Protecting Maine's Coast

4/26/10

Jessica Currier

The coast of Maine is on many minds of citizens in the state of Maine. Pollution, trash, global warming, and human destruction have been impairing the coast of Maine, so Mainers are in an act of protecting it.

The coast of Maine has been and still is attracting large coastal development. The natural land and coast is being converted to building grounds and other uses. Mainers want to start protecting their coast now, before it is already ruined.

In the state of Maine, there are many organizations and communities gathering together to help protect the coast of Maine. A group of organizations- Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Maine State Planning Office, Land Trust Alliance, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coastal Service Center, and other small organizations- are partners in the Maine Coast Protective Initiative (2).

The Maine Coast Protective Initiative has implied three goals in order to protect the coast of Maine and maintain its character until the year 2025. Goal one was to conserve lands by protecting coastal and estuarine habitat and supporting commercial fisheries and recreational pursuits (2). Goal number two was concentrating with land trusts. The MCPI wanted land trusts with sustainable, professional, and technical capacity, engaged in proactive strategic land conservation (2). Lastly, funding and public support was goal three. MCPI wanted to increase support and increase funding for coastal land conservation (2). All three of the goals have been implemented into communities and have started to protect Maine’s coast.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coastal Service Center, a member of MCPI, supports the strategic conservation planning process (3). They provide funding and technical support (3). The NOAA works with landowners, coastal land trusts, and federal and conservation partners to build a network of conserved land areas (6). They want to ensure that they protect the critical habitats and safeguard the scenic character and natural resources (6).

Another member of the MCPI, the Maine Coast Heritage Trust, is an organization oriented to share information and bring together conservationists about protecting Maine’s coast (5). The MLTN, like the other organizations mentioned, provide programs, services, and resources to help sustain land conservation organizations throughout the state of Maine (5). The MLTN has more than 50 preserves along the cost of Maine, in order to maintain the natural character (10). A few rules that they imply to these preservations that ensure the natural character are that motorized vehicles are prohibited, pets must be under voice or leash control, and islands with nesting birds have seasonal restrictions during nesting periods (10).

MLTN's preservations along the coast of Maine

The Maine Coast Protective Initiative has gained more than 70 organizations, which comes to show that people in Maine are reacting now and not later, when it is too late to preserve the coast of Maine. To find out ways to help protect the coast of Maine visit the MCPI’s website, http://www.protectcoastalmaine.org/index.htm.

References:

1)Environment Maine. “Protecting Maine’s Coast.”

http://www.environmentmaine.org/clean-water/protect-maines-coast

2)Maine Coast Protection Initiative. “MCPI’s Vision for the Coast. “

http://www.protectcoastalmaine.org/index.htm

3)NOAA Coastal Services Center. “Protecting coasal Maine through collaboration and technical capacity building.”

http://www.csc.noaa.gov/conservation/mcpi.html

4)Coastal Conservation Association. Dick Anderson receives Lifetime Achievement Award from CCA Maine.”

http://www.cca-maine.org/

5)Maine Coast Heritage Trust. “Protecting the Character of Maine for Future Generations.”

http://www.mcht.org/index.shtml

6)NOAA Coastal Services Center. “Working Together to Protect Coast Maine.”

http://www.csc.noaa.gov/conservation/images/Protect%20Coastal%20Maine%20poster.pdf

7)NOAA Coastal Services Center. “Working to Increase the Pace and Quality of Coastal Land Conservation.”

http://www.csc.noaa.gov/conservation/images/initial_concept_poster.jpg

8)Google Images. “Lighthouse.”

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/multimedia/dynamic/00132/Maine_Coast_132141e.jpg

9)Google Images. “Maine Coast.”

http://www.mainerealestatenews.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/campellis.jpg

10)Maine Coast Heritage Trust. “MCHT Preserves.”

http://www.mcht.org/preserves/index.shtml

Protecting Maine's Coast

Jessica Currier

4/22/10

I will be writing about the environmental issue of protecting Maine’s coast.

