Carl Hiaasen

Carl Hiaasen is a journalist and writer, so his enthusiam and passion for writing are what makes him tick, as well as getting a story done. He wrote novels after his journalism career. According to Wikipedia.com, his novels are usually under the mystery section. Also according to this site, when he writes about Flordia, it is with a "satiric or sardonic eye." According to Kick Ass, he wanted to be a journalist at a young age.

Thompson/Breslin

What I first noticed about the Thompson passage is that he is very critical of politics it seems like. He seems to keep going after people when talking about them. What I mean by this is he just doesn't seem to talk too positive about politicains and what they actually end up doing. I think his views and passage are more towards the negative style and tone. I don't really blame him, because back then, and even now the word politicis is synomimous with scandal. He was probably sick of hearing all that was going on and what not. Breslin seemed to be more neutral in his writing, almost more positive as well. Reading the four pages, I couldn't really see any negativity towards candidates. He is pretty clear cut on how politicians should be, "I will do it; I will not do it." I kind of like that, because when it comes down it, that is how it should be. So what we have is a more negative, opinionated Thompson, and a more neutraul, black and white (and the way he wrote, esp. about a young Jack Kennedy, in an almost upbeat way) I will also say with a positive tone to it. Also, each title sets a tone. Thompson's is "Scum Also Rises" and Breslin is "The Reputation of Power is Power." The first one almost seems negative when I read that. The other is just straight forward, and black and white.

William Buckley Thoughts

I think he could compete in today's world. However, he probably would choose less issues because he seems like a person who would want to do their research and gather facts. With this in mind, he would probably want to hit the most important issues to him, as well as his beloved Republican party. I think he would probably take on a few, very important topics which many other people, especially Republicans would want to be talked about. Also, the topics he choose would be one he felt he could be really passionate about.

Buckley contributed a tremendous amount to public affairs. This had to do with all the books he wrote, which were 50 plus, as well as his show, "Firing Line" (which he debated with anyone and everyone). Also, he was smart in becoming friends with his "enemy" liberal friends. By doing this, I think, he would be able to learn all sides, and that would effectively make him argue better in the end for his point.

I can learn from him many things. One thing that really stuck out to me was what I just put above, and that was he made friends with his debaters. This is pretty smart, because if I was to make friends with people I didn't have the same view on, then I could learn what they are all about...and who knows, that could open up my eyes to someone else, and having less tunnel vision is always a good thing I think. He also shows me I need to keep an open mind and enjoy much out of life, because that is what he did. He seemed to leave no stone unturned, and did what he wanted to do. I am slowly starting to realize that is what I need to do in my own life. Another aspect I can learn from the man is to be able to take criticism. To many people get offended easily, and he just kind of shrugged it off and had a pretty hard skin.

Bull Run/Iraq War Coverage

The Bull Run article is different, because obviously, it is outdated. It uses almost a differnt "language," which is older English. There seems to be no quotes in the Bull Run article, but the Iraq has quotes of people, and of people talking back and forth. The Iraq one is current and talks about current events goin on. This one has today's technology. The Bull Run article talks about strategies and what has been going on. Since the world and war is so strategic and secretive today, strategies are not given out in the news now. In the Bull Run article, it seems like it is more about writing than reporting, it seems to flow like a novel story. However, in today's article of the Iraq stroy, it is about reporting and informing of what is going on, who is talking, where they are from, etc.

His Girl Friday Cont.

Walter keeps insisting to Hildy that a newspaper story is not just a story but also a career. She gets drawn into getting the scoop on a story, because that is her instinct as a reporter. She does everything to get this story, and Bruce keeps getting in trouble and arrested as a result of her. As far as the moral story of the movie, I think it is a reporter, especially back in that time would do anything for a story and lived for a good story. To them, and still today, it is the most important thing to a person. Hildy was printing a story and basically shrugs off Bruce saying, “…can’t you see this is the most important thing in my life?”. Bruce walked out of the room while Hildy and Walter where starting up the story, and Hildy again just shrugged off this notion. She does come to realization, but everyone is blind to everything else when they are involved in a story. The story seems to consume each person involved with in it. Another example is when the cops are in the room with all the other people, the people are on the phone while the murderer is in the desk. The people are narrating what is going on verbatim, in sort of an “extra, extra” way.

As far as this movie using reverse snobbery, I think it was. Everyone is pretty much dressed up in this movie, especially in suits, and they all (the reporters) kind of act pompous and seem to be above everyone else. In addition, Walter throws out higher numbered salaries when trying to recruit them to work for him.

His Girl Friday Blog Day One

Journalism here is hectic; fast paced and probably can’t mess up very much on the typewriters. Obviously, this is old fashioned and the way it used to be. Everyone seems to be very interactive, friendly, and home-like with each other as well. This paper and these people are political as well (being that the paper is democratic). They want to be the first ones to break a story as well; just like the coal mine (he missed their honeymoon in the original place).
What these people are like is Walter is the typical, do anything journalist. He even shoved aside his honeymoon from his new wife to be the first one in the country to break the big coal mine story. Walter talks fast and speaks his mind, maybe talking to much. Basically, with this personality he will cover anything and do anything for a story. He has a lot of “charm” according to Bruce.
Hildy was a young college grad when she broke into the business “five years ago.” Walter calls her a journalist and argues with her to stay at the paper. He wants her to keep staying with the business. Bruce says no one knows what she is going to say or do, hence being a good “newspaper man,” because she is spontaneous and will do anything. According to Walter, she has a “woman’s touch” for certain stories.

Jimmy Breslin Thoughts

Then post your response to Breslin's writing. What do you like? What do you not like? Is this stuff literature? What is literature? Is it journalism? What's journalism, for that matter? What do you think Breslin means when he says he's not a journalist, he's a reporter ... a reporter is a guy who works for a living ... what's the difference to you? Which would you rather read? Which would you rather write?

Well first of all I do agree that he is very opinionated. I like the way he writes, but I may not agree with what he writes. However, he speaks his mind and says what he feels, which I do like. You can see the passion he has in his writing as well, obviously he is VERY left winged. I do think the stuff is literature, because when I read it he seems to be telling a story. Even though he is opinionated he does have facts, even though I don't know how valid everything is. He does write very well though, with everything flowing in the few articles that I read. I do think he is a reporter more so than a journalist because he likes to give and list facts. The article that stuck out in my mind about the facts he was giving was "In case we all forgot, Americans are still dying in Iraq." In this he lists many names of people who served their country and died, with a little bit of information on each of them. Instead of giving numbers, he gives names and facts about people, which makes more of an impact than a statistic that people just seem to be numb to anymore. What he means by he works for a living is that he does do a lot of research it seems like to get these stories straight. I would rather read this style of writing because I like to feel a connection with the piece and I am not a big fan of statistics being thrown around. I would rather be like him, sticking to my opinions and not really caring what people think. However, he does back up his information with facts, and I like that. I like how he writes and reports, and I like his backbone for saying what he feels and believes in.

What do I expect to learn

I don't really know what to expect to learn since this is the being of the semester. What I would like to learn is more about the literay aspect, hence the title of this class. I haven't done much literature style of learning in college, and not since grade school to it will be interesting to see how much I can learn this semester. Still though I don't know what really to expect so far.