Tuesday, September 6, 2016

1.     (a) Black Lives Matter vs All Lives Matter (b) Jeremy Hoffman, Jessica Briggs, Tony Brasch, Cale Meredith, Angel Helle

2.     (a) Tony Brasch (b) “Is black lives matter blowing it?” (c) CNN (d) http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/29/us/black-lives-matter-blowing-it/

(a) Tony Brasch (b) “I was a civil rights activist in the 1960s. But it’s hard for me to get behind black lives matter. (c) The Washington Post (d) https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/08/24/i-was-a-civil-rights-activist-in-the-1960s-but-its-hard-for-me-to-get-behind-black-lives-matter/?utm_term=.be721da3dd0b

(a) Tony Brasch (b) “The real reason white people say ‘all lives matter’.” (c) The Huffington Post (d) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-halstead/dear-fellow-white-people-_b_11109842.html

(a)   Tony Brasch (b) “Why ‘all lives matter’ is such a perilous phrase” (c) The New York Times (d) http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/16/us/all-lives-matter-black-lives-matter.html?_r=0

(a) Jeremy Hoffman, (b) “Black Lives Matter partners with charity in a sign of growth” (c) Los Angeles Times (d) http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-black-lives-matter-charity-20160906-snap-story.html
(a) Jeremy Hoffman, (b) “Majority of young white people support Black Lives Matter: poll” (c) New York Daily News (d) http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/majority-young-whites-support-black-lives-matter-poll-article-1.2779291
(a) Jeremy Hoffman, (b) “'All Lives Matter' flap resolved at Texas school” (c) Fox News (d) http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/08/11/all-lives-matter-flap-resolved-at-texas-school.html
(a) Jeremy Hoffman, (b) “Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman explains why he stands by that All Lives Matter” (c) New York Daily News (d) http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/richard-sherman-explains-stands-lives-matter-article-1.2728272
Cale Meredith, “I was a civil rights activist in the 1960s. But it’s hard for me to get behind Black Lives Matter.”, The Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/08/24/i-was-a-civil-rights-activist-in-the-1960s-but-its-hard-for-me-to-get-behind-black-lives-matter/?utm_term=.1f66900ee5a4
Cale Meredith, “How Black Lives Matter Uses Social Media to Fight the Power The Power, Wired, http://www.wired.com/2015/10/how-black-lives-matter-uses-social-media-to-fight-the-power/
Cale Meredith, “The Real Reason White People Say ‘All Lives Matter’”, The Huffington Post, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-halstead/dear-fellow-white-people-_b_11109842.html
Cale Meredith, “Student facing 50 day suspension for saying 'All Lives Matter’”, Fox News, http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2016/08/03/student-facing-50-day-suspension-for-saying-all-lives-matter.html
A.) Jessica Briggs B.) As Human Beings, All Lives Matter C.) The Undefeated D.) http://theundefeated.com/features/richard-sherman-as-human-beings-all-lives-matter/
A.) Jessica Briggs B.) Donald Trump on Black Lives Matter Movement. C.) CNN D.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_u4QLK8R-E
A.) Jessica Briggs B.) Person of the Year 2015: Black Lives Matter C.) Times D.) http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2015-runner-up-black-lives-matter/
A.) Jessica Briggs B.) The Miseducation of the Black Lives Matter Movement C.) The Huffington Post D.) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/torri-stuckey/the-miseducation-of-the-b_b_8090224.html
A) NAME: Angel Helle B) TITLE: 5 Things You Need To Know About Black Lives Matter C) SOURCES: The Daily Wire. author, Amanda Prestigiacomo Prestigiacomo, Amanda. "5 Things You Need To Know About Black Lives Matter." Daily Wire. N.p., 2016. Web. 06 Sept. 2016.D) URL: http://www.dailywire.com/news/7353/5-things-you-need-know-about-black-lives-matter-amanda-prestigiacomo
A) NAME: Angel Helle B) TITLE: Three Terrible Days of Violence C) SOURCES: The New Yorker. author, Jelani Cobb Cobb, Jelani. "Three Terrible Days of Violence." The New Yorker. N.p., 2016. Web. 06 Sept. 2016. D) URL: http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/three-terrible-days-of-violence
A) NAME: Angel HelleB) TITLE: Watch: White Lives Matter Protesters March Outside Houston NAACP Offices C) SOURCES: bet.com, author, Rachel Herron@BET. "Watch: White Lives Matter Protesters March Outside Houston NAACP Offices." BET.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Sept. 2016. D) URL: http://www.bet.com/news/national/2016/08/22/watch--white-lives-matter-protesters-march-outside-houston-naacp.html
A) NAME: Angel HelleB) TITLE: Rashad Turner Exits Black Lives Matter Movement C) SOURCES: ebony.com, author, Shantell E. JamisonRashad Turner Exits Black Lives Matter Movement." EBONY. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Sept. 2016. D) URL: http://www.ebony.com/news-views/rashad-turner-black-lives-matter-movement#axzz4JV2BysCg

