EOTO 3

 

Earnie Pyle

Earnie Pyle was born 1900 in Dana Indiana, the only child of William Clyde Pyle and Maria Taylor. He grew up on an 80 acre farm, a shy and intelligent boy who wanted nothing to do with the soil beneath his boots. He carved something bigger. He carved stories. That restlessness would eventually take him to the bloodiest corners of the Second World War not as a soldier, but as something almost harder to be: a witness.

Pyle left Indiana University before graduating to take a reporting job at the Laporte Herald. From there he moved to the Washington Daily News, where he worked as a reporter, copy editor and pioneering aviation columnist before becoming managing editor. He eventually found his true calling as a traveling columnist for the Scripps Howard newspaper chain, writing human interest stories that connected with ordinary Americans because they were about ordinary people. he did not chase power or politics. He chased the human being behind the headline

When the Second World War broke out, Pyle felt compelled to do what few journalists were willing to do go to the front and stay there. He had served briefly in the Navy Reserve during the First World War, but his role in the Second was different. He embedded himself with the Infantry in the harshest theaters of war. North Africa, Italy, France, and Normandy Beach. He did not report on generals and strategy. He sat in the mud with the men who were doing the dying and wrote about what they felt, what they feared, and what they were fighting for. That kind of reporting required something beyond skill. It required Character.

The Recognition followed. Pyle won the Pulitzer Prize, the Raymond Clapper Award in 1944, and the Medal for Merit in 1945. but no award defining him was the trust of soldiers who let him tell their stories.

On April 18, 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa the bloodiest Engagement of the Pacific Theater Earnie Pyle was riding in a jeep with soldiers of the 77th Infantry Division when the Japanese machine gun fire struck the vehicle. He was killed Instantly. He was 44 years old.

In 1953, the Earnie Pyle Award was established in his honor, a fitting recognition for a man who had become the standard. His legacy is not complicated: he went where it was dangerous, he told the truth, and he never forgot that the story belonged to the soldier not to the reporter. Every war correspondent who picks up a pen should know that name and understand what it cost him to earn it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernie_Pyle

War Reporting

 War Reporting 

                            Modern day war reporting originally started during the Civil War, where journalists would go out and record the events of conflicts and events that are happening in war. During the civil war specifically there was a group who was born from that conflict called the bohemian brigade. Their origins came from a tavern, their name was given to them mainly because of their bohemian lifestyle, they usually roamed around reporting on battles such as Gettysburg, to the trenches of Petersburg. 

Before all of the technologies we have today, television, radios, cameras, and video, News was spread through technologies like the telegraph. developed by Samuel Morse in the 1830's it used morse code to deliver these messages through miles of underground connected wires from battlefield to news organizations. Railroads were also a pivotal tool and had been far more developed than the telegraph. 

During the Civil War, War reporters were in very high demand; the Bohemian brigade was known for their first hand reporting during the civil war. They brought a majority of news directly from the trenches, where even some reporters would unfortunately lose their lives attempting to get accurate news back  from many major battles to their outlets.  however a lot of their reports were known to be falsified and not always necessarily true. The Bohemian Brigade was known for creating fabricated tales from the frontlines and running with them leading many readers believing falsities and lies. They have records of telling half truths of casualties and battlefield results in order to make events seem less catastrophic.

Media coverage of the Gulf War

Today's War reporting looks a lot different from the 1860s. Take events like the gulf war 1990-1991. The Gulf War was the first 24/7 live televised war to be recorded. It streamed on CNN and was dominated by the company. Top reporters like Bernard Shaw, Peter Arnett, and John Holliman broadcast live from Baghdad Iraq during the war inside a news room. These reporters sometimes provided censored frontline imagery of the war.

                                   

EOTO 2

EOTO 2 Reflection

Bria Henrys Presentation on Ida B Wells, was nothing short of outstanding. When I was going to school in Portland Oregon I remember diving extensively into the topic of Ida B wells. Bria presented about her very confidently and informatively.

Bria began with talking about how Ida B wells was born into slavery in 1862 and she talked about her being orphaned at 14 years old and how she moved to Memphis and that is where she first started writing for black newspapers. she then went on to become the co-owner of Free Speech.

Bria then talk about certain events that rally impacted Wells negatively but it did not stop her determination. Wells had Persevered through her friend Thomas Moss being Lynched because his grocery store was competing with a white owned store. She found that the killing of black people in white communities were mainly for the trivial reason of economic success.

Bria then ends with an amazing quote from Wells, "The wat to right wrong is to turn the light of truth upon them".

https://highpointuniversity-my.sharepoint.com/:p:/g/personal/bhenry1_highpoint_edu/IQCNGZUuGG-qRqKafpBe6iR_AfHCFHJ3cPH-GBOG4NZmFb0?e=8lNghk

Shock And Awe Reflection

Shock and Awe Reflection

I feel that the 2017 film Shock and Awe serves as not only a reminder, but a historical document and a cautionary tale about the importance of independent journalism in a democratic society. The film tells the true story of Knight Rider and reporters Jonathan Landay, and Warren Strobel, who in the lead-up to the 2003 Iraq War questioned the Bush administration's claims about weapons of mass destruction when most mainstream media outlets simply echoed government talking points.

