Thursday, November 28, 2019

Evolution Through Natural Selection Essays - Evolutionary Biology

Evolution Through Natural Selection Children often play a game called telephone, where one child whispers a statement into another childs ear, and the statement is passed on to other children; at the end of the game the last child will repeat the statement that was told to him or her. The majority of the time, the statement said would be completely different than the original one. This is an example of evolution through natural selection; where somewhere along the life span of the statement, it was modified, and the modified statement was passed on to form a new statement. Charles Darwin stated that, individuals are the unit of selection; the struggle for existence is a matter among individuals. In this statement Darwin is referring to natural selection. Natural selection is defined as the differential contribution of offspring resulting from variations in heritable traits. As a result of natural selection, certain individuals in a given population produce certain traits that others do not. Natural selection is the only agent that adapts organisms to their environment; if a species cannot adapt to their environment, eventually they will be extinct. In my visit to the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), I observed many interesting things concerning the issue on evolution and natural selection. An example of evolutionism I saw in the AMNH was the Hall of Human Biology and Evolution. This hall concentrated on human evolution and how certain traits arose through successful generationsuch as the change in the skeletal system as a result of walking upright. Fossils of Australopithecus afarensis, which is believed to be the earliest human relative, are dated back nearly 4 million years. The Hall of the Vertebrate Origins is another exhibit that shows evidence of evolutionism. The purpose of this hall is to show that all vertebrates had a common ancestor. That common ancestor had a brain case and a backbone. As time progressed, the vertebrates developed limbs that were supported by the backbone, and had watertight eggs. The Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs and the Hall of Ornithischian Dinosaurs are more examples of evolution within vertebrates. However, these two halls do not have much in common with our line of ancestry except for the fact that a backbone and brain case are present; any other things in common with our lineage are but minor details. That is why the AMNH has another hall called Mammals and Extinct Relatives. The hall, Mammals and Extinct Relatives, is devoted to showing how all mammals evolved from the earliest forms of vertebrates. A big evolutionary change that separates mammals from other forms of animals is the development of the placenta and the formation of the middle ear. The hall that I believe to be the most interesting of all halls in the AMNH, is the Hall of Biodiversity. In this hall we can see a large spectrum of life from the broad Kingdom to the specific Species is found in this part of the museum. The amount of information that one can obtain from just this hall alone is overwhelming. From the simple far left (true bacteria) to the complex far right of the hall shows us a great difference in species as well as many similarities. But more importantly, the hall shows that many of the more complex living species today have evolved from another living or extinct species in the past. Furthermore, those living/extinct species in the past originated from another more ancient species, and so on. Natural selection is a nonrandom event and is a process that happens over large periods of time. The offspring that carry a certain trait that is favored due to a certain environment will be carried on more successfully by their offspring. Due to this process change, even if it is minute, will occur over a small number of generations. If such selection continues to occur more complex forms of a simpler body plan will arise. Science Essays

Monday, November 25, 2019

The Concept of Genetic Privacy Essays

The Concept of Genetic Privacy Essays The Concept of Genetic Privacy Paper The Concept of Genetic Privacy Paper Genetic information is unique. It tells not only about an individual, but also about an individuals family. Unlike medical information, genetic information does not change over time. Genetic information is more than health information; it also reveals our heritage and connections to relatives and communities. Where does genetic information belong in our scale of respect for and protection of personal privacy? What level of privacy restrictions, if any, should be put on genetic information? Some genetic information, such as the color of our hair and skin, is obvious and cannot be kept secret. But what about that genetic information which is less apparent to others, such as our risk for developing a health disorder late in life? Who should be able to have access to this information? Privacy rules set limits on who can access genetic information, and how they may do so. The concept of genetic privacy is split into three primary elements: genetic information as private, confidentiality of genetic information, and the possible use of genetic information to discriminate against individuals or groups. The reason why I am dividing genetic privacy into these three elements is because they are the key essentials that can be debated for or against privacy. In this paper, I will discuss the debates for and against genetic privacy. I will present my position on these debates providing my argument against genetic privacy, respond with how someone may reply to the position advocated, and finally conclude with my belief that setting restrictions on genetic privacy is very difficult and impossible with the issue of discrimination while still taking into consideration of the other side of the argument. Genetic information being