The tobacco industry released their official policy today. The policy announces a $50 million campaign the tobacco industry is putting forth to stop kids from smoking. Realizing that in the past people were more likely to smoke after seeing actors do so in movies, Nick Naylor, Chief spokesman and Vice President of the Academy of Tobacco Studies will be meeting with Hollywood super agent Jeff Megall. The two will discuss how to make smoking in movies cool again. However, the Tobacco Industry and Hollywood realize that with the health issues related to smoking being too prevalent the movie cannot take place in modern society. Rumors have been swirling around that the movie may star Catherine Zeta-Jones and take place in outer space.
Vermont Senator Ortolan Finistirre who is against smoking held a press conference where he hoped to win a vote which would place skull and crossbones on cigarette packages. He hopes the symbol will further put forth the point that cigarettes are hazardous to health. At the press conference , Naylor acknowledged smoking can lead to somebody having diseases while at the same time mentioning that Vermont cheese is bad for people as well.
Senator Finistirre also did not take too kindly to the idea of having smoke in films. He has introduced legislation to have cigarettes replaced by other items in all the old classic films which will be digitally revamped and then released on DVD.
After today it is clear to see the Tobacco industry has their work cut out for them. This industry has always been a controversial one and after today's release of their official policy the controversy is sure to continue.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
News Release Exercise: Tory Child Care Plan
The press release on the Harper government's Universal Child Care plan which was launched during June of last year has left some unanswered questions. This questions include:
1. Which group of group of parents would be receiving the $100 per month payment under the Child Care Benefit?
2. Where would the child care spaces be located?
3. Why in the past have child care plans failed to materialize?
4. What types of programs have been set up by the Canadian government to encourage the creation of new child care spaces?
After reading news items about the child care plan one of the questions has been midified and three others have been added to the mix. The question about which group or type of parents would be recieving the $100 per month payment under the Child Care Benefit was removed. This is becuase upon reading No Tory child care plan as waits grow for Spaces on http://www.ctv.ca/ answered that question. Regardless of their income parents have received $1.2 billion in payments which began in July 2006.
Three news questions which need to added are :
1. Why still as of January 2007 has a clear plan on how to create child care spaces not been created?
2. Why are only Parents with children under six years of age receiving the $1, 200.00 a year payment?
3. Why haven't the Conservatives created the child care spaces Canadians need?
One potential interview would be with Lynell Anderson, who is the Project Director of Making the Connections: Childcare Policy (CCP) Project. His phone number is listed on the Child Care Advocacy Association of Ontario website. Another potential interview would be with Kathy Graham. She is the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Daycare Operations of Ontario. Her phone number is made available online at http://www.childcaretoday.ca/contactadcos9.php/.
Opposition parties untie to fight big-box daycare written by Tonda Maccharles was an article found in The Toronto Star archives which relates to the Harper government's Universal Child Care plan. The article first appeared on http://www.thestar.com on Nov. 1, 2007. The sources used in this article are a spokesperson for a child-care coalition and politicians. In the article generated one of the sources also worked for a child-care coalition while others were provincial ministers, chief executive officers and project directors.
The purchasing of small for profit daycare facilities in Canada by Australian corporations and what needs to be done about this were the issues raised in Opposition parties unite to fight big-box daycare. The issues raised in this article did not really answer any of the questions generated. This could be because the article focused more on health care becoming a business whereas the questioned generated were geared towards generating information about the ways in which the Harper government's Universal Child Care Plan will affect Canadian families.
1. Which group of group of parents would be receiving the $100 per month payment under the Child Care Benefit?
2. Where would the child care spaces be located?
3. Why in the past have child care plans failed to materialize?
4. What types of programs have been set up by the Canadian government to encourage the creation of new child care spaces?
