tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5050873639726650982024-02-19T10:49:37.475-05:00Mason J-Roundup"Freedom of the press is one of the greatest bulwarks of liberty and can never be restrained but by despotic governments."<p>
<b>-- George Mason, 1776</b><p>
<p>"Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter."<p>
<b>-- Thomas Jefferson, 1787</b></p></p></p></p>Dan Kubiskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07086540629959611188noreply@blogger.comBlogger336125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505087363972665098.post-8723342178700928622010-03-05T04:37:00.002-05:002010-03-05T04:44:10.508-05:00If your mother says she loves you...<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One of the basic rules of good journalism is not only getting information first but also getting it right.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The recent dust up over Justice Roberts' supposed resignation is a good example of law students not checking out their sources.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://dkubiske.onmason.com/2010/03/05/confirm-and-then-publish/"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Anatomy of a Rumor: The Story Behind Chief Justice John Roberts’s ‘Retirement’</span></span><qtlend></qtlend></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">By the way, I am really getting to like the </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://dkubiske.onmason.com/">OnMason </a><span style="font-family: arial;">blog site. I am half tempted to move this site to that platform soon.</span><br /></span>Dan Kubiskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07086540629959611188noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505087363972665098.post-11364239296819840832010-03-04T02:11:00.001-05:002010-03-04T02:12:55.192-05:00Demographics of American newspapersI'm trying out my OnMason blog site.<br /><br />Go <a href="http://dkubiske.onmason.com/2010/03/04/demographics-of-american-newspapers/">here </a><qtlend></qtlend>to see an old chestnut.Dan Kubiskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07086540629959611188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505087363972665098.post-9399841511029098652010-03-02T03:47:00.001-05:002010-03-02T03:47:41.837-05:00Getting the subject-verb agreement right<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><big><font face='arial'>ARGH!<br/><br/>I don't like it but I am almost ready to give up complaining when people say/write, "media is."<br/><br/>But when the venerable Gray Lady decides subject-verb agreement is no longer necessary, I guess we might as well all just give up.</font></big><br/><br/><div align='center'><img src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_awd8Nu4lWhQ/S4zQTtf2uCI/AAAAAAAAAxU/Tr6ckERjFVw/%5BUNSET%5D.jpg?imgmax=800' style='max-width: 800px;'/><br/></div><br/><div align='center'><font color='#ff0000'><big><big><big><big><big>It should be "Data show..."</big></big></big></big></big><br/></font></div><br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=8c4d3d39-b758-8bd7-949b-b9b2e64a01d3' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Dan Kubiskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07086540629959611188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505087363972665098.post-58066104576810432010-02-26T04:24:00.001-05:002010-02-26T04:24:26.780-05:00IT resume tips that also work in journalism<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><font face='arial'>Toni Bowers did a quick entry at TechRepublic on resume writing.<br/><br/><big><b><a href='http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/career/?p=1786&tag=nl.e101' target='_blank'>Quick resume tip: Hone your Job Objective statement</a></b></big><br/><br/>I thought what she wrote is good advice and now pass it on to you for your students.<br/></font><br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=502030cf-010e-8821-9730-32ad028e9cbf' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Dan Kubiskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07086540629959611188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505087363972665098.post-79400966269364890972010-02-22T03:02:00.001-05:002010-02-22T03:02:44.310-05:00Recession and booze - Getting the story<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Journalism is more than just repeating numbers and getting a pithy quote. Good reporting also provides context. It helps explain why a story is important.<br/><br/>The Detroit Free Press ran a piece over the weekend on how the number of liquor licenses keeps increasing despite the dwindling population in the Metro Detroit area. <br/><br/><b><big><a href='http://www.freep.com/article/20100221/NEWS05/2210463/1001/news/Liquor-flows-in-abundance-despite-population-decline' target='_blank'>Liquor flows in abundance despite population decline</a></big></b><br/><br/>My first reaction to the headline -- from the front page teaser -- was that the article would be about how much liquor is being sold. From that I would hope the reporter would ask experts to comment on whether the hard times Michigan is facing is leading to the increase in liquor sales. And then what are the social concerns of more people feeling depressed (due to job loss) and drinking more.<br/><ul><li>Are drunk and disorderly arrests up?</li><li>How about domestic violence?</li><li>Divorces/separations?</li></ul>But no. The 300-word article is about the formula for issuing liquor licenses and how the numbers are askew. Nothing at all about the actual flow of liquor.<br/><br/>I understand limited resources the newspaper has. But how hard would it have been to get some sample numbers of actual liquor sales? Up? Down? Has having more distribution points (bars) meant an increase in sales or are the sales just being spread out over more places?<br/><br/>And then, as I said before, there are the social issues.<br/><br/>Are more people spending more time in bars? If so, what does that do to the community and families?<br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=008af5d5-a256-81a3-8cd8-b9657e97ddc6' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Dan Kubiskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07086540629959611188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505087363972665098.post-37755570832833265292010-02-20T08:01:00.001-05:002010-02-20T08:01:56.026-05:00Context: A vital part of journalism<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>I just unloaded on some of the reporting coming out of Haiti, especially the reporting on the 10 just-released Baptist missionaries.<br/><br/>Rather than repeat everything here, go to <a href='http://worldjournalism.wordpress.com/2010/02/20/dr-and-haiti-stories-wheres-the-context/' target='_blank'>DR and Haiti stories: Where's the context? </a><br/><br/>TBH, I've been shouting at the reporting since the first day of the earthquake. Granted, most of it is pretty straight forward but there was/is enough to get me riled.<br/><br/>I worked on search and rescue during the 1985 Mexico City earthquakes (8.1 and 7.8). Most of the SAR techniques used in Haiti came from the experiences in Mexico. The SAR teams from the USA and Europe all credit the work done in Mexico as the reason their teams and training are set up the way they are.<br/><br/>Yet, there was nothing about this in the media reports. (Hint: GMU j-students, go talk to the Fairfax County special team that went to Haiti. They will explain how 1985 shaped what they are doing today.)<br/><br/>And now there are stories about Baptists, child trafficking and Dominican-Haitian relations.<br/><br/>Is it really too much to expect that there should be SOME explanatory grafs in these stories to talk about what is going on beyond the immediate?<br/><br/>Context! Context Context!<br/><br/>It sure seems to be missing in most of the stories I have seen/heard on Haiti.<br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=d60e0308-1b6f-81da-86e6-6496b7dfcafe' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Dan Kubiskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07086540629959611188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505087363972665098.post-24680918885568073292010-02-17T16:44:00.001-05:002010-02-17T16:50:25.819-05:00Working with numbersThe<a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/125999/Mississippians-Go-Church-Most-Vermonters-Least.aspx?CSTS=alert"> Gallup Survey </a>folks came out with a survey indicating what state had the most churchgoers. <p></p> <p face="arial" class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p face="arial" class="MsoNoSpacing">The survey showed that Mississippi led the nation with 63 percent of the people saying they attended a religious service weekly or almost weekly.