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Media ethics

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By Donna Baeck All four code of ethics for journalists are crucial for reporting. If I were teaching a crash course on media ethics for sixth graders, I would focus on seeking the truth and acting independently. I would teach my students they should be wary about what is on the Internet as they gather information and material for academic purposes or their own personal consumption. When it comes down to "seeking the truth" my students should understand reliable news outlets must take responsibility for the accuracy of their work. If a news outlet is being fishy about what sources were used in its reporting or unable to verify the statements being made, the information should NOT be used or trusted. I think this is important for my students to grasp because whether or not they are a reporter, they should learn to detect good and reliable sources before consuming the information as fact. Another major issue with many news outlets is that they do not act independently. I w
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Trump signs $484 billion aid bill for employers

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By Donna Baeck President Trump signed a $484 billion aid bill into law providing relief to employers and hospitals on Friday at the Oval Office, according to the Associated Press. The bill will provide additional funding for the small-business loan program, helping employers and business that had to close operations as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to grow. About 26 million people in the United States have filed for jobless aid over the past five weeks, according to the Associated Press. Trump said it was a "tremendous victory" from Congress to provide critical aid through the bill. NBC News reported the bill includes $320 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) which was created by the Cares Act that was passed last month. The program would provide forgivable loans to small businesses in order to keep their employees on payroll. The Associated Press reported the bill also includes $100 billion for hospitals and a nationwide testing program wh
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Maryland buys 500,000 masks from South Korea

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By Donna Baeck Gov. Larry Hogan announced on Monday at a news conference that he and his wife, Yumi, were able to negotiate with South Korean suppliers in order to buy 500,000 COVID-19 testing kits for Maryland, according to the Washington Post. The United States is facing a massive shortage in testing kits as the number of COVID-19 patients continue to rise. Hogan criticized President Trump's statement that states already had enough tests and began negotiations with South Korean officials to obtain testing kits, according to the New York Times. "We can't open up our states without ramping up testing," Mr. Hogan said. The New York Times reported Yumi Hogan, a Korean immigrant who speaks fluent Korean, communicated with two South Korean labs to sell Maryland the tests and secure the final deal. "Luckily we had a very strong relationship with Korea," Mr. Hogan said. "But is should not have been this difficult." On Saturday, a Korean air
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Protestors in state capitals fight against social distancing rules

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By Donna Baeck Protestors across several states gathered outside the homes of their governors and state capitals this week and demanded for the stay-at-home orders to be lifted, according to CNN. The social distancing measures put in place to combat the coronavirus has caused millions of Americans to file for unemployment. Protestors in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina and Utah voiced their concern for the economic fallout, CNN said. "A small segment of the state is protesting and that's their right," Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, told CNN. People are having a hard time staying at home and worried about paying the bills, Whitmer said. CNN reported protestors broke social distancing measures and risked their health by forming large crowds with hundreds of people. "The sad part is, though, that they more they're out and about, the more likely they are to spread COVID-19," Whitmer said, "and the more likely we'
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Feature story analysis

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By Donna Baeck The feature story I read was from the New York Times titled, "The Coronavirus in America: The Year Ahead." The writer goes in-depth on the predictions and reports from varying sources about the future of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. This article is timely, but it also addresses the questions many Americans may have about how long the pandemic will last, whether or not the death rates are accurate and if it really is safe for President Trump to open up the economy again soon. Overall, the writer hits some major points about the coronavirus discussion. The writer includes several helpful statistics and epidemiological models about the coronavirus death rate in the United States. A solution to the chaos depends on several factors which include widespread testing, enough resources for health care providers and an effective vaccine. The writer also mentions some encouraging pieces of information. Coronavirus curves are flattening, there ar
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High school senior asks Obama to deliver a virtual commencement address

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By Donna Baeck High school senior Lincoln Debenham tweeted former President Barack Obama on Tuesday asking to deliver a virtual commencement address to the graduating class of 2020, according to CNN. Debenham mentioned in his tweet that many graduation ceremonies across the country are unable to be held in-person due to the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing. He suggested President Obama to deliver a virtual commencement address to replace the canceled graduation ceremonies, according to ABC News. "Like most high school/college seniors, I'm saddened by the loss of milestone events, prom & graduation. In an unprecedented time, it would give us great comfort to hear your voice. We ask you to consider giving a national commencement speech to the class of 2020," Debenham said in his tweet. CNN reported Debenham is a senior at Eagle Rock High School in Los Angeles, California. He got the idea to tweet Obama after he publicly endorsed former Vice President Joe
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Bias Analysis

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By Donna Baeck The article I analyzed was from the New York Times titled, "Robbed at Gunpoint, Some Bronx Victims Resist". The writer discusses how people in the Bronx who were robbed at gunpoint often refused to give up the little cash they had in their pockets even though their lives were in danger. The writer's main point is that these people were taking a huge risk by refusing to give up their money with a gun pointed at them. He quotes a Bronx youth activist who says people in the area think they're stronger than they actually are and won't give up their few dollars. In the writer's point of view, it seems foolish for these people in the Bronx to think the few dollars in their pocket is worth more than their own life. He has a point when he argues this perspective, but he seems to be missing a big piece of the picture. A huge part of the population in the Bronx live in rough neighborhoods and are low-income. What may be just a couple of dol
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