3.     Most of our articles in support of Black Lives Matter stressed communication, and spreading the word of the cause. They often discussed media and publicity, and how those effect the cause. With hashtags, twitter, and other forms of social media The Black Lives Matter movement was able to evolve. Many articles often discussed the history of injustices against African Americans, and how that has effected the movement today.
Most of our articles in support of All Lives Matter emphasized that their should be more sensitivity to all races, not just one. The articles came out against violent acts, and riots. Often they would talk about freedom of speech. They talked about unification, as opposed to creating violence between groups
4.     Of Cialdini’s 6 persuasive startegies, social proof, authority, and consistency can be seen in many articles supporting both Black Lives Matter and All Lives Matter. The use of social media, strong figures, and the support of their followers, these strategies help develop the rhetoric. They also use descriptive and injunctive norms. Based on how society develops their views, it may persuade one to their beliefs. With injunctive norms, ones race, or culture, might place them in that group’s thinking.

5.     The Black Lives Matter movement started by looking at the injustices placed on African Americans, the mistreatment of citizens, and the want to show that black lives matters as well, after a number of killings. There view of the issue is that black lives matter as well, and should not be mistreated. All Lives Matter differs by looking at the riots, and the violence caused by the Black Lives Matter movement. They believe that all lives matter, and that one group shouldn’t be held in higher regard.

6.     In order to have a neutral frame for this topic, an article would have to be factual in their reporting and remove opinion from the piece. The issues between the Lives matter movements would be important. The article could discuss both sides, from injustices, and death from one movement, to the riots and violence of the other movement. A neutral frame would look at how to mend the two sides, without being one sided. Could take out key words like “all” and “black”



Framing Exercise

Framing Exercise






  1. ‘Affluenza vs. Vehicular Manslaughter: Sarah Smith, Anfernee Bonds, Joshua Cantrell, Alexandra Williams



  1. a.) Sarah Smith, b.) “The Sad Lessons of the “Affluenza” Teen,” c.) The New Yorker, d.) www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/the-sad-lessons-of-the-affluenza-teen


a.) Sarah Smith, b.) “Ethan Couch: Why People Might Be Too Quick to Dismiss ‘Affluenza.’ c.) Independent, d.) www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/ethan-couch-why-people-might-be-too-quick-to-dismiss-affluenza-a6801271.html


a.) Sarah Smith, b.) “The Worst Parents Ever,” c.) dmagazine.com, d.) www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2015/may/affluenza-the-worst-parents-ever-ethan-couch/

a.) Sarah Smith, b.) “No jail for ‘affluenza’ teen in fatal crash draws outrage,” c.) USA Today, d.) www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/02/05/no-jail-for-teen/5242173/


1. (a) Anfernee Bonds, (b) “'Affluenza': Is it real?” (c) CNN (d) http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/12/health/affluenza-youth/index.html

2. (a) Anfernee Bonds, (b) “What psychiatrists think of the "affluenza" defense” (c) CBS (d) http://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-psychologists-think-of-the-affluenza-defense/

3. (a) Anfernee Bonds, (b) “Floyd: Pity for Ethan Couch” (c) The Scoop Blog (d) http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/2016/01/floyd-pity-for-ethan-couch.html

