Courtney Anne Blogging

Seattle Times reporter Hal Bernton spoke with Professor Scott Maier's Power Journalism class on Tuesday, March 9. He is a veteran international journalist, who has reported from Haiti, Iraq, Afghanistan, France and North Africa.

He gave students a window into foreign correspondence by describing conflicts with editors, the role of the Internet, blogging versus traditional reporting, embedded reporting, among other topics.

And he's a good story teller. He mentioned rich details from people and places in Haiti, like unloading aid trucks while lazy locals refused to help; the effects of political-religious policies on Afghan barbers; and a controversial decision by an Army captain regarding the use of force in unknown territory. I think his ability to recall what he saw has been well documented too through his blogs and articles in the Seattle Times.

A student asked if there were days abroad when he wondered why he chose an assignment with uncomfortable living quarters, danger and little sleep. Although he said surviving a few weeks while sleeping only four hours each night was one reason to gripe with the news editors, Bernton felt rejuvenated to talk to people about their lives and societies.

Thus, one of the most riveting revelations of his experiences abroad is Bernton's love of journalism in its traditional form: "a fresher feel when at the scene." Being at the scene means putting away the computers, talking to locals and exploring livelihood.

He seems to feel a part of his early reporting days are lost with Pong and Game Boy.

Bernton said he was looking at a computer more while blogging in Afghanistan than before online news took over the media. He noticed that in lieu of meeting town/residential sources for both context and stories, a lot of background information was available on the Internet.

"I don't have the same sense of place," he said.

Still, his blogs forced him to meet locals as much as security forces allowed.

Aside from telling tales about writing styles, Internet influences and traveling, Bernton said one important factor in the future of foreign correspondence will be paying for good content and warned against being afraid of it, "because ad revenue isn't going to support the industry like the time they did when there were monopolies."

I think Bernton is correct that advertising can't carry news gathering in any form. Although citizen journalists and bloggers are in the spotlight with free content, they too will need compensation for quality investigative and in depth reporting.

# posted by CourtneyH @ 2:13 PM 0 Comments

International Women's Day is March 8.

Not all countries accept women's rights as the same as men's rights. In Afghanistan and other nations that follow Sharia Law, women are restricted from leaving their homes; they are denied voting rights voting rights in Saudi Arabia.

In November 2009, Reuters reported women in Afghanistan burn themselves to relieve themselves of their oppressed domestic lifestyles.

Clara Zetkin launched the inaugural International Women's Day on March 19, 1911. Her work resulted from a conference the year before, which gathered over 100 women from 17 countries, including unions, socialist parties and working women's clubs, who unanimously approved her proposal for a Women's Day celebration in every nation - to press for their demands, according to the company Aurora, which is planning International Women's Day 2010.

Since 1911, many countries have reformed social laws to include women, including equal pay and sports opportunities. And although women are still underrepresented in many management positions when compared to the number of men in executive roles, their posts in national leadership is increasing.

Since Jan. 2009, five females were elected either president or prime minister of their countries.

June 2009 also celebrated many victories for women in politics, which you can read about on my News Junkie Confessions Blog.

But Zetkin's proposal for women broadcasting their demands is a daily pursuit. March 8 underscores global struggles for justice and opportunities for women.

# posted by CourtneyH @ 2:39 PM 0 Comments

During my eighth year, I let the world happen around me. My Dad drove me to a weekly sports practice, I had sleepovers with friends, where we built forts and played Slapjack, I watched television sitcoms and cartoons very often, and I swam off our dock in the summer. I know I only had one year being eight, while Lisa Simpson has had twenty years - but Lisa attacks her neighborhood, her school and anything in her moral compass – which is everything.

Lisa is the most unconventional rebel in the cartoon world. She challenges feminist foes and school bullies because she knows what’s right and wrong. Her instincts follow science and pragmatism. I believe in her character as if it was the Lisa religion.

One day, Lisa exposes corrupt politicians when she skeptically trusts the U.S. Constitution and exposes a scandal between her local Congressman and Washington lobbyist during a writing contest in D.C. Her decision withdrew her chances at winning the competition.

Lisa’s bravery and determination seem beyond an eight-year-old’s young developing intellect. But she grasps governmental intricacies and is an activist against ludicrous town traditions, like a “Whacking Day,” or the day for killing snakes. Lisa asks the event’s MC, Barry White, to use his bass vocal style to lure the snakes to safety, and the slithering reptiles live.

Lisa has mishaps, like disrespecting her mother’s traditional principles and suffering from consumerism at The Olympics. But her consistent values for equal rights, learning and willingness to bear change, even if it’s slowly, are reminders how I want to live.

Where Lisa seems predictable- as a smart, out-spoken, atheist outcast, one of her most luminous qualities is the knowledge that her actions affect the world, and her predisposed habits mustn’t hinder the opportunity to undertake an unfamiliar venture. Most people don’t challenge their self-schema often because it helps making decisions easier. I watch Lisa struggle too. But rather than settle into complacent patterns, Lisa wants to explore and make the world, not let it happen to her.

# posted by CourtneyH @ 2:24 PM 0 Comments

• The volume of Twitter increased 16 fold in one year.
• It's not inane, it depends on who you follow.
• Reporters can request input about stories from audience/readers.
• Even if we lose Twitter in a few years, the concept of microblogging will stay with us.

• EXAMPLE: Openly Local - this site is building a database of local governments by using API.

# posted by CourtneyH @ 3:24 PM 0 Comments