Posts in Intern's Insight

• December 3, 2009

  Intern's Insight

  Show Producers  | 

  Good morning! Today is my last day as an intern with Happening Now at Fox News Network. It’s been a pleasure to have been given the opportunity to share my thoughts on breaking national news with all of you. I’ve learned a lot about the news industry, and our viewers over the past few months, and I am so fortunate to have had this experience! Having been on both sides of what’s being aired on the television screen, I can now appreciate both the process of producing what’s seen on our show and digesting the final product.

  As I share my final thoughts with you, I would have to say that the greatest lesson I’ve learned is that the process of staying informed and imparting information is quite a serious task; much more so that I thought initially. I believe now than ever that the news is a consumer product whose success relies heavily on the communication process between the viewer and network. Being an informed citizen is probably one of the foremost responsibilities and privileges that exist, and that being said, the information we gain and filter accordingly is something not to be taken lightly nor taken for granted.

  Once again, thank you for all of your comments and thoughts on my posts! Happy viewing & learning-

  -N

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• November 20, 2009

  Intern's Insight

  Show Producers  | 

  Image is everything…or at least, that’s what some would have you believe. It’s a sentiment that works especially well in politics! Take a moment and ask yourself:  “which presidents stand out as most memorable?” Probably those with a less than perfect public image, as those are the figures about which multi-million dollar movies are made and best-selling books are written!

  Of particular interest to me this week was President Obama’s trip to China. China, as you very well may know, is known for having particularly stringent censorship of information through various media outlets (internet, television, radio, etc). Obama, a president who captured the hearts of many Americans through his gregarious persona and accessibility, will always be known as an individual who won the 2008 presidential election partially because of his effective use of media. What was particularly intriguing during his trip abroad to China was how his demeanor, and thus persona, seemed to have changed over the course of his public appearances during the week. A more demure and subdued Obama emerged, seemingly at the request of Chinese leaders who wanted to avoid an instance of “Obamania,” and it should come at no surprise that everything being said by Obama on live television was moderated closely. In addition, no concessions to Obama’s popular “town hall” style of press conferences and appearances were made.

  To this end, I have a question for you, readers: Should an American president traveling abroad change his personal communication style to accommodate foreign preferences? Or should he continue to act in a manner to which he is accustomed to in the U.S.? The subject of whether an elected president should make concessions to local styles and governments is an interesting subject – let me know your thoughts after the jump!

  -N

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• November 6, 2009

  Intern's Insight

  Show Producers  | 

  Good afternoon all! Just a quick note from your favorite (sleep-deprived) intern! I wanted to let you know that I do try to read each of the responses to many of the posts on the “Happening Now” blog and appreciate every comment!

  One comment of particular interest to me was from a reader who stated that my questions regarding the case of Faleh  Almaleki (see “Intern’s Insight” on 10/23) were somewhat ridiculous in nature — for how could I question the notion of not being “American enough”?  I will acknowledge that the questions I posed regarding cultural identity may have seemed a bit out-landish, but by no means was I trying to justify criminal actions or question the legal consequences of such conduct. Instead, I was trying to encourage each of us to understand the thought process by which Almaleki was able to frame the thought process leading to his intent and action.

  I was once told that once you stop questioning the world around you, you stop learning — and who wants that?In short, one has everything to gain by questioning and nothing to lose. Once we become firmly entrentched in a certain mode of thought, we lose perpsective of what makes each of us different and none of us without fault. In fact,  sometimes the questions we ask can be more valuable than the answers recieved! With this in mind, I will continue asking questions in order to continue learning…and I hope you readers will do the same.

  -N

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• October 30, 2009

  Intern's Insight

  Show Producers  | 

  We’ve all heard about the consequences of the recession – a struggling economy, lost jobs, and a depression which has had wide-spread effects in nearly every sector of professional and familial life. However, have you looked beyond your immediate household  to consider what the consequences may have been beyond the grim statistics, past the video of men in suits that continually plays when a story on finance is run, and thought about the “unknowns” who play a large part in the American narrative?

