journalism http://www.artwoo.com Returned search results for journalism Copyright 2008 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:40:14 +0000 http://www.artwoo.com/rss/journalism Starting a Career in Journalism http://www.artwoo.com/article/starting-a-career-in-journalism http://www.artwoo.com/article/starting-a-career-in-journalism#comments Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:50:20 +0000 journalism communitycareer in journalismcommunity journalismjournalism coursesports journalismphoto journalismjournalism schools http://www.artwoo.com/article/starting-a-career-in-journalism career in journalism. You may have already decided on a style that interests you but whether you are into Gonzo journalism or reporting news, most journalists start from ground zero and build themselves and their reputation up from there. No matter what style you chose in the end there are some important things to remember in order to get your work noticed.

There are certain traits a budding journalist will already need to have when embarking on a career in journalism. A good journalist must have; a keen interest in people, an inquisitive nature, ability to meet deadlines and outstanding communication skills. Basically, if you are not interested in what people have to say, their emotions and their achievements you simply can not function as a journalist.

Take up a part time course

I have met many people who have found taking an evening or at home very helpful. They won't teach you all you possibly need to know but they give you a good base to start with. You can find courses like this at most local colleges that run during the year or even shorter courses for ten weeks at a time. Online especially offer an array of courses which are more specialized such as , , , feature articles, conducting interviews, shorthand and many more. It will give you a base to start gaining experience which all journalists need. You never know, it might open doors to other things!

Cross your T's and dot your I's!

I really can not stress enough the importance of spelling, punctuation and grammar. Sending off work that has not been spell checked or edited will only look bad on you and will tarnish your reputation. An editor might think you have a good story, but they do not have time to correct mistakes as they have deadlines too. An important tip to remember is to never not proof read your own work and to double check over and over!

Read and write whenever you get the chance

Try to read whatever you can get your hands on. It is important for a journalist to keep up to date and analyse other styles that are out there. This will also help you develop a good news sense. It is a good tip from early on to archive clippings of any articles you have written, as you might need to fall back on them later.

Try and read and rewrite smaller articles as much as you can. This is a good habit to pick up to keep you in the 'write' frame of mind. I find it helps before writing anything as the words seems to flow more.

When I first started writing as a freelance journalist the only way I could really publicize myself was to write for free for a local community newspaper. Free jobs like these I feel is where the most experience is gained as you get the chance to strengthen your style and build up the speed in which you can produce a good article. It will give you a good opportunity to build up relationships with editors and get to know good contacts.

There are also many different outlets out there that you can use to advertise your work. The internet is one of the best for this. You can also start your own website, blog, ghost write... There are many websites that offer new and experienced writers places to showcase their work. With the internet especially, there are no limits to what you can do!The author writes for several websites including her own Article Directory BB Articles, the Creative Writing and Make Money From Writing sites where you will find lots of tips and information about making money from writing.]]> All About Freelance Journalism Jobs http://www.artwoo.com/article/all-about-freelance-journalism-jobs http://www.artwoo.com/article/all-about-freelance-journalism-jobs#comments Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:30:21 +0000 journalism schoolsfreelance journalistself motivationcity newspapersaccurate notestime reportersbigger city http://www.artwoo.com/article/all-about-freelance-journalism-jobs city newspapers will pay around $200 an article for good stories.

Most full- received training at , after they'd already earned a 4-year undergraduate degree. If you lack the education, you can still get your foot in the door by becoming a stringer (the industry term for "freelance reporter"). Many publications use stringers because they lack reporters to cover all the news at once; besides, newspapers want writers to hone their skills before they're hired full-time, or because they like the fresh perspectives of a good freelancer.

What's involved in freelance journalism?

This is the exciting part: as a , you get to chase the news as it's happening. For many, this thrill is enough to keep them going through the drudgery and low pay.

You'll need to keep your wits about you. If news is happening right in front of you, you must have the presence of mind to take and come up with questions for on-the-spot interviews. Freelance journalism is all about recreating the story on paper so readers can relive the experience you had.

Where do I find freelance journalism jobs?

Before you approach any newspapers, you should have a portfolio of articles under your belt. Five to ten sample articles is the minimum. If you don't have published samples of your work, you'll need to do some freelance stringing for free to get started.

Hunt around for some newsworthy events -- an upcoming concert, a celebrity coming to town, an impending election, etc. Then, write about it and submit your article to as many free publications as you can think of. You'll want to make sure your article is relevant to what a given magazine or newspaper publishes, of course, but be as prolific as possible.

When you have samples under your belt, make the pitch. Email the publication, or send them a query letter. Tell the editor you have some good ideas and you're available for freelance writing.

Alternatively, you might call the publication and let them know you're a freelance writer and you're wondering if they use stringers. Be brief, confident, and professional. If they do use stringers, they may ask you to come in for an interview.

How do I ace the interview?

Bring along your portfolio, a list of well thought-out ideas specifically for that publication, and a sample article that you've written for them. All of these will help the editor decide whether you're a good fit for their newspaper.

Some editors want their stringers to use their own ideas and some editors have ideas of their own. Be flexible. A good portfolio will show editors that you can handle a various subject matters.

As in all interviews, be relaxed and confident. Acting nervous and stammering over your words doesn't make a good impression. Before the interview, imagine the interview going perfectly. This technique helps calm your nerves and sets the stage for a positive interview experience.

Here's an example:

Let's say you want to write for your city newspaper. How would you craft your query letter?

It might go like this:

Dear (editor),

The content of your newspaper is unsurpassable. As a loyal reader and enthusiastic writer, I would be honored to contribute to The Daily News.

Our city is full of excitement this season. Here are some of the story ideas I have that would appeal to your readership:

- How do the new pet bylaws affect downtown pet owners?

- Support our agriculture: homegrown food for your family

- The upcoming art show is attracting art lovers from all over North America

- How neighborhoods are improving road safety for pedestrians

- New schools and playgrounds encourage families to move inner city

These are just a few suggestions, and of course I am open to any ideas you have. As an experienced freelance writer, I have covered a wide variety of topics. I hope you will find the enclosed clips to be compelling and well written.

Show the editor that your writing style and journalistic abilities are in line with what they're looking for, and include your relevant experience. If you have a good query letter and they need stringers, expect a phone call!Brian Scott is a full-time freelance writer with over a decade of experience. He finds many of his paid freelance journalism jobs at Online Writing Jobs ( http://www.online-writing-jobs.com ), a free jobboard that lets you search thousands of freelance writing jobs.]]> What Is Freelance Journalism? http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-is-freelance-journalism http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-is-freelance-journalism#comments Mon, 15 Jan 2007 18:27:08 +0000 freelance journalismfreelance journalistmagazine journalismfreelance writingsuccinctpertinenthectic http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-is-freelance-journalism Freelance journalism is one of the more forms of . If you want to become a successful , you'll need to be comfortable with spending much time hunting down stories, traveling from place to place, and writing under short deadlines. If you enjoy all of that, and if you're interested in some of the best opportunities for personal creativity, then freelance journalism may be for you.

When we talk about freelance journalism, we need to distinguish between two types: newspaper journalism and . As a rule, newspaper journalism involves a much narrower range of subject matter than magazine journalism, significantly shorter articles, and a greater focus on form. Typical newspaper articles follow a hierarchical format: the most information first, the least pertinent last. For example, an article about a local parade would start with "The X Parade will travel down Main Street at 10:00 Saturday in support of Y," while it might end with "Onlookers are advised to bring umbrellas."

