Photojournalism Assignment

Fetus Sticks Hand out of Womb

  Mentioned in The Famous Pictures magazine, this photo was taken on Aug. 19, 1999 at Vanderbilt hospital in Nashville Tennessee. The photo above is a shot of an unborn child reaching out of his mothers womb while having surgery. The photographer, Michael Clancy was there by chance and accidentally caught the picture as it was happening. Clancy is a native of Tennessee and a freelance photojournalist. USA Today hired Clancy when they decided to document this surgery on the 21 week old baby who was suffering from Spina Bifida. Not only were doctors scared that the surgery wouldn't go well, they were also convinced that the baby would show no movement at that particular stage. The fetus stuck it's hand out of the womb and by chance, Clancy got the shot. The child in the photo is Samuel Armas. Although they did not correct his disease entirely, he was born fairly normal and had to wear leg braces. This photograph appeared on USA Today, and in the Famous Pictures magazine. Also, Clancy has a personal website where additional information can be found. The news values I found most important are bizarre, as you can tell this is a very unusual photograph. Proximity because it happened very close to where we are located now and it is a disease that happens frequently and conflict, because the actual story behind the photograph has been debated for years.

http://www.michaelclancy.com/story.html

Vulture Stalks Sudan Child



This photograph takes place in the country of Sudan. This shows a small Sudan child trying to get to a food camp when it collapsed. As you can see the vulture is preying on the young child and it's heartbreaking to see. This photograph was taken in March, 1993 by Kevin Carter. He was a photojournalist who traveled to South African countries to take photos of the less fortunate circumstances that were happening. The photographer took the picture instead of helping the child, as the photographers were told not to touch the children because of risk of getting diseases. With that being said, he left the child and kept taking pictures. The photo was sold to the New York Times on March 26, 1999. Many questions were asked about the state of the child and wanted to know if Carter had helped it. He couldn't give them the answer they wanted which caused controversy and depression for him. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize and three weeks after committed suicide because he could not live with himself for not helping the little girl and not knowing what happened to her after he left. The most important news values are bizarre, because Carter didn't help the child which is inhumane. Proximity because it's someones child regardless and it makes you feel sympathy for them and conflict because it caused a lot of problems for Carter which led to his death.

http://iconicphotos.wordpress.com/2009/08/12/vulture-stalking-a-child/

                                                     Terribly Beautiful: Industrial Pollution

               In this photograph, the photographer has captured a picture of a mountaintop removal site in West Virginia. This photograph was taken on April 20, 2011 by J Henry Fair. He is a freelance photographer who takes photos of natural and industrial disasters that are beautiful although harmful. It appeared in TIME magazine along with an article written by Neil Harris about Fair. Fair travels from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.  Fair relies on complementary charter flights from two volunteer-based environmental aviation organizations, Lighthawk and Southwings, to take his photographs. These small planes make it easier for Fair to take the photographs he needs without getting too close to the damaging chemicals. The news values that are most important are proximity because it is very close to home and mountaintop removal is something very serious to a lot of people. Also, bizarre because although mountaintop removal isn't unusual, the fact that something so beautiful came from a disaster is pretty crazy.

http://lightbox.time.com/2011/04/20/terribly-beautiful-industrial-pollution-seen-from-above/#9

                                                  Body Lies Half Buried after Japan Tsunami

 

        This is a photograph taken by Donald Weber in Fukushima Japan after the recent tsunami that left the country in devastation. Before Weber was a photographer, he was an architect. Now he works for VII for Newsweek. This body was found in the mud washed up from the tsunami and had been untouched. This was published on April 3, 2011. The most important news values are timeliness because it is such a recent occurrence, proximity because we as Americans are also dealing with devastation from the storms and it is kind of bizarre that no one has tried to move the body and it has just been laying there without anyone to claim it.

http://www.newsweek.com/photo/2011/04/03/japan-inside-fukushima-exclusion-zone.html



Tornadoes Touch Down in Kentucky

        In this photograph it shows the destruction that the tornadoes left as they passed through Kentucky. The photograph appeared in the Lexington Herald Leader and was taken by Aaron Borton a freelance photojournalist from Louisville, Ky. This tornado touched down in Henry County and this was one of three houses that were destroyed. The date of the photo publication is March 1, 2011. The most important news values are proximity because it was on our soil, timeliness because it has just recently happened, and conflict because it has caused troubles throughout the state of Kentucky and across the United States. 