Environment Maine. “Protecting Maine’s Coast.”

http://www.environmentmaine.org/clean-water/protect-maines-coast

Maine Coast Protection Initiative. “MCPI’s Vision for the Coast."

http://www.protectcoastalmaine.org/index.htm

NOAA Coastal Services Center. “Protecting coasal Maine through collaboration and technical capacity building.”

http://www.csc.noaa.gov/conservation/mcpi.html

Coastal Conservation Association. Dick Anderson receives Lifetime Achievement Award from CCA Maine.”

http://www.cca-maine.org/

Maine Coast Heritage Trust. “Protecting the Character of Maine for Future Generations.”

http://www.mcht.org/index.shtml

Images:

NOAA Coastal Services Center. “Working Together to Protect Coast Maine.”

http://www.csc.noaa.gov/conservation/images/Protect%20Coastal%20Maine%20poster.pdf

NOAA Coastal Services Center. “Working to Increase the Pace and Quality of Coastal Land Conservation.”

http://www.csc.noaa.gov/conservation/images/initial_concept_poster.jpg

Google Images. “Lighthouse.”

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/multimedia/dynamic/00132/Maine_Coast_132141e.jpg

Google Images. “Maine Coast.”

http://www.mainerealestatenews.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/campellis.jpg

Maine Coast Heritage Trust. “MCHT Preserves.”

http://www.mcht.org/preserves/index.shtml

Rivals Up For the Championship

Jessica Currier

4/15/10

The University of Maine’s campus recreation flag football league played their championship game on April 1, in the dome at the University of Maine. The two teams, Panic at 7A and the Big Lebowskis, were rivals, so tension was high.

The game started off with the Big Lebowskis having possession of the ball. Panic at 7A proved their defense to be alert. Defensive back, Travis Bouchard, snagged the flag off the running back as he headed towards the field goal, directing 7A to a strong beginning.

With the ball handed over to Panic at 7A, Quarter back, Caleb Rousser, threw the ball to Jack Keefer, the wide receiver, who dove for the catch and missed. In doing so, he strained his ACL and was out for the rest of the night.

The Big Lebowskis ran a play and scored the first touchdown of the game with a 25 yard run. Panic at 7A didn’t let this phase them and scored their first touchdown right after, making the score neck to neck and ending the first half.

The beginning of the second half brought in another touchdown for the Big Lebowskis, showing Panic at 7A that they needed a time-out for a huddle, in order to develop a new, strategic play.

Panic at 7A lined up on the line of scrimmage, center Jon Karlberg, hiked the ball and ran out for a 10 yard button hook. Karlberg then ran the ball 25 yards to tie up the game.

The Big Lebowskis didn’t let this turn them off. The quarterback threw a 15 yard pass to the tight-end, winning the University of Maine’s campus recreation flag football championship, 20 to 7.

After the game, the players exchanged handshakes, and the Big Lebowskis celebrated and Panic at 7A showed their respect. Defensive back, Allen Morales from Panic at 7A, quoted, “The Big Lebowskis played a tough game, I’m impressed by how my team presented themselves, and we’ll come back strong next fall.”

Evolution of Social Media

3/31/10

Jessica Currier

The creation of Twitter, Wikipedia, and other social media tools have sparked a new era of networking. They have created a way for people to upload information about breaking news all over the world by simply updating their status' These social networks can be obtained by quickly logging onto a computer or even by a cell phone. Many phones have the internet, but Twitter and Facebook allow members to send status updates right from their phones as a text message. They could be standing right where disaster could have struck and will be able to inform the whole world.

An article by Nancy Scola, discussing how Twitter is a valuable resource during disasters, quoted disaster expert Dr. Jeannette Sutton, "When a crisis hits, people use what they are familiar with and what's close at hand. Twitter allows users to rely on pre-existing social relationships, and that's tremendously hard to replicate" (1). Sutton also said, "Disaster experts are looking to Twitter to boost situational awareness, warning dissemination, recovery coordination -- as well as to spotlight areas where information isn't reaching" (1).

It doesn't take long for an account to be created on Twitter after a disaster breaks out. For example, the earthquake that took place in Haiti in January 2010 now has hundreds of relief and support accounts on Twitter, just two months after the disaster. Some of these accounts are foundations that are raising money for Haiti and they post where they will be doing their next fundraiser or how much they raised. People are able to see the sites, and if they want to help raise money for the charity, they can contact the foundation or even just send money to the address given.

CNN discussed the use of Twitter during the aftermath of Haiti also. They wrote, "At midday Wednesday, four of the top 10 Twitter topics were on Haiti or earthquake relief. Many people retweeted news reports and details on how to send small donations to Red Cross relief efforts by texting codes via cell phones" (2).