Additionally, writing as a newspaper journalist means that you need the ability to find out about the news. Often, a journalist's day looks like this: the editor assigns the journalist an article topic at 6 AM. By 8 AM, the journalist is making phone calls to various parties related to the topic. For a story on rising gas prices, this may include CEOs of oil companies, local gas station owners, car owners (interviewed on the street or at gas stations), car manufacturers, and local policymakers. Journalists usually interview anyone with a meaningful connection to the topic, and who can provide some good, quotes and information.

Information-gathering goes on for most of the day, usually ending around evening. The journalist then works on the article, fact-checking where appropriate, before submitting it for publication sometime that night, with the deadline depending on the individual paper. Then the journalist is able to go to sleep--until 6 AM rolls around again, and the next article topic comes in.

More leeway is available with the larger "feature" articles. These appear in film sections, lifestyle sections, health sections or other less breaking-news-focused parts of the daily paper. Often newspapers publish these sections weekly, rather than daily, to save on printing costs.

For example, the film section may only appear on Fridays, the food section on Tuesdays, etc. The upshot of this is the freelance journalist has more time to research and to work on an excellent, well-rounded article. Using the same research methods (calling everyone connected to the topic, scheduling interviews, synthesizing succinct points from a large information pool), a feature writer constructs a more in-depth look at a given topic than a news writer can achieve in a short column of text.

Additionally, there's occasionally more freedom in the choice of subject matter. Perhaps you know about an excellent local band in need of a profile? Maybe you volunteer in a community organization that does interesting work and deserves a write-up? How about writing an article on the health benefits of soybeans? A newspaper's "features" section can be an excellent venue and a personal one, which can be rare in freelance writing. Additionally, feature articles don't depend heavily on the hierarchical "news" format, making your job much easier (or harder, if you find it difficult to structure an article without set guidelines.)

Magazine journalism is similar to the "feature" style of newspaper journalism, albeit with much more generous word limits (and often more generous pay rates.) The downside is that a magazine may not have as many opportunities for publishing your work. The broader subject matter of a magazine may also result in topics that require more legwork and potential travel expenses (hopefully paid for by the magazine) than just a profile of a local policymaker. To be an effective magazine writer, you'll need to look much harder for article ideas, but the payoff can be well worth it.

How do you scout out freelance journalism jobs? For newspapers, have some sample articles written, a good working knowledge of style guides (especially Associated Press style), and a willingness to work on whatever is available until the editor or publisher promotes you to working on more enjoyable assignments. For magazines, it's best to research your articles and write them in advance; afterwards you can send query letters to the appropriate editors in hopes of becoming published. In either case, submission information is printed on the staff page of magazines and newspapers. You can also find submission information online at the publications' web sites.

The career of a journalist isn't for everyone. Whereas many freelance writing projects are about a predictable routine of research and writing, the variety and novelty of writing news and feature articles eschews all routine in favor of a constant flurry of ad hoc interviews, phone calls and general information-gathering. But to some people, this is far from a drawback. If you're one of those people, start developing your portfolio now, get in touch with some editors (either by appointment or by query), and prepare yourself for a successful career in freelance journalism. Brian Konradt is the author of the book, "Freelance Poker Writing: How to Make Money Writing for the Gaming Industry," available at http://www.FreelancePokerWriting.com. Learn more about different writing careers at http://www.WritingCareer.com. ]]> A Free Shortcut For Getting Massive Publicity To Launch Your Successful Music Career. http://www.artwoo.com/article/a-free-shortcut-for-getting-massive-publicity-to-launch-your-successful-music-career http://www.artwoo.com/article/a-free-shortcut-for-getting-massive-publicity-to-launch-your-successful-music-career#comments Wed, 30 Aug 2006 22:27:15 +0000 music journalistsmusic journalismmusic interviewsmusic journalistmusic careerfavor musicmusic sales http://www.artwoo.com/article/a-free-shortcut-for-getting-massive-publicity-to-launch-your-successful-music-career
Massive publicity can give your an enormous boost which can mean more and much more exposure. There are many ways to get publicity. Certain tactics and gimmicks like controversial stunts have been utilized by countless musicians to get public attention and many these work great.

One of the exceptionally effective ways of promoting one's music is by attracting s. The key is to leverage the extensive media resources of music journalists in your favor.

is a form of journalism which deals with writing reviews and criticisms about music. You may encounter several music journalism columns in the major dailies and the magazines. These people know how to write, therefore attracting people to read their columns and read about a musician and their heart-felt music. Many have a huge reach and can get your name, web address and event dates in front of a huge audience.

There are tons of music journalists out there and they can be the best way that a budding musician can get into the spotlight if you don't already have connections to the big leagues. A good strategy is to put the elements of the Internet and music journalism together. A musician can strike a deal with a music journalist that they will do an interview and the write-up can be displayed on-line by both parties. A website would be more interesting to read if there is a section on "Interviews" or "What music journalists are saying about the music." Interviews convey interaction and it is more interesting to read write-ups which are based on wonderful interview questions.

Some tips for attracting music journalists are:

1) Study the stories that various media journalists publish on a regular basis. 2) Ask yourself what made these stories newsworthy. 3) Choose similar newsworthy characteristics about yourself or band and create a write-up that you can submit to these music journalists.

Another good idea is to have a live chat interview that can be accessed through the website, if possible. This way, people can also participate in the question and answer portions. This can be done using the free Voice Over IP telephony service called Skype. http://www.skype.com

What you do is record your call using pretty much any sound editing program that will pickup the sound that comes through your sound card. A excellent and free program to use for this is Audacity located at: audacity.sourceforge.net . Next save this as an mp3 for easy distribution.

Facing a music journalist is no joke. They will ask questions that the interviewee should be prepared to answer instantly. Preparing for an interview takes nothing more than being sober and being punctual. All the questions can be answered by a musician from their heart and that's all that matters. Many musicians screw up their interviews with music journalists because they want to sound sophisticated whereas they would have done better if they stuck to the truth and be simple.

After having an interview, it would be best if the music journalist can be able to see the gig. The interview is actually the easy part, it's the gig that really matters. The music journalist will have ears for the notes and eyes for the whole performance. Music journalists know their stuff and how they are going to write their experiences. WMP Article Staff Start Selling Your Music Online Within The Next 20 Minutes http://www.websitemusicplayer.com ]]> Fake Online University Degrees http://www.artwoo.com/article/fake-online-university-degrees http://www.artwoo.com/article/fake-online-university-degrees#comments Mon, 05 Mar 2007 04:27:07 +0000 belford universityivy league universitiesjournalism degreecriminal justice degreeassociate degree in criminal justiceuniversity degreescornell university http://www.artwoo.com/article/fake-online-university-degrees university degrees last week. One is an and the other is a bachelor's degree in Journalism. It took him just one week to get both degrees. If university degrees are that easy to get, they are probably fake degrees.

He went on to say in the report that he got the associate from and the from True Diplomas paying a total of US$349 for the degrees excluding freight charges without any studying on his part or examinations to take.

He called Belford University's hotline before buying the degrees and was assured that Belford University degrees are perfectly legal, properly accredited and accepted all over the world. In order for an applicant to qualify for a Belford online degree, the candidate must have sufficient 'life experience' or an 'online equivalency test' which can be done under one hour.

