So you want to be a foreign correspondent?

Last semester I took two journalism classes complimenting my specialization in international journalism and Chinese media. I had made up my mind about going to medical school, but I have always been interested in international journalism. I wanted to be a foreign correspondent in Europe, preferably England or the Netherlands.

There isn't very good news for people who want to be a foreign correspondent these days, but there is a small glimmer of hope.

A recent article by Diana Saluri Russo in Global Journalist, described the golden age of foreign bureaus from the 1920s through the late 1990s. Most news outlets like the Associated Press, ABC News and the BBC would pay for a journalist to be located in a foreign country while paying for their expenses to live there. It costs anywhere between $250,000 - $500,000 a year to maintain a foreign correspondent, depending on the circumstances.

Here's an interesting quote about major news organizations shutting down foreign bureaus from Global Journalist: "...ABC had closed its offices in Moscow, Paris and Tokyo while NBC had closed bureaus in Beijing, Cairo and Johannesburg. Aside from a one-person ABC bureau in Nairobi, there were no more bureaus left at all in Africa, India or South America."

Not only because of the global downturn, but the role of a foreign correspondent has been on the decline for many years. Instead of having bureaus set up in several cities, more news organizations are in favor of dropping in a journalist to cover the "hot spot areas" or outsource to local journalists. Even the Vatican has been updating their outside communication through YouTube and Facebook.

Even people dubbed "citizen journalists" are used when action is happening locally. Their footage, comments and writings are used by news organizations too. This use of citizen journalists have two good uses. 1. Locals may know more information about what's going on than a journalist who was dropped in on the action. 2. It's cheaper to use a citizen journalist than a foreign correspondent. One major problem with using citizen journalists is the line of objectivity and bias. They may not have it because they lack the formal training and could have a bias towards one side or the other.

An NPR article by Lorean Jenkins, foreign news editor, said these types of journalists are needed and are integral for the survival of objective journalism.

"We are in a profession in which everyone lies to use - from the government all along the line on down - either intentionally or because they don't know what is going on... part of what journalism is really about is trying to pull through all the distortion. You shift and you find where in all that mix is the grain of truth, and that is what training and editors are about."

Pushing aside all the depressing news about journalist, what can one do to become a foreign correspondent?

1. Get a good laptop, camera (photo and video) and a cellphone. It's all about backpack journalism. (Look at what Anderson Cooper did.)
2. Borrow a large sum of money $10,000-$20,000.
3. Go somewhere in the world where there are few journalists. Go someplace where nothing is happening.
4. Do work for the AP or the BBC or blog about it.
5. Learn a new language. Depending on what part of the world... usually French, Chinese or Spanish is a good goal.
5. Get out there and do it.

Augmented Reality: New way of communcation for online media?

I first came across the term "augmented reality" earlier this week while watching a new release of John Mayer's latest music video. I was baffled by what augmented reality is and what it does. I hard heard of virtual reality and how realistic video games are, but this?

After doing research, I found out augmented reality is going to revolutionize the way people interact not only in video games, but with online media. This new reality was first discussed by Thomas Caudell, a scientist at Columbia University, in 1990. What he said then was that augmented reality, "is in real time and in semantic context with environmental elements." What exactly?

This is the use of graphics on TV and computers to bring more elements to a user's experience to enhance what they see. Sports programs have been doing this for decades. For example, if a football game is on TV and that yellow first down line appears, that is augmented reality. The real elements are the football field and players, but the virtual component is the yellow line.

Photo taken from HowStuffWorks.com

This also happens during a baseball game on TV when one of the announcers draws a circle or line on the screen to indicate a play. This helps the audience see what happened or what could have happened.

But, where is all of this going now?

There are machines that have been developed at Columbia University and by major corporations such as Sony. If one wears this piece of equipment, called a head-mounted retinal display, they will see the real world around them with graphic components. One of these displays can cost up to $30,000.

Photo taken from Sony.com

That's a lot of money just to experience this new form of an alternate reality. But users, can experience this on their cell phones.

