Censored Chapters 3-6

Are American Media Consumers Asleep at the Wheel?



Chapter 3: Junk Food News
I’m not at all surprised by the figures in this chapter. A good portion of Americans consider the Spear’s family drama to be News. I hate to think that with so many other countries watching our media that Junk Food news is what we are offering them. I just hope that those other countries consuming our media judge us based solely on our addiction to Junk Foods news and manufactured fame.
My question: How can “real” news cut through the clutter of all the Junk Food news?


Chapter 4: The News is Good
With most news stations focused on the doom and gloom or the Junk Food stories it is hard for many American families to sit down together and watch the news. My PR teacher put it perfectly this past semester when she told us about placing news releases into the mainstream media “If it bleeds, it will lead.” Nothing bleeds more than CEO and other uber-powerful individuals talking about how they and their corporation are changing the world for a better place. It’s hard to watch as real issues are continuously just brushed over instead of the public and the media serious dissecting the issue. Again I have to question what this type of news coverage looks like to Europeans as they sift through our media.
My question: How can we make time for more in-depth coverage of these real stories?


Chapter 5: Oiling the Dangerous Engine of Arbitrary Government
This chapter relates very closely with my censored story, Seizing War Protestors Assests. For too long has the United States let the concept of wartime compromise the beliefs and the ideals that America was built upon. Not only do these actions during “wartime” cast a dark shadow over the admirable service provided by the American military, but it leaves us at home wondering what we and our country stand for in the long run.
My question: Do the American people even know about these wartime loopholes? And if so, why aren’t they concerned?


Chapter 6: Universal Healthcare
I personally am too accident/germ prone to live without health care coverage, and I know that as I graduate and become too old to remain covered under my parents health insurance the first thing that I will be looking for in a job opportunity will be health insurance. For the most powerful empire in the world it should be embarrassing that we can not provide and care for our sick, hunger, and tired. There are plenty of models to follow or look to when it comes to providing entire countries with healthcare coverage, all we need to do is look to Europe. Healthcare should NOT be an issue controlled by campaign donations or drug company agendas, it should be a basic right for all Americans.
My Question: Why aren’t more Americans and the media standing up to drug companies, congress, and other private healthcare providers and fighting?

Project Censored! #5

Censored Story #5 Seizing War Protestors’ Assets

Quick Overview: During his time in office President Bush signed two executive orders that directly compromised and violated constitutional laws and granted the United States Treasury Department the right to seize any and all assets of those American citizens who were “perceived” to pose a threat to the United States operations in the Middle East. These two orders were signed in July and August of 2007. These laws completely disregard American Citizen’s rights to due process. Both laws are broad and leave room for exploitation.


The Major Players: former President Bush, the attorney general, the ACLU, and the American people.

I believe that this story is censored because so few people could believe it if they heard it. Also I believe that these laws were passed in such a hush hush manner that it was hard to find information about them. Both laws were passed to protect America and its citizens, but in the end, they are the only people being exploited by this law.

Four VITAL Facts:

There are TWO laws that allow the seizure of assets of those who are perceived to pose a threat to American campaigns in the Middle East.

These laws directly violate American citizen’s rights to due process

Both laws are extremely broad and vague, giving the United States Treasury Department too much power and “wiggle room”

An American Citizen can have their assets frozen or seized without any notice from the US. Treasury Department, at any time

Video!

Project Censored! For More Info

Truthout Blog Site

More Executive Orders from the Bush White House

Public Outcry

Beacon of Hope Press

More on Due Process

Hello Blog People!

Hello Web 2.0 world!

My name is Caitlin Pierce and with less than six weeks to go before I become a college graduate I'm at a serious crossroads in my life, personally and professionally. Do I go West, Do I stay local? Only time and serious intuition will tell! I am excited to finally be blogging and joining the web 2.0 galaxy!

Below you will find my index card information and the most important media experience I participated in over winter break:



My name is Caitlin Pierce and I'm originally from Cape Neddick, Maine. I'm a Public Relations Major in my last semester at Champlain, and I have no clue what I want to do!

My personal goal for this class is to be able to take my ideas and use weave them into my blog in a non-lame way.

On a professional level I want to be able to take my blogging skills and apply them to the career field and my resume

The most significant media experience I had over my holiday was visiting the the Andy Warhol "Pop Politics" exhibit at the Currier Art Museum with my dad. It was amazing!

PS: because Doc Dub asked us to include a youtube video I decided to include my favorite youtube video of all time in my very first blog posting! ENJOY!