True Diploma have no degrees of their own to offer for they sell replica and imitation degrees from about 115 genuine universities including such as Brown University and . The degrees offered by True Diploma are certainly fakes and they tell you upfront about it. When Lim received The Belford University degree, he found that it was very impressive. Along with the degree package were also educational transcripts with grades for each module. The university seal is embossed on the degree and looks authentic. How could there be grades and transcripts if tests and examinations are not taken?

The journalism degree though can be easily spotted as a fake. There are glaring misspelling and grammatical errors. For example, in his degree, December was spelt as Decemberf.

He reported that in the United States, fake degree scams are so rampant that the problem is seen as a national security threat. An audit in May 2004 showed that a total of 463 employees in the federal government had fake academic degrees. Some were even high ranking officials in sensitive positions with top level security clearance to boot.

According to fake degree mill expert John Bear, co-author of Degree Mills, fake degree mills are a billion dollar industry having sold thousands of fake online degrees and diplomas every week internationally.

Although some employers may check the qualifications of a prospective employees directly by calling up the university which awarded the degrees, this screening may not be effective against some degree mills as some of these degree mills provide verification services. Employers who called are told that the job applicant is indeed a graduate from that particular university.

However, not all college and university online degree programs are frauds. There are some great universities such as Harvard University offer online degrees.

So if you want to get an online degree, then it is prudent for you to do a thorough due diligence and check with your local educational authorities for the online university's authenticity so that you will not end up with a fake degree by a costly mistake. Chris Chew is a researcher. More articles at his blogs http://universityeducation.blogspot.com and http://create-attract-wealth.blogspot.com ]]> Dundee Is Famous For Jute, Jam and Journalism http://www.artwoo.com/article/dundee-is-famous-for-jute-jam-journalism http://www.artwoo.com/article/dundee-is-famous-for-jute-jam-journalism#comments Thu, 31 May 2007 21:24:53 +0000 jute industrydundeemarmaladebitter orangesverdant worksjamsjournalism http://www.artwoo.com/article/dundee-is-famous-for-jute-jam-journalism Dundee flourished between 1700 and 1900 primarily because of the . At one time it was said that there were more millionaires per head of population in Dundee then anywhere else in the world!

At one point, jute employed more people in Dundee then all the other industries combined. Then due to competition from Asia the jute industry slowly died a death. Now there are only a few people employed in the jute industry in Dundee.

is a restored working museum where jute is still produced today. You can see for yourself how jute was manufactured and learn more about the rise and decline of the jute industry. At its peak over 500 people were employed at Verdant Works. Conditions must have been tough for the workers because the factory is not that large!

It has been said that was invented by Janet Keillor. They had ordered Oranges from Seville which arrived late sometime around 1700 and were very bitter. Janet Keillor managed to make the original recipe for marmalade. Her son then developed the recipe further and made Keillor's and marmalades famous throughout the world.

This story is probably not one hundred percent true as some types of marmalade were probably being eaten in Spain and Portugal before this late shipment of arrived in Dundee. Marmalade is a sweet sticky condiment that tastes great on toast at breakfast time. It is not to everybody's liking though with many people and especially children who find it unpalatable.

Although Dundee was famous for its jams the number of people employed in the industry was small compared to jute and . As competition grew in the late 1900s the factory struggled to make any profits. The Keillor factory was bought by the Okhai family in the 1980s but they were unable to make the business profitable and it eventually closed down.

Journalism still thrives in Dundee today. The business owned by the DC Thomson family created many famous characters including Dennis the Menace, Desperate Dan, Billy Whiz and the Bash Street Kids. They publish The Courier newspaper, Sunday Post, Scots Magazine, Weekly News as well as the Beano, Dandy. According to their own figures they publish over 200 million newspapers and magazines each year.

Dundee at its peak had over two hundred thousand people living and working in the city. As the industry has slowly died younger people and especially graduates are leaving to work in the larger cities. Now it has a population of around a hundred and forty thousand.

Dundee is a beautiful place to live sitting on "the Banks of the Bonny Bay." The Law is at the centre of Dundee and was at on point an active volcano. Now you can drive up to the top and from this vantage point see all the four corners of Dundee.

Dundee is a great place to visit if you want to see Scotland. Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow are all within an hours reach. Perth and St Andrews (the home of golf) are both within twenty minutes drive. Chris Fawcett - CityLocal Dundee http://www.citylocal.co.uk/frontend/postfreeadvert.php?cityid=79 http://www.citylocal.co.uk/frontend/postevent.php http://www.citylocal.co.uk/frontend/postproperty.php http://www.citylocal.co.uk/cities/Dundee/news/ ]]> Make it or Break it With Headlines http://www.artwoo.com/article/make-it-or-break-it-with-headlines http://www.artwoo.com/article/make-it-or-break-it-with-headlines#comments Thu, 30 Oct 2008 08:57:27 +0000 journalism parlancedeceptive headlinestarget audiencewriting headlinesjournalistic articlescatchy headlineprospective customers http://www.artwoo.com/article/make-it-or-break-it-with-headlines catchy headline might prove to be disappointing, but it will still be read. The same story with a humdrum headline will be dismissed in a split-second.

While for and for web copies are different in terms of their , the principles under which they work are basically the same: to capture the essence of a piece and, hopefully, catch attention.

The need for brilliant headlines

In a nutshell, a headline can determine whether a user will click through to a copy or not. Writers for an online audience always have this in mind. The possible downside of this thinking is sacrificing accuracy. Some opt to misguide intentionally just to get hits. Remember that clicks alone will not translate to business automatically. Hence, it's not worth trying to misguide through .

A headline, in , is the gist of the gist of a story. When writing copy for the web, this can be overly simplistic. There are more things to consider than just condensing a piece into several words. For instance, remember to be creative and inspired when thinking of your headlines. The World Wide Web is astronomically bigger than any single newspaper. And even with the help of a search engine to narrow down results, the webpages and headlines competing for a user's attention is unimaginably voluminous. This is where a good headline edges out a mediocre one.

The writing itself

When writing headlines, it is best to strike a balance between accuracy and creativity. The first part means saying what you want to say, no complication, no catch. Trying to impress via headlines is not only needless and arrogant, it can also backfire in the long run. Thinking about it, writing for the sake of trying to impress often works to one's disadvantage.

After figuring out what you need to say, figure out the most effective, creative, catchy, clever way of saying it. While you tirelessly try to excite and reel people in through your headlines, remember that your headline is the bait, and your copy is the fishing rod that reels people in.

As with writing for journalism, headlines of web copies vary depending on the purpose they will serve. The tone of your headline usually sets the mood for the rest of the article. Reserve funny headlines for comic pieces, satirical ones for parodies, academic ones for research papers. You get the picture.

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Copyright (c) Althea Marie Tan - The Content Annex is a content development company that offers comprehensive writing solutions for busy entrepreneurs. Visit http://www.thecontentannex.com for more information.Copyright (c) Althea Marie Tan - The Content Annex is a content development company that offers comprehensive writing solutions for busy entrepreneurs. Visit http://www.thecontentannex.com for more information.]]> Dundee, Past and Present http://www.artwoo.com/article/dundee-past-present http://www.artwoo.com/article/dundee-past-present#comments Wed, 27 Jun 2007 05:30:01 +0000 dundee universityjute millscosmopolitantenementsrich industrial heritagejournalismshipping industries http://www.artwoo.com/article/dundee-past-present rich industrial heritage with industries ranging through the obvious such as jute, jam and . However most people forget the other industries Dundee contained such as shipbuilding, whaling (being a thing of its time) and heavy industry.