4. (a) Anfernee Bonds, (b) “Teen Kills 4; Judge LITERALLY Lets Him Off Because He is Rich” (c) DAILY KOS (d) http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/11/1262005/-Teen-Kills-4-Judge-LITERALLY-Lets-Him-Off-Because-He-is-Rich

1.     (a) Joshua Cantrell (b) “Drink-Drive Killer Ethan Couch is 'Affluenza Victim', Rules US Judge” (c) International Business Times (d) http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ethan-couch-prison-texas-teen-killed-4-529720
2.     (a) Joshua Cantrell (b) “Ethan Couch, Teen Drink Driver, Spared Jail Due To ‘Affluenza’ After Killing Four People” (c) The Huffington Post (d) http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/12/14/ethan-couch-teen-drink-driver-spared-jail-affluenza-_n_4443971.html
3.     (a) Joshua Cantrell (b) “Novice teenaged driver who struck and killed motorcyclist sentenced” (c) The Denver Post (d) http://www.denverpost.com/2015/04/03/novice-teenaged-driver-who-struck-and-killed-motorcyclist-sentenced/
4.     (a) Joshua Cantrell (b) “Man gets 4 years in fatal New Hyde Park Crash” (c) Long Island News 12 (d) http://longisland.news12.com/news/man-gets-4-years-in-fatal-new-hyde-park-crash-1.12078655

a) Alexandra Williams b) California Lawmaker Mike Gatto Introduces Bill Banning ‘Affluenza’ Defense c) The Huffington Post d)http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/16/mike-gatto-affluenza-bill_n_4610945.html

a) Alexandra Williams b) ‘Affluenza’ and the Miscarriage of Justice c) The Huffington Post d)http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-al-sharpton/affluenza-and-the-miscarriage-of-justice_b_4455301.html

a) Alexandra Williams b) Believe it or not, there are challenges to growing up wealthy c) CNN d)http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/08/health/affluenza-parenting-challenges-wealthy-households/

  1. Alexandra Williams b) The Culture of Affluence: Psychological Costs of Material Wealth c)NCBI d) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1950124/

3.) The most common supportive evidence on the defense and prosecution side, was the fact that the parents were neglectful, abusive, and reluctant to enforce discipline on Ethan Couch. 

4.) Out of the 6 ways to influence people, authority was prevalent in the majority of the articles. Several articles used psychiatrist’s opinions on ‘affluenza,’ either supporting the condition as a legitimate defense or disproving it as a viable defense. 

5.) Each side is viewing this issue in a different light. One is insisting that because Ethan Couch’s young age and the fact that he had never been punished prior to this tragedy,  he shouldn’t be held accountable for his crimes. However, the other side is insisting that lack of punishment and discipline in the Couch household is what led him to commit these crimes. In essence, the two sides differ in who should be held accountable for Ethan Couch’s actions. 


6.) A neutral frame would be an unbiased article detailing exactly what happened that night of the accident. The sides of the prosecution and the defense should be equally presented within the article to keep the article neutral.

  1. Black Shooters vs. White Shooters
    Alex Glover, Lindsay Rance, Shane Lee, & Taylor Gibson
  2. Articles
    1. Alex Glover, “Micah Johnson, Dallas Cop-Killer, Was Black Militant and Army Veteran” The Daily Beast, http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/07/08/micah-johnson-dallas-cop-killer-was-black-nationalist.html
    3. Alex Glover, “Dylann Roof’s Past Reveals Trouble at Home and School” The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/17/us/charleston-shooting-dylann-roof-troubled-past.html?_r=0
    4. Alex Glover, “Colorado Batman Shooting Shows Obvious Signs of Being Staged” Natural News, http://www.naturalnews.com/036536_James_Holmes_shooting_false_flag.html
    5. Lindsay Rance, “Navy Yard gunman's doctor before rampage: ‘No problem there’” CBS News
    6. Lindsay Rance “Dylann Roof’s Past Reveals Trouble at Home and School” The New York Times
    7. Lindsay Rance, “Before Gunfire, Hints of ‘Bad News’” The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/27/us/before-gunfire-in-colorado-theater-hints-of-bad-news-about-james-holmes.html
    8. Lindsay Rance “Mass Shooters Have A Gender and a Race” Political Research Associates
    9. Lindsay Rance, “Who Committs Mass Shootings?” CNN http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/27/us/mass-shootings/
    10. Shane Lee, “Adam Lanza’s Mental Problems ‘Completely Untreated” Before Newtown Shootings, Report Says” The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/22/nyregion/before-newtown-shootings-adam-lanzas-mental-problems-completely-untreated-report-says.html
    11. Shane Lee, “Why Diagnosing Adam Lanza Is a Problem” PBS NewsHour, (d) http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/why-diagnosing-adam-lanza-is-a-problem/
    12. Shane Lee, “Dead Baton Rouge shooter attacked police on his birthday” CBS News, http://www.cbsnews.com/news/baton-rouge-police-shooting-suspects-information/
    13. Shane Lee, “Baton Rouge shooting: 3 officers dead; shooter was Missouri man, sources say” CNN, http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/17/us/baton-route-police-shooting/