People post links from news sites and charities like Red Cross for people to donate too. Twitters original creation was for celebrities to update their status' so the rest of the world could see what they were doing. Since many people are following celebrities now, status' pleading for donations from these celebrities where seen by many. As CNN also wrote, "Many celebrities, including singer Adam Lambert, actor Ben Stiller and actress Lindsay Lohan, used their Twitter feeds to plead for earthquake-relief donations" (2). If the celebrities are doing it, most likely many more will follow.

1) Scola Nancy. March 25, 2009. Tech President. "Disaster Experts: Twitter is Deadly Serious Stuff." http://techpresident.com/blog-entry/disaster-experts-twitter-deadly-serious-stuff.

2) CNN. January 13, 2010. Haiti Earthquake. "Web Users Flock to Twitter, Blogs for Haiti News." http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/01/13/haiti.internet/index.html.

Broadcast Script

3/26/10

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER ALLIANCE

[JESSICA CURRIER]

IN A MICROECONOMICS 120 CLASS, TAUGHT MY PROFESSOR CAROLINE NOBLET, TWO GUEST SPEAKERS, HUGH STEVENS AND ANNE AKOA, PRESENTED INFORMATION ON A PROGRAM CALLED THE KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER ALLIANCE.

[TAKE VO]

[CG: HUGH STEVENS AND ANNE AKOA PRESENTING THEIR INFORMATION TO THE CLASS IN 130 LITTLE HALL]

THE KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER ALLIANCE PROGRAM OR KTA IS COORDINATED UNDER THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE’S BUSINESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND DIRECTED BY HUGH STEVENS. THE PROGRAMS INITIATIVE IS TO HELP MAINE COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES OVERCOME AND PREVENT HARDSHIPS DUE TO ECONOMIC RECESSION AND NATURAL DISASTERS, LIKE FLOODS.

[TAKE VO-SOT]

[ANNE AKOA]

[TRT: 0:12]

AKOA, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF KTA, STATED THAT THE PROGRAM GOES IN AND HELPS BUSINESSES BUILD A FRAMEWORK FOR THEIR FUTURE. THEY HAVE 40 CONSULTING HOURS WITH THE BUSINESS, AND THEY ALSO HELP WITH NETWORKING.

[JESSICA CURRIER]

KTA IS GRANTED 1,827,000 DOLLARS BY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY. THE PROGRAM IS A GREAT ADVANTAGE FOR THIS AREA AND ALL THE HELP IT IS CONTRIBUTING TO LOCAL BUSINESSES IS HELPING DURING THESE HARD ECONOMIC TIMES.

Knowledge Transfer Alliance

Jessica Currier

3/26/10

At the University of Maine Orono, one particular class had an interesting guest speaker. On March 26, 2010, the Microeconomics 120 class, taught by Professor Caroline Noblet, got the privilege of listening to Hugh Stevens and Anne Akoa present to them the Knowledge Transfer Alliance program.

The Knowledge Transfer Alliance program or KTA is coordinated under the University of Maine’s Business Assistance Program and directed by Hugh Stevens. The programs initiative is to help Maine communities and businesses overcome and prevent hardships due to economic recession and natural disasters, like floods.

Stevens is a graduate student at the University of Maine and is a small business owner himself. He started off by explaining to the class how small businesses make up the majority of the market, and that they learn the business by imitating other businesses. Sometimes, the businesses do not think how to market their own product, and they have a difficult time running their business. Stevens explained that sometimes small businesses will have a greater total revenue compared to profit, making bankruptcy a possible future outlook for the business. Stevens concluded by saying that one of the things that KTA does is help businesses determine how they will market their product, aiming to lead the business to success.

Akoa, the assistant director of KTA, did a brief presentation of the program and discussed how they go in and help businesses build a framework for their future. They have 40 consulting hours with the business and also help with networking. Akoa listed off many of the different fields of businesses that KTA helps with, for example, marketing, engineering, and accounting businesses.

KTA is granted 1,827,000 dollars by the Economic Development Agency. The program is a great advantage for this area and all the help it is contributing to local businesses is helping during these hard economic times.

Obesity Epidemic 2

One of the greatest epidemics in the world, obesity, has risen 75% in the past ten years. It is spread across the world and hit every town and city. The cause of this horrible disease is due to poor nutrition and lack of being active.