kept private can be seen as possible or impossible. Without federal laws to protect the privacy of patients and the confidentiality of medical records, efforts to reform the nations health care system will not be completely successful. Laws will protect an individual’s private information and if they did not exist, rights may be violated. How would that benefit the society? Information about genes will most likely be kept in a medical or medical research location. â€Å"In a typical hospital, at least eighty people have access to medical records† (Lebacqz 243). Therefore, if genetic information is included in a person’s medical record, it would mean that a wide range of people would have access to this private information. Privacy of genetic information or of medical records may not be as possible without legal protections. There are very few federal legal protections and unreliable state protections for medical records to protect privacy. Federal restrictions should be placed on the access to all medical records prior to the further improvement of genetic science. By making laws that will define the responsibilities (ethical and legal) of those with justifiable authorization to access personal medical information, privacy will be maintained. Medical and genetic information posses a greater possibility of being kept private because of the already existing promise made by health care providers to ensure doctor/patient confidentiality. If legal protections are made, the privacy of genetic information would be more possible, but could confidentiality exist? Confidentiality is a major debate in genetic privacy. If people are going to adventure through genetic screening, insurance will become a big issue in keeping the genetic information private. Should genetic information be kept confidential and not be shown to insurance companies? If insurance companies are allowed access to this information, many people may not be able to afford it. â€Å"Genetic test results may be used by commercial insurers for the purpose of risk classification and the calibrating of premiums to risk status, especially in connection with the issuance of individual health insurance policies,† (Peters 214). By using this quote, I am backing up my point that people with genetic diseases will automatically be put into risk classification and agents will change them to high-risk which will be unfair to the individuals. As premiums rise to cover the unhealthy clients, fewer and fewer people will be able to afford insurance. These genetic tests may lead to an increase in the number of individuals on high-risk insurance and also contributing to the increase in people who lack insurance. By restricting health insurance and holding genetic information extremely confidential during the growth of genetic research, people will be able to obtain adequate health insurance and will not be deprived of their rights to privacy without regards to their genetic background. Genetic research is expanding in great ways in hopes to perfect society. While these breakthroughs hold great promise for improving medical treatments, they also present the issue of discrimination. Every human being is more than likely carrying at least one flawed gene. So consequently, every man, woman, and child in the world is a potential victim of discrimination. It is unfair to discriminate against someone because of genetic characteristics that do or do not limit his or her abilities. An example based on genetic information would be as follows: if an employer was able to find out anyone’s genetic background, and then avoid hiring workers they believe are likely to take sick leave, resign, or retire early for health reasons. The big issue with this is that the employers are just hypothesizing without giving the benefit of the doubt. Employers should be prohibited from requesting or requiring genetic information. An employee may have the background of a genetic disease and be discriminated against it when they may not even carry the disease. Would that be fair? If employers gain access to this information, many qualified individuals will be left without jobs, which may even turn around and hurt the employer more. By limiting an employer’s ability to see individual employee medical records, discrimination can be lessened, however, not completely avoided. In response to these different viewpoints, my position is fairly easy to understand. Using all of the information that I have read and researched about, I do not think that it is fully possible to restrict all genetic information from being freely available. Genetic information is a difficult aspect to maintain completely private. Medical records are a good example to use as a foundation of my argument. Health insurance companies obtain permission to see medical records. If genetic information is placed on these records, people will have a difficult time getting decent premiums if they have a background of genetic problems in their family. People who have a low income will have a less advantage of getting the best insurance. That is where discrimination evolves into a large predicament. Discrimination will always be a problem. Some restrictions may be made to protect genetic privacy, but not all-genetic information will be kept completely private. Take employment as an example. A person shouldn’t be forced to give permission for employers to see their genetic information. Business and profit rights should not proceed human rights. Every person should have the right to get a good job, regardless of his or her genetic makeup. The choice of publicly displaying a person’s genetic information should be decided by the individual. It should not be used for reason of hiring or raise. If the person is qualified for the job, then he or she should have the right to the job without the issue of discrimination. Privacy and confidentiality may hold a point, but it does not protect people against