After reading news items about the child care plan one of the questions has been midified and three others have been added to the mix. The question about which group or type of parents would be recieving the $100 per month payment under the Child Care Benefit was removed. This is becuase upon reading No Tory child care plan as waits grow for Spaces on http://www.ctv.ca/ answered that question. Regardless of their income parents have received $1.2 billion in payments which began in July 2006.
Three news questions which need to added are :
1. Why still as of January 2007 has a clear plan on how to create child care spaces not been created?
2. Why are only Parents with children under six years of age receiving the $1, 200.00 a year payment?
3. Why haven't the Conservatives created the child care spaces Canadians need?
One potential interview would be with Lynell Anderson, who is the Project Director of Making the Connections: Childcare Policy (CCP) Project. His phone number is listed on the Child Care Advocacy Association of Ontario website. Another potential interview would be with Kathy Graham. She is the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Daycare Operations of Ontario. Her phone number is made available online at http://www.childcaretoday.ca/contactadcos9.php/.
Opposition parties untie to fight big-box daycare written by Tonda Maccharles was an article found in The Toronto Star archives which relates to the Harper government's Universal Child Care plan. The article first appeared on http://www.thestar.com on Nov. 1, 2007. The sources used in this article are a spokesperson for a child-care coalition and politicians. In the article generated one of the sources also worked for a child-care coalition while others were provincial ministers, chief executive officers and project directors.
The purchasing of small for profit daycare facilities in Canada by Australian corporations and what needs to be done about this were the issues raised in Opposition parties unite to fight big-box daycare. The issues raised in this article did not really answer any of the questions generated. This could be because the article focused more on health care becoming a business whereas the questioned generated were geared towards generating information about the ways in which the Harper government's Universal Child Care Plan will affect Canadian families.
Candidate Event Story
Oct 15, 2007
Marc Perez- Abergel
BRANTFORD, Ont- Ted Shelegy, the Green Party of Ontario candidate for the riding of Brant has decided to hold his election night event at World Vegas Lounge on Dalhousie Street, a few doors down from his campaign office. The atmosphere inside the lounge is somber as jazz music plays gently in the background. Shelegy is wearing a brown suit, brown tie, and white dress shirt as he sits down at a corner table and speaks with first year Laurier Brantford journalism students.
Tonight he is fielding questions about the environment, education, and health care. Shelegy discusses the reasons why the Green Party is against the construction of Highway 24 and what he thinks of Liberal candidate Dave Levac's choice to support the highway.
Most patrons eyes are focused on the television set hanging over the bar and playing election coverage as the tallies for Brant scroll across the bottom of the screen. As is common knowledge by now, Dave Levac has won the Brant riding.
One of the Green Party's main objectives is environmental preservation. Shelegy has been farming for just over four decades and since 1993 has grown organic crops. Highway 24 would run through prime farmland and other environmentally endangered areas. " The highway will be taking cultural land out of the community by cutting farmland, highways lead to new subdivision", Shelegy says. The Green Party wants to preserve agricultural land in an effort to support local produce production.
The Liberals support and Levac is in favour of the new Highway 24 because of its importance to local economy. According to Shelegy there are not many ways that the new highway will have economic benefits without having to run through natural farmland.
Shelegy wants the economy to re plan in such a way where people can live in a walkable community and be able to walk to work. " If we look at the past it [Highway 24] will benefit the economy somehow, but farmers will suffer", says Shelegy. The Green party is working towards having 75 percent of all money for new roads go towards public transit by 2012.
In the eyes of Shelegy, environmental sustainability is of the utmost importance. According to him the environment sustains us a people and it is our responsibility to protect it. By having the highway run through prime agricultural farmland, Ontario's green spaces will only begin to decrease in number.
The Green Party does not want this to happen, instead Shelegy, would like to see Ontario work towards a new goal, one which benefits the environment, improves education by looking at reducing student debt and places higher taxes on things which are bad for the environment such as pollution caused by manufacturing industries.
