most scholarships do not need to be paid back, and for a college student on a budget, this is appealing. If students discover they are lacking the financial backing they were expecting from their scholarship efforts, maybe they are not looking in the right places.

According to the Web site Alternative Student Loans for College Financial Aid, free scholarship services are very handy and tailor searches to specific qualifications. Internet sites can make students uncomfortable because they ask many personal questions. “I feel nervous when an Internet site asks for my address and background history,” said Starwich. “But I still use them, I’m just careful what information I give out.”

To use an Internet scholarship search provider, such as fastweb.com or scholarship.com, a series of profile questions are asked to ensure the search engine matches each user with the correct scholarships. The sites then send emails to their users whose profiles match certain characteristics of particular scholarships. Even though Internet sites can be intimidating, Umbreit said he thinks students should check them out.

The alternative loan Web site also says that students should meet with their school counselors as well as the local library to look for additional scholarships. Veterans clubs and businesses are scholarship resources as well.

Umbreit suggests students look first for scholarships associated with their majors or colleges and then at organizations associated with that major which may offer financial assistance. Umbreit said students should check scholarship resources several times a semester.

Patty I. Winder, assistant director of Scholarship Services at WSU, said, “The stewardship of our scholarship funds are well managed and reach the student population that the donors have specified.” Scholarship funds are being used up, but the ones receiving the scholarships are the students who know where to look.

Winder said, “It is very important for students to file a scholarship application each year.” The scholarship application she is referring to is located at the WSU Web site, as an electronic application that must be resubmitted every year.

“I am confused about who the donors want, no one I know has received anything,” Starwich said. “I have applied for the WSU scholarship every year, have a 3.77 cumulative GPA, and am in need of financial assistance, but have received minimal monetary compensation for my efforts.”

Scholarships are out there. Students need to broaden their searches and try unconventional resources while continuing to persevere through common processes.

###

Story #1 Rough Draft

Emily Taflan
Scholarship Story

With tuition increasing approximately 6.4% at Washington State University for the 2008-2009 school year, according to the Office of Student Financial Aid, many students are struggling to come up with the money needed for school and are not taking full advantage of the scholarship resources available.

“I actually have never been to the scholarship office and don’t know where it is,” Yasmin R. Starwich, a pre-nursing student at Washington State University, said. “I assume it’s in Lighty.”

Terry Umbreit, director of School of Hospitality Business Management Washington State University, said, “I definitely believe that students under-utilize scholarship resources. They do not spend the time to investigate and complete the applications.”

If a student discovers they are lacking the financial backing they were expecting from their scholarship efforts, maybe they are not looking in the right places.

According to the website Alternative Student Loans for College Financial Aid, free scholarship services are very handy and tailor searches to specific qualifications. Internet sites can make students uncomfortable because they ask many personal questions. “I feel nervous when an internet site asks for my address and background history,” said Starwich. “But I still use them, I’m just careful what information I give out.”

To use an internet scholarship search provider, such as fastweb.com and scholarship.com, a series of profile questions are asked to ensure the search engine matches each user with the correct scholarships. The sites then send emails to their users whose profile matches certain characteristics. Umbreit said, “I definitely think students should check out internet sites.”
The alternative loan web site also mentioned that students should check out their school counselors as well as the local library for additional scholarships. Veterans clubs and businesses are scholarship resources too.

Most scholarships do not have to be paid back, and to a college student on a budget, that is one thing that makes them appealing.

Umbreit suggests students look first for scholarships associated with their major or college and then at organizations associated with that major which may offer financial assistance. Umbreit said students should check scholarship resources several times a semester.

Patty I. Winder, assistant director of Scholarship Services Washington State University, said, “The stewardship of our scholarship funds are well managed and reach the student population that the donors have specified.” Scholarship funds are being used up, but the ones receiving the scholarships are the students who know where to look.

Winder said, “It is very important for students to file a scholarship application each year.” The scholarship application she is referring to is located in the Washington State University web site. It is an electronic application that must be resubmitted every year.

“I am confused about who the donors want, no one I know has received anything,” Starwich said. “I have applied for the WSU scholarship every year, have a 3.77 cumulative GPA, and am in need of financial assistance, but have received minimal monetary compensation for my efforts.”

Scholarships are out there. Students need to broaden their searches and try unconventional resources while continuing to persevere through common processes as well.

Summary News Lead

Congress Votes to Stop Stockpiling Oil
By Carl Hulse and Steven Lee Myers

Groping for a quick response to rising gas prices, Congress voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to order the Bush administration to stop depositing oil in a national reserve even though lawmakers predicted the impact for consumers would be modest at best.

The Murrow Legacy

The lecture, titled The Murrow Legacy, was full of information about Edward R. Murrow and how he changed the course of history. There were several "fun facts" mingled in with the lecture, including the fact that Edward R. Murrow was born in a log cabin built when George Washington was president.

