Last Current Events Entry of the Decade!

In order for you to know more about the Writer's Guild of America strike, I am posting a link to the wikipedia page relating to the strike. While I found 4 articles to post about the strike, I found that the wikipedia article had more useful information that the article.

You DO NOT need to read the entire article-- it is long. Instead of reading the entire thing, please read the following Sections:

1. Issues in the strike

4. Effect on television

5. Response

Please post a 2 paragraph response illustrating demonstrating knowledge obtained from the reading. Because there will not be a quiz, this blog post is worth 25 points.

Here is an interesting video from the writing staff of the office during the strike.

Mass Media: The Triumphant Return of Current Events 12/13/2009

Ahh...it has been too long since we have done a current events blog post. In order to receive full credit, you must post to the blog by the start of class on Tuesday (12/15) . There will be a quiz on Tuesday and you can use a 3x5 notecard with 20 words on it.

Invictus is getting a lot of press-- I hope to see it sometime this week.

I am not sure about Avatar. I just hope the story is as good as the special effects look.

E-Readers are all the rage this holiday season. Are they worth it?

Project Schedule

Once again I have left the schedule of who is to present next at school. I meant to post it to the blog on Friday, but that did not happen.

Please refer to the schedule that I handed out before Thanksgiving break. Paul was the last person to go, so the next three people are scheduled for Monday (in addition to Mike).

Sorry to not have the specific information-- I will try to post it first thing Monday morning.

Projects Due!!

This post is just a reminder that your projects are due!

Your 2 3/4 page paper is due by the start of class on tuesday. In addition to using www.turnitin.com (class code: 3001016) , please also bring a paper copy to class.

If your presentation is Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday -- please bring clips to class so that I can screen them.

If you have any questions, feel free to post them here- or email me: cullenc@hempfieldarea.k12.pa.us

Current Events 11/22

Standard procedures: quiz on Tuesday, 3x5 notecard with 20 words. Post at least 2 paragraphs about one of the articles.

The Road will be released soon. Here is an article from the Post Gazette.

Ahh..the infamous rhinestone glove of Michael Jackson.

This week we are going to discuss Garry Marshall's impact on television. As part of our "current events" quiz, please read his Wikipedia entry.

Say it ain't so Oprah!!

Here is an update about an article that I posted last week. If you post to this entry, I will give you up to 5 bonus points (must be done by 5pm on Friday 11/20).

Oprah to end show in 2011

Mass Media: Current Events 11/16/2009

Please post to the blog by the start of class Tuesday. You may bring a 3x5 card with 20 words on it for the quiz.

Here is an article that Mr. Gruber sent me about Xbox Live.

Oprah has a big question to answer...read about it!

The Fantastic Mr. Fox was in limited release this weekend. How involved was Wes Anderson? Find out here. (this is an older article, but worth reading!).

General 9

To help in your search of job skills, educational requirements and mean salaries, here is a link to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

You can search by category and then by specific occupation.

You can also use this link to help you find information. It is the occupational handbook and will allow you to see current data relating to career choices. This website is also from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Here is the link the Central Westmoreland Career & Technology Center (The Vo-Tech).

If you are thinking about going to community college, here is the link to the Westmore County Community College (WCCC).

By the end of the class today, you should have found at least 2 sources that will help you to better understand the job that you have decided to write about. You MUST also have your brainstorm paper completed.



I will be around to help you- please just ask.

Sesame Street: Let's Watch Some Videos

After the dvd debacle that was today's class, I have created a supplemental exercise for us. Instead of me showing you (or trying to show you) clips from the earlier years, I would like you to watch at least 5 clips from the Sesame Street Channel on Youtube. This channel includes famous guest appearances, musical numbers, current and class bits. It is definitely worth exploring.

For this assignment, you will go to the Sesame Street Channel on Youtube and watch at least 5 different clips. These clips range from 45 seconds to several minutes. You will then post the titles of the 5 clips that you watched and write a one paragraph response to one of them.

This assignment will be due Friday (11/13) at 1:00 pm. You can go to the comments section for an example.

Current Events: 11/8/2009

For this week you will need to only read 1 article and post your response to the article-- using at least 2 complete paragraphs. I do not want a summary of the article. I want your thoughts and reactions to the article presented in an intellectual manner. Please have the post completed by the start of class Tuesday. There will be a quiz on Tuesday (notecard with 20 words is permitted).

This week we will be talking about children's television focusing on Sesame Street. Mr. Rogers and other shows from the 1960s and 1970s. Here is an excellent article from USA Today about Sesame Street celebrating its 40th Anniversary.

Current Events 11/2

There will be a quiz on Wednesday. Normal rules apply: 3x5 card with 20 words on in it. Don't forget to post a two paragraph response to one of the articles.

Here we go!

Here is an interesting article that Paul found. [No quiz for Paul this week!]

V is new show based on a 1980s miniseries about aliens coming to Earth. Read about it here.

Def Jam Records is still relevant after 25 years...read about it here.

Ms. Rouse found this article. It isa few months old, but worth a read!

Jonathan Safran Foer is one of my favorite authors and he has a new book coming out this week. Here is an article about his first attempt at non-fiction. You do not need to read this article for the Current Events quiz-- I just thought that some of you might want to glance at it.

Mass Media: Current Events 11/1

Instead of me posting article for you, this week you are going to submit articles to me. I would like you to choose something interesting and relevant to the course, so please do not simply link the highest grossing films of the weekend. You have read enough "current events" posts to know the type of article that I like.

Before class on Monday I will choose four articles that were posted by students. You will need to read the 4 articles, post about one of them (like we normally do) and there will be a quiz on Wednesday (no school on Tuesday!). If your article is one of the four that I choose, you will automatically recieve a 20/20 on the quiz.