discrimination. Not all information can be kept private because science will not be able to advance. If scientists and doctors do not share their information, science will not progress. Every new discovery is shared with others and that is how it becomes known and critiqued. Without the advancement of science, we would not be where we are today with genetics. If a person has Huntington’s disease in their genetic background, scientists will research and use that to help them move forward to find a way to help that person and the people of further generations. If there are laws designed to protect genetic test results in an effort to prevent genetic discrimination, it may make it more difficult to gather the sort of data that will help researchers solve genetic problems. Privacy may possibly postpone or stop the advancement of genetics. Someone may respond to my position advocated by saying human rights are very important when it comes to genetics. By making genetic information private, it will be kept from getting into the wrong hands and will not be used to discriminate. Genetic information can be used to discover personal traits of an individuals life. That information can be used to invade a persons private life, to alter a persons sense of self, and family identity. Genomic information can also affect families and ethnic groups that share genetic similarities. If people are truly seeking protection from discrimination by using the principles of confidentiality and privacy, then genetic information can be controlled. The rights of the individual for employment, insurance, and medical care can then be protected. Genetic privacy is a very difficult discussion because of its uniqueness. I have stated my response to genetic privacy, and through all of the research I have done, I still stand on the point that discrimination will always be a problem and human rights will always be violated due to our conventionally corrupt society. Through time, laws and regulations will be revised to protect the human rights, but as genetic privacy grows, privacy will become more and more difficult to be instilled in the health care profession.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Obituary story Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Obituary story - Article Example My children always felt like she was their second mother- sometime their first (laughs). She never said no to anything or anyone that was thought was worthwhile. We are going to miss her very, very much.† Fletcher was an educated woman and majored in science, a field we know is dominated by men. She attended Midville high school and graduated in 1980. She later attended the University of West State. She did proceed to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in 1984 and later on Master of Science degree in1986. Fletcher spent many years in managerial role in the Department of Dieticians at the University of West State Medical Center and worked in private practice as a diabetes-educator at Dialysis Clinical Inc. in South Medville. Fletcher was a Christian and a believer. Since she was 11 years old, attended the Methodist where she was a member of Little Springs during her childhood and later joining the adult choir in the same church she started as a young girl. All through her life, she was quite active in many projects, whose aim was to aid the less privileged in the society. That is the area she found great internal satisfaction. Interfaith Health Clinic, where she was a member of the junior league, was an important part of her charity work. It was an open opportunity for her to venture in as many charitable actions as possible. Other than her charity work, Fletcher worked in organizations aimed at improving the lifestyle of the community in terms of how food consumption. With her rich skills, ambitions and experience in nutrition, she is remembered of her contribution in diabetes education and diet adviser nationally, regionally and locally. Through such activities, she did aim to halt down the lifestyle diseases brought about by feeding practices. She was a patriot of her home area and, therefore, a longtime cast member of member of the Midville nativity pageant. In the light of

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

China Oil Diplomacy In Africa Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

China Oil Diplomacy In Africa - Essay Example The Sino-African trade alignment is one such relationship between countries, which has raised many interesting issues at the international forum. The fact of the matter is that China requires oil for its fast growing industries, which Africa can offer, and Africa requires financial and development support, which China can provide. From the traditional Ricardian comparative cost advantage framework, each country specializes in producing and exporting the goods, which they produce at a lower relative cost than other countries. It is because each country is endowed with certain specific factors by nature, which places them in a unique position to produce certain goods at a cheaper cost than others. Hence a country which can produce a commodity at a cheaper price is in a position to compete with others whose cost of production is dearer. For example, China, because of its capabilities in producing and exporting textiles at a cheaper price in comparison with other countries, is better suited to supply textile products to Africa. At the same time, if China throw all its might in trying to extract oil from its own geographical bound aries, the unit cost of oil would be dearer in comparison with the oil they can import from, say, Angola. In such a situation, it is better for China to supply its cheaper textile products to Angola, and import its oil requirement from Angola. Thus, on account of inbuilt comparative advantages, international trade is beneficial for both the partner countries. On account of China's oil and other natural