Week 9: Media Ethics/ Media Law

A recent media ethics/media law case happened between a celebrity (Michael Jackson's ex-wife Debbie Rowe) and the woman who defamed her on the TV show "Extra" (Rebecca White). Rowe sued White claiming that she suffered from the false comments that White made, accusing Rowe of just wanting money from her deceased-ex-husband rather than custody of their children.

You can read the story in more detail here.

I think that Rowe had every right to sue White for her false comments. Hopefully cases like this will continue to teach people the importance of thinking before you speak, and that our words can be hurtful and have consequences. It's like what mothers have said for centuries..."If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."

Week 8: Propaganda in Advertising/ PR

This video is a commercial for Nike, specifically Nike Women. The commercial uses the following "propaganda techniques"(found on wikipedia.org)

1. REPETITION: This type of propaganda deals with a jingle or word that is repeated over and over again, thus getting it stuck in someones head, so they can buy the product. The "Repetition" method has been described previously. The ad uses variations of the phrase "I'm making myself _____".

^{2. APPEAL TO AUTHORITY:} Appeals to authority cite prominent figures to support a position, idea, argument, or course of action. The women in this ad are all famous female athletes. These prominent, strong, fit and confident women are well-known and inspire the "every day woman" to think that she too can look like these women!

Week 7: Internet

As much as the internet has become a phenomenon that has taken over practically everything we do in life, I am still skeptical of using it for certain purposes. I buy my music online through Itunes, have purchased event tickets and books online, and pay for my tuition and classes online, however I know that those sites are secure. I am afraid of linking my bank account information to "sketchy" sites that could be a scam. For example, my aunt bought me UGG boots for Christmas online, but it ended up being a scam website from China, and she still hasn't gotten her money back! I do not know anyone who is obsessed with the internet, but I do like to look at wedding and event blogs myself. (not because I am obsessed, but because I want to be an event planner).

Here are some of my favorites! Style Me Pretty, Green Wedding Shoes, The Wedding Chicks, 100 Layer Cake, along with countless others! I can swoon for hours over the teeniest details!

Week 2: Media Impact (late submission)

I have seen so many talk shows and newscasts that focus on the issue of "cyber bullying". Which is defined as "involving the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others."(wikipedia). Basically, it is when a person uses technology to deliberately offend, slander, harass or embarrass another person. This often occurs between children and teenagers, but can happen between anyone. Some people blame media, saying that without texting, internet social networking sites (such as Myspace or Facebook) and other channels of mass media, cyber bullying would not exist.

This video is just one example of a young girl who committed suicide after falling victim to cyber bullying.