Creative Writer

5 Movie Maker Free Download

noreply@blogger.com (ratuamira) — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 06:51:33 PDT

If you have trouble making a video, then this post will give you the answer. Making a video is actually not that complicated if you know how. You just need to move the recorded video into movie maker software and edit. It took a few minutes, you can produce a quality video.

Below, there are 5 movie maker software can be downloaded directly to produce the video. All provided free of charge, although out there available a paid edition.

1. Windows Movie Maker
Windows Movie Maker is the most popular free movie maker. This program allows you to create multimedia presentations and a favorite video clips. You also can make the transition effects and professional touch as your creation. Windows Movie Maker is very easy to use. Imports of used media, such as pictures or video file and drag on the timeline. Add effects and check the preview window.

Windows Movie Maker lets you export videos to several different formats in various sizes, such as recording them to CD or publish it on a website.

2. Video Spin
Video Spin is the editor of many downloadable free movie. This software allows you to create videos without having to learn the curve. Some people use Video Spin to make the movie.

You simply drag-n-drop video clips, digital photos and music files to VideoSpin timeline, add some 2D transitions, sound effects, and your movie is ready. With Video Spin, you can also create scrolling titles to your video. Typically this feature is only available in expensive video editing programs like Adobe Premiere.

After editing the video, you can upload clips directly to online video sites, like Yahoo Video and YouTube.

You can convert video formats to form AVI, WMV, FLV, or MP4. You also can extract MP3 songs from music videos into MP3 audio files. Many others.

3. Sothink DVD Movie Maker
Sothink Movie DVD Maker is a free program that will help you convert your movie files to DVD format, so you can enjoy it in a conventional DVD player. The Sothink Movie DVD Maker has a simple interface, but interesting. Add video, modify the settings and preview the video in the preview window resizable. Provided also feature pruning, so you can get rid of unnecessary bits.

Sothink DVD Movie Maker supports all your favorite video formats, including AVI to DVD, DivX, XviD, MPEG, MP4, WMV, RMVB, FLV, MKV, etc..

4. VideoPad
Videopad is one video editor that is easy to use. Features provided allow you to create a professional video with transitions, music and narrative in a few minutes. Although the paid version is available, but you also can download it for home edition.

Drop files into a video editor and drag to the timeline to adjust the resulting picture. VideoPad lets you capture video directly from DV camcorders, VHS player or webcam. You can also import video files directly. VideoPad supports almost all video file formats including AVI, Divx wmv, .3 gp, and wmv.

VideoPad allows you to edit movies on your own video studio with transition effects, easy to use. You also can create custom movie soundtracks, record narration itself, and import pre-recorded narration, sound effects or music.

5. Slide Show Movie Maker
Slide Show Movie Maker allows you to create avi video slideshow of a series of bmp or jpg image. The resulting video looks professional with the effects of a fade-in and fade-outs, plus an attractive overlay text. You can choose to build a slideshow of selected images or entire directories. The program also allows you to save a job as a project, so you can continue working on them at a later time.

Know Your Web Page of Malware Attacks

noreply@blogger.com (ratuamira) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 19:51:45 PST

Is your site secure visited? You may not realize that the malware (malicious software) has been infecting these pages. Malware attacks on your site or blog can be very destructive. In addition to controlling the activities page, the malware can steal data. In fact, in the worst condition is fully controlled malware-infected site.

If you feel that your site is important, then recognize the early pages of malware attacks have to be done. The three tools below you can try to identify and detect the level of site security.

1. The WOT - This is a add-on that displays the level of confidence in your site through the ranks. The WOT will perform in search engines to show how secure the site to be visited. WOT's traffic-light style cans be understood by the smallest of web surfers. Green means safe, yellow means caution and red means stop. It's easy and free.

2. Google Safe Browsing - This tool provided by Google to find out whether your site is infected with malware or not. You only need to add the address of site, then see the results of diagnostic pages. Visit the web page above and replace the end of the URL with your site address.

Google will display the four categories of the diagnostic results page, including the current status of the site, what happened when Google visited the site, whether the site in question become intermediaries for distributing malware, or sites already infected with malware.

3. Live Webmaster tool - Add your website address and go to the Live Webmaser Crawl Issues to find pages sites infected with malware. This tool can also identify the external links are a contributor malware attacks.

Three tools are also highly recommended to determine if the site pages infected with malware or not. Good luck!

7 Ways to Manage Internet Information

noreply@blogger.com (ratuamira) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 02:33:33 PDT

Almost all information available on the internet. Without having to move from the house, we are able to access anything. Now, the internet became the most widely used media worldwide. Openness and convenience provided to users to make internet superior to other information facilities.

Freedom of information must be managed wisely. Because internet access is not without risk. A lot of useful information, but not the least is also misleading. Therefore, all depending on the user. Seven ways below is how best to manage information on the internet.

• Set destination search
When starting access the internet on computer, you should already have a target search. Think about what information is needed and sought. As a user, we often forget the purpose of search. In fact, by setting targets, the use of the internet is much more effective. First of all, choose the right keywords to search in search engines. For example, writing an essay, reducing air pollution, avoid traffic jams, how to write fast, or other keywords as needed.

• Analysis and copy information
Having set a target search, you will see thousands to millions of related information. You can not reach them all. However, it can choose. Analysis of information and copy that you really need. Usually, the first pages that appear more closely related to the information sought.

• Create categories
What information can be found on the internet. Time spent to browse web pages can be quite long, even exhausting. However, just ignore this if the information has been obtained. Create a new folder on your computer that contains the categories of search results. Then, you no longer need to spend time to repeat the visit in similar sites.

• Create a time limit
How much time do you spend to obtain information on the internet. The best way to save time is to impose limits. Maximize the time available and complete the quest. There is no measure how many minutes or hours, but must be effective and efficient. Instead, time spent less than 2 minutes to get the information by certain categories.

• Focus
Managing internet information is not enough just to set a time limit. Most importantly, focus on the goal. You just need to find a valid and qualified information. On the internet so much information, so that not infrequently confuse users.

• Subscribe
If you don’t want to bother searching the search engines, there is a way to get practical information. Subscribe articles. Usually almost every site provides a space to subscribe. You only need to fill out the form with your email subscription. After that, you'll get the latest information from the subscription site. Choose a subscription site that you trust and have good credibility.

• Engaging in forum
What if the information you need is still hard to come by? There is a great place to visit, namely the forum. Currently, the internet provides so many forums. Almost every field has its own forum. You just need to join and exchange ideas with other forum users. Typically, large sites already provide a forum for its users.

URL Redirect by Google: Safe and Fast

noreply@blogger.com (ratuamira) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 21:53:12 PST

Google makes new innovations to improve their service. Recently, Google launched URL redirect called Google URL shortener. This service allows the user to short a long URL into a simple and easy to remember.

In the official explanation, URL redirect by Google provided at Goo.gl. You can simply try to make a link to be shared on email, Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, Digg, MySpace, or other social networks. The advantage of Google's URL shortener, has high stability, safe used, and fast. Goo.gl protect users from malware, spam, and phishing attacks page.

There are a lot of URL shorteners available out there. However, Google's URL shortener could be your best choice. In addition to providing a good URL shortener, security and speed should be considered.

You also can get a QR code in goo.gl. You do this by opening the url of statistical detail that you have created, or by adding. Qr behind a short address. For example, http://goo.gl/kphEl.qr. Excess if login first, short url that has been made will be saved and to know the statistics. Almost similar to bit.ly.

Although recently released, goo.gl have high enthusiasts. This is evident from its position on the page rank which skyrocketed, and the level ranged alexa 2,000. Goo.gl estimated to exceed the rank of URL Shortener other.

Display List of Popular Posts on Your Blogger Blog

noreply@blogger.com (ratuamira) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 20:16:01 PDT

There is one more new service provided for users of Blogger. Displays list of popular posts on the blog. Blogger provides a gadget that lets you show the most frequently visited pages. The ability of this gadget you can display the most popular posts at any time, 30 days, or 7 days.

You also can set the display style by adding a thumbnail image or snapshot of the post. This gadget can display a list of popular posts up to 10 entries.

How to add, go into your Blogger account. Then go to Design → Page Elements → add a gadget → popular post. Save the settings that you have done. Now, the popular post gadgets already appear on your blog.

