Final EOTO

Katie Couric, born on January 7th, 1955, in Arlington Virginia, is a trailblazing American Journalist who has left an impact on the world of Journalism for her compassion and story telling ability. In her high school years Katie wrote for her Yorktown High School paper which is believed to have started her love for journalism. 

She attended the University of Virginia and spent the next 4 years obtaining a degree in American Studies. After graduating college in 1979  she did not pursue a career in her major but it still laid the foundation for the next years to come as she followed in her parents footsteps. Katies mother was a writer and her father was journalist so it looks as being a journalist was in her blood the whole time.

She quickly began her career in 1979 the humble position of a news desk assistant at ABC news in Washington, D.C. She then moved on to CNN and later on earned the position of a political correspondent and producer in the 1984 presidential race. After a few years of working at CNN she was hopeful in receiving a full time job as a correspondent, but it seems that CNN overlooked her talents and never offered her the full time position.

Katie working at CBS

She quickly picked up and left to a job that offered her the on camera work she had longed for. In a short span she worked at WTJV in Miami and then WRC-TV in Washington D.C. both under the NBC News branch. In 1989 she was offered to join the large NBC network where she was later on offered to be a reporter on the Today Show. 

All of her dreams came true when she was named the Today Show host in 1991, and for the next 15 years she became one of America's well trusted news sources. It became well known that she had a talent of balancing the delivery of harsh news in a warm and compassionate way. 

Katie's Live Colonoscopy 
Today Show 2000

When her husband the love of her life passed away in 1997 from colon cancer, Katie immediately took action and became an avid cancer advocate. On the today show in 2000, she decided to undergo a colonoscopy to bring awareness to getting tested and have preventable care. 

That day she started something in which doctors called "The Couric effect ". There was a 20% increase in the US after her live screening which measurably increased colon cancer awareness. 

2006, she said goodbye to the NBC network and came into the CBS network where she became the first female solo evening news anchor at a major U.S. Network. Saying hello to her old roots she decided to join ABC once more in 2011 where she eventually had her own film production studio called Katie which was a daytime talk show. 

Katie Couric's impact goes far beyond just her television role. She has continuously evolved with the industry, always staying one step ahead of other reporters. Through her documentaries, books, and podcast it leaves an impact on one that shows us what it means to be a leader that is truly caring. She is a pioneer for women, and specifically women in journalism, breaking countless glass ceilings, showing others that yes, anything is possible. 

 

Shock and Awe Movie Reaction

Shock and Awe 
Movie cover

The movie Shock and Awe perfectly depicts the powerful and important movement made of Journalist from the news service Knight Ridder that questioned the Bush administration's claim that Iraq had mass weapons of destruction in 2003. It was realized in 2017, over 14 years after the beginning of the war occurred.   

It all begins in 2001 when devastation strikes America as 4 planes are hijacked in a plan to cause major destruction and loss for our Country. This day was marked as 9/11 to remember the day that 2,977 Americans lost their lives to the ruthless acts of the al-Qaeda terrorist group. The entire country was left in horror that day, wanting answers and justice for all. 

In all of this aftermath of 9/11 the U.S. government was quick to decide to take action by pushing a war on Iraq on March 20th, 2003, due to the claims of mass weapons of mass destruction. 

Image of Iraq invasion 
2003

As anger and uncertainty swept all in the country, many news outlets immediately began to run stories feeding into the narrative that the Bush Administration had created. America was being fed with stories and answers from all major news sources, especially The New York Times. These stories were false, lacked reliable and creditable sources that created an unbalanced and scary government dynamic.   

Many news sources felt successful, like they were giving the people the answers they craved. All except for the journalist at the Knight Ridder news service. They decided to take a stand to truly uncover what information was true, and swore to only produce news that could be proven correct and didn't just go along with the ideas of the Bush Administration. 

With hard work, the Knight Ridder Journalist were able to prove the major flaws of the government's theories. Over time there stories were proven to be right as Iraq did not possess weapons of mass destruction. 

Shock and Awe 
Movie Final Scene 

Anyone that watched this movie regardless if they are a journalist or not, is left with a powerful lesson. It teaches that regardless of the overpowering feel of emotions at times, that it is important to seek truth in every story than to just accept the view that is popular or "official". It is the job of the press to hold its individuality and freedom of speech in order to protect the democracy we have built in this country. 