</p> <p face="arial" class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p face="arial" class="MsoNoSpacing">The top-10 church attendance states are:</p> <table class="MsoTableGrid" style="border: medium none ; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial;" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr style=""> <td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style="">State<o:p></o:p></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: black black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.5in;" valign="top" width="144"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style="">% attend weekly religious services<o:p></o:p></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Mississippi</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.5in;" valign="top" width="144"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">63</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Alabama</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.5in;" valign="top" width="144"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">58</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">South Carolina</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.5in;" valign="top" width="144"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">56</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Louisiana</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.5in;" valign="top" width="144"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">56</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Utah</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.5in;" valign="top" width="144"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">56</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Tennessee</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.5in;" valign="top" width="144"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">54</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Arkansas</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.5in;" valign="top" width="144"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">53</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">North Carolina</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.5in;" valign="top" width="144"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">53</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Georgia</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.5in;" valign="top" width="144"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">51</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Texas</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.5in;" valign="top" width="144"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">50</p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p face="arial" class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p face="arial" class="MsoNoSpacing">You will notice that most of these states are in the South. </p> <p face="arial" class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p face="arial" class="MsoNoSpacing">The states that showed the fewest number of people attending regular church services come mostly from the Northeast and Northwest.</p> <table class="MsoTableGrid" style="border: medium none ; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial;" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr style=""> <td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.9pt;" valign="top" width="121"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style="">State<o:p></o:p></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: black black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style="">% attend weekly religious services<o:p></o:p></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.9pt;" valign="top" width="121"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Vermont<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">23<o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.9pt;" valign="top" width="121"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">New Hampshire<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">26<o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.9pt;" valign="top" width="121"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Maine<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">27<o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.9pt;" valign="top" width="121"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Massachusetts<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">29<o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.9pt;" valign="top" width="121"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Nevada<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">30<o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.9pt;" valign="top" width="121"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Hawaii<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">31<o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.9pt;" valign="top" width="121"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Oregon<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">31<o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.9pt;" valign="top" width="121"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Alaska<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">31<o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.9pt;" valign="top" width="121"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Washington<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">32<o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.9pt;" valign="top" width="121"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rhode Island<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">32<o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.9pt;" valign="top" width="121"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Connecticut</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">32</p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p face="arial" class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p face="arial" class="MsoNoSpacing">Alone these numbers are interesting if you are going to do a story about regular church attendance. </p> <p face="arial" class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p face="arial" class="MsoNoSpacing">But let’s look further.</p> <p face="arial" class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p face="arial" class="MsoNoSpacing">Is there a relationship between education and regular church attendance. Conventional wisdom says the more educated a person is, the less likely he or she will regularly attend religious service.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing">Let’s compare some date.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing">Thanks to the U.S. Census Bureau, we can come up with a chart that provides the education level of each state. <span style=""> </span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing">It is easy enough to work through the Census Bureau web site (<a href="http://www.census.gov/">www.census.gov</a>) to <a href="http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/CTTable?