  I am, of course, referring to the children of our nation. It has come to my attention recently that there have been other victims of the recession beyond those commonly portrayed in mainstream media. Through a series of introspective articles and papers on the subject of children who have been subject to the negative consequences of the recession, I’ve learned that this situation is due to the pressure which has increasingly mounted within the familial unit – leading to a contemporary version of Dickensian “hard times”. In a recent NY Times article, historian Steven Mintz said the following of the situation impacting our nation’s most vulnerable victims:

  “Economic hardship has a very destructive impact on parenting. Parents become depressed, withdrawn and quick to anger. Physical punishment often increases. Then, and now, the young are the unheralded victims of economic hard times.” (Courtesy NY Times, October 29 – “Perils of the Recession Generation”)

  By all accounts, the effect of the recession on children and youth has extended beyond the immediate consequences of job loss within the household as federal financing for childcare, education, and even state assistance has dwindled. As we approach the weekend, I would urge you all to spend just a few minutes thinking about these unintended victims of adult exploitation, especially given that the larger debate here is entrenched in the tension between federal assistance versus private charitable effort in bridging the gap of need. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and what’s to be done next? Well that’s up to you…

  -N

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• October 23, 2009

  Intern's Insight

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  Yesterday on “Happening Now” we reported the story of 48-year old Faleh Hassan Almaleki of Glendale, AZ who, according to police reports, fled the scene immediately after he ran over his daughter, 20 year-old Noor Faleh Almalek, in his 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee. His motive is reported to have been his wrath over his daughter’s assimilation into American culture, and the consequence is that Noor is currently hospitalized and suffering from life-threatening injuries. A father who would calculatingly harm his offspring alerts us to a situation in which their relationship had clearly deteriorated, and given the nature of the circumstances, it’s difficult not to become immediately outraged at the deliberate and pre-meditative nature of the crime.

  However, it seems to me that an incident such as this is laden with both meaning and contention as the father’s motive for the crime was reportedly outrage at his daughter’s withdrawing from an arranged marriage. Does this signal the extent to which he considered his daughter’s assimilation to be excessive? As of this morning, there are many unknown details, but an interesting aspect of consideration is whether or not Faleh and his daughter had become American citizens. If they had been, Faleh would have sworn to abide by American law, and do we consider that by natural extension law includes American norms and values? Do we strictly define norms and values as applied to the general population or do we include those of other cultures as a nod to America’s heritage as a “melting pot”? To what extent was Faleh un-American himself? And as an immigrant, to what extent do we approach foreign cultures – with or without unwarranted suspicion? How do we define “Westernization” or “assimilation”? In turn, do we view the father’s actions as being excessively “Iraqi” or “Middle-eastern”? We are taught not to judge others on the basis of cultural norms, and yet can we given that the enactment of a cultural norm in this case resulted in a clear violation of American law (attempted manslaughter)?

  How would we react if the situation was reversed and Almaleki had hurt his daughter under the pretext that she hadn’t become “American” enough? How does one interpret being “American,” especially given Noor’s youth? Was it solely her desire to refrain from entering a presumably loveless, arranged marriage? What type of events lead to this incident — did Noor wear provokingly low cut pants & belly-baring tops, or did she thoughtfully attempt to assert her independence through more conscientious means? Did her father attempt an honor killing, or was this a drastic means of teaching Noor a lesson? We don’t know the details & so the questions I am asking are part of a larger debate regarding the definition of casually used terms such as “Westernization,” “American“ and “assimilation.” This incident clearly illustrates the consequences that can be derived from their interpretation. As further details in this matter emerge, I know I will be evaluating the story in terms of a father defending a culture left behind and a daughter living life according to her own interpretation of mores, with the knowledge that the reality we face addresses a far deeper concern which underscores the existing tensions between cultures — which we can only hope will be gradually eroded and yet without cost to the distinctive nuances of the respective traditions to which we belong.

  -N

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• October 9, 2009

  Intern's Insight

  Show Producers  | 

  As I write this post from the inside the main newsroom here at Fox News, I’m just astounded at the amount of activity being produced by each individual. Writers, producers, editors, researchers, cameramen and reporters in the news room are actively engaged in the construction of a product for you, the consumer – a neatly wrapped up package known as the daily news (compiled into sound bites of 30 seconds and reports of no more than a few lines) which is currently being projected at me from no less than a dozen television screens at my own desk! The connection between what one watches on television, what occurs as the result of public interaction and how the information ensuing from such interaction is produced is what intrigues me about news industry as a whole.

  Following last week’s recap of my favorite news stories, I pondered on why those particular stories had grabbed my interest. What was it exactly about those stories which had clearly triggered an emotional response and provoked intellectual inquiry on my part? Following this line of query, I wondered “what exactly keeps viewers from changing the channel after a particularly compelling story tease or has a reader anxious flipping a page in anticipation of the next line of a specific article”? Everything around us can be categorized as news, but how does the framework in which it is presented make it a compelling item for consumption?