    14. Taylor Gibson, “Charleston church shooting: Who is Dylann Roof?” CNN, http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/19/us/charleston-church-shooting-suspect/

    15. Taylor Gibson, “Michigan Courthouse Shooter School Volunteer” USA Today, http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/07/21/michigan-courthouse-shooter-school-volunteer/87396130/
    16. Taylor Gibson, “Dallas Shooter Military Record” CNN, http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/14/politics/dallas-shooter-military-record/index.html
    17. Taylor Gibson, “Baton Rouge Gunman’s Manifesto Describes Actions As Necessary Evil” Fox News, http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/07/20/baton-rouge-gunmans-manifesto-describes-actions-as-necessary-evil.htm
  3. What is the most common supporting evidence used by both sides?
    1. Black Shooters: Reinforcing racial stereotypes, “perfectly fine and nothing wrong mentally,” always linked back to Black Lives Matter or a hate group/gang.
    2. White Shooters: Depicted as being brainwashed not in their own mind, or they are labeled as a lonely child with a disturbed home life.
  4. Does any article use Cialdini’s 6 persuasive strategies?
    1. Social Proof: The news tells readers what to think about the shooters, and manipulates the information to fit their narrative or bias. So when readers search for specific information, they're fed the racial stereotypes and bias held by the news corp.
    2. Authority: A credible source (ex: doctors and psychiatrists) inform readers about the mental state of the shooter, typically clearing the health of black shooters while giving a disturbed mental image to the white shooters. Viewers typically trust TV figures such as news anchors, who can further manipulate the public image of the shooters.
    3. Descriptive Norms: People are more easily accepting when it’s a black shooter because the media reinforces the idea that African American males are more likely to be prone to gun violence.
  5. What is the ontological nature of both frames?
    1. Black shooter core: Usually the individual or a hate group to blame.
    2. White shooter core: Usually mental health or their upbringing to blame.
  6. If you were to write a news article on the topic, what would a “neutral frame” look like?
    1. Remove race to eliminate bias, ignore their upbringing/past unless it’s directly relevant, do NOT name the shooter, and instead focus on the general event and victims.

Climate Change vs. Global Warming


  1. We are examining Global Warming vs. Climate Change. Our group members are Elessa Boiko, Shumaila Kidwai,Natalie Tomanek, Samantha Ragsdale, Jasselyn Gutierrez.

3.  The term “climate change” seems to be more scientifically charged, and “global warming” is used to describe the same phenomenon but with more opinionated language. We found that global warming had more to do with greenhouse gasses and weather, and that climate change talked more about ice caps and the impact humans have on the environment.

4. “Climate Change” search results brought up more authoritative sources like the EPA, and also brought up more news stories. This supports Cialdini’s persuasive strategy of authority; we default to trusting what the media shows us, and what Google shows on the first page of search results. They also use the term “scientifically proven” to gain more authority.

5. Many articles wrote about climate change and global warming interchangeably, and there was even a NASA page that argued that there was no substantial difference between the two terms. Some results regarding climate change inferred that the earth was changing on it’s own, while some results regarding global warming were more focused on how humans have altered the planet. We also read articles where those terms switched with their definitions, again, being used interchangeably. We inferred that the term “global warming” may have a less-scientific connotation, and may be more associated with a leftist culture or political leaning. “Climate change”, in turn, was a more respected term, and more often used in political contexts.