_bm=y&-context=ct&-ds_name=ACS_2008_3YR_G00_&-mt_name=ACS_2008_3YR_G2000_B01003&-tree_id=3308&-redoLog=false&-geo_id=04000US01&-geo_id=04000US02&-geo_id=04000US04&-geo_id=04000US05&-geo_id=04000US06&-geo_id=04000US08&-geo_id=04000US09&-geo_id=04000US10&-geo_id=04000US11&-geo_id=04000US12&-geo_id=04000US13&-geo_id=04000US15&-geo_id=04000US16&-geo_id=04000US17&-geo_id=04000US18&-geo_id=04000US19&-geo_id=04000US20&-geo_id=04000US21&-geo_id=04000US22&-geo_id=04000US23&-geo_id=04000US24&-geo_id=04000US25&-geo_id=04000US26&-geo_id=04000US27&-geo_id=04000US28&-geo_id=04000US29&-geo_id=04000US30&-geo_id=04000US31&-geo_id=04000US32&-geo_id=04000US33&-geo_id=04000US34&-geo_id=04000US35&-geo_id=04000US36&-geo_id=04000US37&-geo_id=04000US38&-geo_id=04000US39&-geo_id=04000US40&-geo_id=04000US41&-geo_id=04000US42&-geo_id=04000US44&-geo_id=04000US45&-geo_id=04000US46&-geo_id=04000US47&-geo_id=04000US48&-geo_id=04000US49&-geo_id=04000US50&-geo_id=04000US51&-geo_id=04000US53&-geo_id=04000US54&-geo_id=04000US55&-geo_id=04000US56&-geo_id=04000US72&-geo_id=NBSP&-search_results=01000US&-dataitem=ACS_2008_3YR_G2000_B15002.B15002_10_EST%7CACS_2008_3YR_G2000_B15002.B15002_15_EST%7CACS_2008_3YR_G2000_B15002.B15002_16_EST%7CACS_2008_3YR_G2000_B15002.B15002_17_EST%7CACS_2008_3YR_G2000_B15002.B15002_18_EST%7CACS_2008_3YR_G2000_B15002.B15002_27_EST%7CACS_2008_3YR_G2000_B15002.B15002_32_EST%7CACS_2008_3YR_G2000_B15002.B15002_33_EST%7CACS_2008_3YR_G2000_B15002.B15002_34_EST%7CACS_2008_3YR_G2000_B15002.B15002_35_EST%7CACS_2008_3YR_G2000_B01003.B01003_1_EST&-format=&-subj_treenode_id=17553824&-_lang=en">create a custom table</a> that will give us the basic information we need to use to start the comparison.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing">All taken from the <span style=""><a href="http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MetadataBrowserServlet?type=dataset&id=ACS_2008_3YR_G00_&_lang=en">2006-2008 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="">So now we can look at how education and regular religious service attendance compare.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <table class="MsoTableGrid" style="border: medium none ; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial;" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr style=""> <td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style="">State<o:p></o:p></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: black black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style="">Ranking of religious attendance<o:p></o:p></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: black black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.75in;" valign="top" width="168"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style="">Percentage of college graduates compared to population<o:p></o:p></b></p> </td> <td style="border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: black black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style="">Ranking of 50 states plus DC and PR for college graduates<o:p></o:p></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Mississippi</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">1</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.75in;" valign="top" width="168"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">12</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">51</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Alabama<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">2</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.75in;" valign="top" width="168"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">14</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">46</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">South Carolina<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">3</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.75in;" valign="top" width="168"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">15</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">38</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Louisiana<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">4</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.75in;" valign="top" width="168"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">13</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">48</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Utah<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">5</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.75in;" valign="top" width="168"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">16</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">29</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Tennessee<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">6</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.75in;" valign="top" width="168"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">15</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">44</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Arkansas<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">7</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.75in;" valign="top" width="168"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">12</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">49</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">North Carolina<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">8</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.75in;" valign="top" width="168"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">17</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">27</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Georgia<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">9</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.75in;" valign="top" width="168"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">17</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">24</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 3pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Texas<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 3pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">10</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 3pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.75in;" valign="top" width="168"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">16</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 3pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">37</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Vermont<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">51</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.75in;" valign="top" width="168"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">23</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">6</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">New Hampshire<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">50</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.75in;" valign="top" width="168"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">22</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">7</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Maine<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">49</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.75in;" valign="top" width="168"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">18</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">18</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Massachusetts<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">48</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.75in;" valign="top" width="168"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">25</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">2</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Nevada<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">47</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.75in;" valign="top" width="168"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">14</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">44</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Hawaii<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">46</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.75in;" valign="top" width="168"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">20</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">13</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Oregon<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">45</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.75in;" valign="top" width="168"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">19</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">15</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Alaska<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">44</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.75in;" valign="top" width="168"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">16</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">28</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Washington<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">43</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.75in;" valign="top" width="168"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">20</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">11</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rhode Island<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">42</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.75in;" valign="top" width="168"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">20</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">12</p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Connecticut<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">41</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.75in;" valign="top" width="168"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">23</p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center">3</p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing">A similar pattern emerges when frequency of religious attendance is compared with a state’s ranking for populations with at least a 12<sup>th</sup> grade education but not a high school graduate.