UC Dorms: The newest, the nastiest, and the hottest

            Traditionally, students choose to live on campus when they go to college. It is the ideal thing to do since taking this step in their lives ultimately means leaving home for the first time. However, colleges tend to over-charge students for poor quality housing. Not only is the University of the Cumberlands guilty of expensive room and board fees, they also charge the same amount for the newest dorms as they do the oldest residence halls.

Every year students attending UC pay a substantial amount of money to live in the dorms. The price of dorm living at the university is $6,826.00. That amount is shocking considering the condition that some of the dormitories are in. Not only will you share a compact space with another individual, you will also be paying an unnecessary amount of money for a room you probably won’t be satisfied with. In fact, dorm life in general is a colossal disappointment.

Although that seems to be a large sum of money, it would be acceptable to pay that amount if the residence halls were equally renovated. However, the university has failed to do so.

As a freshman, Gillespie Hall is where the average female will stay. This dorm has rooms that hold three to four women with minimum living space. The girls share the bathroom with their floor, and the amount of toilets and showers are limited. In comparison to Gillespie, there is Harth Hall which is the newest built female dorm recommended for upper-classmen. Harth is newly renovated with exceptional features such as an elevator, a computer lab with six desktop computers and a printer, along with each suite having a lobby and personal bathrooms. Although both dorms are vastly different, students are still paying the same amount to live in both. It is a bit ridiculous but it gets worse.

Along with Hutton Hall, and Asher Hall there is Archer Hall. Archer holds 30% of freshmen students according to the UC website. Not only is the building old and not up to par with the other dorms, it doesn’t have air conditioning. How is it fair to pay the same amount of living expenses to live in Harth as it is to live in Archer?

The average student coming to the University of the Cumberlands is a college-athlete. Although this doesn’t make them superior to other students, athletes along with asthmatic and allergy prone individuals need to have a cool place to go when the hot temperatures arrive. It is a shame that students cannot rest peacefully in their rooms because they lack a luxury that they are ultimately paying for.

Rob-Cook Hall, Mahan Hall and Siler Hall are the dorms in which hold the vast majority of the males at the university. Although the campus provides housekeeping, it is merely impossible to keep all residence halls clean if they are not internally sanitary. Along with the issues that have arrived in the previous dorms, there have also been many cases of MERSA and staph caused by the weight room that connects Robinson and Cook halls. This isn’t an issue of lacking a luxury such as air conditioning, it’s unsanitary. Although hygiene is not my topic, it plays a huge role in why it is unacceptable for residents to pay the same amount to live in a rodent infested dorm such as Mahan, as it is to live in the upper-classmen dorm Kleist Hall.

Kleist Hall is the newest male dorm on campus which holds 96 male students. This is an upperclassmen dorm with the same luxeries as the female dorm Harth Hall.

The living expenses at the University of the Cumberlands would be tolerable if the dorms were equally livable. It should not be the same amount to live in a dorm without air conditioning as it is to live in a dorm with an elevator. Housing prices should be renovated along with the majority of the residence halls on campus. What student or parent would agree with these living conditions prior to move in day? Why are ambassadors deceiving students by taking them to the nicest dorms that they won’t end up in? Something on campus needs to change rapidly.

               

Kentucky helps Japan

          Where were you when the massive earthquake and tsunami hit Japan? For the most part, Americans were living life unaffected. However, Steve Riggs, a Kentucky representative was giving his best effort in persuading Kentuckians to provide a helping hand to Japan by encouraging donations from Kentuckians, donating a substancial amount himself and askig troops to help them clean up the disaster.

            On March 11, 2011, Japan suffered from an earthquake and tsunami that caused a great amount of hardship to the country. Along with the economic inconveniences and loss of resources, the fatality rate was extremely high. A likelihood of 10,000 people died as a result of this disaster and 17,443 are still missing according to the New York Times.  

