Thanks to our most recent class speaker William Jacobson and his very prestigious blog Legal Insurrection, I just jumped on the bandwagon to see that Google had sketched its logo to be in commemoration of Cesar Chavez's 86 birthday instead of a popular Christian holiday: Easter.
Jacobson's blog linked me to a website that displayed tons of tweets from dismayed and disappointed Easter-goers that saw Google did not recognize the egg-infested, bunny-invading holiday they celebrated. (Why Easter meshes eggs and rabbits as opposed to sensibly eggs and chickens still bewilders me, but I digress.)
And OK, I should have started this post out differently; I'm Christian and an avid Easter fan as well. But I am not insulted by Google –– a secular internet server –– to take the political approach over the religious one. I'm actually surprised by the fact that so many were surprised Google did not recognize Easter. I guess I must have always been under the impression that specific religions and a universal web browser were separate entities. Unless of course, the Internet is your religion.
This also leads me to the thought of how many people used Google on this sacred Christian holiday to begin with. I know that may sound obvious, but when it comes to the days meant to praise God and spend with family and friends, I'm left wondering why exactly a Google search is needed amidst the egg hunts, big dinners and gatherings. I (pointing to my ignorance) didn't go on Google all day, because I was busy doing the old school activities I always find myself involved in once a year.
What I would think, is those bothered enough to tweet about the lack of recognition for Easter in the Google logo, are not really celebrating it up to the standards they should. Especially if its a holiday they want to be recognized by everyone who goes on Google –– Christian or not.
There once was a time public school systems were debating taking out the word "God" in our flag salute. Religion and politics have been separated for a really long time, even if Christianity is the majority. Because we just happen to be in a time where the strive for equality beats everything else. Just by a little.
I'm on team Google.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Multimedia
Check out our video on Amy Goodman's speech Monday night for The Ithacan's multimedia section! The fact that her speech unveiled a mass of strong, motivated, inspired expression in her listeners makes her seem all the more powerful as an investigative journalist.
Goodman's fame was born in her work, and sustained by her fans. (Even though she's still producing great journalism, but you know what I mean.)
Check it OUT!
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
The Government's Shield
"America is a country of a sword and a shield," said Amy Goodman at her speech Sunday night.
Recently I've been looking into the living conditions and life quality of places other than America, because the more and more I dive into independent media outlets such as Goodman's Democracy Now!, the more I question the system I've lived in my whole life.
America is precisely a sword and a shield; the sword owned by our country used for reasons we are not aware of due to the shield that's blinding us––that being our government, mainstream media, etc.
In Yuxing Zheng's "Bloggers might be excluded from Oregon's executive sessions," President of Open Oregon Judson Randall says that in the county's media policy an issue is raised regarding the governments right to legitimize a media organization or reporter. He then quotes, "The government shouldn't be controlling the media."
Nonetheless, we all know that to some extent, the government has a say in what is talked about in mainstream media corporations.
The Internet, and independent online sources such as Democracy Now! is the only path to the real truth, and the actual story. From people like Amy Goodman to avid bloggers, I've realized the best thing we have in journalism today is the government's lack of control over our Internet.
Recently I've been looking into the living conditions and life quality of places other than America, because the more and more I dive into independent media outlets such as Goodman's Democracy Now!, the more I question the system I've lived in my whole life.
America is precisely a sword and a shield; the sword owned by our country used for reasons we are not aware of due to the shield that's blinding us––that being our government, mainstream media, etc.
In Yuxing Zheng's "Bloggers might be excluded from Oregon's executive sessions," President of Open Oregon Judson Randall says that in the county's media policy an issue is raised regarding the governments right to legitimize a media organization or reporter. He then quotes, "The government shouldn't be controlling the media."
Nonetheless, we all know that to some extent, the government has a say in what is talked about in mainstream media corporations.
The Internet, and independent online sources such as Democracy Now! is the only path to the real truth, and the actual story. From people like Amy Goodman to avid bloggers, I've realized the best thing we have in journalism today is the government's lack of control over our Internet.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
True Fans. But 1,000?
In Kevin Kelly's, "1,000 True Fans" article on kk.org, he explains how independent producers and artists can survive and even thrive over the Internet, and all that is needed to keep their work afloat is 1,000 true fans.