Marc Perez- Abergel
BRANTFORD, Ont- Ted Shelegy, the Green Party of Ontario candidate for the riding of Brant has decided to hold his election night event at World Vegas Lounge on Dalhousie Street, a few doors down from his campaign office. The atmosphere inside the lounge is somber as jazz music plays gently in the background. Shelegy is wearing a brown suit, brown tie, and white dress shirt as he sits down at a corner table and speaks with first year Laurier Brantford journalism students.
Tonight he is fielding questions about the environment, education, and health care. Shelegy discusses the reasons why the Green Party is against the construction of Highway 24 and what he thinks of Liberal candidate Dave Levac's choice to support the highway.
Most patrons eyes are focused on the television set hanging over the bar and playing election coverage as the tallies for Brant scroll across the bottom of the screen. As is common knowledge by now, Dave Levac has won the Brant riding.
One of the Green Party's main objectives is environmental preservation. Shelegy has been farming for just over four decades and since 1993 has grown organic crops. Highway 24 would run through prime farmland and other environmentally endangered areas. " The highway will be taking cultural land out of the community by cutting farmland, highways lead to new subdivision", Shelegy says. The Green Party wants to preserve agricultural land in an effort to support local produce production.
The Liberals support and Levac is in favour of the new Highway 24 because of its importance to local economy. According to Shelegy there are not many ways that the new highway will have economic benefits without having to run through natural farmland.
Shelegy wants the economy to re plan in such a way where people can live in a walkable community and be able to walk to work. " If we look at the past it [Highway 24] will benefit the economy somehow, but farmers will suffer", says Shelegy. The Green party is working towards having 75 percent of all money for new roads go towards public transit by 2012.
In the eyes of Shelegy, environmental sustainability is of the utmost importance. According to him the environment sustains us a people and it is our responsibility to protect it. By having the highway run through prime agricultural farmland, Ontario's green spaces will only begin to decrease in number.
The Green Party does not want this to happen, instead Shelegy, would like to see Ontario work towards a new goal, one which benefits the environment, improves education by looking at reducing student debt and places higher taxes on things which are bad for the environment such as pollution caused by manufacturing industries.
Neighbour profile
A. Synopsis
Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Claire Faver moved to Georgetown, Ontario when she was nineteen years old in search of a more prosperous future. Her father had gotten a job at the Meggar Steel and Heating Company in town. Faver is interested in many global issues such as poverty and child abuse. When it comes to music she likes to listen to rock but also appreciates the oldies. In the future Faver would like to publish her own global issues magazine.
B. A 300-word version
Moving to Georgetown, Ontario from Johannesburg, South Africa Claire Faver is a young woman in search of a better life. "South Africa is not what it used to be", she says. There is not a lot of a future for young people there according to Faver. She has said ," the quality of life and prospects is [sic] much better in Canada." Faver moved to Georgetown after her dad got a job at the Meggar Steel and Heating Company in town.
Faver has a flair for writing and holds a strong interest in global issues. Poverty, child abuse and racism all interest her although she finds politics boring. These issues interest her because they are relevant in today's society and pretty much the reality. She is not interested in politics because as she puts it, " It is not really relevant in my life, and I don't really understand them."
When it comes to music Faver enjoys listening to rock bands such as Def Leopard, the Goo Goo Dolls, Aerosmith and 3 Doors Down but can also appreciate the oldies such as Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. In her spare time Faver likes to hang out with friends, go to parties and exercise at the gym with friends.
Not really sure what she wants to do upon graduation, Faver one day in the distant future would like to own her own magazine. The magazine would focus on the global issues of poverty, child abuse and racism, which affect many people around the world.
Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Claire Faver moved to Georgetown, Ontario when she was nineteen years old in search of a more prosperous future. Her father had gotten a job at the Meggar Steel and Heating Company in town. Faver is interested in many global issues such as poverty and child abuse. When it comes to music she likes to listen to rock but also appreciates the oldies. In the future Faver would like to publish her own global issues magazine.
