EOTO Reaction Post

 

    During class on Thursday March 6th I had the opportunity to listen to each of my classmates EOTO presentations. I gained a lot of understanding and knowledge on the history of Journalism and the many people/companies that paved for the way journalism is today!

     I first learned that Yellow Journalism  was fabrication of news that twisted the news in order to pull in more viewers and revenue. The part that I found the most interesting is that the term Yellow Journalism actually came from a comic strip of a character named Yellow Kid. The term of Yellow Journalism is no longer used any more but it's contents are still used and can be seen throughout certain news outlets that are know as "gossip columns". 

The Yellow Journalism feud originally started between Pulitzer and Hurst, both which went on to leave very impactful skills on the world of Journalism. Joesph Pulitzer, known for funding and founding the Pulitzer Prize which recognizes the highest national honor in print journalism, literary achievement, and music composition. William Hurst started one of the very first print-media companies and even has his own building called the Hurst Tower in Charlotte.

     Moving on in the presentations I learned about the public occurrences and Boston newsletter, which were newspapers that had different opinions on the British Government. Interesting about the Public Occurrence is that it had one issue only which was published on September 25th, 1690. This newsletter was 4 pages long which contents were of British Slander, and the last 2 pages were blank which allowed for people to write gossip and pass it around to others. The Boston Newsletter was founded by John Campbell with the first issue being in 1704 and last one being 1776, which was published weekly. The difference between these two newspaper was that the Boston newsletter was published weekly and had to be approved by the British Gov. While the Public Occurrence was not approved and only had one issue.

     Overall I enjoy hearing from my classmates opinions on their personal topic of choice and learned a lot about the many different important events in Journalism. I now can see how we are still connected to Journalisms past in someway whether we realize it or not. 

Yellow Journalism & Penny Press EOTO

 Benjamin Henry Day, a New England printer who in his twenties, founded the Penny Press in the year of 1833. He produced newspapers in a efficient and quicker way producing it in greater quantities by using a new steam-powered printing press. Its cost was one of its main selling points. The Penny Press sold for just one penny, making it affordable for the working class, whereas the majority of newspapers at the time cost around six cents and catered to the higher class of society. These newspapers were sold directly on the streets by newsboys, who were typically between the ages of six and sixteen, rather than through subscriptions. The newspapers were able to reach a far wider readership thanks to this street distribution approach, which also significantly influenced the contemporary newspaper sales.

Through the Penny Press, a number of renowned authors and editors left a lasting impression. In 1851, George Jones and Henry Raymond established The New York Daily Times, which subsequently evolved into The New York Times, one of the most significant newspapers in existence today. The editorial voice of The Sun was shaped by Charles A. Dana, who took control in 1868. In 1835, James Gordon Bennett founded The New York Morning Herald, which is renowned for its aggressive and innovative reporting. These individuals influenced the development of contemporary news reporting and the newspaper industry.

By emphasizing tales that attracted public attention, the Penny Press transformed news content. These publications covered dramatic stories, human interest articles, local news, crime, scandals, gossip in local towns in addition to politics and business. This change helped newspapers reach a wider readership and made them more interesting to the average reader. The Penny Press established the foundation for contemporary popular journalism by leveraging curiosity and emotion.

Additionally, the Penny Press altered the target audience and marketing strategies for other newspapers. They were inexpensively marketed and relied on advertising revenue rather than costly subscriptions. The working class, who previously couldn't purchase traditional newspapers, now had easier access to news. These newspapers frequently employed captivating stories to attract readers and increase circulation, which influenced the development of popular journalism and mass media.

The Penny Press revolutionized journalism by lowering the cost of newspapers, expanding their readership to all classes, and emphasizing in interesting content. It established the framework for contemporary newspapers and demonstrated that mass media could be both profitable and widely accessible. Innovations in distribution, content, and sales ushered in a new era of journalism that still has an impact on the field today.

