CNBC's Ron Insana paid a visit to the SMU campus Monday and pretty much scared the hell out of me. According to the financial expert, I have a lot more to learn before I can become a successful journalist.
Insana said that for journalism majors to thrive, they must know just as much about the business world as they do about current events. "Today you can't have one without the other," he said. In most cases, the market predicts the news.
So what am i, the hopeful journalist and economic dimwit, to do? "Use the market, as opposed to just watch the market," Insana said. Or, in my case, stick to entertainment news...nothing beats a pop-star legend gone bald.
But for political journalists, Insana advises they pay close attention to stock fluctations because they often precede major world events. During the Gulf War, for instance, oil prices jumped from $15 to $25 in just 6 weeks. If journalists paid attention, they would have noticed troops moving in the Middle East.
For those who actually get this financial stuff, Insana left us with a piece of good advice... "You're job is not to move the market or stocks," he said. "If you want to make an impact, you need to change a company's PERCEPTION and something will happen after your report."
Hmmm.... guess I should have paid more attention in econ!
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Washington Post Recognizes Black History Month
In light of Black History Month, the Washington Post created a multimedia package titled "Being a Black Man" (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/interactives/blackmen/blackmen.html) that includes videos, narrated galleries, biographies and photos of various black men in the Washington area. The package addresses questions such as "What does it mean to be a black man?" and "Why are so many black men in prison?" in attempt to draw attention to the everyday struggles black men face.
Personally, I found the package very effective because the interaction of a multimedia site gave me much more freedom than a newspaper. If I got sick of reading, I could switch to video and vice versa. I usually skim through news stories in less than 10 seconds, but the converging mediums held my interest for much longer. If the story were printed in a newspaper, I'd probably read the first few lines and move on.
I am not an avid reader of the Post, but I consider it a pretty influential news outlet so I'm sure the package has done well. "Being a Black Man" may have done better on CNN, despite its focus on Washington residents, however, because it deals with a national issue. The struggle for equal rights and fair treatment is something African Americans face all over the U.S. and I admire the Post's decision to address it. One women, featured in the video "How does society view black men?", complained that the news only covers negative aspects of African Americans, especially in cases dealing with crime, which places the race in a false light. "We only hear of the ones that are doing bad and wrong," she says. "We never hear of the ones who are pursuing a higher education or come from a two parent home."
I think using multimedia gives the piece more meaning because it features a ton of sources, but is not overwhelming. When you attach a face to a person's words, his or her message definitely carries a greater weight. I don't think I would change much about the package, but if I had to change something I would include more people of different races. It would be interesting to see how, say, white or asian Washington citizens would respond.
Personally, I found the package very effective because the interaction of a multimedia site gave me much more freedom than a newspaper. If I got sick of reading, I could switch to video and vice versa. I usually skim through news stories in less than 10 seconds, but the converging mediums held my interest for much longer. If the story were printed in a newspaper, I'd probably read the first few lines and move on.
I am not an avid reader of the Post, but I consider it a pretty influential news outlet so I'm sure the package has done well. "Being a Black Man" may have done better on CNN, despite its focus on Washington residents, however, because it deals with a national issue. The struggle for equal rights and fair treatment is something African Americans face all over the U.S. and I admire the Post's decision to address it. One women, featured in the video "How does society view black men?", complained that the news only covers negative aspects of African Americans, especially in cases dealing with crime, which places the race in a false light. "We only hear of the ones that are doing bad and wrong," she says. "We never hear of the ones who are pursuing a higher education or come from a two parent home."
I think using multimedia gives the piece more meaning because it features a ton of sources, but is not overwhelming. When you attach a face to a person's words, his or her message definitely carries a greater weight. I don't think I would change much about the package, but if I had to change something I would include more people of different races. It would be interesting to see how, say, white or asian Washington citizens would respond.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Coricidin is not a joke....believe me.
Speaking of mind altering substances . . .
http://www.janegalt.net/index2.php
I was a little surprised by Jane Galt's remarks in the post "Speaking of mind altering substances".... kids overdosing on cold medicines such as Robotussin and Coricidin is not something to be taken lightly.
I remember in High School when Coricidin became the new craze... I was at an outdoor concert in Sacramento when I spotted some friends popping the little red pills. Within 30 minutes, Amanda was rolling around on the lawn screaming "I'm a blubbering whale, I'm a blubbering whale." Later did I find out, the blanket over her head was the "sea" and she was drowning beneath it.
As always in High School, word spread fast. Before I knew it, half the school was tripping off the cold medicine. It was a cheaper alternative to drugs and, at 17, we didn't exactly have easy access to alcohol.
I was offered the medicine many times, but thank God I haven't been one to pop pills. A few months later, the issue made national news... kids were actually dying from this drug and most had taken significantly less than the amounts my friends were taking.
Apparently the drug contains a small dose of dextromethorpan, DMX, that has pyschedelic effects when taken in high doses. Amanda said it was the weirdest high she ever felt. She couldn't feel her arms or her legs and she was hallucinating like crazy. The recommended dosage for adults is one every six hours, but I knew people who took up to 18 at a time!
Local stores took the brand off the shelves and eventually the trend died down, but believe me... the stuff is scary.
Today there are no legal restrictions on buying Coricidin, but the Drug Enforcement Administration has classified DXM as a "drug of concern" because of its potential misuse... My advice? Stay away from it. Any drug that makes you act like a "blubbering whale" in PUBLIC can't be good.
http://www.janegalt.net/index2.php
I was a little surprised by Jane Galt's remarks in the post "Speaking of mind altering substances".... kids overdosing on cold medicines such as Robotussin and Coricidin is not something to be taken lightly.
I remember in High School when Coricidin became the new craze... I was at an outdoor concert in Sacramento when I spotted some friends popping the little red pills. Within 30 minutes, Amanda was rolling around on the lawn screaming "I'm a blubbering whale, I'm a blubbering whale." Later did I find out, the blanket over her head was the "sea" and she was drowning beneath it.
As always in High School, word spread fast. Before I knew it, half the school was tripping off the cold medicine. It was a cheaper alternative to drugs and, at 17, we didn't exactly have easy access to alcohol.
I was offered the medicine many times, but thank God I haven't been one to pop pills. A few months later, the issue made national news... kids were actually dying from this drug and most had taken significantly less than the amounts my friends were taking.
Apparently the drug contains a small dose of dextromethorpan, DMX, that has pyschedelic effects when taken in high doses. Amanda said it was the weirdest high she ever felt. She couldn't feel her arms or her legs and she was hallucinating like crazy. The recommended dosage for adults is one every six hours, but I knew people who took up to 18 at a time!
Local stores took the brand off the shelves and eventually the trend died down, but believe me... the stuff is scary.
Today there are no legal restrictions on buying Coricidin, but the Drug Enforcement Administration has classified DXM as a "drug of concern" because of its potential misuse... My advice? Stay away from it. Any drug that makes you act like a "blubbering whale" in PUBLIC can't be good.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
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