NEW MOON plus SANDRA BULLOK = SUCCESS

     It was no surprise to anyone that New Moon, part of the Twilight Saga was number one at the box office on the its opening weekend. The surprise was that Sandra Bullocks movies keep producing box office hits. 

The Proposal, and Mrs. Congeniality both of which star Sandra Bullock have brought in over 100 million in ticket sales. 

The even more amazing thing is that even during this recession, and the Christmas shopping season approaching Thanksgiving weekend brought in $278 million, beating a record for the period set in 2000.

       What I found interesting about all this was that I went this weekend to see New Moon for the second time, and to my surprise New Moon shows were still sold out. I knew how much I loved it , but it really was a surprise to me that even after a week of being out it would still sell out. 

I sue you, you sue me, blah blah

 Nicholas Cage's manager is suing him on the basis that he was spending way to much, and that he was warned about his financial troubles early on. 

Less than a month earlier Cage's manager was sued by the National Treasurer, which makes this all to perfect in my eyes. 

Cage's manager claims that he, "enacted a plan that resulted in Cage selling a dozen automobiles and a $1.6 million comic book collection." He feels that he is entitled to some of that money.

The reason I chose this story was because I found it laugh out loud hilarious. First of all he is suing someone because he helped them make a good financial decision. That in itself makes no sense, even if he did in fact help Cage that still would not entitle him to the money. Second of all it comes at a great time considering he just got sued himself. Third, who cares! They all have to much money as it is. Maybe instead of suing each other they could give back a little to us little folks!

Female Journalism, STOP THE VIOLENCE

When you hear about the imprisonment of reporters especially women in the media, it usually ends with a happy ending. 

According to Glamour magazine, the fact is many female reporters are just not so lucky.  Agnes Taile, who was responsible for coverage of corruption in Cameroon was beaten to death and left dead in a Ravine. Jila Banigyahhoob of Iran who reported on antigovernment protests was another female who suffered a beating on the basis of their profession. 

And that was only a sliver of the major picture. Over 82 percent of female reporters world wide have said they have been either attacked or threatened based on there work. 

  Something needs to be done, and thats why I give thanks to women like Banigahboob and Belarus journalist Iryna Khalip who have not given up on making female journalism a safer profession. 

" Journalism is more than a profession, its  a means of fighting," said Khalip. She says that knowing her next article could be the cause of her imprisonment or even death makes her work that much harder. 

We need to keep female journalism alive and strong. Females are more likely to cover issues such as rape, and domestic violence, which are two issues we would all agree need major attention. Female reporters have the skills necessary to reach deep down within a story, and pull out the emotion. And most women would comply with the fact when speaking out about something painful having to do with a man, they would much prefer and feel more comfortable conversing with a women. 

Despite all the risks, female reporters risk there lives everyday. Not only being threatened with physical abuse, but also sexual; these women deserve a standing ovation . 

As I am just starting my adventure into the world of journalism I find it necessary to help in anyway I can. According to Glamour magazine ere are a few things you to can do:

1) Ask your senators to support the Daniel Pearl Act, which would have monitor violations of press freedom.

2) Join the Committee to Protect Journalists, which supports reporters working with authoritarian regimes. 

3)Visit iwmf.org to sign petitions in support of imprisoned journalists.

4)REMEMBER all the journalist do, and always respect and support them.

Article taken from Glamour Magazine. 

Rihanna Finally Speaks Up... ABC interview

       A significant amount of time has passed sense the news, tabloids, and media in general went crazy with stories about the assault on Rihanna by than boyfriend Chris Brown. Sense the actual attack Rihanna has remained almost completely silent about the actual events to any major source of media. Although there has been he said she says, the first actually one on one interview with Rihanna was done by Diane Sawyer. The story is said to air Thursday and Friday morning on Good Morning America, and also that evening on 20/20. 

Although this article was short, and will go more in depth after the actual interview, I found it important that the start was finally reaching out to clarify what actually went on. In my opinion any form of violence by a boyfriend is unacceptable, but for a while it seemed as if the star was going to forgive him. Now this interview will show fans and audiences if the media was even close to accurate in there coverage of the event. Also I found it very smart and interesting that her " interview coincides with the debut of her new single, Russian Roulette,from her upcoming album, Rated R. " Music is a great tool of expression, and I give her props for reaching out not with just an interview but a album expressing her real feelings on the issue. 

     This interview will either revel the media, and news for that matter in a negative way or positive way depending on how closely the information provided in the interview coincides with what was printed almost a year ago in February. 

Be hostile, it will make you money!

     CNN has been the founder and leader of solid, reliable news for the past 30 years, but are now suffering greatly in the ratings department. 

The stations numbers are down 22 percent from the 2007 election, and host Anderson Cooper went from being number 1 in the ratings to last.

  This makes me think what could be causing a station who in my eyes is the only one who offers news as hard fact without the sway of any opinion be falling so far behind. One conclusion is that controversy sells better than news. The battle between the white house and Fox News draws in views to that station, while at the same time Fox News has an on going fight with  MSNBC news. It seems to me that people tend to watch things that will entertain while providing the news at the same time. 

This poses a huge problem for CNN considering the competition to attract ads is becoming more intense. With ratings dropping such a huge amount it will be interesting to see if this effects the stations ability to bring in ads and keep the title of the leading news station. 

" forgotten war"..becomes visible

       It seems as if even sense the war efforts in Iraq have increased, the U.S. population along with President Bush, and the mass media have forgotten about the once prominent war in Afghanistan. 

       Alas, President Obama comes to the rescue again and draws attention back to the country by a "formation of a new American strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan." Although this has brought the light back to the country in terms of media coverage, another significant source of attention was brought back to the country through an article in Time magazine called " The War Up Close." This article offers coverage for what sees to be a forgotten "problem" in the Middle East. 

But what does this mean for journalists? Just as in Iraq there are many problems concerning the safety of journalists while reporting over seas. The less than friendly terrain and climate, combined with the threat of kidnapping makes reporting in these countries much more difficult. 

I find it extremely brave that the U.S is finally giving an issue such as Afghanistan a more in depth look once again. Although it does not seem that anything bloody, or war like is going on, that might only be because there had been no major and in depth coverage of what is going on in a close up everyday setting.  

Although this might not be a topic that sky rockets ratings, it is something that every American whether in support of the war or not needs to be informed about. The Afghanistan situation is " a vitally important story that will shape our history for years to come," said Rick Kaplan with CBS news. 

In the NUDE

As magazines continue to lose there advertisements and main source of magazine income ESPN has come up with a new way to bring readers and advertisement companies back to them. 

As the New York Times said " it chose a tactic favored by the Lindsay Lohans of the world: flash a little skin." What better way to increase revenue than show skin? 

At first I thought wow, even a sports magazine which a high line of creditability is resorting to attracting readers through good looking naked people. Than as I read further, I actually found their angle on nudity unique. Not only did they photograph beautiful young athletes, but also very large sumo athletes. Taking it further I thought it was a great approach to shoot up close, detailed, visual, disturbing injury images. 

If nudity does not draw someone in, knowing they can see one of there favorite athletes injury in depth will. 

And it worked! Revenues were higher that October than ESPN has ever seen.

I love reading about new ideas and techniques print media are using to attract users, and I really think this was a fresh way to take a chance with nudity.