These industries, except journalism are all but extinct from Dundee now, and one may view this as gloomy but a lot of industry has been replaced by modern day successes.

For example, having grown up in the seventies in Dundee I caught the very tail end of the jute and and can remember the docks as being very populated.

Additionally, because we lived relatively near to the jam production, in this case, marmalade, we used to watch the trains coming in to the Keillor's factory loaded with oranges for production.

Additionally, in our previous business in the packaging we were involved in supplying the last two or three surviving ; indeed I remember six or seven years ago the last ever shipment of flax coming into Dundee for conversion to jute -- end of an era.

While Dundee had a very rich demeanour about it, the wealth as usual was not evenly distributed and I can remember as a young child all the streets of , many derelict, prior to the upgrading projects of the mid --1970's.

Moving into the town, I am too young to remember the development of the old Overgate but I do remember the new Wellgate opening; I believe that Dundee has now got the balance of both ends of the town right and while it may have lost most of the old industry, this has been replaced by different types of business.

Dundee's teaching hospital, Ninewells, is, I believe, the largest in Europe and attracts a variety of researchers and medical staff from all over the world, bringing with them a wide variety of cultures and resulting in Dundee becoming ever---- more .

Ninewells, in conjunction with , is at the forefront of pioneering treatments for a wide variety of ailments, not least cancer.

The University of Dundee has expanded incredibly and together with the University of Abertay, has swollen the student population incredibly throughout the last twenty years.

Socially Dundee has become a cultural oasis in that it has a very progressive theatre and contemporary arts centre, which regularly has showings of films from all over the world.

On the industrial front, while the traditional industries have all but vanished, there has been a huge increase in bio sciences and computer games manufacturing in the city, creating employment of a different kind.

With the reintroduction of the Discovery ship to Dundee, and the planned waterfront development, Dundee has inarguably become one of the most attractive cities around;

I can say this with a certain amount of authority and knowledge as my role in our last business was largely to drive all over the UK doing presentations to procurement departments to win contracts and I can tell you Dundee is a breath of fresh air compared to many cities I have been to.

Lastly, with our new business, I am constantly told by people I meet coming here for business how beautiful it is whilst driving along the riverfront.

Why don't you visit and find out for yourself the delights Dundee has to offer? http://www.citylocal.co.uk/cities/Dundee/news/ http://www.citylocal.co.uk/cities/Dundee/business/All/ http://www.citylocal.co.uk/cities/Dundee/events/ http://www.citylocal.co.uk/frontend/property/property.php?cityid=79andcateg= ory=forrent ]]> Citizen Journalism Should Be Local, Dang It! http://www.artwoo.com/article/citizen-journalism-should-be-local-dang-it http://www.artwoo.com/article/citizen-journalism-should-be-local-dang-it#comments Thu, 14 Sep 2006 22:27:14 +0000 citizen journalismnew orleansfree music downloadsbloggerstodays mediafemainformation education http://www.artwoo.com/article/citizen-journalism-should-be-local-dang-it free music downloads, overwhelming amounts of information, education, porn -- there's something there for everyone. Even me.

But there's also something to annoy everyone.

For me, it's the so-called exploitative "." Read: activism in a different set of clothes. (Not all citizen journalism, mind -- only the self-serving stuff.)

Yeah, I blog. That does not make me media, and it does not make me informed. It makes me a person with a big mouth, and an audience that might just possibly be listening.

Don't get me wrong - I don't have a huge amount of respect for today's media either, particularly after hearing some of the cowardly things that are going on in Lebanon ("Just stay in your comfy hotel room, guys, and let the natives handle it. They're used to getting killed. Sure, they'll give you the straight story!" Tracers.*)

*if you didn't get that, go back and watch Chasing Amy.

But what really bothers me about the citizen journalist -- or as I like to call them, with a cause -- is the way they adopt any old issue and use it to promote their own agenda.

Case in point: there's a nice little city I happen to love called . It had a little old flood not too long ago that did all kinds of nasty things to the city. Oh, not the party and nightclub section -- that part was mostly okay. But with any city, it's the people that make up the town, not the buildings.

So a bunch of houses were destroyed. Perhaps as many as two thousand people were killed just in the city and surrounding areas, and more bodies are being discovered even now a year later. Half or more of the city's population is still evacuated, with many more waiting in trailers for their homes to be rebuilt. Horrible. Almost unimaginable, really.

Seems to me that the tragedy in New Orleans didn't really require any exploitation. The bloggers down there, a very active and respectable community, need a little help getting their message out. They've been living with the carnage and wreckage and sewage and all the other "ages" for just under a year. They have pictures galore. They have news to report, positive and negative, on what's being done.

But there's a segment of the blogging world that just can't leave this alone, or even help out the New Orleans bloggers in the most simple and rational of manners -- by linking to them, or by crossposting their best blogs on well-trafficked sites.

No, they have to go down and blog for themselves about it. Now, in all the blogs belonging to these folks, I have yet to find one that really talks about a Nola (that's shorthand for the New Orleans area, all y'all who don't know) blogger's blogsite. (For that matter only two -- Chartreuse and 1938Media -- seem to be actual real bloggers; the others: recruited for the cause, I'm guessing?)

Where in their blogs can you read a promo for a Nola blogger who has demonstrated exemplary -- and real -- citizen journalism? Or one asking for help? You'd think that citizen journalists -- would at least read stuff by other citizen journalists. If they're so damned concerned about it, they should be talking about it.

You'd think that if they were gung-ho about going down to see the damage and promote a fix, that they'd also be interested in promoting more awareness of what's going on for real.

Nope. Nary a word.

How about a link on their sites providing a place to donate to the New Orleans cleanup? Or maybe letter templates to write to congressmen or the media, demanding more action.

Hmm. That's not there either. Gasp. Shock. Dismay.

In fact, there's not a damn thing on these sites that will help the folks in New Orleans in any kind of responsible, material manner. Nada. Zilch. Zip.

Here's my prediction. First, they will go down and take nothing but negative pictures. There will be no pics of the incredible work Nola residents and hordes of fantastic volunteers have done to clean up the city -- sanitizing the fishy carnage of the Audubon Aquarium, or repairing the damage to the Superdome, or making the streets of the Ninth Ward drivable again.

Instead, there will be hordes of pictures of all the places that still need work. Sure, that's important, but if you don't look at what's been done already, you're not getting the whole picture, are you?

These images will be used for two different purposes: first, to Promote A Political Agenda. Okay, we all have political agendas. And that's okay. But this Political Agenda will be specifically to attack Bush and the Republican party, not to criticize what the Democrats running Louisiana have done, or rather not done. There will be not a single gripe about Nagin's atrocious decision not to evacuate; instead, the federal government not doing enough will be the centerpiece of this bitchfest. Hey, guys, there's plenty of blame to spread around, don't you think?

Anyway, isn't it cheating to go to someone else's backyard and bitch about what a rotten job has been done there? Aren't there problems in OUR OWN BACKYARDS that need bitching about? And if there aren't, maybe some praise and thanksgiving for our good fortune is in order as we WRITE A CHECK to an appropriate rebuilding charity instead of spending that money to travel down to New Orleans?

That brings me to my other gripe, and the other purpose these images will be used to promote. It has always been my belief that one should give in secret. A donation made in secret, in private, is a better choice for true charity than marching a parade down the street to hand your hundred-dollar check over to the Salvation Army or Goodwill or whoever. If you're using a parade, is your motivation charity, or is it letting everyone know how generous and nice you are?

