Final Thoughts

Initially when I signed up for this class, I was unsure what expect, other than what the course catalogue said. It turned out to be a lot more than what I expected (in a good way) and the most interesting part for me was applying all of what I experienced in this class to other classes I am taking. I enjoyed the group discussions and how it is truly the study of the media in our world today, not necessarily like other journalism classes that teach you how to produce news stories. It is just as important to know about the media you are going to enter once you graduate as it is to be able to write a news story.

If there were aspects about the class I would change, it would be to shorten the amount of group discussions and have more of the material presented by the professor. I always questioned whether or not I was getting accurate information about the presentations, because it wasn’t the professor presenting the material. Don’t get me wrong, I think that group presentations from your peers is very beneficial, but maybe not as lengthily.

I think that the journal assignment was very interesting, and that when taken seriously could teach you a lot about another country. It was also interesting to see how the media functions in another country and compare it to our media.

Overall I think that this class was good, and I have definitely recommended it to people. One aspect I like about the class is that the curriculum changes along with what’s going on in the world, and that there is always something to be discussed. I think that maybe this class should not have a text book and just have articles off of e-reserves and have parts of the book from there. It seems to be somewhat counter productive to have to many articles outside the book, and not have many chapters in the book assigned.

The Internet

This section is all about the internet, without it, I wouldn't have this blog. This is just one example of how the internet has transformed our lives and the way we communicate. For me, it is hard to imagine what college would be like without my laptop, let alone life without the internet. I am definitely the generation that grew up with the internet, and it is interesting to see, looking through a different lens, as how the internet has truly changed the world.

People talk and talk about the pros and cons of the internet, but I think that when is comes down to it, the internet could be the tool to bring the media back to its roots. Newspapers began in our country being completely partisan and people could read the other opinions and debate and discuss. The internet provides an open forum for many voices to be heard, debated and discussed.

Dutch Soldiers Under Investigation

Dutch soldiers are under investigation about the presence of an "electric weapons stick" in the interrogation of a Saudi in Iraq in 2003. The interogation will take place in the CPA house (Coalition Provisional Authority - the temporary American administration after the fall of the regime of Saddam Hussein in 2003). The weapon in question was not official equipment at the time.

I understand why they may be under investigation about the weapon in question, but what I don't understand why the US is in charge of it. We have had questions brought up about our interrogation techniques, so why should we be in charge of it?

Global Advertising

This section interested me the most in this class. It tied in a lot with my theory of rhetoric class, where my professor did a section about the rhetoric of the media. This also ties in a lot with the section about corporate democracy. But the truth is, advertising runs the media in our country. From small newspapers, struggling to sell ad space to loyal advertisers influencing corporate media content, it has all gone down hill since newspapers started advertising. One thing I have been noticing is that you can see the news affiliations with their advertisers. Have you noticed that the Today show only has stories about NBC's and other "sister company's" movies and books? Once you know who owns what, it becomes really obvious.

Welfare Claims Down

Welfare claims have gone down this year in the Netherlands by 30,000 this year. In a country with a population of over 16 million, that is a lore portion of the population off of welfare.

In an earlier post, I talked about new policies to help with unemployment rates, and although they wouldn't be showing results this quickly, obviously something has been getting done right. I think that our country should take notes, maybe by helping people at one point and (this is the key) giving them the tools to get a job and get their lives working.

Mayors to Raise the Drinking Age?

Because of the Netherlands problems with underage drinking, they are proposing that the mayors of each region raise the drinking age from 16 to 18 (the same age they can get their license). They are choosing to do this from region to region because the seriousness of the problem varies. The punishment for the teens will be similar to the US and they are going to be cracking down on the places that have been selling to minors. Holland has the worst underage drinking problem in Europe.

FInally, and argument against the age-old statement "we should lower the drinking age in the US, look at Europe, they have a lower drinking age and they don't have the same problems as we do..." Well, yes actually they do. Currently the drinking age is 16 and they are still having problems with underage drinking. Yup, thats the 13-year-olds drinking. But what I don't get is why they aren't doing it nationally. In a country about the size of New Jersey, with about 12 regions, it would be pretty darn easy to go across the line and get some alcohol.

Minister Speaks Out Against Anti-Immigration

This week the integration minister Ella Vogelaar spoke out against her fellow politicians, saying their stance against immigration was all for show. She plans to increase the ethnic diversity in Holland and thinks that the gap between native Dutch people and immigrants is not beneficial for the society. The Dutch people find the increasing visibility of Islamic people threatening, even though non-western immigrants aren't accepted as ordinary citizens.

