01.15.08
Posted in Words at 8:13 pm by photodan
News sources that are Web based have been fighting for legitimacy and against being pigeon-holed into categories such as “bloggers” since they first came into being.
I’ve always been of the opinion that it’s not the medium that determines the value of the news source but the talent and professionalism of the writers that create the content. Unfortunately, the rest of the world has been slow to come to this realization. The results range from companies refusing to grant credentials for trade shows and send press releases to Web journalists, starving them of the information they need to cover stories.
There are indications that things are chaging though. This year, in recognition of their power to shape public opinion, one of the largest electronics trade shows (CES) issued special credentials for bloggers. Whether or not this entitled them to equal treatment with journalists, I can’t say but the conduct of one Web news source (that was actually media credentialed) has the possibility to erase this small bit of progress.
Because I’m pretty much a tech nerd, I pay some attention to the electronics industry by reading Web sites like gizmodo.com. In the course of reading its coverage of this year’s CES show, I ran across a piece titled, Confessions: The Meanest Thing Gizmodo Did at CES. It was a video showing the journalist using a device to remotely turn display screens off. It doesn’t sound so bad until you realize that the screens were in use by companies who paid to have a display at the show and most egregiously during a Motorola press conference.
Since the banning of the journalist from future CES events and the justified admonishments from other media sources, the Web site responded by calling the journalists “protectors of corporations” and claiming that “this industry, defined by pranksters” has become too serious.
It should be obvious from that last comment where the trouble lies. Apparently Gizmodo has confused journalism and the marketing departments in the electronics industry. The people at the Web site don’t realize that real journalists have a responsibility to act ethically and professionally. Professionals don’t intentionally disrupt their sources for childish giggles. (As a sad side note, the prank wasn’t even funny, it was just mean.)
Gizmodo claims that “Our prank pays homage to the notion of independence and independent reporting.” What utter garbage. This cowardly attempt at justification can’t excuse the abuse of the trust given to them with the credential.
In its refusal to issue any form of apology, Gizmodo seems to be daring CES to ban the entire site from receiving the privilege of being issued credentials. Since the Web site doesn’t see the need for its representatives to act professionally, either before or after the fact, I hope that’s exactly what happens.
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10.03.07
Posted in Words at 10:24 pm by photodan
Honestly, is there anything better than the first fresh cider of Autumn? Support your local apple orchards.
If you live near Toledo, get out to MacQueens Orchard. Seriously good stuff.
-Dan
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09.06.07
Posted in Words at 5:20 pm by photodan
My father died today. I love him and will miss him dearly.
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08.12.07
Posted in Words at 10:15 pm by photodan
I’m starting a new project and I’m interested to know what people think about it. Just for fun I thought I’d start trying all the pizza places around and rating them. I cobbled up a Web site while playing with iWeb, an interesting app that came with my new Apple MacBook Pro.
The temporary site is at: http://www.photodan.net/TPR
There’s only one review up right now but please tell me what you think.
-Dan
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04.18.07
Posted in Words at 11:55 am by photodan
Ok, this is a warning that I’m going into full Rant Mode.
The tragedy at Virginia Tech (note my refusal to use the word massacre) doesn’t bother me nearly as much as the response to it. I don’t mean to belittle the deaths of 32 innocent people but what saddens me the most is our society’s incessant need to assess blame. Someone must be held accountable and it’s apparently not satisfying enough to blame the lone deceased gunman.
A dead man can’t be put on public trial in a press conference so we turn to anyone else we can find. Everybody wants their pound of flesh and nobody is more guilty of this than the television media. CNN, FOX, NBC, CBS, ABC, and all the small affiliates desperate to emulate their network brethren.
So far I’ve heard people blaming Koreans, the university president, the police chief, the teachers and students who didn’t blow the whistle, the people who were told but didn’t immediately act, the family of the gunman, the gun laws in the state, the gun laws in the country, video games (thank you Dr. Phil - dumbass), anti-depressant medication, and even the shooting victims for not defending themselves aggressively.
Broadcast media was first to bring up most of the topics in an attempt to beat every other media outlet to that particular punch. QUICK, buy an expert talking head to go on camera and blame something new before someone else thinks of it! The coverage doesn’t need to be justifiable or correct, it just need to “more comprehensive.” Quantity over quality.
The media isn’t completely to blame though. Every person consuming this brand of garbage without complaint is equally culpable. If they don’t perceive a demand, the media outlets shouldn’t provide the continuous stream of “continuing coverage.”
The harm cause by all this is the further justification for witch hunts and in the reaction of those being held responsible. The best proof for this is the over reaction of the U.S. government to 9/11. We get oppressive security measures designed not to increase the chances of stopping a terror attack but to show that the criticized administration is doing something. The same will now happen on college campuses all over the country. Presidents and police chiefs, afraid of the public backlash if anything occurs, will over react with measures that couldn’t possibly stop the violent actions of a disturbed person.
We seem to have forgotten that sometimes the bad things that happen to innocent people are the responsibility of a single person not some massive bureaucratic failure.
Edit: There’s a good editorial in the Wall Street Journal that touches on a few of the same issues.
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02.17.07
Posted in Photos, Words at 1:41 pm by photodan
Wow, six months between posts. I’m kind of defining the word, “slacker” as it applies to blogging.
A bit has gone on in the interim between posts. I lost an aunt (Annette Haas) but gained a niece, (Isabelle Jayne Mays) [insert obligatory cute baby shot here]
witnessed a terrible UT football season and most of a great basketball season,
and helped friends finish a room on their house and started a quest for one of my own. (a house, not a room)
And I’m sure there have been many other notable things that my feeble memory won’t let me remember.
More frequent updates to come…
(and this time I mean it.)
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07.20.06
Posted in Photos, Words at 11:12 pm by photodan
“What was I thinking?” That question kept recurring every few minutes as I was in my fourth day of covering the 2006 Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic golf tournament for the Associated Press.
Read the rest of this entry »
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