resources requirements, and China's capabilities in providing development assistance and technical support to Africa, both China and the African countries are better placed to enter into relationship with each other to mutually benefit from trade. Africa is looking for new development opportunities. Old actors such as Japan, the US and the EU and their African strategies did not go well with Africa. It is also evident that the African continent is growing fast on account of Sino-African relationships, in recent years. Further, during the China Africa Summit, China offered quick packages to Africa, which further strengthened the bond between Africa and China. However, the West looks at China's oil diplomacy in Africa with suspicion, and some critiques argue that China's engagement with Africa does not wear a human face. Hence it calls for an enquiry into the type of role played by China in the African continent to gauge the pros and cons in the Sino-Africa bilateral relationships. In an effort in this direction, I gather the views of various scholars in Sino-African studies and review the literature pertaining to China - Africa in section 2. Based on reliable data sources, I assess the trend in China's trade with Africa in section 3. The conclusions of this study are presented in section 4. Section 2: Literature Review: China's oil diplomacy springs from its quest for oil to feed its economic growth momentum. A steady overseas oil supply in the current geopolitical scenario can be a critical task. China's own experience in procuring oil from outside sources indicate that buying oil from overseas is a poor option compared with control

Monday, November 18, 2019

Innovation, knowledge and learning Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Innovation, knowledge and learning - Assignment Example Same is the case with students all around the world. They spend quite a while over the Internet and thus explore the intricate details that they have conducted over Facebook (Wilks and Pearce, 2011). This paper specifically takes a look at how Facebook forms a vital link between the teachers and their students through the knowledge management domains, and the role of this social networking tool within the norms and routines of the teenagers who will grow up to experience a totally unique and different life from what their forefathers saw. Facebook is a social platform where these students meet, discuss and share ideas, videos and do their postings. For the knowledge management stakeholders, e.g. teachers, it gives them a platform to understand how their students think of the world around them, what they are doing in their normal, day to day lives, and how they think and act in the wake of changing circumstances. It is a fact that Facebook has become an everyday routine, so much so th at it will shape up the coming times in a number of positive ways (McMellon, 2011). The negativities include the fact that people now interact with one another physically less and meet more often on the Internet, through Facebook (Shepherd, 2011). However for the sake of this discussion, the basis of Facebook being a help for the teachers around the world would be made note of (Desenberg, 2000). This will ask for the teachers to remain vigilant and alert as per their actions and thus showcase their truest selves through persistence and devotion (Weston, 2011). Facebook is a social learning tool as it gives out so much information that one can take hours at stretch to fathom. Same is the case for the teachers who are on the look-out for new trends and fads that have come up within the ranks of the students as well as within their own lives (Helvie-Mason, 2011). Concerning specifically within the limits of knowledge management and innovation, Facebook helps the teachers in the classro om as they already know what their students have been up to in the recent times. They can feel pride in knowing beforehand which students are enjoying their life to the maximum and which students have been visiting leisure places of late. All these pointers give them an idea that their students have busy lives just like their own (Greenfield, 2008). Similarly, the ones who are unwell and unable to attend school can also be found out through their status updates, pictures that are posted or shared across their walls, and so on and so forth (Han, 2001). Basically the teachers are finding reasons why their students are proactively driven, and what makes them feel different in the differing times within the classrooms and indeed in the school (Pike, Butler and Bateman, 2011). Facebook is suggestive because it tells the viewers what the profiles are telling them. It asks of the teachers to remain glued to their Home screen and find out who is doing what and which student is coming up wit h the best ideas within his field of life, and so on (Sams and Elliman, 2011). In essence, Facebook helps create that vital bridge between the students and the teachers which are required in this day and age (Halverson, 2011). Even at times, students can message their teachers and find out about certain things which are not related with their academic lives. This has a very interactive feel about the whole affair that comes about due to the presence of

Friday, November 15, 2019

The Advent Of New Media Media Essay