EOTO #2 Reaction Post

"Join or Die" a message from Benjamin Franklin in 1754 that is considered to be one of the earliest symbols encouraging American Unity. Looking at the image it appears to be so simple, it's a broken up snake with 3 words attached. However, the reason and message behind it was powerful. It was said that he created this image with a goal of uniting the colonist to work French and Native American allies.

Join or Die image 

It was also later on used during the Revolutionary war, to once again motivate Americans to unite against British rule. It still stands today as an iconic symbol of unity within the United States. 

I also found it empowering to learn of Ida B. Wells story.

She was a pioneering African American Woman who was multifaceted. Whether it was her journalism, or civil rights movement efforts, she truly left an impact in everything she did. 

Born into slavery in the state of Mississippi, she was then emancipated later on in her life alongside her parents after the Civil War. Her parents passed when she was just aged 16 were she then became the primary caretaker of her six siblings. 

Ida B. Wells 

Her life took a change on May 4th, 1884. She was taking a trip on the railroad to Selby County, when she was told to leave her first class seat and then wrongfully removed off of the train. This lit a fire in Ida as she began her Journalism career in Memphis as a editor.

From there she began writing in a impactful way. Speaking for the unspoken and fighting for what was right. She was known for her investigative journalism in lynching cases, fighting for the women's suffrage movement especially for black women who were wrongfully left out of the movement at times. 

Despite everything she faced, Wells remained fearless. She left the impact that Journalism could be more than just writing stories. It can be a call to action, fighting for what you believe in, and investigating every aspect of a story. 

Benjamin Franklin's "Join or Die" and Ida B. Wells journalism share a common theme; fighting for unity and justice for all even in times of uncertainty. 

EOTO History of Fashion Journalism

Before there was any Social Media with Influencers, influencing you on the hottest brands and styles, there was Fashion Magazines. 

The First Fashion Magazine Cover
Cabinet des Modes ou les Modes Nouvelles

Thanks to Fashion Journalism, it paved the way for how we consume fashion and the entire Fashion World Today. Fashion Journalism is a type of Journalism that reports the latest news about all things in the fashion industry. From the birth of the first fashion magazine to the front page Vogue covers we know today, fashion journalism has always played a part behind the largest trends.

It's history began in the 18th Century in France. It was in the form of the first only fashion focused magazine named Cabinet des Modes ou les Modes Nouvelles, which translates to Cabinet of Fashions or New Fashions in English. This magazine was subscription based, and distributed in France as well as abroad. 

It was also unique in the way that it wasn't just available for upper class citizens, but also for middle class citizens which was uncommon in that time. Each edition was 8 pages long with 3 hand painted engravings that went into great detail. These paintings showcased the latest styles that the elite circles in Paris were wearing, allowing those outside of the fashion capital to indulge in the current fashion trends. 

Harper's Bazaar
First edition 

The Cabinet des Modes ou les Modes Nouvelles paved the way for what we know as "The Rise" in Fashion Journalism. This rise took place on November 2nd, 1867 when Harper's Bazaar Magazine published its first magazine. 

It was founded by Harper's & Brothers, which was a New York based publishing firm that was ran by 4 brothers. Funny enough it was originally spelt as Harper's Bazar without the double a. It was the first of its kind as it looked at women's lives through the lens of fashion. In it's very first edition they described themselves as "A repository of fashion, pleasure and instruction."

While Harper's Bazaar opened the door of fashion focused journalism to the world, it wasn't long until the iconic Vogue came along in 1892. Arthur Baldwin Turnure is the brilliant American business man that took the title of the founder of Vogue. He created it to be a weekly newspaper passed amongst the wealthy in New York City, as a publication that celebrated the "ceremonial part of life". 

Vogue's first edition 

The paper included multiple topics like; the upper class habits, favorite leisure activities, the places they visited the most and the clothing they wore. Each issue costed 10 cents, which now amounts out to $2.85, and there was a weekly edition for the first 17 years. 

Since the beginning of fashion journalism almost 157 years ago, the industry continues to evolve and change today. The rise of social media, fashion blogs and digital media have changed how quickly.  Physical magazines have now turned into online news publications where you can access the latest stories with in minutes of it being published. 