Citizen journalism should be done in your own backyard, where you are a citizen, and where you know the community. Let news agencies go out and dispatch journalists to other places. Who knows New Orleans' problems better than someone who lives in New Orleans? All the best blogs on Iraq come from guys who are stationed there or Iraqis who live there. And you can't possibly hope to understand the mindset of the Lebanese or the Israelis by visiting there for a week or two.

Since I've predicted this, it may change. We may see some pretty positive blogs coming out of this group. I doubt it. I think I'll get viciously attacked for writing this blog*, and some Nola folks will come out and say nice things, and all the stuff I just predicted will come true.

*bring it on!

Let's watch, shall we? And sneer. At least a little. It's good exercise for our faces.

*Oh, and one sweetener, hat tip to GulfSails: a Chartreuse supporter, Know More Media, is even committed to paying these bloggers for their daily posts. How generous of everyone. Nola bloggers are Not Happy. A little reminder, one more time, of New Orleans rebuilding funds.

**A second sweetener: this was scheduled to happen Next Weekend as of August 2. It's nearly the end of August, and it ain't happened yet. What's up with that?

***Sigh. This is starting to hurt my teeth. Am I really supposed to believe that there is no profit being made on this site when there's such nice, clean promo for Discovery Channel all over it? I wonder if they know about this picture, archived for all posterity at Chartreuse's post on Team New Orleans, a clear response, as the text below shows, to those who think his mission is a "waste of time." There has been an active and highly charged debate in the aftermath of the tragedy in New Orleans within the blogging community. To join the discussion, please visit the infamous Jack Of All Blogs-: http://www.JackOfAllBlogs.com ]]> Personal Websites For Journalists http://www.artwoo.com/article/personal-websites-for-journalists http://www.artwoo.com/article/personal-websites-for-journalists#comments Tue, 03 Oct 2006 22:27:06 +0000 journalistopinionated peopleswitchboardemailjournalistsnews storiesblog http://www.artwoo.com/article/personal-websites-for-journalists journalists have more or less worked alone. in both the news business and feature writers for magazines typically will develop their stories, dig up their leads, conduct their interviews and draft the final product themselves. In the newspaper business, major stories will sometimes become collaborative efforts where several reporters are working on aspects of a story and their work is edited into a single piece, published under multiple bylines.

Communicating with a journalist was generally a haphazard affair, placing a call to a or desk and leaving a message. Today, major newspapers all have websites and provide addresses for most of their journalists and nearly all of their columnists. People who write columns and opinion pieces are generally more open to communicating with the public because their work is often designed to generate controversy and feedback is important. Occasionally columnists will find ideas for new topics in the email traffic they receive, or will write about the heavy response they received on a particular piece.

A journalist with some initiative can take this communications process one step further by setting up a personal website. That site can serve several purposes: all of them require some work. The function of the site depends, to some degree, on the amount of time the journalist is willing to devote to it. A working reporter may also have to negotiate permission to engage in some online publishing of his own with the editorial staff of the paper or magazine that employs him.

Internet s have made some in this country powerful and well known, just by virtue of their daily journaling. A working journalist could set up a blog for which he could provide occasional entries, relating to his work or to other or totally unrelated subjects. The value of a blog is that it provides the opportunity for open dialogue among all who wish to log on and participate. Name recognition can be meaningful to some journalists and blogging is one way to develop andquot;viralandquot; recognition by inviting communication. Many people will be attracted to the opportunity to communicate with someone who gets paid to publish.

Blogs can develop story lines for topics for journalists, particularly columnists and feature writers. They can help a professional writer build a persona that doesn't enter into the straight journalism he produces on the job. A personal blog is a way to build a public and well rounded profile that the constraints of a traditional journalism job don't usually allow.

A personal website can also provide the journalist an opportunity to showcase a andquot;profileandquot; of work that is unrelated to the job, or at least has gone unpublished by the employer. Here again, there is a fine line between what the journalist can do online - which is essentially public exposure - and what the requirements of exclusivity on the job may be. But if a journalist has ventured into fiction, a personal website is a great way to put it out there for exposure.

If the goal is a publishing opportunity for fictional work, the website may be a way to short circuit the formal submission rules for fictional work that magazines and book publishers maintain. An established journalist is already a professional writer. Asking a book publishing editor or potential agent to look at product posted on a website is much easier than engaging in the formal process. Madison Lockwood is a customer relations associate for http://www.apollohosting.com. She helps clients understand how a website may benefit them both personally and professionally. Apollo Hosting provides website hosting, ecommerce hosting, andamp; VPS hosting to a wide range of customers. ]]> Using A Blog To Connect With Your Readers http://www.artwoo.com/article/using-a-blog-to-connect-with-your-readers http://www.artwoo.com/article/using-a-blog-to-connect-with-your-readers#comments Sun, 28 Jan 2007 20:27:12 +0000 blogchristopher anguswebsite marketerseopress releaseweb site copyvirtual space http://www.artwoo.com/article/using-a-blog-to-connect-with-your-readers blog is that of a journal or serial newsletter that provides fresh content for the reading on a timely basis. However what most people don't realize is that a blog is not just a where you put your thoughts or the latest news about your products or services. It is more than just an online or a way of announcing things. It is also a journal that can" talk back to you" as there are usually spaces for individuals to respond to what you have to say and offer feedback. This content is a natural form of that will bring interested people back to your site (and also hopefully to your affiliate links) again and again.)

Obviously as a forum, the blog offers more intimate contact with your readers and is less formal than a press release or the usual customer feedback reviews forms you find on larger sites. Also you can moderate or edit any posts left on your blog so that you don't end up with a site filled with spam or undesirable comments. The ability to editorialize gives you the opportunity to also control the appearance of your site.

Blogs are usually more entertaining for people read then press releases or the usual simply because it is written in a more informal way. It also allows a writer to express a very personal or even partisan point of view, which is not something that is even found in contemporary journalism. Many people enjoy the fact that blogging is a way of taking your reputation out of the hands of journalists and critics and letting the public decide for themselves about what you have to say, what you have to offer and your credibility. is a SEO and . He can be contacted at: Sales (at) Brilliantseo.com http://www.chooseinsurance.co.uk http://www.mobility-direct.co.uk http://www.illustratemyname.com ]]> The 'Over Time' Literary Achievement Award For Sports Journalism http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-over-time-literary-achievement-award-for-sports-journalism http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-over-time-literary-achievement-award-for-sports-journalism#comments Sun, 20 Aug 2006 20:27:23 +0000 green bay packersfootball writerschicago bears fanssports relatedlambeau fieldnfl gamenfl fan http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-over-time-literary-achievement-award-for-sports-journalism NFL fan can possibly keep up with. Some of it is gem-quality journalism, a lot of it is noisy, unpleasant junk.

So, how do we separate the good football writing from the bad, distinguish between the words artists and the finger painters?

I had wrestled with this question for years, without getting anywhere close to answering it. Then, earlier this week, it finally hit me! I discovered a rule we can all apply (and the rule is so simple that I am surprised I didn't discover it before):

THE MOST TALENTED AND BROADCASTERS TEND TO BE THOSE WHO SAY NICE THINGS ABOUT THE .

In fact, 'tend to be' might be too cautious a phrase. Actually, there is a near 100% correlation between writing talent and relentless optimism about the Packers.

My goal is to help you sift through all the football-related content out there and find the very best writing and to help you avoid the very worst.

The Packers Literary Corner will recognize and encourage excellence in football writing and broadcasting.

