This week I would like to take a look at a news media source that many of us are exposed to on at a weekly, if not daily basis, Kennesaw State University's very own Sentinel. The latest issue of The Sentinel boasted a front page headline of "Commons Receives 80 on Health Inspection: Caught Off Guard During Lunch Rush". For many, I am sure this came as a shock and prompted immediate concern as well as other initial reactions that were spurred by a fairly surprising headline, as I am sure many of us eat at the Commons on a regular basis. As a student of political science, with particular reference to a course in Mass Media and Politics, I think it is of utmost importance to look a little deeper into the headline, article, and information that was presented through them.
Much of the course referenced focuses on analyzing and discussing how mass media operates and how this plays into public perception of important issues. While this post does not necessarily pertain specifically to politics, in my opinion it is still an issue that affects students on a daily basis and therefore needs to be looked at a little more closely than just a shocking headline. For example, many media outlets, especially those that are free, aim for an approach that merely maximizes exposure to the public, not necessarily focusing on the truth. The Sentinel, being a college publication is quite the opposite. While still lacking in some details, as one commenter points out on the online version of the article, looking at even just the headline tells the consumer perhaps why the low rating was issued to the Commons. Another noteworthy aspect of this article is the feedback from other students. While I am of the opinion that a more wide demographic should have been reached out to, such as older students, considering that both student testimonials mentioned in the article were from freshman, these are still valid viewpoints to be considered.
The point I am trying to make is that while the headline and content may be slightly unsettling for some, there is a bigger picture to take into consideration. The material is genuine and fact based, unlike many media sources that are available to the public today. So the next time someone out there is scrolling through their Facebook news feed and taking everything from The Huffington Post for face value, please remember that sources such as these are aiming for clicks, while sources such as the Sentinel are a tool for media students that hold the intent of informing the public.
Check out the article here: http://www.ksusentinel.com/2013/11/19/commons-receives-80-on-health-inspection-caught-off-guard-during-lunch-rush/
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Another Observance of Media Negligence
As a student of the Integrated Studies program at Kennesaw State, with concentrations in Political Science and Geography, I see the utmost importance of geography in regards to politics. With that being said, this week I have found an article from "The Gazette" which has been "Serving Colorado Springs & the Pikes Peak region since 1872", pertaining to the use of medical Marijuana oil and its effects on children suffering from severe neurological disorders. The reason that I chose this article to discuss is because of the relevance of geography in correspondence with media coverage over the public stigma of the legalization of medical marijuana.
The process of creating oil that can be used to treat conditions in children involves a detailed and complex procedure to ensure the removal of any THC from the marijuana plant. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the main constituent in marijuana that induces a feeling of being "high" or under the influence by the consumer. The process includes soaking marijuana leaves in alcohol, which extracts cannabidiol oils from the leaves, the alcohol is then boiled leaving only the oils behind with the beneficial compounds. The public stigma stems from the use of marijuana as a medicinal resource over its common use as a recreational drug, while this stigma is valid by some definitions there are clearly other uses for the plant.
I find the geographic relevancy of this issue's coverage pretty profound. Every month or so we see new legislation passing all over the United States regarding otherwise controversial issues such as medical marijuana, or gay marriage as an example. Yet, in Georgia I honestly feel as though it will be a very long time before coverage of even the positive benefits of marijuana would ever be aired or put forth as public information.
Read more http://gazette.com/families-looking-to-cure-epileptic-children-find-first-dose-of-hope-with-special-colorado-marijuana-oil/article/1508731
The process of creating oil that can be used to treat conditions in children involves a detailed and complex procedure to ensure the removal of any THC from the marijuana plant. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the main constituent in marijuana that induces a feeling of being "high" or under the influence by the consumer. The process includes soaking marijuana leaves in alcohol, which extracts cannabidiol oils from the leaves, the alcohol is then boiled leaving only the oils behind with the beneficial compounds. The public stigma stems from the use of marijuana as a medicinal resource over its common use as a recreational drug, while this stigma is valid by some definitions there are clearly other uses for the plant.
I find the geographic relevancy of this issue's coverage pretty profound. Every month or so we see new legislation passing all over the United States regarding otherwise controversial issues such as medical marijuana, or gay marriage as an example. Yet, in Georgia I honestly feel as though it will be a very long time before coverage of even the positive benefits of marijuana would ever be aired or put forth as public information.
Read more http://gazette.com/families-looking-to-cure-epileptic-children-find-first-dose-of-hope-with-special-colorado-marijuana-oil/article/1508731
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