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.

Goodbye Gourmet

It is an interesting day when the Vouge of food goes extinct. After being in circulation for 68 years the magazine called Gourmet has been shut down. It shows you that other forms of media really are talking over, even the most prominent food magazine ever.
It amazes me that all the new forms of media such as cooking shows, are over taking this magazine. My father is a great cook, and a huge fan of the magazine. I called him when I heard the news, and he said in a very loud voice " what has become of our world, when television can take over such a great and tasty magazine." My father not only loves food and cooking, but also refuses to even buy a television.
As in response to the bride magazines being closed, it is surprising that the need for gowns is even running short. This is not as much as a surprise to me, just because as the marriage age gets higher for women, they become more wise and realize that theydo not need to spend so much time and money on a dress.
I guess all to say is, if you are not being in money, watch your back, because it really does not matter how long you have been around; your only worth the money you bring in.

Whos memories are worth 6 million????

   John Lenon is without a doubt one of the most famous men in the world, with that being said, is a short film of him really worth 6 million?

This article describes a legal battle involving a video company who claims there footage of Lenon was stolen and sold to his wife. It is also said the footage, which was sold for 300,000 dollars is worth between 4 and 6 million!

My first response to this article is that the rightful owner to such a personal piece of film should belong to the wife, and it is kind of sick to me that they even made her pay. 

My second response is that I understand this man is a legend , but how can our world have millions of starving and homeless people and than someone is willing to pay 4 to 6 million for video footage. 

I think this country, and for that matter all the countries around the world need to seriously rethink the value of material things. 

Obama is the man

David Letterman has been around for years and  in my eyes is hilarious. It was surprising to me to learn that Mr. O'Brien late night show has beaten Letterman in ratings in almost every category, until Obama appeared on Letterman on Monday. 

 

The main points of the article showed different numbers and ratings. One statistic that caught my attention was the fact that The late late night show that appears after Letterman got more than two million more views than Jimmy Fallons show that appears at the same time. You would think that an average minded human being would base there decision making for shows on what they like not what appeared before it? 

 

Back to the fact that Obama is the cause of this entire article. Being a huge supporter of Obama;  I found it only natural that he would draw in the biggest audience, he is after all the president of our country. 

 

 I can see how he would create a huge audience. On the one side he is a very well spoken man and supporters love to watch him at every moment. Number two, haters and non supporters love to watch Obama to find any little mishap. Third, if you do not side in favor or against Obama there is always the fact that he is extremely attractive!

 

Overall it does not surprise me that Obama could cause any show host ratings to sky rocket, he is after all the biggest celebrity in the country!

Sweet treats are the NEW Ad

 After Glamour magazines ad sales fell 20 percent they knew it was time to try something sweet and new. This September, Glamour will launch there ad campaign; which will feature the all American, cheerful, girly side of life. The ads will be bright, colorful, and filled with things such as margaritas, lollipops, and yo-yos. 

The whole point of this new approach is to bring back readers lost to newer magazines like " Lucky". In a time when people are always wanting whats hot at that exact moment; Glamour is ready to use any tactics to regain ad sales in their magazines. The ad campaign will start during Fashion Week; where trucks full of "live for Glamour" cupcakes will be handed out, and than also mailed to readers. 

The simplicity of the article at first steered me away from writing a blog on it, but than I realized that Glamour is one of the many print media that is struggling to keep readers intrigued along with keeping ad sellers coming back. This magazine is stepping away from being scared and looking to optimism as a new approach instead. Honestly, I love the idea of the campaign. Just the one picture of the cupcake in the article is simple, cute, and eye catching. I support Glamour all the way in stepping out of the panic and searching for a new idea to reinvent the magazine, and re captivate readers. 

  “People don’t buy if they can’t visualize” said Bill Wackermann, senior vice president and publishing director for Glamour; which conveys the exact purpose and goal of the ads. This whole idea is brilliant to me. Catch there eye with an overly cheerful ad, than sell them a magazine with the actual content within. Props to Glamour for truly thinking outside the box. Bravo. 

Is media causing less jobs, and intelligence?

When I read through this article on "Publishing scents and sounds" my mind jumped back and forth between two reactions. First, this is the year 2009, come on get with it whether we like it or not technologies are advancing and that is a good thing. Second, I thought; wouldn't it be nice to go back in the day and work in a publishing office where everything was done out by hand!

Reaction number one was the reaction most people would go with. Technology is a great resource which allows more books to circulate, which there for gives more writers a chance at being published. On the flip side technology not only in the publishing business but everywhere has taken tons of jobs. The truth is any smart company owner would be stupid not to replace a salary paid secretary for a one time cost computer. "Our efficient tools started to threaten more of our species" says Joni Evans, which is exactly right. The more advanced our capabilities with technology come the less dependent we are on hands on labor. The question is, are all these new machines, and resources good or bad?

Now to address my second reaction. I am all for moving forward, and using new tools to my advantage. BUT I would love to go back and work in an office where I could identify a sound with a place. You see it in the movies, but I myself being born in 1990 have not witnessed such a thing. I am a task oriented person and truly believe that we are losing the personal touch on the media world. All of the face to face contact is being taken over by a computer.

Radio, Canada

I've just discovered a new health news blog about canadian health care!!!!

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