The Advent Of New Media Media Essay Introduction The advent of new media has had a direct and irreversible impact on the foundations of journalism practice. They have brought about changes which caused reporters to renew their skills and change their long established working habits. With the constant evolution of new technological tools, along with web-based platforms and technologies, the various working definitions of what journalism was about in the past seem to have lost their coherence. Furthermore, the presence of new media and the importance of ICT in newsrooms remain undeniable. Leaving aside the definitions issue, it appears that new technologies have redefined the whole concept of what a modern reporter should be like, as well as the knowledge and characteristics he is expected to possess. Due to time and technologies, the skills todays journalists should hold have evolved, whilst those grasped by old school reporters aspire to be renewed. Despite the willingness of business organisations to turn to ICT, it appears that the labour force encounters difficulties to make the most out of it. Logically, the first plausible reason we are tempted to put forth is the lack of training or poor knowledge in ICT. However, there seem to be other unknown factors which hinder the optimum use of new media in newsrooms. To be able to identify the causal factors to the issues mentioned, a case study of a Mauritian media house will be carried out through a questionnaire survey and interviews. The latter will be done among press, radio and web reporters of Le Dà ©fi Media Group to better understand how, why and to which extent new media is utilized in newsrooms. This organisation has been chosen due the strategic position it occupies on the local market. In addition, the firm manages radio, press and web reporters, all under the same roof; which is not the case in other local media houses. The group also offers a variety of publications targeting several types of publicsHence, Le Dà ©fi Media Groups context . particular context diversity for disseminating news Due to the strategic position it occupies in the local media market, Le Dà ©fi Media Group has been chosen as the host firm for this study. Since its creation in 1996, the news group has been able to forge its own identity, and is highly regarded by Mauritian media consumers. This has been proved in a survey performed by Synthà ¨ses Mauritius. The report ranks the media house as the second most powerful news group following La Sentinelle Ltd. (Anon., 2013) As such, Le Dà ©fi Media Group has two newspapers ranked among the top five preferred weeklies, and its Le Dà ©fi Quotidien is the second most read daily in the country. Nervertheless, Synthà ¨ses Mauritius claims that Le Dà ©fi Media Groups website In bold, this research shall attempt to determine whether new media is used intelligently by reporters, to identify the causes behind which new media is not fully exploited during journalism practice, shall assess as to how reporters make use of the facilities provided by new media and whether they are making the most out of the technological infrastructures offered by the organisation itself. The Literature Review Defining Journalism For years now, dictionaries and encyclopaedias have been providing us with definitions, in relevance with the periods during which they were published. Though the older ones are believed to be outdated, the descriptive meanings printed at different periods in time might as well enable us to retrace the etymological meanings of words. As such, The Concise Oxford Dictionary (1963) qualifies the journalist as being one whose business is to edit or write for a public journal. A more recent definition from the dictionarys website states that he is the one who writes for newspapers or magazines or prepares news to be broadcast on radio or television. This definition does provide supplementary dimensions, yet excluding vital notions relating journalism to new media. (Oxford Dictionaries: The worlds most trusted dictionaries, 2013) According to Jo Bardoel and Mark Deuze (2001), such definitions are outdated. The authors highlight the need for broader ones, calling for more actualised and modern explanations. Furthermore, Picard (2000) tries to provide an up to date definition of journalism. More than just a product or service, he describes it as being a mental activity that provides added value to news, be it in terms of features, commentaries, photographs or entertainment. Although the authors definition evokes the presence of new media, his study lays emphasis more on quality in journalistic activity, without clearly defining the intrinsic link existing between the two. Linking Journalism to New Media With new media came a bunch of additional journalistic roles. Long ago reporters were only expected to attend events and press conferences to collect the information necessary for building up their articles. Pieces were handwritten first, and then handed over to typists who would put them in a proper format. Similarly, photographers, cameramen, and sound technicians were hired to assume their respective and assigned responsibilities. Journalism in the 21st century turned out to be quite the opposite. Mark Briggs (2007) claims that the characteristics of the modern reporter have evolved due to the advent of new technological tools. According to him, todays journalists should be polyvalent, and be able to manipulate any type of given media. They should be trained to click their own photographs, be ready to video and audio record, or have editing knowledge for instance. Hence, only those having multi-tasking capabilities will be coveted and rewarded. Due to the pace at which new media mutate, the reporter should have the ability to renew himself as frequently as required. Quick adaption and versatility come as vital traits which shall be decisive while differentiating between a competent reporter and a less efficient one. According to Briggs (2007), the old adages claiming that a reporter should be good anywhere does not have its rationale. Today, he is expected to be able to cope with the constant technological and situational changes. The author further argues that the advent of new media has led to a new form of journalistic model. As such, the contemporary reporter shall be a jack of all trades and master of none, a person who can write, shoot, edit, talk, and look good on camera with a competence that might not be great but good enough. (Briggs, 2007) Moreover, Bardoel and Deuze consider online journalism