Invasion of Privacy?

In this image made available Tuesday Oct. 2, 2007, from evidence presented at the inquest into the death of Diana Princes of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed. The head of Diana Princess of Wales, in the rear seat, her bodyguard Trevor Rees left, and driver Henri Paul are seen shortly before the car crash that killed Diana, her companion Dodi Fayed and the driver in Paris Aug. 31, 1997.

The deaths of Princess Diana, her companion Dodi Fayed and their driver, Henri Paul, on that tragic night of August 31, 1997 were, after six months and almost 250 witnesses, found to be caused by the gross negligence of their speeding driver and pursuing paparazzi. Because the accident happened in France, no British charges could be laid against the photographers.

Nine were charged with manslaughter in France, but the charges were thrown out in 2002. Three photographers, Jacques Langevin, Christian Martinez and Fabrice Chassery, were convicted of invasion of privacy for taking pictures of the couple and were each fined one euro in 2006.

Although Princess Di used publicity for her causes, she often appealed to the press to give her and her family space to live.Princess Di was used to being the most photographed woman in the world, but her linking up with Dodi al Fayed had thrown the scavengers of celebrity into a heightened state of alert. They wanted pictures that would pay and they would stop at nothing to get them.

If there is any doubt that the world of photography had gone insane, moments after Princess Di had been pronounced dead, the dilemma facing some British publishers was what to do about the pictures taken that fateful night. The National Enquirer's Coz said he would not purchase any such photos, in an effort "to send a message." Someone may well publish a picture from the tunnel, and to keep blood off its hands, the public must avert its eyes. We can blame the press only if we stop watching.

Media Censorship and a Free Press in America

"No government ought to be without censors & where the press is free, no one ever will."

-Thomas Jefferson

Since this country was founded, we have had a set of unalienable rights that our constitution guarantees us to as Americans. One of the most important rights that is mentioned in our constitution is the right to free speech. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” These are the exact words used by our country’s forefathers when they made these amendments in the late 1700’s. Movies, books, music, thoughts, ideas, and literature are all things that have been censored in this country. Censorship exists to some extent in all modern countries, including the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.

The U.S. Government has the ablility to censor anything that poses a threat to National Security, Military Operations and war, or that poses a "clear and present danger."

All are under the influences of censorship when they post their findings and opinions into the mass media. According to Peter Phillips, Director of Project Censored, Media corporations have been undergoing a massive merging and buy-out process that is realigning our sources of information in America. Conglomeration changes traditional media corporate cultures. Values such as freedom of information and belief in the responsibility of keeping the public informed are adjusted to reflect policies created by bottom-line oriented CEOs.

Media owners and managers are motivated to please advertisers and upper middle class readers and viewers. Journalists and editors are not immune from management influence. Journalists want to see their stories approved for print or broadcast, and editors come to know the limits of their freedom to diverge from the bottom line view of owners and managers. The results are an expansion of entertainment news, infomercials, and synergistic news- all aimed at increased profit taking. For example in 1997, the new CEO of the Los Angeles Times found it necessary to assign a business manager to each section of the newspaper in order to insure that a proper profit-oriented product was developed and to help maintain a corporate climate that reflected the management desires of the board of directors.

Keeping democracy safe in America requires an informed electorate and a strong watchdog press. But major media today are tending to favor news stories on sex scandals, celebrity events, and crime, leaving less or little room for analytical news on important social issues. If privately owned commercial media will not meet the task of keeping democracy safe, then it is time for a strong public supported national news system.

Harry Potter Phenomenon

The Harry Potter series is arguably the most successful children's literary franchise of the past century. The young wizard has been a household name for some time and the legion of fans continues to grow. Read by an extensive age range, and printed in over 49 languages in over 200 countries, Harry Potter has worldwide appeal.

What is it about Harry Potter that drives adolescents crazy with anticipation as they wait for the next novel or movie in the series? I believe it is largely due to the author's style and detailing of the experiences at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

JK Rowling has created an elaborate cast of characters and an environment for them to inhabit that appeals to adults and children alike. In each book, Jo Rowling introduces and describes the characters in such a way, that we wonder not only about their futures, but also about their pasts. We desperately want to know more about them, their emotions, and their relationships. The fantasy aspect of the wizarding world expands the imagination, and transports the mind to new and exciting places. The magic portrayed in her books opens new realms of possibilities within the plots. Anything could happen. Also, there are so many themes running through her books which creates a wider range of appeal and relatability. These elements have bred passion, obsession, creativity and a new or renewed interest in reading!

This perfect combination of storytelling had made JK Rowling, Harry and all the other characters at Hogwarts successful, believable and loved by all.

Go see the 6th movie of the series, HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE - In theaters July 15!