A few highlights of the lecture include:

• Edward R. Murrow started a radio program that featured world leaders such as Albert Einstein, Hindenburg, and Gandhi
• Murrow was not a journalist and wanted to become an educator
• Hie job at CBS was supposed to be temporary and his most popular show was not the news but a celebrity interview show
• He was in Austria recording children's choirs when Hitler took over the country
• Murrow was the first to report the news live and was the inventor of broadcast news
• One of his most influential teachers was Ida Lou Anderson whose talent was recognized by Professor Reeid
• Murrow never outwardly criticized McCarthy and allowed him to rebut which lead to his downfall
• Murrow went 25 times across war zones on bombers, one of the most deadly treks during WWII
• Murrow actually put together a program to save German scholars, something that many criticized him for
• Murrow thought television did nothing but rot the brains of it's watchers

The Murrow Legacy has four themes:

1. Transparency in institutions of power and privilege
2. Concern for human rights and advocacy for justice
3. Conversance with the complexities of globalization and inter-culturalism
4. Language

Overall the lecture was very informative and explained why our school of communications is named after such an exceptional man.

Story # 1 Pitches

#1: Revenue increases from Washington State basketball ticket sales since the team went to the NCAA Tournament in 2007/2008 season.

The story would summarize, in terms of money, the significance of a college sports team doing well. I would like to look into where exactly the money goes from the sales and if it is directly benefiting students. It is important to know where the money we spend on sports entertainment ends up.

Possible sources include: (1) an accountant at the Beasley ticket sales office; (2) a ticket salesperson; and (3) an internal financial overseer not associated with Beasley.

Media outlet: Newspaper, Television

#2: Scholarship resources under-utilized by Washington State University students.

The story would educated students of where to find scholarships above and beyond the university sponsored scholarship application. I would like to look at online sources as well as campus sources and community/hometown opportunities. The more information available to students about scholarships, the more financial aid opportunity.

Possible sources include: (1) a staff member of the Washington State University Scholarship Office; (2) the heads of scholarship operations in various majors; and (3) a student who has received many scholarships due to their diligence and knowledge of where to find them.

Media outlet: Newspaper

#3: Consequences of running a business in a small college town; the impact of the off-season.

The story would focus on the economic and managerial aspects of either a particular business, or a few businesses, in either Pullman or Moscow. I want to really grasp the hardships/benefits of running a business in a small college town. Students, visitors, and citizens need to be aware of the welfare of the businesses they frequent in their college town.

Possible sources include: (1) business owner one; (2) business owner 2; and (3) a(the) frequent customer(s) of each business.

Media outlet: Newspaper, Television

Analyzing News Sites

MSNBC (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/)

The top story was a political story (the race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama). I definitely see that political stories and world interest stories are the most prominently placed at this time. The site was set up in a list like format with local news and weather below the top story, followed by U.S., world and politics, then business, then sports, then entertainment, then health, then tech and science, and finally travel.

Comparing just the space provided for each section of the news, it seems like the site has balanced the amount of stories under each category. I did not have time to go through every story, but looking at the top story I did see at least one “unbalanced” aspect. The picture of Hillary Clinton during her campaign in Indiana was much larger than the picture of Barack Obama. Both candidates had links to video clips which I thought was fair and interesting.

The sites primary audience is an older generation, probably with some form of higher education. People interested in politics and world news. The site was kind of bland in its appearance and color scheme, as well as contained a lot of text, which also suggested it aimed to capture an older and more educated audience.

Boston Harold (http://www.bostonherald.com/)

The top stories were about politics, local coverage, sports, and entertainment. The largest story was about sports, the NBA playoffs. The Democrat presidential primary was at the very top of the page, and the local and entertainment stories surrounded the large picture of NBA basketball players.

The site uses about the same amount of space for each type of story, but emphasis is definitely placed on sports. Particularly basketball and baseball. The balance between political party coverage is not even, but that is to be expected in a Democratic presidential primary this close.

The site’s primary audience is most likely the citizens of Boston and the cities supporters. I think it is geared at an audience with an average education, mid to late thirties. There is more color and more advertisements.

The New Yorker (http://www.newyorker.com/)

The top stories, those with the most prominent placement are technology stories. There was a story about blogs, one about podcasts, and another about picture pixels all at the very top of the site. There was a reference to books, finances, inventors, and finally the campaign. The left side of the page seemed to house the most information.

I think the site is not concerned with being balanced. It appears that the stories are not all serious and do not try to be fair.

I think the site’s primary audience consists of people with a standard education, maybe a bit older, and who have a sense of humor or at least are not too interested in the unbiased versions of news.

I would probably chose both MSNBC and The New Yorker to read because I do want to read about the Democratic race and issues present world wide, but I also like to read the more cartoon like version of stories to get a fresh angle. I think looking at two fairly different sites and comparing and analyzing the content helps to formulate a more educated opinion.

All of the sites I chose were fairly different. I wanted to look along the news spectrum. MSNBC focused on politics, the Boston Harold leaned toward local issues and sports, and The New Yorker gave most of its space to technology and cartoon depictions.