Vice; Magazine, News, NSFW

Vice is one of my all time favorite publications; I subscribe to both their email news updates, but to their YouTube channel.

My favorite thing about Vice Mag is the freshness; there is always an interesting, new, up-to-date, accurate report. From sports to global politics, to fashion, Vice has it covered.

My first Vice video was about Fashion Week in Columbia; Vice does their own fashion week, but instead of focusing purely on the US, France, and Italy, they focus internationally, in places like Columbia, Tel Aviv, and Niger. In the Columbian video, they not only focus on the fashion, but the politics behind it.

For example, many people believe the stereotype that all people from Columbia and Latin America have nice curves and big booties. this isn't the case for 100% of the people, so by age 15, most girls in Columbia have had plastic surgery, either breast augmentations or butt implants.

Vice brings to light either delicate, or unknown topics, like the Cannibal Warlords of Liberia or the Kingdom of the Little People, an amusement park based entirely around little people. They highlight not only anything cool, interesting, funny or cute, but things that are graphic, hard to watch, and touching.

They also discus things people don't normally discus, thing's that wouldn't be considered polite dinner conversation. Using the tag NSFW (Not Safe For Work), they can publish articles which discuss XXX rated topics.

Vice makes sure to examine all aspects of their report; social, phycological, economic, everything.
They examine all angles, and shine light onto the deeper meaning behind issues.

For example, in Kingdom of the Little People, the reporter goes to the amusement park which is basically self-sufficiently run by little people from all over Asia. Many people don't think the park is appropriate and that it is a mockery of the little people, however, upon interviewing them, all the little people said that they love it in the Kingdom and that it is the only place they feel welcome.

Getting a deeper insider view into issues or places people may not be aware of is a great way to really show people the world we're living in.

MORE VICE VIDEOS HERE :) :) :)

IReport Assignment

1. Sign up for an account
2. Look around on the website and write a blog post telling us what you think about the site -- what you like, what you dislike, whether it is a good idea.

Signing up was difficult and the process itself seemed boring and cliché. However, I think iReport could be an amazing tool if utilized correctly.

As a college student, I often feel like I'm in a cocoon, surrounded by brick walls and lectures, where the affairs of the outside world don't concern me. The process of hunting out news and other information is hard; we may not know what to look for, or where even to start looking. If you don't know that there is a crisis in Russia, then you probably aren't going to want to look up Crimea's location or it's resources.

I think iReport has hope because it's almost like the Facebook of news, directed at teens in order to make news and journalism "hip". I think it's a swell idea, especially because people have been saying "Print is dying". Online journalism, and/or blogging, is one way to keep the printed word alive.

Although I find myself filled with hope about iReport, I must admit I was very confused by the whole page. It was too much little text, not enough explanation, or clear ways to save stories to your page. I would love more clarity, even a demo or a walk through, so I could better get my bearings.

I think, once mastered, iReport will soon become the next most popular social media site for teens to locate good, quality news and information.

Also, my personal favorite article :)
Enjoy!

Writing Exersize

Hunting Accident Escalates into Aggravated Assault (Albany, VT)

Conrad Masse, 76, of Craftsbury is one of two men investigated in a hunting related shooting accident in Albany Vermont, has been issued a citation to appear before the Orleans Supreme Court on the 28th of February to answer the charges of Aggravated Assault. 

In addition to his appearance in Court, Masse was also issued tickets by the Fish and Game wardens for shooting from the Road, Having a Loaded Rifle in his Vehicle, and Not Having Proper Display of Permits for the bear hounds he and his accomplice, Wayne Goff 58 of Wolcott, were in possession of.

The two men were hunting bear together, using radio telemetry and GPS to track their dogs who had been previously set on the bears scent. The two men drove down Urie Road in an attempt to head the bear off as it was forced to cross by the dogs.

Goff exited the car first, and positioned himself on the road where he could see if the bear was crossing, while Masse drove exactly 541 feet away and parked the car, also positioning himself where he could see the bear as soon as it emerged. Both men were facing each other, with a large gap between them to channel the bear.

When the bear did cross the road, it did so between the two men. Masse fired his Remington .30-.60 rifle about three times, one bullet striking the bear, one hitting a tree, and the final bullet penetrated Goff's stomach and became lodged in his pelvic area. 

Goff was rushed to North Country Hospital, and then was moved to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center for surgery and treatment. However, Goff was released and is reportedly in stable condition, but will give no comment at this time.

This investigation was the joint efforts of the Vermont State Police and game wardens from the Vermont Department of Fish & Game, which has been ongoing since October of last year, is finally coming to a close.

TV Website Assignment

The first TV Website I looked into was CBC News Canada, and I was very impressed with their website. They have ads located on the top of the page, and subtly throughout the site, which draws attention to the ads, but doesn't detract from the news. They also have a sidebar with links to specific regions and territories of Canada and their respective news. They have many videos, however they're all located halfway down the page in one small sidebar, which could be greatly improved. However they do update stories as more details are revealed, keeping their news current. The headings are bold and grasping, and the blurbs provide a nice hook, giving the critical information just like we learned but also tempting the reader for more. Although the highlights on the page are about Canadian news, at the bottom of the sight there is worldwide news stories, including the Sochi Olympics.
CBC News Canada

The second was Sky News Australia, one of the main sources of online news for Australia. Their page is grabbing, with a headlines bar at the top for breaking news, and a huge slideshow of all their most recent news stories. Next to the slideshow is a sidebar with links to their top stories and videos. And under that is their top watched/most important video clips, which is placed very clearly in the viewers sight. Then, the site goes through several subgenres, shall we call them, of news, from "World" to "Sports" and so on. There are sidebars for "Latest News" and "Most Popular", as well as links to their online Sky News merch shop and one that will bring you directly to sign up for their daily newsletter. This site if FULL of links and videos and their writing is crisp, clean, and to the point, albeit the site does have a flair for the dramatic. Overall, I was much more impressed with Sky News
Sky News AU

Shocking Death in Car Crash, Lyndonville VT

Minor Car Accident Turns Lethal in Downtown Lyndonville 

Tragedy struck Lyndonville VT this afternoon, as Annie Coulter, 82, lost control of her car and crashed into the front window of local eatery Central Restaurant, leading to the unexpected death of a patron.

Mrs. Coulter claims that she swerved to avoid a pedestrian heading south on Depot Street, and that her brakes failed before she could stop. Mrs. Coulter's car broke through the front window of the restaurant, injuring Mr. John Barker in the process.

Although Mr. Barker's injuries from the impact were not fatal, he was reported to have suffered multiple lacerations from the shattered glass.

Witnesses say that Barker approached the car with the intention of helping Mrs. Coulter out from the driver's seat, she had suffered minor lacerations and bruising, when he began complaining of pain in his chest, which ultimately lead him to collapse.

EMT quickly arrived at the Restaurant but were unfortunately too late to save Mr. Barker, who died from a heart attack at the scene.

John Barker, aged 59 from Concord VT, was known by friends, family, and the community as a kindhearted, loving man, remembered for his honorable service in the Middle East and as a member of his Neighborhood Watch Program.

Mrs. Coulter is expected to testify in court tomorrow about the events of the case, as Barker's family is attempting to sue her on the grounds of Vehicular Manslaughter.


Below is a link which highlights the death toll on average due to automotive accidents
List of Car-Related Deaths