Verification & Data Visualization

• Story Verification
  - Objectivity involves verifying facts; techniques of Verification


• Edit with skepticism (aka Prosecutorial Editing).


• Adjudicating (act as a judge) a story line by line.


• When Editing, Ask Questions


• How do we know this?


• Why would a reader believe this?


• What is the assertion behind the sentence?


• Tip: Editor and reporter sit side by side to edit the story.
   - Keep an Accuracy Check List


• Ask More Questions


• Is the lead of the story sufficiently supported?


• Is the context of the story complete?


• Are all stakeholders in the story identified?


• Have other sides of this issue been contacted?


• Does the story pick sides or make subtle value judgements?


• REMEMBER: When a journalist has an agenda going into an interview the story them becomes propaganda.
 - Final Questions To Ask


• Have you attributed (given credit to) all of these facts in the story?


• Do the facts back you up your story?


• Did you double check the quotes and make sure they are in proper context?


• Data Visualization / Information Graphics
  - Information graphic is a set of information organized in a visual manner.
  - Information design makes complex information understandable to more people than traditional text.

Words of Wisdom From an Enthusiastic Soul

Dave Jenett, once fearful, now give guidance to aspiring performers along with his extraordinary experiences.

On May 11, 2011, accompanied by his cousin Paul and his son, Dave Jenett, now 85 years old, took the time to recall some of his fondest memories as a musical performer with the organization known as Songmakers. During our engrossing interview, Jenett recounted some of the moments that he feels were most influential on helping him overcome his fear of the stage. Songmakers is an organization of like-minded musicians, songwriters, performers and singers who gather once a week to do what they love, perform music. Songmakers gives people the opportunity to get up on a stage and perform before people who have a similar interest in music. The people who are members of Songmakers come from all walks of life. There are professional musicians, folk singers, New Media Artists and even war veterans like Jenett.

When asked about songwriting, he shook his head and chuckled. He never was quite a songwriter but he just knew from every word to every line, and every note to every chord of songs, even the most classics ever from the 1930s. He had this skill in recollecting songs instantly and performing spectacular covers of them. He’s simply remarkable. We were able to divert him to sing a few lines of  “Red Neck, White Sox and Blue Ribbon Beer” and even play it on his harmonica. He even stated, “It’s my first time playing this on a harmonica.” We were lucky to be able to hear him jam away at it and he was sprightly enthusiastic while doing it too.

Jenett, when asked about his fear of performance, he gasped with eyes wide open and shook his head. “That was the hardest for me ever,” Jenett uttered. He remembered how he use to sweat out of nervousness. When in front of an audience, he would grow mute out of fear. Joining Songmakers had to be the core reason that Jenett was even able to overcome perturbation. As a result of previously having been in that sort of neurotic atmosphere in the past, he became very solicitous in helping others overcome that fear when they too, must be positioned in front of people. Especially when it comes to performing, he would be willing to stand with the performer and quietly play alongside with them just to break the nervousness. Such a sweet, caring man he is. Jenett is such a considerate man.

Jenett has had the opportunities to work with other celebrities such as Don Knott, Don Rickles, Raquel Welch, Linda Evans, Kirk Douglas, Elsa Lancaster, and much more. Jenett had also been on television shows such as the David Letterman show but he wasn’t performing. He was known as “Mr. Fix it!” People would direct him with questions and ask him for his expertise on fixing things.  Jenett has also been broadcasted on radio stations as “Mr. Fix It” as well. The general public loved him! I could recall him laughing and mentioning how all of these high technology are being advertised and he complained how a simple microwave has to have so many buttons now that it gets so confusing but he had the same dial turning microwave for more than 20 years and “It still works great,” he noted. He isn’t about to change his microwave. Jenett is one funny, enthusiastic man.

However Jenett wasn’t always a musician or “Mr. Fix it!” Jenett was a veteran of the Vietnam War and the Korean War. In fact during World War II, he served in the United States Navy. He crewed as a mechanic onboard a light landing craft within the Pacific theater. His vessel was tasked in the shipment of goods and essentials to troops battling inland. It was clear he had intense experiences while aboard - “It was an awful place and no body should ever experience that.” He revealed to us some pictures and documents that he carried with him in his brown suitcase. Pictures that revealed a young fitted handsome seventeen year with his crew landing team. The resemblance of that young man to Jennet was still partially there. We couldn’t point out which soldier was him but of course, Jennet, with a smirk, pointed himself out. 

It was a great honor being able to interview David Jenett. There was so much spirit and energy in him that we ended up exceeding our interview time of 25 minutes. We couldn’t stop talking, laughing, and having a great time. It stopped feeling like an interview and started becoming one of the greatest conversations ever. Jenett is one incredible, heart-warming, and humorous man. He is such a witty conversant character with the greatest stories ever.