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing">This proves everything, right? Numbers don’t lie, do they?</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing">It’s not so much that numbers don’t lie but they are not the whole story.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing">Nevada is #1 has 1.85% of its population with 12 years of schooling but no degree. It sits at number 44 among the states and territories for college graduates. And it is one of the least religious states in the survey.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing">Why do you think? (Hint: In what state is Las Vegas and Reno located? Another hint: What state showed the largest housing boom – and bust – in the past five years?)</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing">The numbers get you started. And you can use them to help build the structure of your story but real work is explaining what the numbers mean and putting a human face to them.<br /></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing">___________________________________________________<br /></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNoSpacing">Oh, and it only took me about 45 minutes to look up the data on the Census Bureau web page, save the file as an Excel document and do the quick and dirty analysis. So "not having enough time" doesn't work as an excuse.<br /></p>Dan Kubiskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07086540629959611188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505087363972665098.post-40856325603197612442010-02-17T13:05:00.001-05:002010-02-17T13:05:55.519-05:00The world's best firefighters to come to Mason/Fairfax co.<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><font face='arial'>Fairfax County will host the <a href='http://www.2015wpfg.org/' target='_blank'>2015 World Police & Fire Games</a>. The games will run from June 26 to July 5.<br/><br/>That's a pretty cool deal and some of the games will take place at George Mason.<br/><br/><b>So j-students at GMU...</b><br/></font><br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=1aa6e867-c6f4-8b72-97e8-d1542c3c760d' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Dan Kubiskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07086540629959611188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505087363972665098.post-39432549834337427752010-02-11T02:46:00.001-05:002010-02-11T02:46:12.747-05:00Making sure we get the terms right.<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Ran across an article in Foreign Policy about what it means to be an "al Qaeda affiliate." I talk about it a bit on my global journalism blog (<a href='http://worldjournalism.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/what-does-al-qaeda-affiliate-mean/' target='_blank'>What does “al Qaeda affiliate” mean?</a>).<br/><br/>But here I want to talk about making sure our students and colleagues use the right words to describe an event or action.<br/><br/>I was really upset with the way the U.S. media covered the Sean Goldman kidnapping case and subsequent return of 9-year old Sean to his father and the United States.<br/><br/>To read about the case in the American newspapers this case was a "custody" battle. And maybe in one sense it was but it was not "Kramer v. Kramer." The custody issue was settled long ago by a New Jersey court. The child was to live with his biological father.<br/><br/>This was a kidnapping case.<br/><br/>The mother left the country with her son under false pretenses. Divorced her husband and denied him access to his son.<br/><br/>David Goldman fought for visitation rights while the biological mother was alive. He also filed kidnapping charges against the mother under the Hague Convention. <br/><br/>Upon the mother's death, David filed for and won custody of the child in New Jersey. <br/><br/>The whole issue was one of returning a kidnapped child to his legal parent. There was no legal issue of custody. (Other than the "possession is 90 percent of the law" mentality that the Brazilian family had.)<br/><br/>Using the right words to describe events clarifies those events. It takes a little more effort to make sure the writing is done right but without that effort we are shortchanging our readers/viewers/listeners.<br/><br/>And ourselves and our profession.<br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=7dee2869-392b-8de8-bd48-6bead56eaa9f' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Dan Kubiskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07086540629959611188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505087363972665098.post-37889760200055882492010-02-01T16:19:00.001-05:002010-02-01T16:19:19.996-05:00Student abroad safety information release<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>The State Department issued a release providing some good information about student abroad issues.<br/><br/>It is a good start for a story about the ins and outs of overseas travel.<br/><h2><a href='http://blogs.spjnetwork.org/ijc/?p=885' target='_blank'>Safety Information for American Students Traveling Abroad</a></h2><br/><br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=b0bf1ab1-5721-8b4f-a718-5d190bb610d8' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Dan Kubiskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07086540629959611188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505087363972665098.post-42311133954491245002010-01-28T00:45:00.001-05:002010-01-28T00:45:46.454-05:00Number of people who work at home rises. Think journalism<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><font face='arial'>Once again my favorite data source, the <a href='http://www.census.gov' target='_blank'>U.S. Census Bureau</a>, comes through with some interesting information for an article.<br/><br/>This time <a href='http://groups.poynter.org/members/?id=3019676' target='_blank'>Joe Grimm</a> at the Poynter Institute talks about "<a href='http://www.snopes.com/computer/internet/unnamed.asp' target='_blank'>homepreneurs</a>" in his "<a href='http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=77' target='_blank'>Ask the recruiter</a>" column.<br/><br/>This column is good on a couple of levels.<br/></font><ol><li><font face='arial'>It shows what is happening to a lot of people -- including journalists -- who have been affected by the recession, and</font></li><li><font face='arial'>It shows that you can work out a good article using data from the U.S. Census.</font></li></ol><font face='arial'><br/></font><br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=5722b0ce-af75-8463-944c-562b86b4bc6c' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Dan Kubiskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07086540629959611188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505087363972665098.post-10494673428863172322010-01-26T17:39:00.001-05:002010-01-26T17:39:45.460-05:00Prepare for Black History Month: Background data on African-American population<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><font face='arial'>One of my favorite places to get solid data on population groups, the economy, and loads of other things is the <a href='http://www.census.gov' target='_blank'>U.S. Census Bureau</a><br/><br/>The Census Bureau collects packets of information for special holidays or observances. <br/><br/>Click <a href='http://www.spjdc.org/node/13601' target='_blank'>here </a>to see the data on the African-American population in the United States.