15 Ways to Find Ideas to Write an Article

noreply@blogger.com (ratuamira) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 02:30:28 PDT

Obstacles to write an article is facing the most common beginner. However, for advanced writers, the problem that faced precisely because of the limitations of ideas or inspiration. The experience of some authors, they are difficult to uncover what they should write. In fact, many issues around them are interesting.

Writing articles is not only a hobby or author's mind, but the extent to which the article is to benefit the reader. A good article always give enlightenment and new insights, and therefore write articles based on great ideas. As a solution, here are 15 ways to find ideas to write articles. Hopefully useful.

• See problems and find answers
All around us so many problems. Sometimes you forget that these problems are a good inspiration. We ask why the problem occurs, what causes it, and what to do. Find the answers to these issues and pour it in the form of articles. More and more problems are found, the more articles that could be written.

• Open a reference book or come to the library
Never underestimate a reference book. Friends of this one often opens your mind when we lose direction. Lots of reference books that provide important information. When you find a suitable idea, then at that moment you can write articles. Another way you can do go to the library and dig as much information there.

• Manage information from internet
Currently the internet becomes storehouse of information that can give everything in a short time. The internet is an effective medium for getting ideas to write. When you browse using certain keywords, when it also thousands of entertaining information. Manage information from internet and take a little time, because a lot of inspiration there.

• Ask what the needs of friends and family
Spending time with friends or family is enjoyable work. But them know you are, as such, is often an idea comes. There are disturb the mind and makes you curious to find answers. In such conditions, it never hurts to take a pen and wrote on a piece of paper.

• Refresh the classical idea
If a strong memory, so many ideas can you dig in yourself. One is the classical ideas that had been buried. Now is the time you dig and peeled into writing.

• Read the research study
Research studies are one means to get an idea of writing an article. The results could inspire you. Choose the interesting results of research studies, so that you review and write decent.

• Watch television broadcasts
Television still ranks as a top electronic media most viewed. There are a lot of information, good news, entertainment, talk shows, movies, comedy, until the ad. Unfortunately, if you can not take the case pulled from television.

• Attending seminars
Attending seminars can be very helpful. At that time, a number of smart people get together and discuss certain topics. You can take the essence of the seminar discussions and write it as an article. If there is an invitation seminar, then you should attend.

• Out in a convenient location
Noise is often distracting. The concentration of dispersed due to meet hearing disorders and the mind. One of the best ways to get ideas to write articles are alone. Choose a location convenient by you and take a little time to find ideas. Typically, less than 15 minutes you've found the idea.

• Visit the forum or a discussion
What to do when the idea of writing does not show up? Visiting the forums or discussion rooms are a great way. You can join in several forums and get input from others. In addition to forums, take advantage of all the spaces for discussion here is also a place to share.

• Subscribe to newsletters
The existence of the newsletter is not new. You can subscribe to, especially on important sites. Customize these newsletters to your interests. Suppose this site, you can get interesting articles by filling out the subscription form in the upper right corner. Of course all you get for free.

• Roads
Some say, moving the body while the roads can open minds. It certainly makes sense. Basically, the streets also be one way to reduce the burden of the same thoughts and ideas could emerge.

• Listen to music
Listening to music can reduce stress. Heart you entertained, so it's easy to find interesting ideas. Whenever you get the idea when listening to music, you should write in the paper.

• Read magazines
You're a fan magazine? If so, this is one excellent media to get the idea. Usually the magazine explores a lot of things. Sometimes you never think about. But, that's where the place can get a lot of ideas. Choose the appropriate magazine tastes and interests and develop as an article.

• Eating something
This last mode is a minor step to get an idea of writing an article. Eat something. It could just eat the fruit, candy, or cakes that make your mind fresh. Besides easy to do, of course, also make a full stomach.

How to Write News (W5 H1)

noreply@blogger.com (ratuamira) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 02:38:19 PDT

Are you one fan of the news? If so, you must have a lot to know the latest news. News is a repository of information, where readers can know many things in a short time. But did you know that success of a news depends on presentation. Good news always has the allure for readers. The people behind news maker called journalists. They are working professionals by applying the rules of news writing is good and right.

You may ask how to write the news is good and right? Good writing can be described in two general categories. First, it should be good news in terms of writing, grammar, and sentence placement. A story written by a systematic basis, usually have a strong 'magnet', so that readers like to read it through to completion. This formula applies to all types of writing, including features. Second, the news must be true in terms of accuracy of the data, whether obtained through informants, observation, or testimonies of witnesses.

Below are the steps of writing the news:

• Write a brief headline and interesting
The title of the news greatly affect the interest in reading. Therefore, make the title of which has the power. Usually, the title is written in the form of a short sentence or phrases. Complete title of the subject, predicate, object. Example: teacher persecute students, 50 passengers died of accidents, the government distributed aid to flood victims, and others. As much as possible write the title with a clear and unambiguous.

• Apply the formula W5 H1 (what, where, when, who, why, how)
For example, you want to write the story of fire in one of the supermarket, then use the formula. W5 H1 will finalize the location of your news coverage. The first question is what? In the mind of a journalist, he would simply answer the fire. Then will move to the question of where? The answer would have been the location of the fire. If fire occurs in the supermarket, then write.

Then turn to the question when? Fire incident in the new supermarket will be reflected when the time it happened is clear. For example, at 11.00 yesterday. After that, you can go to find answers to who? While doing the coverage, usually a reporter who already has the answer. When ordered from the example above, then the result is more or less like this: Fires in the supermarket, at around 11:00 yesterday sear 500 kiosks. How? Also a potent formula W5 H1? That's not including the other formula.

You are doing the news report can also explore why that is made by peeling? You are required to find deep information to strengthen the contents of the article or news are made. More sources that provide information, news you get will be more accurate. Do not forget, that readers who are looking at your writing tomorrow morning will give you rewards for your efforts to provide a complete explanation of these fires.

If in the field of fire incident information is obtained due to short-circuit, then write them down. Last is a discussion of how the formula? In a news, W5 H1 formula does not always require a complete whole. Sometimes an article is only 4 W load, such as what, where, when, why, without including how. Try to complement your news to conclude how it happened. Fire in the supermarket that you can describe his condition.

• Write your story systematically
Typically, writing stright news always put important points first and describe other things. This pattern is called pyramid. Systematic means that the news has written a regular coherent. When reading a piece of fire occurrence in the supermarket, the main problem is the fire, then its location, time, conditions, and others. To remember, do not ever write with repeat similar sentence. For, can be boring the reader. Write a report which followed the previous paragraph explanation.

• Data coverage must be true
You will not write correctly, if you get invalid data. Moreover, from a questionable source. If the deal with conditions like this, then you should stop writing. Just write a news source and accurate data, so it is worth to be published.

If the news is based on your own observation, then write according to what you see. It would be better, because you know the direct conditions on the ground. Another thing you need to do is to cross-check. One source is not enough. You have to find other data that can strengthen your writing fit.

• Write a balanced news
Writing balanced news is very important. In certain cases, this can not be abandoned. For example, you load the news about an official corruption case, then you should ask for the information. Not enough information is only based on the reporting or law enforcement officers. This step will strengthen your credibility as a news writer.

7 Steps in Writing Feature

noreply@blogger.com (ratuamira) — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 03:00:26 PDT

Featured is an indirect form of news writing contrary to straight news. Besides requiring analytical acuity, someone who wants to write a feature also to be able to develop the main points of issues that is poured into a post.

When the writing straight news, the model used is the inverted pyramid, then in writing feature is the opposite, namely the pyramid model. For novice writers, frequently to write a feature because it really support your ability in the future. The comparison is, someone trained to write features, usually very easy to write the report into the straight news. 7 steps below how to write feature:

1. Feature written for many things related to social values, culture, artifacts, or character profiles. Often also written with the intention of describing human interaction with the environment, or privilege something that has universal meaning. Feature found in many daily newspapers or magazines. Usually, written on the front page. You can learn a lot about writing a feature on there.