Not For Us to Judge

Kirby Heyborne (Singles Ward, RM, The Best Two Years, Saints and Soldiers) recently acted in a commercial for U.S. Brewer Miller. In spite of the big freak out many members of the LDS church seem to be having, they forget he is an actor, he took a job and at the end of the day, that's his choice, not ours. He is trying to make a living, support his family and to provide other opportunities for him to get jobs that he actually would really like to play in the future. It is interesting that we often see an actor portraying a character in a movie as pretend, but in commercials, or advertisements, we see it as endorsements. So, in essence, it's easier for us to watch a guy like Kirby portray characters that are doing things against our beliefs rather than seeing them endorsing something. I'm not sure that they two things are all that different though. Kirby is acting in the commercial as much as he's acting when he takes that drag on that {herbal} cigarette in Saints and Soldiers. BUT it was his individual choice to choose both of those parts and his choice alone. When I am a professional and have job offers and opportunities come my way I may take them or I may not but based on who I am and what I feel is right for me and my family is up to me. Being in the mass media is a very public career and one must be prepared for exposer and opportunities that you know yo can deal with. It is up to our own code of ethics and integrity to choose which jobs to take. Kirby's beer commercial is just one example...How many members of the church work at casinos? Sell alcoholic drinks or cigarettes to people? Or farm barely and sell it to beer manufactures? I don't see everyone getting in an uproar about them. It is not for us to judge but for us to make our own valid decisions in our lives and career.

Moral Corruption

It is crazy how accessible pornography is on the internet and it really frustrates me. Not only is it often free but it is also available when those who do not even desire to find or see it, see it anyways in banner ads or pop ups! Children are at risk from "YouTube-style" websites which offer free access to pornography without proper safeguards. A number of sites have developed which provide instant access to explicit photos and video clips but make little or no effort to stop children viewing them or warn users about what they are about to see.

Can a government legitimately prohibit citizens from publishing or viewing pornography, or would this be an unjustified violation of basic freedoms?

This question lies at the heart of this debate that raises fundamental issues about just when, and on what grounds, the state is justified in using its coercive powers to limit the freedom of individuals who so choose to post and view such explict matierials.

I believe all pornography should be banned because its sexually explicit content is obscene and morally corrupting.

The state is justified in using its coercive power to uphold and enforce a community's moral convictions and to prevent citizens from engaging in activities that offend prevailing community standards of morality and decency. Governments also have a responsibility to prevent citizens from harming themselves...but a mature adult who is voluntary engaged in an activity which they judge to be desirable and which causes no harm to others is hard to debate on these terms.

This on going debate seems to be ever increasing. Must pornography continue? Should pornography continue? This is up to a wide range of people on both sides of the issue and a moral and ethical issue for parents, children and families who desire to keep these degrading materials out of their homes and lives.

Posthumous Works: A Bigger Success?

While saddened by his passing and well aware that Mr. Mays leaves behind a huge void as America's foremost pitchman, DRTV marketers cite numbers showing that his ads are producing response rates as good, or in some cases better than, before his death. Mr. Mays, they believe, would have wanted it this way.

It is interesting to see the upheaval the death of a well known celebrity has on a society and a culture. Suddenly there is more of an interest in that person and people gravitate towards their actions and doings in their life when they are already gone. YouTube montages have recently been created and people are Googling his name like crazy...It makes more sense to me that someone should be more interested in someone's life before they are dead but I guess realizing it at all, at any time is a good thing? People die martyrs for their products, albums, books, movies, television shows and even commercials which turns out to be a good and maybe a bad thing for networks who continuing airing things in a seemingly good or bad taste depending on the way you look at it.

According to Adage, Mr. McAlister, president of Media Enterprises, Philadelphia, said Media Enterprises resumed airing ads for the Mighty brand featuring Mr. Mays on Monday, and that the family is expected to issue a statement soon endorsing the continued use of Mr. Mays' ads.

"Those are among the last two commercials Mr. Mays did. Two others that had been produced for Church & Dwight Co.'s Orange Glo the company has decided not to air, Mr. McAlister said.

Continued airing of the ads may seem in bad taste to some, such as numerous commenters on Twitter. One ad that continued running last week, including Tuesday on CNBC, is particularly jarring, as it starts with: "Hi, Billy Mays back again for the Awesome Auger."

Future Trends in an Online World

2009 is going to be the year that Social Influence Marketing truly goes mainstream. With TV converting to digital cable, people being addicted to iPhone Apps, Search engines refining themselves and Skype being a growing trend we are seeing the new future of social media. This year phones are getting smarter, online ads are getting smarter and research measurements are entering the digital age. Due to this increased complexity in marketing we are being challenged more than ever. These opportunities will open more doors to brand and content owners in increasing and establishing a new online, digital outlook while closing doors to other businesses that are not moving with the changes. It is definitely worth it to recognize the trends and shift of the communication around the world and the impact it is having on society as well as in the home. The Web environment has witnessed tremendous growth with embeddable and moveable content that is both interactive and engaging. We are no longer limited to one dimension….but this is only the beginning of the growth of the internet and social media. Inventors and creators of these new innovations to browsers, multi-touch screens and interfaces still have a long way to go in discovering and exploring the Internet’s ultimate potential. {Read this year’s Razorfish Digital Outlook Report for more}

Mommy Blogger$

Mom blogs are poised to become the next big “It” when it comes to the internet–they’re gathering power like no other blogging niche and will only get bigger and better.

