Boston Marathon Notes

The coverage of the Boston Marathon was extremely intriguing, yet disappointing to me. In a time where confusion covers a nation, the press' job is to clarify and inform. In the case of the Boston Marathon last week, it did the total opposite. Sources like the CNN, Fox News, and The New York Post went for speed over accuracy. Reports with no merit were flying around the country so that news companies could have something to report when they didn't even know too much about the truth. It is times like these that remind me to put the truth before the story itself. Find the facts, check them, check them again, and then check them a third time. Maybe if journalists did that, the chaos and panic could have been subdued.

Fluffy the Spotted Leopard

The world’s only known spotted leopard, known for it’s kill first ask questions later mentality, escaped from its cage at the Durham Zoo late last night leaving the small New Hampshire town in panic. 

Fluffy, the name of the 10-year-old Romanian spotted leopard that inhabits the Durham Zoo, is considered harmless by many. “Fluffy would never hurt anyone,” said one of the zoo-goers as he exited the zoo with his daughter. Never-the-less, this rare breed of animal is known for it’s killing ability. In fact, the cat is known for it’s appetite for children under 8-years-old.

The zoo’s chief zoologist, Kitty Smith, says that this priceless animal, whose species is on the brink of extinction, isn’t dangerous unless provoked or cornered. “If these cats are cornered,” said Smith. “Their defense is to kill, and kill quickly.”

When the zoo opened this morning, nothing seemed out of the ordinary, that is until the discovery that Fluffy had gone missing. James Petronkis, of Newmarket, NH, first noticed the disappearance of the rare breed of leopard. “I knew something was wrong right away,” said Petronkis. “Fluffy usually draws the straw up into a nest when she sleeps, but there was no nest.” Petronkis, a big fan of Fluffy, tried to get the attention of the zoo officials, but after being reassured the leopard was just in her little. After finally getting them to further investigate, Petronkis was right, the cat was gone. 

Chaos broke out after the discovery, as zoo attendees were told to evacuate the zoo. Kids were crying, and many parents were unhappy with the zoo’s handling of the situation, many of them requesting their money back.

While the zoo was being evacuated, zoo officials were holding a press conference inside to address concerns on the threat at hand. Gerry Durrell, the director of the zoo, explained the mystery behind the escape of Fluffy. “ Everything about her cage seemed normal,” said Durrell. “The door was shut and did not appear to have been tampered with.” It was also noted that the fencing was unbroken.

Not knowing where or how far the leopard could have traveled, Durrell was unable to answer questions after getting teary eyed over the possible fate of Fluffy. 

Police Chief, William Blair, assures the public that all that is possible is being done to locate the animal peacefully, but if need be, deadly force will be used. “If possible, Fluffy will be shot with a tranquilizer,” said Blair. “But if necessary, we will shoot to kill.” Police will be searching the grounds of the zoo for signs of the animal, but expect to move out into the town of Durham soon as they believe she is no longer within the zoo walls. The State Police, State Wildlife Department, as well as the National Guard will be in on the search.

As the search continues, chief zoologist Kitty Smith is making a few suggestions if a run-in with this animal occurs. “We urge anyone who encounters Fluffy to get slowly to the ground, go limp, and lay still,” said Smith. “Avoid eye contact at all costs.”

The Art of Journalism: Dying?

I saw an article the other day on PBS's Media Shift. The article analyzes the effect of twitter and other social media ont he foundations of good journalism. What I thought was interesting was that they argue that although twitter leads to perhaps more people informed with up-to-date news, twitter actually makes one's understanding of what is going on more shallow. The article argues that by condensing news into 140 characters, it makes it difficult for the reader to fully understand what is going on. It is then concluded that twitter news may not be as good as it seems, and could possibly undermine journalism and the work of trained journalists.

WUNH Experience

Sports Journalism is not only a passion of mine, but something that fascinates me as a whole. I have recently started being on the 91.3 WUNH Durham every week talking sports, and it has turned into another type of journalism for me. While the Boston Globe offers in depth analysis of games and teams, radio allows for the same thing but through collective conversation. I think that aspect is missing from sports journalism on paper. A lot of it is opinion based and to be honest it goes unchallenged. People can write whatever they wish about a team without argument  That is the best part about radio to me, personally. It's almost as if everyone on air must become verifiers of the news being presented.

Reflection

In my own writing, I have noticed that deciding what lead to use is one of the hardest parts. It defines the story and can either limit or activate creativity. From there, I usually know how to expand my stories and I have a good feel for how I want them to flow. I also find that if my idea is still abstract in my head, it comes across that way on the page. My new goal is to make sure I know my point before I start writing. Sometime I start writing and hope one comes to me, but it makes for a weak story.

In Class Narrative.

The train sped down the track with the gunman on board and James Doyle not far behind. Doyle’s car was gaining on the gunman’s train, but the people inside were under an immediate threat. Within the walls of the train, the passengers were beginning to sense a problem after the train had ceased to stop at the last station. And then, without warning, a shot. The gunman had open fired on transit police officer Sunny Grosso. With people on the train now in panic, the gunman had to use Peter Howe, one of the train’s conductors as a hostage and stowed himself away in the conductors area in the front of the train. The train continued to speed along at a fast rate. The passengers in panic, and the gunman slowly realizing his chances of success.

Witness Accuracy: 90% Recall

Mock "I Have a Dream" article...

100 years after President Lincoln’s famous Emancipation Proclamation, Dr. Martin Luther King said that a world of racial equality still only exists in a dream. 

King, who spoke Tuesday to hundreds of thousands of black and white men and women on the National Mall, questioned the promise that had been given by our founding fathers that all men had the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” 

“It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check which has come back marked "insufficient funds," King proclaimed.

He acknowledged that even 100 years after Lincoln freed black men and women from slavery, they still live in oppression. But this does not hinder his dream. Dr. King spoke to the energetic crowd asking for forgiveness rather than hatred, and for peace rather than violence.

“In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred,” said King

In a very Lincoln way, Dr. King acknowledged that in order for this nation to be great, we must stand as one, but the hatred will further divide. It was made clear, however, on Tuesday that the black community would not go quietly. While violence was not the answer in King’s message, it didn’t stop him from dropping a threat to the men in congress.

“Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual,” said King.........