Steroids

Steroids have commonly been known to be used by professional athletes and body builders; however, recently they have been becoming more common within today’s society.  More and more people are starting to abuse the drug, including high school students who participate in athletic activities.  According to one of the sources I found, the number of teenagers using steroids had increased alarmingly.  Within a few years, the numbers have rapidly risen.  Students believe it will make them strong and buff like professional athletes.  They also hope it will give them advantage of becoming college athletes.  The use of steroids have had many negative effects, physically and psychologically.  Some incidents have ended in death.  Recently, three states (Texas, Florida, and New Jersey) have started to require high school athletes to take tests for steroid use in hope of discouraging the use of the drug.

Google:

http://www.gdcada.org/statistics/steroids.htm This source gave general information about what steroids were and how they can potentially effect people who use them.  It explains the different uses of steroids and why people may want to use them.

http://www.gdcada.org/statistics/steroids/ppd.htm The second sources explains the actual effects of steroid use in both men and women.  Steroids not only have effects on a person physically, but also psychologically.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/2005-06-08-sports-weekly-steroids-report_x.htm This is an USA TODAY article about student athletes using steroids and the reasons for the use.  It also describes stories from parents whose teenagers have died from the use.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Student-Anabolic-Steroid-Statistics&id=243467  This website gives statistical information about students using steroids for athletic purposes.  Within a small amount of time, steroid use have gone up rapidily. 

Lexus Nexis Journal  Database:

http://www.lexisnexis.com:80/us/lnacademic/results/docview/docview.do?start=7&sort=RELEVANCE&format=GNBFI&risb=21_T5654881144 This is an article that was also in USA TODAY.  Within the article, it describes how some states are taking action in preventing students from using steroids.  However, in this article, it explains two different views of the use of steroids and testing.  It also give good statistical information.

http://www.lexisnexis.com/us/lnacademic/results/docview/docview.do?docLinkInd=true&risb=21_T5654704923&format=GNBFI&sort=RELEVANCE&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey=29_T5654704926&cisb=22_T5654704925&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=11063&docNo=4   In this article, from the St. Pete’s Time, it explains the testing methods and reasons behind the testing in Florida high schools. 

After reading the articles, I believe that Twitter is not journalism. It simply is a social networking website, similair to Facebook and MySpace. Although people may post current events because they are near the"action," I don't think this could be use a reliable source. They may give the wrong information, and regardless if they fix their mistakes later, it still can have a negative effects on many different levels. Many people are dependent on the media/journalism, so to base news off of a website that also reports what people are eating for lunch, may not be as reliable. Also, if information gets misconstrued, situations similair to the Hinderburg explosion -- in which the reporter indicated no one survived the explosion when, in fact, most had -- could happen again. People may also start creating "jokes" and putting up false information to confuse people. Twitter could potentially be used as a base to start a story. If the reporter chooses to research the information more, they could perhaps persue the story to see if it's in fact true. However, I don't believe that Twitter is currently more than a social website.

Assignment 2

The first site I checked out was slate.com.  This website is owned by The Washington Post Company.  It's an online news magazine that provides information on politics, news, and culture.  The layout of the website was clean-cut and organized.  Although there were advertisements, they did not dominate the page.  Instead, your immediate focus is on a picture that pertains to their "lead" story.  

The next website I viewed was aircongress.com.  This website claims to be "The Voice of Capitol Hill," however it seems that it is from a Conservative point of view.  It was started by  K. Daniel Glover.  This website has not had much added to it since September.  As far as layout, it's very plain and there were too many links all over that kind of made it confusing and intimidating.

Moveon.org:  This website is more opinionated then others.  It claims to be a site where anyone can come and give there views, however, it seems to be a more 'liberal-thinking' website.  Moveon.org is the website of the MoveOn PAC.  The members discuss their views and opinions.  The website it updated basically on a daily basis.  Their layout is pretty well done and organized.  It's simple and, therefore, easy to get around.  

The last website I looked at was nationalword.com.  This is a blog of one man about his political views.  Not much information was given about this website, but at the bottom it did have a disclaimer that he was using his "first amendment rights," which probably means it's all opinion.  The last blog posted was in November.  The layout of the site looks like an amateur made it, it's extremely simple and boring.

Michigan State University

http://jrn.msu.edu/modules.php?name=Pages&sp_id=171

Syracuse University

http://newhouse.syr.edu/

Oakland University

http://www2.oakland.edu/jrn/

University of Miami

http://www6.miami.edu/umbulletin/und/com/jou.htm

Central Michigan University

http://www.cmich.edu/Admissions/Academic_Programs/Communications/Broadcast_and_Cinematic_Arts.htm

I think to improve the Com website, there should be updated pictures of students and faculty and pictures of the labs, classroom, studio, etc.  Also, post videos of examples of work the students do.  But compared to many of the other websites I checked out, FSC's Com's website seemed pretty well organized.