Take the Project Implicit challenge

Programs designed to increase the sensitivity of journalists to issues of discrimination often use this psychological test. Try it out. How'd you do?

Justice now in the unjust courtrooms of New York

The New York Times did a follow-up story on its article on New York courtrooms without structured laws, which they reported on a month or two ago.

This was a very large article taking up multiple page of the newspaper. It took a lot of research and reporting time. I found the report to be particularly interesting.

Recap: Small, localized courtrooms of New York were not following a set of laws those on trial could fall back on. There was no accountability and no fair trial, which ended up being decided by opinionated judges.

Could the New York Times have played a crucial role in bringing this issue to the surface? Now the Times is reporting that measures are going to be taken.

The courtrooms will now be held accountable for their actions and sentences. They are to record every word spoken and will be getting computers placed in their courtrooms to keep records.

I think that this follow-up report in especially interesting for this blog because it reveals a major part that investigative reporting plays on revealing injustice.

True Crime! Now with Half the Taste!

It has been very interesting week for the media, in particularly publishing and broadcasting, and "journalism". Lets take a look at the winners and losers:

Be warned: this is SUPER opinionated and probably biased!!


Loser:
Fox news and Newscorp decided to pull the "If I Did it" book and interview special with OJ. And a spokesperson for HarperCollins said they are recalling the books and destroying all of them. This is not surprising considering the A). Disgusted reactions of the public in the profiting of tragedy B). The refusal of many book distributers to carry "If I Did It", or at the very least, actually keep any profits, and C). The boycotting of the tv special by a dozen or so Fox affiliates.

Judith Regan, who initally inked the deal with Simpson, is also under fire for actually paying out money for him to write this thing. She says she's taking it as his confession. Regan is also known for publishing tabloid-like, over the top books (Conseco's "Juiced", Jameson's "Make Love Like a Porn Star").

Rupert Murdoch, the top of the ladder at Newscorp, called this endvour "ill conceived".
ARE YOU KIDDING.

Ill conceived? Ill in the head is more like it.

Winner:
Denise Brown appeared on the Today show this morning, revealing that Newscorp had offered her family a large sum of money for "cooperation", though Newscorp insists there were "no strings attatched". She also reminded viewers that all moneys that go to her "family" actually means Nicole Brown Simpson's estate, which ACTUALLY means Nicole and OJ's two kids, who are now college aged.



Next Up: Court TV and Real Court--Whats the Difference?

Losers
Just a few hours ago, a law suit was filed against CNN Headline News and CNN/Court TV talk show host/legal analyst Nancy Grace.

The suit was filed by the family of Melinda Duckett, who was "aggressively" questioned by Nancy Grace on CNN concerning her missing son. Duckett committed suicide soon after the interview, in which she was asked repeatedly to account for her whereabouts during the time frame that her son went missing. Ducektt was reportedly distraught over the incident.
According to the lawyer for Ducketts family, CNN and Grace should be held accountable for their role in Ducketts death, as well as for reportedly misleading Duckett concerning the purpose of the interview.

Ms. Grace- You are a TV interviewer now, not a prosecuter. You seem to forget that. Leave the badgering of witnesses and suspects to the authorities. Thanks.

Winners:
None. Florida law enforcement names Melinda Duckett as the prime suspect in the case anyways. Trenton Duckett has yet to be found, alive or dead. Are we missing the point here, people?



And remember, its only Tuesday. Let's see where the rest of the week brings us!

Bush Arrives to Angry Crowds in Indonesia

President Bush visited the most populous Muslim nation today, Indonesia, where a bunch of Indonesian students protested against the Iraq war and American foreign policy in the Middleast. Presindent Bush said it was a sign of a healthy democracy. He said, "It's not the first time, by the way, where people have showed up and expressed their opinion about my policies, but that's what happens when you make hard decisions." Anti-Bush protestors tried to seal off American-owned restaurants in two Indonesian cites, witnesses said, and demostrations were held in at least 10 cities.

There Bush met with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The Indonesian leader is a close ally in Bush's war on terror, and called for nations to do more help to find ways to ease the Iraq conflict. Bush made this comment about the Iraq War, "I havent made any decisions about troop increases or decreases, and won't until I hear from a variety of sources, including our own United States military."

This was the second time Bush visited the counrty during his presidency. Neither time has he spent the night, not more than a few hours because of the result of safety jitters in a place where anti-Bush emotions run hot. There were thousands of police and rifle-toting soldiers patrolling the streets. They jammed mobile phone signals and deployed water cannons.

Bush's visit came toward the conclusion of an eight-day journey that aslo included stops in Singapore and Vietnam. To read more here is the link to the article.

Here comes Al Jazeera! In English!

The BBC notes the commencement of Al Jazeera's new English-language broadcast. Seen it on your local cable line-up yet? (You can get an on-line sample via their website in Real Player format).

