Jessica Gabriel's Blog

The church attended by Sarah Palin in Wasilla, Alaska suffered $1 million in damages from a suspected arson attack.

Though no one was injured in the fire, Anchorage Daily News reported that “It was the biggest fire the department has seen this year, and Steele said as many as 35 to 40 volunteer firefighters came from across the region to battle the blaze.�

Certainly, the attention given to the story varied, as did the angles on which different news organizations chose to focus. Sky News first released basic information about the damage caused by the fire, then devoted the rest of the story to an overview of Palin’s vice-presidential candidacy.

According to Sky News, “During the campaign she was also the subject of an inquiry that concluded she had abused her governorial position and violated state ethics law by trying to get her ex-brother-in-law fired from the state police.�

The article went on to describe factors in Palin’s platform that might have led to an arson attack. At times, the objectivity of the article is questionable. As reported by Sky News, “…the self-styled "hockey mom" also horrified many liberals, and attracted derision for her apparent inability to master the finer points of policy and international politics

Both Sky News and Anchorage Daily News printed Palin’s reaction to the fire: she was deeply apologetic if the fire was related in any way to her candidacy.

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Hillary Clinton was officially named Secretary of State in President-elect Barack Obama’s cabinet on Monday.

The New York Times reported that upon accepting the position, Clinton said that “she promised to give ‘my all’ to him and his administration. ‘I am proud to join you on what will be a difficult and exciting adventure in this new century,’ Mrs. Clinton said.�

The Detroit Free Press recognized that six months ago, Clinton and Obama were arguing in the primaries. However, differences have been put aside in the effort to form a strong national security team.

According to the Detroit Free Press, “Former Michigan Gov. Jim Blanchard…called it ‘a fabulous appointment’ and said it offers a kind of ‘double-barreled leadership’ for America on the foreign policy front. Any suggestion that it could be a divided relationship is misguided, he said.�

The Detroit Free Press article focused on the choice of Clinton, specifically, while the New York Times article revolved around an analysis of all Obama’s selections for his national security team, providing an interpretation of what the team signals for the future of Obama’s presidency.

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A Wal-Mart worker died in a human stampede in a New York City suburb on Friday.

The employee was trampled by a crowd of Black Friday shoppers forcing their way into Wal-Mart at the 5 a.m. opening of the store.

The Los Angeles Times reported that though additional security had been requested and provided for the day after Thanksgiving, the man died after customers “‘physically broke down the doors, knocking him to the ground,’ according to a statement from Nassau County officials.�

According to the Los Angeles Times, “the surge at the Valley Stream store on Long Island also left three shoppers with minor injuries, and a pregnant 28-year-old woman was taken to a hospital.�

The New York Times had an article on the incident that provided more extensive coverage including details about the worker. According to the NY Times, his name was Jdimytai Damour, a 34-year-old temporary employee hired by Wal-Mart for the holiday rush.

The New York Times also went into more detail about the consequences of the incident. Interviews with local police officials revealed that “even with videos from the store’s surveillance cameras and the accounts of witnesses, Lieutenant Fleming and other officials acknowledged that it would be difficult to identify those responsible, let alone to prove culpability.�

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A young Florida man killed himself and streamed footage of his death through his webcam.

The video was posted on the personal blog of Abraham Biggs, a 19-year-old, through Justin.tv. The teenager announced his plan to commit suicide, and received responses that ranged from disbelief, attempts to dissuade the attempt, and even viewers that egged Biggs on.

Biggs’ family denounced the website, as well as the fact that no one contacted authorities about the suicide as it was happening until it was too late.

According to the BBC, “It is unclear how many people watched Wednesday's suicide unfold, although reports suggest that some viewers thought it was a hoax.�

The BBC also reported that “Biggs took an overdose of anti-depressive drugs, but remained comatose online for hours before he died.�

Part of the reason some viewers thought it was a hoax is apparently due to previous suicide attempts Biggs had faked. ABC News noted that “‘The bloggers said that Biggs had threatened to kill himself before and had faked it, so at first they didn't believe him," said Crane….comments on the thread included an exchange about whether the image of Biggs' motionless body was a still photograph or a video.’�

Both news agencies addressed the disgust of both authorities and the family of the victim in their stories. ABC had more specific details concerning what exactly was posted by Biggs (including some of the text he posted regarding reasons for his suicide). The BBC included more family reaction.