Art of the Legacy Effects Exhibit

Hollywood’s Gnomon Gallery hosted a small exhibit on The Art of Legacy Effects, with an opening reception on May 28th, 2011 from 7pm-11pm. The Gnomo Gallery is located on 1015 N. Cahuenga Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90038. There is an inside look at the work of the talented artists from Legacy Effects, including Scott Patton, Ian Joyner and Simon Webber. Legacy Effects is an award-winning character design, makeup, specialty prop and animatronic studio. They are a very experienced in visual effects. The exhibit featured large scaled images, maquettes and previously unseen props from movies. Some of the films featured were: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Avatar, Iron Man, Thor, I Am Number Four, Cowboys and Aliens, The Avengers, and John Carter of Mars. 


Upon entrance, guests were greeted and served with Charles Shaw white or red wine, beer, soda, or water. There were choices of appetizers such as fruit platters and a cheese platters. Disappointingly, the exhibit was quite small. One could view the entire exhibit in less than 15minutes. As an attendee of the opening reception, I was really excited but the excitement deteriorated after realizing how small the space was. I was hoping for a more expansive exhibit with a lot more to see. However, I did captured photos of pretty much all of the work that was present at the exhibit. 

Restaurant Review: "Octopus" Japanese Restaurant

 227 E. Palm Ave. Burbank, CA 91502(818) 556-6622

Octopus is a Japanese restaurant specializing in mainly sushi and other specialty seafood fusion dishes. Open daily, every day of the week. Monday through Thursday from 11:30am till 10:30pm, Friday and Saturday till 11pm, and Sunday from 12pm till 10pm. The ambiance is impressive. Location is a bit hard to spot. It stands right at the corner that’s a bit dark and easy to miss if you drive by to fast. Parking is quite easy. There is underground garage parking right besides the restaurant and best thing yet… it is free.

Nights seem to be quite busy. Most of the tables and booths are occupied with service already. There are pretty leather booths and comforting mood lighting surrounding the interior. Their choice of music is quite random and not all that suitable for the ambiance and feel of the restaurant. But chances are, you are too engaged in the satisfying meal that you won’t be bothered too much by it. Service is excellent. The waiters were exceptionally polite and friendly. Quick to respond and comes around to check up on our meal and if we needed any more assistance. It’s nice to have chefs, waitresses and waiters who are attentive to you.

The food is delicious and is worth what you’ve paid for. Prices are decent and each roll of sushi stands within the average range of what a typical sushi roll of eight pieces would be: between approximate $7-$10. Sashimi slices and sushi rolls are always generous and the fish is always fresh. The sashimi salad is exceptional. They truly weren't being cheap with their fish, giving a more than decent portion of fish slices. Some favorites are: the spider roll, the rainbow roll, the volcano roll, shrimp or vegetable tempura roll, and the tiger roll. Some other quite amazing fusion dishes that's a must try upon your visit is: the monkey fry which is deep fried spicy tuna in a japanese mint leaf, the salmon tempura which is unique because it isn't just your ordinary vegetable or shrimp tempura, and even their dynamite appetizer is amazing, which is baked scallop sauteed with mushroom and onion in a slightly sweet and creamy sauce. It definitely was hard to decide what to order. The other great aspect of this restaurant is the fact that they offer two happy hours with discounted alcohol as well as some of their sushi. The first happy hour is between 3-6pm and the second happy hour is from 8pm to closing.

If you want affordable sushi in generous portions and of course, along with great service, Octopus is definitely a recommended Japanese sushi restaurant for you. The flavors and experiences of the dishes will be worth your buck!

Panel: Roberta Morris

• Integrity of a story is important
• Tell a story without exploiting people
• It is key to feel empathy for your subject. You don't have to agree with them technically but without empathy, grasping the feel of the story will be more difficult. It also would be hard to feel for the subject or even care for the persona. You want to grasp the moment and get the humanity of the story from their perspective.
• To whom you interview for a documentary is important. Be aware because you do not want to ask questions to someone who is un-knowledgeable of the topic, facts, or story.
• It isn't always the best idea to put someone on the spot to where they have no way of responding.
• If there is a silence in the interview after a question is being posed, wait seven seconds. The interviewee could be processing the question still and you don't want to interrupt their thought or cause frustration to the degree that they no longer want to go through with the interview

• Acknowledge someone's right to say "no"
• Allow for someone's input, and respect the subject. 
• You are holding their story, you are carrying their story, therefore, respect their story.

• Visual graphics such as animation works great as a filler. It fills interest to the viewer and is entertaining; keeping the audience awake and interested.
• Perception of interactivity: the users get to choose/add input and their response is heard. There are possible different anticipations and reactions to a story but all aspects in angles of the story have already been preconceived.
• People prefer some sort of control and power. Restrictions aren’t all that favorable. Having the power in the decision making aspect makes something interactive successful.

Extra things to think about:

• Pay attention to the differences in sexes opinions/views: different sexism exists.
• Sometimes it is a shame to take someone' story and not be able to put it out there for others to be able to feel for the story and hear the words and perspectives of that persona.

