Research Methods, Part 2

(Image courtesy of ARCS Foundation)

1) US Census Statistics

• The total population for Colorado (based on the 2000 Census) was 4,301,261. The projected total population for 2010 is 4,831,554.
• In 2000, the population of Asian and Pacific Islanders in Colorado was near 108,000.
• In 2000, the Census Bureau reported that about one in 10 residents was foreign-born, and about 25 percent of this population was Asian. Using this formula, about 1/4 of 10% (or 2.5% of the total population is Asian). According to the 2000 numbers for the state of Colorado, this statement by the Census Bureau rings true for the state (as 2.5% of 4,301,261 is 107, 531 people).

2) Crime Story #1

• The US Department of Justice offers a list with links to sex offender registries by state which can be found at: http://www.nsopw.gov/Core/PublicRegistrySites.aspx
• The FBI also offers a list of links to sex offender registries by state which can be found at: http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/cac/registry.htm
• Colorado offers an interactive map with sex offender information, including pictures. In my area in Northern, CO there are 4 Sex offenders within a mile radius of my home.
• Maryland offers a similar interactive map with full names and addresses, pictures, and this registry includes what the charges were. The URL for this map is: http://sorm.towson.edu/mapview/

3) Crime Story #2

• It is a bit shocking to me that some of the statistics on crime can vary drastically between the two resources. The statistic on forcible rape is particularly interesting. CU Reports 2 in 2007, and 4 in 2006. Whereas the Office of Post Secondary Education reports 10 in 2006 and 8 in 2007. The OPE's numbers are almost doubled on some years and that is a bit unsettling for me.
• As previously stated, according to the OPE and CU seven forcible rape incidents were reported in 2008. CU Police report 44 burglaries in 2008, while the OPE reports 59.

4) Political Reporting #1

• During his campaign, Mark Udall received $11,934,022.
• During his campaign, Michael Bennet received $3,661,380.
• According to Opensecrets

5) Political Reporting #2

• Governor Bill Ritter received $984,026 in campaign contributions in his last campaign (2008).
• Governor Bill Ritter received $4,365,457 in total contribution.
• In Colorado, the limit for personal contributions to gubernatorial and other state-wide candidates $525/election (NCSL Chart)

6) Government Statistics #1

• For 4-year public institutions in 2007-2008, the average cost of tuition, fees, room and board was $13,424 per year.
• For 4-year private institutions in 2007-2008, the average cost of tuition, fees, room and bard was $30,393 per year.
• NCES Chart

7) Government Statistics #2

• The homepage for the State of Colorado is: www.colorado.gov

8) Government Statistics #3

• The homepage for Loveland, CO is www.ci.loveland.co.us

Research Methods

Research Methods in Practice

Image of Hurricane Katrina (courtesy of Hurricane Tracking)

Weather Story #1- HURRICANES

• National Hurricane Center (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/)
• Hurricane Katrina (2005) was the costliest hurricane in the United States since 1900.
• Katrina (2005) hit the Southwestern part of the United States including parts of Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
• Estimated damages of Katrina were $81,000,000,000.

Earthquake in Haiti (2010) (image courtesy of Examiner.com)

Weather Assignment #2- Earthquakes

• FEMA (The Federal Emergency Management Agency) has good preparedness tips for all kinds of Emergencies ranging from natural (such as tornadoes, volcanoes, earthquakes) to chemical and terrorism based events.
• Their tips for earthquake preparedness can be found at http://www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake

Plane Crashes in the Hudson River (2009) (image courtesy of Time)

Plane Crashes

• In the past year in Colorado 4 fatal airline crashes have occurred. None of which were at major airports. (Cities included Simila, Wray, Elbert, and Hayden).
• In the past year in Colorado 43 non fatal accidents occurred in the past year.
• In 2000, the NTSB investigated and Alaska Airlines crash in which 88 people died.
• 49 people died in the crash in Lexington, KY in 2006.

Rathergate

(Image courtesy of InnWorldReport)

Watch Dan Rather's Statement on the 2004 Incident (CBS NEWS)

The Dan Rather-CBS scandal, also known as memogate or rathergate, of the 2004 election shook both the journalistic and political spheres at the time.

In 2004, CBS—anchored by Dan Rather—aired a story regarding President George W. Bush and his previous National Guard service. CBS claimed to have documents from his commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Jerry Killian, stating that President Bush was given special treatment during his time of service.

The documents had not been verified at the time of the broadcast—one month before the election was to take place. “News” quickly broke that the documents were falsified and that CBS was politically influenced in their report. When I say “news” I mean bloggers mostly from a conservative platform were the first to draw suspicion. Soon after the first reports, reporters and bloggers from all wings of the political spectrum started to question the validity of these documents.

The story resulted in the termination of four CBS employees, including Mary Mapes, the aggressive (alleged Kerry supporter) producer on the piece.

