Legal or not? That is the question

A former journalism professor of mine, Sam Terilli, graced us with his cynical presence in room 3033 at the School of Communication (SOC). Ironically beginning his discussion with the question "Why blog," Terilli put on his lawyer hat and gave some personal insight into the world of tomorrow. "SOC asked me to write a blog," he said. "But I don't know why." In some sense, he is absolutely right. Then he proposed the question that, I think, made most of my classmates (including myself, excluding Greg Linch) squirm a little. "How many people read your blogs?" ...Silence. Actually with Google Analytics you can find out. To date, I have had 60 people come to my blogspot. I'm not quite sure how that is supposed to make me feel, but hey, its better than zero. Terilli compared blogs, in general, to online journals, with its sole purpose to give people a chance to vent. But I disagree with that. Blogging is multi-directional. There are many channels of understanding that lay between the writer (me), and those 60 lucky people out there in this world wide web of chaos. Even though 50 or so of those people that have come across eStablishment probably made a typo somewhere, it is still incentive to keep writing. Maybe someone's life will be changed after reading an ever so meaningful blog post...even by accident.

But, to be fair, there are some boulders you have to watch out for when putting words in a public forum. Defamation, for example, even by accident, could bring repercussions like fines (sometimes 5 or 6 figures ($)), or even jail time; meaning: don't piss off the wrong guy (or gal). Unfortunately for us lowly writers/bloggers, the Communications Decency Act of 1996 holds us entirely responsible. According to section 230, if a company or website provides access for people to publish, they are immune.

This leads to an ongoing discussion of anonymous posting. Sites like JuicyCampus.com (*be warned) allow for the most vile, inflammatory speech known to human kind. Well, the problem is, if you are defamed, where to point your finger. Legally, you can't blame JuicyCampus. They are just a host. The other side to this argument is first amendment based. A fundamental part of our society is being able to speak anonymously. If you break off the leg of a table, the table shall fall...you follow.

So, as the weekend begins, keep these things in mind and maybe try and exercise your right to speak anonymously. And by no means am I endorsing Juicy Campus.

Home Sweet Home

Finally back in the States and it feels good to take a deep breath of American air. Not that I didn't have the most incredible time, but its good to hear your native tongue after a week of being submerged in a frenzy of French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch. I apologize for not being up to date with photo's from my trip, but the 48 hours leading to my arrival in the US was quite hectic. Just to give you a little idea the last 24 hours consisted of a 6 hour bus ride from Amsterdam to Lille, France, a one hour train ride from Lille to Paris, then it took me about 40 minutes to find the right metro to go from Gare de Nord (Paris North) to Charles de Gaulle Airport. From there, the airport floor in front of American Airlines became my home for 8 hours before I was able to board my plane and sit there for another 9 hours. Whew. Now I have a terrible kink in my neck and cannot look to the right. But that is for another time, another place.

In regards to the lifestyle of a backpack journalist...honestly, it was extremely tough. Trying to maintain an unbiased viewpoint of the various cultures all while taking it in at such an incredible rate was the hardest part. My Nikon D70s proved too bulky to carry around at all times so most of the photos were taken on a small digital camera. This is just one small lesson to be learned from a week long+ trip that I am still attempting digest. For now, though, I have only memories to adjust my thoughts, but I am sure, after the jetlag settles, there will be much to discuss.

on-the-go

My first thoughts as a "backpack" journalist (this is my first on-the-go blog, using my iPhone)... I'm sitting in a bar in Lille with no Americans for miles. For some reason, it feels quite homey. The bartender, Lou Lou can speak the same amount of English that I can French--pathetically minimal (considering the four years of French I took in high school). I manage to order a drink and out of pity, Lou Lou makes a faint attempt at small talk.

Staring off into space I realize I'm looking at a bright yellow sign that reads, "Quand l'ordre est injustice, le desorde est deja un commencement de justice." I guess those four grueling years of French class paid off in some way in that I am fairly certain the translation goes: "When order (law) is unjust, the disorder is just the beginning of justice." I'm not sure if I like the quote, or just my ability to comprehend it, but I think it is getting at something powerful. It is an optimists way of seeing the world today. It is a comment on the natural cycles of society and life. As the economy in the U.S. can very well be an example, decline is only the beginning of rise, and that is what we shall see soon enough.

To bring this to journalism, specifically online: the rise and growth of internet journalism "...est deja un commencement de justice." It is an exciting time in the history of the world, and we should look at it that way. Enough pessimism, it never did anyone any good.

de France

Here are some photographs of Lille I took earlier today, enjoy...

Lille

Some anonymous friendly locals having a tasty beverage

There is much more to come. My adventures in western Europe have only begun and I intend to share all that is appropriate with you.

FYI

Just a heads up to all you lovely readers out there:  I will be in Europe until Monday the 17th.  Currently I am in Lille in the north of France and will be in Amsterdam from the 14th through the 16th.  

Downhill Slope

There is an idea/concept that I have wanted to explore in detail. I believe I have mentioned it in a previous context, that the idea of internet lingo taking over, and being woven into colloquial speech, is a problem in our society. Currently, the topic is being discussed by hundreds of language experts worldwide. In an essay titled "'Whatever': Is the Internet Destroying Language," written by American University professors, they ask "Is electronically-mediated communication a linguistic free-for-all, or are there shared rules that users either follow or violate?"

This brings up a good point. I think the easy answer is that it depends...but depends on what? In the case of an online journalism blog for, lets say, an online journalism class, appropriate, linguistically-correct diction should be mandatory. On the other hand, all electronically-mediated communication has the potential to mash up the language. It is each and every one of our duties to preserve the words and the way we use these words to make meaningful sentences.

If there is one distinction to make between citizen journalists and those calling themselves citizen journalists, it is that the followers of all linguistic rules are the true journalists. Everyone else who has the nerve to call themselves a journalist or even commentator and then mess up the language should be ashamed.

So my main point, I think, is that the preservation of language is vital to the transforming world of electronic media. If "Murphy's Law" is always true, then in 5-10 years CNN, MSNBC, FOX, etc. will be indistinguishable from tabloid magazines such as Star and the National Enquirer. I don't think anyone wants that (at least not anyone interested in material such as this).

Mr. Ricardo Lopez

Thursday February 28th, the day before the glorious day of the leap year, Ricardo Lopez, a multimedia journalist, along with Candace Barbot from the Miami Herald visited room 3034 at the University of Miami's School of Communication. CNJ 442, my online journalism class was graced with their presence and were spoken to about the art of videography.  Having created several videos to go along with print stories in the past, I was able to gather plenty of information from Ricardo's lecture.  

In particular, the Lemonade Kid grabbed my attention.  Ricardo mentioned that he did not know where or when this video was shot/published.  First of all, the audio is perfect.  It convinced me that a lavaliere microphone was the only way to go.  From very wide shots (VWS),  to extreme close ups (ECU), the mind behind this video knew exactly what he was doing.  Beyond the post-production, the specific shots were all purposeful and made a difference in the audience's perspective...

To move on to another topic, I was assigned "Television" for a multimedia package project.  I plan on covering the UMTV show "Off the Wire."  To be completely honest,  I have never listened to or watched "Off the Wire," but after reading some commentary, the award winning, late-night comedy show seems to grasp a large audience and "explores the irony and idiosyncrasies of pop culture, politics, and college life.  Local Miami personalities, live antics, witty jokes, and original comedy sketches are the cornerstone of the show which is taped before a live studio  audience."  

I am excited to work with this ambitious group of students and hope it will produce an authentic, valuable, piece of media that will dispense the culture and ideas they are attempting to portray.