Obesity is prevalent in every type of person, specifically looking at children, child obesity has doubled in the last 20 years and tripled for teenagers (1). Obesity is diagnosed when the child’s BMI (body mass index) is in the the 95th percentile, which then puts them at risk for cardiovascular disease (1).

In Maine, obesity has risen 100% in 17 years, affecting children, teenagers, and adults (1). Children as young as kindergarten are experiencing being overweight and being obese. The Maine Child Health Survey announced that 18% of kindergarten students have a BMI in the 85-94% range, and 15% have a BMI greater than 95% (1).

With child obesity leading to so many diseases, such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and type two diabetes, what is Maine doing about child obesity?

In the summer of 2009, Governor John Baldacci met with Maine legislators and healthcare advocates to celebrate the passage of three bills aimed to control child obesity (2). One bill was oriented to measure the heights and weights of school children and send the measurements to the Maine Center for Disease Control (2). Baldacci also signed two bills aimed to find the cause of obesity, concentrating on diets and exercise (2). This included that chain restaurants must post more calorie information on their menus and increase physical activity in Maine schools (2).

Directing the attention to one Maine town, Brewer, they have acknowledged the issue of child obesity and are in action to fight it. The schools in Brewer, Maine, are all using a system called NuriKids.

Brewer’s food director, Anna Malo, explained that NuriKids is a computer application that the school downloaded into two computers in the lunch rooms. The students have the option to slide their student ID or punch in their ID numbers, and their picture will show up on the computer screen. This also allows their parents to access what they are consuming online and saves money for the lunch room(3).

One of the cashiers in the lunch room explained how NutriKids helps save money, “It keeps better inventory and keeps the list of students who needs free or reduced lunch clear. In the past, students have lied to the lunch workers and said that they have free or reduced lunch in order to steal the food.” Now, the lunch cashiers will know exactly who has free or reduced lunch.

The food supplied and made in the lunch room is not in the school’s budget, the lunch room has its own budget. NutriKids should make a huge impact on saving money; and hopefully, they can concentrate on buying better, more nutritious foods.

NutriKids also has nutrition education on its website and an interactive menu, where parents can view and plan out what their children will eat (3). The nutrition labels are also present within the interactive menu section(3).

Brewer High School’s principal, Rebecca Bubar, explained her opinion on the new program and on the component of how parents can keep track of what their students eat and buy. Bubar agreed that it is helpful and is glad it is available, along with all the other benefits of NutriKids.

Another health improvement that Brewer schools have implied is taking out the junk food in their vending machines. An article from the Maine Dietetic Association stated, “By establishing an environment that supports nutritious food choices, schools play a critical role in producing healthy students who are better able to develop and learn (4).” The Maine Dietetic Association described how schools in Maine are starting to transfer over the junk food from the vending machines and a’la carte in the lunch rooms, to more nutritious snack options (4).

In the long run, these contributions to the school systems of Brewer will help fight against child obesity. More schools throughout Maine are also taking similar actions. Malo stated, “Schools nearby like Bangor High School and Hamden Memorial High School have been using NutriKids for awhile now.” Hopefully, the state will see a decline in child obesity very soon due to these actions.

Jessica Currier

References:

1) Mills, Dora. Maine CDC. “Obesity in Maine” 2007. http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/oim/Obesity%20in%20Maine%20(5-07)%20FINAL.pdf.

2) Maine.Gov. “Governor signs three anti-obesity bills.” June 17, 2009. http://www.maine.gov/legis/speaker/news/PingreeNews/ObestiyMeasuresSigned2009-06-17.htm.

3) NutriKids. “What is MyNutriKids.com?” 2006-2009. https://www.mynutrikids.com/LearnMore/LearnMore.aspx#mytray.

4) Maine Dietetic Association. ADA Foundation. “Building Healthy Schools.” 2006. http://www.eatrightmaine.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/winter06.pdf.

Obesity Epidemic

One of the greatest epidemics in the world, obesity, has risen 75% in the past ten years. It is spread across the world and hit every town and city. The cause of this horrible disease is due to poor nutrition and lack of being active.

Obesity is prevalent in every type of person, specifically looking at children, child obesity has doubled in the last 20 years and tripled for teenagers (1). Obesity is diagnosed when the child’s BMI (body mass index) is in the the 95th percentile, which then puts them at risk for cardiovascular disease (1).