Five Dutch companies got together this past summer to premier the first AR cellphone browser called Layar. It shows Amsterdam, but after launching Layar, dots display showing where homes are including the address, pictures and how far away they are. It's like Google Earth... only on a phone. Take a look at the demonstration.


John Mayer has utilized AR too for his music video, "Heartbreak Warfare." On his site a user can download an icon, match it up to the icon on the website using their webcams and become an extra in the music video. I did it and was very impressed. The viewer will appear in the background of the video.

What does all this mean for online media? Will this be the next big thing people will be using in a few years to interact with one another? Will we move beyond Facebook and Twitter to communicate with people in real time using components like this?

It's all about bombs and warfare, heartbreak that is...

I squeed like a 15-year-old girl this afternoon. I read an article at Just Jared that John Mayer released a new video for the single "Heartbreak Warfare" off his upcoming album, Battle Studies.

This music video is one of the first to feature JM's version of "augmented reality." It's definition according to HowStuffWorks.com is a way for "researchers plan to pull graphics out of your television screen or computer display and integrate them into real-world environments." It uses your webcam to transmit images from what the camera sees to the browser online. Creepy? At first I thought so, but after experiencing augmented reality on JM's site, I was really excited.

Here's a video from TheWired.com where Mayer explains his version of augmented reality:

You can see an example of "augmented reality" at JM's site. He has instructions to print off a piece of paper with this image:



Next, you hold this image, after you print it, up to your webcam. You have to line the image up with the camera precisely. It's a bit annoying, but you can see the reflection of the picture in the window showing you how to line it up. You hold up the image until John Mayer appears and begins to sing. Soon, you'll see yourself in the background of the music video.

Here's a picture of me attempting to do this. You can see my face on the right side and my hand on the left. It's a bit dark, so look carefully.



I suggest anyone do this just to give it a shot. It's worth the frustration!

Now, as for the song's content, it's about heartbreak and how that correlates to warfare. Heartbreak is one of the most horrid feelings in the world, but we all get through it. It's like... your heart aches, physically aches because it hurts too much to think about that other person. Was that was JM was feeling when he wrote this song? There have been rumors online that this song is about JM's ex-girlfriend, Jennifer Ainston. There's been no official responses from JM or Jennifer, but I thought I'd mention it. I'm really in love with this song, not only because of the music, but the lyrics.

Lyrics:

Lighting strikes inside
My chest keep me up at night
Dream of ways to make you want to stay in my room

Clouds of sulfur in the air
Bombs are falling everywhere
It’s heartbreak warfare

Once you want it to begin
No one really ever wins
In heartbreak warfare

If you want more love
why don’t you say so
If you want more love
why don’t you say so

Drop his name, push it in and twist the knife again.
Watch my face as I pretend to feel no pain, pain, pain.

Clouds of sulfur in the air
Bombs are falling everywhere
It’s heartbreak warfare

Once you want it to begin
No one really ever wins
In heartbeak warfare

If you want more love
Why don’t you say so
If you want more love
Why don’t you say so
Just say so

How come the only way you know
How high to get me
Is to see how far I fall

God only knows how much
I’d love you if you let me
But I can’t break free at all

It’s heart, heartbreak warfare

I don’t care if we don’t sleep at all tonight
Let’s just fix this whole thing now
I swear to god we’re gonna get it right
If you put your weapons down

Red wine and ambien, you’re talking shit again
You’re talking shit again
It’s heartbreak warfare

Good to know its all a game
Disappointment has a name

It’s heartbreak, heartbreak

It’s heartbreak warfare
It’s heartbreak warfare

What do you all think of this new interaction? Is it awesome, creepy or just plain weird? Is it the way interactive media will be going?

♥ – Erin

Fox News vs. Everyone Else

Fox News vs. Everyone Else

This battle is not a new one. It’s not as old as the conflict between the Republicans and Democrats, but it is constant – Fox News vs. everyone else. As a journalism student, when my Republican parents mention anything to do with Fox News, I just roll eyes and mutter something about inaccuracy just to annoy them. I know it’s not just me – the majority of journalism students have an animosity towards the network.