B. A 300-word version
Moving to Georgetown, Ontario from Johannesburg, South Africa Claire Faver is a young woman in search of a better life. "South Africa is not what it used to be", she says. There is not a lot of a future for young people there according to Faver. She has said ," the quality of life and prospects is [sic] much better in Canada." Faver moved to Georgetown after her dad got a job at the Meggar Steel and Heating Company in town.
Faver has a flair for writing and holds a strong interest in global issues. Poverty, child abuse and racism all interest her although she finds politics boring. These issues interest her because they are relevant in today's society and pretty much the reality. She is not interested in politics because as she puts it, " It is not really relevant in my life, and I don't really understand them."
When it comes to music Faver enjoys listening to rock bands such as Def Leopard, the Goo Goo Dolls, Aerosmith and 3 Doors Down but can also appreciate the oldies such as Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. In her spare time Faver likes to hang out with friends, go to parties and exercise at the gym with friends.
Not really sure what she wants to do upon graduation, Faver one day in the distant future would like to own her own magazine. The magazine would focus on the global issues of poverty, child abuse and racism, which affect many people around the world.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Sources Blog-Three stories that I find don't tell me enough about the sources to help me judge their creditbility
When any reporter is writing a story the sources that reporter uses are very important. A reporter must make sure their sources are credible, as doing so will allow their story to be read more clearly and show they actually did their research. When a reporter uses credible sources their articles often appear better written and easier to follow. Also when a reporter uses credible sources, readers may be less likely to second guess where the article's information came from.
Three articles which do not tell enough about the sources to judge their credibility all appeared in The Toronto Star on Nov. 9 , 2007. The articles are Argos get Christmas Bonus , Ottawa to grab Scooter from Veteran, 86 and, Chain tests new stores formats, mulls pricing.
Argos get Christmas bonus is written by sports reporter, Rick Matsumoto. This article is about how Toronto Argonaunt players who live in the United States are benefiting from the strong Canadian dollar.
The article uses quotes which basically state how the players are happy about the exchange rate and will be able to spend more and get more money back than ever before from the exchange.
This article does not state how the players know about the exchange rate and the reporter may have interviewed an economist who knows about the spending of professional athletes.
Ottawa to grab Scooter from Veteran, 86 places focus on Dr. Robert Young, a World War Two veteran. Young is having his means of transportation, a scooter taken away because Veterans Affairs Canada has declared him a dangerous driver.
Stephen Little, a district director with Veterans Affairs Canada, states the conditions and responsibilities which veterans inherit when they receive equipment but does state what constitutes a dangerous driver.
Chain test new store formats, mulls pricing is an article about how Blockbuster Incorporated says they will be testing pricing for their rental formats. They will be experimenting with store layout by adding downloading stations in an effort to shore up their customer base.
Some ideas for Blockbuster's new rental format include creating an interactive area in their stores for children to play and an area for customers to download entertainment onto portable media players.
This article sates that Jim Keyes is the Chief Executive Officer at Blockbuster Video but does nto state why he references the Apple Store's recent success for what his company is trying to do.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Great Stories/Bad Stories blog
Four major UAW locals approve Chrysler deal was an article provided by the Associated Press which appeared in the Toronto Star on Oct .25 , 2007. This article was poorly written since, it gave vague information about what exactly the Chrysler workers were voting on and the results of the outcome the vote had. This article also had a poor ending. Even though the article was a news brief and meant to be short, more information could have been provided or the information which was provided could of been written in a more in depth manner.
In order to make the article better quite a few things could have been done. The article could have mentioned the criteria of the new contract which the Chrysler workers signed with the company. The article could of also mentioned why 78 percent of unions members approved the contract while 22 percent disapproved. The article could of also mentioned why not all members of the union voted on the tentative agreement. The ending of the article is poor because the fact mentioned in the last sentence does not give any background as to why that fact exist.
