Tuesday, October 14, 2008

POST YOUR COMMENTS--

Please write a personal response to the Dan Eldon video, "Dying to Tell a Story," with at least a page of thoughtful, double-spaced prose that you will print out. Also post your comments for blogging and responding to one another. Try to answer the follow questions:

1. After seeing the video, how has your view of the function of journalism in the world changed, broadened, evolved? Are the journalists/photojournalists who work in conflict zones and report for news agencies simply crazy for risking their lives, or do they perform an important service for us all? Why is it imperative that stories of what is happening in places like Somalia, Sarajevo, and Darfur be told?

2. Do a little research. Find out how many journalists have been killed in the world in the past year? How many reporters have been killed in Iraq? Afghanistan?

3. Make sure you have 2 stories saved in the class folder in Gamzon/Journalism 2008/Sept.-Oct. Sotacrat!!!!

21 comments:

Nautica (NaLa) said...

Nautica Lawrence
10 article ideas


1.)Sports discrimiation (e.g. step teams)
2.)Suspension rules
3.)Cliques vs. Majors
4.)Is S.G.A only focusing on junior/senior improvement?
5.)Creative Writing supplies
6.)Upcoming stars in SOTA
7.)Power hungry administrators
8.) Why are there so many new staff members in the 08-09 school year?
9.)Anti-Tardies (enforcement/punishments)
10.)Does SOTA really recycle?

So yeah.... said...

1. My viewing of a journalist has greatly broadened since watching the video "Dying to Tell a Story". The journalists aren't crazy, but passionate about the work they do. They tell stories about Somalia and Darfur to let the world know what kind of conditions they are living under. It's imperative that these place's stories get told because with the help of journalists we can try to help those countries and show our support, while being exposed to their lives.

2. The confirmed number of journalists who have died in the year 2008 is 33. The total number of journalists killed in Iraq is 10, while in Afghanistan it's between 4 and 10.

Meredith Jeffers

Amanda said...

1. I have definitely changed my opinion on the world of journalism since watching the Dan Eldon video. I used to think that journalism was simply writing for the local newspaper but this video showed that it is so much more. These journalists and photojournalists are etxremely courageous to risk their lives everyday to tell a story to people all around the world. They provide readers/viewers with infortmation that could not be presented if it were not for these brave individuals putting their necks on the line. In regards to Somalia, Sarajevo, and Darfur, I feel that is important for people to know what is taking place in these regions so that they know what sort of suffering and tragedy these victims are facing. Then maybe if people see how horrible the conditions are, they might be moved enough to try to put a stop to it.

2. I found a good page that clearly spells out the journalists who have died in Iraq:
http://www.cpj.org/Briefings/Iraq/Iraq_danger.html

In the past year, 10 journalits have died in Iraq, while 4 have died in Afghanistan.

Rachel said...

1. The function of journalism has definitely changed in this evolving world in the sense that it is no longer a report, but it's extremely involved. Second-hand is no longer adequate, but first-hand recordings such as pictures, videos, live videos and stories from the first-hand point of view are highly prized. I think that the journalists that choose to work in conflict zones are not crazy, but they are risking their lives, but for good reason. They perform an important service by delivering the news and information that is needed to make this world a better place and to keep the rest of the world that isn't involved in a war or in a time of poverty informed. It's completely important that we know what's going on in places such as Somalia, Sarajevo and Darfur because it raises awareness in the people who live thousands and thousands of miles away. This awareness has caused us to join and help to provide money, food, vaccines and many other important resources for the people who are in need.

2. The amount of journalists killed in 2008 is 33. (These are all confirmed cases.) In 2008, there have been 10 confirmed cases of journalist death in 2008. There have been five confirmed cases of journalist's death in 2008.

Lauren said...

1. My view on journalism has definitley broadened after viewing the video. I guess I never thought before of the dangers that reporters face when covering stories. I do not think that reporters/journalists are crazy, I think they take risks for the benefits of us all. It is extremely important for us to now what is happening in other places. We should not be isolated from the world we should know what the problems are and try to solve them. We cannot do anything to help the world without any knowledge of it.

2.
Killed in the world-33
Killed in Iraq-10
Killed in Afghanistan-4

Jack said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jack said...