2. Writing feature more peeling "how." Remember again that formula is used for straight news writing, 5W 1H. You can write at length from just a feature works. Such as, you want to describe how hurt people who are victims of a fire in one of the market. You do not just explain how the fire victims wept until the flames running around. But more, you can explore how North their pain. Ask the victim, how hard his ways, he gathered property, so they were so shocked.

The more the information that you dig, the better the quality features. Therefore, there may be interesting information from the victim who could be appointed as the topic. For example, there is property that can not afford casualties assessed by the material. Example: The victim had several documents diploma from elementary to graduate school. In fact, to get it he must spend a long time and the struggle is not small. Then maybe also the victims were nomads who had no family, so it does not have a place to flee. You as a journalist can peel things lightly, but have a deep meaning in the minds of the readers.

3. As mentioned at the beginning of this paper, features a pyramid model. That is, things are not important can you pour at the beginning of the paragraph text. Then you peel the problem further. Sequence, the things you look mild, ordinary, necessary, until very important. But this is not absolute. The key depends on you. What would be placed at the beginning of the paragraph. One thing that might be it known that the feature is generally placed near the main topic of the paragraph-last paragraph. If the borrowed word terms, writing feature adopts a deduction, peeling general things first and to the heart of the matter.

4. Writing feature is not limited by time. Simply this: If writing a straight news always focuses on new information or the actual occurrence took place recently, it does not feature. The incident which lasted a week or a month ago could have been poured now and then you publish in newspapers the next day. The question is, whether the incidence of fire in the market can be manifested in a feature? The answer, of course. Things you should do is change the topic. In the previous paragraph, it peeled (fourth paragraph).

5. Featured generally very subjective. Writing that poured more on the understanding, perspective, and the results of sensing of the author. Hence, not surprisingly with the same topic, a feature that is generated can vary from one writer to another writer. Let's say a fire in the market, there is a write featur to highlight the suffering of the victims, but different authors translate it in terms of infrastructure damage that is occupied by the victims. We recommend that you select just that you think good to be appointed.

6. In accordance with the style of writing, feature writing is more synonymous with the news that has literary value. The language is simple, but has a broad meaning. Usually, a great feature writer often slip the words rhyme. The difference in the features, lyric verse describes the condition as it is, no plus or exceeded. Therefore, the feature is not fiction like the novels written by the authors.

7. Generally, feature is a very specific. Most only one or two sides are removed. This is different from straight news is explored in more general. Select the most interesting topic that can arouse feelings of readers.

How Can I Write an Essay

noreply@blogger.com (ratuamira) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 02:41:32 PDT

Writing an essay is not easy work by some people. Many obstacles encountered, particularly in preparing and mastering the concept. Sometimes, it takes a few days or weeks to complete an essay. Actually, you don’t have to deal with adversity. But, it was often found. In fact, mastery of technique is the answer. If you know how, you can complete an essay in short time.

You can apply the steps below in order to write a complete essay:

• Prepare a topic that will be written
The initial steps must be done in the entire essay is a set topic. Think of interesting issues that deserve your peel and read by many people. You can do research to establish an interesting topic. Make reference in your area, such as libraries, internet, or speakers who understands your topic. If the topic is found, you can step into the next phase.

• Perform analysis
Interesting topic alone is not enough. Before you continue to write essays, do the analysis. Pour out your ideas in a piece of paper and associate with that topic!
will be reviewed. Instead, you've found the core issues that will not meet with obstacles in the translation of essays. For example: You write an essay about the social life of residents in a luxury housing complex, then analyze the problems you encounter. Make the important points that are interconnected.

• Thesis Writing
Thesis is assumed at the beginning of your essay. These assumptions related to the article reviewed. Put your assumptions early in the essay before discussing the topic widely. Example: You already have assumptions about the social life of residents in a luxury housing complex. Your Thesis:
1. Residents rarely interacted in a luxury housing
2. Residents of the luxury housing is rarely at home
3. Residents of the luxury housing is less sensitive to the environment, etc.
That's just your thesis. Could be true, but it could also be wrong. You only need to test it in the body composition later.

• Write introductory essay
At this stage, you've gone further. Exposure introductory essay into writing. Pour the concept of your thoughts about the topic peeled. Explain briefly and concisely, and some benefit in your essay.

• Writing corpus
This is the most important stages in the writing of essays. Body composition is the content of your review. Display the contents are simple and easily understood. Make a corpus in a few paragraphs. You can make 10 rows of sentences in one paragraph. An attractive bouquet usually always pay attention to grammar, punctuation, and quotations taken from various sources. An essay is usually not limited to how many words you should write, but how complete and clear essay that you created. In body composition, you only need to answer the thesis that was published in the beginning. After that your job is complete.

• Write a conclusion
An essay always has a conclusion. This section is a brief resume of the contents of an essay written in the body. You just have to pick up some points just as the essence of the discussion paper.

• Enhancing essay
After you finish the step by step, it is an article already on your desk. Here you just need a moment to evaluate these essays. You need just a few minutes to check spelling, grammar, and writing resources. Usually, mistakes can occur in introductory essays, body, or conclusion. The better you are correct, the results of your essay will also be more perfect.

How to Write Fast

noreply@blogger.com (ratuamira) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 02:43:37 PDT

During four years working as a newspaper reporter, I could finish writing the news five to eight each day. It took time an average of 1-2 hours to finish everything up to feasible published next day. If unaccustomed, it will be hard. But, you can do it even though it did not take many years. The key is you should be able to write fast. Whatever your task, if done quickly so it really helps. The steps below will guide you to advanced writing fast:

• Know what will be written before opening the computer screen
Do not spent time on the chair if you are still groping what will be written. A few minutes will not make you feel and it does not produce. If you want to write, prepare the first draft. Fill your mind with the problems that you already have the answer. If it is done, this is a good start to be able to write fast.

• Focus in writing
Say whatever is on your mind. Of course-related issues to be conveyed. Focus is the most important thing. A few people who fail just because distracted by small problems. If you ever need be written, then write it down immediately. Complete word for word to form sentences and a few paragraphs. You should promptly complete it to become a post.

• Leave time-consuming grammars
If you are a professional writer, then the constraint grammar no longer matters. Sentence by sentence can you write smoothly. But for beginners, grammar is a scourge. You can stop the hands of a few minutes to type, while mind you covered with confusion. My advice, forget about grammar, but focus what you want to say.

• Avoid using the term complex
Use of complex terms in a sentence often trap. For a beginner writer, you should avoid this. Because, not infrequently confuse and disrupt concentration. A good sentence is the sentence which is a simple to understand. Keep the use of complicated terms and start writing what it is, without confusing your readers well. Usually a flowing language is preferred.

• Set aside time 1-3 minutes to evaluate writing
If you successfully complete an article or articles in a short time, then do not forget to evaluate it. Notice again the word or sentence that has just written. There are times when typing errors, or even the wrong words. Time 1-3 minutes is enough to check the writing 200-400 words. If you feel there needs to be fixed grammar then do it quickly.

• Measure the write speed
Writing quickly is not necessarily possible. You must frequently exercise. One way to determine your ability to progress is to measure it. Write a discussion topic between 200-400 words, and then note how much time it takes to complete. If the time you spend less than 20 minutes, then it's good enough. However, if more, it must be repaired until the time specified under the figures. Record the time each time you complete a post. Ideally, the time spent to finish writing the word 200-400 is 15-20 minutes.

• Write at least two times a day
To maximize your speed in writing, then try to write at least twice a day. We recommend 3-4 times in different topics. you will feel the changes with a period not longer. Your ability to write well, the better.

Do you have another opinion? Please share here

Creative Writing: a Guide for Beginners

noreply@blogger.com (ratuamira) — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 19:13:54 PDT

You certainly expect have a writing read a lot of people. At least give a positive response on your work. Writing is basically the art, although not easy to be presented perfectly. Often there are not satisfied, or even disappointed with the text. Basically, it all depends on the mastery of technique and creativity of your writing.

The mastery of technique usually involves a lot of things. For beginners, it is very important to support creativity in writing. A series of tips on writing already discussed earlier. Hopefully that help you.

There are several things that need to be done in making creative writing. First, observe who is your target audience. If your purpose is among teenagers, then try to understand their needs. Make it easy for them to understand written and inspirational. For example, you write the impact of excessive consumption of chocolate at a young age, or tips on keeping the body remains the ideal. Writing like this they need than you examine political issues that are hot.