What I have learned in the 1st half of the semester

 During the first seven weeks of this class, I've really learned a lot about the history, inner workings, and laws/rights of journalism. From the beginning, I learned that the First Amendment's six clauses, or six liberties, protect not just journalists but all people. I can't stop thinking about what Professor Smith said: "Everyone is a journalist, and we all use the First Amendment every day." That may sound like a simple concept at first, but it truly helped me understand that everyone has these rights, not just professional reporters. One of the most significant individual rights is the First Amendment. Because it is explicitly mentioned in the Bill of Rights, it is regarded as one of the strongest of rights. That knowledge truly helped me in both my everyday life experiences and my career as a journalist. This shows just how powerful our rights are, how vital our voices are, and how we should always value them.

We dove deep into the Partisan Era (1690–1865) and the New Partisan Era while researching journalism history. Seeing how politics and public opinion have always impacted journalism was incredibly eye-opening. I was particularly interested in the idea of the adversarial press, which holds that journalists should challenge authority and make sure individuals in positions of authority are held responsible. It helped me realize that good journalism is about seeking the truth, even when it's uncomfortable, and not only about making people feel comfortable. It made me consider the political biases of different news organizations and the state that journalism has transformed into today. I found that the connection between the past and the present can be very meaningful.

In order to shed light on the history of our rights and their defense, we also learned about the State Action Doctrine. For me, learning about tort law and libel law was important because it brought to my attention the hard balance that journalists must learn and how they strike between their right to free expression and their obligations under the law. There are rules that encourage press freedom while also preventing harm, so you can't just say whatever you want whenever you want without repercussions.

The function of citizen journalism was another subject that truly made me use my critical thinking skills. Anyone may spread news and information on social media, nowadays even more quickly than traditional journalists can. However, it also raises many questions around truthfulness, morality, and the obligations that accompany having a platform. Although the right to free speech is vital, we should think carefully about how we use it.

This class has taught me more ground than just simply journalism; it has also taught me how the media affects society, the importance of our rights, and the responsibility that comes with exercising these rights. The number of times we use the First Amendment without even realizing it is astounding. I'm really excited to see what the remainder of the semester has in store!

Why am I Here?

Why am I here?

My journey to journalism began when I was very young. For as long as I could remember I always loved being in the spotlight and on camera. A specific memory for me was when I was in Kinder garden and signed up for my schools talent show and when I would practice at home I would ask my mom to film my performance and upload it to YouTube. I also spent 14 years of my life as a gymnast, so being a performer was built into me from a young age. When I started pageants at 9 years old, that's when I was really developed a love for Public Speaking. At the time, I saw it as a fun challenge, a way to build confidence and step out of my comfort zone. What I didn’t expect was to fall in love with the pageant world. There was something about standing on that stage, connecting with an audience, and sharing my story that sparked a passion I couldn’t ignore.

That passion grew over the years as I competed in more pageants and sought out opportunities to refine my communication skills. In 2018, I had the honor of receiving an award at the Live Justice Awards for my efforts in raising over 8,000 dollars for hurricane victims in Puerto Rico, where I spoke live on national television. Standing on that stage, with cameras rolling and an audience watching, I felt an overwhelming sense of clarity. That moment made me realize the power of storytelling and its ability to inspire, connect, and create meaningful change. Although I really enjoyed Public Speaking at that age, I had never imagined that it would one day become my area of study in college and my future career. 

In 2019, I turned my love for inspiring others into action by founding Girl Strong, an initiative designed to empower young girls to find their unique strengths and chase their dreams. Through Girl Strong, I’ve hosted over 50 workshops across 10 states and even internationally, helping young women gain confidence and discover their voices—just as I once did. Up until 2022 I was convinced that I wanted to go into the medical field, that was until my dreams were crushed as a gymnast when I got a career ending hip-injury. After that I put all of my focus into my initiative and pageantry, and that's when I realized I wanted to pursue a path in Journalism.   

Now, as a freshman at High Point University, I’m taking my first official journalism class, and it feels like everything has come full circle. This class is an exciting next step in my journey, one that allows me to combine my skills in public speaking, storytelling, and connecting with others.

I’m here because I believe in the power of stories. My dream is to become an Entertainment Media Correspondent, using my voice to share diverse perspectives and highlight stories that matter. I hope to bring a fresh, bilingual perspective to outlets like E! News, The Today Show, or Good Morning America. This class represents the foundation for that dream, and I’m excited to grow as a journalist, develop my skills, and take one step closer to turning my passion into a lifelong career.