In Maine, obesity has risen 100% in 17 years, affecting children, teenagers, and adults (1). Children as young as kindergarten are experiencing being overweight and being obese. The Maine Child Health Survey announced that 18% of kindergarten students have a BMI in the 85-94% range, and 15% have a BMI greater than 95% (1).

With child obesity leading to so many diseases, such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes, what is Maine doing about child obesity? Well, in the summer of 2009, governor John Baldacci met with Maine legislators and healthcare advocates to celebrate the passage of three bills aimed to control child obesity (2). One bill was oriented to measure the heights and weights of school children and send the measurements to the Maine Center for Disease Control (2). Baldacci also signed two bills aimed to find the cause of obesity, diets, and exercise (2). This included that chain restaurants must post more calorie information on their menus and increase physical activity in Maine schools (2).

Directing the attention to one Maine town, Brewer Maine, they have acknowledged the issue of child obesity and are in action to fight it. The schools in Brewer, Maine are all using a system called NuriKids. NuriKids is a computer application that the schools download into the computers in the lunch rooms. The children have a code and punch it before they purchase their meals, which allows their parents to access what they are consuming online (3). NutriKids also has nutrition education on its website and an interactive menu, where parents can plan out what their children will eat (3). The nutrition labels are also present within the interactive menu section(3).

Another health improvement that Brewer schools have implied is taking out the junk food in their vending machines. An article from the Maine Dietetic Association stated, “By establishing an environment that supports nutritious food choices, schools play a critical role in producing healthy students who are better able to develop and learn (4).” The Maine Dietetic Association described how schools in Maine are starting to transfer over the junk food from the vending machines and a’la carte in the lunch rooms, to more nutritious snack options (4).

In the long run, these contributions to the school systems of Brewer will help fight against child obesity. More schools throughout Maine are also taking similar actions. Hopefully, the state will see a decline in child obesity very soon.

Jessica Currier

References:

1) Mills, Dora. Maine CDC. “Obesity in Maine” 2007. http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/oim/Obesity%20in%20Maine%20(5-07)%20FINAL.pdf.

2) Maine.Gov. “Governor signs three anti-obesity bills.” June 17, 2009. http://www.maine.gov/legis/speaker/news/PingreeNews/ObestiyMeasuresSigned2009-06-17.htm.

3) NutriKids. “What is MyNutriKids.com?” 2006-2009. https://www.mynutrikids.com/LearnMore/LearnMore.aspx#mytray.

4) Maine Dietetic Association. ADA Foundation. “Building Healthy Schools.” 2006. http://www.eatrightmaine.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/winter06.pdf.

UMaine's School of Performing Arts Presents Hair-The American Tribal Love Rock Musical

For release on Wednesday 17:

This up-and-coming weekend, February 19, 20, and 21, the University of Maine's School of Performing Arts is presenting the Broadway play, Hair-The American Tribal Love Rock Musical, directed by Marcia Douglas. The play was debuted last weekend and will show next weekend, as well.

Hair is presented on campus in Hauck Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are on sale for 12 dollars for the general public, and students get in free with their Mainecards.

Hair-The American Tribal Love Rock Musical is a Broadway play, and is written by Gerome Ragni and James Rado. The play ages in the year 1960s and shows the hardship and battles that the American hippies experienced, in fight for their beliefs of "make love not war."

The students of UMaine portray their talents of dancing, acting, and singing to spread the message of the 1960 American hippies. At this moment in time, with war developing throughout the world, everyone can be reminded of this simple concept of love not war.

With questions or regards on the presentation of Hair- The American Tribal Love Rock Musical, contact the School of Performing Arts at 207-581-4703.

Jessica Currier

Working to Keep Students and Community Members Fit and Healthy

With sweat dripping down your face, your heart pounding through your chest, and every muscle in your body is aching, all you would want to do is fall to the floor. Now, many people will be thinking to themselves "Wow that sounds just like me!" Almost everyone has gone to the gym or has done some kind of workout, where all they want to do is give up. To give up is to fail, and failure is never attained when you have your own personal trainer.

Travis Bouchard, a junior at the University of Maine, majoring in Kinesioliogy and Physical Education, has been a personal training at the University's Rec Center, since last February.