<br/><br/>For example, here is the data on African-Americans and education:<br/></font><blockquote><font face='arial'/><b><font face='arial'>83%</font></b><br/><font face='arial'>Among blacks 25 and older, the proportion who had at least a high school diploma in 2008.</font><br/><font face='arial'>Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2008 <a href='http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/013618.html' target='_blank'>http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/013618.html</a></font><br/><br/><b><font face='arial'>20%</font></b><br/><font face='arial'>Percentage of blacks 25 and older who had a bachelor's degree or higher in 2008.</font><br/><font face='arial'>Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2008 <a href='http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/013618.html' target='_blank'>http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/013618.html</a></font><br/><br/><b><font face='arial'>1.4 million</font></b><br/><font face='arial'>Among blacks 25 and older, the number who had an advanced degree in 2008 (e.g., master's, doctorate, medical or law). In 1998, 857,000 blacks had this level of education.</font><br/><font face='arial'>Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2008 <a href='http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/013618.html' target='_blank'>http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/013618.html</a></font><br/><br/><b><font face='arial'>2.5 million</font></b><br/><font face='arial'>Number of black college students in fall 2008. This was roughly double the corresponding number from 15 years earlier.</font><br/><font face='arial'>Source: School Enrollment – Social and Economic Characteristics of Students: October 2008 <a href='http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/014354.html' target='_blank'>http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/014354.html</a></font><br/></blockquote><br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=4a76f14a-0572-875f-b9b7-09e4743a8977' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Dan Kubiskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07086540629959611188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505087363972665098.post-62982035905688474242010-01-22T07:19:00.001-05:002010-01-22T07:19:45.189-05:001985 Mexico City quake led to better SAR<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Throughout the Haiti rescue efforts mentions are made of search and rescue teams from Fairfax Co., Los Angeles, Florida, etc. These are volunteers who receive special training and are self-contained SAR units.<br/><br/>And it all started when the ad-hoc SAR efforts in Mexico City in 1985 proved dangerous.<br/><br/>I know the 1985 process was dangerous and ad-hoc because I was there. I worked with dog search teams from around the USA, an underground camera team from the US Bureau of Mines and a seismic sensor team from USGS.<br/><br/>The Mexico earthquake was the first time any of these teams worked in an urban disaster environment. And with no training for any of us in an urban disaster situation, we went out to save lives.<br/><br/>Along the way, because so much help was coming in and Mexican coordination of efforts was weak at best, I was able to identify an Israeli medical team and a Venezuelan construction team. In the end we had a comprehensive unit of dogs, technology experts, 8excavation workers and a medical unit.<br/><br/>The video below from Fairfax County makes it clear it was the Mexico disaster that showed the need for comprehensive SAR teams ready to go at a moments notice.<br/><br/>And I am sure the survivors in Haiti are thankful that the lessons learned in Mexico are being applied now. <br/><br/>II have to think that many of the people who are critical of the SAR and relief efforts in Haiti really don't understand what happens to a place that has always had poor infrastructure and communications gets hit with a major <br/><br/><div class='youtube-video'><object width='425' height='344'><param value='http://www.youtube.com/v/fA4f4UvhIu8&hl=en_US&fs=1&' name='movie'> </param><param value='true' name='allowFullScreen'> </param><param value='always' name='allowscriptaccess'> </param><embed width='425' height='344' allowfullscreen='true' allowscriptaccess='always' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://www.youtube.com/v/fA4f4UvhIu8&hl=en_US&fs=1&'> </embed> </object></div><br/>For journalists in the DC area, the members of the Fairfax SAR team are prime candidates for profile stories.<br/><br/>For journalists elsewhere, look around. I will bet there is a similar outfit in your area.<br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=a75eef6f-a29e-8c15-ba93-0db4e2438045' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Dan Kubiskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07086540629959611188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505087363972665098.post-54371617274937075472010-01-21T14:16:00.002-05:002010-01-21T14:23:06.344-05:00Medill students, the Census and immigrant communities<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><big><span style="font-family:arial;">Now these guys get it! These kids delivered -- for me -- the journalism equivalent of a Reese's Cup: two great tastes in one wonderful package.<br /><br />I don't know how long I have argued that the immigrant communities are important elements of any community reporting.<br /><br />And how long have I argued that the Census Bureau is a wonderful treasure-trove of story ideas? A long long time!<br /><br /><big><b><a href="http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/medill-ethnic-papers-census-story-journalism/Content?oid=1337174" target="_blank">Six Stories About the Census: How Medill students and local ethnic papers came together to find a common immigrant experience</a></b></big><br /><br />These students looked at different ethnic communities and how they view and react to the decennial census.<br /></span></big><blockquote><big><span style="font-family:arial;"><b>From the six papers:</b><br />Jessica Abels, Raphaelle Neyton, and Shasha Zou in al Moustaqbil ("The Future"): "When Arab Americans fill out their census forms in just a few months, they won't find an Arab category listed next to Asian, Black or African American, or White. 'Arab is not considered a race, so there's no racial category,' explains Louise Cainkar, a board member of the Arab American Action Network. 'They have to check the white box, and a lot of people feel that their experience is not the white experience, so that's unfair.'"<br /><br />Kate Endeley and Clara Lingle in the Korea Central Daily News: "Han and Kim cite many reasons why Koreans who are not U.S. citizens opt out of participating: they are undocumented and therefore fear the legal repercussions; they struggle with English (the 2000 census forms did not come in a Korean version); they find the participation process too tedious or they are unaware of the census itself."<br /><br />Zoe Jennings in Pinoy: "Many Filipinos may not understand the importance of the count because in the Philippines, there is no census equivalent and they had never been counted. In providing the government with their name and family information, Clarito says, many Filipinos fear that the government is keeping tabs on them, or at the very least, will demand they perform jury duty or another civic duty."<br /><br />Jessica Allen in the India Tribune: "Kamaria said many people don't know why the census matters, and that in general it needs to be better explained. Even she expressed uncertainty about how the census would affect illegal immigrants who choose to fill out the forms and whether illegal immigrants or students are even supposed to fill it out."<br /><br />Matthew Bellassai and Alex Hollander in Extra: "Although the Census is separate from the rest of the government, people tend to associate the two. 'It's all "the government" as far as anyone's concerned,' Espinoza said. '"The government wants to charge me more taxes, the government wants to get me arrested for immigration purposes." There's no distinction there,' he said. Many people in the community tend to agree."