as being a fourth type of journalism, next to radio, television and printed reporting. They argue that the role of an online journalist is not limited to copying text onto websites, but that they also generate their own content, in the same way as would a mainstream reporter. For this reason, the researchers believe that journalism is believed to be very similar to any other kind of journalism. (Bardoel Deuze, 2001) In addition, they sustain that online reporting comprises of characteristics which are usually inexistent in mainstream media. Interactivity, customisation of content, hypertextuality and multimediality are said to be the characteristics which contribute to the singularity of this type of journalism. Hence, the fundamental processes namely production, content and distribution, which were carried out using several medium, can now be done through only one platform. (Bardoel Deuze, 2001) Interactivity is described by Brent Muirhead (2005) as being related to communication, participation and feedback. This feature is one of the major forces of online journalism. It allows room for audiences to react to items published on the web. Be it in the form of comments, ratings, votes, pools, likes or shares for instance, readers have become reactive. Supporting this view, Briggs indicates that readers are no more passive. Instead, they wish to create, share and comment, and expect to be able to do this on news websites as well. It might be advantageous for the reporter to promote interactivity. Firstly, enabling the comments options on new websites shall leave the door open for readers criticisms, which the journalist might take into account while writing his next piece. Moreover, readers often wish to contact reporters to share their appreciation, or to provide news as sources. In this case, placing email links next to news stories might be helpful. On the other hand, Briggs encourages journalists to be proactive. He states that it is necessary to seek feedback on stories, before being published. This can be done by posting a call to readers by sending emails to a list of potential respondents. In case general comments are required for a story, the author advices to send block emails to as many readers as possible to obtain exploitable responses. In his study, Briggs further highlights the use of new media as contemporary tools. He states the case of John Cook, a well-known business reporter for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. The latter claimed being an intensive user of RSS feeds, and used them to track and obtain information in a more timely manner. (Briggs, 2007) This in turn, allowed him to publish information online very quickly. Journalism quality and productivity New media has brought various professional fields, including journalism, to a brand new level. In the Mauritian context, through a survey, the National Computer Board (NCB) was able to generate a list of business sectors which recorded highest internet usage in the country. The latter demonstrates that the storage and communication sector features alongside those sectors which use the internet extensively, hence implying the direct involvement of the journalism sector. (ICT Usage Survey 2001: A survey on the ICT adoption of businesses in Mauritius, 2002) Depending on a media houses editorial policy, it might be willing to either lay emphasis on quality or quantity. By this statement, I do not mean to suggest that both of them cannot go about simultaneously, but that it is instead one of the most difficult and most challenging goal of an editor. Due to time constraints, short notice assignments and deadlines, reporters are often brought to choose between the two. For instance, in view of the approaching submission deadline, a journalist might build a news item which is less qualitative, be it in the way it is organised, or in the chosen wording. The urge to submit news, added to the pressurising attempts of the editor in chief to make things go quicker undeniably have their role to play. Nowadays, the challenges involved in journalism practice are greater. In the past, competition did not affect the whole processes implicated in newsmaking. In comparison, the journalism models adopted in newsrooms by the end of the twentieth century demonstrate quite the opposite. The major focus has experienced a shift from quality to productivity. This phenomenon can be explained as being the result of rising material and labour costs, and the inability of firms to recover those costs. In addition, the advent of new technologies has also contributed to balancing the costs. By using less reporters along with new technological tools, media houses managements were able to reduce man power, and make more efficient use of fewer journalists. (Picard, 1998) Social Networks as Journalistic Tools The use of social networking sites as research tools has its importance in journalism, be it for the professional or the citizen writer. I have personally come across professionals who share their articles from their online news site onto their Facebook pages, or others who try to get in touch with contact persons through social networks. In addition, blogging among professionals of high calibre has also become a trend: Rabin Bhujun, Gilbert Ahnee, or Raj Meetarban, own and regularly update theirs. Blogging journalism is free from editorial constraints, and professionals make use of it due to its flexibility. Nowadays, journalists report news in real-time through Twitter. The Guardian claims that as of December 2011, and following the guidance of the lord of chief justice, reporters could tweet the court proceedings without constraint. Tweeting is allowed to the public as well, but on the contrary, they will need to seek permission first. (DAVIES, C., 2011) Multimedia Journalism and Convergence According to authors, there are some terms which occupy a vital part in contemporary journalism. Convergence