Bouchard became a personal trainer as a student at the University of Maine by enrolling in the ACE course (American Council of Exercise), which was two hours a week for a whole semester. This was taken at the Rec Center. Once Bouchard finished the ACE course, he explained that he was hired based on his knowledge within the field of fitness, and than shadowed other trainers of the University's Rec Center, until he was ready to work on his own.

When asked why he wanted to become a personal trainer, Bouchard replied, "“Through years of participating in athletics, I became fond of training myself as well as others. I decided to turn this hobby into a career.”

Most personal trainers would have to be certified before being hired by a gym. Bouchard said that he was able to be hired because since he is a student enrolled in the exercise science program at the University of Maine, he was able to go through an apprenticeship with the Rec Center. Although, if Bouchard wanted to work at a different gym, he would have to be certified.

The overall process of training someone at the University's Rec Center starts with a fitness assessment, which tests both muscular strength and cardiovascular endurance. Next, Bouchard said that he sits down with his clients to develop attainable goals. He will then tailor the workout to achieve the client's specific goals and by concentrating on their safety.

For the actual work out, Bouchard quotes, “ As a trainer I am constantly seeking out the newest and most up to date scientific information in the field of fitness. I implement “functional training” where I design exercises to mimic daily activities. I train the body in its three natural planes to insure a full body workout.”

Bouchard will put his clients through challenging workouts weekly, and then once a month re-assess their workout to see how far they have come. Bouchard said excitedly, "Seeing the progress a client can make is my favorite part about the job!"

To be able to see a person achieve their goals is one great aspect of the job, but Bouchard also explained that he has learned valuable life lessons from working as a personal trainer, and it has made him grow as a person and student.

Bouchard strives to help the students and community members of the University of Maine maintain a healthy lifestyle through fitness but also through their diets. Bouchard ended with stating, “A common misconception to people's individual health, is that a workout regime is its foundation. Although, it is very important, balanced nutrition plays a much larger role."

Surely, if you ever are looking for a way to tone up and live a healthy lifestyle, personal trainer Travis Bouchard would be able to help you achieve these goals through hard work, commitment, and diet.

Jessica Currier

Newscast

Everyone knows that the Super Bowl is this Sunday, so to get into the mood and give some cooking tips for the celebration, WLBZ2 had Adam Richman, from the T.V show "Man vs. Food" be interviewed by reporter Rob Caldwell.

To critique Caldwell's skills, he didn't introduce Richman or tell the audience why he was there to speak. The only time that Richman was introduced was before Caldwell came onto the screen to interview Richman, and this was done by another anchor. I think that since Caldwell was interviewing Richman, he should have told who he was incase people missed it before.

A few other details that I picked up on that Caldwell could have done differently was to not say "Uhm" so much. It appeared that he didn't know what to say next at some points. Lastly, Caldwell cut off Richman a few times while he was still speaking. This gave the impression that he was rushing and wanted the interview to be over.

I would have done all of these mannerism that I have mentioned differently, but I also would have asked different questions. Caldwell asked questions of Richman's past like, "How did you get into the gig that you are in right now, and What is your favorite meal? (1)" I would have asked, "How can you make a Super Bowl Sunday meal that is different than the casual sub sandwich and hot wings? and What sort of healthy options are there to make?"

The conversation was very casual, which I think was a good approach. They were discussing something simple and informal, such as food for a football game. People wouldn't want formal language discussing food oriented for a football game. For example, one of the popular dishes for Super Bowl Sunday is chicken wings. Now, talking about chicken wings with formal language does not flow well. Richman tells his ideas of how chicken wings can be served in numerous ways in an "everyday sort of feel" tone (1). Caldwell's questions worked with Richman's language too by being casual.

I also enjoyed how Caldwell incorporated traditional Maine food in his questions to Richman, like "How does Maine lobster rate on your food scale? (1)" I think that this gave the whole newscast a larger meaning than just cooking for Super Bowl Sunday. Many Mainer's were able to relate to what Caldwell and Richman were talking about, even if they don't watch or cook for the Super Bowl.

The whole conversation was spoken in the present and future tense. This of course was because the Super Bowl isn't until this Sunday, and seemed to fit for the conversation.