>From time to time I will select one truly deserving writer to receive the partially prestigious:

'Over Time' Literary Achievement Award

There will be several ways a journalist or broadcaster can become eligible to win this award:

--Expressing gushing admiration for Brett Favre, to the point that in the audience begin to get nauseous.

--Describing, at considerable length, why is the best place to see an . Extra credit will be given for use of words such as magnificent, incredible, and phrases such as once-in-a-lifetime experience.

--Reminding readers that the Packers have won a league-high 12 Championships, beginning in 1929--no other team is even close to that achievement except the Chicago Bears with 9--and not misleading them with the fuzzy logic that other teams are the true "Dynasties" because they have won more Super Bowls. (An understanding of history is part of what makes a writer great).

--Demonstrating a talent for prognostication. This is the easiest way to qualify for the Over Time Literary Achievement Award. All a writer has to do is maintain Green Bay in the #1 or #2 position in their NFL Team Rankings for 5 consecutive weeks. Consideration will also be given to those writers who recommend the Packers' entire starting lineup in their Fantasy Football leagues. Even our injured players.

Award winners receive and impressive package of prizes including an autographed copy of the novel, OVER TIME and a gift certificate for delicious Johnsonville Bratwurst.

But what do we do with the clueless, negative scribes? You know these guys. When you read the nonsense they write about the Packers, you'd think they were talking about the NFL's perennial doormat rather than the team that's had 12 winning seasons in the last 14 years. You really have to scratch your head when you read goofy things like 'the Packers will be so bad in 2006 that Brett will regret having come back for another season,' or truly brain dead predictions such as 'Green Bay will have the #1 pick in next year's Draft'.

You have to feel sorry for these people. They are trapped in a mental tar pit of ignorance and no one seems willing to throw them a lifeline. I feel compelled to do something to help these poor individuals get on the path to enlightenment, to help them find their 'Inner Cheesehead', if you will.

Let's visit the Internet, plunge into the digital mire and dredge up some of the most foolishly negative statements about the Packers. Then, we will critique what they had to say, and try to help them become better writers. Help them sharpen their thinking. Smooth out their literary style. And, recommend books they should read to get them back on the right track. It's the least we Packer fans can do.

That's why we're renowned as The Best Fans in the National Football League.

Text only about the author: Brian Hill is the author of the novel "Over Time" - Money, Love and Football: All the Important Things in Life. http://www.OverTimeTheNovel.com and several other books. You can read his blog The Packers Literary Corner: A Cheese Blog at http://OverTimeTheNovel.blogspot.com or reach him at author@brianhillanddeepower.com ]]> Digital Photography Classes http://www.artwoo.com/article/digital-photography-classes http://www.artwoo.com/article/digital-photography-classes#comments Fri, 11 May 2007 09:35:01 +0000 becoming a photographernew york institute of photographyanswer is yestheoretical lecturesdo this anymoreproper techniqueshands on experience http://www.artwoo.com/article/digital-photography-classes answer is yes. The only thing needed is your dedication to learn from the and a camera to take some shots.

Some students don't have to go to campus anymore. There are some institutions that offer distance education. A good example is the .

You will learn everything from exposure, lenses, the various techniques used to cover different events, journalism and much more. Being affiliated with the school, you will be entitled to free online magazine articles such as contests and digital imaging.

Classes are composed of 30 lectures on various topics. You will get a brief introduction through each and then can specialize on a particular field of interest. The nice thing about the program is that you don't have to quit your regular job. This can be done in your free time so there isn't any pressure in learning everything about photography.

Aside from , there will be a lot of . This will make it easy for you to apply what has been learned as seen in the photographs that have been taken using the camera.

The common notion of being a photographer is that you must have a dark room to develop the photos. You will be happy to know that this isn't the practice anymore. Some of the best names in the business don't which gives more time to focus on getting the perfect shots.

Education is something you can never get enough of even as you get older. The curriculum is there. All the individual has to do is acquire knowledge from some of the best then apply it after finishing the course.

The rewards of are endless. It is up to the you whether or not you have the potential to win the Pulitzer Prize or be one of many who do this as a profession.

Photography school can be a lot of fun. You should just submit the requirements then enroll in the course. Learn Digital Photography - Is an excellent guide to Digital Photography and finding which camera suits your needs. For more information visit: http://learndigitalphotographynow.com/blog/2007/05/09/digital-photography-c= lasses/ ]]> Learning About Photography By Enrolling In A Class http://www.artwoo.com/article/learning-about-photography-by-enrolling-in-a-class http://www.artwoo.com/article/learning-about-photography-by-enrolling-in-a-class#comments Sat, 27 Jan 2007 12:27:08 +0000 how to develop picturesphotographydigital camerasprofessional photographersproper storagethose who leftsubject in school http://www.artwoo.com/article/learning-about-photography-by-enrolling-in-a-class
The results of doing this are very different for each person when these have been developed. The individual might notice that the image was too bright, too dark or blurred.

These are the common mistakes when the individual does not know the proper way to use a camera. call it an art and the only way to be good is to take the proper lessons.

Students who are taking up journalism have this as one of the subjects as part of the curriculum. If the person is majoring in another , this can be taken as an elective. school years ago can also enroll in the class for a semester to learn everything about .

Most classes require the student to have a camera. The person doesn't have to get the model that costs a $1,000 because there are variations selling at half the price.

The first thing thought by the instructor will be to know each part of the camera. The individual should know this inside and out to be able to maximize the use of this device.

The next part will be teaching the students to shoot using the camera. Some instructors will tell the class to go out and take some shots first.

Everyone will have a chance to critique the pictures when these are developed. Some consider this the only way for people to learn what mistakes have been committed so it can be avoided in the future.

Some schools still teach the students in a darkroom. Though many professionals have decided to have this done by someone else or switch to , these are things that the person should know about photography.

The cleaning and of equipment is another matter that has to be discussed. This will ensure the equipment is in good condition each time it is brought out when shooting a subject.

Learning about photography in class is fun. This can be taken as a hobby or be used later on should the individual want to pursue this as a career.

It is never too early or late to learn how to use a camera. This takes some open mindedness on the part of the student to do this right. Low Jeremy maintains http://Digital-Photography.ArticlesForReprint.com. This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. ]]> Halloween Tips: How To Pull Off Tricks And Treats Safely http://www.artwoo.com/article/halloween-tips-how-to-pull-off-tricks-and-treats-safely http://www.artwoo.com/article/halloween-tips-how-to-pull-off-tricks-and-treats-safely#comments Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:14:59 +0000 free halloweenglow braceletscandypromote your businessflashlightspromotional productsghosts and goblins http://www.artwoo.com/article/halloween-tips-how-to-pull-off-tricks-and-treats-safely ghosts and goblins that possibly reside behind trees or in gutters while parents are scared of un-known people who are out and up to no good.

To ensure your employees and clients' families are safe and have a stress , make a check list or consider giving them before Halloween. Not only will the products increase safety, they will also !

Here are a few promotional products ensure safe trick-or-treating in your community:

1)

Sidewalks are sometimes uneven and many neighborhoods are not lit well. Help your clients and employees' kids avoid injuries by giving them flashlights. Flashlights are an easy and economical way to keep kids safe and aware of their surroundings.

2) Tote Bags

Occasionally plastic bags and even worn pillow cases can get holes in them, leaving to spill on the pavement. Help clients and employees' kids avoid this problem by giving them a tote bag. This product may not aid in safety, but it will make carrying candy easier for kids. A tote bag can be used for gathering candy=85a lot of candy.