So, to sum things up: If you are reading this, you should post a relevant current events article.

I think that sounds like a fair deal!

Mass Media: 1950s Television Scavenger Hunt

For today's assignment, you will be researching the 1950's most popular television shows.

1) In trios, please follow this link.
2) Choose 1 of the shows other than I Love Lucy. The choosing of shows is a first-come, first serve basis. No duplicates!
3) You will have 1 class period to create a Google Presentation on the show. This presentation must include:

• Premise of the show


• Actors, Actresses & The parts they played


• Memorable Episodes


• Cultural Signifigance (why did people watch this show?)


• Pictures from the show

If you go above and beyond the minimum requirements, you will have a greater chance of earning a high mark.

This presentation MUST be shared with me via Google Documents no later than 2:00 pm today.

I will be posting links to all of your presentations on this blog. Tomorrow, you will each tell about your show and your presentation will be evaluated by the class.

Current Events: Supplemental

If you are reading the blog and would like to comment on this article, I think that it worth discussing. It doesn't really fit into our current unit, but does add to our overall conversation concerning mass media.

Here is the article and here is a link to the commercial.

If you post your thoughts, I might throw you some bonus points....

Mass Media: Current Events 10/26/2009

If everyone in the class posts to the blog by the start of class I will cancel the quiz.

Get ready for your last Current Events Quiz of the 9 weeks! As usual, you can use a 3 x 5 notecard with up to 20 words on it. Any words you want- 20 of them! Be sure to post a two paragraph response on this entry by the start of class Tuesday. If you have any questions, I will answer them before 9:30 pm tonight.

Here is a review of the new film about Amelia Earhart. It seems that her life was made for a movie.

Oh No!!! WORST NEWS EVER!

Movie theaters are no longer just for movies. See how the industry is keeping up by reading this article.

For the final article (the Hulu one was really short), I am going to plug one of my favorite shows: Madmen. Read about the set details here.

Bonus: I will throw you a couple of bonus points if you create your own Simpsons Character. While you do not need to enter the contest, you must answer all of the questions that they ask and post it to the blog.

Mass Media: Television Unit

For this assignment, you will begin researching a television show that you find interesting. Please follow the directions that I give throughout this blog post.

For this task, you will be using an article from time magazine and conduct brief internet "research". You will be required to post something on this blog.

First: Read this article entitled "How I Chose The List"

Second: Read through the entire list of Time's Top 100 Television Shows. Choose at least 5 shows that you found interesting. Read about these shows by clicking the title.

Third: Out of the 5 shows that you choose, pick 1 show that you would like to research more.

Fourth: Do "internet research" on your chosen show. This could be at wikipedia, tv.com, Entertainment Weekly or any other reliable television outlet

Fifth: Post a comment to this blog. This comment should include the following:

• The names of the 5 television show that you read more about.


• The name of the show that you wanted to research more about.


• Why you wanted to research that show (at least 4 sentences)


• What you found out after you researched your show (at leat a paragraph)


• Where you found this information

If this is not completed by the end of class it is homework.

Mass Media: Bonus Opportunity

A lot of you have asked me about bonus opportunities for this class. Since we have been working on radio broadcasting for quite some time, I feel that any bonus that I give should be an extension of what we have already done in class.

For bonus points, listen to the following interview from Fresh Air on NPR. The interview is with Spike Jonze, the director of Where the Wild Things Are. The clip is 20 minutes long and very interesting.

To earn bonus points, listen to the entire clip and post a 3 paragraph response to the interview on this post.

You have until Wednesday, October 21st to complete this. This will be the only opportunity for bonus.

Mass Media: Current Events 10/18/2009

In addition to the test that you will be having on Tuesday, there will be a current events quiz on Monday. Just like the other Monday quizzes, you will be able to write 20 things on a 3x5 notecard to help you on the quiz.

After you read all of the articles, write a two paragraph response on one of the articles. This is not a summary-- it is what you think about the article and why you think that way.

I will be posting review materials for the test later this evening. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

Read about Pittsburgh finally getting some recognition in video games here.

One of my favorite comedians is Bill Cosby. Here is a review of one of his recent stand-up shows. Be sure to watch the clip at the bottom-- hilarious!

Balloon Boy is making a lot of news. Here is an article from CNN about media exposure and its affect on children.

I hope that all of you had a great weekend!

Mass Media: Current Events 10/11/2009

As per the previous weeks, please be sure to post a comment on this entry. Your post should be at least two paragraphs in length and us correct grammar, structure, etc. There will be a quiz on all of the articles and you will be allowed a 3x5 index card with at most 20 words on it.

Paranormal Activity was released this weekend. Read about why this movie is making headlines.

Here is an article about magazines going under. It is an interesting piece about the decline of the magazine industry as a whole.

Here is a really long article about the Beatles coming to Pittsburgh. I think that it is worth reading because of the local and historical context.

I will only post 3 articles due to the length of the Beatles article. I hope that you all had a wonderful weekend!

Mass Media: Radio Project

I have been listening to the radio all weekend. The more I listen to it, the more that I enjoy it. In fact, I might say that I am enjoying it more than listening to music. The only downside is that I did travel this weekend and I was listening to Wait..Wait..Don't tell me, but then I was too far away to recieve the signal. This is one of the reasons that Satelite Radio (XM & Serius) are doing [fairly] well.

Here is a list of links of the most popular syndicated radio shows.

National Public Radio has all of their shows streaming (I listened to Car Talk for the first time on Saturday. Very entertaining, even though I know nothing about cars!).

Here are some local Pittsburgh Stations:

• WDUQ
• Fox Sports 970
• WYEP

If you find some other radio shows that are worth posting, please feel free to comment (and I might give you a few bonus points).