Overall, I thought that Caldwell and Richman were lively and good humored, which gave the whole newscast a good appeal. Yes, different questions could have been included in my opinion, but that is because I have different interests in Super Bowl food than some people. I care more about the nutritional side. I'm sure any guy though would go crazy if their wife cooked a healthy meal for the big game!

Reference:

1) Caldwell, Rob. (Interviewer) & Richman, Adam. (Interviewee). (2010). Man vs. Food. [Interview transcript]. Retrieved from WLBZ2 Online site: http://www.wlbz2.com/video/default.aspx#/Cooking/%22Man+v.+Food%27s%22+Adam+Richman/49764939001/49746547001/64389204001

Convergence and Consolidation in Journalism

Journalism through the years has changed dramatically. From the basic print newspaper that towns used to dwell upon to receive their news each day, to now having the world wide web with news sites, newspapers, and magazines updating news every minute, one can see that time has greatly effected journalism. Two ways that the field of journalism has changed are convergence and consolidation.

Convergence in journalism is when news and information is provided in more than one format, using effective formats to serve news audience in a very fragmented public, and also combining to create a larger journalistic project. In other words, it is how journalism has adapted over the years to improve with technology, resulting with using multi media and its components. In the years past, the work of journalists was read only by print- in newspapers or magazines. Today, this is not the case. Journalists can post their articles in many different ways to reach their audience. This is due to the creation of the internet. They can post their stories on online newspapers, online magazines, blogs, and even online news sites. The whole world is able to access the journalist's reports. This convergence of journalistic technology has positive and negative effects. When looking at the positive side, the internet and all of its different sources to post news for journalists has broadened their readership. New jobs have begun to develop like blogging. On the other hand, journalists may experience a lot of repetition. With so many news sites, newspapers, and magazines, the top news is surely to be repeated on many of them. This can make it hard for a journalist's work to stand out. For example, looking at different articles about the disaster in Haiti, I compared an article from the New York Times to one from the Bangor Daily News. I liked the New York Times article better. This can trickle down badly for the Bangor Daily News, and the same thing goes for smaller newspapers. If they are losing readership because people are able to access the larger newspapers like the New York Times online, jobs will be lost. In the year 2008, 16,000 people lost their jobs at newspapers and only 3,000 people were working on the internet to compose news (1).

Now, moving on to the other topic of how journalism has changed, consolidation. Consolidation is when a large number of media outlets are owned by a small number of business owners and conglomerates. In other words, it's a unification of companies. Consolidation has ultimately hurt the field of journalism. It has made people loose many jobs and decrease the number of newspapers. For example, the popular Wall Street Journal, was sold to Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation in the year 2007 (2). This family owned newspaper lost with a 5 billion dollar agreement for Murdoch to take over. This put many journalists out of their job. This is a frequent occurrence right now in journalism. Hopefully we can still keep newspapers and not let consolidation take total control.

Improvements in technology has impacted the field of journalism and has created heated discussion throughout the world. I believe that the field of journalism needs to be up to date with the technology at this point in time, but I do not believe that jobs need to be taken away. The convergence concerning the different ways to release news from online creates a fast, up-to-date way to inform the world about about is happening. I think that just as many people need to work for these sites as a newspaper would have. This would help with getting even more news out, quicker and preserving journalism jobs.

Referecences:

1) Gayle, Damien. Media for All: Solving convergence and ownership consolidation problems. November 3, 2009. Journalism.co.uk. http://blogs.journalism.co.uk/editors/2009/11/03/media-for-all-solving-convergence-and-ownership-consolidation-problems/.

2) Ellison, Sarah. Karnitschnig, Matthew. Murdoch Wins His Bid for Dow Jones. August 1, 2007. The Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118589043953483378.html?mod=special_coverage.

Critique

Image retrieved by The New York Times

http://straightsets.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/22/clijsters-knocked-out-of-australian-open/?hp