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President-elect Barack Obama met with Senator Hillary Clinton on Thursday in Chicago, purportedly to discuss the possibility of Clinton taking on the position of secretary of state.

No job was offered and other positions were discussed, but the prospect of Clinton in one of the most powerful cabinet positions has definitely sparked a lot of interest.

According to the International Herald Tribune, the meeting also included discussion over the option of Clinton’s help through her role in the Senate. It would entail “Clinton's staying in the Senate and taking a lead there in helping Obama enact a program for universal health care, the issue that both senators emphasized - with some differences - in their respective campaigns.�

The New York Times examined the different tactical sides to such a decision. “Senior Senate Democratic officials say it has become increasingly clear to Mrs. Clinton and her advisers that there was no quick route to a position of influence in the Senate, potentially increasing her interest in a prominent role in the Obama administration.�

Furthermore, the New York Times noted the problematic outcomes Obama could face if Clinton were chosen for the position. The first mentioned was, invariably, potential remnants of feelings of rivalry between the two. “The drama-averse president-elect would also inevitably be sharing the stage with both Clintons, with all of the attention and baggage that accompany them wherever they go. And her appointment could undercut his argument that he is bringing true change to Washington.�

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In a press conference Friday night, followed by a radio address Saturday, President-elect Barack Obama emphasized that the economy would be his administration’s top priority.

Growing concern for the state of the US economy and the impact it is having on global markets has created an issue that must be given close attention. According to the International Herald Tribune, “Obama signaled that he intended to move quickly to address the nation's financial problems, despite any obstacles. ‘I want to ensure that we hit the ground running on Jan. 20,’ he said on Saturday, ‘because we don't have a moment to lose.’ �

The IHT article also discussed the tendency for presidents to attempt to take on too much. It specifically mentioned the internal debate in Obama’s camp about whether he should stagger multiple initiatives to tackle several of his campaign promises, or instead focus on the economy with his full force.

According to Gulf Daily News, “Obama deferred to President George W Bush and his economic team, noting that the country has only one government and one president at a time.� This clarifies that despite Obama’s victory on Tuesday, he is not President yet and all he discusses is still in planning stages.

The Gulf Daily News article discussed a wider range of the issues that Obama hopes to forge new solutions for in his first term. This included immigration, education, health care, and foreign policy.

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A 12-year-old boy was shot and killed while trick-or-treating Friday in Sumter, S.C., by a man who thought the boy was a robber.

According to the BBC, Quentin Patrick was “charged with murder, assault and battery with intent to kill�. Patrick stated that he had been robbed and shot before. Upon hearing a knock at the front door, he shot 29 rounds from an AK-47 through his closed front door.

The boy, TJ Darrisaw, had been trick-or-treating with his family. His father and brother had also come to Patrick’s door and both were injured in the gunfire.

The State, a South Carolina newspaper, had extensive coverage of the tragedy. The article in the State gave more details as to the incident itself, as well as background information on the victim and his family.
According to the State, Patrick had attempted to leave the scene with his girlfriend, Ericka Patrice Pee. “They were home with her 2-year-old daughter and tried to leave the house after the shootings, after grabbing $7,500 in bundled cash, police said.�

The BBC article referred to the victim as TJ, though The State released the name Tony. The State was much more comprehensive in its reporting of the event, which is understandable considering the impact the story would have on the local community.

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NATO warships arrived off the coast of Somalia on Sunday to help deter pirates that have been causing hijacking problems in the Gulf of Aden.

Somali Prime Minister Nur Hassan said Sunday that he welcomed the presence of the ships, which are part of an international effort to eliminate the threat if the pirates.

CNN reported that “more than 60 ships have been attacked by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden this year alone.�

According to CNN, the fleet of seven ships was specifically authorized “to help protect U.N. World Food Program ships carrying relief supplies to Somalia.�

Bloomberg reported on some of the countries that have been affected by the acts of piracy. “Pirates have hijacked or attacked ships carrying cargo from oil to cement from countries including Iran, Greece, the Ukraine and South Korea this year.�

However, CNN had significantly more coverage on the NATO fleet, including a brief mention of the beneficiaries of the actions of the pirates. “One of the groups reportedly receiving ransom money is Al-Shabaab, an Islamic militant group that is waging a bloody battle for control of Somalia.�

Such details provide for a more comprehensive article, and shed more light on the current situation in Somalia.