Some of the well known hubs for fashion journalism today are Vanity Fair and Vogue. They have found ways to adapt by creating apps, live streaming shows, and collaborating with celebrities and influencers. 

While large magazines companies are continuously learning to evolve and dominating the fashion world, there are also small fashion blogs climbing the ladder as well. A good example is WeWoreWhat, which is a fashion brand that has a dedicated spot on their website for fashion blogging. 

On this section called The Blog they post short prompts to trending outfits, upcoming fashion forecast, and influencer recommendations. It shows how any brand can utilize fashion journalism to create diversity and bring in a wider audience. This proves that Fashion Journalism is not dying, but only being reimagined as the years go on.

WeWoreWhat
Blog Section of Website

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Five Star Final

Five Star Final
Movie Cover

A headline can ruin lives. This statement stands true throughout the history of Journalism. It can be seen today throughout numerous social media apps, or you can even see it displayed throughout film like in the Five Star Final Film from 1931. A movie many could say was ahead of its time with the message it displays. 

The movie scene takes place in New York City, which is considered to be one of the media capitals of the world. It begins in the work place of the New York evening gazette which is a tabloid style newspaper under the order of Joseph Randall (played by Edward G. Robinson). 

Desperate to improve the paper and it's revenue, Randall looks in search of any deep story,scandal, or goosip to light a fire. He decides to uncover the 20 year old murder story involving a woman named Nancy Voorhees. 

Nancy, was accused of shooting and killing the father of her child, named Jenny. She is now 20 years old when the movie takes place and is to be married very soon to a young man of the name Phillip Weeks. Now, 20 years after Nancy has found a new life as the renamed Nancy Townsend, she is married to Micheal Townsend, who Jenny believes is her father. 

Randall sends one of their reporters, T. Vernon Isopod to investigate Nancy and what has become of her life 20 years after the large scandal. Thinking cleverly, Isopod invades their home impersonating as a reverend from the local church. 

Manipulating Nancy and her husband, he was able to gain their trust so much so that Nancy confesses the truth about her dark past. Isopod shocked with the news just given stood up in excitement to rush back to report on his findings. 

The New York Evening Gazette Office
(Pictured Characters: Isopod and Randall)

After reporting back to Randall at the news station, a story was pushed out later on by the name of "Where are They Now?". It covered the Nancy Voorhees scandal of being accused of killing the father of her child and, her now grown child; Jenny, who is soon to be married in the next days. 

The next day Nancy is reading the daily paper, when she flips to the next page only to find her worst nightmare has come true. There it is, the Nancy Voorhees story in the Evening Gazette, bringing up the very pain she has swallowed for 20 years. Now the chatter is spreading quickly through town.

Flooded with emotions and a heavy heart Nancy begins to panic. This news will surely further damage her reputation, family, her daughter Jenny, and Jenny's marriage. Then suddenly Nancy's world ends, quite literally. 

She feels she has nothing left to do at this point but take her own life. Her husband comes home, finds his wife on the floor, and looses his entire world in that second. He decides he must join his wife and takes his own life as well. 

New York Evening Gazette Paper
with the featured "Nancy Voorhees Story"

 As stated before, a headline can ruin lives. But this isn't just   the plot of the 1931 movie a Five Star Final, this line stays true   in todays society as Yellow Journalism continues to play on the   career of Journalism and all involved with it. 

 In the movie Yellow Journalism is portrayed as the need to   bring more attention to the paper at any cost with out the   regard of knowing the full story nor taking Nancy's feelings   into account. I also could find a similarity in the movie with   todays known "Gossip Columns". 

 Just like Randalls paper todays gossip columns live on telling   invasive stories of those in the public eye. Watching this   movie, I think I was a given a good reminder. 

Even almost 100 years later after this film with tons of new discoveries and changes in Journalism, I believe that the people are the ones that have the power to use it as a good or bad outlet regardless of how much time has past. 

I think its up to your moral values and beliefs as a human to guide your judgement within Journalism, and the Five Star Final is a great movie to learn and understand both sides of the story. 

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 The 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 Hearst started one of the very first print-media companies and even has his own building called The Hearst Tower in Charlotte.

Joseph Pulitzer 

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.

Public Occurrences
1st and only Publication  

 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 was 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.