As I began to review an article written about a tennis match, in the New York Times, it appeared that many components of a well written story were missing. Right from the beginning, the journalist Joe Drape was not clear (1). Drape introduced Kim Clijsters as "The Australian Open" but he does not say that she is a tennis player (1). Now, looking at the photograph the reader would assume that Clijsters is a tennis player (if they indeed saw the photograph), but he didn't open the story up by stating that fact. When Drape wrote, "barely got to know the U.S. Open champ here Friday night," I didn't know who he meant was the U.S Open champ (1). He introduced Clijster's component as Nadia Petrova, the 19th-seeded Russian, so I did not understand if this is who he meant as the U.S Open champ (1). I think that a lot of this confusion on clarity is due to his language choice. If one did not play tennis, I believe that they would have a hard time understanding this article. I do not play tennis, and this was the case for me. I don't exactly know what the U.S Open champ is. When I read the quote by the tennis player, Clijsters, it seemed like it could have been summed up better by Drape. It dragged on and didn't get to the point very fast. In the middle of the quote, Clijsters said, "But, um, yeah, the question is of course, why?"(1) I don't think that "but, um, yeah" needed to be placed in the quote. Drape left me asking questions too. After I read the article, I was wondering what loosing meant for Clijster's career and what was the winner Nadia Petrova moving on to? Judging by my critique, Drape definitely did not write this article to its full potential. He missed the concepts of accuracy with the language, brevity, and clarity.

Reference:

1) Drape, Joe. Clijsters Knocked Out of Australian Open. 22 January 2010. The New York Times. http://straightsets.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/22/clijsters-knocked-out-of-australian-open/?hp.

Photographs that are Morally Wrong

Many opinions and disagreements can be made on the topic of whether photographs of the deceased should be published. When one opens the paper on a weekend morning while sipping their coffee and intending to relax and read about what is going on in the world, they probably are not mentally prepared to see a dead body or bodies heaped on top of one another. Such an image will surely awaken them for the day. With the disaster in Haiti that recently took place, many journalists and reporters are taking action and taking pictures of disturbing images. Many of these photographs have been published, one in specifically caught my eyes. I was browsing through the New York Times online, reading about the tragic disaster, when I came upon this sickening picture of a survivor (1). He was kneeling down, crying at the sight of his 10-month daughter, dead and piled on the mound of dead bodies outside a morgue (1). This photograph was bad enough with the pile of dead bodies; but the thing that affected me the most, was seeing the baby in the picture. You can clearly see the babies figure, facial expression, and how she was positioned when she passed away. I think that this picture is morally wrong to have online. Some people may say that it is a wake up call, and that people need to know the real effects of the disaster, but the photograph doesn’t even have the ones who died names. Viewers can’t give them a proper remembrance; fore, they will be remembered only by the people in Haiti, who died and were piled in the filthy streets on top of each other. Also, the man that is kneeling before his child, will have to live with this image for the rest of his life. It may haunt him and randomly appear on a website, newspaper, or magazine when he is casually reading. Due to the distressing and mentally disturbing affects, I believe that publishing photographs such as these should be illegal, unless the consent of the ones in it is given.

Reference:

1) Winter, Damon. Death Toll Mounts After Haiti Quake. 2010. The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/01/14/world/0114-HAITI_11.html

Welcome

Hi everyone! I am a freshman at the University of Maine. I am currently studying journalism and exploring different areas to minor in. With journalism, I would like to work for a magazine, specifically a fashion magazine. I enjoy journalism because I can learn something new everyday by talking with different people and being exposed to different places. I have lived in Maine for most of my life. I lived in Southern California when I was very young. I wonder every day what it would have been like if my parents hadn't moved to Maine. My life would have been so much different. Although, I would love to live in California now- I prefer to live in warmer weather and a place with a faster pace environment. Maine is nice to have a family; but while I am young, I want to be near a larger city. I grew up in the town of Brewer and participated in cheerleading for most of my childhood. Now, I enjoy working out, eating healthy, making jewelry, fashion, reading, and traveling. Nutrition is a large part of my life, and I think everyone needs to take a chance to learn more about it or try new activities, like yoga or pilates. For work, I am a hostess and food runner at Margaritas Mexican Restaurant here in Orono, and I blog for the University of Maine's undergraduate website for University Relations. I am in the process of applying for internships at local magazines and newspapers for this summer, so that I can gain some experience and see if I like working in the field of journalism. As of right now, I am starting off the semester, planning on trying my best and excelling in my classes, and trying out new winter sports. I have snow-shoeing down so far; next on my list is skiing, since I have never tried it! My friends and I are going to take a trip to Sugar Loaf and tackle the task of trying it for the first time. It will be an adventure, and I will make sure to write about it. To wrap things up, I am excited to join this blog and include myself in CMJ 236. I look forward to learning more about writing and solidifying my writing skills. Best of luck to everyone else, as well!