and multimedia newsrooms are some of them. It has been argued that those two terms are closely linked, and that they very often seem to work in together. (Deuze, 2004) As far as multimedia journalism is concerned, it is said to have two definitions. Author Mark Deuze (2004) provides two situational descriptions in his study. Firstly, it is defined as the layout of a news story on a website, which uses at least two types of media formats, like graphics, images, and music for instance. In the second place, the same definition applies but this time with different media such as website, email, radio, television, just to name a few. On the other hand, convergence poses itself as a collaborative participation between previously distinct newsrooms, or other parts of the contemporary media firm. It might be sharing news from other newsrooms, or collaborating on similar projects. (Deuze, 2004) Company Profile of Le Dà ©fi Media Group Having launched itself in the media industry through the weekly Le Dà ©fi Plus, the formerly small company turned into Le Dà ©fi Media Group. As of date, the group is one of the most powerful media houses in Mauritius. Through the years the group has tried to diversify its operations by creating more newspapers, and launching its radio station in 2002. More recently, acute interest has been paid to the various functions provided by the web. Following the opening of its interactive news website, the group aims at developing its own web television. This initiative is a truly innovative one in Mauritius, as it is the first formerly printed news media organisation to extend its field of activities till audiovisual webcasting. Furthermore, it appears that the model proposed by Deuze (2004) perfectly fits the actual status of the firm. As per the authors description, the media house fits the portrayal of a fully integrated media newsroom. The specificities of this type of newsroom is that news reporters from print, broadcast and online media work in hand to produce content, and prepare story packages which are to be disseminated across all media. (Deuze, 2004) Similarly, journalists from the group are sometimes asked to produce media content which is not in their area of predilection. Press reporters are frequently called to make on the spot radio interventions, or journalists doing a specific news beat might be asked to collaborate in producing content for other beats as well. Hence journalism itself is perceived as a product, not the printed or broadcast news (Picard, 1998). As such, it appears that this dose of flexibility, mixed with cross media ownership and convergence form part of the corporate culture of the media house. The groups news website is another interesting asset. Despite being one of the last local media companies to launch one, its popularity remains undeniable. Each day, a considerable amount of responses is recorded, be it in terms of ratings, comments, shares or views. In contradiction to other firms, ledefimedia.info is the only news website to accommodate all its media content on the same platform. The website not only regroups texts from written newspapers, but also proposes videos and transcriptions of audio reports broadcast on the radio. Research Methodology The Research Process The Research Methodology is a critical phase in a research. It provides an overview of the approach to be used, starting from theoretical groundwork to collection, analysis and data interpretation (Collins Hussey, 2003). No two research processes are exactly the same. Yet, they all follow a similar flow through the elementary procedures involved in academic investigations. As such a problem is to be defined, research objectives are to be set, research procedures designed, and data is to be assembled and analysed. (Burns Bush, 1998) Problem Definition The primary aim of this study is to analyse whether or not the use of new media is extensive in newsrooms. Despite the availability of necessary office tools and equipments, the basis of this research shall be to obtain answers as to why new media are not fully exploited by reporters working individually on news items. Moreover, the importance of social platforms as working tools shall be assessed. In addition, the research will stress on the media houses news website, by determining whether the news authors make optimum use of the interactive functions available online. Research Objectives Initial Research Objectives This list of objectives has been set prior to the documentation process and before writing the literature review. These preset objectives are employed as starting points for the research, leaving room for a more in depth study later on. The list is as follows: To assess how reporters use new media in their daily routine To determine the types of new media preferred by journalists To define the changes which new media have brought about To determine the implications of using new media To determine whether age is a deterrent for using new media To determine whether different types of reporters use new media differently To determine whether the use of different types of new media varies depending on news beat Refined Research Objectives Following the previous one, a new set of objectives has been built based on the findings of the exploratory research made throughout the literature review. The new objectives are as follows: To assess the extent to which new media is used by reporters To identify the different types of new media used, and identify the preferred ones To uncover the reasons pushing reporters to make use of new media To determine whether the organisational new media platforms at their avail are used fully To establish whether social platforms are helpful during the process of acquiring news To assess whether age influences the overall utilisation of new media To determine whether educational background impacts on the general use of new media Research Design A research