Personally, I wouldn’t call any of these journalists “heroes.” I also believe that promoting journalism as being heroic is in some ways unfair. Many journalists say that by taking risks, doing dangerous things that they believe “they have to do,” and taking pictures of the problems in the world, they can bring those devastating problems in to the lives of the public, who read the paper and watch the news. The problem with this is that no one can say they know what it’s like if they haven’t been in the situation. Even the majority of journalists, such as those in Dying to Tell the Story, can only express so much emotion.
What I mean by this is that these journalists can’t be viewed as “heroes” in the same picture as the victims and the fighters that their story surrounds. We call these people heroes in comparison to our safe, American lifestyle. “These well-off reporters are heroes because they’re in a dangerous place away from home!”
“No!” I say. They are not “heroes.”
These journalists are overseas to photograph the sick and dying victims of terrorism and disease, and they are in no more danger than those who are in the photos they take. Why aren’t the photographed victims considered heroes?
I’ll tell you: it’s because (and I say this without prejudice and in all honesty) because no American knows who they are. In a photo, they have no name, they’re just another body in a third world country.
I do not want people to think that I have no appreciation for these reporters, and that I don’t admire the balls they’ve got to do what they do. Yes, they are bold and inspiring and they’re certainly committed to their job. They're eroic in the sense that their cause is good and he persuits a dangerous trade. No, they are not crazy. And yes, they do provide insight into “the power and responsibilities of journalism.”
But this word “hero” bugs me a great deal. I can’t get over the fact that a cable news show produced a television special mourning for a dead journalist. (This means that the middle and upper-classes who sleep in air-conditioned rooms with magic fingers and heated quilts are the ones watching this.) I guarantee that no one actually living in these devastated places are watching this special on TV. People must understand that these journalists are there to show us how bad the world can get. Why aren’t we looking at those people living in the worst parts of the world (as much)?
Perhaps there were other themes in the film, such as why there must be so much violence in the world, blah, blah, blah. But the underlying and continuous message is simply: “We should better appreciate Dan Eldon and his colleagues for giving their life for us so we can fall asleep while watching late night CNN.”
It does sound a little silly doesn’t it? Just think about this, people. You can view them however you want, but you’ve got to take these points into consideration. Again, I’m not bashing anyone, and I appreciate the work these reporters do, but…

Wencer Geninger said...

1.) After seeing the video "Dying to tell a Story" my view on journalism changed completely. Before this video i thought that all journalism was simple and without risks, but now i understand the dangers of war journalism and the importance of documenting these terrible experiences. I do not believe these journalists are crazy, i believe that these journalists hunger to find the truth and through war journalism, they find it though it may be up close and very personal.
2.)Forty-four journalists and other media workers were killed in Iraq last year. Somalia was the second deadliest place for journalists, with eight killed, followed by Sri Lanka (6) and Pakistan (5).

The 2007 death toll, released after investigation into all potential media murders, is the second highest since WAN began tracking annual deaths in 1998. It compares with 110 killed in 2006, 58 killed in 2005, 72 killed in 2004, and 53 killed in 2003.
-Copy Pasted from http://www.portal.unesco.org-

Wencer Geninger said...

By alicia Green

1. After seeing the movie my veiw on things in the world have braoden me to see how jornalist risk their lives for stories of people. Journalist are not crazy because not all people understand that there are alot of conflict thats going on in the world. They work for there stories hopeing that oneday these things will stop. The stories are being told because a person story needs to be told, their life and secerts can be told.

2. In 2008 the total of confirmed deceased is about 33 deaths. 60 Reorts have died on duty in Iraq. In Afghanistan 4 reporters have been killed

Mary said...

1. After viewing the video, my view of the functions of journalism has broadened in that I can see it serves not just as an occupation, but as a mission or inspiration. The journalists and photojournalists working in conflict zones are not crazy, but feel an obligation to relate their experience to a larger audience. It is imperative that these stories be told, so that we can gain insight into the lives of others, and so we can understand the suffering occurring on other countries.

2. In 2008, there have been 33 confirmed journalist deaths, 1 of them in Afghanistan and 10 in Iraq.

nahoma said...

1. Journalists work hard, traveling around the world and risking their lives to bring back stories of dangerous situations and hard times. It is important that people are informed about what is going on in the world, and despite the danger it creates, it is important that journalists work hard to bring back the best stories they can. If people don't know what is happening in the world, it is risking a second encounter of the same nature. We must work hard to avoid genocide and other discrimination of people, and by informing people about instances when people have been hurt, is one important way of keeping it from happening again.

2.As of 2003, 135 journalists were killed in Iraq. Later, in 2007, 54 journalists were killed. So far this year, 13 journalists have been killed throughout the world.

_Jeri_ said...

In Iraq 10 journalist were killed and in 2008 alone about 34

sha81_gurl said...

after seeing the video it has changed my perspective about journalism has changed a lot. I have recognized that journalism is very important to many journalist, and it is thier life to get that perfect story. I wouldnt call them crazy but i would say that they are very passionate and devoted to thier work, and i can respect them with all that they do to get that perfect story.

It is imperative that jounalists tell the stories about things that are happening in places like Somalia, Sarajevo, and Darfur because those are places that need the most attetion in our society today. The journalists are not trying to harm anyone all they are trying to do is get that perfect story and let that issue be presented to our society so it can be fixed.

