Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Evolution of Reporting

In a comparison of an article written in 1861 titled "The Disaster at Bull Run" and an article written just this year,2008, "Back to Iraq: gaining and trust amid gunfights". Immediate difference in the style was noticed. The 1861 article was written in fact, however, with more of a story outline, whereas the article on Iraq was almost strictly reporting. The 2008 article was in reporting format with quotations throughout the entirety. The languages were different, in that the Bull Run article had English words that are not used on an everyday basis anymore. The Iraq article used a very true to date tone and language.

Monday, February 4, 2008

Day two of His Girl Friday

We're getting ready to start day two of the Movie "His Girl Friday". I feel as though I was giving too much info. the first time around, so today I plan on watching, with a few updates, not so much detail.

Opening scene, where the ex-husband and fiance are talking about Hilde's career future, they are talking as if they know what's best for her. They have also exchanged the promised money in the form of a check. Hilde instructs Bruce to hide the check somewhere, hat, shoe, and not stay in the office with it. She's not very trusting of the ex, but I think she has good reasons.

Now she is starting her interviewing for the report. I like her style, she puts herself at the prisoners level, she didn't come in there with an attitude of authority. An attitude would have intimidated the person, wouldn't have gotten much out of them. But her suttle but leading questions, very nice.

An emergency, Hilde just ran off to meet Bruce somewhere. As the rest of the men sit around and make bets on how long the marriage lasts.

Bruce was arrested for stealing a watch, but he was set up. His wallet was stolen in the process, however, since he took Hilde's advice on hiding that check somewhere safe on him, that was not taken. Hilde bailed Bruce out.

Oh boy, she's heated! The ex-husband wrote a faulty check, set Bruce up and now Hilde is quitting the story! Funny stuff!

Uh oh! Hilde was just saying her goodbye's as gunshots started to go off at the jail! Jail break they say. The man Hilde was interviewing before just broke loose! She's on the scene without any thought put into it!

All the reporters are trying to produce the story. Each one has a different story. More gunshots!

Hilde has the whole story, and keeping it hush hush. She wants money for the story. She's smart. She gives the ex the story and he is sending her the money.

Now the other reporters think they are the first one's on the story. Oh man, Bruce is arrested again. The ex-husband is sabbotaging Hilde's wedding that is supposed to happen tomorrow. He is doing everything in his power to absorb as much of her time as possible so perhaps maybe she will something in him again.

As I'm watching the way all the reporters are acting on this story, it seems as though they are waiting around for information, rather than going after the story.

In a way reporters have to be crime scene investigators because they will not always have people cooperating, giving them the play by play info. You have to get it yourself, find the facts, put yourself IN the story, not just hear about it. That is exactly what Hilde is doing, she is in with the fugitive, even with him as dangerous as he is, she's doing her own work. Finding what is really going through his head, talking him through this rather than scaring him even more, which is what the police might do.

We're stopping for the day. Look forward to Wednesday!

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Watching "His Girl Friday"........

I'm sitting here getting ready to watch the movie "His Girl Friday" and you get the honor of getting my play-by-play commentary! Lucky you!
Black and white, my favorite kind of movies. No joke! I like color, yes, but it just seems as though the black and white films were much more creative.
I'm impressed that being an older film, a woman is the lead, putting her in a respective job postition, rather than the other women who are operators. Everyone so far is very respective of her, like she is high authority.
Ah, I caught her name, Hilde. She works with a man who might be her boyfriend, and her ex-husband who still wants her. Oh, and mister bigshot ex-husband is claiming to have made her into the great reporter that she is now. Typical man, taking credit for a woman's greatness! She's well educated with a mind of her own, he might have been her connection, but I guarantee he didn't "create" her. And here it comes, it finally came out, she's engaged and quitting the paper she's at right now. She wants to feel free, like her own person. She wants to be respected for her, and not be in the shadow of a man.
The fiance is not a journalist, has nothing to do with writing, I was wrong about her working with him. He's in the insurance business.
Hilde's ex-husband is quite jealous, and I can see the plot setting up. I foresee him interfering with this marriage that is to be taking place the coming Saturday.
Well, this well-respected reporter is deciding to quit reporting completely! She thinks she'll feel more like a woman when she's not working. Might be a typical mindset for the time, the housewife.
The three of them are out to lunch right now, discussing the past, present, and future, but I'm keeping an eye on the ex, he's making a plot right now to sabatoge the wedding, trying to convince her to get a story before the wedding.
They have made a deal! She'll do the story and her ex will purchase an insurance policy from the fiance! Much needed money for the soon-to-be-newlyweds, considering they will be living with Bruce's (the fiance) mother until they can afford their own home. Sounds to me like she should keep working!
Seems as though everyone who knows Hilde, thinks very highly of her work, and thinks she's crazy for giving it up. She stopped by the paper to say goodbye and write her final story, and all the men are giving her a hard time about her decision.
Hilde's ex and fiance are in the process of the insurance policy, making things a little difficult! We are stopping the movie here, and will continue it on Friday!

Monday, January 28, 2008

Breslin: I'm intrigued

After reading several articles and reviews on author Jimmy Breslin, I'm intrigued. Not because I agree with anything he has to say, I only agree with his remarks on Hilary Clinton, but because he isn't afraid to speak his mind, about anything or anyone. That, I think, makes the best authors, writers. Controversial writers have clearly been made more famous than those who try to please the crowd. Beside from the overall boredom of crowd pleasing writers, there seems to be no thought or meaning or even depth to their writings. Whereas, for instance Breslin or Ann Coultor, the carelessness and brutality to their audience has proven genius and fame. If you want to become a good writer, read something from your town newspaper, but if you want to be a master, read and study those writers who do not care what others think of them.

Friday, January 25, 2008

What I want to learn in Spring Comm387

Literature of Journalism. Oh the excitement!
It sounds aweful, yes. However, I thoroughly enjoy writing and want to become a master journalist! This course can only perfect me from here.
My goals are set high. I do expect dissappoints along the way but criticism will teach me the ins and outs of my dreams.