What makes this film particularly compelling to me is  how it explores the institutional failure within American journalism. while major outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post later apologized for their uncritical reporting during this period, "Shock and Awe" Illuminates why smaller news organizations unburdened by access to high level sources and the pressure to maintain those relationships were extremely better positioned to seek out truth. The Knight Ridder team's willingness to talk to mid level intelligence analysts and experts outside the inner circle of the administration yielded far more accurate information and gave a clear picture as to what was really happening compared to the orchestrated leaks the Washington reporters were providing.

In the film I had also recognized that it raised a plethora of uncomfortable and difficult questions about the specific relationship between power and the press. when Journalists become too embedded within the structures they're supposed to scrutinize, when access becomes currency, and when challenging official narratives risk losing sources, journalism fails its fundamental purpose. The reporters in this film demonstrate that skepticism not cynicism, but healthy skepticism should be journalism's typical posture toward all powerful institution's or organizations regardless of the part or popularity.

In my opinion what is particularly relevant today is the films examination of how fear and patriotism can be weaponized to silence dissent and critical inquiry. In the post 9/11 climate depicted, questioning the administration's case for war was often portrayed as unpatriotic or even treasonous. this pressure affected not just individual reporters but entire news organizations fearful of appearing "soft" on terrorism. The courage required to stand against this tide, to prioritize accuracy over access and truth over popularity, remains journalisms biggest challenge even today.

The film also illustrates the consequences when journalism fails. The Iraq War cost thousands of American lives, and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives, trillions of dollars, and destabilized an entire region with effects still in existence today. While journalists didn't cause the war, the media's failure to adequately challenge the administration's claims removed a crucial check on executive power. Democracy depends on an informed citizenry, and citizens can only be informed  when journalists do their jobs

What really resonates with me about "Shock and Awe" is its reminder that good journalism often comes from unglamorous, methodical work making phone calls, checking sources, asking follow up questions, and being willing to report findings that contradict prevailing narratives. the Knight Ridder reporters didn't have secret sources or dramatic revelations; they simply did basic reporting that others neglected.

In our current era of "fake news" accusations, partisan media, and social media echo chambers, this film's message feels urgently relevant. It reminds us that journalism's purpose isn't to comfort the comfortable or amplify the powerful, but to seek truth and hold power accountable. The film challenges both journalists and news consumers to demand better—to insist on evidence, question assumptions, and remember that access without accountability is just public relations.

This movie makes me think about being in our current era of fake news accusation, partisan media and social media echo chambers, this film's message feels urgently relevant. It reminds us that journalisms purpose isn't to comfort the comfortable or amplify the powerful, but to seek truth and hold power to the up most accountability. The movie challenges both journalists and news consumers to demand better-to insist on evidence, question assumptions, and remember that access without accountability is just public relations.

Reuters

 Reuters News Agency 

Reuters News Agency was founded in 1851 by a German born man named Paul Julius Reuter who founded a news agency in London with the intent of revolutionizing communication and news. Reuters began with the simple idea of bridging the gaps between European cities with carrier pigeons, delivering stock market prices faster than conventional transportation at the time. This commitment to speed would lay the foundation for one of the world's most trusted news organizations.

Reuters quickly evolved from carrier pigeons to the telegraph establishing itself as a primer source for financial and general news across Europe. The agency's breakthrough came through strategic partnerships with major news organizations; this created the first wire service model that distributed news stories to multiple outlets simultaneously. This innovation proved transformative, instead of the newspaper sending reporters to cover distant events they could subscribe to Reuters to get international news. By 1900 Reuters had correspondents stationed world wide from the battlefields of Crimea to the trading floors of Wall Street.

The agency's reputation was built on a fundamental principle that remains the organization's cornerstone today: Impartiality. Unlike other newspapers with political leanings, or government controlled media Reuters committed to reporting facts without bias the objectivity standard made Reuters valuable across the political spectrum and it established credibility that had transcended borders and ideologies. During both world wars Reuters provided crucial information that informed the public about unfolding events even as governments tried to control the flow of information. 

The 20th Century brought technological revolutions that Reuters consistently embraced. The agency pioneered the use of teleprinters, computers, and eventually digital networks to accelerate news delivery. In 1973 Reuters Launched Monitor, one of the first computerized financial data services, demonstrating its dual strength in financial and information data services. This show of diverse capability proved financially crucial, allowing Reuters to invest heavily in news gathering even as traditional media faced many challenges during his time.

                                             

Today Reuters remains extremely relevant through its media landscape. As misinformation spreads across social media and partisan outlets dominate cable news, Reuters commitments to factual unbiased news remains still today. The agency now operates in over 200 locations worldwide, employing thousands of journalists who adhere to strict editorial standards. Reuters stories now appear on newspapers websites and many online news sites, and it broadcasts globally often serving as the primary source for international news.