Once you understand who the target readers, then you can step to design the text. Choose the media that you think most appropriate. For example, you write in a diary, magazines, newspapers, blogs, or friendship site. Make your writing easy to read, but still show your creativity. You can also insert images related to the post. Like when you examine the effects of excessive consumption of chocolate, then insert pictures of food. Figure affect the interests and facilitate the reader in understanding the text.

Third, in writing make paragraphs brief and relate to each other. Focus on the main theme and give an explanation as easy as possible. Serve your writing style in accordance with the target reader. You can use references in presenting content.

Fourth, if you review the topics that are already common, then your writing should be unique, have more value than others, both in terms of presentation and usefulness. This will make your writing has a place in the hearts of readers.

After that all you do, then look back. You could use a few friends to evaluate the results of these papers. Ask for their opinions. Are the contents and the sentence was appropriate and touching the reader with the good. If it is not, then do the changes. Re-evaluated until the writing is really ready for display. Good luck!

Obama, We're Expecting You

noreply@blogger.com (ratuamira) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 07:53:34 PDT

Not only the Western world who feel the euphoria, when Barack Obama elected President of the United States. The same feeling is also experienced for most Muslim countries. Look at Indonesia as the largest Muslim population. This country come to feel it. There is new hope, although it must be proved by concrete steps. Presence of Obama as U.S. leaders at least could knit the relations between the West and the Muslim world who had not harmonious.

In history, the U.S. and Indonesia already have a good relationship. However, no such feeling at the moment. Obama has a history of living in Indonesia. He had studied and taught by teachers in Indonesia. He was also hanging out and playing with the children in this country as a child. Note that such a trace, and many did not think there was a former student in Jakarta became a head of state in the superpower.

But forget for a moment. There is still homework to be done. One of them is to create world peace. Obama now must resolve a number of conflicts in several Muslim countries. War is inherited by the previous government to be hard work. His mission to bring peace to be tested. World hopes to change.

As a developing country, Indonesia had a hope in Obama. In addition to strengthening relations between the two countries, would also create a future of cooperation that could mutually beneficial. Not only that, you coming to Indonesia is also now eagerly awaited, although they had to be delayed up to three times. At least Obama will be back to taste foods of Indonesia.

The Best Writing Tips

noreply@blogger.com (ratuamira) — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 19:02:48 PDT

Many people have brilliant ideas and the ability to speak very well. But, when they will put in written form, they can not afford. Writing not as easy as talking. In addition to training, also must master the writing tips. There are a few things to know to create good writing.

First, mastery of grammar. The weakness most of the writers is their lack of knowledge about good grammar. Confused wording, so that the resulting ideas have no meaning. Learn to understand the writing that you produce. Pay attention to sentence structure, whether it is correct or even makes people confused.

Second, make writing easy to understand. That is, you don't need long-winded to explain your ideas. Write a sentence with a short and solid. If you have to explain, try not too long sentences. Did you ever read a sentence that makes your breath almost broke up? Do not let that happen to your writing.

Third, writing should be interesting. Having a good grammar and easy to understand is not enough. In order for your writing widely read, write reviews a lot of people liked. Look for interesting topics. You can find it in a journal sites, directories, or from your own recorded fantasy.

Fourth, make the writing that can interact with the reader. This is very important. Therefore, the writing would be very boring if no interaction. The atmosphere will be more alive when you involve the reader in your writing. Try to always use the word "you" because readers very happy to be appreciated. You see in this paper! Many words "you". This is one of the good writing tips.

Finally, make sure the writing is made to give the benefits. This depends topic you want reviewed, because each thinking about different segments. Whatever you discuss, try it deserves to be read by everyone. This is the best tips in writing. If you apply, show your writing changes.

Facebook Grabs Ainun’s Live

noreply@blogger.com (ratuamira) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:13:35 PST

Ainun Hikmah (27) who was found dead half-naked in a rubber plantation of Sarolangun (7/2), was the victim on facebook. Grobogan’s beautiful woman from Central Java was raped and then murdered by a friend of an acquaintance named Arifin (26) in facebook.

Perpetrator was arrested by police in Bakauheni Port of Lampung. Karang Awen origin man, Demak, Central Java, was working as a construction worker in the great mosque of Sarolangun. He had tried to escape by crossing to the port of Merak.

Sarolangun police chief, Mintarjo through Eduwar Pardede said, from the identification and investigation, the victim had been murdered after being raped by the first principal. "Principals are we catching work with KP 3 Bakauheni in Bakauheni port of Lampung. Now our members on the way bringing the perpetrators of Lampung, " said Sunhot when contacted via phone.

The exposure of this evil veil, starting from the description that the victim's mother said Ainun Hikmah departs from Grobogan going to Sarolangun by bus Handoyo. The goal is to meet on facebook acquaintances who called Maulana alias Arifin. Victims are also intended to become engaged. "The victim was familiar with Arifin on facebook. There, Arifin disguised under the name of Maulana, "explained police chief.

Arriving in Sarolangun they both met, Ainun Hikmah was surprised because the Maulana was Arifin who still have close family relationships. Is still cousins? "I do not know exactly clear about that," explained police chief.

In the meeting the two quarreled, Ainun feel cheated and he wanted to cancel the engagement plan. Ainun refusal was not accepted by Arifin. Tail, the night before the incident Arifin take a shortcut to bring the victims to work. There being held next victim was raped. After that, Ainun murdered and dumped in bushes in rubber plantations. "Principals in action in the rubber plantation," said Sumhot, head of criminal police detective unit Sarolangun.

Scared action discovered, Arifin intend morning run. Before he could escape to see his foreman and borrow money of Rp 400 thousand for the cost of going to Pati, Central Java with the bus.

Armed with information foreman, Buser team finally surging Sarolangun Police investigate bus passengers in question. As a result, Arifin alias Maulana was riding the bus. "Armed with that information, we immediately contact with the KP 3 of Bakauheni after another, until the perpetrators were arrested," he explained.

The Best Game Villains

noreply@blogger.com (ratuamira) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:19:56 PDT

The role of a villain determine the success of online games. Like a hero, villain must also have a strong character herself. He was able to appear as being invincible, recognize terrain, and execute enemy.

The villain figures are not separated from the looks hideous, fierce, and grim. Most online games characters adapt to such figures. But, it was not enough. A game villain must show something new and different from existing. His form should be impressive, like the size of the larger body, a strange figure, or unparalleled. He must also have more capabilities, such as knowing your opponent weakness, a fast attack power, and always consistent with the desired target. In fact, such a criminal character is apt to make online games are not just a game, but it is a challenge set the strategy.

A game villain will be more powerful when supported by instruments owned. A war game can be very challenging when instruments owned hard invincible. For example, they have a advanced weapons capable of destroying all the time in front of the enemy. Anyone who enjoyed online games, they are always thinking how to beat the enemy with the burden of heavy attack.

Online games will be very good when it is able to create an atmosphere of precarious and tense. Having a combination of roles, not just destroy the enemy, but also shows the dreaded figure. Of course it would be perfect if supported by theme, target, and a clear story line. Online games like this are very desirable.

Every Day-New Photo Effect

noreply@blogger.com (ratuamira) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:09:19 PDT

I am very lucky today. You know when designing a photo with photoshop can be consuming many time. It takes skill enough for you to produce the desired image. I feel it and even expect there are friends to help. Now everything has changed, even to produce fun photoshop effects, that I need less than one minute. That’s true!

Now, you can get them online. You don’t think about how the photo effect will be created, because here there are many choices. Every day there are new photo effects. Please try to make online funny photo effects. If all that could happen less than a minute, why should be more time consuming.

You can compare the four photo effects that I'm serving. Everything is good, right? The image quality is very charming. The resulting effect is also diverse. In the first picture, I chose to produce mobile phone screen photo effects, the results were extraordinary. In the second picture, your photo is painted on canvas and the resulting picture is very smooth. Meanwhile, in the third picture, your photo placed in a display that people never thought it was just the effect of photo. And the last picture prediction using a frame that illustrates the ball of your destiny. This is great.