Four journalists have been killed in Afghanistan in this past year, in Iraq over 30 journalists have been killed in the passed year

mizzblue200 said...

1. After watching this i saw journalism in a whole new light. never before have I saw journalism at that extreme and was very inspired. I think that these stories need to be published and told. Yes this is a very dangerous job but it also seems to be a very eye opening one. If no one wanted to go and report the rest of us would be very sheltered from what is going on in the rest of the world. These countries are struggling and are in need of assistance, so with media attention they might find help.

2. A staggering 33 journalist have been killed in over seas in conflict zones in 2008.In Iraq 10 Journalist where killed just this year; but only one was killed in Afghanistan.

-Jessica Jackson

Wencer Geninger said...

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
By Staff Writer: Spencer Pleninger

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds is a song written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon off of The Beatles’ record “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” released in 1967, being the Beatles eight album.
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds is usually considered a song referenced to drugs (the initials to the song spelling LSD) but the actuality of the song is John Lennon’s son Julian came home one day with a drawing he made which he called “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”. This name and illustration sparked Lennon’s old childhood affections for Lewis Carrol and gave him the idea of a surreal world, painted by a child.
The song has been remade by many artists, the most successful being Elton John and debatably the least successful being William Shatner, hitting many “worst pop album ever” discussions.
Elton John covered the song with John Lennon doing the backup vocals and guitar, topping the billboard charts for a week or two and slowly dropping down.
The “Lucy” of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds was born in Weybridge in 1963. She attended Julian Lennon’s nursery and gained Julian’s affection. There is debate between another possible Lucy, Lennon telling her mother that the song was written for her. Lucy Cook’s father Peter Cook had been spending a lot of time with John and created the idea that the song was named after his daughter.
Though there is much debate on the subject, Paul McCartney firmly believes that it was based upon the drawing Julian made his father.
Though the song was created by Julian’s drawing it was admitted by Paul McCartney that the song was also greatly influenced by the drug LSD. It was also said by Mark Lewishon (worlds leading Beatles writer) that “there can be little doubt that this was the very substance that provoked such colourful word imagery to flow out of Lennon's head and onto paper."
The Beatles producer George Martin denied the fact that LSD had a major influence on the song.

Meme said...

Amane Amireh 10/14/08

Dan Eldon was a brave and dedicated journalist. Dan Eldon was crazy but crazy can be good. He died for the story. Died to let the world know what was really happening. Don Eldon was crazy for going to get a story from a war zone. He knew what he was up against but still wanted the story to get out to all. I think that he was a true journalist. I feel that real journalists will do any thing to get the story they long to have. He was respected by many journalists and many journalists look up to him. Des Wright, another journalist says that if he is going to do something similar to what Don Eldon did, he would like to be in the right place at the right time. Photojournalists who risk their lives while on assignment in dangerous circumstances are often unsung heroes. Don Eldon was covering the severe famine and strife in Somalia when he was brutally murdered by an enraged mob. His journalistic work, which had appeared in Time and Newsweek, showed only a small part of his talent. Don Eldon showed the world what needed to be seen. It is important for these journalists to risk their lives to cover these stories because if they don’t then people around the world who are suffering will always suffer, those that are starving will die of starvation and, those who need help will remain helpless. Journalist and photojournalists are very much heroes in their own way. They save more people every time they cover a story. An example of journalist risking their lives and other valuables to cover a story is Martin Bell. Martin Bell doesn’t like being shot at but feels that it is important to cover a story for the world to see. Martin says “It’s easy to describe a fire fight. But actually being there and being close to the scene is very dangerous.” That didn’t stop martin. He got shot in the balls while covering a story. But he quit after that. Martin also said that fairness and partiality were apart of world of war. Every day journalists put their lives on the line all the time. Unfortunately for Dan Eldon he was attacked and killed but refused to give up for he had to cover his story. I feel sorry. I really do. If I were to become a journalist I would want to be as dedicated as Eldon was. After watching the video I felt that I wasn’t being serious. I never really took journalism seriously I never cared for it. It was just a class to me. But after watching the video it made me realize that there was more to journalism then I had thought. I gave journalism less credit then it deserved.

Meme said...

Amane Amireh 10/14/08

My bad this is the second part
2. 33 jounalists died in 2008. The amount of journalists that were killed in Iraq is 10 (60 Reorts have died on duty in Iraq), and in Afghanistan it's between 4 and 10.

Meme said...

Amane Amireh 10/14/08

10 article ideas

1)smoking on school grounds
2)Senior lounge
3)sotas recycling process
4)time given between each break and each class
5)fairness in cancilation of sports
6)weight room
7)in order to walk the stage requirements
8)Fairness in scanning
9)equality between teachers and students
10)why so many new school subs and what happened to some of the favorited teachers

Anonymous said...