  …and cue a reference to my overpriced Ivy League education! In an article entitled “Daily news, Eternal Stories: The Mythological Role of Journalism,” author Jack Lule analyzes the news and its relationship to storytelling as a form of interpretive information. Lule outlines the process by which he found parallels between the stories he produced as a journalist and the stories he found in fairy tales, folk tales, legends and myths. Note: this is not to say that the news is false, but rather that the news of today echoes the themes of these types of stories from the past and attracts human interest accordingly. The victim, scapegoat, hero, good mother, trickster, other world (locations different from outside a given social group or landscape) and disaster are each examples of the themes which are an undercurrent to both the myths of yore and the stories which we read and watch every day. So as I felt twinge of distress upon reading of the kidnapped baby from Tennessee which I mentioned in my last post (by the way, the baby was found thanks to public efforts!) it was because it was reminiscent of the victim myth and a means by which to “reconcile people regarding the tragic and seeming randomness of human existence.” What do you think – is Lule’s argument compelling? What do you think about the juxtaposition of daily news and timeless stories? Does this ring true for you and your interaction with news?

  While it should be reiterated that each individual here at “Happening Now” works diligently to bring the viewers of our show the very best in unbiased and thorough news reporting, there is something about what we do here which makes viewers receptive to the result of such efforts. So here’s my challenge to you readers: think about what you watch and read this week and ask yourself “why does that particular story interest me?” “Why is that topic of debate particularly compelling?” Let me know your thoughts after the jump!

  -N

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• October 2, 2009

  Intern's Insight

  Show Producers  | 

  Hello! I am so excited to bring you the first in a series of what I hope will be interesting and thought-provoking blog posts on my experience as an intern here at Fox News Network headquarters in New York City! As a graduate student pursuing a Master’s degree in Political Science, this is a thrilling opportunity for me to merge analysis and classic theory of a subject I am passionate about with the stimulating and fast-paced world of daily news coverage. I hope readers will actively participate in dialogue with me as we explore together what the news means to us. I don’t know about you all, but it’s so easy to get become swept up entirely in the news as we not only try to keep abreast of events occurring  both in the national and global landscapes, but to truly grasp a thorough understanding of the proceedings at hand. In addition to bringing you a fresh perspective on the news stories which have emerged over the course of the week, as an “insider” of sorts, I will also bring you some fun observations from the perspective of the production, writing, and reporting sides. And so on we go!

  Ok, first of all: the 2016 Olympics! On my tiny space here in the blogosphere I would like just to put it out there that I hope it will be in Chicago for a few selfish reasons, not the least of which is the idea that I can consume some pretty delish pizza and hot dogs (double-fisting: YES!) while watching my favorite sports all within a few hours from NYC is an amazing prospect.  My fingers crossed for Chicago, but which is your choice – Chi-Town, Madrid, Tokyo or Rio de Janeiro – what do YOU think? More importantly, what about the politics of the games themselves? There’s no question that some favors are being exchanged as we speak, and with all that’s going on I can hardly believe that Obama incurred the great expense of time and resources to present to the International Olympic Committee. I can’t help but feel that politics aside, the president’s time can be used to better ends given the enormity of issues which he has to face during this time – does anyone else think that perhaps he should utilize the tools of delegation far better than he has to date? In any case, be sure to watch “Happening Now” beginning at 11AM ET for some insightful analysis on the Olympics and exciting live news updates on location!

  Another item that caught my particular interest this week was a recent Danish study which has found that life expectancy is increasing in most countries, and has given proof to the claim that the majority of babies born in developed countries will live to see their 100^th birthday! While I am at least five years away from burping any babies (Mom, take note!), I find this fairly startling news as now the realities of sustaining a global community where children will grow to prosper has become an increasingly urgent subject.

  Regarding the seriousness which surrounds the issue of protecting children, this Thursday Elizabeth Smart gave her testimony in court against her kidnapper Brian David Mitchell. At 21 years old, she appears to be absolutely beautiful and gifted, as she recently graduated with a degree in music composition. I wonder what’s really going on in her head, but I applaud her for having appeared so composed during her court testimony and so strong as she fought for survival when she was being raped daily. As we count down the minutes to the weekend finally beginning (GO GOPHERS!), let’s keep in mind the case of the missing baby torn from its mother’s arms earlier this week in Tennessee. If you’ve seen any women (the primary kidnapping suspect was described by police as a heavyset white woman with blonde hair) with a child who hasn’t appeared pregnant in recent months, please notify the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND. 

  Thanks, and see you next Friday!

  -N

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