Before, I didn’t think the result could be like that. These are funny pictures effects. You can make it with a very short time. Please select the picture you want to upload. There are many choices photo effect. In addition, you can also tell your friend how to make amazing photo effects. It's time to enjoy fun photoshop effect unnecessary drain your energy.

Century Bank Scandal

noreply@blogger.com (ratuamira) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:14:41 PST

Polemic which lashed this country like no ending. Cases of Bibit-Candra unresolved, now the complicated problem occur. Certainly, if not scandal Century Bank is now wide attention. For ordinary people, we are certainly concerned. Rp 6.7 trillion of funds that could be true for the welfare of the people, now not clear. Sigh .., uuhk ..! Hopefully this does not drag on.

Century Bank scandal is not just criminal, but also social responsibility. Audit by Audit Agency (BPK) reported to the House of Representatives also indicates a strong suspicion that these deviations. A number of fund flow is not clear, while the running of the government was still flowing into the banks that have been so dilapidated.

Rice was a pulp, but the people not get it gruel rations. Now, live apparatus, is capable of Century Bank scandal was revealed and catch the perpetrators involved. Personally, investigating cases of Century Bank should be supported. KPK steps are now beginning to investigate also deserve thumbs up. But, unable or justice apparatus, we wait!

For ordinary people, can only mentakar and reflect the eye of the heart. Century Bank scandal must be opened for all to clear.

Publish a Free Press Release and Benefit

noreply@blogger.com (ratuamira) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:15:55 PST

By posting news or articles about you and your business in Google News or any other search engines, you stand a fairly good chance of generating traffic to your site. The more people see you and read about you, the more chances that a percentage of that number will gravitate to you. The more people read about you, the higher the number of visits you will have. Besides, just being in Google News is a really big deal, and people know that if you are in Google News, you are worth the space they give you. It means you are a force to be reckoned with. You are upcoming.

Because a press release can be sent out in the form of a news article rather than a paid advertisement or review, the cost for advertising done through a press release is often very low, if not completely free.

If your press release becomes popular, then the results could also lead to other websites linking to your site. Your press release would then have also succeeded in creating the much envied “linkbait”.

Many services online, such as “12 Press Release” , "World Press Release" or “Free Press Release” will publish your press release totally free – therefore continuing the idea that you can get a great amount of exposure with little or no investment apart from your input. But don’t be fooled, press releases do take time, and perhaps practice as well. First of all, you need a concise and catchy headline.

Whether it’s an intriguing question or an interesting statistic, you need something in your headline that will catch the eyes of both the web journalists and the web readers alike. Once you have written a good press release, go ahead and send it out to as many of the best press release websites and companies and see how much traffic you can gain for free!

In addition to submitting your press release to print and television media, you should take advantage of the press release sites that the web has to offer, both free and paid are available. There are many free press release websites for you to take advantage of. They create free backlinks to your website which helps with search engine optimization (SEO). Just make sure you follow each site’s guidelines for submission carefully, or else your press release will be rejected by the editor.

The press release that gets published on one of the media outlets will have your website link provided within it. Those who have reviewed your release and want more information will click through the link or check out the website.

Once the optimized press release is distributed, it gets picked up on various sites and channels including news search engines such as Google news and Yahoo! news. Every time another website picks up the press release, it reproduces the release along with all of your keywords and links. This has the effect of generating widespread backlinks (links back to your site).

Press releases are one of the most powerful publicity tools available today for all business owners. Use it to your advantage and join all the other successful internet marketers who have use press releases many times in the past with very positive results.

Pan gold in Batang Masumai River

noreply@blogger.com (ratuamira) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 02:01:08 PDT

Blazing sun never felt so for Hen, Pasar Bawah, Bangko the middle of June. Half of her body submerged in the flood plains Batang Masumai River that dry up. High water is less than one meter is still making basic stuff full unimpeded river. That also should be a more challenging flow downpours.

Both hands slowly tilt trays made of boards. Tools used to wash the gold in the primary river. Trays are made of wood, shaped with rounded slightly concave surface. Hen is also able to separate gravel, sand, grain and gold also mixed with the fine iron ore With the tool.

Hen is not alone that day. Place in pan, place under the bridge Pasar Bawah, he was accompanied tens workers other. Count among them 30 to 40 people. "They have the Bangko's Hamlet, Kungkai, and Mentawak," said Hen. He lived in Pasar Bawah. Employment gold pan on the sidelines activities such as merchants. He chose as the accuracy of the wash water Batang Masumai River has been receding. Opportunity was not always there, waiting for the dry season such as now.

Hen pan position in the height of the water is only around 50 cm. Wash day, Hen already able to gather grains gold. "The number does not necessarily, sometimes two a day can bean (a bean at Rp 27 thousand,). But, can also be greater, "said Hen. If convert to money, obtaining the results of the gold pan is Rp 50 thousand in a day. Gold particle that is still mixed with the iron ore then be again, to be brought next to a gold shop in the market.

Gold pan in the bottom of the river is not to easy. Hen told, need little expertise to set aside a gold grain of sand, gravel, and other materials when the pan. They do so quickly that the results obtained can be more. "Everyone is different backgrounds. If the sooner, better," he telled. Hen own can wash once in about 10 minutes. Sometimes they have to move, adjust to the existence of gold. "If the pan is directly take gold there, yes there continue. But, if not select any other location, "said the man of already married.

When we approach that location, the traditional gold pan this at some point spread. There are a select in the middle of flood plains. The river at the mouth. Consequently pan in the middle of the basic flow of the river bet they face more downpours.

However, the opportunity to acquire gold is also larger. We saw more worker that are in the middle of the river than the edge. They work groups, but there is also its own as Hen. Results obtained them enjoy themselves.

Thousands People Attended SAD Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (ratuamira) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:18:21 PST

This is new history of life primitive tribes (SAD) in the National Park Hill Twelve (TNBD), District of Air Hitam, Sarolangun. Their civilization is known for the primitive has gradually shifted. A large wedding reception was held even from one family member with SAD indigenous people. More than 1,500 wedding invitation that the reception end of April 2009. "This is the first time held, and very glorious," said Budhi Vrihaspati, Director KOPSAD of Sarolangun.

The event that started the morning until late that night pairing Mandun that has the name of Islam Muhammad Abdul Qadir, the son of the youngest Tumenggung Tarib SAD leaders in TNBD. He paired with Rudiana A Salik's daughter, elder spiritual SAD, which is indigenous residents in the Village of Pematang Kabau.

A unique marriage of their costumes is that they apply. Residents of SAD usually dressed in vulgar, at the wedding reception that they put on wedding dress custom Java. Clothing is deliberately facilitated by indigenous people. Before biting the bridegroom also brought around the village. SAD and the indigenous people of mixed into one. "We also hold a ceremony Ngunduh Mantu rituals that follow the Javanese culture," said Budhi. Location in the event the party also held a single organ music until late at night.

Tribe in the history of SAD, weddings Mandun is the largest. Effect of the separator with the indigenous people of SAD appears to no longer distance. They joined, both primitive and the SAD have been converted to Islam.

Also present in the activity of dozens of activists Warsi. "We welcome the happy marriage of the son Tumenggung Tarib. This hint that the citizens of SAD during this impression has been closed to open oneself to the outside world," said Budhi. Although the reception was held over, but the atmosphere in the residence of the bridegroom plateau SAD and indigenous people.

Idealism and Orientation of Media

noreply@blogger.com (ratuamira) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 00:13:43 PDT

Inter-media competition has been held tight. In fact, not nearly the little jog. Orientation of the media was split. Some media companies still stand to hold their idealism, and slightly closed the media as totally Bussines oriented. Ideals held because identity media can be staked.

Result, many media companies are not able to survive long. The operational cost incurred is not balanced. Small income, while they are required to meet the needs of employees such as salaries, wages printing, building rent, pay electricity, and so forth. Then, what solution? Some media company taking policy with a lot of cooperation with business partners. Choose 100 percent the same ideals their suicide!

They look the business owners by offering advertising services. One appropriate way to increase profit. Can be not only in the form of a quote the ad, but a relationship of partnership more closely. In the future can be shaped by the events which are held between the parties. Affairs journalism that smell probably forgotten because rided activities that is no relation with the principal task of the media.

