Week Three: Unrestricted Web Publishing,

Week three of class brings us to the topic of unrestricted web publishing. In this  day and age where anyone can publish content on the web, it's important to have some guidelines in place to help measure the credibility of a source. As a sports junkie, I find this article enlightening..

 My story comes from the New York Times and the topic is currently dominating the national news. In Hope Solo Case, Soccer Turns a Blind Eye Toward Domestic Violence. The piece was written by Juliet Macur a staff writer and best selling author and speaks to the sensitive issue of domestic violence and sports, she raises the question if a double standard exists by those in media when reporting on incidents when well known athletes are involved, are there inconsistencies. The  author also explores if gender factors into media reporting, and if violent sports like football may be seen by a writer through a different lens over lets say soccer a more finesse and  less violent sport. Are male athletes perceived more violent and more  likely to be given more media exposure over women for a similar domestic violence charge.

Recently the National Football League has come under harsh criticism for their handling  of the case involving Baltimore Ravens superstar running back Ray Rice,  who was caught on security video striking his girlfriend at the time, and knocking her unconscious ( he later went on to marry the victim). The story has ignited a firestorm of criticism toward football commissioner  Roger Goodell, the perception is the commissioner and the NFL is too lenient with players.The Ray Rice case has brought renewed concern to the issue of domestic violence.

 I initially read the article and then began to research the credibility and the accuracy the source, I  used  the Criteria to Evaluate the Credibility of a WWW guidelines as suggested in our learning module and found the author is well respected in the field of sports writing, she received numerous honors from  the Associated Press, the National and New York Press, and the Society of Professional Journalists. What convinces me the article is credible is 

the knowledge she has with the subject matter, her sports background as the captain of the Columbia University rowing team and a active competitor for the prestigious  New York Athletic Club gives her insight into the world of intense high-level competition. In my opinion these qualifications allow her to bring a unique and must needed athlete and women's point of view on this disturbing trend. she is well received in the professional organizations that govern her profession and I would venture to call her an expert in her field.

She is accessible listing her contact information at The New York Times and a link to her personal webpage and in viewing the page, no special interest items were listed, no ads of any type. I feel the author's writing avoids any personal bias she may hold, or any hidden agenda. the article was well-written and credible when measured by criteria in our handout. All writers have there own take on a source, Mrs. Macur was fair and consistent.  

Citation:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/20/sports/soccer/in-hope-solo-case-us-soccer-doesnt-get-it-right-either.html?_r=0

Internet Use and Publishing Guidelines

The University of Texas, Internet Use and Guidelines

http://www.utmb.edu/site-policies/guidelines/

WWW.Facebook/NewYorkTimes

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/20/sports/soccer/in-hope-solo-case-us-soccer-doesnt-get-it-right-either.html?_r=0

What was life like before Social Media?

I new thing I learned is that Social media can be so many things, an outlet to voice your opinions and gather instant feedback, a news gathering source,a cultural exchange platform, sites like  Facebook and Twitter enable us to stay connected. In May of 2013 I had the pleasure of  attending The World Innovation Forum.The event was held in the beautiful industrial  city of Leon, Guanajuato, located in central  Mexico. I attended as part of group of students and professors, one student and faculty from a partnership of educational institutions of The Laureate  Group, students and staff from different regions of the world.

As a non-traditional student (in my case a older adult that has returned learn new skills to compete In the competitive Silicon Valley region)  This was  first exposure to cultures outside my comfort zone of  Mexican and American.We were a group of about 60 students and professors. The two week period was a life-changing event for me, I developed great friendships and gained amazing knowledge from this group, from places like India, Thailand, Malaysia, China, Pakistan and other areas of the world. The event helped me to better understand how people from different regions of the world perceived Americans and american culture. Many of my preconceived notions and cultural bias were incorrect, the time spent with these individuals  helped me understand that although we have many cultural differences, we also share many close similarities,  In particular a love for family and a longing for peace and prosperity. Social Media has enabled me to stay connected with this group of friends and thru this incredible platform we call Facebook, I’m able to continuously refresh this friendship. Without social media this would not be possible, In my opinion platforms like Twitter,Facebook and Instagram’s most important gift to society is that of connectivity.

The question to how reliable social media  can be in regards credibility is a  valid one, there is no denying that social media like many news outlets can post inaccurate information, the responsibility lies with the reader to research other sources of information outlets before taking news for granted. Any form of media can make mistakes. If former president George W. Bush and the mighty CIA can be duped into believing Iraq possessed  “Weapons of  Mass Destruction” any informational outlet or source can make  reporting mistakes. I reiterate Media literacy and Life Experience is a factor in regards to gauging credibility. I use various sources to confirm a major news story, from news sources  like Al-Jeezera, CNN, BBC, NYTimes, La Opinion, to my world wide group of college classmates. Getting the story right is a must.

The Vantage Point:: New Media and Knowledge

Week two of class brings us to the topic of ethics and media. One of the biggest challenges facing those of us who embrace social media is that of privacy. Is it ethical for companies like Google spy on customers and track websites you have visited, and without your knowledge or consent package that information and sell it to the highest bidder. and soon after your bombarded by custom made ads selling you everything from Graduate Masters Programs to tortilla machines. The ethical line is becoming more blurred and much of the blame is on media.