Media Law & Literacy

Search engines were born out of a need to find files in an easier way. Originally it was hard to locate files and there was WebCrawler which used keywords. Though this came with a lot of spam pages instead of reputable sources because people would load these pages with keywords to be the top-clicked files. In 1996, Google came along fixing the problem of finding reputable sources instead of these spam pages. Google was built using backlinks instead of keywords and this created search engine optimization. Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the quality and quantity of website traffic to a website or a web page from search engines, so this removes direct and paid website traffic. Google later made a deal with Apple making it the primary search engine on their devices. The creation of Google made file location easier but lead to digital amnesia. Since the information was easier to look up, people were more likely to forget or not hold onto information. Over time t...

War is a hot topic in today's society. Seems there is always one going on whether the average person is aware or not. There are multiple views and standpoints, and often conflicts are broadcasted on news channels and articles are written on news websites, but on a regular basis are we always getting each point of view?  When delving into websites like  AntiWar  and  The American Conservative  I noticed points of views regarding war and conflict I have never seen before. Considering one cannot hold their government accountable if the average American does not know about the conflicts we are then that cannot be possible. The United States has been in wars that have left countries in devastation and they have not been able to recover yet, politically or financially. War is something that should be considered carefully by all parties due to how it can greatly affect a country.  I think there are multiple reasons we do not hear voices like these. Websites such a...

The ballpoint pen was an innovative creation that stemmed from quills and ink, and the fountain pen exists now as a critical form of communication, self-expression, and modern business. The creation of the ballpoint pen coincides with the steady decrease in illiteracy.  In 1950, Bic Cristal was invented and became the first widely accessible pen and in today's world, most Americans can walk into any chain store like Staples, Office Depot, Target, or Walmart to purchase one. The ballpoint pen started at the hands of John L. Loud who patented the ball and socket mechanism. His goal was to have a versatile ink pen that could write on leather and wood as well as paper though his creation was too rough for paper.  In 1931, Hungarian-Argentine inventor Laszlo Biro and his brother, Gyorgy, used Loud's delivery system and repurposed oil-based news ink. Biro found fountain pens to be too leaky and the ink smudged too easily. When Gyorgy found a way to use the news ink it solved the slo...

Eight Values of Free Expression , are speech theories that represent the values of free speech in society.   Out of these eight values, I feel that value number 5 (Check on Government Power) is the most important, and in a close second place value number 3 (Stable Change). When it comes to checking the government’s power it’s fundamental to ensure as a society or even as an individual we feel our rights are being protected and not taken away from us. Staying informed and then speaking out when there has been an abuse of power ensures the stability of our democracy. In terms of Stable Change, I think it's important because it shows why the government is important and valuable. We as Americans have the freedom to speak as we please, and/or push for societal betterment, freedom, and inclusion though not all groups agree. When certain groups decide to go from verbal hateful speech to hateful actions, subsequent punishments are upheld. It is a responsibility of our government to use its...

The United States Supreme Court was established in 1789 and is the highest federal court and the head of the government's judicial branch. It is currently made up of nine justices who have the power to check the other two branches of government. To better understand my answers to these reflection questions, follow this link to an overview of the Supreme Court by the History Channel. What did you learn about the Supreme Court that you didn't already know? I learned that originally the Supreme Court started with six justices instead of nine and for some time the government was trying to figure out the right number to settle on.  What is the most important takeaway point about the Supreme Court? An important aspect of the supreme court often, is that it sets and holds the precedent for cases that the lower courts cannot settle, because of this they have covered some of the most important cases in history.  What was the most surprising thing you learned? I was surprised to find t...

When looking for local and global information about current events I always go through my phone, and occasionally my computer. I find these news outlets to be my most used and visited. Fox News I started off watching Fox growing up and it was the one, my family, would generally leave on the tv or use the most. I took the habit of using Fox with me as I aged whenever I wanted to get further information on something this was always my go-to because of its familiarity. Fox is one of the basic and more well-known outlets and I think when it comes to local news this is the best way to go. ABC News ABC is another news outlet I started watching with my family but this one I watched by myself more often. Watching a lot of shows on the ABC network I would catch the showing every so often and maybe decide to watch it. Now the same still applies if I decide to watch live tv or go looking for information, I feel it is one of my most pursued.  BBC News I enjoy this news outlet because it gives ...