Later a number of media companies-is-no need to choose "self-close" with a jog a few problems with their business partners. Labor strike action no longer digubris. For business owners have put ads in the expensive media. The Company also intervence journalists to not at all offensive strike action in the company that issued coverage. Yes, sharing its rough both parties. Or even worse give and take. "Thank you because they do not publish this news," said the company.

That's also reason why media companies often maintain their idealism with the pickup. Boomerang will be afraid in the future. Strike action and they publish in the headline. Usut for many usut rights of employees that the company has not been fulfilled. So sad..!

In the regions, the condition worse. Orientation of business not only to the company, but also government officials. Cooperation is poured in the form of a MoU. Forms may be, officials are to receive service advertisements, or may be telling. How much does it cost for that? The amount varies. Depending on the value of the MoU is agreed.

Perhaps, with the way the officials concerned can tebar enchantment. In fact, they dare intervence corporate media not to publish news that offend their credibility. Danger when officials concerned trick tripped cases, such as corruption, the media are silent. "We just have a MoU. Yes, the news does not do reasonable increase, "commented the officer's head.

Top Journalism Deans Defend Press in 'Secrets' Controversy

noreply@blogger.com (ratuamira) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 01:55:20 PDT

Four leading journalism school deans, along with Alex Jones, director of the Shorenstein Center at Harvard University, have penned a strong call for press freedom in the reporting of secrets that the government, and particularly the current administration, wants to keep from the public. "It is the business -- and the responsibility -- of the press to reveal secrets," they declare.

It was published Sunday in The Washington Post. The four deans from programs at top j-schools are Orville Schell, Nicholas Lemann, Geoffrey Cowan and John Levane. They can be reached at:
journalismdeans@hotmail.com

Their call follows.
*
It is the business -- and the responsibility -- of the press to reveal secrets. Journalists are constantly trying to report things that public officials and others believe should be secret, and constantly exercising restraint over what they publish.

Most Americans want their government to be held accountable, which is the raison d'?tre of watchdog journalism. At the same time, they do not want the press to disclose government secrets that are vital to national security.

The journalist's dilemma, then, lies in choosing between the risk that would result from disclosure and the parallel risk of keeping the public in the dark -- a quandary that has become all the more pointed since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. As deans charged with imparting the values of journalism to the next generation of reporters and editors, we favor disclosure when there are not strong reasons against it.

That issue is front and center again because of the June 23 articles in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and the Wall Street Journal describing the government's efforts to track terrorist financing. The New York Times has attracted most of the outrage because it took the lead in investigating the system.

It is appropriate for Americans to be concerned when news organizations publish information that the president and others in authority have strongly urged not be published. No sane citizen would wish the media to provide terrorists with information that would be likely to endanger Americans.

President Bush has denounced the Times in exceptionally harsh language, and on June 29 the House formally condemned the paper. Some critics of the Times have termed its actions "treasonous" and called for criminal charges under the Espionage Act. One conservative commentator told the San Francisco Chronicle that she would happily send Bill Keller, the paper's executive editor, to the gas chamber.

Keller has characterized the decision to publish the information as a "close call," making this an especially important example to examine. Despite its security concerns, the public has shown steady support for the media's watchdog role. Earlier this year, a survey by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press found that 56 percent of respondents said it was very important for the media to report stories they believe are in the nation's interest. A third of respondents ranked government censorship on the grounds of national security as more important. The public wants the press to keep a sharp lookout, but wants the job performed responsibly. We share this sentiment.

In the case of the stories about financial data, the government's main concern seemed to be that the hitherto cooperative banks might stop cooperating if the Times disclosed the existence of their financial tracking system. So far, that apparently has not happened.

For many Americans, however, the possibility of damage to terrorist surveillance should have been sufficient justification for the Times to remain silent. Why, they ask, should the press take such a chance? There are situations in which that chance should not be taken. For instance, there was no justification for columnist Robert D. Novak to have unmasked Valerie Plame as a covert CIA officer.

We believe that in the case of a close call, the press should publish when editors are convinced that more damage will be done to our democratic society by keeping information away from the American people than by leveling with them. We know from history that the government often claims to be concerned about national security when its concern is that disclosure will prove politically or personally embarrassing. The documents that came to be known as the Pentagon Papers in 1971 told how Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson had misled Americans about our role in the Vietnam War. Hence the classification of their contents.

In the aftermath of 9/11, a new climate of caution was a sensible response to a sophisticated terrorist foe. But Bush's reaction -- declaring a "war on terror" and claiming the Constitution grants almost limitless powers to the president in a time of war -- is excessive. His administration has been aggressively restricting access to information on the grounds of national security. For example, earlier this year historians complained that intelligence agencies were removing previously declassified documents from archives. Some of these papers dated as far back as the Korean War; many had been cited multiple times in books.

In general, the administration has sought to conduct much of what it calls the war on terror in secret, and it has been able to do so with little oversight from Congress, which would normally be a key check on power. When the press has played such an oversight role, it has often been harshly criticized.

For instance, a few months ago Bush denounced the Times for revealing the National Security Agency's program of monitoring international telephone calls by Americans without first obtaining warrants, as the law requires. In that case, Bush rebuked the paper for revealing a classified secret. For most observers, however, the most important secret that was revealed was that the president had ignored the statutory process that Congress had established.

Despite the rhetoric of their fiercest critics, most journalists take secrets seriously. Indeed, in a number of cases since 9/11, many news organizations, including the Times, have forgone publication of information at the request of the Bush administration. The Times held the article on domestic eavesdropping for a year, publishing it only after the paper thought that the issues raised were of great importance.

We believe that the extraordinary power of the presidency at this moment mandates more scrutiny rather than less. Yet Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales has said he would consider prosecuting journalists for publishing classified information. Such an action would threaten to tilt the balance between disclosure and secrecy in a direction that would weaken watchdog reporting at a time when it is badly needed.

We subscribe to the vision of Carl C. Magee, a crusading journalist whose Albuquerque newspaper infuriated another president in the 1920s with revelations in the Teapot Dome scandal. Forced to close his paper after being driven to bankruptcy, Magee emerged two months later with another newspaper. Emblazoned on the front page was a new motto, borrowed from Dante: Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way.

Investigative Journalism Under Fire

noreply@blogger.com (ratuamira) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:05:39 PDT

“The Mother of All Heists,” CBS's 2006 60 Minutes report, had all the hallmarks of a classic piece of investigative journalism. The story took the U.S. and Iraqi governments to task for the disappearance of more than $500 million that had been earmarked to fight the bloody insurgency tearing Iraq apart. The report, produced by Andy Court and Keith Sharman and reported by Steve Kroft, was more than a year in the making and required filming in three countries. And despite being a story the Bush administration would have preferred not be made at all, “The Mother of All Heists” epitomized the chief mission of the press: It uncovered a glaring story of corruption and abuse of power.

These are the kinds of marquee reports for which network execs publicly profess support. At a time when distracted viewers are bombarded by news and information from a multitude of sources, “The value of reporting something no one else has goes up,” says David Westin, president of ABC News. “I think our ability to do original reporting and investigative [pieces] is the prime example of that, and it becomes more and more valuable.”

That may be the case, but it's also becoming less and less prevalent.
Investigations of the rich and powerful, the multinational corporations and monopoly industries, have all but dried up, say a coterie of journalists still trying to ply their trade. To be sure, enterprise reporting on the network level is far from dead. Investigations are, for instance, still staples at 60 Minutes and PBS's Frontline . Brian Ross and his producers are a vibrant force in TV investigations that singlehandedly keep ABC News in the game. But the days of news divisions rich with staff and resources claiming multiple hours a week of primetime real estate with newsmagazines are now history.

Producers have felt the sting of contracting budgets and swelling corporate concern over the bottom line. Such conditions have been most inhospitable to reporters working on investigations requiring time and resources; these stories are often magnets for legal action.

“I think there's a huge need for that kind of investigative work, and it's clear there's less of it,” says Bill Buzenberg, executive director at the Center for Public Integrity, which specializes in investigations. “It's risky, it's expensive, it takes huge resources and talent, and with much of the press owned by large corporations, I think there's a certain reluctance to do that.”