On Sunday, Anita Dunn, communications chief of the White House, said on CNN that Fox News is “a wing of the Republican Party.” She has also said, according to a New York Times article, “There is little difference between the news shows and opinion shows.”

Her comments started a firestorm in the journalism worlds and blogospheres that the White House is anti-Fox News. Recently, President Obama has cancelled several interviews with the news network. According to a Fox News and Washington Post articles, the White House has been attacking the network calling it “Fox lies.”

But what kind of lies? Where is the information the White House calls lies? Some blogs have links pointing towards to the official White House pages – but I couldn’t find any. Why is the White House escalating all of this now?

Fox News has very opinionated hosts like Glenn Beck and Major Garrett, but most news networks have these types of people to make their talk shows more interesting. For example, CNN’s Anderson Cooper does his several times on his AC360. He brings in these contrasting attitudes to bring more flare to the show and to attract more viewers. He’s a journalist, but he still needs to be concerned with ratings.

Is the White House trying to divert attention away from an overextended agenda – Iraq, health care, etc? Or are they trying to attack Fox News because they have continually criticized President Obama’s administration?

I guess we’ll never know until a true “victor” is brought forth.

Catch the wave from Google

With the release of Google Wave to the public this past week, the Internet world exploded. Around the office of my IT job, the guys have been really excited about the release of the Wave. I watched the demo on Google's YouTube channel several months ago. After discussing how Google Wave could impact the world through a tech's eyes, what about a journalist?

Google Wave eliminates e-mail creating conversations between users. What if a media organization wants to switch to Google Wave instead of investing in a website? For example, there's a paper in a small town in Montana. They decide to stop printing their newspaper in favor of using the Wave to be cost efficient. They can add anyone who wishes to subscribe to them in this instant message-like atmosphere. They can send out breaking news (maybe Mrs. Thomas' cat ran up the tree...again) or share photos from the high school basketball victory. This could really change the way journalism works. Now we have Facebook and Tweets, but Google Wave could be the next big thing. It could make getting news to people easier and more efficient.

The drawbacks? The older generation still wants the hardcopy of the newspaper to read in the morning. They could be even more confused on how Google Wave operates and what all of the windows mean. At first glance, I was really overwhelmed with all this technology, but it seems to be the way of the futures.

Mantyhose - the next big fashion statement?

Pull up those mantyhose men and show off your legs! You'll drive all the women crazy. Or that's what haute couture wants us to think, right?



Mantyhose! What is it you may ask? Well... it's pantyhose for men, thus mantyhose! Some genius decided this is going to be the next big fashion statement for men. Mantyhose has been around for years either for men wanting to stay warm in the winter or cross dressers have worn them. Now, the trend is taking off in Europe. Selfridges in London is carrying designer labels of mantyhose. The store also features skirts and wifebeaters that match.

A reporter from the BBC went out to Selfridges to try the trend himself. The result is hilarious. Here's his findings.

Also, here is another report from ABC News about mantyhose trying to catch on in the United States.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4InK16VIB8&feature=PlayList&p=246615B7DD479107&index=0&playnext=1]

For those men interested, here's an instructional pamphlet from e-MANcipate, on how to put on mantyhose.

So ladies, what is the verdict? Would you let your man out of the house wearing these? I know I wouldn't. I would be completely embarrassed for him to wear it. If it's on Halloween, okay, but any other day of the year... run away!

Common British-isms

This afternoon I was contemplating not only the cultural divide between Britain and the U.S., but there is a HUGE language divide. Here are a list of common words we all get confused on both sides of the pond.

U.K. U.S.

chips - French fries

crisps - potato chips

biscuit - cookie or cracker

scone - biscuit (baking powder)

crumpet - not really sure

Not sure - English muffin

tart - hooker

ground floor - first floor

first floor - second floor

public school - private school

vest - undershirt

knickers - underwear

knickerbockers - knickers

lorry - truck

van - pickup

juggernaut - Mac truck

pickup - hooker

fag - cigarette

poof - homosexual

wally - jerk

jerk - off

One of my favorite British-American dictionaries - Effingpot

♥ - Erin