Dan Rather, at the time the most iconic figure in journalism, was forced to step down from his anchor position, even though he did no research on the actual story. His flaw was standing by the unsound piece for ten days after accusations started to circle.

The CBS-Dan Rather incident should serve as an example for all current and aspiring journalists. Reputation is everything, and credibility is priceless and fleeting.

Even if you are not the lead on a story, if your name—or face—is attached to it you are responsible and can suffer the full extent of consequences. Check and double check your facts; it is not only your responsibility as a journalist, but as a concerned American citizen. Rather was simply the face of the story, but his reputation was shattered due to his lack of personally validating the information.

This incident has other implications, other than the obvious ones of journalistic ethics. The media has a reputation of being politically one sided. And while we all have unavoidable bias, it is our job to put that aside for the sake of the facts. It is quite possible that the political biases of some on the story influenced their decision to not diligently check the facts and to rush it to air a month before the election.

The political reputations that suffered a hit from the story included more than George W. Bush, but also Senator John Kerry as well.

Ann Curry, of the Today Show, even stated during an interview” “Was CBS a pawn in a dirty tricks effort by the Kerry campaign to smear . . . President Bush? Can we go that far?” (quoted from the Colombia Journalism Review’s article “Blog Gate” by Corey Pein).

The social implications of rushing this story to air were not fully considered. As a voter, this concerns me that media would be so willing to air propaganda as news to possibly promote personal party affiliations.

The foundation of democracy is free speech and freedom of the press. Press founded on half truths, or unverified facts go against the very foundations of this country. Voters need accurate information to make well informed decisions that could affect the future of this country.

The sad truth is, we will never know if the documents were falsified or accurate. A piece of potentially breaking news was ruined with lack of effort and care. The lesson we can all learn from this is: be transparent, and verify, verify, verify. One small overlook can ruin a reputation which in turn can ruin a career.

For an interesting perspective on the incident visit the blog Rathergate which emerged at the time of the incident.

Blogging About Blogs

Design Sponge has everything the young (or young at heart), most likely female, artsy person would love to know. Lovers of HGTV, Better Homes and Gardens, Martha Stewart and the like could find something useful in this blog.

Design sponge was originally started by one author but has grown to employ several writers for different topics. The blog even now sponsors a scholarship for art and design students.

It is designed and read in typical magazine style. The design of the blog instantly caught my eye—as it would anyone—even if you are not particularly interested in the material covered. Objectivity and hard facts are not the main objectives; rather the focus is on excitement, style, and critique.

A lot of the content appears to be written by the bloggers, although there are a few links here and there referring to what has been reviewed. I was particularly drawn to the city guides which include places to eat, shop and grab a good cup of coffee. There are dozens of cities featured ranging from right here in Denver to Rome to Beijing.

I admire the artistic layout vast content of the blog. Although I could never write with such expertise on the home and design topics, writing about food and travel (as featured here) would suit me perfectly.

Interested readers can visit the Design Sponge Blog at http://designspongeonline.com/

Blog Assignment One- Lippmann

"The news of the day as it reaches the newspaper office is an incredible medley of fact, propaganda, rumor, suspicion, clues, hopes, and fears, and the task of selecting and ordering that news is one of the truly sacred and priestly offices in a democracy."
-Walter Lippmann

While "priest" may no longer be the best metaphor for the roll of press in American Society, journalists today hold no less a sacred role. The quote, written in 1920, reflects a society where religion held a much more prominent role. Today a better term may be watchdog, or gatekeeper. Journalists have the unique task of sorting through the mass amounts of content, made possible today by convergence in the media, and selecting the most relevant, factual information to pass on to the people.

It is with great consideration that I deem the role of the modern American journalist sacred. Journalists have the great responsibility of carrying the weight of a democracy on their shoulders. It is the freedom of the press that makes this country possible; the same freedom of the press that our forefathers deemed a necessary thread in weaving the fabric of a new government. Although judgment often seems clouded in today's media world and opinion often pollutes fact modern journalists need to be aware that today their role is as--if not more, important in society. The demand for content has never been higher and more content means more "propaganda" and "rumor" mixed in with the hard facts.

Walter Lippmann saw the importance of a journalist to society. The media has an immense amount of power, and the possibility to change the world. Journalists can speak out not only for politics, but for the impoverished and less fortunate in society. Journalists have the power to raise awareness for a good cause, and the power to change someone's life.

Lippmann saw the full potential of a journalist. The potential to enlighten, inspire, move, and change. So while gatekeeper may seem a more appropriate term for a journalist than a priest, this potential must be taken into consideration. Like it or not, journalists can move public opinion and help/hurt others. Therefore it is as Lippmann puts it a "sacred" duty to be in the industry. The power of a journalist's words can change the future, therefore extra care must be taken in choosing every word.