What I liked about this article was what I actually didn't like at all: the angle of the article which made it seem like 1,000 true fans is 1) easy to gain and 2) a necessity for an independent artist's career.
According to Kelly, reeling in that many fans is a way to escape the "long tail." The long tail, he says, "offers no path out of the quiet doldrums of miniscule sales." To me, his advice on how to escape this long tail is as helpful as someone telling me to become famous. One thousand true fans. I've heard it's an accomplishment to find one true friend. If one were to gain that many stable followers, I'd say their career is pretty much set. That's not the beginning––that's the goal.
Unless you want to become the next Oprah Winfrey. Then 1,000 fans would be a healthy start. And who's to say you can't strive for a journalistic career that exceeds the average success? You definitely can. But speaking from a Kevin Kelly perspective, the world of independent media is a "go big or go home" bargain. Or 1,000 fans, as he says, is all you need to "make a living."
Maybe it's the work deserving of the attention that gets it. Kelly gives all of these advertising tips on how to gain and maintain 1,000 true fans. And if you're the kind of artist that doesn't want your creativity to get lost in the business of advertising, you can just hire "a mediator, a manager, a handler, an agent, a galleryist..."
How about we focus on work that we are passionate about and will change the world, not conform to the liking of as many people as possible? Because if your work is worth reading, is worth passing on, is worth talking about, then the fans will multiply themselves. Hopefully without the creator even knowing.
"I don't know of any creator who is not interested in having a million fans," Kelly said. Yeah, me neither. But I also don't know of any talented, genuine creator that guides his work around his dream of being famous.
The best journalism is the kind that doesn't need an advertiser. And who's to say your career is down the pipes if you don't have "1,000 true fans"? There is plenty of outlets that existed, and plenty still out there, that although couldn't maintain the funds to keep running, changed the world. Those are the newspapers, magazines and works of art talked about today. They also now have incredibly more than 1,000 fans.
But those fans came only after these financially struggling, alternative, unpopular publications ceased. They didn't make a living, but they made history.
Sometimes, that is independent journalism.
What I liked about this article was what I actually didn't like at all: the angle of the article which made it seem like 1,000 true fans is 1) easy to gain and 2) a necessity for an independent artist's career.
According to Kelly, reeling in that many fans is a way to escape the "long tail." The long tail, he says, "offers no path out of the quiet doldrums of miniscule sales." To me, his advice on how to escape this long tail is as helpful as someone telling me to become famous. One thousand true fans. I've heard it's an accomplishment to find one true friend. If one were to gain that many stable followers, I'd say their career is pretty much set. That's not the beginning––that's the goal.
Unless you want to become the next Oprah Winfrey. Then 1,000 fans would be a healthy start. And who's to say you can't strive for a journalistic career that exceeds the average success? You definitely can. But speaking from a Kevin Kelly perspective, the world of independent media is a "go big or go home" bargain. Or 1,000 fans, as he says, is all you need to "make a living."
Maybe it's the work deserving of the attention that gets it. Kelly gives all of these advertising tips on how to gain and maintain 1,000 true fans. And if you're the kind of artist that doesn't want your creativity to get lost in the business of advertising, you can just hire "a mediator, a manager, a handler, an agent, a galleryist..."
How about we focus on work that we are passionate about and will change the world, not conform to the liking of as many people as possible? Because if your work is worth reading, is worth passing on, is worth talking about, then the fans will multiply themselves. Hopefully without the creator even knowing.
"I don't know of any creator who is not interested in having a million fans," Kelly said. Yeah, me neither. But I also don't know of any talented, genuine creator that guides his work around his dream of being famous.
The best journalism is the kind that doesn't need an advertiser. And who's to say your career is down the pipes if you don't have "1,000 true fans"? There is plenty of outlets that existed, and plenty still out there, that although couldn't maintain the funds to keep running, changed the world. Those are the newspapers, magazines and works of art talked about today. They also now have incredibly more than 1,000 fans.
But those fans came only after these financially struggling, alternative, unpopular publications ceased. They didn't make a living, but they made history.
Sometimes, that is independent journalism.
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