3)

Ensure that kids are easily seen with these nifty glow bracelets. While most people are aware children are out and about collecting candy on Halloween, some people may forget. Glow bracelets can help people driving cars see children quicker and make them slow down. Plus, kids love them!

These promotional products can take some of the stress off parents before their kids go out on Halloween. Not only will they promote your business, but they will show your community that your company cares about its well-being. Make sure all your clients and employees' have a spooky, not dangerous, Halloween. Abbie Stutzer is a graduate student in the School of Journalism at the University of Kansas. She is currently working in the marketing department at Absorbent, Ink. (http://www.AbsorbentPrinting.com) ]]> Internet Marketing Novice Appeals To Web Gurus http://www.artwoo.com/article/internet-marketing-novice-appeals-to-web-gurus http://www.artwoo.com/article/internet-marketing-novice-appeals-to-web-gurus#comments Sun, 06 Aug 2006 02:27:09 +0000 hypegurushonest feedback3 ring bindersmogulmarketingmoney http://www.artwoo.com/article/internet-marketing-novice-appeals-to-web-gurus marketing for help. All your ads (and hype and hype and hype) the promise of your invaluable assitance.

Surly a few months of being an Internet and I'll be flush with success, just like you. All you gurus say I can do it, if I only buy your (terribly overpriced) products.

If I'm on a budget, $99 bucks will get me your hot-shot eBook with the 10 Magic Secretes of the Rich and Powerful. You know, the ones like you who work ten minutes a day in your silk jammies, don't know a bit of HTML yet rake in millions on the net.

Of course it's not worth the $99 that was so conveniently tacked onto my credit card bill in a nano-instant after I clicked here.

To really learn the secrets of you gurus, I gotta spend some . After all, the honest ones among you will confess those free reports you give away aren't even worth that much.

So for a mere $997, I can get a glimpse of your incredible wisdom sloppily photocopied and loaded into 3-ring binders. Ten-thousand pages. Delivered to my door. Ah, the personal touch!

Is there a better learning system out there? This mogul needs better training is she's going to succeed.

Sorry, I'm not trying to insult anyone, certainly not a rich guy I'm seeking help from. I'm just giving you that you asked for. It's not my fault that you weren't really sincere with that request.

How about stoping the sales pitches for a second and giving me some real information? How about assuming, just for a brief moment, that I'm slighly smarter than a monkey? (Only slightly, mind you.)

Don't tell me I can make 20 gazillion dollars while sound asleep and then follow it up with an admonishment that the internet is not a get rick quick scheme.

Didn't you just tell me that it was?

Oh, I get it. That's just a marketing ploy to make me beg you to take my money. Besides, you assure me, some people DO get rick quickly on the internet.

You and your buddies selling crap to people like me, that's whose getting rich quick on the internet. Lorraine Grula has worked the majority of her 25-year career in television journalism. She'd rather shovel elephant poo than go back to that zoo. Today, Lorraine makes her living on the internet. Seek her advice at http://www.NoHassleWebBiz.com ]]> How To Keep Employees Happy With Gifts http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-keep-employees-happy-with-gifts http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-keep-employees-happy-with-gifts#comments Tue, 04 Sep 2007 19:35:00 +0000 when deciding whatcorporate gift basketcorporate giftsdesk clockcorporate business giftsbriefcasemonday through friday http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-keep-employees-happy-with-gifts Monday through Friday can be unpleasant. This experience is worse, however, when you dread the place you work.



Employees all too often complain about their bosses or the company where they work. Maintaining your employees' happiness is crucial to you business. One simple way to do this is by occasionally giving . Corporate gifts not only let employees know their importance to the company, they also remind them you appreciate and notice the hard work they complete throughout the year.



Corporate gifts come in an array of prices. You may want to give an employee an expensive corporate gift, like a , or something simple like a . corporate gift to give your employees, make sure the corporate gift will be valued by them.



In the article "" by Kent Pinkerton, he said, "An appropriate corporate business gift conveys an accurate and outstanding reflection of your value and appreciation for your clients and employees. Thus, a business house should always choose a unique and comprehensive collection of upscale professional-quality presents for corporate gifting."

Perhaps your employees really enjoy upscale snacks of the salty and sweet variety. If this is the case, get them a that is brimming with tasty treats with a personalized company ribbon. Maybe your employees love puzzles. If so, a simple executive desk game may be the perfect idea.

Corporate gifts are effective in building employees' confidence. Satisfied and confident employees only make your business stronger. Reminding your employees they produce quality work will only improve their performance, which will affect the way they work with clients in a positive manner. Personalized corporate gifts benefit the employee, company and client, so, begin thinking about what personalized gift you will give your employee today! Abbie Stutzer is a graduate student in the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas. She is currently working in the marketing department at Absorbent, Ink. Absorbent, Ink: Cheap Promotional Products http://www.AbsorbentPrinting.com ]]> Which Government Websites Have Product Recall Information? http://www.artwoo.com/article/which-government-websites-have-product-recall-information http://www.artwoo.com/article/which-government-websites-have-product-recall-information#comments Fri, 15 Sep 2006 00:27:19 +0000 food and drug administrationprotecting our environmentusdaepapresident abraham lincolnunited states department of agriculturegov http://www.artwoo.com/article/which-government-websites-have-product-recall-information government agency in charge of issuing recall notices for all products. Instead, different products fall under different jurisdictions, each of which is handled by a completely srate agency. In this article we will explain the jurisdiction of each of the six major government agencies in charge of recalling products and issuing recall alerts.

(FDA) - http://www.fda.gov: The FDA is probably most thought of when the word "recall" comes up. It is obvious that the FDA deals with food and drug issues, but they are also in charge of testing, monitoring and recalling medical devices (pacemakers, contact lenses...), animal feed, cosmetics, and products with the potential to cause health-related side effects, such as cell phones and lasers. Although the FDA is in charge of "food," they also share that responsibility with the next federal agency...

() - http://www.usda.gov: The USDA was founded by in 1862, and has been involved in a variety of agricultural initiatives ever since. Not only is the USDA steward to our nation's 192 million acres of national forests, and providing food to children through school breakfast and lunch programs, but the agency is also responsible for the safety of meat, poultry (including egg), milk and fish products. These responsibilities often encompass the study of pesticide use, which overlaps with the next governmental recall arm...

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - http://www.epa.gov: The EPA, in addition to the many other responsibilities involved in , are charged with the recalling of products that threaten to harm humans, animals, or the environment in which we live. For instance, recently the EPA ordered five national retail chains to recall a brand of spray confetti string which contained banned hydro chlorofluorocarbons blamed for depleting the ozone layer. This very same product could have also been recalled by another government agency, however, for its highly flammable contents, which are often sprayed over people at birthday parties near flaming candles. The agency that would be responsible for this type of recall is...

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) - http://www.cpsc.gov: The CPSC is in charge of protecting the public from "unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction". They handle recalls for a host of potentially dangerous products, from toys with choking hazards to heaters with propensity to start a fire. Most products with a defect of some kind will find their way into the CPSC database of recalled consumer products. But if that product has wheels and an engine, or is a part of a product that has wheels and an engine, you might be better off researching at the next governmental agency...

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) - http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov: The NHTSA was established to reduce deaths, injuries and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes. They set and enforce safety standards for motor vehicles and vehicle parts, and provide studies and reports on anything related to motor vehicle use, from tires and seatbelts, to SUVs and cell phone use while driving. If you want to know if the used car you just purchased has any defective auto parts, the NHTSA database is a good start. However, if you just purchased a used boat, the following agency is better suited for your needs...