            Kentucky representative Steve Riggs is in charge of the Jefferson County jurisdiction, House District 31. He has served under this position since 1991 until present. He graduated from the University of Kentucky and pursued a career in insurance sales before obtaining his position in the house.

            Representative Riggs is making an effort in helping form relief groups in Kentucky to support the natural disaster that Japan is experiencing. He has developed relief groups throughout the state of Kentucky with hopes that people will follow his example and lend a comforting hand to the situation.

            A local news station, WKYT, provided Kentuckians with a brief comment from Rep. Riggs. He stated, “Kentucky has an especially close relationship with Japan because of our many economic ties, highlighted by the fact that about 150 of their companies provide more than 31,000 jobs here in the Commonwealth,” said Rep. Riggs, D-Jeffersontown. “We also have a storied history of reaching out to help others in time of need, as we did a little more than a year ago following Haiti’s devastating earthquake. I’m sponsoring this resolution to give our citizens suggestions on what, exactly, they can do.” 

        Rep. Riggs has provided the state with information on why it is so important to reach out in this hard time. Also Rep. Riggs stated to WKYT that he also “would like to see us do something through state government, because a crisis of this magnitude needs as much support as possible. That could include possibly having Governor Beshear make a request to the federal government to consider utilizing our Kentucky National Guard as well as having state agencies coordinating local volunteer efforts. Either of these, but preferably both, could really make a difference.”

            When asking Sgt. Daniel Fugitt, a member of the Kentucky Nation Guard what he thought about contributing to the relief groups he stated, “I think that helping such a great cause would be very life-changing and beneficial to us. We need to be there to support our fellow countries as they support us.”

            Rep. Riggs also mentioned that humanitarian organizations such  as the United Methodist Committee on Relief, International Red Cross and Doctors without Borders have already been established and are making efforts to help Japan in every way they can. More information about these groups can be found by calling 502-209-9630.

            The Japanese-American Society of Kentucky is collecting money for the relief of the earthquake and tsunami. Although money is greatly needed, Rep. Riggs has also encouraged the Kentucky Blood Center to promote giving blood to send to Japan. This is a good way to help provide help without making it financially inconvenient for Kentuckians. Donors will receive T-Shirts that are in support of the Japanese relief efforts. All of the money will be donated to the American Red Cross and Salvation Army. Rep. Riggs is making an effort to provide support to the devastation in the country and let Japan know that Kentucky is greatly supporting them through these hard times.

Taco Bell Controversy

Contact: Thomas Davin

Tel: 626-799-9898

Fax- 626-372-8288

Address- 1683 Walnut Grove Avenue

Rosemead, California 91770

            Last month, Taco Bell suffered tremendously after the idea of the “mystery meat” was brought to everyone’s attention.  After this occurred, the company owned by Yum! Brands Inc., based in Louisville, Ky., launched a multimedia campaign to reassure consumers that their meat was indeed everything they claimed it was, and offered their secret recipe online.

            Since this problem came to the attention of the media, the fast-food chain has since made great improvements to make their restaurant more qualified.They launched a commerical to confirm their credibility. Our seasoned beef is 88 percent premium ground beef and 12 percent signature recipe," the employee says in the spot. "If you want to see that signature recipe, go to tacobell.com. It's right there." This was stated on the commerical they launched.

            When going into a local Taco Bell food chain, an employee, Heather McCall stated, “Prior to the new ads on TV, the business was starting to fade; But since the company reassured consumers of our recipe, sales have increased."

                                                                                  ###

If you would like to know more about this topic, contact the Taco Bell food chain or Yum! Brands Inc., or contact Thomas Davin at 626-799-9898.

Patriot Park in Progress

In November of 2010, the University of the Cumberlands began working on the landscaping in the area in front of the Hutton School of Business; which is otherwise known as the Patriot Park. The changes being made to the park are new sidewalks and memorial statues. Many events are planned there throughout the year. This renovation is creating more plaza space to accommodate such activities.

The Patriot Plaza

“The park memorializes those who have given their life for our country.  As these events have taken place we have had suggestions from many to make changes to the area known as the Patriot Plaza," said Kyle Gilbert the vice president of operations. "This is a way to show the campus off and provide patriotic value to the landscape of the University." 

