Zach Static

What Happens Off The Air

Month: September 2015

The Hunt For The Red Paper Clip

September 24, 2015 /

“Are you serious?”

That is the reaction I got from Cathi Swan of the Business Office of Morningside college when I came searching for a red paper clip.

I had been tasked with finding not only a red paper clip but it also had to be “creatively bent” according to my instructions from Ross Fuglsang.

Swan laughed through the entire affair after I had made my initial request because this isn’t something many people ask for at the business office. After acquiring the paper clip for me I asked if she could bend it into something creative. The result is a red spiral.

I thanked her when I left and the smile on her face due to this unusual request was priceless.

Are YouTubers Celebrities?

September 22, 2015 /

 

A new breed of celebrity has arisen in today’s society in the form of YouTubers and they have more influence than many A-list celebrities.

With all the influential people in today’s world it’s no surprise that A-list celebrities and YouTubers have a lot of pull on teens. A recent survey among took the top 10 A-list celebrities (by Q score) and the top ten YouTubers (by subscribers) teens rated five YouTubers as the most popular of the twenty. So what makes them so popular?

According to mediakix.com YouTubers are “more relatable because of their perceived authenticity and approachability.” Approachability is a major difference between YouTubers and A-list celebrities. YouTubers are generally seen as ordinary, even with millions of subscribers, while A-list celebrities are definitely not seen in that same light. Huffington Post quoted a teen saying that “YouTubers are more interesting because they ‘show everyone who they are.’” What makes them popular isn’t movie appearances or wealth. It is the fact that they are ordinary people just being themselves for the world to see.

This connection with viewers has allowed them to both influence and motivate their audience, especially teens and young adults. More than half of their audience believes they could eventually become YouTube stars while only forty percent thought they could become movie stars.

Merriam Webster defines a celebrity as a famous or celebrated person. By this definition, popular YouTubers are celebrities. But every person has their own definition as to what it means to be a celebrity. Being a celebrity and being famous correlate but there is a difference between the two.

Live Mag UK states that “Fame isn’t always a good thing because you can be famous for all the wrong reasons. Whereas, as a celebrity, you’re almost expected to meet so many unrealistic expectations which can be beneficial when it comes to bettering your career.” Using this definition of fame and celebrity leaves the argument open for debate.

Whatever your definition, YouTubers are here to stay and their influence is spreading like wildfire.

 

Sources: http://mediakix.com/2014/09/youtube-influencers-vs-celebrities-whos-popular-teens/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/04/teens-prefer-youtubers-over celebrities_n_6801792.html

http://www.livemaguk.com/are-youtubers-celebrities/

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/celebrity

Three Injured and One Dead After Accident Outside Sioux City

September 17, 2015 /

Moyer Quick of South Sioux City, Neb. was killed in a car accident on Highway 20, two miles east of Sioux City yesterday morning.

Around 11 a.m. Quick’s vehicle collided with a truck driven by Randy Radin. Both vehicles went into the ditch on the north side of Highway 20 where Quick’s vehicle rolled over.

An autopsy report indicates that Quick had a heart attack which may have caused the accident.

After the accident Radin and Quick’s passengers, his wife Dorothy and sister Maxine Stuerwald of Lawton, Iowa, were transported to Marian Health Center for their injuries. Radin remains in critical condition. Quick’s wife has been released from the hospital. Steuerwald is scheduled to be released.

The accident is still under investigation.

 

Updated 9/22/15

Iowa Highway Patrol Bans Hand-Held Radar Guns

September 10, 2015 /

The Iowa Highway patrol banned hand-held radar guns yesterday because of possible cancer risks.

The Iowa Highway patrol is shifting its method of checking people’s speed as they travel. The ban will pull 70 hand-held units from service. They will now focus on using radar units mounted outside the patrol car rather than hand-held units.

Recently, three officers from Cedar Rapids, IA filed for compensation claiming that use of the hand-held units caused them to develop cancer. A study is being conducted to determine if long term exposure to radiation emitted by these devices can be linked to cancer.

Spokesman Adam Berluti said, “The feeling here is to err on the side of caution until the more is known about the issue.”

This move is considered the first of its kind by a state agency.

Scheming Without Success

September 10, 2015 /

Before class Jenni Beaver and I were scheming. Jenni is a red haired Morningside Jr. of average height. Today she was wearing a gray jacket and up for a little fun. The target was none other than Taylor DeVary. DeVary had made the decision to take a nap in the lounge of the Mass Comm department. Our plan was to wake her with loud music. DeVary wouldn’t have been happy had our plan succeeded but unfortunately she had woken up just before we put our plan into action.

Welcome Kyle Kardell (Again)

September 3, 2015 /

On the campus of Morningside College students have returned to class. A young man named Kyle Kardell is among them. Kardell is a twenty year old Junior from Laurel, Nebraska studying Advertising and Corporate Communications. His class schedule for this semester includes Fundamentals of Journalism, Media Management, and Video Production. All students want to know what instructors are like before classes start but sometimes that isn’t always the case. When asked about Ross Fuglsang, the instructor for Fundamentals of Journalism, Kardell said Fuglsang is “fair and has no favorites but I’ve only had him for two days so I really shouldn’t judge.”

Outside of the classroom Kardell works for the Hard Rock in Sioux City as a bellman. He says that he really enjoys his job. For the past two years he was a football player but has decided not to pursue that activity this year. He claims to not really have any hobbies and isn’t a part of any campus organizations. He attributes this mostly to not having much time. Part of his free time, when it occurs, is spent watching his favorite television show, The Office. His personal favorite season is autumn.

Kyle Kardell is an autumn loving, twenty year old Junior at Morningside College and I wish him the best of luck in this semester.

 

 

Objectivity

September 1, 2015 /

One key skill for any reporter is to be objective. Objectivity is the ability to convey a story without placing the emotions and viewpoints of the reporter in the article they are writing. That means that the reporter must report both sides fairly without bias in their writing even though they might actually have a strong opinion. Interviews with both sides and reporting arguments made both ways is one way to remain objective. The use of adjectives can also be a pitfall for reporters who don’t intend to convey their standpoint on the topic as they can easily demonstrate their position. Remaining objective is important. To pass information to the intended audience effectively, being able to relate to all sides through objectivity is the best way. While the audience won’t agree with everything, they can usually relate to at least one of the arguments. Objectivity allows you to address a larger audience than an opinionated article. Objectivity is a tool that allows a reporter to address a larger audience and tell a story fairly which is invaluable for any reporter.

© 2024 Zach Static

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