If the article mentioned what the criteria of the new contract was readers may have been more likely to understand why some Chrysler workers signed the tentative agreement when others did not. By mentioning the reason(s) why not all union members voted on the tentative agreement readers may have been able to draw comparisons between why some Chrysler workers voted no on the agreement and why some did not vote at all. The last sentence in in the article states " Eight union locals have now turned down the landmark pact, while seven have approved it" (Associated Press, The Toronto Star). Overall, this article would of been made better off if the author structured it in such a way that there were reasons for the facts rather than just the facts by themselves. This article has a lot of underdeveloped information in it which cannot be a good thing. By providing the information as to why things are the way they are between Chrysler workers and the company the article would of flowed a lot better and been easier to read.
In order to make the article better quite a few things could have been done. The article could have mentioned the criteria of the new contract which the Chrysler workers signed with the company. The article could of also mentioned why 78 percent of unions members approved the contract while 22 percent disapproved. The article could of also mentioned why not all members of the union voted on the tentative agreement. The ending of the article is poor because the fact mentioned in the last sentence does not give any background as to why that fact exist.
If the article mentioned what the criteria of the new contract was readers may have been more likely to understand why some Chrysler workers signed the tentative agreement when others did not. By mentioning the reason(s) why not all union members voted on the tentative agreement readers may have been able to draw comparisons between why some Chrysler workers voted no on the agreement and why some did not vote at all. The last sentence in in the article states " Eight union locals have now turned down the landmark pact, while seven have approved it" (Associated Press, The Toronto Star). Overall, this article would of been made better off if the author structured it in such a way that there were reasons for the facts rather than just the facts by themselves. This article has a lot of underdeveloped information in it which cannot be a good thing. By providing the information as to why things are the way they are between Chrysler workers and the company the article would of flowed a lot better and been easier to read.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Election Night Reflection (Wednesday, October 10th, 2007)
Tonight, I attended an election night event for Green Party candidate Ted Shelegy. The event took place at Vegas World Lounge on Dalhousie Street. At the event many first year Laurier Brantford journalism students were eager to have their questions answered by Shelegy, who tonight was the most important person inside the lounge. I enjoyed my experience attending election night and can honestly say when it came to getting the information I needed for my Candidate Event story I succeeded in some areas but failed in other ones.
I got to the event early in an effort to have my questions answered by Shelegy before the lounge became too crowded. My planned seemed to work. I chose to place my focus on the Green Party’s opinion of the proposed new Highway 24. I was able to ask Shelegy why his party is against the construction of the highway which would run through environmentally endangered areas. I also asked of his opinions towards Liberal Candidate Dave Levac’s comment that Highway 24 is important to the area’s economy.
Shelegy was the only person I talked with while at the event. I could have and feel as though I should have talked to the campaign manager or one of the volunteers. This would have been especially important considering that I had a conversation with one of Shelegy’s volunteers sometime last week. This conservation took place at Shelegy’s campaign office which is also located on Dalhousie Street and I visited to get research information such as brochures and pamphlets. By asking a Green Party supporter for their opinion on the issues related to Highway 24 I would have been able to see if they agree or disagree with Shelegy’s stance.
I got my information in a variety of ways. As mentioned earlier I visited Shelegy’s campaign office. It was there that I obtained the brochures and pamphlets which outline Shelegy’s and the Green Party of Ontario’s policies and beliefs going into today’s election. The handouts are well organized and outline the various ways the Green Party will work towards improving important social issues such as education, the economy, health care and agriculture. I also picked up a handout which described how Mixed Member Proportional worked and the ways in which it differs from the First Past the Post system.
I thought Vegas World Lounge was a nice place to hold the event. The people there all seemed to be interested in the election results. People cheered as the number of votes for Shelegy scrolled across the bottom of the television screen and the results for the Brant riding were shown.
I was able to succeed in asking Shelegy the questioned that I wanted to know the answers to in terms of Highway 24. I failed however it came to digging for information from other sources. I think I would have done a better job tonight if I asked my questioned to people other than just Shelegy.
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