Reuters financial news division has come a long way since 1851 Paul Reuters' great great grandson Thomas Reuter is now responsible for this division of the agency. This department provides real time market data to traders and investors worldwide. Major news organizations rely on Reuters to receive accurate information, like the New York Times for example all the way to regional newspapers. This is however only the case when these papers cannot get the information independently. 

Reuters enduring relevance stems from its unwavering dedication to the principles of Paul Reuter Established in 1851 and it has continued to stand by these principles and stick to its values of unbiased and factual news. The way Reuters carries itself today it plans on continuing and upholding its values.

Five Star Final

Movie Reflection Five Star Final

The Story follows Joseph Randall, a news editor who is played by Edward G. Johnson is pushed by his publisher to uproot a 20 year old scandal involving a woman named Nancy Vorheese. Nancy had already paid her debt to society. She rebuilt her life from the ground up after the incident the way you are supposed to. She lived right and she was not hiding from the person she once was, She moved on. However that was not enough to protect her from the Gazette. The reporters run the story anyway chasing sales ratings and the Five Star Edition. This results in the very unfortunate act of Nancy and her husband taking their lives all because of the greed and selfishness of the reporters and the Gazette.

What really resonated with me when watching the movie, was that Randal himself typically was not a bad man in the film; he is grounded and has common sense. However he knows what he is doing is really out of line. You could even see it in the first scene of the movie, him washing his hands like he is trying to scrub something off that wont come clean. In the end he still continues to see it through and he keeps reporting. There is a willingness to do the right thing inside of randal I could see but what good is it if you do not put it to action. Randal had every quality except sticking up for the right thing when it mattered most.

Boris Karloff plays the character Isopod, a disgraced clergyman who pretends to play the role of a minister in order to get close with Nancy’s family in order to gather information for the story. I remember watching this and thinking to myself this is the ultimate lawsuit, and violation of privacy. It concerned me to think that a news organization today might pull these types of tactics in  order to get a good headline or a story. It made me think of how much negativity we see in the news today and that's what people thrive on. If there wasn't someone in jail, or beaten, or killed no one would turn on the news. As human beings in today's world. We are all about conflict, we are all about destruction and death. Look at what the media is doing with the Iran war for example. It is being twisted and turned into a massive cesspool of lies and truths and the American public doesn't know what to believe when looking at it anymore.

This movie really was ahead of its time in my opinion because in 1931 they did not plan on exposing a majority of the problems we see in today's world. Problems like media deformation. In the movie it led to the death of Nancy because her name was dragged through the mud again after she re-built it. News isn't what it used to be and I feel there is a need for a major internal look at our outlooks and sources. Because how long can the world tolerate lies for.

Me in 500 Words

 

Hailey Reed

October Fest Pumpkin Patch Tennessee

A Boy Who Would grow to do Great Things 

Throughout life people will always tell you that you cannot do it. you should go the easy route. 

They will try to discourage you by saying things will get too hard, or only a select few achieve that.

I grew up in not just a military household, but a Marine household. My father was a Liutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps, he flew CH-46 helicopters in almost every major conflict of the GWOT. from The First Gulf War, Iraq, Kuwait, boznia ,Afghanistan 2 times, and so on.

Growing up at an early age I always was exposed to excellence and have always strived for it. I was always inspired to help people who were not always able to help themselves. Most importantly I wanted everyone who said I couldnt do it to see my success. I wanted my cousins and family who are also aspiring to be great to see their cousin as an inspiration. Something that tewlls them they can do it. 

Ever since I was 7 years old I knew what I wanted and I had people in my life that would guide me and support me to getting to my goal. I decided that I wanted to become a United States Marine. Not just a Marine however, I wanted to become a Marine Aviator. I understood that this road I had set my mind on would be a very hard one to achieve, and not everyone can become a Marine, especially a pilot in the Marines. However I wnted it and I was willing to make it happen. 

When I got to High Point Univercity as a freshman I finally took action to achieve my dream. I joined the Marine Corps and after a 10 week course at Officer Candidate School in Quantico Virginia, I had earned those golden 2nd Lieutenant Bars and had earned my place as a Marine Officer. I had also achieved an aviation contract.

I looked up to my father and still do today mainly because of his acompolishments and the hard work he had put in in his life to get him where he is today. That admiration, respect, and his teachings and lessons he showed and gave me has allowed me to learn so much from them. The discipline they instilled and the love that my parents had for me have shaped me into the man I am now. 

This dreamwould follow me from my home city of  Kernersville North Carolina to Portland Oregon. This is where I joined an organization called Word is Bond. There I worked as an Organizational ambassador. 

I ran mission trips to Ghana Africa as I gained seniority through working in the organization.

I was incharge of a 12 man crew that went into Ghana to provide aid to local villages, meet with senators and congressmen to discuss potential partnerships. Now I am awaiting my life's next chapter