A lot of Mommy Bloggers are former professionals who have decided to spend more time with their kids and blog to keep those business, marketing, and writing skills sharp….offering support and creating support networks for those dealing with illnesses, tragedy, and strife; to build a brand around a business they are launching; to offer product reviews to other parents looking for information; to educate others based on their own experience about adoption, autism, living simply, being more green, and a myriad of other topics. The majority of Mommy Bloggers aren’t simply dabbling for fits and giggles.

5 Reasons Why Mom Blogs Are The Blogs To Watch,
from ProBlogger.com

1. Moms blog from home

You don’t need a PhD, an office or a small business loan to start up a blog and it’s a job that they can do while the kids are napping or away at school

2. Moms need the sociality of the net

Women want–no crave and demand–social interaction and for those of us whose office is our home the internet and blogging opens up a new world of friendship, debate, learning and conversation.

3. Moms have a wealth of material to use

Tech blogs are just about technology, celebrity blogs are strictly about celebs but a mom blog could focus on parenting, protecting the environment, politics, crafts, food, homeschooling, gardening, household products, design, travel or just funny stories.They are usually ritten with an emotion and personality which connects with readers in ways that other niches often can’t and they speak about subjects that naturally carry strong emotions: home, family, marriage, children, the environment–all of which encourage dedicated readers.

4. Moms are record keepers

Blog means “web-log” and most blogs are started as online journals. Moms naturally tend to be the record keepers for their families whether it’s a newsletter, scrapbook or photo album and more and more women are turning to blogs as an easy way to keep their family’s diary.

5. Mom blogs wield economic power

Moms are trusted for their opinions and who pass along information on what products, services and ideas are the best. Moms want to know which products work and which don’t; they want to give an opinion on what’s worked for them and share their experiences with others and advertisers are just beginning to discover this advertising pot of gold. Because women are generally the buyers for their homes in everything from clothing to food to minivans mom blogs talk about things that can be bought and sold, products that can be promoted and services that most households need.

Google & The Future of Books

I read an article by Robert Darnton from the NY Review of Books, and learned that for the last four years, Google has been digitizing millions of books, including many covered by copyright, from the collections of major research libraries, and making the texts searchable online. The authors and publishers objected that digitizing constituted a violation of their copyrights. After lengthy negotiations, the plaintiffs and Google agreed on a settlement, which will have a profound effect on the way books reach readers for the foreseeable future. What will that future be?

The other day I was writing a book review for my Sociology class on the book, "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down," by Anne Fadiman, {Highly recommend this read!} and I was trying to directly quote a paragraph in the book that I vividly remember reading but I could not find the page it was located in the book!! I thought to myself, "I wish there was a google search on my book so I could find the exact words to write into my report." Then a lightbulb went off! "Duh you can search Google Books"...and sure enough my book was on there and I was able to search a few keywords that lead me to the exact page my quote was found. This right here is the ultimate future of books. Google Books is highly accessible and easy to reference! Great stuff!

The Bachelorette Drama

K so for all you die hard Bachelorette fans...I found a much needed post by RealitySteve.com as I was trying to find closure to this week's episode. After watching I kind of had this pit in my stomach feeling..."Arrrghhh I just want Wes out of there...Can't Jillian see him for who he really is??" He is always saying the dumbest things and It makes me so angery. I am sure this is how the producers wanted me to feel exactally and I dislike them a bit for this. I hope this roller-coaster ride is worth it in the end cuz I'm still hangin on {as I am simply sunken down in my couch watching this storyline all unfold!}

I have found the role of editing of sound and camera snippets on this show to be very interesting. I have often questioned if what we seen portryed on TV is really what in fact, truly, verbatim happened...And as I have read on blogs pertaining to this show this question and interest is for good reason. A former "Bachelorette" producer, who has wished to remain anonymous, has spoken up on this subject how there is a difference between what is filmed and what actually makes in onto the air.

"Everyone always ask if what we see on TV is really what happened and for the most part it is but, going back to the film 100% and air 1%, the viewer is only getting to see the really good stuff and, even still, if the stories are many we are going to edit them down to the most compelling bits, therefore leaving out (often times) how somebody goes from seemingly normal to totally coo coo pants."

The people cast on these types of shows know very well what they are getting themselves into and it often costs them part of their character.

So even if some of you out there are still responding, “Hey, I know it’s fake, but I like the drama”, I don’t know what to tell you. Even the drama isn’t real. Maybe if Juan and David really hated each other, it’d be more interesting. But they don’t. It is all a producer driven storyline to entice the masses into watching their show. I'm sure the producers of the Bacherlorette don't always like their job but it is their job to chop up the show and make it as interesting as possible and if they do not do their job "right" then ABC will find someone else to replace them. TV productiong is a cold, hard world...one not for the faint in heart.