US Coast Guard - http://www.uscg.mil: You probably don't think of product recalls when someone mentions the Coast Guard. However, in addition to their duties to patrol America's coast line and assist those in distress, the Coast Guard also tests, reports on, and recalls boats, boating parts, and marine safety devices like flares and life jackets. But good luck finding recall information on the Coast Guard's website!

As you can see, the responsibilities of each agency overlap to some degree with other agencies. Furthermore, issuing recall alerts is only a small part of each organization's responsibility. This is why is can be difficult, time-consuming and frustrating to locate the information you're looking for among these six websites. Luckily, this problem has been remedied by an ex-journalist with a passion for social corporate responsibility and citizen journalism...

US Recall News -- http://www.usrecallnews.com: US Recall News is a non-governmental website that brings together recall alerts from each of the six major government agencies listed above, and separates them into various categories. The alerts are then archived at the end of each month, and remain searchable from the website. Everett Sizemore is a journalism graduate of Bond University. He is the Editor-in-Chief at http://www.usrecallnews.com and writes the editorial blog about Recalled Products and Corporate Responsibility. ]]> How An Answering Service Is Affected By The Internet And Technology http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-an-answering-service-is-affected-by-the-internet-and-technology http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-an-answering-service-is-affected-by-the-internet-and-technology#comments Sat, 09 Sep 2006 04:27:03 +0000 apple computerapple computersintel processorsmac enthusiastsinch modelsxserveipod http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-an-answering-service-is-affected-by-the-internet-and-technology Apple Computer rarely becomes affected by viruses. Also, , especially those in the design and journalism fields will attest to the power of the Macintosh in these environments.

Apple Computer is still adding new lines to the brand. Also, they once more revolutionized the computing industry a few years ago when they came out the the .

iMac This is the Company's leading desktop computer, and the popular iPod was developed along with it. The introduction of the iMac in 1998 was directly responsible for Apple Computer's rising profit margins.

Power Mac This is Apple's high end personal computer; it is also referred to as a Power Macintosh.

MacBook The current Apple MacBook laptops come in three models, 1.83GHz, and two 2.0GHz, one white and one black; all using Intel Core Duo processors and equipped with 13-inch monitors. These replaced the previous PowerBook laptops.

MacBook Pro This is the high-end version of the MacBook, designed especially for business and other professional applications. There are currently three models available, two 15.4-, a 2GHz and a 2.16GHz version, as well as a 17-inch 2.16 GHz model.

Mac Mini This PC is similar to the very first Apple I; the Mini Mac is the lowest price Mac on the market. This Mac is available in two versions and comes without a keyboard, monitor or mouse. They also use .

Apple's contribution to the server business, Xserve, was first released in 2002. The Xserve can be used in a wide number of applications.

iPod This portable media player was another in a line of innovative designs from Apple Computer. This device has undergone various improvements since it was first introduced in 2002, the latest being the addition of video capabilities. Many now act as external flash drives as well, allowing the storage of photos and videos in addition to music.

have come a long way since they were first introduced and continue to fire the imagination of Mac users worldwide. http://www.apple-computers-information.info and read more of Yina's articles. ]]> Dundee Tourist Information http://www.artwoo.com/article/dundee-tourist-information http://www.artwoo.com/article/dundee-tourist-information#comments Sun, 14 Jan 2007 20:27:08 +0000 dundeetay rail bridgejute industryfirth of taydc thomsonthomson familyvantage point http://www.artwoo.com/article/dundee-tourist-information Tay Rail Bridge you begin to understand why they call the river "Silvery Tay". The city is situated on the east coast of Scotland on the north bank of the .

is Scotland's fourth largest city and one of the most beautiful! Driving across the bridge you can clearly see the Law Hill. The city is built around this extinct volcano. You can drive right up to the top of the hill and from this you can see the whole of Dundee!

Dundee is Scotland's sunniest city (it faces south) with over 1400 hours of sunshine every year. Its title "City of Discovery" comes from the HM Frigate Unicorn, the oldest surviving ship in the UK.

Dundee is known for its "3 Js" -- Jute, Jam and Journalism. Although the Jute and Jam industry is no longer predominant in Dundee, you can still see the towers associated with the industry. Verdant Works is ideal for tourists wishing to learn about Dundee's .

Keillers of Dundee pioneered the manufacture of marmalade here. They bought a shipload of oranges which they were unable to sell. Janet Keiller specialized in selling jam and using her knowledge invented marmalade.

Although Jute and Jam are no longer made in Dundee, the journalism sector still thrives. The company began as a branch of the business. In 1884, David Couper Thomson took over the publishing business, and established it as in 1905. The firm flourished, and now produces more than 200 million comics, books and magazines every year.

Dundee is also a university town with a student population averaging about 32,000. Due to the high numbers of students, Dundee has a lively pub and club scene. The 2 most popular night clubs are Fat Sams and London Night Club.

A recent quality of life survey ranked Dundee near the top due to its clean air, low pollution levels, riverside location and high sunshine hours.

Shopping in Dundee has now taken off with 2 major shopping centres (Overgate and Wellgate) under pinning the west and east of the city centre. The number of out of town shopping centres in Dundee means that the city attracts shoppers from all the small towns nearby.

The town is a fantastic holiday location with Broughty Ferry having one of the cleanest beaches in the UK.

The city is an ideal starting point for touring the best of Scotland with almost all major attractions less then 100 miles away. Kenmore, Loch Earn, Loch Ness and Ben Nevis are beautiful destinations in their own right. The three other major cities, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow are all approximately an hours drive.

St Andrews (the home of golf) and Carnoustie both have championship golf courses and are only 20 minutes drive from the city.

Dundee has three country parks all within 3 miles of the city. Camperdown Park, Monikie Park and Crombie Park are all beautiful and unique in their own ways.

Dundee is renowned for its Dundee Repertory Theatre (the rep) and Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre (DCA).

The main Hotels in Dundee are the Hilton Hotel, Apex City Quay, Swallow Hotel and Queens. There are many other smaller hotels and recently many travel lodges/inns have opened to provide room only rates for families on a small budget.

Glamis Castle -- known to be haunted due to an ancient curse is a fairy tale castle which will exceed all your expectations.

The town of Glamis also houses the Angus Folk Museum. Visit one of Scotland's finest museums and learn about Scotland's history.

Dundee has 2 football teams: Dundee United and Dundee. Some people in Dundee believe that they should unite to form one team. Others have very strong views that the two team should remain separate.

St Andrews Beach has to be seen to be believed. The world famous golf course sits proudly on the beach front.

The British Golf Museum is in St Andrews, the home of golf! Find out about the history of the game and indulge in some interactive highly visual displays.

The best hotel in St Andrews is the MacDonald Russacks Hotel. It was voted one of the Top Golfing Hotels in the world.

St Andrews Castle consists of the ruins of the castle built around the 13th century. Here you can explore the secret dungeons and admire the views.

St Andrews Cathedral and St Rule's Tower are the remains of the largest cathedral in Scotland. CityLocal Dundee Dundee http://www.citylocal.co.uk/cities/Dundee Dundee Tourist Information http://www.citylocal.co.uk/frontend/dundee/dundeetouristinfo.php Dundee News http://www.citylocal.co.uk/cities/Dundee/news ]]>