Kadisha Phillips
Article ideas and reply to Dan Eldon video

1- Boys Varsity Basketball Game (Starting the Season)
2- Cheerleaders? Are they really not as intelligent as we are lead to believe? (Not in a funny way...but to disprove the stereotype)
3- Indoor Track, what is it really all about?
4- The Golf Team! Snotty stuck up rich kids?
5- Student leadership
6- The Benefits of taking AP courses.
7- Scanning (How not everyone is being scanned)
8- Suspension, why are kids still at school?
9- Reactions to the Presidential election.
10- The Innaguration in Washington D.C. (What is it really?)...* I know some-one who is attending the innaguration with CYLC, and I can interview her




1. After watching the Dan Eldon video my veiws of Journalism definetely changed. In the past, though I should not have thought this, but I did, ignorantly, I believed that Journalists just write for the news paper and do not report on wars as did Dan Eldon. Now it is very clear to me that indeed they do and in a way I have shyed (sp?) away from wanting to be a journalist because of the fear of dying to tell a story but then again, journalism is stil what I want to do.
The Journalists that work in war zones do preform an important service, by informing the world and mainly their society by telling a story that can not be told by the people who are in the war fighting just like in places such as Somolia and Dafur

2. More than two dozen reporters have been killed in Iraq within the last year. (2004)...
More than ten in Afghanistan...
32 so far in 2008...

Meme said...

10.16.08 2nd article

Our Source of Communication
By Amane Amireh


It all started with the printing press. In 1440, German inventor Johannes Gutenberg invented a printing press process that, with refinements and increased mechanization, remained the principal means of printing until the late 20th century. Now, our ways to communicate are complex and easy on the pocket.
In the past people were unable to communicate with phones and letters. Before technology and electricity messages were delivered by people, by little scrolls and hawks, or by human messengers. Then a man named Alexander Graham Bell invented a masterpiece on March 10, 1876, which is called the telephone. The telephone is an instrument which converts sound and voice, to electrical impulses of various frequencies and then back to a tone that sounds like the original voice. In other words the telephone was a device that helped increase direct communication.
As technology continued to become more efficient and helpful to the world some man named Martin Cooper decided he would create something even more useful than the telephone. So he creates the mobile phone. A mobile phone, (also known as a wireless phone or cellular phone) is a short-range, electronic device used for mobile voice or data communication over a network of specialized base stations known as cell sites. The cell phone is just like a regular phone only now you can take it where ever you need to go. Oh and one may also text message another instead of writing a letter.
How way back do written letters go? The world probably doesn’t care. I mean why should they? Now we have the internet where we can get email addresses (hotmail, g-mail, yahoo, MySpace, etc.), to send letters through the computer, to save us the trouble of actually getting a pencil to write on paper, buying an envelope, paying for a stamp, and getting up and into our cars and sending it to the post office. When writing systems began, people were excited that they could communicate, and be able to read and write to one another instead of speaking all the time. They even discovered papyrus, a paper like material people of long ago used to write on.
These days we act like it’s a sin to pick up a pencil and write. I’m not saying that it’s not a good thing we have all these new sources, of ways to communicate. I mean how else would we converse with one another from two separate classes if it weren’t for the cell phone? With out email, how could we get our messages across to each other quickly and safely? These new inventions that technology has given us, is also a really good thing because it saves our environment. We, not having to use paper any more, saves trees from getting chopped down, for our own selfish use.

Unknown said...

It is true that journalism is a way to convey information and that if it weren’t for journalist like Dan Eldon, we would not know most of the things we know about problem areas in our world. While I feel putting your life on the line for information is a little extreme, I do admire these people and wish luck to those who are out in the field right now and realize that without them we would be ignorant to the real issues. Yet sometimes, ignorance is bliss and the innocents lost trying to gather information aren’t too good at decision making. While I did not think the information we received materialized through teleportation or some other farfetched idea, I honestly could not have imagined that people were losing their lives to make sure we the people have something to grab on to and relay our opinions. Yet considering there are those that don’t care about these issues I would have to seriously consider what I am doing before putting my life on the line. Reports say that there were over 1000 journalist killed in the past decade and that number is startling realizing how ignorant people can be of this issue. These stories have to be told on the other hand while I do not agree with the storytellers I would totally agree with the statement that if these stories were not told we wouldn’t be informed. It is these stories that indirectly effect us whether it be how our armies are doing in Iraq or how the crisis in Darfur is being handled. Without these inspirational, yet seemingly misguided (in my opinion) we would be more ignorant than we already are and fall slowly into decline. Those who do pay attention to history are bound to repeat it.

-jonathan madison