<br /><br />Arianna Hermosillo and Nadine Shabeeb in the Polish Daily News: "Another barrier to filling out the census form is that people may not even recognize it when it arrives in the mail, according to Zajaczowska. 'We will have to teach them that the Census 2010 means "Spis Powszechny,"' Zajaczowska said. This literally translates to 'common list' which is what the census is called in Poland."</span></big></blockquote><big><span style="font-family:arial;">While the theme of this exercise did not look at what can be done with Census Bureau data, the very fact that these students looked at the Census and the ethnic communities tells me they have a lot more on the ball than many of their more jaded and less imaginative journalism cronies.<br /></span></big><br /><br /><div class="zemanta-pixie"><img src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=32337d6f-946c-8793-804d-ea9b892f181f" alt="" class="zemanta-pixie-img" /></div></div>Dan Kubiskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07086540629959611188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505087363972665098.post-43670073352017448672010-01-21T00:35:00.002-05:002010-01-21T00:42:18.723-05:00Journalism awards time -- Deadline fast approaching for college awards<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.spj.org/headers/hh-a-moe.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 106px;" src="http://www.spj.org/headers/hh-a-moe.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Each year the SPJ honors the best of college journalism with the Mark of Excellence Awards.<br /><br />The first step to national honors is to enter.<br /><br />From there the entries are judged on a regional basis. (Mason is in Region 2.) And then on to the big time.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mark of Excellence Awards Deadline: Wednesday, Jan. 27.</span><br />The <a href="http://www.spj.org/a-moe.asp">general rules </a>and <a href="http://www.spj.org/moe-categories.asp">awards category</a> information may be found on the MOE Awards Web page. The cost to enter is $9 per entry for SPJ members and $18 per entry for nonmembers.<br /><br /><a href="http://awards.spj.org/">Online entry form</a>.Dan Kubiskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07086540629959611188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505087363972665098.post-75340916448162362352010-01-18T12:40:00.002-05:002010-01-18T13:00:06.879-05:00What to do after graduation -- It may not be what you think it isLet's face it, the job market sucks for journalists right now. And it looks like it will continue to suck for several more years.<br /><br />So what is a bright young graduate supposed to do? Because face it, the whole job market really sucks right now.<br /><br />There are ways to get someone to train and pay you to become much more marketable. You just have to know where to look.<br /><br />For my money nothing is better for a just-graduated journalism student than to join the <a href="http://www.peacecorps.gov/">Peace Corps</a>. (And I have recommended this to all of my journalism classes.)<br /><br />I met with dozens of Peace Corps volunteers during my time in the Dominican Republic. (And it seemed at times that they all stayed in our house -- all at the same time -- more than once.)<br /><br />The volunteers came from many different walks of life and experiences. What they had in common was curiosity about other cultures and a desire to do good.<br /><br />They hardly lived the "good life." Housing was adequate. (One volunteer had a beautiful house on a hill top overlooking one of the most beautiful lush valleys I have ever seen. And the house was only a short walk to the community toilet and community well.)<br /><br />What they all did have, was the respect of the local Dominicans and, as the projects ended, the satisfaction that they had helped another group of people climb their way out of poverty and hunger.<br /><br />Besides the feeling of satisfaction for a job well done, what else did the volunteers get?<br /><ul><li>Most had their student loans deferred while they were in the Peace Corps</li><li>They learned another language.</li><li>They learned management and organizational skills</li><li>They learned how financial and social conditions affect individuals and communities</li><li>They learned how to better listen and react to the needs of local communities</li></ul>And they grew up faster and became more mature than if they had stayed at home and found a 9-5 job.<br /><br />Go to this page to see the official list of <a href="http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.whyvol">benefits a Peace Corps volunteer gets</a>.<br /><br />Why do I recommend the Peace Corps?<br /><ul><li>It gives a graduate a different experience.</li><li>It broadens his/her perspectives about the world.</li><li>It helps the person better understand what people "not like them" have to go through to survive.</li><li>It makes a person more "hireable" because of that global exposure.</li></ul>When mangers are hiring they look for more than academic credentials. They also look at a person's character. (Unless they are hiring lawyers or ad execs. Character is not a requirement there. :)) The Peace Corps helps a candidate stand out from the pack.<br /><br />And it gives the graduate a chance to look around and take a break from the work of education before he/she moves on to the work of working everyday.<br /><qtlend></qtlend><qtlbar id="qtlbar" dir="ltr" style="padding: 0pt; display: inline; text-align: left; line-height: 100%; background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); -moz-border-radius-topleft: 3px; -moz-border-radius-topright: 3px; -moz-border-radius-bottomright: 3px; -moz-border-radius-bottomleft: 3px; cursor: pointer; z-index: 999; left: 3px; top: 846px;"><img class="qtl" title="Copy selction" src="http://www.qtl.co.il/img/copy.png" /><iframe id="qtlframe" src="" style="border: 1px solid rgb(236, 236, 236); display: none; background-color: white;"></iframe></qtlbar>Dan Kubiskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07086540629959611188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505087363972665098.post-25102460543260253632010-01-15T07:22:00.001-05:002010-01-15T07:22:46.724-05:00Charting body parts and songs<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>One important thing about good reporting is being able to properly explain things. Sometimes a reporter needs good art.<br/><a href='http://www.fleshmap.com/listen/music.html' target='_blank'><img width='141' height='141' src='http://www.fleshmap.com/listen/music_files/hip_hop.jpg' style='max-width: 800px; float: left; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px;'/></a><br/>So if you are doing a story about what body parts are most frequently mentioned in songs, you might want to visit <a href='http://www.fleshmap.com/listen/music.html' target='_blank'>this web site</a>. (I thought that would get your attention.)<br/><br/>Bottom line, good visuals help tell a story.<br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=a49e7228-2775-8044-937c-0d2520a772e3' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Dan Kubiskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07086540629959611188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505087363972665098.post-66545232799210328192010-01-07T00:07:00.002-05:002010-01-07T00:16:28.119-05:00Odd connections that can make an interesting story<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">From the "Honestly, honey, I was just doing some online research" Department.<br /><br />I get a regular news feed from the Reuters "<a href="http://www.reuters.com/news/oddlyEnough" target="_blank">Oddly Enough</a>" section. It's usually good for a laugh to read about how the South African president is having <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6054F120100106" target="_blank">wives problems</a> -- will they have "first lady status -- or how French police are investigating reports of a <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6054FG20100106" target="_blank">pickpocket </a>on a Tokyo-Paris Air France flight.