I think that politicians can talk about "bridging the gap" all they want, but they have a long road ahead of them to change people's core beliefs, and in this case hatred. It won't change anything to have a law making eastern immigrants true citizens, or to make it easier for them to come into the country, if the people of the country don't have the same core beliefs that they do, it is a long road ahead. I am not saying that you shouldn't try to change what people believe, especially if it is hate, but it is going to take a lot more than what Vogelaar has proposed.

Longer Mission in Afghanistan

This week the Dutch government made the decision to extend the military's mission in Afghanistan. The majority of the cabinet is behind an 18 month extension, while some believe that three to six months will be fine.

Holland has 17,000 troops in Afghanistan, mainly rebuilding in the southern province of Uruzgan. NATO (Northern Alliance Treaty Organization) is pressuring the government to stay longer, and before they make their decision, Canada and Australia are waiting on the Netherlands' decision.

I think that the fact that they can get out of Afghanistan in as little as three months is awesome and I wish that America could do the same. Holland isn't there to fight, they are there for rebuilding efforts. Sounds to me like they are cleaning up the mess we are leaving in the Middle East. Shouldn't we be in responsible for the mess we leave behind? I think that this is yet again tied into globalization. The way the we communicate and learn about countries has changed in the recent years because of technological advances. We are also so dependent on other countries for all our imports, we are more conscious of the world around us. Also, most companies are globally influenced financially. Other countries invest in us and we invest in others.

After school care to be doubled

The junior education minister told parliament that she would double the amount of after school programs from 8,000 to 16,000 by April 1.

I think that this is a great initiative to be taking, but is it really feasible in just five months? It seems to me like they would need more time.

After school programs are in need, I think all over the world. Because of globalization there are these huge corporations emerging, and they are employing parents. WHy shouldn't the companies provide after school care for children? If they want the parents to be willing to stay at work longer in the day, it would make sense to have child care available and cost effective to get parents to stay at work without having the stress of having to get there child into after school care.

Globalization of Latin American Media

Starting this section, I was a bit confused because I didn't know really anything about Latin American media. I found it interesting that throughout South America there are so many diverse countries with their own media. I also found it interesting how each country had diverse histories that shaped the way their media functions.

No Sinterklaas this year

I found this story about how a cocoa processing plant near Amsterdam was banned from having their Sinterklaas party by their US head office. They chose to ban the party because because they didn't want to be accused of racism. All because Sinterklaas is accompanied by Zwarte Piet, Black Pete. Which is people with black painted faces.

From the way I understood the tradition, Zwarte Piet is black because of the soot, not necessarily because of his race. I think that this is a bit unnecessary, it is a tradition, just like our Santa Claus and I don't see why the head office, from another country, felt the need to change it. I think that this is a negative aspect of globalization. Executives from other countries are making decisions about places that they don't really understand. They make decisions for "the good of the company" but not for the good of the people living there. even though their are real people with real lives living there that they may not understand.

Cultural Globalization and Imperialism

I think that cultural imperialism and globalization is turning into simply the "Americanization" of the world. People and countries are becoming more and more American with the integration of American and Western Media.

Maybe it isn't that it is all Americanization in the sense that that is how we are in America, and that is the American culture, but that this is the American image that the corporate media is presenting to us and we are buying it just as much as the rest of the world. It was just less steps for us to take to get there than other cultures.

Cats and Dogs are fat in Holland

This just in, 40% of Dutch dogs and 35% of cats are overweight.

Shocker, I know. At first I didn't get why this is in anyway important, but when I mentioned it to my boyfriend, he wasn't shocked at all. I think that is has a lot to do with that not many people in Holland have a back yard. I would be willing to bet that the majority of the overweight animals are in the city because not many people have yards or it is really hard to get your animal out there to exercise.

Trains attacked in Madrid

On Wednesday, the Spanish National Court said that they will finish the hearings of the 28 people suspected to be involved in the train attacks in 2004. The attacks were said to be Muslims acting on behalf of Al-Qaida, 191 people died and 1,841 were wounded. For the eight head suspects, some think that they should be charged with 191 counts of murder and 1,841 attempts at murder.

I found it interesting that this was such a big story in the Netherlands, even though it is about Spain. I am noticing that there is more international news in the Netherlands, as compared to the U.S. I think that it has to do a lot to do with the fact that there are so many countries in a closer proximity. They are all connected because of the Euro as well, which keeps the countries dependent and connected to each other.

Media in MENA

After reading the chapter and watching the movie in class, I have a new view about news in MENA. It is developing and growing into a strong entity that other countries are noticing. If a free press is essential to a true democracy, than the fact that they are striving for a free press is a huge step in the right direction. Hopefully they can keep out of the pit falls that corporate media and keep going in the direction of a free democracy.