Muckrakers Raked Over the Coals
Peering under proverbial rocks to bring corruption and abuse of power into the searing light of public scrutiny has always been the role of the watchdog press. And while it is true that the head of a state or federal agency may still end up on the hot seat being grilled by a network correspondent, the genre is on life-support compared to what it once was.

If networks are at all gun-shy, it's because of a vexing list of concerns. Deregulation has allowed news divisions to be swallowed by larger risk-adverse corporations. Investigating other billion-dollar corporations is less than prudent when those behemoths fight back in potentially ruinous lawsuits that can cripple a news division, which makes such stories an even less profitable and riskier investment for a GE, a Disney or others.

Consequently, investigations into big business, arguably more essential than ever at a time when Wall Street machinations are at the center of the $400 billion subprime mortgage collapse, have become increasingly rare.

“What's really in danger is the availability of information in the public interest,” says Lowell Bergman, a veteran of CBS News and 60 Minutes . “That kind of work was never encouraged. You always had to know where the limits were. Now there isn't even a pretense of doing it.”
Bergman, who runs the investigative reporting program at the University of California at Berkeley and continues to work for Frontline , calls investigations an “anti-profit” business.

Glory Days
While investigations are far from extinct, few can make the case that the scope and number of reports on network news are but a shadow of what they once were. In the 1980s and '90s, they were the pride of news divisions and a popular primetime destination. In 1993, the last year that 60 Minutes finished the TV season atop the Nielsen ratings, ABC's Primetime Live was making its name for hidden-camera investigations. Today, the show has no dedicated time slot, and with the recent exception of Diane Sawyer's “Prostitution in America,” it hews toward crime, celebrity profiles and voyeuristic behavior labs. 48 Hours , which began in the late 1980s as a documentary program, has redefined itself as a true crime show. And NBC's Dateline has mostly pared its investigations down to a single gotcha concept such ast he controversial pedophilia sting “To Catch a Predator.”

The decline began in the 1990s when a string of high-profile legal skirmishes sent corporate counsel at the networks into a defensive posture. The actions put network news divisions on notice: If you're going to take on big businesses, keep in mind that they will defend themselves ferociously.

An early demonstration of how risky it could be to tangle with big business came from General Motors, which sued NBC News over a 1992 Dateline segment that infamously staged a truck explosion to dramatize the dangers of the company's fuel tanks.

At ABC News, another lawsuit all but did away with a pillar of investigative journalism: the use of hidden cameras to catch parties in unethical or illegal acts. The grocery chain Food Lion sued ABC News for $4.7 billion after two Primetime Live producers misrepresented themselves on applications and, wired with cameras in their hats, taped workers repackaging expired meat as fresh. Though a huge jury award was eventually reduced to a mere $2, the damage was done. After Food Lion, producers needed special permission to use hidden cameras.
While ABC and NBC were clearly in the wrong, these cases still had a ripple effect through the industry.

The watershed moment came with the infamous tobacco suits at ABC and CBS. In 1995, Bergman, then a producer at 60 Minutes , battled CBS brass to broadcast an interview with Brown & Williamson whistle-blower Jeffrey Wigand of The Insider fame. The network was being sold to Westinghouse at the time and wary corporate counsel claimed the Wigand interview would constitute tortuous interference. And Philip Morris sued ABC News for $10 billion over a 1994 report on the now-defunct newsmagazine Day One that uncovered the then-shocking evidence that cigarette manufacturers manipulated nicotine levels to keep smokers hooked. The network, which was being acquired by Disney at the time, declined to fight Philip Morris in court and instead settled for a reported $17 million; it capitulated in a widely derided on-air apology that those involved still describe today as “disgusting” and “pathetic.”

“There is a belief—and I don't know if it's because a consultant said so or what—that real investigations do not appeal to viewers,” says Walt Bogdanich, who produced the Day One piece and is now at The New York Times , where he recently won his third Pulitzer Prize. “I think if you put faux investigative pieces on and package them as investigative, whether it's 'To Catch a Predator' or whatever, it ceases to be journalism and becomes voyeurism.”

“The commitment to [investigative reports] is fragile,” says Jeff Fager, executive producer of 60 Minutes , which still regularly wins its Sunday-night time slot. “If you let go, it can be a very fast downward spiral. So we don't ever take it for granted because I know what it can be like if someone comes in and doesn't really like what we do. Why aren't you doing top 10 celebrity meltdowns on 60 Minutes ? If that happens, our audience is going to say, 'They're putting the stopwatch up but that's the only thing I recognize.' I think that's what has happened at other places.”

If there is a last bastion and Holy Grail of TV investigations, it is PBS's Frontline . Even there, the genre faces jeopardy and an uncertain future. In 2003, “A Dangerous Business,” a report examining the water and sewer pipe industry in Texas, kicked off a four-year legal battle. Reported by Bergman and accompanied by a Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times series, the report detailed egregious workplace safety violations that caused systemic maiming and, in several cases, gruesome deaths of workers.

“That was a great drain and if it wasn't for The Times , I fear that we might have been in a position where our insurance company would have said, why don't we just settle this?” says Frontline executive producer David Fanning.

A Texas judge dismissed the suit last year. But Fanning and Bergman are now working to establish a pro-bono team of lawyer to help insulate Frontline from legal threats. “It's not that we're not careful,” Fanning adds. “It's a question of what it does to you the next time round. Do you find yourself pulling back? Do you find yourself looking over your shoulder?”

Hard to Find Wrongs Without Rights
Government has traditionally been a softer investigative target. But reluctant reporters and producers now speak of an anti-media bias that has been roiling the courts, eroding First Amendment privileges that journalists once took for granted.

The lack of a protective federal shield law has meant not only insurmountable legal bills, but jail time for many reporters who have refused to give up confidential sources in what are often legal fishing expeditions. The investigation into CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity is only the most famous example.

“The biggest impediment has been legal,” says Ross, ABC's chief investigative correspondent.
For investigative reporters who work closely with government sources, the courts' open season on journalists in an attempt to ferret out government informants—frequently using “national security” as their own shield law—presents a serious problem. Ross was among several journalists subpoenaed by lawyers for former Army scientist Steven Hatfill, who was identified by government sources as a “person of interest” in the FBI's anthrax probe. Ross' source released him from confidentiality, and the source voluntarily appeared to answer pre-trial questions from Hatfill's lawyers. But the courts' current indifference to reporter's privilege portends a further dampening of investigations and the motivation to do them. And while a shield-law bill is currently in Congress, it has yet to find its way to the president.

“If we don't have sources and the ability to keep them confidential,” Ross says, “then we risk becoming part of the steno pool.” Not that this has curtailed the efforts. In an increasingly noisy and fragmented media landscape, there can be considerable benefit to a news division's standing when an investigation catches a guilty party dead to rights.

A recent CBS News investigation uncovered formaldehyde-tainted trailers pawned off by FEMA on unfortunate survivors of Hurricane Katrina; another CBS report revealed alarmingly high veteran-suicide rates. Both stories ushered in government reforms.

A Dateline investigation revealed that although the 9/11 Commission concluded that four of the 19 Sept. 11 hijackers entered the country with doctored passports, the black market for illegal travel documents is thriving. Government waste has become a bailiwick of CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 , which pounds away at pork-barrel spending and government earmarks in its “Keeping Them Honest” feature.

Ross has turned investigations into a popular feature at ABC News, creating competition among producers at the network's various broadcasts for content from the investigative unit. Page views for “The Blotter,” the investigative unit's Web page, which was instrumental in breaking open the Mark Foley congressional page scandal, posted a 435% increase in April compared to the previous year, according to ABC.

Reports such as these contribute to the public good and prove that when the internal bureaucracy can be surmounted, news executives and their reporters will still go for the jugular. But the economic challenges and the media's collective identity crisis remain.

“In this litigious era, there is a chilling effect on that kind of work,” says Steve Capus, president of NBC News. “You have to have the courage of your commitments, though. Anytime we start poking around, the first people you're going to hear from are the attorneys of the people being scrutinized.”

“I've been sued nine or 10 times,” Ross adds. “Knock on wood, but this is the first time in a long time I have had no pending lawsuits.”