“The cost of the additional sidewalks is about $11,000 paid for with private donations.  Two statues, one of Washington and one of Jefferson will also be placed.  The statues were funded by private donations as well.” Gilbert said.

Although the construction is for a positive purpose, there is a problem with the timeliness of the matter. It has been approximately four months since the process began and because of the weather, the situation has been hindered.

“I feel like sometimes the construction is a distraction," said junior Kendra McCollum.  This is something that can be negatively affecting the student body without them realizing it. “It’s loud when we are in class," McCollum said.

            This should be finished by the spring in time for Independence Day and other events.

Hutton School of Business



Cumberland Idol Eliminations

On Feb. 1, 2011, Cumberland Idol started the elimination process of its fourth season of the competition. Idol is a campus activity that occurs every spring semester and is the campus' version of American Idol. Students participate against their peers and compete for a chance to win cash prizes. Contestants were paired with a partner at random, and asked to perform a duet in front of their audience in the Gatliff Chapel.

The organization behind the show is the campus activity board, (CAB) at the University of the Cumberlands. This group of students helps prepare the contest, and work each night to organize the contestants.

When asking a fellow CAB member what was different about this year, Chelsea Hill responded, “This year the first, second and third place winners all get a cash prize. I believe this is a positive change because it gives people more incentive to participate as well as rewarding those with the most votes instead of having a second place winner walk away with the same prize as the first person voted off.”

Also, the CAB members are hosting a canned food drive. “We are tying a canned food drive with idol. Every canned-good one brings in, their name will be entered in a drawing to win an xbox360. This is a great way to bring new fans in and help out a good cause," said Hill.

Everyone involved in the process is doing all that they can to help do positive things for the campus and community, as well as provide entertainment. Senior Grant Doepel is the producer of the show and his efforts have been phenominal according to the other CAB members.

This is the last year that Doepel will be directing “Idol” as he will graduate and leave this spring. When asking Doepel if he would miss it he replied, "It has been a great experience and I will definitely miss being a part of something so fun." 

According to other CAB members, Grant has done an excellent job developing a show that is so close to the real American Idol. It has given the student body a chance to reveal their talent.

“It is Grant’s last year, and we are sad to see him go. He is the brain behind the operation and such a talented person. He’s going out with a bang,” says Hill.

Senior, Grant Doepel

There is no doubt that Cumberland Idol is a huge hit on campus and the crowd has shown their dedication in the two short nights of eliminations. The next night of performances will be on February 15 in the Gatliff Chapel at 8 p.m.

I'm free to be who I want to be

zs

My Autobiography

When freshman Brandy Norman isn’t singing, she is dedicating her time to school and her cheerleading squad at the University of the Cumberlands.

Brandy is a communication major and plans on getting a minor in journalism. After obtaining her degree, Brandy may go to a graduate school to further her education.

Although she dreams, Brandy has not determined where she wants to be in ten years in any aspect of her life. She hopes to become a news reporter for one of the news stations in Lexington, Ky.

Brandy works in the Admissions office for her work-study position. Her part time job is being a waitress at Jerry’s Family Restaurant where she serves food.

The Lexington Herald Leader, article “Kings Island hopes towering swing ride will draw the crowds” relates to Brandy’s childhood because she always loved going to Kings Island with her family as a child.

            Lately, Brandy has watched “Easy A” and “500 Days of Summer." She loves to analyze movies in her spare time and both movies were interesting to her in that aspect.

 Brandy thoroughly enjoys music. “I don’t want to be” by Gavin DeGraw, “Unbeautiful” by Lesley Roy, and “Back to Good” by Matchbox Twenty are her most recent downloads. She relies on music to express her feelings.

The most memorable books Brandy has read are “She Said Yes” by Misty Burnall and “The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair. “She Said Yes” interests her because of the Columbine shooting. “The Jungle” is only memorable to her because she was forced to read it and hated it. She also enjoys reading Cosmopolitan because it lets her escape from reality, and slip into something out of her control.

“I love being able to write my feelings on paper knowing that the paper can’t respond.” she said.