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Former Secretary of State and Republican Colin Powell endorsed Sen. Barack Obama, the presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, in an interview with “Meet the Press� on Sunday morning.

According to the New York Times, Powell said “he had been disturbed in recent weeks by the negative tone of Mr. McCain’s campaign, particularly its focus on Mr. Obama’s passing relationship with William Ayers, a 1960s radical and founder of the Weather Underground.�

The New York Times looked extensively at how the Powell endorsement may affect the election, focusing on Powell’s political views and his history in the Bush administration.

The Financial Times also reported on the endorsement, focusing instead on specific comments made by Powell during “Meet the Press�.

According to the Financial Times, Powell said that “both candidates were qualified to be commander in chief. But Mr Obama was better suited to address the challenges facing the US economy and to improve its international standing.�

The slightly differing focuses of the articles still generally led to many of the same themes and quoted materials. For example, both the New York Times and the Financial Times noted Powell’s disapproval of McCain’s choice for a vice-presidential candidate in Sarah Palin as a significant factor in his endorsement of Obama.

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Republican Party vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin was found guilty on Friday of abusing her gubernatorial power in the firing of an Alaska state trooper.

Though no punishment was suggested, the report issued by an investigator for the Alaska state legislature implies that an ethical violation did occur. According to the Independent, “the action was partly motivated by the official's refusal to bow to pressure to dismiss Trooper Michael Wooten, whose marriage to Mrs. Palin's sister ended in acrimonious divorce.�

The Independent speculated on the impact this release will have on the McCain campaign, devoting much of its length to the problems that the Republican candidate continues to face.

The Wall Street Journal, on the other hand, examined the particulars of the findings of the probe, as well as the response given to the media by Palin’s camp. The article emphasized that there was no ethical violation in the dismissal of Walt Monegan, the Commissioner of Public Safety; it only was problematic that Palin used her authority to try to fire Wooten.

According to the Wall Street Journal, “Gov. Palin's spokesman issued a statement saying the investigation ‘vindicated the governor by finding that she acted within her constitutional authority to remove 'at-will' employees,’ referring to her commissioner.�

The general facts given in both articles were nearly identical, though the Independent was not as clear as the Wall Street Journal about which of Palin’s actions or decisions were considered unethical. However, considering the fact that the Independent is a paper from the United Kingdom, the extensive coverage given to the incident is very telling of the importance being placed on the U.S. elections throughout the world.

Posted by gabri089 at 2:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Thursday’s vice-presidential debate was the most watched in history, according to Nielsen Media Research.

The televised debate was between Sen. Joe Biden and Gov. Sarah Palin, candidates for the Democrat and Republican parties, respectively. Approximately 70 million viewers tuned in to watch all or part of the debate.

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, only around 52 million people watched the Sept. 26 presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain.

The Salt Lake Tribune also included information about the general percentage of people who watched the debate. “In the top 56 of the country's television markets, an average of 45 percent of households watched part or all of the debate.�

The Los Angeles Times noted that the particular market with the lowest viewership of the debate was, in fact, Los Angeles. The newspaper attributed this to the simultaneous showing of the Dodgers playoff game.

Though both articles drew on almost exactly the same facts from the Nielsen Media Research release, each article contained at least one interesting figure the other did not. This comes down to the decision of what newspaper editors and reporters think their particular audiences want to read about.

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New legislation was signed on Sunday in California by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that essentially decriminalized child prostitution.

According to Fox News, “Currently, if a minor is picked up for prostitution, she is charged as a criminal and sent to juvenile. But this law would change that and connect young girls with counselors and services they need. The law would also help girls who want to bring charges against a pimp.�

The legislation will put greater pressure on pimps and protect the minors from punishment for sexual exploitation.

