Wipe your feet. Come on in.

New poll suggests pessimism among journalists. Duh!

meredithcochie — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 19:16:54 +0000

Check out this poll by the Pew Research Center.

Wait?? What happens to my anonymity online?

meredithcochie — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 19:13:33 +0000

Read this article from the New York Times titled “News Sites Rethink Anonymous Online Comments.“

Should Internet users have the freedom to remain anonymous or do we make them come forward?

Rick Bragg reading discussions

meredithcochie — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:18:23 +0000

Thoughts about any of the Rick Bragg readings can be put here:

Magazine discussion

meredithcochie — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:17:54 +0000

Thoughts about Professor Spiker’s talk about magazines…

Is there still life in the magazine world? Is there something different about holding a magazine and reading it on your couch than going online? Will there ever be something digital that can replicate that experience?

Your thoughts?

Super Bowl ads 2010?!?

meredithcochie — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:19:19 +0000

The best? The worst? What do you think?

Way cool new media? Or advertising ploy for Netflix?

meredithcochie — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:51:09 +0000

Check out this interactive feature done by The New York Times called: A Peek into Netflix Queues.

Visually stunning, immaculate interactive feature that is newsworthy? Or attempt to give Netflix some ad space in a subtle way? Argue a side.

Conflict of interest? NYT writes story on ad client.

meredithcochie — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:38:07 +0000

The New York Times has this ad on their front homepage this morning. It’s a giant Aflac ad.

Then they cover this story in their Media and Advertising section here.

Is this a conflict of interest? To cover this Aflac story, when clearly they are a high-paying advertiser? Would another company get this coverage if they WEREN’T a NYT client? Does it make the NYT biased? Or at least, make them seem biased? Or is this story actually NEWSWORTHY?

Why did you pick journalism?

meredithcochie — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:22:49 +0000

Everyone has a different story.

I picked journalism because I was nosey, loved to write and had an intense interest in everything and everyone around me. There’s something magical – pardon the corniness – about witnessing something, documenting it and sharing it with the world.

Tell us your story.

What’s up Spring 2010 JOU1100ers??!

meredithcochie — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:12:59 +0000

Hi.

Welcome to your first class as a journalism major. If you are a biomedical-chemical-laser-and-other-smart-things engineer, you are in the wrong class. This class will serve as a tasting of what’s to come in your career here in the College of Journalism and Communications.

Journalism requires a great commitment and a dedication to fairness and accuracy. Wow. I know. You will be held to high standards. You will be expected to rock out with your work. You will be expected to be sponge-ey and soak this all in.

If we help you decided that journalism is your thing. Great. If you realize it’s not your thing. Great. We’ve done our job.

Do me a favor: Start reading the news. Now. I mean, right now. No, seriously, stop reading this and go see what’s happening in the world. If you aren’t used to reading the news, try this: visit a local newspaper site, or pick up a hard copy (like The Alligator or the Gainesville Sun), then go to a national news Web site (CNN, The New York Times, Fox News, whatever your poison), then check out Google News. It combines news from all sorts of media outlets. Hey, maybe even follow NPR on Twitter.

See you soon.

Time, Inc. says no magazines to close, but people will lose jobs

meredithcochie — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:44:59 +0000

Read about Time, Inc’s plans to cut $100 million from costs.

When will layoffs in the media world start affecting coverage? Or have they already? What does America lose when they lose reporters and media employees?