design can be explanatory, exploratory or descriptive (Yin, 1994). In view of the aims and objectives set, and provided that this study aims at obtaining answers which might be applicable to other situations than the ones already dealt with in this study, it can be assumed that the explanatory case study shall be the most appropriate research design. Hypothesis Development Following the findings generated by the literature review, it can be deduced that (1) reporters seem to be unaware of the multiplicities of new media (2) the term new media is often confused with ICT or the internet (3) new media allow additional possibilities and functions which were not possible in the old school journalism days. Hypothesis 1 H0: New media are used extensively by reporters H1: New media are not used extensively by reporters Hypothesis 2 H0: Different types of new media are used by journalists H1: Different types of media are not used by journalists Hypothesis 3 H0: Reporters have a preference for a certain type of new media H1: Reporters do not have any preference for any type of media Hypothesis 4 H0: The organisational new media platforms are used fully H1: The organisational new media platforms are not used fully Hypothesis 5 H0: Social platforms are helpful during the process of acquiring news H1: Social platforms are not helpful in the process of acquiring news Hypothesis 6 H0: Age does influence the overall utilisation of new media H1: Age does not influence the overall utilisation of new media Hypothesis 7 H0: Educational background does impact on the general use of new media H1: Educational background does not impact on the general use of new media Data Collection Design Right from the beginning of the research, it has been decided that the method of data collection would be questionnaire dissemination. As such, they would prove to be helpful as they shall be less time consuming than classic face to face interviews. Moreover, the questionnaire dissemination shall be done by email, and as printed fill out forms. The use of both methods will allow more flexibility, for as reporters are constantly on the move, they might find it easier to fill in the forms online.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Interpreting the Constitution Essay -- essays research papers fc

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When the Federalist party was organized in 1791, those people who favored a strong central government and a loose constitutional interpretation coagulated and followed the ideals of men such as Alexander Hamilton. The first opposition political party in the United States was the Republican party, which held power, nationally, between 1801 and 1825. Those who were in favor of states rights and a strict construction of the constitution fell under the leadership of Thomas Jefferson. These Jeffersonian republicans, also known as anti-federalists, believed in strict adherence to the writings of the constitution. They wanted state’s rights and individual rights, which they believed could only be granted under strict construction of the constitution. Thomas Jefferson, the third president, and James Madison, his successor, were close friends and lifelong political associates. Long regarded as advocates for liberty, Jefferson and Madison believed in the principles of government and sought to restore the spirit of the revolution of 1776. These republicans spoke out against anti-monarchial attitudes and opposed the aristocratic and elitist attitudes of the federalists (Peterson, 1975). A weaker central government by the people was the goal of the republican party. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, were two presidents who believed in the theory of the republican party, but due to circumstances within the parties and the increasing conflicts between Britain and France abroad, they found it increasingly difficult to act in a manner which coincided with their republican beliefs and at times had to reconcile their actions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jefferson’s victory in the presidential election is notable because this was the first transfer of national authority from political group to another that was accomplished by peaceful and strictly constitutional means. He began his presidency with a plea for reconciliation and described his election as a recovery of the original intentions of the American Revolution (Ellis, 2000). In his true ideology, Jefferson said that a republic did not require a powerful central government to flourish. In fact, he felt that the health of the nation was inversely proportional to the power of the federal government. ******In Document A, Jefferson writes of the preservation of the constitution and the princ... ... 1801 to 1807, Jeffersons policies initially reflected these Republican priorities, which meant decreasing the power of the federal government and the army and navy, and ending federal taxation as well as placing the national debt on the road to extinction. By 1807, circumstances dictated that Jefferson take some actions which seemed to contradict his ideals. From 1808 to 1817, threats to the United States’s strength as a nation and domestic and political struggles, forced James Madison to also veer away from the ideology that he initially preached. Both men exhibited a conflict between idealogy and practice of that idealogy. Bibliography 1. Ellis, Joseph. J, American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson. New York: Vintage Books, 1996. 2. Ellis, Joseph. J; Maier, Pauline, et al. Thomas Jefferson: Genius of Liberty. New York: Viking Studio, 2000. 3. Ketcham, Ralph. James Madison; a Biography. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1990. 4. Peterson, Merrill, D. The Portable Thomas Jefferson. New York: Penguin Books, 1975. 5. Rutland, Robert A.,ed. James Madison and the American Nation, 1751-1836: An Encyclopedia. New York: Random House, 1994