<br /><br />One story that really caught my eye this week -- and one that might be fun to investigate to see if a similar trend is happing now in the States -- is <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6054F820100106?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FoddlyEnoughNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Oddly+Enough%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher" target="_blank">Snowed-In Brits boost adultery website.</a></b><br /><br />Seems IllcitEncounters.com gained more than 2,500 new members in just one week this month. Most from areas hardest hit by the extreme weather in the United Kingdom.<br /><blockquote>"In light of these figures, I'd be interested to see how much work those 'working from home' have actually done," IlicitEncounters.com spokeswoman Sara Hartley said in a statement.<br /><br />"Perhaps these wives and husbands have just been waiting for a time when they could join, away from the eyes of their work colleagues and, most importantly, their partners..."</blockquote>I have always argued before my students that story ideas can come from anywhere. All a journalist needs is curiosity and a creative mind. And, in a time of massive layoffs in our industry, a journalist who can write compelling and interesting stories has a better chance of surviving than the one who writes well but only follows the standard beats.<br /><br />So, anyone up for looking to see how similar U.S.-based porn sites are doing during this nasty January?<br /><br />Honestly, it is all for story research!<br /><br /><div class="zemanta-pixie"><img src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=4786c6b0-c42b-8019-8274-ab31d3c11d1d" alt="" class="zemanta-pixie-img" /></div></div>Dan Kubiskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07086540629959611188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505087363972665098.post-57686060193029551152009-12-23T03:39:00.001-05:002009-12-23T03:40:57.686-05:0010 Reasons Santa is Like Your Professor<p>This has nothing to do with journalism but rather with perspectives of professors. Thanks to my bud in Hong Kong Nury Vittachi for this.<br /></p><p style="font-weight: bold;">10 Reasons Santa is Like Your Professor</p> <p>1) He has shaggy hair. </p> <p>2) He has a beard. </p> <p>3) He wears unfashionable clothes which make him look ridiculous. </p> <p>4) He is fat. </p> <p>5) You are expected to write to him, but he never writes back. </p> <p>6) You can give him a list of things you want, but you have almost no chance of getting anything on it. </p> <p>7) He lives in his own world, which seems entirely unconnected to real life. </p> <p>8) He does around one day of actual work every year. </p> <p>9) He is surrounded by practical people who do stuff that needs to be done on his behalf. </p> 10) He seems to be several centuries out of date.Dan Kubiskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07086540629959611188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505087363972665098.post-34703000059361007472009-12-22T02:45:00.002-05:002009-12-22T02:48:43.184-05:00Looking for that local angle: Macy's and Rwanda<span style="font-family: arial;">CBS News did a great story about how baskets woven by women in Rwanda are being sold in Macy's. The sales are allowing these women to rebuild their lives and their country after the brutal genocide of 10 years ago.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Discussion of local story ideas from the CBS story is at</span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://worldjournalism.wordpress.com/2009/12/22/local-global-macys-and-rwanda-women/"> Journalism, Journalists and the World</a><span style="font-family: arial;">. (Sorry, just had to plug my blog.)</span>Dan Kubiskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07086540629959611188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505087363972665098.post-12121245457135133032009-12-07T07:30:00.006-05:002009-12-07T08:12:42.932-05:00Story Idea: Want a globalization link? Look at the plug<span style="font-family:arial;">Living overseas for the past 25 years has made me look carefully to be sure an item I buy in the States will work in another country. And vice-versa.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The cosmetic issue is the </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://electricaloutlet.org/">plug size and shape</a><span style="font-family:arial;">. </span><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://electricaloutlet.org/styles/images/electrical-outlets/type_f_large.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 106px; height: 76px;" src="http://electricaloutlet.org/styles/images/electrical-outlets/type_f_large.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">They come in a wide variety</span><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://electricaloutlet.org/styles/images/electrical-outlets/type_i_large.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 124px; height: 89px;" src="http://electricaloutlet.org/styles/images/electrical-outlets/type_i_large.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> but adapters are available for all.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The real issue is the voltage.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The U.S. system is 110-120 volts. Europe and many other countries use 220-240 volts. Plugging a U.S. item into a European power line can fry the device. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">That is why converters</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> were invented. And I have a large collection of converters from my 30 years of travel.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">But in the last few years just about every electrical device I have purchased has been 100-240 volts. That means all I have to do is w</span><span style="font-family:arial;">orry about is making sure the plug fits. And adapters are cheaper than converters.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_awd8Nu4lWhQ/Sxz7y-QGsRI/AAAAAAAAAuM/-jh7JXxCDnI/s1600-h/Voltage.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 67px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_awd8Nu4lWhQ/Sxz7y-QGsRI/AAAAAAAAAuM/-jh7JXxCDnI/s320/Voltage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412477705315070226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">How does all this relate to globalization?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Manufacturers are no longer building electrical products for </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >JUST </span><span style="font-family:arial;">the U.S. or European or Asian ma</span><span style="font-family:arial;">rkets. They are making their products easily available to the rest of the world.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">A laptop purchases at Best Buy in Fairfax, Va., with a plug adapter can draw power from the grid in China, France or Brazil with ease. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Trust me, even 5 years ago that was not such an easy thing to assume.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">And many manufacturers are now including adapter plugs with the unit. So no need to go out and buy one.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">So if journalists are looking for a link between their individual lives and the rest of the world, look no further than the power ratings on the back of your computer and look at the plug.<br /><br />Story ideas could include:<br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-family:arial;">What is safer, 110 or 220 volts?</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Why does the US use 110 volts?</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">How this 100-240 volt availability makes travel and business easier.</span></li></ul><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />And your idea?<br /><br /></span>Dan Kubiskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07086540629959611188noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505087363972665098.post-62698214086561485992009-11-19T11:12:00.001-05:002009-11-19T11:12:53.167-05:00More data on a trend we already know about<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div align='center'><div align='left'>One point sticks out in this reprot form the Census Bureau: <big><font face='arial'>"Those who were least likely to own a computer in 2005 were the elderly, those in poverty and those without a high school diploma."