Not So Different

In just the past week, the Massachusetts legislature postponed discussions on a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage in the Bay State. Should gay marriage allowence be ammended, the decision would then move to public, where citizens would vote for or against gay marriage. As it stands, same sex marriages/unions are legal in Massachusetts, and it looks like it will stay that way for a while.

Today, South Africa announced that its parliament, in a 230-41 vote, favored a bill that allows same sex and heterosexual marriages to people over the age of 18. South Africa is the first African country to allow same-sex marriage.

The Mail and Gaurdian, a South African Newspaper online, has more complete coverage of the story here

I found it interesting that this is such a hot button issue in the U.S., about which states will allow it, which ones won't- that we often forget the global perspective. Same sex marriage allowances are few and far between across the globe. In the linked article, "Pan Africanist Congress of Azania MP Motsoko Pheko said same-sex marriages 'are so repugnant' that only three other countries in the world have allowed it."

Afrcia is an entire continent that is normally referred to as "third world", and it is evident when visiting the news site that the problems that plague the continent are much different than our own (The newspaper has an AIDS/HIV Barometer, a section of the newspaper devoted solely to this topic). However its most modern (and mostly European influenced) country is progressing toward a more accepting view of all people.

Now if only the rest of the U.S. could be a little more like Africa...

Your rent is due...for your closet space!

Can you imagine paying $38,500 for closet space? Well, that is what New Yorkers pay just to keep their treasured items. This article says space is very limited in the City that people are scrounging for any nook or cranny to buy just to hold their things. Some have even paid up to $80,000!

One couple decided to purchase their closet space after having already been paying $500 rent for their existing closet space. Most of their things included antiques. I hope they are making a profit off their stuff to pay for the closet space.

This is astounding. Most people dread the mortgage payment or the rent. I can't imagine paying $500 a month just for an empty room...to be filled with stuff. I think I'd rather throw it all away and go vacation! Check out this crazy article on the New York Times website.

Borat's Backlash: Is he at fault?

The new box office hit- Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan- is causing a lot of controversy. In this article, many of the participants are angry. They are trying to sue Borat (a.k.a. Sacha Baron Cohen) for "duping" them into participating in the movie. Many of the participants said they were handed cash and then the release form, which tricked them into signing a release for the film.

This debate, to me, isn't about media ethics. These people didn't read their rights. They didn't take the responsibility to know what they were doing. Yes, I agree that the producers probably added money and alcohol(as with the frat boys in the movie) to distract them, but if these people were truly concerned with their reputation they would have asked for more information before participating. It seems to me that after the great success of the movie, many participants feel cheated because they only made a couple hundred dollars. The car salesman in the movie said, "One hundred-fifty dollars, and the movie grossed $26 million in three days," he said. "Everybody there's all smiling at our expense."

This movie has definately become a PR mess. Yet, it's a question about journalism too. One man, the old Jewish man who owned the Bed and Breakfast and was depicted as a cockroach in the movie, said he will forever be skeptical of inquisitive journalists. What do you think?

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=2647648&page=1

Press Freedom Rankings from Reporters without Borders

Check out the most recent Worldwide Press Freedom index. Finland, Iceland, Ireland, and the Netherlands are the most free. The US ranks somewhat lower...

2008 Fantasy Game

Since we havent heard enough about elections yet, I saw this ad on the aol.com page about the presidential election of 2008. I thought it was quite relevent. If you click on the link you'll be directed to a quiz like page. It asks you questions on who do you think the best canidates are for 08 for both republicans and democrats. It is very interesting because if the results of the votes really reflect the way people will vote in 08....then this election will definitely be in the history books!

Hannaford playing the FDA

An article in the New York Times today reported on Hannaford food stores implementing a star system to rate foods as healthy or not healthy. The article made an interesting point in stating that Hannaford has put themselves in an awkward position. They are rating low on products that one would think they would want to be selling...don't you think?

I wonder how this system will work to their benefit. I guess I can see maybe a response in more shoppers seeking quick and easy advance for buying decisions, but them again, it will also ironically keep them from purchasing those items. I wonder how quick of a turnover rate Hannaford will have to have with its unhealthy products.

I'm not too sure how long this star system will last...unless Hannaford is prepared for switching up products and replacing with three star items.

Hussein is sentenced to death

Saddam Hussein was sentenced on Sunday to death by hanging, along with three other men. One is his half brother. He was found guilty of crimes against humanity for his twenty-four year reign in Iraq.

The trial aroused many different emotions. Hussein yelled angry outbursts after he heard the verdict, damning the judge and his court and proclaiming that "God is great." Many people agreed with Hussein's notion that "God is great"- only because they knew Hussein was going to die and that justice was served.

Some people believe that for Hussein, only a matter of months lie between life and death. What do you think about the verdict? How do you feel about how long it would take for him to be killed? Does it matter?

Here's the link

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/06/world/middleeast/06saddam.html?_r=1&oref=slogin