A friend used to live in Holland, and he keeps a blog about what's going on and he has a link to Dutch TV.

Here is the link

Porn star campaigns against animal abuse

This story cracked me up... I am just going to paste it and then talk about it.

The Volkskrant today focuses on porn star Charisma Gold and her campaign against bestiality and animal porn, which she says has led to her receiving death threats.

Gold, photographed in her S&M cellar with a wall full of whips, says the Netherlands is one of the leading producers of animal porn for the simple reason that it is not illegal.

'It is completely sick what Dutch porn makers are producing,' she tells the paper, before going into the gory details.

Gold's lobbying has resulted in the Labour party submitting a bill banning sex with animals to parliament. MPs will vote on the issue at the end of this year.

The owner of porn company Book and Film international, which claims to be the world's number one in beastiality (their spelling) tells the paper that animals are never forced to perform for the cameras. His company produces 20 or so films a month. 'If the ban comes into force, I will have to close down,' he tells the paper.

I think that this is just a bit ironic, being as she had leather behind her, so I guess she is okay with killing animals and using there skin, but not having sex with them and filming it. I think that this also shows that these somewhat trivial and "celebrity" stories aren't just popular in the US, but around the world. I think that this also has to do with the people that run this website having a sense of humor and just wanting to spark a bit of conversation.

September 11th Coverage

I looked at a lot of the coverage of 9/11 in various Dutch newspapers, and the newspaper I got from Holland had coverage about 9/11. The Netherlands are involved in Iraq and Afghanistan, but mainly as a rebuilding effort (because of NATO). There were a surprising number of stories about the rebuilding Ground Zero efforts and about the plans the US has in the continuing war.

Corporate Media

This week in class we talked about corporate media in our country and around the world. Truth is, there would be no globalization with out these huge corporations dominating the market. My group talked about corporate media and its threat to democracy. I think that in today's world, corporate media is the only threat to democracy. There are too many cross ownerships that tarnish the media. All day we get the same news over and over again, throughout the day, and it seems to be a big facade. What's the point of even having a newscast unless you are going to play the essential role the media should play in democracies. Without a free press you can't have a true democracy, so what do we have here? We all need to accept the the news is not a money making business. Bottom line. If you try to focus on making money, you lose sight of what the true job of a reporter is: to seek the truth and report it.

Cabinet Works Towards Unemployment

This week in the Netherlands, the government is taking steps to lower unemployment rates. By 2011, they plan to spend 205 million Euros. With this money, they hope that 80% of the population will be employed by 2016. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Unemployment's minister Chap Hein Donner wrote that, "paid work is good for integration and emancipation."

I think it is very interesting that the government is so involved in the employment of the people. It makes sense to me, if the people are employed, they will contribute to the economy and keep it going strong, and if the government doesn't do anything, who will?

Globalization

Looking arround the internet for different websites to fine news from the Netherlands I am very impressed. One website, De Pers - a mjor newspaper in Amsterdam - is the same as looking at the LA Times or the New York Times. It is just in Dutch. They automatically update the website every few moments. They show when the story was initially posted (how many hours or minutes ago) and the last time it was updated.

I also found a website that has the news in English - its a bit easier for me to read (I don't have to have my handy translator near by). But this one is not a good at De Pers. There aren't any pictures that accompany the stories on the home page and it isn't as updated as often. But their archeives are easier to access, which is nice.

http://www.depers.nl

http://www.dutchnews.nl/

Introduction

For my global news media journal I chose the Netherlands (aka Holland) as my country to study. I chose the Netherlands because unlike most families, my family is not 100% sure where we are from: either Holland or England. Out of those two I know a lot less about Holland than I do England. It is somewhere I have always wanted to go. I don’t know much about this country (first hand at least) but I think that this will be an interesting way to discover another country and culture without actually going there. My boyfriend’s twin sister is in Holland now, and I asked her to bring back some newspapers from her trip for me, which will be great to see.

A little bit about Holland... it has a population of 16+ million people and is located in Western Europe, bordered by the North Sea and is inbetween Belgium and Germany. It is the European part of the Kingdome of the Netherlands, also of Aruba and Antilles. It is a constitutional monarchy, which is a constitutional syste, that acknoeledges a monarch as head of state (either elected or hereditary).

I am looking forward to utilizing the Library Press Display database to view some of the newspapers that are on newsstands in Holland. I think that this will also be interesting to see how (if at all) they format their newspapers differently and how they cover and structure their stories. I also want to (hopefully) compare the news coverage on various stories both here as well as there. For example, 9/11 is coming up and it will be interesting to see how they cover that story (if at all).