6.  A neutral news article would use the term “climate change.” Many right-leaning people associate “global warming” with Al Gore, and don’t like Al Gore, so any news article that used “global warming” may be discredited by a large group of potential voters. Those who may use “global warming” more frequently, in our opinion, wouldn’t be offended with either term because of how interchangeably they seem to be used.

Creating the echo chamber

This study on political polarization tells us so much about different media sources and political alignment that it's difficult to encapsulate all of the consequences of the media and political environment that's been created.

The split on media choices from those who exist on either far side of the political spectrum tells us a few consequences of the political environment that's been created. Immediately noticeable to me was that the media choices by far right and far left people cover all of the major media sources of news. These major media sources are strongly preferred by one side or the other, so what's left for those in the middle? As far as my personal experience goes (I affiliate with neither side), I feel like there is no available major media source of information that can provide me with information not affected in some way politically. The polarization also serves the narrative that there are "only two sides." Moderate, unaffiliated, or other views are not represented by the media. Choose a side, conservative or liberal. And most of all, when you do choose a side, don't trust those guys on the other side.

The combination of some of these results is interesting as well. If conservatives are more likely to choose only one source of news (Fox) and see political opinions on social media that align to their own views, then where is the rest? Their social media experience seems to be an echo chamber of information from less sources that align with conservative views. Worth thinking about why social media sites will place conservatives in this echo chamber, while other views apparently will receive a more varied feed.

Liberals being more likely to delete people from social media because of political views also can result in an echo chamber. If social media won't isolate you away from opposing views, just do it yourself. This process seems more of a willing isolation from other views. I'm not going to guess why this is the trend, but it's worth to think about.

The trends are different, but they lead to the same result no matter which side of the political spectrum you're on: isolation from the other side, and an echo chamber that will feed you information that is likely to align to what you find acceptable. And those who don't align strongly struggle to find information that isn't politically influenced. It's an unhealthy environment to be in overall.

Sunday, September 4, 2016

The Single Story

This Tuesday's readings really got me thinking about a video I had to watch in my Child Development class. It's was a TED talk about the dangers of a single story, told by an African American writer. She discusses the story she was given when she came to America from Niagara. From the books we have read as children the things we now see on the Internet, our society has given everyone from Africa a single troubled story, when in fact, many people living in Niagara live similar life's to the way we do. It's human nature to want to categorize things and this has lead us to the concept of a single story. This single story concept has capitalized on the idea of terrorism and race. As a society, media has taught us to think that terrorism must be associated with radical Islam as the term "thug" is only associated with black men when in fact these words are gender/race/religion neutral. The words don't discriminate, we as a society do. When a white person conducts a terrorist attack, he isn't ridden off as a terrorist but instead a boy with a troubled childhood or socially troubled. His story always runs deeper, while a middle eastern man is completely ridden off as a terrorist because of his looks and assumed beliefs, no deeper story is ever looked at. We as a society need to remember that race,  region or religious beliefs don't just give us a single story.

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Dealing with Anxiety and Learning how to 'Change the Narrative'

While reading the chapter out of Brené Brown's book, I came to realize she was basically summing up every mental conversation I have ever had with myself before experiencing a panic attack. The social aspect of my anxiety always begins with me projecting my insecurities onto strangers and their first impressions of me (e.g. They think I'm weird, they probably think I don't belong).

The thing is, I know I am not the only one who suffers through this. In a world where everything is filtered and where people are meticulous on how they portray themselves on social media, misinterpreting social cues has become something of second nature. With each new innovation in the social media world, we are at risk of losing rational thinking when it comes to face-to-face social interaction. Maybe this is because we can't filter natural conversation; when the ugliness of reality rears it's head, we can't use a blur tool to make it more acceptable. I believe this is why we're seeing a rise in social anxiety disorder. When we have to interact with "real" people, we have to come to terms with the fact they are about to get to know the real, unfiltered version of ourselves. This then leads to what Brown describes as creating a narrative and trying to deny the truth behind our over-emotional response. I feel like if more people who suffer with anxiety were to "reckon with their emotions" as Brown suggests, we can begin to become better and more adept at handling stressful, social interactions.