The San Francisco Chronicle explained the reasoning behind the legislation more specifically, discussing how in Oakland, “juveniles made up most of the 27 human trafficking prostitution cases investigated there in 2006 and 2007.�

The Chronicle article specified that there were two bills being signed into law. The first “creates the pilot counseling and treatment program in Oakland and the rest of Alameda County. A second bill lets victims of human trafficking keep their names out of the public record and requires law enforcement to diligently investigate trafficking cases regardless of citizenship status.�
Though both the San Francisco Chronicle and Fox News had thorough articles, the Chronicle was more comprehensive in its coverage of the legislation.

This is not the only case in California in which prostitution is becoming a visible issue in legislation. Voters will also have the chance to vote in November for the decriminalization of prostitution in San Francisco.

Continue reading "New California legislation decriminalizes juvenile prostitution" »

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Travis Barker, former drummer for Blink 182, and Adam Goldstein, known as DJ AM, survived a plane crash late Friday night in South Carolina that killed 4. Both musicians sustained serious injuries, while the pilot, co-pilot, and two other passengers died as a result of the crash.

According to the Los Angeles Times, “The jet veered off the end of the runway, plowed through a perimeter fence and then crossed a roadway before slamming into a berm, where it became engulfed in a ‘significant fire,’ said Peter Knudson, a spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board.�

The artists, performing together as TRVSDJ-AM, had been in South Carolina to give a free concert in Columbia. An AP release used in the New York Times clarified that the small plane was a Learjet “that crashed on takeoff at Columbia Metropolitan Airport.�

The Los Angeles Times goes into significant detail as to the names and lives of the victims of the crash. “The fiery crash… killed Chris Baker, 29, of Studio City and Charles Still, 25, of Los Angeles, both members of Barker's entourage. Also killed were pilot Sarah Lemmon, 31, of Anaheim Hills and co-pilot James Bland, 52, of Carlsbad, Calif., according to the Lexington County coroner's office.�

Both Barker and Goldstein are LA natives, which explains the depth of the coverage given to the crash by the LA based newspaper.

Not all news sources considered the names of the victims to be the most integral part of the story. Israeli news service Haaretz focused on Goldstein because of his Jewish heritage. The story briefly described the crash then included information on Goldstein’s life. “Goldstein, a Philadelphia native, has built a devoted following internationally, and is a fixture on the L.A. club scene. He also became a gossip column fixture during the two years he dated celebrity heiress Nicole Richie.�

This is not the most pressing aspect of the plane crash, but the staff at Haaretz are writing for a specific audience. Naturally, the content of the article is influenced by the potential readers. It was deemed important for the mainly Jewish readers of the paper to learn more about the celebrity status of a Jewish man.

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At 4:23 p.m. Friday afternoon, a commuter train collided into a freight train. The crash occurred in Chatsworth, a district of the city of Los Angeles.

The death count stands at 17 and over 135 were injured, though both numbers are expected to rise. The commuter vehicle, a Metrolink train, was carrying 225 passengers.

The LA Times issued a detailed report,
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-traincrash13-2008sep13,0,2874450.story, which delved into the recovery efforts. Quoted was LA City Fire Capt. John Virant. “‘They are in there removing dead bodies that are lying on top of survivors,’ Virant said. In the front train carriage, he said, ‘it was as if somebody had just taken all the seats and thrown them in there.’�

The cause of the accident was not released at the time of the LA Times article, though it was under investigation. The Associated Press later reported that the engineer of the commuter train was responsible for the crash after running a red light (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-09-14-train-crash_N.htm). However, a representative from the National Transportation Safety Board said that the investigation has not been completed.

It is important to note that the LA Times was one of the only newspapers to run an original story on the crash. Most larger newspapers used the AP releases in their coverage. The readers of the LA Times would be more inclined to seek new information from their paper about the crash due to its local importance.

A crash that occurred in 2005 was repeatedly mentioned in multiple sources for comparative purposes. The earlier crash also involved a Metrolink train.

The fact that two severe Metrolink crashes have taken place in the span of three years has led some to question the accountability of the company. "I think it's an outrage that Metrolink has let this happen again," said Jeremy Schneider, a witness to the crash. "How do you hit a freight train head on in broad daylight? How could this happen?�

The original AP News Release announcing the crash, found here at http://abcnews.go.com/US/WireStory?id=5793645&page=2, contained only immediate information that the collision had occurred, and where and when it happened. Follow-up reports from AP expanded on the story, citing the mounting death toll and injury count.

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