Category: JMC 1013

Defining the Lines of Free Press

In correspondence to a lecture I attended in the past week, our professor discussed media law and a specific court case about the Pentagon Papers. From this discussion in the lecture, the significance of the media law court case was brought to our attention. Within the case, we see the concept of freedom of speech and freedom of the press come into play with the American Government and the New York Times magazine. 

In 1971, a New York Times journalist published a series of documents that contained information on the condition of American involvement and war efforts during the Vietnam War. What many American citizens did not know at this time was that our military operations overseas in Vietnam were horrendous. The entire nation was not being informed of the conditions in Vietnam and instead was not aware of the severity of the situation. 

Once Neil Sheehan, the New York Times journalist, published the first of the Pentagon Papers that exposed the severe nature of conditions with the American military in Vietnam. Soon after the first publications were available to the public, the United States government quickly declared that any other publications that were about the American involvement in Vietnam. 

With the court trying to keep the journalists from releasing any more information of the secrecy and dishonesty from the our government and military operations in Vietnam, the New York Times ultimately won the legal battle because of the principle of free speech. 

Just like we learned about in media lecture, the New York Times journalist Neil Sheehan won the battle ultimately because he, and every other journalist, has freedom of speech backing them up in this case. Although free speech is something that is very broad and hard to understand, think of it has one of the primary ways us Americans ensure democracy. Journalists have the ability to expose or create any type of written content that speaks negatively or exposes our government without being punished. We are allowed to post content without our government preventing us as a result of living in a democracy. 

Learn more about the Pentagon Papers!

Going out for a fun night with friends? Don’t even think about getting behind the wheel to get yourself home. Drinking and driving are deadly and is something that is avoidable by simply planning ahead and calling an Uber or having a friend drive you home.

In a Budweiser advertisement, the company illustrates the scene to be a middle-aged man going out to have drinks with a friend. The man in the advertisement has a dog, who we can infer is his best friend. As it gets later and later into the night, the white labrador retriever is seen sitting and waiting by the door for his buddy to come home, but he never does. The next morning, we see the man come through the front doors, greeting his dog. He tells the dog that he didn’t think it was a good idea for him to drive home last night and ended up sleeping at a friend’s house just to be safe.

Just how dangerous is drinking and driving?

After watching this advertisement, it made me feel so relieved that the man made the right choice to not come home but also anxious when we are not seeing him come back that night. I feel like Budweiser is emphasizing that we all have people waiting for us to come home after a night out with friends. It really got me to think that anyone who is drinking needs to plan ahead and have a ride arranged to get home safely. Drinking and driving is something that could not only kill you, but it could kill others too. It never hurts to be proactive and ask someone to either drive you home or call a taxi when you have been served alcohol.

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The Day of the Dead is a Hispanic holiday where families honor and celebrate loved ones who have passed away. Each year, families will participate in festivities on November 1st and 2nd. Those two days of festivities might include eating lots of food, drinking, or traditional celebrations. Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is celebrated in many different countries or families of hispanic descent. 

On the actual Day of the Dead, the Hispanic culture believes that the barrier between the real world and the spirit world, where the deceased are, is gone for the day. The dead travel through the barrier to come into the living world to celebrate with food and activities. On the other hand, the living celebrate with the dead by eating some of the finest and well-liked foods at the gravesite of a loved one or an Ofrenda (home altar with candles, pictures, and objects) in the home. 

For the Hispanic holiday, many decorate their homes and communities with skeletons and skulls because of their correlation of celebrating the dead. A tradition that is seen through this time of remembrance and joy is candles that are used by the living to light the way home for the dead who are traveling back to the living (on Earth). In addition to candles being used, the Mexican Marigolds are also used as a pathway to an Ofrenda in the home of the living for the deceased family who are traveling back. Another ritual that is seen throughout the holiday is meeting with loved ones from all over to share family stories, memories, and pray together.

During this time of celebration, individuals will wear either make-up that represents a skull mask, honoring the dead. You will see the skulls and skeletons being used as candies, actual masks that are worn, or even dolls and toys.

Learn more about Day of the Dead

Have you ever been driving behind another car who suddenly decides to turn but not use their turn signal? Did you then have to rapidly break as a result of being caught off guard? 

In today’s society, it seems that many new or experienced drivers do not know how to utilize their turn signal. When a driver does not use the signal as they want to make a turn, it throws the vehicle behind them off and can cause a car wreck. Additionally, drivers who chose to change lanes but don’t use their turn signal can cause a wreck because of how they are cutting someone else off. The purpose of the turning signal is not something that is meant to be annoying but really as a safety feature to help prevent car accidents from happening and save lives.