1. Celebrity Journalism Why do we even care…as journalists and citizens?

2. Housekeeping  You are not required to comment on each other’s blogs, but I would request that you do read each other’s blogs—and comment if you like Office hours change for tomorrow  Starbucks on South University from 2 to 5 p.m.

3. Today’s Celebrity Gossip  Jessica Simpson  http://www.tmz.com/2009/01/26/jessica-simpson- this-is-how-she-rolls/ http://www.tmz.com/2009/01/26/jessica-simpson- this-is-how-she-rolls/  Paris Hilton  http://www.tmz.com/2009/02/01/paris-has-gone-to- pot/ http://www.tmz.com/2009/02/01/paris-has-gone-to- pot/  Michael Phelps  http://perezhilton.com/2009-02-01-uh-oh-picture- reveals-golden-boy-michael-phelps-knows-how-to- use-a-bong http://perezhilton.com/2009-02-01-uh-oh-picture- reveals-golden-boy-michael-phelps-knows-how-to- use-a-bong

4. Or should this be what we promote?  Obligation to truth—or at least transparency of where we received our facts  Loyalty to citizens  Verification  Independence from faction  Independent monitor of power  Forum for public criticism  News that is comprehensive and proportionate  Exercise personal conscience

5. Today  Watch Paris Hilton Inc.  Issues to consider  What makes celebrity journalism problematic?  Do you see yourself as a consumer of media or as a citizen? Why does this matter?  Why do you think we care more about Paris Hilton (and her cohorts) than war, famine, global financial crisis?  Why do journalists care?  Any signs this is changing because of global issues, economic problems?

6. Midterm projects/presentations  Check course website for link to midterm groups  Working in groups of two choose a country and a journalist from that country to research and present to class. Send me an email with your choice by Feb. 4. Murrow is now taken!  Each group member writes an individual paper— one on the journalist and one on the country  5-7 pages each  Presentation: 5-7 minutes following the winter break

7. Examples  Daniel Pearl and Pakistan  Sami Al Haq and Iraq  Anna Politskavaya and Russia  Edward Murrow and the U.S. (circa 1950s)  Veronica Guernin and Ireland  Martha Gelhorn and the US circa (1930s and 1940s)  Ernie Pyle—war reporting and the U.S.

8. Media Journal for Feb. 4  Choose an article that focuses on “celebrities” in your country’s media.  What do you think of the coverage? Does it compare to the coverage of celebrities in the U.S.? What are the photos like? Do they cover the same celebrities as we do? Madonna, Brangelina, TomKat  Compare it to coverage of celebrities in the U.S.—if possible. For example, Carla Bruni— France’s first lady—is covered extensively in the French and international press.  You may go back in time if there isn’t anything recent in your media

9. Enabling comments on blogs  Go to blogger.com  In dashboard, click on “comments”  Choose registered users  Save settings  That should enable us to leave comments for each other on our blogs

10. Feb. 4: Readings in Granta  “The Invasion of Panama,” by Martha Gelhorn  “The Fall of Saigon,” by James Fenton Come prepared to discuss the stories, your thoughts, opinions, etc. of this style of journalism-- reportage

11. Feb. 9 and 11: No Formal Classes Feb. 9, 2009:  Watch “Young and Restless in China” and “Growing Internet Use Plays Crucial Role in China” at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/you ngchina/ on your own. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/you ngchina/ February 11, 2009: Media Journal Assignment: Blog about the documentaries. What is your impression of China before and after the documentaries?