From 'Anti-Profit' to Nonprofit
“Is it true that if you turn on your television today, your odds of hitting something investigative are lower than they were 15 years ago? Yes, I think that's true,” says Stephen Engelberg, the former editor of The Oregonian , who left to become managing editor of ProPublica.
Formed last fall and headed by Engelberg and Paul Steiger, late of the Wall Street Journal , ProPublica is an independent nonprofit newsroom specializing in investigations. It joins a contingent of journalism nonprofits currently operating, including the Center for Public Integrity, the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting and the Center for Investigative Reporting. What sets ProPublica apart is its annual $10 million budget, courtesy of California billionaires Herbert and Marion Sandler.

The first 60 Minutes /ProPublica co-production, broadcast June 22, is an investigation into Al Hurra, the U.S. government's taxpayer-supported TV network in the Middle East, which has drawn criticism for broadcasting anti-Israeli commentary, among other things. ProPublica is in discussions with Frontline and ABC News about multiple projects.

“Here we are offering to do fairly expensive basic research for free, and we'll bring it to you when it's right and we know it's real,” Engelberg says. “That's not a half-bad deal if you've been subjected to massive cutbacks.”

Co-productions have been a staple for Frontline , which hasn't seen a budget increase in a decade thanks in part to hostility from Washington toward arts funding of any kind. But as traditional partners including the BBC have gone more tabloid, there are less opportunities for co-productions on the kind of broad international investigations for which Frontline is known, according to Fanning. Earlier this year, he established a Frontline journalism fund to solicit money from philanthropic and charitable organizations. The fund's first contributor was Paul Newman, who sent an unsolicited donation of $50,000, Fanning says, because he appreciated The Lost Year in Iraq , Michael Kirk's evocative 2006 documentary about the first flawed year of the war.

It's worth noting that after six years of war in Iraq—at a new total estimated cost of $2.7 trillion—the media is still debating its role, or lack thereof, in the run-up to the conflict. Did we ask the right questions, wonder reporters? The soul-searching may be cathartic, but futile, if the right questions don't get asked the next time.

“There's a kind of crisis in journalism right now,” says Mike Hoyt, executive editor of the Columbia Journalism Review . “The economic model has led to a crisis of self-confidence or mission so that [journalists] are spending their energy trying to figure out ways to survive—or thrive—in the new era, as opposed to putting that energy into great journalism.
“But I think we need good investigations more than ever.” (By Marisa Guthrie; Broadcasting and Cable)

What Makes a Story Newsworthy?

noreply@blogger.com (ratuamira) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 08:16:13 PDT

News can be defined as "Newsworthy information about recent events or happenings, especially as reported by news media". But what makes news newsworthy? There is a list of five factors, detailed below, which are considered when deciding if a story is newsworthy. When an editor needs to decide whether to run with a particular story, s/he will ask how well the story meets each of these criteria. Normally, a story should perform well in at least two areas.

Naturally, competition plays a part. If there are a lot of newsworthy stories on a particular day then some stories will be dropped. Although some stories can be delayed until a new slot becomes available, time-sensitive news will often be dropped permanently.
Timing

The word news means exactly that - things which are new. Topics which are current are good news. Consumers are used to receiving the latest updates, and there is so much news about that old news is quickly discarded. A story with only average interest needs to be told quickly if it is to be told at all. If it happened today, it's news. If the same thing happened last week, it's no longer interesting.

Significance
The number of people affected by the story is important. A plane crash in which hundreds of people died is more significant than a crash killing a dozen.
Proximity
Stories which happen near to us have more significance. The closer the story to home, the more newsworthy it is. For someone living in France, a major plane crash in the USA has a similar news value to a small plane crash near Paris. Note that proximity doesn't have to mean geographical distance. Stories from countries with which we have a particular bond or similarity have the same effect. For example, Australians would be expected to relate more to a story from a distant Western nation than a story from a much closer Asian country.
Prominence
Famous people get more coverage just because they are famous. If you break your arm it won't make the news, but if the Queen of England breaks her arm it's big news.
Human Interest
Human interest stories are a bit of a special case. They often disregard the main rules of newsworthiness; for example, they don't date as quickly, they need not affect a large number of people, and it may not matter where in the world the story takes place.

Human interest stories appeal to emotion. They aim to evoke responses such as amusement or sadness. Television news programmes often place a humourous or quirky story at the end of the show to finish on a feel-good note. Newspapers often have a dedicated area for offbeat or interesting items.

Searching for optimism in transformation

noreply@blogger.com (ratuamira) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 08:26:38 PDT

One of the most notable characteristics of gatherings of journalists these days is the pervasive sense of sadness about the disintegration of the old ways of the news business and fear about its future. As Dan Radmacher of The Roanoke Times wrote in his column after NCEW's gathering in September, NCEW members are hardly alone in their grief over the way changes in technology, economics and readership/viewership are changing the profession they love, the institutions they prize, and the work on which they depend. All of these changes have put traditional news organizations on the ropes.

That's what made several of the sessions that I attended in mid-September at the centennial celebration of the University of Missouri School of Journalism so remarkable. There was a palpable sense of optimism there. It's not that the speakers were oblivious to the changes in the news industry. What they are doing is finding new, exciting, and meaningful ways to do journalism in these changing times.

This may not be very comforting if you or one of your colleagues just got a layoff notice. It addresses journalism in the broad sense, not just the opinion role of journalism. Still, I think for folks who have committed their lives to this field, some of the things that are bubbling up suggest that there is hope for a very vital future for good journalism, even if it looks very different from what we have known in the past.

Some participants who grew up in the old world of journalism--including the former managing editor of The Wall Street Journal and the former publisher of the Star Tribune in Minnesota--talked about the ventures they are creating to do serious journalism. They all admitted that this was tough work, that the future of their own ventures was uncertain, that the economic models to support their enterprises are still a work in progress. What they are doing, though, is exciting.

Jon Sawyer, formerly of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, heads up the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting, which has a network of people around the world covering international news in creative ways, even as traditional media outlets have cut back their international coverage. He advised that folks stop wringing their hands, proclaiming that there is "a bright future for those who want to do journalism."

Paul Steiger retired as managing editor of The Wall Street Journal at the end of 2007 after a twenty-five-year career there. He immediately moved into his new role as editor and publisher of the new investigative journalism venture called ProPublica. He has assembled a staff of twenty-eight full-time reporters and editors to do investigative work and place it in the news outlets where it could have the biggest impact.

Margaret Wolf Freivogel was an outstanding reporter and editor with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Joel Kramer led the Star-Tribune to two Pulitzer Prizes as its editor and then became its publisher, leaving in 1998 when McClatchy bought the paper. Each is now at the helm of start-up local Web news sites in St. Louis and the Twin Cities.

At other sessions during the centennial, speakers presented an array of new projects--developing new applications for iPhones, connecting groups with common interests through online communities, using visual tools to tell powerful stories like Brian Storm does so well--and so profitably--on his site, MediaStorm. The specifics of their efforts are interesting. It was their attitude, though, that really caught my attention.

It's an attitude that mirrors what my daughter told me about the Society of News Design convention, which occurred just before the Missouri event. (She is a journalism student at Mizzou, which is why I came to be there for the centennial celebration.) Julia talked with great enthusiasm about the kinds of things young designers are doing at major media outlets to make the news come alive on the Web, in print, and in the minds of readers.

Mourning for what was, of course, is part of the process of change. Finding ways to create a new future built on the core values of the past but with a willingness to take bold risks is what defines the next generation. It was thrilling to get a sense of that now happening in journalism.

* The race to succeed Senator Larry Craig (perhaps you've heard of him) has drawn a colorful field of candidates. One is an independent named Pro-Life, known formerly as Marvin Richardson, before he legally changed his name. He and his wife, state Senate candidate Kirsten Faith Richardson, showed up a few days back for their editorial board interviews. The candidates, organic strawberry farmers by trade, showed up for their interviews with two flats of fresh and tasty strawberries in tow. A bit of a departure from many other candidates, who have only raspberries for the editorial board.

* The best quote of all endorsement interviews comes from a former Ada County commissioner, running again for the job. Recounting her start in local politics, she said she first got involved "as a homeowner, as a person concerned that the City of Boise was going to shove sewers clown our throats." A concern I believe we all can share. (Claire Duquette, The Daily Press, Ashland, Wisconsin)