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My opinion, in reference to today’s debate about interactivity:I feel that you can still grab and maintain one's attention without interactivity. However, you cannot do that if there is a lack of story, structure, and substance. It is important to have imagination, new media skills and integration, + storytelling skills.

Journalism Standards

"Verification" / Bill Kovach & Tom Rosenstiel

1. Never add anything that was not there
2. Never deceive the audience
3. Be as transparent as possible about your methods/motives
4. Reply on your own original reporting
5. Exercise humility

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"The 10 Commandments of News" / John Maxwell Hamilton & George A. Krimsky

Thou shalt not:

1. Lie or intentionally alter the truth
2. Lie to or threaten a source
3. Report rumors or other unverified information
4. Suppress or omit opinion with which one disagrees
5. Show favoritism/personal bias in one's reporting/writing
6. Misrepresent oneself or use deception to get a story
7. Plagiarize words or ideas
8. Tap or tape telephone conversations without permission
9. Use one's position for personal gain
10. Do anything that may be construed as a conflict of interest

As a response to the other standards on the handout, I believe that respecting other people's privacy and using sensitivity when working with children and people is super important. This goes along with what Roberta was mentioning about respecting another's voice. As a journalist, one must be cautious, respectful, and to not abuse their power because whatever they write, WILL be permanent. You can't take back what you written or said. 

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Week 8, Vocabulary:
a. Libel - defamation (the act of ruining one's reputation; slander) by written or printed words, pictures, spoken words/gestures
b. Shield Laws - laws protecting journalists from forced disclosure of confidential sources of information
c. Prior Restraint - a court order banning publication of unpublished material
d. Fair use - the conditions under which you can use material that is copyrighted by someone else without paying royalties

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Textbook website response: "Section 18: The Law of Defamation"
- The defamation law is also known as libel
- Defamation material is any material that discredits a person. It tends to lower them in the estimation of others and causes them to be shunned/avoided, or while being exposed to hatred, ridicule, or contempt. Also refers to, "to lower in the estimation of right-thinking people."
- Any person or company has the right to sue for damage of their reputation caused by material published to a third party (this includes materials published online). They can sue as long as they are reasonably identifiable from whatever material is defamatory of them.  


http://www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguidelines/page/guidelines-law-defamation

Walton Ford: a Satiricial Emphasis on Hyracania

Walton Ford, in his workspace where he executes the most amazing work

Walton Ford’s art has a look and feel inspired by the early 18^th century – early 19^th century nature paintings. He unceasingly admired the beauty in the art within that era. Growing up, he was always exposed to that style of art in his home, which later assisted him in his conceptualization for his pieces. His naturalist illustrations are an inspirational resemblance to John James Audubon, who similarly achieves very well painted nature art as well.  Ford utilizes a mix of watercolor, gouache, graphite, ink and pencil to blend depictions of natural history through his art. Ford prefers to paint on a large scale though his format is paper. In an interview, July of 2008 by Ajay Kurian, Ford mentioned, “I do like to make the animals life-size because a lot of the early Naturalists did that. It also allows me to take a tiny piece of ephemera, or a piece of some obscure bit of knowledge and enlarge it, in a real physical way – like take the research and make it as large as life.”

Hyracania, 2007. Watercolor, gouache, pencil, and ink on paper. 60 x 119 1/2 inch.

  There are secrets in every painting. Ford paints with commentary and satire, leaving symbolic hints and evident clues that when dissected, it reveals his bold statement or joke. Ford is quite erudite in colonial literature and folktales also and often makes many references to it in his painting.  His animal portraits usually portray a sense of entrapment, curiosity, or trouble and these depictions are actually very complex and symbolic. Mysteriousness lurks in the characters of whatever subject he is painting.

The piece called Hyrcania, the tiger is holding on to a glass ball and he seems quite disturbed. After researching, I realize that it is based on a 13^th Century European bestiary. Hyrcania is a location, which became Persia and is now Iran. In that country, if one wants to steal a tiger cub from its mother, there is a process that involves those glass balls, similar to the one that the tiger in the painting is gripping on. One would go to the lair, grab the cub and flee on a horse. When the female tiger is chasing you, you throw these reflective glass balls over your shoulder. The mother tiger will see her reflection in the balls, and think it’s her cub. She’ll stop, and start to nurse or cuddle it. Then she’ll realize that she’s been fooled, but you’ll have gained enough distance to get away. Without knowing the truthful story of how tiger cubs are lured away by their mothers, one would not understand the piece of artwork.

The importance of the text on the painting, which also is the title to his piece aids in giving a clue to dissecting the story behind the artwork. He mentions in the 2008 interview, “I always felt like I wanted to use the text in a way that revealed something that was completely not in the image. I do the same with titles. It would open a door to research if possible, if you wanted to figure out what was going on in the picture. And also it would add another layer of meaning to the image that wasn’t visually there.” He truly wants the viewers to expand the text on their own rather than letting himself suffocates us with the meaning of the picture immediately. As it is a journey for him to create the piece, Ford wants it to be a journey for us to understand the piece .