Thursday, January 24, 2008

Here's your question:

What in-the-news topic -- international, national, state or topical (the environment, health, education, etc.) -- would you like to know more about either out of interest or to make yourself a better journalist/editor? Click on the "comments" link below to give your answer (ASAP, please) and we'll have an easily accessible archive. Your answers will help me draw up the assignment options for the backstories we will be doing through the semester. I want to make the assignments on Monday so you have as much advance notice as possible. So the earlier you respond, the greater the likelihood your suggestion will make it into the mix. Thanks! Looking forward to seeing the range of answers.

15 comments:

Amanda, Kelsey and Natalie said...

I am interested in knowing more about health care issues, costs and accessibility, in the news. I hear so much about costs rising, people who are uninsured, etc., and I really wish I was more knowledgeable about this subject, especially with the upcoming presidential elections.
-Amanda Chan

Leah Bevin said...

I would like to know more about the recent unrest in Kenya. I've read an article or two and know it has something to do with possibly fradulent elections, but I want a more complete grasp of the subject. I think it's especially interesting how elections in other countries are run compared to our upcoming presidential election.

Shannon said...

I am interesting in gaining more information about the genocide in Darfur. I know it has been a major problem for many years now, so I'm interested in why the U.S. hasn't done more, what has been done, and why the turmoil continues.

Matt Stone said...

I would like to know more about 2008 elections. While you can't turn around without hearing about a primary coming up or a candidate visiting, there's a lot more involved with the topic that I'd like to know to be more knowledgeable for myself and as a journalist.

jacki said...

I am interested in learning more about the mortgage crisis that has started to throw the economy into turmoil. It is difficult to follow-foreclosures, what areas of the country are "buyer's/seller's" markets, adjustable-rate mortgages, and the like. It is especially interesting because I can imagine there are kids in the class who will be potential home-buyers within the next few years.
-Jacki Rovner

Anonymous said...

I would like to learn more about the conflit in Darfur. I know that a civil war is escalating and thousands are losing their lives. It makes me wonder why other countries don't try help solve this conflict as to save the hundreds of thousands of lives that most likely will be lost.

Anonymous said...

I am interested in knowing more about the 2008 elections. It doesn't only have an impact on the people living in the U.S., but the rest of the world as well. With the upcoming primaries, I would like to know more about each candidates issues and how it will better this country.

Jeff Jetton said...

I would like to learn more about the use of Human Growth Hormone and the possible side effects. Everyone knows about how it is being used in sports, but it is also being used by celebrities and older people as an anti-aging drug. HGH is always in the news these days and I would be really interested in going more in-depth on the subject and seeing what all the fuss is about.

Michael Clawson said...

Although I'm too late for this to be considered for the Monday class, I would be interested in learning about how newspapers, especially host-city newspapers, cover the Super Bowl. With our own Super Bowl just a week out, I'm curious to know if what the Arizona Republic is doing, or not doing, is consistent with what other papers do this same time of year in other cities. I imagine there are factions of reporters in newsrooms that complain that too much is done with the Super Bowl.

ljt said...

You're not too late! I'm just starting to put the list together now so I'll be checking back throughout the afternoon/early evening.

Steven Bohner said...

The economy is a obviously a big concern right now, and I'd like to know more about how a recession would affect Arizonans or just people on the micro level in general. As a college student getting ready to enter the job market it's very concerning.

Anonymous said...

It seems as though a LOT of world leaders--both in politics and religion--are dying all of a sudden. Though this happens all the time as there are few things in life more certain than death (Nickelback releasing more and more crappy singles to pollute the pop music pool is totally up there too), I've always wondered what large bodies, such as nations like Indonesia or religious groups like the Mormon Church, do in order to deal with death of their leadership. In 2005, when Pope John Paul II died, I didn't really feel like the media did the best job of explaining what it meant, so I guess I'm looking for a little more clarity.

CR said...

The 2008 Presidential Election is not a necessity here but anything related to political science is good. China's growth, relationships between countries, the possible creation of a North American Union, Putin's growing dictatorship, etc. Of course if we have to resort to anything sports related that's fine too.

Dan Quigley said...

I would like to better understand the mortgage crisis and real estate market. Everyone knows they are bad, but what are the numbers? How do they compare to better times, and at what point do we know we have a serious situation?

Unknown said...

I found an article on the BBC News page on-line that I thought was quite interesting, especially the way it was portrayed. The article, found at "http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7212778.stm", has the headline of 'Marijuana Vending Machines in US'.

The article does point out safety features such as photo identification and fingerprints that will be needed for anyone to use the medicinal-purpose-only marijuana vending machines. It goes on to state that only 11 US States approve the medicinal use of marijuana.

I was mostly interested in the headline, however. Although headlines are meant to be catchy and draw in readers, this one in particular seemed to stand out and display the US in a certain light. I am curious whether we, in the United States, would have taken a different approach on the story headline.

So basically what I'm claiming insterest in isn't simply the marijuana story, but instead the way that different countries (and organizations as well) might portray the same exact news stories. I'd like to know what details are left out of certain stories, and what sort of consistancy there is internationally.