<br/><br/>This is an important point to understand as more government entities move to providing services online. So please tell me, how do these groups participate in the government?<br/></font></big><br/></div><a href='http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/extended-05.html' target='_blank'><big><font face='arial'><big><b>Homes With Cell Phones Nearly Double in First Half of Decade</b></big></font></big></a><br/></div><big><font face='arial'><br/> The number of households with cell phones increased from 36 percent to 71 percent between 1998 and 2005, according to new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau. This corresponded with a decrease in households with telephone landlines, particularly households headed by young adults.<br/><br/> These figures are part of an in-depth look at the living standards of U.S. households using extended measures of well-being. The data were collected in 2005 as part of the ongoing Survey of Income and Program Participation. The survey is unique because it allows the user to track select quality of life measures over time using a variety of demographic characteristics.<br/><br/> "While income is generally regarded as the best single measure of one's living standard, it doesn't give us the whole picture," said Tiffany Julian, an analyst in the Census Bureau's Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division. "This survey is unique in that it includes additional measures of well-being that give us a broader look at household living conditions."<br/><br/> <b>Householders who were 29 or younger went from 35 percent with cell phones in 1998 to 81 percent in 2005. Over the same period, this same group saw a decrease in ownership of landline phones from 93 percent to 71 percent.<br/></b><br/> Landline phone ownership fell from 96 percent to 91 percent overall from 1998 to 2005. In 2005, 98 percent of householders who were 65 and over had a landline telephone.<br/><br/> The number of households with a personal computer increased from 42 percent to 67 percent between 1998 and 2005. <b>Those who were least likely to own a computer in 2005 were the elderly, those in poverty and those without a high school diploma.</b><br/><br/> Among the indicators in this survey that measure quality of life are possession of appliances and electronic goods, housing conditions, neighborhood conditions, public services and the ability to meet basic needs, such as paying bills, avoiding foreclosure and having sufficient food.<br/><br/> Some of the household characteristics in this survey include race, Hispanic origin, age, income, poverty status and type (e.g., family, nonfamily, married, nonmarried, etc.).<br/><br/> To determine who is in poverty, the Census Bureau uses a set of income thresholds that vary by family size and composition.<br/><br/> <b>Other statistics:</b><br/></font></big><ul><li><big><font face='arial'>In 2005, 92 percent of householders felt their neighborhoods were safe; 96 percent were satisfied with public services such as fire and police protection.</font></big></li><li><big><font face='arial'>Eighty-six percent of households reported being able to keep up-to-date on overall essential expenses.</font></big></li><li><big><font face='arial'>Households that paid either rent or a mortgage were generally up to date on their payments -- 94 percent.</font></big></li><li><big><font face='arial'>Ninety percent of households responded that they were able to pay their utility bills.</font></big></li><li><big><font face='arial'>Households in poverty were more likely to have trouble paying bills; 35 percent had unmet bills.</font></big></li><li><big><font face='arial'>Among all households, 96 percent reported having a microwave oven.</font></big></li><li><big><font face='arial'>Ninety-five percent of households said they had no roof or ceiling leaks; 97 percent reported no broken windows.</font></big></li></ul><big><font face='arial'><br/></font></big><br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=871f76c1-00d4-8b02-8708-4ce3f5499bc7' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Dan Kubiskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07086540629959611188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505087363972665098.post-39978378602095730752009-11-18T12:40:00.001-05:002009-11-18T12:40:24.084-05:00Threatened in Iran, coverage continues from Toronto<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><big>Students might be interested to know what they are getting into if they go into overseas reporting.<br/><br/>Thanks to <a href='http://www.poynter.org/profile/profile.asp?user=1305' target='_blank'>Jim Romenesko</a> at the <a href='http://www.poynter.org' target='_blank'>Poynter Institute</a> for a great story about the professional and personal anguish reporters trying to cover Iran have had to go through.<br/><br/><b><a href='http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/726527' target='_blank'>Canada is becoming a safe haven for the world's exiled journalists</a></b></big><br/><i><big><br/></big></i><br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=daccdb1a-e1d2-8193-960d-b48847f42b3c' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Dan Kubiskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07086540629959611188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505087363972665098.post-16610624334867220912009-11-18T07:19:00.001-05:002009-11-18T07:19:34.501-05:00Find a story in international data<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><big>Transparency International just came out with the 2009 Corruption Index.<br/><br/>Now where, might you ask is there a story for student journalists in that?<br/><br/>Let's start with just the international community at a college campus. What are the reactions of the students from Country X about the ranking their home country got? What is their own perception of corruption in their country AND in the USA? What do they think should be done about the problem of corruption? What do they think are the main effects of corruption on their countries?<br/><br/>From there, start talking to professors from other lands. Professors who are studying the most corrupt countries on the list. Get them to talk about the hows and whys of the problem.<br/><br/>Boom! A local campus story with an international angle.<br/><br/>Now step outside the campus and talk to the local immigrant communities. Ask them the same questions you asked the foreign students. <br/><br/>Boom! Another local story with an international angle.<br/><br/>Go to <a href='http://worldjournalism.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/new-corruption-index-out-loads-of-great-story-ideas-here/' target='_blank'>New corruption index out</a> for more discussion on this issue and a batch of links.<br/><br/></big><br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=a4b19588-c60f-8f02-925a-7a837b85f497' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Dan Kubiskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07086540629959611188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505087363972665098.post-46201803817249039732009-11-01T12:17:00.001-05:002009-11-01T12:17:36.912-05:00Racism and progress<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>One big issue in the world is racism and how to fight it.<br/><br/>I was amazed at the racism in the Dominican Republic. And I have known for some time the feelings of racial superiority by the Chinese. I saw how Shanghainese treated African exchange students. (Very humiliating.) <br/><br/>For Americans who have not had the overseas experience, this story (<a href='http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/01/lou-jing-chinese-talent-show' target='_blank'><b>China's black pop idol exposes her nation's racism</b></a>) and others like it could provide a good measure about racism and discrimination in our own country. We could look at how and why changes have occurred in the States. (After all it never hurts to challenge opinions and conventional wisdom.)<br/><br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=8b66f224-2319-8b64-8ab5-7e08122f429d' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Dan Kubiskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07086540629959611188noreply@blogger.com0