News Drones

The following is a MediaNote Classic. It was first presented to MC101 students in May 2014.

First it was the federal government. Then Amazon. And now your local TV news program?

Drones may change how journalists cover natural disasters, sporting events and other stories. But it won't happen right away. NPR reports.

Questions...

•When might a news organization want drones?

•What are the potential problems with news drones?

•Do you agree with the FAA slowing down drone journalism? Why?

Spring into Fall!

Fall semester enrollment has begun.

Fake news -- Real Extra Credit

MC101 student William Melikian (who brought Vrej Agajanian to campus) is organizing an academic conference devoted to Fake News. MC101 students are encouraged to submit their term papers to the address on the flyer above and to attend the conference. For those looking for extra credit, Your Humble Blogger is making the following offer:

•All MC101s can attend the conference for field trip credit.

•MC101s who submit and present a paper on the conference topic will receive double field trip credit.

Please note the the location of the conference has not been announced yet, although it will certainly be on the GCC campus. The room number will be posted here when it becomes known.

Russian to Conclusions

Pasadena City College worships Satan. Valley College bakes and eats its students. LA City College is infested with anthrax.

None of the above is true. The statements are a rather poor attempt by Your Humble Blogger to start a disinformation campaign.

But real disinformation (is that an oxymoron?) is a danger in the world. What can we do about it? NPR reports.

Questions...

•How powerful a weapon is disinformation? What can it do?

•What can we do to combat disinformation?

•Is disinformation done only by hostile foreign governments? Who else?

•Is disinformation a form of free speech?

•Should we fight foreign disinformation with our own disinformation?

Office Hours, Week of 5/8

Your Humble Blogger's office hours will be a little different this week...

Mo 5/8 1-2 pm
Tu 5/9 12:30-1 pm
We 5/10 1:30-2:30 pm
Th 5/11 12:30-1 pm

Normal office hours will resume next week.

Going...Going...Gone!

This Medianote was not presented to the MW 10:45 class.

ESPN, which according to your textbook was the most profitable part of the Disney media empire as recently as 2011, has just laid off a lot of employees. Obviously, its a whole new ballgame for the cable sports channel. NPR reports.

Questions...

•Is television a dying medium? Why or why not?

•Would you prefer to buy cable stations "a la carte," or do you prefer paying for a large bundle of stations?

•Does professional (and college) sports still draw younger viewers, or is the audience mostly middle-aged and older folks?

•What could ESPN do to make its program stream younger and more inclusive?