Tracking Sources

In my blog today I am talking about where information comes from.  We had a choice to pick from
the New York Times or the Huffington  Post.  Well I chose the Huffington Post. Most of the writers there work for other magazines as well as this one. One of the stories I tracked was by Eric Newton. His story was on News for High Schools: Digital Media Plus Teaching Equals Support For Freedom. In his story it took you to a site called www.knightfoundation.org. From there you could chose two other things to look at.  The source of his information was they did surveys.  That is how he got the information that he printed.

The other story that I looked at was a story by four different writers.  The title was Missed Alarms & 40 Million Stolen Credit Card Numbers:  How Target Blew It.  The writers were M. Riley, B. Elgin, D. Lawrence, and C. Matlock. Each of these reporters got their information from people who work in some professional business related to the mater.  For example they talked to someone from the FBI another talked to a an executive officer from Target, another talked to a lawyer for people wanting to sue target.

Each of the people in these articles had their own way of getting as you say their source of information.  When I go through the list of  Credibility of WWW Resources  I think that both of these articles meet the criteria.  Even though in my first article I never would of thought of surveys as a source of information.  Trust me you had to read the story.

In writing, I guess anything can be a source.  It all has to start somewhere. Sometimes it is reliable and sometimes it's not.

Most of the things that I know about social media is from reading, the internet, and other people.  There are things about social media that I never thought of.  One thing is that most people who have a computer, are on some form of social media site.  Facebook, twitter, linked, google+ to just name a few.  It is a money make for some.  It is a way to get votes for some.  some a way to find a job. And it is a way to stay connected with others for some. 

When I say it is a money maker, that just means that companies are now using social media for advertisement, not just television or radio.  This lets them reach more people.  You know if you are  like some, when the advertisement comes on the television you turn the channel.  Candidates running for an office are now using social media.  It lets them reach a different audience rather than just using the normal ways. Social media is always going to be a good way for people to stay in touch with each other.  That is not going to change.

Some of the information that I have learned, I learned last semester in one of my classes.  From the reading and watching videos that we had to do.  I do believe that some of the information on these sites is reliable good information.  Some of the things that are posted are not so reliable.  For instance, advertisement is just what it is.  It is advertisement.  They want you to buy something.  Watching a candidate running for office.  Well!!! You have to decide if they are telling the truth or not.  Businesses looking for people to work for them.  It is a good way to find a job and make connections.  As for the personal things on these sites. Sometimes you just have to say, Well!!!

You have to decide for yourself if what is posted on social media sites is the truth or not.  Look at me writing this post.  If you are reading this blog, do you believe what I have written or not. Some things are reliable and some things are not. 

New Media

The biggest things that  I use in the form of new media is Facebook. My phone is a window's phone.  I like getting on my computer and seeing what they have to pop up as far as what's happening now.  I like getting messages on Facebook.  I really do not talk on the phone a lot so Facebook comes in really handy for me.  I also like e-mail.  You can send me what you have to say and I do not have to stop doing what I am doing to talk.  Most of the time, it is something I do not need to respond to any way.  My phone will send me alerts on the weather, and other things so I do not have to watch the news for that. I can look up a lot of information on my phone just like I can on my computer.  That is a good thing.  I do not to have to wait until I am at a computer to do some work or look up something.

When things like Facebook are used correctly, then it is no problem.  The problem comes in when, like any thing else, it is used in the wrong way.  Things have been posted on media sites that should not be.  When things are posted on social media sites, people should make sure that there information is correct.  When it is put out there for everyone to see, there is no taking it back.  Depending what is said, saying sorry is just not enough.