4.00 Pre-Assessment

Persuasive writing and or advertising is everywhere around us, even when we don't realize it! It can effect our daily lives in many ways. The first place persuasive advertising can effect us is on the internet. Whenever I go on one of my favorite websites, there is always some kind of ad on the side of the screen. The creators of the ad use specific colors and pictures to make their product look more appealing.

The second place I noticed persuasive writing was in the newspaper. The newspaper has pages that are dedicated to ads for all different kinds of things. Cars, jobs, stores, etc. The writers use big, flashy print in bright colors and fonts to catch the reader's attention. Some stores offer special deals or sales to get people to visit their store. These messages are effective because the writers know that if they make their product or ad look interesting, then people will want to buy it.

The third place I noticed persuasive advertising is on the television. Every time a T.V. show goes on commercial, the station runs a series of ads for all sorts of things like food, restaurants, car dealerships, stores, pharmacies, and more. They get people who are attractive and who can speak well to advertise for their ad. Food commercials make their food look much nicer and prettier than they actually make it to entice people into buying their product. Lots of times, I am persuaded into getting a certain product that I saw on the T.V. just because I liked the ad.

Take a look around, persuasive writing is everywhere!

3.00 Pre-Assessment

An ethical person is someone who makes the right decision. They think about the statistics of a situation, and try to make the right decision based on those facts. For example, if you had to make a decision between eating the chocolate cake or the salad, you would choose the salad because that is the "correct" or "right" choice.

In this situation, there is a girl who is conflicted. Her best friend gave out personal information to a stranger on the internet. The girl does not know whether she should tell her friend's parents or keep it a secret. In my opinion, an ethical person would make the decision to tell the friend's parents. The friend might be mad at first, but then they would realize what a dangerous situation it was, and they might thank you later on. Sometimes, we have to make harder decisions to keep people we care about safe.

Ethics apply to journalism in many ways. Journalists have responsibilites to write ethical information that readers can trust. If journalists right false information just to get people to read their articles, etc., people might never trust that journalist to print true facts.

2.04 Broadcast Television

I watched the WPTV 12 o'clock news hour. This T.V. show is definitely local news, because all the information that they report happens in Palm Beach County. I did not see any opinion being expressed during the news show, except when the weather was being reported, the weatherman said "Everyone should be happy to know that we'll have sunshine for most of the rest of the day. I know this is opinion because he used the phrase "should be."

This show was very informative. I learned all kinds of things that are currently going on in my county, what the weather is going to be like for the next week, and the most recent traffic updates. One specific story was about a fire that started overnight in Boca Raton. There was also something about how rumors started that Facebook would start charging monthly fees and how security gates in front of neighborhoods don't always ensure protection. The broadcasters did very well at speaking clearly and enunciating, and they were dressed appropriately for t.v.

The only thing I would have done differently was put a little bit more entertaining news into the broadcast, because most of what they reported was things like robberies, fires, political debates, etc., and those things aren't very interesting to me.

2.04 Broadcast--Television

I watched Rachael Ray, a daytime television talk/cooking show. I would definitely classify this as entertainment news, because it does provide useful information, but it is also very entertaining. Throughout the show, I did see some opinion being expressed. For example, there was a segment on potty training your children, and the guest doctor said "Kids should be potty trained by 2 or 2 1/2 years old." I know this is opinion because she uses the phrase "should be."

Another part of the show where opinion was being expressed was when Rachael was cooking a pumpkin cheddar mac & cheese recipe. She said many times that "this is the best mac & cheese you will ever eat!" I know this is opinion because I'm sure there are some people out there who would not like it at all.

This show was very informative. I learned many things about health, skin care, potty training your children (haha) and how to cook a delicious recipe, and it was fun to watch at the same time!

2.01 Print--Newspapers

There are several differences between weekly and daily newspapers. With weekly newspapers, there is seven days between each print, so the information may not be as recent. Daily newspapers, however, are delivered and printed everyday, so the information is always up to date.

Sometimes, news comes in after the publishing company publishes a weekly newspaper. Usually, the story would have to wait until the next printing, but if it is a really important or urgent story that people need to know about, you would hear someone shout "Stop the presses!" and they would have to stop what they are publishing at that moment and insert the new news story.

With daily newspapers, the information is always up to date. Whenever they get new information, they just put it into the next days' newspaper, and people are informed right away. I prefer daily newspapers, because I like knowing what is going on around me as soon as it happens.

2.00 What is News?

What is news? Everyone has their own definition of news, but to me, news is what is going on around me. What's happening right now, where I live. News is important or entertaining information that people want to hear about, whether it's sports' news, weather news, political news, or reality news.

I listen to, read and watch news all the time. When I wake up in the morning, my mom always has on the Today show. I am able to watch and hear the most current news, and what is happening in the country at this moment. I also read news from magazines, articles online, and the newspaper.

News is different from other forms of communication because it is used to inform people. Using articles, radio broadcasts, television broadcasts, and many other sources, news reporters are able to report news to people all over the country. People in Washington could be watching the same exact news show as people in Maine. It is a nationwide form of communication.

People all have different definitions of what news is to them, but to me, news is what's happening now.

Early American Journalism

Journalism has changed substantially over the years. Back in the day, people either had to hand-write their newspapers or use typewriters. Now everything is done using Printing Presses and computers. The content in newspapers had also evolved. Things like sports and the weather weren't added to newspapers until 1851.

The New York Times was published in the 1800s, and is still running today! There are also other sources of news available today, like T.V. shows, radios, and things like that.

When railroads were invented, they were used as a faster way to get news from one place to another.